Gideon’s Challenge – Lost

Massive TreeLost

Sometimes
healthy growth
looks like
a tangle
of chaos
and knots
instead of
linear progress
one can gauge
easily
and those tangles
cause anxiety
as we worry
we’ve become
lost

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Listening to Self

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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The Wheel of Change Tarot - The Lovers CardThe @GlitterbyInk #NovemberWhispers25 Liminal Dreamland Challenge
Shape-Shifter Prompt for November 13
: Wings
Daily Mental Health Prompt
: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is the Lovers card, which is traditionally a representation of love and relationships, long term contracts, harmonious unions, and making choices that are geared toward what is best for you.

I wandered across a video recently on IG where someone was going off about how if anything in your life isn’t a “hell yeah!” then it should immediately be a “fuck no”. They indicated that this should be across the board from work to people, relationships to hobbies, etc. They said that if you think about spending your time on it and it’s not a “Hell yeah” inner response, then it’s got to go, because life is too short to waste your time on things you don’t enjoy.

While in broad strokes, I agree with this sentiment, I also disagree with it a great deal. Just because you might not be in the mood doesn’t mean someone or something is not for you. Just because we feel in a slump, doesn’t mean abandoning people or things that (during the slump’s duration) don’t light us up. Hell, I deal with episodes of severe clinical depression. If I followed what this influencer was saying? I’d self destruct my life at least once a year, and probably be a coke or heroin addict.

The message in today’s card, combined with the “wings” prompt, is a reminder that a lot of times the messages that influencers put out there are an effort to lift you up and encourage you. That doesn’t mean that you follow their advice to the letter.

The video that I watched was uplifting and encouraging and empowering; and while I enjoy those emotions as I watch the video, I have the good sense not to follow the advice verbatim.

Today’s message is a reminder that it’s okay to let things lift you up for a moment of experience. To let them send you aloft with a draft of hope and empowerment under your wings… just don’t lose your common sense and the knowledge of what’s right (and healthy) for you along the way.

DECK USED:  THE WHEEL OF CHANGE TAROT

The @owlandbonestarot #78DaysOfTarotSpreads Challenge
The Hermit Spread

The Hermit Tarot Reading with the Fabled Cloudland Tarot

What guidance do you seek?

Ten of Pentacles – You seek ways to find a greater sense of security. You struggle a great deal with scarcity issues, both real and imagined. As a result, you are constantly seeking a greater sense of stability in your life. A perspective where the fears that drive your feelings of scarcity are divorced from your sense of stability and security.

What light helps you find an answer?

Eight of Pentacles – The answers you seek lie in applying yourself to learning new techniques to build that stability in your life. You won’t get there by sitting on your laurels. Instead, you need to work at trial and error to develop what will work for you, then hone that into a skill you can use.

What message do you receive?

The Emperor Rx – Remember that it’s okay to let someone else take the reins now and then. Instead of worrying about the greater good, focus more on what lies within and what you need.

What inner truth becomes illuminated?

Death Rx – Stagnancy is not your friend, no matter how comfortable it may seem. Don’t ignore the subtle changes going on around you, as they prepare you for the larger ones to come.

What insight comes in stillness?

Nine of Wands Rx – There’s no need to take on change with a defensive approach. There’s no need to be on guard all the time.  Use moments of stillness to take a breath and release the tension, instead of seeing them as the silent pall in which to brace for impact.

Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Wood Fern for Exorcising Negative Influences
Dried Red Maple Leaf for Adaptability and Connection
Foraged Oak Branch with Moss and Lichen for Perseverance
Gneiss Stone for Patience in Moments of Discomfort
Carnelian Agate for Inner Drive and Focusing On Aspirations
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: FABLED CLOUDLAND TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsNov2025 Challenge
Past Prompts for November 13th
: What from the past is…

Tarot Reading with The Wheel of Change Tarot and Bob Ross OracleBlocking My Way – Queen of Cups and The Old Cabin – Your emotional attachment to security and safety is an obstacle in your path. This includes your introverted tendencies and urges to hide away instead of connecting to others that can nurture you emotionally.

Distracting My Attention – Knight of Swords and The Almighty Mountain – You have a tendency to take on challenges without considering if they may become too heavy for you to comfortably carry on your journey.

Tying My Hands – Queen of Wands atop The High Priestess; The Dead Tree – Although the pied piper of inspiration calls your name, you first have to discard what’s no longer working. If you weren’t holding on to those things so tightly and let them fall away naturally, you’d have an easier time dancing to the tune of your inner calling.

