Taking Things Too Far

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

Mountain Dream Tarot - Five of SwordsToday’s draw is the Five of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of conflict, tests, trials, or hardship in the area of one’s education, intellect, thoughts, logic, ambitions, or communication.

This card can often translate into themes that have to do with “winning at all cost”, and can be a reminder that sometimes the costs are just too steep.

The appearance of this card today asks where are you pushing too hard right now? What are you sacrificing in your effort to “win” or succeed?

Today’s card is a reminder that we need to be mindful of just how far we’re willing to go and what we’re willing to sacrifice.  Not just if we’re willing… but if we really should be going as far as we are considering taking it… or should we back off instead?

DECK USED:  MOUNTAIN DREAM TAROT

Mr Lionhart’s #TheSeptemberTarot Between Dusk & Dawn Prompt
Questions for September 7th thru 9th – CONTEMPLATE

La Flora Tarot and For Strange Women Botanical OracleWhat am I holding onto that is holding me back?

The Tower and Frozen Lilacs – What happened in the end of your last “relationship” continues to hold you back. It was violent, ugly, and painful. The destructive end to that friends-with-benefits relationship was definitely a surprise, and the after effects of it continue to linger.

How is this holding me back?

Ten of Pentacles and Clairvoyant – Being able to find a sense of security and stability in your accomplishments has taken a hit as a result of that experience. Finding your sense of stable footing and purpose was not so much a problem prior.

What can I do to rise above that which is holding me back?

Page of Cups and Roots – Continue to explore your emotions and dig deep for the hidden truths that will serve as an elixir to healing.

If I could change one thing for the better, what would you suggest I should change?

Six of Swords and Maidenhair Fern – Don’t rush into this. You need to slow down and take things at a more sedate pace for the changes that you want to happen to actually stick.

DECK USED: LA FLORA TAROT AND FOR STRANGE WOMEN BOTANICAL ORACLE

#DiscordTarotholicsSep2022 Challenge Prompt
Philosophical Question: What is humanity’s biggest mistake?

Mountain Dream Tarot - Queen of Wands, Knight of Pentacles, Nine of SwordsReading Summary: Humanity’s biggest mistake is in not worrying enough (Nine of Swords Rx) about taking things slow (Knight of Pentacles) and exploring one’s passions in depth (Queen of Wands).

Take Away: We rush through so many things, even those things that are meant to be slowly savored and enjoyed. This rushing to and fro is a mistake, as it means that humanity is missing out on the good stuff that comes with moving at a slower pace and truly savoring the present and our surroundings.

DECK USED: MOUNTAIN DREAM TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

Jer and I were both very tired at the end of the day today and decided that, instead of going back home, we would stick around and sleep over, then continue with getting stuff done tomorrow.

Gideon’s Challenge

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IMG_0594Too Strong

Tenacious
and steadfast
I stubbornly
fight to remain
upright
and yet
all I truly want
is to let go
falter
fall
and allow you
to catch me
so that
I can feel safe

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Weekly Creativity Prompt – The Sun

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Prompt: “Pull the card from your deck(s) that matches the card posted below. Compare the imagery between the card provided below and the card(s) from your own decks). How would you read them differently and why?”

Tarot of the Hidden Realm - The Sun CardTarot of the Hidden Realm – Children touch upon an innocence that is often depicted in the Sun card in tarot, and here we see two that play together, a flower in full bloom and abundance of green giving an impression of success that is about happiness and the butterfly above their heads lends a carefree atmosphere to time spent together.  This card speaks of happiness being about those you spend time with and the joy found in abundance, camaraderie, and sharing rather than monetary values.

The Sun Card - Lonely Dreamer Tarot, Förhäxa Tarot, Autumn Miss Tarot

The Lonely Dreamer Tarot – Here in the imagery of this card that is a serenity provided in the pool of water the figure stands in and the reflection of her form upon its surface.  The pool is calm and smooth, and the form of the woman graceful as the sun overhead turns the water into pure gold. The imagery in this card speaks to me of success in its many forms.  Not everything has to be about excitement, optimism, and positivity. Sometimes it’s in our most calm and serene moments where we discover true value in ourselves and the world around us.

Förhäxa Tarot – In this imagery, an angel appears to reap energy from a forest fire’s blaze below.  This speaks to me of there being no energy ever wasted.  Even forest fires have their purpose, and that energy is not wasted either. There is mystery here, but also hope.  Strength, too.  This card says that failures are not always failures at all, but rather a plan that is simply beyond our ken put into action.  It encourages, optimism and asks us to reject pessimistic viewpoints for a more positive perspective.

