The Bruises
Bruised and battered
I stretch toward you
and seek out
your touch
not to heal
the black and blue
but to nourish
the soul
so that I may grow
and change
dazzle
and eventually
rest
in your arms
❤️ Self Care Saturday (On a Sunday)
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?
Earth – The Lovers – Make sure you are doing what is needed to keep you happy, healthy… and grounded. Connecting with others right now is extremely important for your well-being. So is making sure you allow them to keep you grounded. Not everything has to be done alone, and you will need input from others to make healthy choices for yourself this week.
Air – Queen of Pentacles – Again we see a need for grounding. Seek out those that help you find that stability you need instead of insisting you can do it all on your own. Their input can help put your mind at ease and keep you from spiraling into anxiety and other non-grounded mental avenues.
Water – Three of Pentacles – Another reminder that this is not a time to do things on your own. Incorporate others in seeking out what you need, and in providing it. You don’t always see what you need half as clearly as others around you do. Make sure you are consulting them instead of just settling for what you can manage on your own.
Fire – The Devil – Do not allow yourself to fall into bad habits or the temptations that could harm you this week. Keep an eye on those things that seem far too good to be true and turn away from them instead of trying to figure out how you can accept them without them causing harm. You can’t. Spurn them instead, no matter how tempting they appear.
Waning – Scythe and Snake – Do not lean into your work this week. This is your opportunity to have a few easy days to breathe before the holiday rush falls into full swing. Don’t waste them trying to accomplish more… just breathe.
Waxing – Rider and Tower – Pay attention to those that try to step in and integrate themselves into your life at this time. Lean into those that are there with you all the time, and reject the advances or offerings of those that are suddenly trying to step in and be a part of things.
Take Away – Tried and true friends are the way to go this week. Don’t waste these last days of rest, and allow those around you that you trust to keep close to help you find a positive spin on things so that your worries and anxieties don’t get a chance to try and eat at you.
DECKS USED: EVERYDAY WITCH TAROT, BLACK SALT LENORMAND
The Right Path
Today’s meditation was skipped.
Today’s draw is the Three of Twigs (Wands), which is traditionally a representation of the first active step in a journey, progress towards a goal, and the seizing of opportunities.
What stands out to me the strongest in the imagery of this card is the leaves that sprout from the “twigs” in the scene. They are not little sprigs, but fully formed leaves, and they speak to me of being well upon one’s path. No, there are no branches yet, no great growth, but there is growth.
Today’s card is an encouragement. It speaks of having found a worthy path before you, and making the necessary preparations, are now well and truly starting. Don’t look back… keep going! Help those small beginnings grow and flourish into something truly spectacular.
DECK USED: DIRAMAZIONI TAROT
#DiscordTarotholicsNov2022 Challenge Prompt
Question for November 5th
Let Go – The Contemplator – Let go of your worries and stresses. They are only holding you back and serve no purpose at this time.
Find Support – The Adventurer – Seek out others to support you as you dive into the holiday rush. All of your energy will be poured into this time and you need to “spread the load”. Also, don’t keep all the fun to yourself… just as you share the work with others, be sure that you’re sharing the fun with others as well, even if this means getting their help to find the fun in the first place.
Dig Deeper – The Witch – Seek out new ways to incorporate mystery and magic into your everyday life. Just because your holidays are filled to the brim with work doesn’t mean that you can’t continue with small practices that help you to ground and connect with yourself on a deeper level. It just means you may not be able to sit with these deeper levels and explore them fully right now.
DECK USED: THE FORTY SERVANTS
Mr Lionhart’s The Suits: Revisited #TheNovemberTarot Prompt
Questions for November 5th and 6th
Suit of Wands – What should be cleared or dealt with before I begin to create?
Lord of Twigs and Judgement – Clear out harsh judgments on how you expect things to go, and instead ride it out without trying to control every little aspect.
Suit of Wands – Something I should know about the things I wish to create for myself?
Five of Twigs and Lady of Amphorae – Make sure that the effort you put in are worth the time and energy expended. When you overtax yourself you become emotionally vulnerable. Support yourself by looking closely at those things you fight for and weeding out the ones that really are frivolous or just pride.