Other elements included in this reading:
Staghorn Sumac for Connecting with Nature and the Wild Within
Foraged Acorns for Protection during New Beginnings
Dried Red Maple Leaf for Adaptability and Connection
Carnelian Agate for Inner Drive and Focusing On Aspirations
Desert Rose Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECKS USED: THE WHEEL OF CHANGE TAROT AND BOB ROSS ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

Due to the veterans day / remembrance day holiday, orders were all messed up this week. I managed to get them done tonight, though, which which feels like it has taken a huge amount of pressure off.

Gideon’s Challenge – Momentary Fugue

M/F Trash BinsMomentary Fugue

Laughter
blooms
as a moment
of clouded
confusion
clears
and thoughts
of a
bathroom break
turn into a
mistaken
impression
of
segregated
trash bins

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Balancing the Scales

Today’s meditation was an eleven minute long #DailyTrip session from the @Calm app.

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Cat Tarot by Louis Art - Justice CardThe @GlitterbyInk #NovemberWhispers25 Liminal Dreamland Challenge
Truth-Teller Prompt for November 12
 : Dream
Daily Mental Health Prompt
: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is the Justice card, which is traditionally a representation of balance, cause and effect, repercussions and consequences, give and take, and can often indicate the law or legal system.

What comes around, goes around. Or… so we hope.

I’m a big fan of balance and fairness. It has often been proposed to me that this is part of my Taurus nature. I also like to see people get what’s coming to them when they screw me over in some way. It’s been suggested to me that this is a part of my nature in having a Scorpio moon.

Whatever the reason, sometimes it’s really hard to wait for what I see is justice’s retribution as the scales of balance swing back in their direction and hit them in the face.

The thing is? I don’t want to just believe that it’ll happen, I want to see it happen. (Again, Scorpio moon anyone?) Sadly, that’s not always possible.

The message in today’s card and “dream” prompt is a reminder that although we cannot always witness these moments when others receive their comeuppance, it can still be fun to daydream about retribution without actually acting on it ourselves. After all, if we act on it ourselves, who’s to say that we don’t go too far and end up having to get hit in the face as well.

So, go ahead and dream about it… just don’t act. Let the scales balance themselves out instead.

DECK USED:  LOUIS ART’S CAT TAROT

@LightningWildflower November Tarot Challenge
Earth and Water “The Fives” Prompts for November 13th thru 15th

Tarot Reading with the Grimalkin Curious Cats Pocket Tarot and Cat Mythos & Magick OracleFive of Pentacles

What story am I telling myself about worth or belonging?

The Hierophant and Self-Reliance – A piece of fiction that was sold as fact that the values of self-worth you were raised with are valid. This story insists that self-worth is based upon performance and self-reliance, hard work and success. Although these factors can play a part in self-worth, they should not be its foundation, nor its sole focus.

Where am I feeling scarcity, and what help might I be overlooking?

The Star; Shape-shifter atop Mysterious Guide – You are depending too much on your own perspectives during times when your mentality of scarcity is taking over. During these moments when your hope and optimism is at its lowest, you need to lean into messages of support from others instead of trying to stand strong and alone upon the shifting sands of your perceptions.

Five of Cups

What grief or disappointment am I carrying, and what healing might begin if I acknowledge it?

Ace of Pentacles and Self-Worth – You’ve lost a lot lately in the area of opportunities for your business, your entrepreneurial efforts taking a harsh blow. Focusing on pulling back from equating your successes to your self-worth will help immensely in beginning the healing needed in this area.

Other elements included in this reading:
Japanese Cherry Leaf as a Reminder of Life’s Fleeting Moments
Dried Red Maple Leaf for Adaptability and Connection
Foraged Beech Pods for Realizations that Foster Personal Growth
Desert Rosefor Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: GRIMALKIN CURIOUS CATS POCKET TAROT AND CAT MYTHOS & MAGICK ORACLE

The @owlandbonestarot #78DaysOfTarotSpreads Challenge
Strength Spread

Strength Tarot Reading with the Cat Tarot

What are you wrestling with inside yourself?

Eight of Cups – Seeing your business involuntarily downgraded from your main source of income back to a “side job” has been a significant blow to your confidence. With the factors involved out of your control, you’ve been tempted more than once to walk away since things detonated in the last week of August. This is still a theme that returns now and then through your mind, even though you’re starting to sort things out a bit now.

Where do you need to apply compassion?

Four of Pentacles – It’s okay to feel like you are on the defensive and need to hold on tight right now. Where often that tight grip of control can be a detriment, during this time when things are uncertain, being a bit of a control freak and more miserly than usual can be a boon.

How can you find strength in spirit?

Page of Cups – Let your emotions run their course and observe what they do. Just don’t give into the “what if” scenarios that your imagination may bring rise to. Instead, lean into creative endeavors that make you happy, regardless of if you’re good at them or not.

How can you find strength in body?

