Self Inflicted Wounds

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

Le Tarot Aux Ramures Étranges - Nine of SwordsToday’s draw is the Eight of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of willful ignorance, self imposed struggle or restraint, self limiting beliefs, negative inner narratives, self pity, and victim mentality.

The figure in the imagery of this card looks as if she is injured and bleeding. There are thorns upon her bindings, and red taints the skin, hair, and even the thorns themselves.

The message in today’s cards is that when you choose willful ignorance, victim mentality, and other negative inner narratives, the damage goes beyond the moment and stretches into the future.  Wounds are created and need time and attention to be healed.  The longer you ignore the problem, the longer it will take to tend and heal these wounds.

Tend your wounds instead of ignoring them.  Self care requires acknowledging what needs tending, and making the effort to resolve the problem instead of sitting in the misery.

DECK USED:  LE TAROT AUX RAMURES ÉTRANGES

The #ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge Prompt by E Roebuck-Jones
Question for May 14th: How am I different in romantic relationships?

Magic Flower Movement TarotReading Summary: I need someone who I can learn from on an emotional level (Page of Cups), and who is okay with having differences of opinion as long as we’re willing to hash it out (Five of Wands). Someone that understands that alone time is important to my well-being (The Hermit).

Take Away: These cards are about sharing and trust. In a romantic relationship, I am far more trusting than I am with other relationships in my life. I need that trust between myself and my romantic partner. Trust that they will guide me without selfish reasons when I need guidance, trust that they will hash out differences with me when they arise.  Trust that they will understand my needs and strive to help me in fulfilling them even when those needs might go against their wants.

Gideon fills all of these needs for me and is, in fact, my first and only romantic relationship. I’d have a lot of flings and did a lot of sleeping around before him, but I’ve not had another romantic relationship other than him… ever.

DECK USED: MAGIC FLOWER MOVEMENT TAROT

The #MysticStarChallenge for May Prompt
Questions for May 14th thru 16th

Coastal Curiosities Oracle and Le Tarot Aux Ramures Étranges - Nine of SwordsWhat card symbolizes the Spring Cleaning that I need to focus on?

Le Diable and Admire – You need to get going on the sorting and culling of your collection. This means that you need to go through things that need going through, donate what needs donated and get things organized in order to get the shelves up and get things going in that direction. You’ve put it off long enough.

How can I utilize this Spring Cleaning to my advantage?

L’amoureaux and Pursue – It will help you in getting on the right track to making positive and healthy choices for yourself in other areas of your life. Once you get the ball rolling, it will then begin to pick up momentum to continue forward on its own.

How can I support this cleaning process for my Greater Good?

As de Pentacles atop Reine de Pentacles, Depth – Dive in! Connect with your inner strengths that allow you to find your balance, and treat this as a new passion project as well as an opportunity to support yourself and make positive change. New and old will combine into something better.

DECK USED: COASTAL CURIOSITIES ORACLE AND LE TAROT AUX RAMURES ÉTRANGES

Daily Self Kindness

I had a lazy day today.  Other than pulling cards, I haven’t really done much of anything productive with my day.  I slept in.  Enjoyed a nap.  And just pretty much tooled around throughout the day.

Gideon’s Challenge

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IMG_0417Morning Rituals

Self care comes
in many forms
with yogurt
made with real fruit
and no additives
with vitamins
for nutrition
with advice given
in the sweet whisper
spirit guide’s voices
through imagery
on paper cards
and uplifting
messages
within the glow
of soft morning light

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

🌕 Full Moon & Lunar Eclipse in Scorpio – May 2022

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Tonight is the full 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 about the medicine within, and brought to you by Ethony‘s Tarot by the Moon series.

Full Moon & Lunar Eclipse In Scorpio Oracle Reading with the Korean Wildflower Oracle

Where in my life can I seek deeper meaning?

Amur Adonis – Remember that there is a difference between perception, and truth. Seek a deeper understanding of those things that you think you know so well, for there is more underneath yet to explore.

What shallow shit needs to stop?

Five Leaf Chocolate Vine – Stop discounting yourself. You are resilient. You are a survivor. And you are capable of far more than you give yourself credit for.

What instincts do I need to trust?

Siberian Geranium – Just because your emotions speak a language that you rarely understand, doesn’t mean that they aren’t valid and don’t need the freedom to express themselves as they arise.

What relationships do I need to tend to?

Cape Jasmine – All of them. A well tended garden blooms many flowers. So, any relationship that you want to thrive needs careful tending.

How can I express my sensual side?

Lily of the Valley – Seek out what makes you happy instead of using deprivation of joy and pleasure as a punishment on yourself.

Full Moon advice from the Minoan Goddess Amalthea.

Terebinthaceous Hogfennel and Catchfly – It’s natural to look back on your past and the mistakes you’ve made and feel foolish. You were young and you had much to learn, and the mistakes you made helped you to become the man you are today, so don’t fall into the trap of feeling ashamed or embarrassed about what you see when you look back on the past.

