Finding the Positive for December 10 – 12

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Coastal Crow & Raven Tarot's Magician card, WinterBell Tarot's Ten of Pentacles, Mystical Tarot of the Saints' Six of Coins / Six of Pentacles

December 10 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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The @GlitterbyInk #DecemberDays25 Beyond the Solstice Challenge
The Artisan Prompt for December 10 : Vibrant
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is The Magician card, which is traditionally a representation of capability, potential, resourcefulness, action, and manifestation. This often translates into themes having to do with being in possession of all of the skills, abilities, and tools necessary to reach one’s goals and accomplish one’s ends. It’s about being capable and skilled, resourceful and gifted with what is needed to get the job done.

The greatest tool at your disposal is your brain.

The Magician is filled with the energy of innovation, having all the tools needed to do what needs done. Well the most valuable of those tools isn’t experience or anything in particular that you own. It’s your brain.

Common sense and innovation are the key to any and all other “tools” at one’s disposal. If you can’t think? You can’t -do- what needs done.

The message in today’s card and prompt combination is a reminder that it’s your mind that shines brightest when it comes to solving problems. Don’t forsake yourself or your ingenuity. Don’t call yourself stupid, lean into willful helplessness, or forsake your innate ability to problem solve. Be creative. Use your brain. That’s what it’s there for.

DECK USED: COASTAL CROW & RAVEN TAROT

December 11 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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The @GlitterbyInk #DecemberDays25 Beyond the Solstice Challenge
The Artisan Prompt for December 11 : Gilded
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is the Ten of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of satisfaction and stability in the area of one’s finances, resources, home, health, manifestations, and the physical world. This often translates into themes that have to do with hard earned success, accomplishments, abundance created through patience and hard work.

What makes your life worth living?  What cycles in life return to the surface again and again, creating value where it felt like value was lacking?

That’s the questions that I see this card asking us today.  It’s in the star that shines so brightly in the center like a symbol of hope and positive outcomes, and the circle of ornaments and deer that encircle the star, speaking of abundance and fruition.

The thing is?  We can’t always have everything we want. And if we could? Just imagine how boring that would be.  Instead, or good fortune comes in cycles, creating a balance between good and bad… and it’s up to us to focus on the good and give it the true credit in our lives that it deserves.

The message in today’s card combined with the “gilded” prompt is a reminder that our abundance and good fortune are only as valuable as we allow them to be.  If we disregard them, then they hold little value in our lives.  But, if we take time to acknowledge and celebrate these things, they have the ability to shine more brightly and lift us up even during times when we’re struggling.

DECK USED: WINTERBELL TAROT

December 12 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was a ten minute long #DailyCalm session from the @Calm app.

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The @GlitterbyInk #DecemberDays25 Beyond the Solstice Challenge
The Artisian Prompt for December 12 : Abstract
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is the Six of Coins (Pentacles), which is traditionally a representation of charity, generosity, sharing the wealth, asking for or accepting help, and balancing the scales between the “haves” and the “have nots” in life.

Lots of people look at generosity as a nice idea, but not something they can practically do. I get this, as I too struggle in certain areas where I would normally want to be generous.

The thing is, though?  Maybe that means we’re looking at generosity in a closed-minded way.  How many things have you thrown away this week that someone else might have possibly used?  Did you throw them away because they held no use? Or did you toss them because it was “too much trouble” or inconvenient to find a way to donate them to others that could use them?

Food, blankets, cardboard boxes others could use for gifting, bottles of water, electronics, winter wear, old shoes, socks, even leftovers.  All of these things can be donated or given away to others that could use them… and yet we throw them away out of convenience.

The message in today’s card and prompt combination is a reminder that generosity is not an abstract concept. It simply takes a little effort to make it work.  Even those just scraping by -can- contribute to others and help them by offering time or support instead of money, food, or goods.  It’s up to each of us, though, to carry those abstract thoughts of generosity forward into reality.  Otherwise?  They’re just a nice idea that nobody’s actually doing.

