Sateen Sheets
Skin slides
over smooth surface
feeling like silk
but softer
and like satin
but gentler
and within its
delicate brush
of fibers
against
sensitive skin
a sweet fragrance
lifts
to tease senses
Life’s Excesses Cartomancy Reading
The prompt for this reading came from one of my Discord servers and is as follows: “I know it’s been a hot minute due to be “flooded” by work, so let’s talk to our divination method of choice about what we have too much of in our lives, and what we can do to get rid of the excess and keep only what we need!”
What do I have too much of in my life?
You provide too much stability (Queen of Diamonds) for your loved ones(Two of Hearts). This comes naturally to you, and is a part of who you are. Providing those you care about with a feeling of stability is how you show your love. At the same time, you can often go too far in this, neglecting yourself as a result.
How can I best let go of the excess and keep only what I need?
You need to allow them to build up their own strength (Queen of Hearts) with a bit of your guidance to foster their learning (Jack of Spades) rather than doing it all for them. There is something to be said for personal experience. When you do things for others instead of letting them experience things for themselves, you rob them of the experience that can help them become more well rounded individuals.
DECK USED: BLACK REQUIEM COUNTERSPELL PLAYING CARDS
Finding Balance in Stillness
Today’s meditation was skipped.
Today’s draw is the Justice card, which is traditionally a representation of cause and effect, repercussions and consequences, fairness, truth, balance. and often the law and legal matters.
What comes around goes around. When I see the image on this card, that’s the phrase that comes to mind. It’s like the figure is leaning in to aggression. The head decapitated in the background, and blood still dropping from the sword.
The thing is? Scales can’t balance in chaos. Scales can’t balance with movement and aggression in the mix.
The message in today’s card is about how we find our balance in life, and how we find our footing on our life’s path. It’s not through chaos and aggression. It’s through taking a pause that you can allow for balance as the scales ease their sway. In the quiet they can slow and still. The more you fight and lean into the chaos, the more the scales will tip and sway.
DECK USED: RITUAL ABUSE TAROT
#DiscordTarotholicsOct2022 Challenge Prompt
Question for October 14th: Poltergeist – What needs to be banished from your life?
Reading Summary: You need to look at where in your life, either due to loving you (Love) or out of a sense of respect (Honor), your loved ones are enabling you in unhealthy ways (Temptation).
Take Away: It isn’t the love or respect that needs banishing, but rather what they are doing with it that is the problem. This boils down to a form of dishonesty, for they are withholding their true thoughts and feelings “out of respect” for your own choices, not fully realizing that your decision-maker can and is compromised at times by temptation, addictive tendencies, and self destructive urges.
DECK USED: TO THE END ORACLE
Mr Lionhart’s Seasons of the Witch Challenge Prompt
Questions for October 14th thru 17th – The Ritual
The blade it cuts what’s rooted deep, what am I to rod of, what am I to keep?
Seven of Swords – Any thoughts of escaping what is to come need be let go of now. You are too close to the holiday rush for escapism fantasies, and need to instead pivot and fight.
Four of Swords – Make sure you are getting enough rest. You are no longer “of an age” where you have the boundless energy of your youth, and you need to make sure you are refilling your tank in order to make it through the weeks ahead without crashing.
The wand it swings, it works for me, how can I conjure what I may need?
King of Wands – Own your passion and drive, and control it with a tight fist. Delegate and direct so that you are not doing everything yourself.
I let the chalice guide my heart, I drink from it, I embrace this part:
Two of Cups – Those who love you are there to help. Don’t forsake their help and exclude them due to pride or a desire to not burden them. Instead, let them add their strength to yours.
From south, to north, from east to west, what am I to plant or to manifest?
King of Pentacles – Authority and stability need to be your main focus this season. Not independence.
DECK USED: RITUAL ABUSE TAROT
I rested a lot today. Lots of sleep and elevated leg time.
Gideon’s Challenge
Leisure Time
I want to curl up
in your arms
on the balcony
and settle
into you
as the sun
slowly sinks
below horizon
until only
a golden glow
remains
and your lips
brush my nape
as you whisper
“Mine”
Photo © ZenStatePhotography
It’s In the Reach
Today’s meditation was skipped.
Today’s draw is the Ace of Coins, which is traditionally a representation of the seed of new beginnings in the area of one’s finances, resources, health, hearth and home, labors, and manifestations.
What stands out to me in the imagery of this card is there’s a crown free-floating out there in the ether. It speaks to me of opportunity and potential. It says you can do much better, reach for the gold and you will achieve your best result.
Today’s card is an encouragement that tells us that it is in reaching for better that we succeed. It’s how we build a life worth living, how we grow and succeed, and how we become our best selves. Life isn’t about failures and misfortunes, but about what we reach for and where that reach can help us grow.
DECK USED: VOODOO DOLLY TAROT
HealingThruTarot’s October Shadow Work Challenge Prompt
Questions for October 11th and 13th
How are my insecurities projected onto others?
The Stars and Death – You worry too much about what might happen and when, instead of looking to the present ant towards hope and positivity. This creates a more apathetic outlook towards others as your pessimism creates a lackadaisical “everyone dies sometime” attitude that is neither healthy or helpful.
How can I overcome my perceived flaws?
Knight of Swords and Loving – Be proactive about keeping your negative inner narrative in check through loving and caring thoughts, rather than an uncaring attitude. It is in leaning into self-kindness and positivity that you keep your inner critic from eating you alive.
DECK USED: VOODOO DOLLY TAROT AND HEART FORWARD DECK
#DiscordTarotholicsOct2022 Challenge Prompt
Question for October 13th: Spirits: How can you improve your relationship with your ancestors?
Reading Summary: Make peace with your ancestors (Queen of Swords) by turning over a new emotional leaf where she is concerned (Page of Cups) and letting her back in and allowed to have an opinion in your life (Seven of Wands).
Take Away: Let go of the history and step into a new beginning concerning those that should have loved you but perhaps did so too harshly. Listen to these ancestors, even if the history that you have with them is unpleasant. Regardless of that history, in the present they only have your best interests at heart.
DECK USED: VOODOO DOLLY TAROT
I didn’t get fed up with the hospital and leave like I wanted to, but stuck around and waited it out.
Gideon’s Challenge
The Bite of Pain
White hot poker
flames red
savage and bright
angry… enraged
the fire sears
beneath the skin
with sharp
savage prongs
that rake
through the pain
to make it
that much worse
until there is
no air
to breathe
Twisting the Leaf 