DECK USED: THE KOREAN WILDFLOWER ORACLE

All Kinds of Work

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

Animated Movies Tarot - Eight of PentaclesToday’s draw is the Eight of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of hard work, expertise through practice, honing a skill, quality craftsmanship, handicrafts, and manifestations through skill and hard work.

Research is a part of skill development. To be fair, I would usually consider Bella from Beauty and the Beast to be of the Swords suit, as she was very an intellectual in nature. That said… research is absolutely a part of developing a skill and furthering that skill into an expertise, and that is what we see here in the imagery for this card.

Today’s card is a reminder that not all hard work is hard labor. Sometimes digging into this work is more about learning from others first.

DECK USED:  ANIMATED MOVIES TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsMay2022 Challenge Prompt
Question for May 14th: What do you need to focus on for self-care for this upcoming full moon?

Le Chakra Du Cœur OracleReading Summary: You need to take some time this full moon to look at what inner wounds you are continuing to hold onto (Amour de Soi), and take action to move past them (Libre Arbitre) so that you can embrace a healthier and more growth positive relationship with yourself and the world around you (Relation Différente).

Take Away: Throughout February through April, I dealt with a major depressive episode, and there continue to be lingering effects from this time.  The stain of it is still influencing me even now that I am out of the pit, and these cards suggest that this full moon is the time to begin making the changes needed that will shake off the remaining dregs of depression’s influence and so that I can move forward into something better.

DECK USED: LE CHAKRA DU CŒUR ORACLE W/ EXPANSION PACK

ReadingWickedly’s #MayDailyDraw Prompt
Question for May 13th: How have I challenged the status quo?

Animated Movies TarotReading Summary: You follow your own moral compass (Judgement) and choose what is right for you (Two of Swords atop The Lovers) instead of blindly following along to what others say you should think and do (The Fool).

Take Away:  I challenge the status quo by being my own man and the fierce independence that keeps me honed in on what my own intuition, moral compass, and ethics say rather than depending on others, society, or popular opinion decide for me what is right or wrong.  Due to this, societal pressures and peer pressure rarely have any influence other than providing me with a new perspective to consider.

DECK USED: ANIMATED MOVIES TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I skipped going to Costco and Walmart yesterday.  I just felt like it would make the day too long.

Gideon’s Challenge

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IMG_9534Intimate Moments

Silk on skin
brushes light
gentle
the swell of lips
followed
by warm exhale
and flesh tightens
flushing in hues
of pink
eagerly anticipating
the next touch
and the skim
of another breath
more
please

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Weighing One’s Alone Time

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

The Returning of Panthera TarotToday’s draw is the Hermit card, which is traditionally a representation of solitude, self reflection and introspection, alone time, and inner guidance.

Usually, the figure in the hermit card holds a lit lantern that symbolizes enlightenment.  Here, the lantern is abandoned as the figure moves off into the vast landscape beyond.

To me, the shift in this imagery from the traditional poses the question whether one’s alone time is truly healthy, and filled with growth and introspection… or if it is unhealthy alone that is unproductive and leaves one feeling more lost than ever.

That is the message for today’s card.  It’s important to examine that alone time that indulge in and whether it’s healthy and productive… or unhealthy and holding us back.

DECK USED:  THE RETURNING OF PANTHERA TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsMay2022 Challenge Prompt
Topic: Draw or write something free form inspired by the card(s).

The Good TarotWith breathless wonder
I pause upon the trail
And take a brief rest
I look up into the canopy above

In silence and stillness
I hear the whispers of the trees
And then the tittering laughter
Of those hidden and watching

And my feet move to follow
To seek their fun and frivolity
And with one more step
I cross the veil
Into Faerie

DECK USED: THE GOOD TAROT

The #ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge Prompt by E Roebuck-Jones
Questions for May 12th, 13th, 15th, and 16th

The Returning of Panthera TarotHow can I heal from pain and disappointment?

Knight of Cups – Instead of focusing on what has caused this pain and disappointment, actively focus on what you want and what will make you happy.

What do I need so I can forgive myself?

The Lovers atop The Emperor – Prioritize healthy choices that are right for you over unhealthy controlling behavior that has you trying to cram yourself into a too small box. Square pegs don’t fit in round holes.

How does a close relationship challenge me?

Ace of Wands and The Hermit – Social obligations are something you struggle with due to your need for so much alone time. This often ends up making it difficult to express your enthusiasm for others and their company, regardless of how much they mean to you.

What are my relationship deal breakers?

Two of Wands Rx – Lack of consideration and forethought. Just as I do for them, I expect those I’m in a relationship with to consider my feelings before taking action.

Knight of Wands Rx – Lack of interest. I need relationships where they are willing to pester me into spending time with them. This balances out my solitary hermit-like inclinations.

The Fool atop Ace of Cups – Too much naïve frivolity. It borders on stupidity (and often insensitivity towards others) when one just chases after their “emotional sweet spot” all the time, and I just don’t have tolerance for that sort of behavior.

DECK USED: THE RETURNING OF PANTHERA TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I added spinach to my tuna today.  I chopped it up in tiny pieces like chives and mixed it into the tuna, and you couldn’t even taste it was there… but gave me a bit of extra veggies for the day.