DECK USED: MYSTICAL TAROT OF THE SAINTS

Gideon’s Challenge – Atmospheric River

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The FloodAtmospheric River

Fields
once green
turn into lakes
as the rain
keeps coming
and the world
becomes wet
and empty
yet neighbors
band together
to ensure
you’re not
alone

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Gideon’s Challenge – The Cling

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Low CloudsThe Cling 

Warnings come
with the
raindrops
and the clouds
that cling
low
among the hills
promising
more wet
than
we’ll know
what to do with.
Get ready
for the flood

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Seeking Celebration

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Today’s meditation was a ten minute long #DailyCalm session from the @Calm app.

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Storybook Christmas Tarot - The Sun cardThe @GlitterbyInk #DecemberDays25 Beyond the Solstice Challenge
The Artisan Prompt for December 9 : Festive
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is The Sun card, which is traditionally a representation of success, optimism, positivity, fun and frivolity. In my path, the Sun is also a symbol of male vitality, virility, and warmth.

There’s always something to celebrate. Sometimes we don’t feel like it, and sometimes our negative inner narratives keep us from being able to see it… but there is always something to celebrate.

Today’s message from the Sun card combined with the “festive” prompt is a reminder to not sink so far into the negative self talk going on in your head that you forget to look for the good stuff all around you. Sometimes looking for these things takes more work than others times, but it’s there for you to find if you work at it. Not only that, but like so many other things in life, the more you work at it, the easier it becomes.

DECK USED:  STORYBOOK CHRISTMAS TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsDec2025 Challenge
Prompts for December 8th and 9th

Tarot Reading with The Mystic Gnome TarotWhere could you direct your focus this week to be more understanding?

Nine of Swords Rx and Ten of Pentacles – In a repeat of the message in the card of the day pulled for today, these cards are a reminder not to listen to the negative inner voices telling you about everything that’s wrong and everything you’re doing wrong, that you’re not enough, or everyone else is stupid, etc.

Instead, look at those things that you are being given the opportunity to celebrate and where abundance lies in your life. When anxieties and depression are are weighing you down, it can be hard to find and appreciate these positive things in your life, but they’re still there. You just have to look for them and take a moment to appreciate them. Don’t disregard them to listen to that negative inner voice instead.

When harsh judgments and fear lead thoughts are pushed to the back, it allows you to be more open and understanding, both to yourself as well as other others.

What can you do to feel more fulfilled in your day-to-day life?

Five of Swords Rx and Knight of Wands Rx – Stop looking at everything you do as a battle that you have to run into full speed ahead. Yes, some difficult things in life do feel that way. You don’t have to turn everything you do into that kind of a dynamic, though.

Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Acorns for Protection during New Beginnings
Foraged Lodgepole Pine for Resilience, Growth, and Renewal
Rainforest Rhyolite for Facilitating Calm Transitions
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: THE MYSTIC GNOME TAROT

@Lionharts #TheDecemberTarot Fruits of 2025 Challenge
The Wheel / Transition Prompts for December 7th thru 10th

Tarot Reading with the Storybook Christmas TarotWhat is ready to move the moment I stop resisting?

Six of Candy Canes (Wands) atop Five of Icicles (Swords) – A lot of the times when you people please you are participating in a self-defeating cycle. Although you aren’t a people pleaser for everyone and everyone, you are for a select few. When you let go of this need to please them, you will better be able to give yourself what you need.

What cycle is closing with or without my permission?

Six of Icicles (Swords) – If you don’t start moving on your own concerning those things that it’s time to let go of, life is going to rip them from your grip instead.

What timing can I trust instead of trying to control?

The Moon – When feelings of uncertainty rise up, instead of jumping into action right away, take a pause and see if it will work itself out instead. You can always step in once you’re sure that your hand in things is needed, instead of jumping in from the start.

What change has already begun beneath the surface?

The High Priestess – Your intuition is already working to try and balance out your need to please others and your own personal needs that you’re not fulfilling. You merely need listen a little more closely.

Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Parmeliaceae Lichen for a “Breath of Fresh Air”
Dried Rhododendron Leaf for Fostering Confidence
Die-cut Fox Figure for Strategic Thinking and Clarity
Conch Shell Knot for Concentration and Clarity
Gneiss Stone for Patience in Moments of Discomfort
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED:  STORYBOOK CHRISTMAS TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I took a nap to recharge today after finishing up some spellwork done as part of a holiday gift.

Gideon’s Challenge – The Promise

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Lodgepole Pine and Autumn LeavesThe Promise 

Winter
creeps in
with cold skies
and decay
as the last leaves
tumble
to the ground
and the
evergreens
reach skyward
to promise
renewal
will come

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Looking at New vs Old

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Laughing Eye Weeping Eye Tarot - Seven of CupsThe @GlitterbyInk #DecemberDays25 Beyond the Solstice Challenge
The Artisan Prompt for December 8 : Vintage
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is the Seven of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of themes having to do with having a plethora of options to choose from, all of opportunity’s doors being open upon one’s path, and at times being overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices available in the moment.

Sometimes new isn’t better.

I watched a commercial from the 80s recently that had a bunch of cars bumping into things, showing how the bumper protects the car from damage and creates a safer experience on the road.  And I just have to honestly say that I’ve -never- seen a modern car take a bump like the older cars in this commercial did.  It was impressive.

It’s not just with cars that new isn’t always better, though. Think about the erosion of privacy, education systems,  and life skills in our youth.

The message in the card for today combined with the “vintage” prompt is a reminder that new isn’t always better. Instead of allowing ourselves to be enchanted on the novelty of new, today’s message encourages us to pause and ask if the “new” is realistically an improvement. What we are sacrificing in the update, and is that new shiny feeling really worth what we lose in the process?

DECK USED:  LAUGHING EYE WEEPING EYE TAROT

@aplacetodock #Yuletide Oracle Challenge
Prompts for December 7th, 9th and 10th

Tarot Reading with the Winter Waite Redux Tarot 2024What is on my Christmas list for Santa?

Two of Cups – Copacetic union. You would very much like for everyone to get along this season. There’s going to be a lot of people gathered together from different backgrounds and different parts of the world, and you would like there to be an effort on everyone’s part to let things go off smoothly and conflict free.

Finish the sentence: “This Christmas I hope..”

Six of Cups – … will be diverse and bountiful.

In an echo of the previous question, there’s a hope here for a harmony, even during times of collected diversity.  Lots of different people (and options) gathered around, and no shit stirring or anxiety involved, would be lovely.

What direction comes from the Christmas Star?

Death – Don’t allow your resistance to change fuck up your holiday happiness.  Change isn’t really your strong suite and you have a tendency to be stubborn and try to hold on as long as possible.  The direction given by the Christmas Star this year is to take care not to balk to much.  Go with the flow where you can in order to allow for changes to come and go with ease and the holiday season be less of a struggle.

Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Rhododendron Leaf for Fostering Confidence
Carved Bamboo for Positive Outcomes
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: WINTER WAITE REDUX 2024

@LightningWildflower December Arcana Challenge 
The Emperor Prompts for December 7th and 8th

Tarot Reading with the Laughing Eye Weeping Eye TarotWhere in my life do I want for more stability?

The Fool Rx and The Sun – You want to have your cake and eat it too. You crave stability in all things, but need the ability to cut loose and have some fun. These two contrast, in that in order to really cut loose and be care free, you have to loosen your grip on that stability that you covet so fiercely. You need to find a way to instill stability in this area that won’t hinder your enjoyment in the moment.

What does healthy authority look like to me?

Judgement and Death – Direction towards obtainable future goals while providing guidance through change. No when is particularly comfortable with change. In your opinion, health authority involves someone who is willing to help people move through change in healthy ways. Guiding them towards a future goal, instead of allowing them to get stuck in the stagnancy of resistance and grief.

Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Acorns for Protection during New Beginnings
Bird Figurine for Fostering Hope, Positivity, and Renewal
Gneiss Wishing Stone for Patience in Moments of Discomfort
Desert Rose for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED:  LAUGHING EYE WEEPING EYE TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I cut myself a break on meditation today, because I was really struggling to focus. I did lie there for about ten minutes, it just wasn’t particularly successful.