Autumn Miss Tarot – This card’s imagery is the closest to the traditional RWS imagery, and it speaks to me not of fun… not of joy or of peace (for who in their right mind can be peaceful, optimistic, and joyful when riding a horse while without paints?)  Instead, it speaks to me of success earned through tenacity and hard work, and the celebration of that success (as seen in the flying of the red banner the figure holds and the clenched fist of the other hand).

DECK USED: THE LONELY DREAMER TAROT, FÖRHÄXA TAROT, AUTUMN MISS TAROT

Interconnectedness in Life

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Today’s meditation was

Artist's Vision TarotToday’s draw is the Star card, which is traditionally a representation of hope, renewal, positive outlooks, faith, and the connection between physical, emotional, and spiritual realms.

There is so much going on in this card, yet, what stands out to me strongest in the imagery today is the house in the center and how the roof blends almost perfectly into the background.

So many aspects of our lives are interlaced with each other. How we feel physically can influence how we react emotionally. How we feel emotionally can have a direct influence on our drive and ambition. It is all interconnected.

Today’s message is about paying attention to those interconnected aspects of our lives. Explore how they influence each other and seek out the influences that inspire hope and optimism, as opposed to letting more negative themes flourish.

DECK USED:  ARTIST’S VISION TAROT

OwlandBonesTarot’s #BothSidesOfTheTarot Prompt
Questions for September 5th and 6th

The Essential Tarot and the Pythia Botanica Oracle v2Where could you give more?

Nine of Wands – You could stand to evaluate your boundaries, and shore them up a bit more. Make sure that your protections and wards are in place in your home, that you’re locking and using the katy bar on the door, and are otherwise being proactive in increasing your safety practices.

Where might you dial back?

Page of Cups – Although your emotional growth is important to you and so is your creativity, right now might be a good time to put more logic into action in your life rather than leaning into the emotional side of things.

Finding Balance Between the Two – Banksia and Larkspur – Be vicious about your protections and pour it on a little thick for good measure. Now is not the time to slack on such things, and leaning into the practical and logical will only assist you in this.

What’s in?

Ten of Cups – Doing what you need to do to not just find happiness in your life, but to share it with others in your life that matter most.

What’s out?

Nine of Swords – Anxiety, discord, over-worrying, and stressing about shit you can’t do anything about.

Finding Balance Between the Two – Jasmine and Lilac – Focus more on them instead of yourself, and let them distract you from the negative inner narrative that sometimes wants to take control.

DECK USED: THE ESSENTIAL TAROT AND PYTHIA BOTANICA ORACLE v2

To Cull & Gather #VennoxesTarotChallenge Prompt
Questions for September 6th thru 9th – TURNING LEAVES

Artist's Vision TarotWhat part of me is changing?

Strength – You are learning to develop better social skills and emotional intelligence that are helping in making you a more compassionate person.

How can I shed gracefully what needs to be left behind in this process?

Ten of Swords – Don’t focus too hard on it, and thus end up letting it overwhelm you as a result.

Why is this change is important to me?

Three of Swords – You don’t enjoy revisiting the times when you are disappointed in yourself, and as a result you want to be a better person and do better as a whole.

How to I embrace this evolution?

The Devil – Allow yourself to feel enthusiasm for it, and lean into it in healthy ways. Watch out for those addictive tendencies of yours that try and take over and send you too far over the edge. Self-awareness is important.

DECK USED: ARTIST’S VISION TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

Todays self kindness is claiming a free night at the casino hotel in the newly renovated wing to rest and relax instead of trying to drive home exhausted tonight.

Gideon’s Challenge

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IMG_0741Your Stare

I flush pink
for you
as your gaze
holds fast
making cheeks
turn rosy
and color rise
along my nape
and a twitch
of upturned corners
come to lips
before teeth tug
lower swell

This?  Is all yours.

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Summer Soul Glow Lenormand Reading

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Summer Soul Glow Lenormand Reading with the Antiquitarian Lenormand

Relax – Take a mini break from doing this.

Mice and Snake – Undermining your own confidence through use of self-destructive tendencies based in picking yourself apart a little bit at a time. There’s no need for this, and its possible if you take a break from it for a time, that the urge to do so will ease off and it will become less of a common occurrence in your life overall.

Reflect – Make time to sit alone and think about this.

Tower and Key – This is an echo of this week’s Self-Care Saturday spread, and encourages you to step back and observe rather than involving yourself form the get go. There is much more that you need to see that will only visible from a place on the sidelines.

Refresh – Find time to do more of this.

Fox and Clouds – Be clever in how you confront confusion and uncertainty. There’s lots of out-of-the-box thinking that’s needed, and you’re more than capable of the task, but in order to do so you’ll need to suspend snap judgements and actually take the time to pause and reflect on the issues prior to trying to deal with them.

DECK USED: ANTIQUITARIAN LENORMAND RESURRECTED