The Easing
Tension rides
muscled ridges
as inner chords
draw tight
like violin strings
ready to snap
until long arms
curl strong around
from behind
and a breath
is taken
as in your company
tangled knots
unfurl
📆 Transitioning from September to October
Here and Now I Exist – Who you are now, in your entirety.
The Magician and The Beech – Your energies and those around you are on the ascent, and you have all the tools at your disposal that you need to make sure that everything goes just the way you want it to. Have confidence in your tools and your ability to use them to achieve your goals as things begin to speed up and the holiday rush begins to crowd out everything else.
The Slough – What is to be left in the past as you move forward.
Judgement and The Stag Beetle – Make sure that you are not judging yourself harshly for the transition period that is coming. Change is hard, and of course there’s going to be a little bit of struggle involved as you move from a time when you can focus on yourself to a time when every shred of your focus needs to be towards your business and it’s growth.
What Lies Ahead – An ideal state or ideal self you are seeking at this time.
King of Wands and The Mistletoe – Lead those with you through the long haul forward with strength, and make your passions their passions. Inspire them to transition with you into this new, temporary reality that the approaching holiday rush presents.
Limitations – Negative influences, opposition, or ill will.
The Devil and The Fumewort – Fairweather friends have no place in your life right now. They will become a hindrance that weighs you down and chokes out your enthusiasm. Don’t let your self-destructive tendencies convince you to try to hold onto these people right now. You can revisit these friendships in January if they’re still around at that time.
The Boon – Positive influences, higher guidance, or divine intervention.
Three of Swords and The Aphid – Focus on the little things right now. There’s lots of little things you can do to prepare for what is to come. When working on these little things you can advance far quicker and far more than you expect you could because all these little things pile up if you let them. If you are looking for things to make you feel good about yourself during this time (connection between the Aphid and the Stag Beetle) make sure you are doing these little things, and writing them down so you can see the progress you’re making.
The Wound – An unpleasant past experience or event that is ripe for some support and healing.
The Moon and The Firemoss – You need to take time to confront the feelings that stemmed from your time of homelessness and abject poverty. Although it is a long time in the past, there are still issues that linger in your mind and your heart from this time.
Nostalgia – A positive past experience or event to acknowledge, reflect upon, and enjoy.
Ten of Cups and and The Glowworm – This refers not to one specific positive past experience, but rather on remembering the good times as a whole and releasing the bad. It’s okay to keep the lesson and let go of the rest, in order to encourage focusing more on the positive than the negative.
A Warning – Something coming that can be prevented or overcome.
Five of Wands and The Lambsquarters – An effort from outside sources to come in and try and take over is coming. Make sure that you are aware of what’s going on around you and prepared. They could be useful and even beneficial, but not if they’re given free reign.
Empowerment – A future opportunity to work toward.
The Hierophant and The Oak – Put on a display the strength, structure, and stability that your presence provides for those around you. You will be given the opportunity to further your influence towards stability in future weeks, and provide guidance to those that are in need of that stability.
Notation: Skipping the “Three Realms” section of this reading today as a part of my self-kindness. I’m just too tired, and I don’t want to hold back posting this post, for I know it’ll just sit there in my “almost ready” list of posts and make me feel guilty.
DECKS USED: CATS RULE THE WORLD TAROT AND THE GLOWWOOD ORACLE
Finding Stability
Today’s meditation was attempted, but not quite there. I did the laying down and even the closing my eyes and breathing slow, but my brain wouldn’t calm to the point needed to actually feel like I accomplished meditating. I did try, though.
Today’s draw is the Four of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of conservation, security, stability, acting the miser or spendthrift, self-inflicted stagnancy, and control.
In the imagery today’s card, what catches my eye today is that the crown the figure wears helps in holding the coin atop his head. Sometimes we all need a little help to feel stable. In the card, the figure has put on this crown to assist in this. What is it you do in your life that help you in feeling stable?
The message in today’s card is about those activities that make you feel stable and grounded, and encourages us to tap into those activities to help you in feeling stable today.
DECK USED: AUTUMN MISS TAROT
#DiscordTarotholicsSep2022 Challenge Prompt
Philosophical Question for September 28th: What are the 3 major strengths of humanity?
Young Man in Straw Hat – Friendship and Compassion – The ability to prioritize compassion over wealth, and connect deeply with others instead of everything remaining either solitary or superficial.
Xiwangmu Queen Mother of the West – Reproduction and Good Health – Humanity thrives, even in times of struggle and when conditions are at their worst. They are not wiped out by plague or misfortune, but instead continue on, generation after generation.
Eopsin Goddess of Storage and Wealth – Hope and Good Luck – Even in times when humanity is ignorant, good fortune lingers to provide a hand up, and as a result consequences are mitigated by luck and hope.
Topic for September 30th: Grab a spread of your choice that you’ve been curious about and give it a go!
Spread: Lionhart’s Reason Season Lifetime Spread
Reason – Why are things manifesting for me the way the are right now?
Four of Swords – Because you need to take a bit of time for extra rest and recovery right now. The lull won’t last forever, and you need this time of recuperation.
Season – What can I learn from my current path and that which surrounds me?
The Tower – Don’t catastrophize what is merely opportunity knocking on your door. Look for the boon instead of allowing pessimism to tear apart the possibilities being offered.
