Finally
Autumn slips in
quietly
with a dip
in temperature
and a few
turned leaves
before a riot
of color
bursts forth
to celebrate
the end
of summer’s
oppressive heat
Stagnancy vs Movement
Today’s meditation was skipped.
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Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.
Today’s draw is the King of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of a projective “alpha” energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s thoughts, intellect, education, ambitions, and communication. This often translates into themes that have to do with someone that has a way with words and is able to use those skills to lead others to their way of thinking, as well as those that are in authority on intellectual topics such as professors, doctors, etc.
The King of Swords has then been combined with a Halloween Affirmation card that says, “I see the beauty in the darkness, finding balance between the light and the shadows.”
Finding balance sucks. That’s because it’s one of those things that has never still or stagnant. It’s always moving, which means in order to find balance, you also have to always be moving and adjusting.
I like deep roots. I like stability. I’m not even particularly opposed to stagnancy as long as that stagnancy is in a place that I am comfortable. These things are a part of my nature. It’s also a part of my nature to strategize, though.
Logically speaking when you think of stagnancy there’s a reason that it is frowned upon. It’s a place where things become rotten and decay over time. Therefore, if for no other reason than logic itself, seeking balance is the healthier option and creates a greater sense of stability over time as you get your “sea legs” and are able to stand firm, walk, or even run in the storm.
The message in today’s cards is a reminder that as comfortable as stagnancy feels, it’s not your friend. Part of being responsible is taking care of yourself, and that requires freedom of movement in order to achieve balance.
Don’t just sit there and rot. Instead, get out and start climbing those mountains.
DECK USED: GHOST BOY TAROT AND TWIST’S HALLOWEEN AFFIRMATION CARDS
#DiscordTarotholicsOct2025 Challenge
Prompts for October 18th and 20th
Vampire – How can you suck more joy out of life this season?
Lily, Nine of Pentacles, Tower – Don’t allow your accomplishments to elevate you so far up on a pedestal that you can’t get down and dirty with everyone else.
You don’t have to stay up there to protect what you value, nor do you need to stay up there to lord your accomplishments over everyone else. True joy is down among the throng.
What do you need to focus on for self-care for this month’s new moon?
Stork, Ten of Wands, Clouds – Just because you have the energy right now to take on new projects and responsibilities doesn’t mean that down the road you’re going to feel quite as capable. Take care that you don’t over-commit yourself during this time, or you’ll regret it later when you feel trapped in overwhelm and overburdened.
Other elements included in this reading:
Gneiss Stone for Patience in Moments of Discomfort
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
DECK USED: TERRESTRIAL TAROT AND WAYWARD LENORMAND
@LightningWildflower October Tarot Challenge
Fire and Air “The Sevens” Prompts for October 19th thru 21st
Seven of Wands
In what area of my life do I need to stand my ground?
The Sun – Personal happiness and your own success need to come first. If you’re not taking care of yourself, how are you supposed to take care of anybody else? Don’t allow other manipulations to compromise going after what makes you happy.
How can I stay true to my values, even if this leads to conflict?
Four of Pentacles – Be stubborn. Staying true to your values sometimes means digging in and staying put when people are trying to budge you from what you feel is most important. Stay strong during these times, and focused on what truly matters.
Seven of Swords
What is an inconvenient or strategic approach that I can take at this time?
Six of Swords – Sometimes moving forward means backing off. If something isn’t working for you, leave it behind. This can be inconvenient, as it means finding another path and sometimes starting again, but when you let go of what isn’t working, you’ll find a better way forward in the end.
Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Rosebuds for Potential and Beauty Waiting to Unfold
Dried Purple Heather Flowers for Independence and Luck
Black Spruce Needles to Boost Self-Confidence and Positive Thinking
Flower Agate Moon for Opening the Mind to New Possibilities
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
DECK USED: GHOST BOY TAROT
This post is a catch-up post, and I can’t remember what my self-kindness might have been for this day.
Gideon’s Challenge – Golden
Golden
Let’s stay
just a little longer
to watch
as the sun
creeps
a little lower
and the rays
of light
dance
among the clouds
in a soft
golden warmth
felt deep
in the soul
Photo © ZenStatePhotography
🌑 New Moon in Libra – October 2025
Tonight is the new moon, and like all new moons and full moons, I did a spread aligned to the moon’s current themes as a part of my recognition of the moon’s cycle and influences upon us. Today’s spread is courtesy of @lightningwildflower
What imbalances in my life need my attention?
Jack of Skulls under Jack of Knives – You’re working on a new balance in your life right now, and you need to make sure that you are not leaning too far into too much work, or too far into too much planning and strategy. It’s in finding a balance between them that you’ll find success.
How can I better respond to things that are unfair or unjust?
