Autumn’s Arrival
Gray skies
finally grace
the world
with a moist kiss
of rain
and we all
breathe
a deep breath
of relief
as the world
cools
and summer
finally departs
Cozy and Comfortable Cartomancy Reading
The prompt for this reading came from one of my Discord servers and is as follows: “For this week, let’s talk to our divination method of choice about what we can do to help ourselves feel more cozy and comfortable, either internally or externally! There’s never a limit on comfort!”
What can I do to help myself feel more cozy and comfortable spiritually?
King of Spades and Nine of Hearts – Communicate with more authority with your guides and ancestors in order to develop a greater sense of satiation and comfort in your spiritual practice. You do not always have to follow blindly, as this relationship is one of give and take.
What can I do to help myself feel more cozy and comfortable emotionally?
Queen of Spades and Six of Diamonds – You will feel emotionally more comfortable and secure if you lean into generosity with yourself and others. Holding onto things too tightly only breeds vulnerability and fear of loss.
What can I do to help myself feel more cozy and comfortable mentally?
Jack of Diamonds and Three of Hearts – Work on accepting that learning to take things at a slower pace takes time. It’s not an immediate transformation, but can be assisted through leaning into time with those you love.
What can I do to help myself feel more cozy and comfortable physically?
Nine of Clubs and Five of Hearts – Don’t let your boundaries begin to feel like limitations. They aren’t a cage, nor are they unfair or in excess, but rather they are there to protect you.
DECK USED: BICYCLE MONSTER PREMIUM PLAYING CARDS
It Takes Guts
Today’s meditation was skipped
Today’s draw is the King of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of a projective alpha energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s finances, resources, home, health, labors, and other elements of the physical world.
The poor Zombie King may not have much contained in his ribcage anymore because you can see all the way through to his spine, but he’s still got his guts.
It takes guts to be king. It takes guts to be in charge and be responsible for your actions, for your family, for your own health, for your stability.
Today’s card is about those guts, and about making sure to acknowledge just where your strengths lie, and what you use those “guts” for. Where do your strengths shine? Where do you dig deep in your core for strength to create stability in your life? Where can you reach a little deeper? Where have you done more than enough? Take time to examine these questions today, and your answers to them. Are you happy with what you come up with in answer? Or are there things you’d like to change?
DECK USED: DEAD WAITE TAROT
HealingThruTarot’s October Shadow Work Challenge Prompt
Question for October 21st: Which emotions drive my sabotaging behaviors?
Emotion – Witch – There is a savagery within you that is harsh and cruel. It seeps into your inner narrative and is turned inward upon yourself.
What can I do to mitigate this?
Strength – Sometimes you have to literally strong-arm your inner critic under control. Consider the ways that have worked most successfully to force your inner narrative to yield to a more positive influence and use those tactics again.
Emotion – Potential – You set your expectations for yourself far too high. This sets you up for failure.
What can I do to mitigate this?
Four of Cups – Take time to turn things over and consider before committing to anything. If you already have enough on your plate, perhaps refusing the extra cup being offered is a good idea, instead of trying to convince yourself you can take on a little more… that always turns out to be a lot more than “a little”.
Emotion – Mysterious – When you are feeling uncertain, you blame yourself for these anxiety inducing feelings, and berate yourself for feeling vulnerable.
What can I do to mitigate this?
The Emperor – Own your feelings instead of shaming yourself for having them. Accept that everyone has times when they feel uncertain or vulnerable, and it is in owning your feelings that you can overcome them… for when you bury them or berate yourself for them, you’re only making things worse.
DECK USED: GARBAGE PAIL KIDS TAROT AND TRICKS & TREATS ORACLE
#DiscordTarotholicsOct2022 Challenge Prompt
Question for October 21st: Buried Alive – What in the past needs to be dug up and dealt with?
Reading Summary: The passions and desires you had in the past and the places you were going with them (Page of Wands) have been swallowed up over time by life (The World) and the choices you’ve made (Justice).
