❤️ Self Care Saturday (On a Sunday)

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These Saturday readings are (not usually) bearing in on any one thing or event in my life, as the question used is asking for a more general outlook. This is a self care exercise, and is not meant as a predictive reading… although that, too, happens on occasion.

The question is… What do I need to focus for self-care through the week ahead?

Self Care Saturday Tarot Reading with the Monsoon Tarot and Nocturnal Garden Lenormand

Earth – The World – It’s time to emerge from the quiet cocoon that you’ve rested in recently after the journey through your holiday rush. Getting back into the swing of things and finding your new path forward awaits your attention.

Air – Nine of Fire – Make sure that you are keeping your boundaries in place where your inner narrative is concerned.  Don’t let the biting cold of those harsher judgements slip past your defenses and start to chip away at the progress you’ve made.

Water – Ace of Earth stop King of Water – More time with Gideon is a good thing.  Make sure that you are taking care to rearrange your time so that you are getting the nurturing energy and support you need from spending time with him.

Fire – Death atop Tower – Take little steps towards change so that it doesn’t all fall upon you at once. That shit doesn’t have to come up on you and slap you in the face all at once if you use a little forethought and move in the direction of the change that’s coming a little at a time.

Waning – Paths and House – Don’t sit in indecision and inaction just because the stagnancy feels safe.

Waxing – Cross and Bouquet – Getting unpleasant tasks done and out of the way will be a great boon for you this week.

DECKS USED: MONSOON TAROT AND NOCTURNAL GARDEN LENORMAND

Rise Again… Stronger

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

Elder Stories Tarot - Nine of WandsToday’s draw is the Nine of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of boundaries, perseverance and resilience, the testing of one’s values and principles, and tapping into one’s protective instincts.

Here in this card’s imagery, we see the theme of perseverance and resilience in the phoenix on the dress the woman wears.  Her long locks indicate time… a path and a journey that has taken a long time, and yet she rises to the challenge strong even still with her chin held high and a grin on her lips.

It takes a certain strength to make it through so much life, live through so many experiences, struggles, and journeys, and yet still come out the other side of it in a seat of power that leaves you ready to rise up and go again for more.

Today’s message is that we are stronger than we think we are, and we can survive much more than we think we can, coming out the other side stronger, wiser, and ready to face the next battle.  Hold on to your values and principles, and face these challenges knowing that they will not defeat you. Like the phoenix, you will rise again.

CrowSister’s #DeckStudyTenTrueWords Prompt
Prompt: Distill your reading of the card to your ten truest words.

Values
you hold dear
are strengths
that carry
you through

DECK USED:  ELDER STORIES TAROT

Lionharts’ #TheJanuaryTarot 2023 Year of Evolution Challenge Prompt
Question for January 7th: What {3 things} should I focus on during the first months of 2023?

Herbalist's Flash CardsLotus – Moderation. Make sure that you are not falling into excess in any of the areas of your life where this can often be a problem.  You need to work on making moderation a theme for the first few months of 2023.  Enjoy what you have and leave moments of excess for later in the year.

Calendula – Use positivity and optimism as a balm against the sting of darker tendencies towards pessimism. You have seen what leaning into the positive can do if you are willing. Make sure that you are doing so over the next few months to ensure you keep things light and healthy.

Heather – Reconnect with your spiritual path,  and step back into your meditation and breath work. They are intrinsically connected, and working on one furthers the other and vice versa.

DECK USED: HERBALIST’S FLASH CARDS

#DiscordTarotholicsJan2023 Challenge Prompt
Question for January 7th: Old Rock Day – What burdens from the past do you carry that need to be set down?

Elder Stories Tarot - Eight of Cups, High Priestess, Death, Queen of PentaclesI learned the depth of responsibility involved in reading tarot for others the hard way. In the early years of my foray into the tarot, I did a reading for a woman dealing with depression and troubles in her relationship. Back then, my reading style was far different than it is now, and there was no focus on empowerment but only a very blunt reading of what the cards had to say directly in answer to a direct question. She did not get the answer she was wanting, and that night she killed herself. (The High Priestess)

No, I do not believe that my reading was the -only- factor involved in her death, but I do take responsibility for the fact that I sure as hell didn’t help things in any way, shape, or form. Having dealt with suicidal ideation myself, I know just how much damage can be done when you are at the end of your rope and you go to someone for help… and do not get what you need. (Eight of Cups atop Death)

I learned from this experience that when people come to you for a reading, most often they are coming to you for help… and you can’t always know their mental state when someone sits down for a reading. Being a good, conscientious, and responsible reader requires accepting this responsibility and taking it seriously. I shifted my practice to become more compassionate to my querents, and to deliver advice rather than just simple answers. For me, reading for others (and myself) has become about empowerment. It’s about giving people what they need.  That’s not to say they always get what they want, but rather that bad news comes with advice and encouragement to find the boon in the situation. Encouragement to grow and prepare, learn and see new perspectives instead of just a pat answer that leaves them walking away heartsick and at a loss. (Queen of Pentacles)

What these cards are telling me I need to set down is my feelings of guilt that I still carry.

DECK USED: ELDER STORIES TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I worked on orders in between posts with Gideon in play.  I’ve really missed play with him and it feels so good to get to spend time with him again.

