Self Care Saturday (On a Sunday)

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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?

Winter Waite Tarot 2018 Edition, The Merry Christmas Oracle, Seasons of the Witch Yule Oracle

Earth – The Fool and Angel – Ground yourself this week in the knowledge and advice that your spirit guides have to offer. With the holiday rush at an end, now is the time to approach your relationship with these guides with fresh energy and a sense of newness.

Air – Nine of Swords atop Page of Pentacles, Sugar Plums – Don’t worry so much about where things are going next. Now is a time to take a breath, take comfort in a job well done, and look forward with hope. Don’t allow worries and anxieties to slide in and pollute the waters with negativity.

Water – Ten of Pentacles and Orange – Focus this week on how the time spent with people who truly love and care about you has helped to nourish and nurture you. Take tie to appreciate how this differes from other years past at this time of year, and recognize that good company makes for healthier emotional foundations.

Fire – Death Rx and Party – Take a break and have some fun. You don’t always have to be pushing forward and striving for better.  You’ve earned this time off and need to focus on savoring it and enjoying it to its fullest.

Waning – Family – In a few days, you will be headed back home, and Z will be headed back home as well. Savour the sense of family and closeness while you can, for by the end of the week it will be just you and L on your own once more.

Waxing – Ringing the Bells – Cleanse yourself of the bad habits and unhelathy behaviors you’ve been entertaining through the holiday rush. It’s time to let go of the neglect and the shortcuts, the mistreatment and ignoring of your own needs. Release it all, cleanse it from your life, and wash it away to clear the air for something healthier.

Take Away – This week is all about savoring the support and closeness of those that care deepest for you and you for them, and appreciating their presence in your life and how much they care. On top of this, there is encouragement to make sure that you are rooting your feet and finding balance in the wake of the rush instead of neglecting the need to return to a healthy dose of self-care.

DECKS USED: WINTER WAITE TAROT 2018 EDITION, THE MERRY CHRISTMAS ORACLE, SEASONS OF THE WITCH YULE ORACLE

Self Esteem Comes From Within

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Today’s meditation was skipped today. I opted for a bit of extra sleep  instead… not by choice, but because I overslept.

Winter Waite Tarot 2018 EditionToday’s draw is the Six of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of accolades and self confidence, progress and success, especially success that can reap public recognition.

Today’s card is a reminder that self confidence comes from within, not from others.  It isn’t the praise and admiration that creates true self confidence and a sense of self, but rather it is knowing yourself and achieving your goals, and taking time to appreciate your progress and successes rather than waiting for others to give you that recognition.

This connects with my activities for today, including those that I will spend the day with.  The message in today’s card is not to depend on them to make me feel good about myself,  but instead feel good about myself through what I’ve done and who I am.

DECK USED:  WINTER WAITE TAROT 2018 EDITION

OwlandBonesTarot’s #DecemberBones2021 Tarot Challenge Prompt
Question: Three things that allow your little Grinch heart to grow.

The Merry Christmas Oracle and Christmas Playing CardsBlizzard and Ten of Spades – Life gives you warning. Life is not made of “tower moments” and when things feel like they are at their breaking point there is plenty of warning before you get there. If you’re paying attention, you can prepare for the bad parts and the breaking points.  You just have to watch for when bad weather approaches.

Poinsettia and Five of Diamonds – Remember that even when things are at their worst? It may feel like it at the time, but things could always be worse. During these times, it’s important to look at what you have in life that you are gratefulu for and all the ways in which you can (and do) shine even in the darkest and most desperate of times.

Wreath and King of Hearts – You have love in your life that is there for you through thick and thin, through rain and shine, and throughout every hour of every day. He knows his heart and it is firmly and inexorably set upon you and you alone.

DECK USED: THE MERRY CHRISTMAS ORACLE AND CHRISTMAS PLAYING CARDS

#DiscordTarotholicsDec2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: What can I do to rekindle my inspiration when I’m feeling uninspired?

Winter Waite Tarot 2018 EditionReading Summary: Let others in to share your addictions (The Devil) and passions (King of Wands). Others make it more fun and less work (Three of Cups).

Take Away: When I’m feeling uninspired, it’s important to invite others in to share in the experience and the creative process. Having others along instills a sense of sharing and joy into the process and will allow you to reconnect with your creative spark again.