Lifetime – How does this fit into the bigger picture of my soul journey?
Temperance – Learning patience and moderation is an important part of your journey. Being able to see the value in rest and giving yourself the time to recover is a part of learning to be more patient with yourself and your goals. So is not making a big deal out of every opportunity that presents itself as sudden change.
DECK USED: MANSHIN I ORACLE AND 11:11 TAROT
The #ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge Prompt by E Roebuck-Jones
Questions for September 29th and 30th
How can I make time for rest and relaxation every day?
Nine of Pentacles and The Fall – Be more conscious of all the good stuff you’ve surrounded yourself with and your accomplishments.
When you rush, mistakes are made. You can accomplish just as much through focused mindfulness as by rushing, because the slower path wont hold as many setbacks, mistakes, and problems in the mix.
There’s truth in the saying that everything gets done in its own time. In a lot of tasks and goals, you reach the finish line at the same time no matter if you rush or take your time, so why not slow down and enjoy the journey more instead of putting all that strain on yourself by rushing?
DECK USED: AUTUMN MISS TAROT AND THE MAD DOCTOR’S ORACLE
I got all of the October decks pulled earlier today, and I’m still amazed at the ease at which I can now pull decks with the shelves up instead of my previous system.
Gideon’s Challenge
Energy Exchange
Fine tendrils
delicate and gossamer
trail sweet and soft
on the air
to kiss against
the strands
of another’s
and in the brush
and tangle
of two
comes a sense
of what lies beneath
what is the same
and what is not
Photo © ZenStatePhotography
Valuing Traditions
Today’s meditation was a bit over fourteen minutes long and was spent in quiet with breathing exercises and forearm stretches. My right forearm has seized again, and so the stretching during my meditation was to tend to this issue.
Today’s draw is the Hierophant, which is traditionally a representation of tradition, structure, guidance, established principles, and spiritual knowledge.
In today’s card, the Hierophant is represented by Staurolite and Oak. Staurolite, an iron based mineral, has qualities of stability and longevity, while the Oak shares and transforms this longevity into strength and long established tradition.
The message in today’s card, therefore, is about where we find comfort and stability in old traditions and passed down practices. Especially in the third quarter of the year, we run into a wide variety of traditions, both in society and family. The holidays that fall in this quarter of the year are steeped in them.
Today’s card invites us to examine those traditions and the reason they are carried on through the generations. What value do they hold that keeps them flourishing year after year? Which traditions do you value most, and which need a closer look to understand more fully?
DECK USED: TELLURIC TAROT 2ND EDITION
OwlandBonesTarot’s #BothSidesOfTheTarot Prompt
Questions for September 29th and 30th
What boundary could be set in place?
Angoisses – As the holiday rush approaches, anxiety will rise. Make sure that you are not allowing this anxiety to freeze you in place. Staying fluid and flexible is important.
What wall could be taken down?
Souffrances – The chronic pain you deal with on a daily basis has levels, and you need to start doing those things that help keep your pain and suffering in check.
Finding Balance Between the Two – You know what you need to do (Wisdom), so untie those stubborn knots tying your hands and holding you back (Bound) and do it.
You need to work on establishing a regular meditation practice, which helps a great deal with both your anxiety and your pain levels.
What needs acceptance?
Nourriture – Nurturing comes in all forms. We feed our body with food, we feed our heart with good friends and love, we feed our mind with books and curiosity, we feed our soul with those things and people that make our soul sing. All of these aspects need fed. All of them; not just whatever ones you feel are valid.
What could you refuse?
Pitié – Pay attention to your negative inner narrative and shut down its lies when they try to whisper to you. Don’t allow them to turn your perspective sour.
Finding Balance Between the Two – When you connect to those things that spark fire in your soul (Burn), it creates a lift in all areas of your life including how you speak to yourself. The better you feel, the less your negative inner narrative has to say (Interconnected).
DECK USED: L’ORACLE DES MESSAGES DE TON CŒUR AND THE WANDERING SOUL ORACLE
#DiscordTarotholicsSep2022 Challenge Prompt
Questions for September 29th
Goal – Knight of Cups – To instill more joy and enthusiasm into your day-to-day activities, especially in relation to pursuits that involve your creativity.
Pros – The Lovers – More connection with your purpose, and a healthier outlook towards your work and responsibilities. Rose colored glasses make everything look better, which influences how you feel, think, and communicate with others.
Cons – Ace of Swords – Enthusiasm created from those “feel good” feelings brings about a plethora of inspired ideas that you don’t really have time to add to your plate.
Obstacles – Two of Swords – This over abundance of enthusiasm and barrage of ideas can cause solid planning and realistic goal setting to fall to the wayside.
Solutions – Antecedent of Pentacles – Don’t start what you can’t finish. Write it down instead, and save the ideas “for a rainy day” when you have a bit more time. You can always return to them late.
DECK USED: TELLURIC TAROT 2ND EDITION
I shared my frustrations with others instead of holding them inside and letting them fester.
Gideon’s Challenge
The Ache
I think of you
a few thousand
times a day
and each time
my soul eases
and I can breathe
a little easier.
There is no
possible way
I could change
my mind
about you.
I need you
to breathe.