Five of Knives under Five of Candles – Don’t count your chickens until they’re hatched. When things feel unfair or unjust, you can learn a lot by holding back to observe back instead of engaging.
How can I bring more harmony into my relationships?
Five of Eyeballs – If you want to bring more harmony to your relationships, it’s time to address your scarcity issues and the shadows that drive them.
What can I do to manifest positive change?
King of Candles atop Seven of Skulls – Practice patience. The things you really want are going to take a lot of time, and you need to stay focused on your goal and what you’re working toward as you wait.
New Moon advice from the Minoan Goddess Amalthea.
Nine of Eyeballs – During this new moon cycle, make sure that you are practicing gratitude and looking for opportunities to indulge in moments of enjoyment wherever you can.
Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Red Oak Leaf for Fostering Unconditional Love
Dried Rosebuds for Potential and Beauty Waiting to Unfold
Ammonite for a Sense of Stability During Times of Change
Carnelian Agate for Inner Drive and Focusing On Aspirations
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
DECK USED: GIALLO PLAYING CARDS
Listen to Your Gut
Today’s meditation was skipped.
• • • ◈ • 🎃 • ◈ • • •
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.
Today’s draw is The High Priestess (Le Papesse), which is traditionally a representation of intuition, secrets, sacred knowledge, mystery, the subconscious mind.
The High Priestess card has then been combined with an affirmation card from the Sinister Affirmations deck, which says, “Don’t let other people try to change you. Real change comes from a horrifying near-death experience with a werewolf under a full moon.”
Only you know what is right for you. It comes from knowledge in your gut, deep down within yourself. Not from others.
Today’s message is a reminder to listen to your gut and prioritize its messages above what others say or think. It’s important to remember that other people have their own motivations and interest at heart.
You need to focus on your own interests and motivations, instead of allowing others to use you for theirs. This means listening to that inner self that tells you when something is right or something is wrong, either in general or for you specifically.
DECKS USED: TAROT DE MARSEILLE PAR POLE KA AND SINISTER AFFIRMATIONS
#DiscordTarotholicsOct2025 Challenge
Prompt for October 19th : Do Spread 3
Smoky Quartz – How can you best clear negativity from your life and in turn gain greater stability?
Heart of Bunnies – More friends, more time with loved ones, and less solitary time. Alone time is great and comfortable, but if you’re looking to clear negativity from your life, it’s true connection with those around you who love you and you love and turn.
Apple – What insight is needed to improve your physical health at this time?
Prosperity – You are functioning under the assumption of scarcity. Hoarding resources is just taking up space instead of serving a purpose at this time. If you clear out some of the mess, you will feel just as prosperous as you do now, and that anxious edge of scarcity will ease back a bit.
Chrysanthemum – Where do your defenses and boundaries need some bolstering?
No! – Say no more often. It’s the most powerful word in your arsenal when it comes to building boundaries and forcing others to respect them. Stop trying to people please, and instead say no when you need to.
Aquamarine – In what ways can meditation promote more calm and confidence in your life?
Stewpot: Tales from a Fantasy Tavern – When you do not meditate, stress and anxiety have a tendency to build up within you. This causes a jumble of emotions and greater reactivity as a result. Meditation allows this miasma of stress and emotions a chance to try and unravel a bit, so that you can suss out different aspects of the whole and deal with them.
Mint – What factor in your relationships needs some reevaluation and perhaps adjustment?
Bigfoot / The Hermit – The factor in your relationships that needs a bit of reevaluation or adjustment is yourself. Your outlook on spending time with others sucks, and you need to start trying to look at it from a different perspective that holds a value and enjoyment.
Carnelian – In what ways can including more creativity in your life brighten your daily outlook?
Spire: The City Must Fall – Creativity allows you to shine a light on what you truly enjoy instead of what is expected of you.
Pomegranate – What wish of yours is ready to be manifested into reality at this time?
Curson’s Contract – Everyone always wishes for happiness, but perhaps it’s time to reevaluate what happiness really is for you. Not the societal standard or unrealistic values of your youth, but what it truly means for you now and how that aligns with your values.
Other elements included in this reading:
Black Tourmaline for Grounding and Protection
Orange Aventurine Leaf for Pause and Reflection
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
DECKS USED: ORACLE OF PLAY AND ORACLE OF SECRETS
I treated myself to going out for spicy cha-shu ramen. I haven’t eaten out in a long time as prices have just skyrocketed recently. It was a nice change of pace.
Gideon’s Challenge – The Old One
The Old One
Trapped
in iron
he watches
the tourists
pass by in
ones and twos
as bent nose
itches
and fountain water
that falls past
his lips
is flavored
by raindrops
Twisting the Leaf 