DECK USED: WINTER WAITE TAROT 2018 EDITION

Daily Self Kindness

I left when things started to get ugly instead of trying to stick around and let it get to me.

Cherishing What Is Before You

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Today’s meditation was just about ten minutes long, and was just me and my breathing exercises along with some piriformis stretching.

Vintage Christmas TarotToday’s draw is the Four of Pentacles, which is traditionally about stability and gratitude (sometimes to excess, which can turn miserly) for what you have. This is a stagnant sort of appreciation that speaks of not reaching for more, but instead being focused on what you have in the now.

After running around all day yesterday getting things done, today is a day of rest. There is no plan to go anywhere or do much other than some chores around the house.

The imagery in this card is about family and the reminder here in the Four of Pentacles today is to appreciate this time with those dear to your heart. The message here is not to worry so much about what’s coming in the future, and instead be present in this day and this time with loved ones.

DECK USED:  VINTAGE CHRISTMAS TAROT

Mr Lionharts’ #TheDecemberTarot The Path Ahead Tarot Challenge Prompt

 Yule Oracle

See Only With Love – Ribbon (Elegance, Formality, Exclusivity) – Take tie this season to try to see your mother in another light. Changing her isn’t in the cards and she sees nothing wrong with her behavior, but you have the opportunity to shift your perspective and find a view that allows you to find peace with her and put to rest expectations you can’t possibly have fulfilled by her.

Speak With Love – Candy Cane (Sweetness, Strong Foundations, Drawing In Love) – Make sure that you are expressing to those around you how you feel about them.  Only the good, though. Focus on the good and let the irritations and other issues go for now.  Use this tie for bonding and pulling those who matter close instead.

Listen With Love – Ornament (Wishes, Ancestors, Beauty) – Now that the holiday rush is over it’s time to open yourself back up to messages from your ancestors and the guidance that they can provide you. Open your heart and your intuition, and allow them to help guidie you toward those things you really want in life.

Mind Boundaries – Bells (Purification, Warding Off Evil, Clarity) – Make sure that you are paying attention to the energy that others are directing your way, and deflecting the negative. Don’t ignore it and think that it will go away on its own, instead deflect and cleanse that negativity out immediately.

Be Kind – Pomegranate (Beauty, Fertility, Promises) – When you take the time to be kind over this season, it will be reciprocated in turn.  Like a smile creates another smie and thus spreads smiles onward through the world, kindness can also travel and spread in the same way, and in turn make the world a better place a little at a time.

Know Your Power – Hot Chocolate (Sympathy, Nourishment, Comfort) – You have the ability to provide comfort and nurturing to those around you with your grounded presence and energy. By spending time with those that are mourning their loss this year, you are giving them more than sympathy, but also support and a greater sense of stability that is currently lacking in their lives.

Be Balanced – Caramel Popcorn (Hiding the Truth, Irresponsibility, Material World) – Don’t allow the addictions that were getting out of hand prior to the holiday rush to step back in and progress as they had been.  The rush has given you a chance to renegotiate the tightness of those chains and find a better fit. Keep with that.

Honor Your Word – Elf (Assistance, Workmanship, Secrecy) – There are a few things from earlier this month that you need to get done now that the holiday rush is at an end.  Readings that need done, specifically.  Make sure over the next week you reach out to these people to get these promises taken care of.

Blessed Be – Christmas Tree (Abundance, Life, Immortality) – Don’t worry about the future right now.  It is bright and beautiful, and filled with promise. Focusing on the what-if scenarios and worrying won’t solve anything and will only hold you back. Focus on the good instead.

DECK USED: YULE ORACLE

OwlandBonesTarot’s #DecemberBones2021 Tarot Challenge Prompt

Vintage Christmas Tarot and Seasons of the Witch Yule OracleNaughty – King of Cups – Gideon is my personal King of Cups, and as such this card is encouraging spending some… naughty time with Gideon soon. We have been planning some pirates period-piece type roleplay for after the holidays and I have absolutely no doubt that naughty is sure to fill many of those hours.

Nice – The Sun – This is a reminder to look towards the light.  Have fun. Work on keeping an optimistic view as we move through the few weeks ahead.  The end of the holiday rush has a habit of dumping you into a bit of a drop, and the reminder here is that to couneract that effect, you need to work at staying positive.  It’s not going to happen on its own.