Six of Swords – Weigh what you consider to be a success against what others consider to be success… and find a happy medium, where you can both enjoy the fruits of your efforts as well as the journey. In efforts collaborating with others, your opinion is just as valuable as theirs.

How can you find strength in mind?

The Moon atop Ten of Cups – Don’t allow your (current and temporary) feelings of uncertainty to distract you from what is good in your life. Those moments of uncertainty are difficult to ignore, so don’t ignore them. Just find enjoyment where you can regardless of their presence.

Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Parmeliaceae Lichen for a “Breath of Fresh Air”
Dried Lavender Bundle for Calming and Comfort
Gneiss Stone for Patience in Moments of Discomfort

Foraged Ponderosa Pine Cones for Resilience and Adaptability
Desert Rose for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: LOUIS ART’S CAT TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

This is a catch up post, and I’m not entirely sure what the self kindness was for this day.

Gideon’s Challenge – The Lift

Autumn CherriesThe Lift

Little pops
of color
bathing
in the sun
lighten
the mood
on a day
filled with
frustrations
and
moments
of irritation

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Moderation and Enthusiasm

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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The Guardian of the Night Pocket Tarot - TemperanceThe @GlitterbyInk #NovemberWhispers25 Liminal Dreamland Challenge
Truth-Teller Prompt for November 11
: Midwife
Daily Mental Health Prompt
: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is the Temperance card, which is traditionally a representation of moderation, balance, slowing down, practicing patience, and can at times represent a connection between the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.

When a woman is expecting, sometimes they choose to involve a midwife. This midwife is a person who provides guidance for the health and safety of both mother and child. They become a force in the pregnancy that promotes moderation and temperance.

Their guidance is there to help instill not just enthusiasm, but also patience, for a pregnancy is a long journey of nine months and there’s very little immediacy involved.

The message in today’s card combined with the “midwife” prompt is a reminder that even during times when you are very excited and your enthusiasm is high, make sure that you are adding a little bit of moderation and temperance into your approach. That’s not saying to rain on your own parade or ruin the experience, merely make sure that your health and safety are taken into account on the journeys that you choose to go on.

DECK USED:  THE GUARDIAN OF THE NIGHT POCKET TAROT

The @owlandbonestarot #78DaysOfTarotSpreads Challenge
The Chariot Spread

The Chariot Oracle Reading with The Somnia Tarot Oracle Series

Where do you take the lead?

The Seeker, The Drift, The Haven – When chaos reins or things seem out of control, you seek a safe place to find an anchor in the storm and draw others with you to seek shelter there once it’s found.

Where might you exercise self-control?

The Pioneer and Duality You decide who you are and the person you become. No one else does this for you. It’s all about your choices and how those choices combined together to create the person you become in the future. Therefore it’s important to make your choice choices wisely.

Where can you let go and trust?

The Alchemist and The Persona – As you move forward in your journey there will be both hard times and easy ones. With a concerted effort, you can let go of being on guard all the time, and trust that both your times of struggle as well as your times of boon are providing you the building blocks to grow into who you want to become.

What vision guides your path forward?

The Guide, The Watchman, Preservation – You have absolutely no interest in helping just yourself, but want to help others as well to find lasting safety and happiness. This reflects back to the first question in this reading in reference to where you lead.

Other elements included in this reading:
Oak Branch with Parmeliaceae Lichen for Refresh and Perseverance
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECKS USED: THE SOMNIA TAROT ORACLE SERIES

@thetruthinstory #embracethemagical2025 Challenge
The Descent Prompts 14 thru 16
 :

Tarot Reading with The Guardian of the Night Pocket Tarot and Whispers From the Animal Heart OracleAshes (Release) – What must burn away so only the essence remains?

Eight of Pentacles and Bear – It’s time to consider cutting down on all those superfluous things you add to your work and business. Look at what’s not doing well and what’s not selling, and release these things so that those that really do shine can thrive. It’s in these things that you’re really good at that you can find a greater sense of stability, but you have to get rid of all the extraneous BS first.

Bone (Essence) – What is indestructible in me, what remains when all else is gone?

Ace of Wands and Elephant – Your passion to help others and to give of yourself is an integral part of who you are. Even when your creative spark is at its lowest, your desire to help and support others continues on.

Root (Origin) – What is the deepest root I must return to now?

Three of Wands and Horse – Always reconnect to within in order to help guide your direction. Acting without that connection to your inner moral compass and deep sense of inner self will only be detrimental to your progress.

Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Red Maple Leaf for Adaptability and Connection
Staghorn Sumac for Connecting with Nature and the Inner Wild

Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: THE GUARDIAN OF THE NIGHT POCKET TAROT AND WHISPERS FROM THE ANIMAL HEART ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

This is a catch up post, and I’m not entirely sure what the self kindness was for this day.