DECK USED: DIRAMAZIONI TAROT
I had some play time with Gideon today and it really helped in easing some of my stress and anxiety.
Gideon’s Challenge
Waiting for Snow
As cold creeps
across the land
and slips among
the trees
I wait
with bated breath
for the first
fall of flakes
to coat the world
in a moment
of pristine white
and allow us all
to see
winter’s beauty
on display
Photo © ZenStatePhotography
Haunted Times Cartomancy Reading
The prompt for this reading came from one of my Discord servers and is as follows: “Alright! It’s Halloween/Samhain, so let’s do some divination about what’s “haunting” us in our lives.”
What’s sitting over my shoulders and/or clinging to me?
Nine of Hearts, King of Spades atop Five of Hearts – Your inner narrative is a demanding taskmaster with harsh judgements and a sharp tongue. It is putting in overtime trying to crush happiness under its boots and leave you aching and in need of retreat.
Is this something that will always be with me, or that I should try to work into my life?
Four of Hearts, Queen of Clubs atop Jack of Clubs – Although that inner narrative may be permanent, the amount of influence it has over your emotions is temporary. Make sure that you are leaning into your passions, and dipping into creative endeavors and those things that motivate you, to help provide you with extra strength to resist that negative inner narrative when it rises up.
Or… is it something I need to banish and/or does not serve me to keep?
Eight of Diamonds and Nine of Clubs – Only hard work and good boundaries can keep the influences of that negative inner narrative at bay. It cannot be banished entirely, but it can be controlled and mitigated if you’re willing to put in the effort.
What is the best way to handle it at this time?
Three of Hearts atop Three of Spades, Jack of Hearts – Lean into others in your life to help lift you up when you start to feel the darkness creeping in. They have the ability to teach you how to lean into the positive and seek out optimism for an emotional lift during these times. Something you’ve yet to master on your own quite yet.
DECK USED: ONCE UPON A TIME PLAYING CARDS
Don’t Look Back
Today’s meditation was skipped.
Today’s draw is the Death card, which is traditionally a representation of organic change, slow moving transition, and occasionally, death… although not always death of a person or animal.
What stands out to me the strongest in the imagery of this card us that the figure faces into the past. It speaks to me of the need to leave the chaos of change behind you once the transition has completed.
Today’s card is a reminder not to keep looking back, but instead set the past behind you along with the discomfort of the transition period, and move forward with openness to embrace the new.
DECK USED: EARTH TAROT OVERGROW EDITION
#DiscordTarotholicsNov2022 Challenge Prompt
Questions for November 3rd and 4th
What do you want from your inner circle?
Three of Pentacles – Help, even when I’m horrible about asking for it. I want to know that they are there for me when I need them, and that I am able to depend on them for assistance… even during times when I might not be all that graceful in asking for it.
The Emperor (on its side) – Tolerance for when I’m a bossy ass. I’m stubborn and often lean hard into taking control of situations in order to assure a positive outcome. I need tolerance from my inner circle during these times, as I know that I am often aggravating when this tendency rises to the fore.
What do you hope for?
King of Swords atop Queen of Cups – I hope to instill more emotion into my life without it making me feel “weak”.
DECK USED: EFFLORESCENT TAROT COLOR EDITION
@The.Journey.Well ‘s Friendship & Community Challenge Prompt
Question for November 4th: Advice I need to hear at this time concerning my friendships.
Reading Summary: Those friends that are consistently with you through thick and thin (Strength), and supportive of your efforts to improve yourself and your self-treatment (Queen of Cups) are the friendships to focus on. Don’t give attention to the takers and those always demanding more from you (The Unattainable), as they will never be what you need and will just suck you dry.
Take Away: Don’t take those that are true friends through thick and thin for granted. New and shiny “friends” can’t take the place of those that are tried and true. Sometimes we forget this and take them for granted as a result. Awareness of this tendency can help in making sure that your friends don’t -feel- as if they are being taken for granted, even if you don’t always act as grateful as you could.
DECK USED: EARTH TAROT OVERGROW EDITION
I had the most miraculously good sleep on my new bed last night, then I spent a little extra time wallowing in it when I got home from work.
Twisting the Leaf 