Gideon’s Challenge

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IMG_9877Quiet Moments

Sunset
and shadow
play games
high above
as we sit
together
on a cold bench
tucked in
to each other’s
warmth
and watch
as the sun sinks
and the sky
turns vibrant
as light
begins to fade

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

New Years Cartomancy Reading

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New Years Cartomancy Reading with the Festum Playing Cards

Card to represent my energies this year.

Queen of Diamonds – Growing and fostering stability in  your own life and others. You provide a sense of stability for those around you, and help to encourage them in creating that feeling of stability for themselves.

What do I need to invest in this year?

Four of Hearts – You need to start meditating again. You dropped the ball on that last year, and it’s time to pick it back up and get it working for you once again.

How can I trust change this year?

Seven of Clubs – No matter the changes and challenges you face, your values and principles are unshakeable and will guide you through to the other side. Don’t worry so much that changes might draw you off course, as your stubborn persistence in what is true and right for you is part and parcel to who you are and cannot be taken away.

What am I ready to leave behind as the year changes?

Eight of Diamonds – You have overworked yourself to the point of exhaustion, and thrived through the most difficult part of your work year.  Now it is time to put away all that determined diligence, and have some rest and a bit of fun instead.

How can I welcome more harmony into my life this year?

Five of Spades – Don’t bother with butting heads with others this year.  You’re already on top and there’s no need to go out of your way to prove it.

New year guidance from my guides.

Two of Clubs – Set your course and make your plans. Make lists of what you want to accomplish and map things out so that you don’t feel overwhelmed by the journey before you.

DECK USED: FESTUM PLAYING CARDS

Staying Open to New Opportunities

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

The Wandering Moon Tarot - Four of Moons - Four of PentaclesToday’s draw is the Four of Moons (Pentacles), which is traditionally a representation of stability, stubbornness, stagnancy,

The hand in this card’s illustrations isn’t just holding on to one of the four moons on the card… it’s fisted around it and gripping it tight. Too tightly… as it leaves those other moons floating out beyond reach.

The message in today’s card is that if you stick to one path with too much single minded purpose, you will miss seeing the other opportunities out there waiting for you. The thing is?  If you are holding on too tightly to the one thing that makes life feel secure?  Your hand is no longer open and able to take on and experience the new things that come along.

Some may think “well that’s fine, because I’m happy with what I’ve got”… but for how long are you going to be happy there?  How long before what feels like security becomes a cage of stagnancy that you can’t escape from?

Today’s card encourages us to not let our grip on the security and stability of a sure thing cage us in and keep us from experiencing new things, exploring new and better opportunities, and growing as a person.

CrowSister’s #DeckStudyTenTrueWords Prompt
Prompt: Distill your reading of the card to your ten truest words.

Move beyond
the cage
of lost opportunities
you cling to

DECK USED:  THE WANDERING MOON TAROT

Lionharts’ #TheJanuaryTarot 2023 Year of Evolution Challenge Prompt
Question for January 6th: Go through your deck, card by card, until you find a card that depicts how you envision yourself by the end of 2023. Place it on the table then do a reading asking “What should I embrace or let go of to reach this?”

Spirit Allies OracleWhat You Envision – Tigers Eye – Success and grounded healing. Like all year endings, I will be stepping away from the holiday rush. Having neglected and abused myself with my single-minded pursuit of success in my holiday rush goals, I will be in need of healing and recuperation, and this will be a time to ground myself once more to begin rebuilding my strength.

What should I embrace to reach this?

To further this outcome and the recovery of your strength, the end of 2023 needs to include reconnecting with and embracing your emotions (Cancer) as well as your creative spark (Benzaiten). Set them free and allow them to flourish during this time, so that they can get some air after being caged for the seven weeks prior to Christmas.

What should I let go of to reach this?

You will also need to release your stubborn workaholic drive for more stability (Taurus) and the habit of closing yourself off to the beauty of the world around you (Xōchiquetzal) that your drive during the holiday rush causes you to turn away from. Stop pushing the outside world away and lean into gratitude rather than the constant strive for more.

DECK USED: SPIRIT ALLIES ORACLE

#DiscordTarotholicsJan2023 Challenge Prompt
Question for January 6th: What do you need to focus on for self care this full moon?

The Wandering Moon Tarot - Six of Moons, Six of Pentacles, Page of Moons, Page of Pentacles, The TowerReading Summary: Be generous with yourself (Six of Moons) while learning how to deal with chaotic disruptions that shake your sense of stability (The Tower atop Page of Moons).

Take Away: There is a high probability that there will be a few disruptions coming up in the week ahead that may leave you feeling unbalanced and uncertain.

If you are unable to sidestep these disruptions entirely, make sure that you are generous and kind with yourself as you deal with them. Don’t beat yourself up too much, as spending time berating yourself rather than dealing with the situation with acceptance and understanding will just cause more problems.

DECK USED: THE WANDERING MOON TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I took an early nap today so that I could make some more room in my time for Gid and I to play a bit.

Gideon’s Challenge

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IMG_9853The Unseen

Worlds lie
within worlds
secret and private
different
and alien
as they grow
and develop
mere inches
from our noses
and yet
unnoticed
by most
as they begin
to take over
little by little

Photo © ZenStatePhotography