Take Away: You aren’t on the path that you started on so many years ago. Your job is different, your goals are different, and those things that you had planned on accomplishing did not get done, in favor of other things and distractions that pulled at your attention along the way. You need to let go of the disappointment you feel towards yourself concerning these things you didn’t finish. You didn’t “drop the ball”, but rather, you intentionally let them go in order to focus on what suits you far better.
DECK USED: DEAD WAITE TAROT
This post is a catch-up post, and I have no idea what my self-kindness for today might have been.
Gideon’s Challenge
The Rain
Finally, it falls
drips and drops
pattering
quiet and soft
as sweet air
fresh and clean
flows
through windows
left open
as the scent
of smoke
is washed away
and the world
feels clean
once more
Photo © ZenStatePhotography
Grace and Patience
Today’s meditation was skipped.
Today’s draw is the Temperance card, which is traditionally a representation of moderation, balance, and patience.
A bleeding rose and an hourglass of skulls stands out in this card, as does the fact that everything in the card (including the crane) is tied together by ribbons of energy that flow throughout the card’s imagery.
There is a certain beauty and grace that comes with moderation. A serenity that I struggle to understand and instill in my life. And yet, when moderation is not given its due, and we are impatient or over eager, there is a tipping point where things become harmful to us. A point where the death of moderation breeds damage to our well-being.
Today’s card speaks of the need to look at those places where we struggle with moderation and balance, and acknowledge the damage that allowing ourselves to get “out of hand” can cause. How can we do better? What mindfulness tactics are needed to keep things gracefully balanced and flowing smoothly?
DECK USED: UNTAMED MYSTERY TAROT NOIR EDITION
HealingThruTarot’s October Shadow Work Challenge Prompt
Question for October 20th: What self-destructive behaviors do I exhibit?
Behavior – Emotional Abuse – That inner narrative you have going on is vicious and cruel, and is focused on tearing you down one brick at a time.
How can I help myself turn this around?
Two of Birds (Wands) – Have a plan and stick to it. You know how to shut up that voice and steal its power, so make sure you do these things and have what you need in place to foster healthier practices.
Behavior – Ignored – You neglect yourself, your needs, and your self-care. Everyone needs nurturing and care. You are no exception. By ignoring issues that need tending, you neglect and ignore things you need to tend to in order to stay healthy and well.
How can I help myself turn this around?
The Hanged Man – Take a new perspective with the things you are tempted to ignore. See them as the small things they are rather than the huge things your feelings try to say that they are, for when you ignore them they only grow and fester larger and larger until the become as massive as you thought they were all along.
Behavior – Disesteem – Putting yourself down is something carried over from your past. You took to the task when they were no longer able to do so.
How can I help myself turn this around?
Eight of Lanterns (Cups) – Do not allow your negative inner narrative to take control or have a voice. Instead, turn away from it toward the warmth and understanding that work better for your well-being.
DECK USED: THE TRAUMA ORACLE AND THE LANTERN GUIDE DECK
#DiscordTarotholicsOct2022 Challenge Prompt
Question for August 20th: Windowsill Candle – Where do you need to lean into the light (positivity/optimism)?
Reading Summary: You have a tendency to fall back into doomsday thinking (The Devil) when confronted with the fickle turns of fate (Wheel of Fortune) instead of leaning into the new path with your emotions that you’ve been walking upon the past few years (Page of Cups).
Take Away: Sometimes, it’s still difficult for you to pull away from the pessimism and see a more positive perspective. Remember that this is a journey of exploration. Experiment with positivity and optimism to better explore its potential during these times when uncertainty and negativity feels like it’s getting the upper hand.
DECK USED: UNTAMED MYSTERY TAROT NOIR EDITION
This is another catch-up post, and I didn’t write down my self-kindness at the time, nor can I remember what it might have been.
Gideon’s Challenge
Before Bed
Lying still
and quiet
beneath you
as you
mantle large
above,
and hands
will reach up
to skim on skin
with a light touch
as I curl
into that space
where I feel
safe
Twisting the Leaf 