To Feel Small
A blade of grass
makes the ant feel small
A sapling stretching tall
makes the grass feel small
A hill of forest green
makes a single sapling small
and when mountains tower
it makes the hill seem small
and then above it all
the blue sky stretches wide
and even a single cloud
makes the mountains small
like the ant
and the blade of grass
Today’s meditation was skipped.
Today’s draw is the Animal of Blood (the equivalent of the Knight of Wands), which is traditionally a representation of an active beta energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s drive, willpower, motivations, values, principles, and determination.
What more primal motivation is there other than the base determination to survive? Here in the imagery of this card we see that most primal instinct spurred into action as a giant angry bear towers over a man with a spear in hand. Only through determination and willpower backed by that basic desire to survive can the man make it out of this situation.
Today’s card asks us to examine where in our life do we need to fight for survival? What is it that needs our attention? What needs us to pour our energy into it in order to make it happen?
Are you safe? Are your needs being met? If not, what fire within you needs to be lit in order to make sure these things become a priority and are taken care of?
Mr Lionhart’s #TheSeptemberTarot Between Dusk & Dawn Prompt
Questions for September 4th thru 6th – SLOW DOWN
In what area could I slow down to honor my personal space?
Take some time to examine what you think you know (Eight of Swords). You are being too rigid in places where you could afford to loosen up (Six of Pentacles).
Being able to loosen up can sometimes take trust. If you’re too tense, things just don’t go smoothly and not everybody gets what they need. In order to achieve harmony and truly honor your personal space, there needs to be a good balance between trust and caution, not blind resistance.
What is something that I would be better off without {for now}?
For now, make sure that you’re focusing on what you need and want rather than the collective around you (Six of Wands Rx). You have the ability to fulfill those needs (The Magician), but not if you’re constantly trying to people please others all the time.
What can help me embrace a calmer flow in support of personal balance?
Knight of Pentacles and Four of Pentacles – Slow down and enjoy the ride.
#DiscordTarotholicsSep2022 Challenge Prompt
Topic: Do Spread 1
Question: How can I help “moving day” go more smoothly this week?
Reading Summary: Pay attention to the uncertainty running rampant on moving day (Anchor card). You can help others see the positive aspects of what is developing and lift up their spirit from one of uncertainty into creative abundance (Spirit of Jewels and Bones of Jewels look up and to the left toward the red Abundance card). You are there to lend stability, understanding, and assistance during this time of uncertainty (Man of Nature looks directly at the Anchor card, and the Anchor card looks back at him in turn).
Take Away: Your presence will provide a grounding affect for others that are feeling the anxiety of moving day as it takes place. Use this influence to help those in need of it see the opportunities for abundance and creative self expression that the day is providing.
I had a nice nap to recharge today and have tried to take it easy and let myself relax a bit today.
Seeking Relief
Summer heat
lingers
and it is only
in the deep shadows
of the forest
that relief is found
as no breeze
touches boughs
and leaves
do not rustle
for the heat builds
in stillness
until even the air
shimmers with it
These Saturday readings are (not usually) bearing in on any one thing or event in my life, as the question used is asking for a more general outlook. This is a self care exercise, and is not meant as a predictive reading… although that, too, happens on occasion.
The question is… What do I need to focus for self-care through the week ahead?
Overall Theme – Ladybug – Take care to focus on positivity and optimism this week. You will need their extra influence in your life to help combat any tendrils of depression or pessimism that are trying to rise up and make a mess out of things. Lean into happiness instead of self-flagellation.
Earth – King of Pentacles (Blue Morning Glory) – Make sure that you are staying on top of your responsibilities this week. Ground yourself often to ensure that the stress doesn’t start getting to you, and nip problems in the bud before they have chance to grow in your garden.
Air – The Hermit (Eryngos) atop The Emperor (Peony) – You will have very little chances left to take advantage of alone time and turn it to your advantage. Take charge of you urges to waste that alone time in unhealthy ways that could end up harmful to your mental health.