Clarifier – Merriment – Have fun! Both during your time with Gideon and on your own as well. Look for the joy and enjoyment in every little thing.  Stay focused on the fun so that the drag of the slump that the end of the holiday rush creates doesn’t pull you under.

DECK USED: VINTAGE CHRISTMAS ORACLE AND SEASONS OF THE WITCH YULE ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

Although I brought work along with me on this trip, I haven’t touched it. Not even today when we stayed home all day and relaxed.

Gideon’s Challenge

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zunnamedThe Rush

Beaten
battered
scratched
and scarred
I struggle
flounder
and fail
to float
then rally
to gasp for air
as days
tick by
in a blur
of lost hours

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Weekly Creativity Prompt – Thankfulness

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Prompt: With American Thanksgiving just in the rear view and Christmas just around the corner, now is a great time to consider what we’re thankful for in our lives. Pull (at least) three cards, and use them to describe something in your life that you are thankful for this year. Then share what you’re grateful for and how the cards connect with this theme.

Phantasma TarotFriends and family (Two of Cups) are not allowing me to retreat fully into myself (The Hermit) during times of emotional struggle. They continue to reach out even as I push them away (Four of Cups).

The solitary cards that speak of alone time are interrupted by the Two of Cups, this speaks of those that are closest to me standing in the way of me allowing myself to fully retreat.

In this instance, when I am grieving, that retreat would not be healthy or helpful.  Just as I help them with their grief, they are helping me with my unique needs concerning my grief as well.

DECK USED: PHANTASMA TAROT

Stand Up

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

Terra Volatile and How to Be a Wildflower DeckToday’s draw is the Five of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of tests, trials, and conflict in the area of one’s intellect, education, logic, ambition, or communication. This often translates into themes that have to do with competition at work, arguments, and the drive to win and come out on top of the situation.

The message here, when this card is combined with the affirmation card for today, is to remember that not all journeys are meant to be easy.  Sometimes you have to fight to move forward and keep life interesting.  It won’t all just land in your lap.

DECK USED:  TERRA VOLATILE AND IS AND HOW TO BE A WILDFLOWER DECK

Tarot Nerd’s Better Boundaries Tarot Challenge Prompt
Questions for November 28th thru 30th

Kindred Fauna Oracle and Hush TarotWhat resentment(s) am I holding onto that need to be released?

Eternity and Six of Wands atop Four of Pentacles

Life is fleeting. Security is fleeting. The approval of others is fleeting. I hate that it feels like nothing is permanent. There is no way go grasp and hold on to those things we love and take comfort in.

What compromise have I made that is in need of reevaluation?

The Sentinel and The Hanged Man

Seeing others perspectives doesn’t need to be a restraint for you. You don’t have to adopt their perspectives as your own in order to understand where they are coming from.

What do I trust about myself that will help me going forward?

Your Spirit Guide and Nine of Pentacles

You are well seated and familiar in listening to the voice of your intuition. Spirit guides speak through this language as well. Allow yourself to trust what you have worked so hard for so long to develop.

DECK USED: KINDRED FAUNA ORACLE AND HUSH TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsNov2021 Challenge Prompt
Topic for November 30th: Grab a spread of your choice that you’ve been curious about and give it a go!

Terra Volatile

A card to represent me this past year.

The Star Rx – Struggling with staying positive. It has not come easily to me this year and there has been a lot of difficulties and slip ups along the way.

A soul lesson I was learning this past year.

Five of Wands – How to be more effective in getting across what I feel is important. And that inner conflict can be far more destructive and disruptive than outer conflict.

How this soul lesson changed me.

Four of Swords Rx – It showed me that rest is more than being idle. Idleness is not enough to restore and recuperate.

Something that held me back this past year.

Ten of Wands atop Seven of Swords – There is a great deal of uncertainty residing in the Seven of Swords here in this imagery. It seeks of allowing myself to become overburdened by feelings of uncertainty concerning my direction forward and methods of getting there.

Something that I ignored this past year.

The Moon – It didn’t work and held me back, but I was trying very hard to ignore my feelings if uncertainty and self doubt.

Something I should be proud of.

The Temptation – Identifying where I am slipping off track with my addictions and making efforts to begin rectifying the issue.

DECK USED: TERRA VOLATILE

Daily Self Kindness

Still playing catch up from over a week ago.  I just don’t remember.