Water – Knight of Pentacles (Field Bindweed) – Make sure that you are being patient with yourself this week. No beating up on yourself for having to take things slow or because you struggle emotionally while trying to understand how you’re feeling or how to handle it. This is a slow journey that you’ve chosen, and there’s going to be times during the development of your emotional intelligence where you feel stalled out or lost. It’s just a part of the process.
Fire – The Lovers (Adonis and Rose) – Healthy choices are going to be needed in order to make the most out of this week. Make sure you’re taking your vitamins, eating healthy, and treating yourself well so that you have full stamina and a well grounded foundation with which to work from.
Waning – The Bat and Hellebore – Take care that you don’t lean too heavily into your intuition’s past advice this week. There is something “off” that needs rectified. Something you missed or misinterpreted along the way, and you need to pay attention so that you can see it clearly and get it sorted out.
Waxing – The Opossum and Peony – Allowing people to think you are shy lets you blend into the background and see things from a different perspective. Hang back and watch this week, as you will learn more from listening in the background than you will from stepping out into the light.
Take Away – Make sure you are taking care of your needs this week, including those that have to do with grounding yourself so that you can stand tall and strong in the face of responsibility, pressure, and uncertainty. Make sure you are paying attention this week so you can figure out what’s not quite right that you missed the first time around and fix it before it becomes a problem.
Today’s meditation was skipped.
Today’s draw is the Nine of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of nightmares, anxiety, insomnia, and negative thoughts and inner narratives.
What I notice most about this card’s imagery is the tree in the background that is looking quite sickly and unwell. Of course, who would feel healthy and well with nine swords threatening your body and roots?
The message in today’s card is to make sure that you are keeping a close eye on your anxiety today and do the things needed to keep it in check. Don’t allow those things hovering in the background to disrupt your peace and wellness.
The #ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge Prompt by E Roebuck-Jones
Questions for September 1st thru 3rd
What helps me stay positive?
Eight of Wands and Sphinx – Movement. When you are still and complacent, the depression tries to sneak in and take control. Movement has always helped you and staying positive, even in the face of disaster. Standing still is not your strong suit, and never has been.
How can I better appreciate all of my talents?
Four of Pentacles and Lantern – Pay attention. Pay attention to your accomplishments and what you have managed to achieve. Your goal is stability above all else, and so be sure to really take a look at the ways in which you have used your talents to create that in your life.
What do I need in order to create success?
Page of Wands and Moon – For you, success rides on the need for passionate pursuit of your curiosity, and the openness to allow yourself to always be learning and guided by the world around you as well as those in it.
OwlandBonesTarot’s #BothSidesOfTheTarot Prompt
Questions for September 3rd and 4th
Where could you use taking action?
Ace of Wands – Allow your spark of enthusiasm and creative passions to be rekindled. Remember that it’s okay to explore new things.
Where could you use being still?
Nine of Cups – Just as it’s okay to experiment and explore, so too is it okay to sit and stew in your happiness. Just make sure that it’s happiness that you’re pausing to stew in.
Finding Balance Between the Two – Allow yourself to be open to new experiences (Open Door), because even the bad ones have value. Don’t be scared that things might go wrong, because that too is a part of the learning and growth process (Mushroom).
What could you learn?
Five of Cups Rx – You could benefit from learning how to more often turn away from pessimism before it has a chance to take a root. Smother it out with the conscious choice of optimism rather than allowing it to flourish.
What could you unlearn?
Three of Wands Rx – You could benefit from unlearning the habit of procrastination and complacency that is often allowed to linger. It feels comfortable, but it’s not helping you.
Finding Balance Between the Two – These tendencies are rooted in your past and upbringing, and are things you need to work in letting go of (Cage). You need to take time to examine and release the pain in your past and it will help you in finding balance in the above mentioned areas (Soap).
I finally got to have a bit of time to play with Gid tonight. It feels like it’s been forever.
Frustration
It is not pretty
it is ugly
and hot
and it rains down
like embers
sparking off the fire’s
edges
to land on the skin
and sear the surface
as it flirts
with sparking
an inferno in the soul
of rage
unquenched
