Transitioning
Waterdroplets kiss
fading leaves
giving their last
flash of bright color
in a darkening
season
as tiny green bits
try to push forth
and fight for
yet another day
to thrive
and magenta stems
deepen darker
and darker still
Self Care Saturday (On a Sunday)
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?
Earth – Eight of Coins and Oak – Stand strong within your manifestation skills. Your wheelhouse resides squarely in creativity and that is one of your greatest strengths that permeates all facets of your life. Don’t lose confidence now. Flex instead.
Air – The Star and Indian Pipe – Lean hard into hope and optimism this week and allow it to soothe unrest in effects your inner dialogue has been having. Get help from others in keeping you on this more optimistic tract.
Water – Two of Wands and Fig Agaric – Make plans as if they are already a part of reality, for it is as your ideas begin to come to life that they are in fact becoming real. When you piece things together in your mind, you are already in the process of creation, and you are already changing the world around you.
Fire – Ten of Swords and Rowan – Purge. Release. Negativity needs to be left behind. You have the strength to move through the uncertain void that comes after letting go and find your footing on the other side.
Waning – Horse – Make sure you don’t fall back in to pushing yourself too hard. You had yourself a mini-melt down a week ago due to doing just that, trying to jump ahead too quickly. Lets not do that again.
Waxing – Salmon – Don’t abandon your emotional growth and the progress that you’ve made. Work on incorporating instead. Work on incorporating that optimism and positivity you’ve practiced all summer into your winter activities.
Take Away – Hold onto the slow moments you still have and don’t leap ahead. Stay positive. You practiced the optimism track throughout the spring, summer, and beginning of the fall. Don’t allow uncertainty or self-doubt eek in and begin crumbling your foundation. You now need to take those experimental practices and carry them into when you need them the most. Use these methods to push back against the negativity and pessimism that is trying to encroach.
DECKS USED: HUSH TAROT, MYSTIC GARDEN ORACLE, MYSTIC MUSHROOM ORACLE, POWER ANIMALS ORACLE
Sometimes It Hurts
Today’s meditation was skipped once again, this time because sleeping was so much more appealing.
Today’s draw is the Three of Air (Swords), which is traditionally a representation of heartbreaks, disappointments, and hurt feelings. Now, you might think that this theme should be a part of the Cups suit that rules over emotions, instead of the Sword suit that rules over the mind. But, we have to keep in mind that it is through our thoughts that we experience many of our negative emotions, and depression resides within the mind and not the heart. Thus, it is through the Swords suit we find the card that speaks to these issues.
The thing about unpleasant and painful experiences, is that we learn from them. We learn how to be better or what to do better, we grow and grasp things from a different perspective… but it is through pain that we do this. The affirmation card here is a reminder to allow your heart to lead, even in times of pain and disappointment. Even when you fear that it may hurt in the end.
The message today is that old adage by Alfred Lord Tennyson… “It’s better to have loved and lost, than to never have loved at all.”
DECK USED: THE GNOSTIC TAROT AND HOW TO BE A WILDFLOWER DECK
Mr Lionharts’ #TheNovemberTarot Solitary Tarot Challenge Prompt
Questions for November 6th
What kind of energy surrounding me today?
Holly, Blackthorn, Yew, Two of Swords
Protection, especially from negativity, is a prevailing theme throughout the three trees that lend their energy to this reading. The Two of Swords then indicates that in order to set aside negativity and protect yourself from it, you have to actually make an active and conscious choice to lean in a healthier and more positive direction.
Being aware of what’s happening with your pessimism and negative inner dialogue (Blackthorn), good luck (Holly), and the assistance of your guides (Yew) can only do so much to help you. If you’re not willing to be decisive and put in the effort to lean into optimism, they won’t be able to keep you uplifted on their own.
How can I vibe with this energy?
Ash, Maple, Justice
Ask and you shall receive. Cause and effect is a huge theme in your life and it is no less so here than elsewhere. If you give yourself positivity, work towards optimism, and be kind to yourself… in turn you receive positive results from that hard work. Your life becomes sweeter, happier, more positive and you become more conscious of the love and support that others provide you.
DECK USED: MYSTIC GROVE ORACLE AND HUSH TAROT
Tarot Nerd’s Better Boundaries Tarot Challenge Prompt
Questions for November 6th thru 8th
What is my communication style?
Six of Air – Because of your mutism, you require people to abandon their normal ways of communicating in order to accommodate your needs in that department. Although you adapt to help others understand you more easily, they must adapt as well. Some are more willing to try new things… new methods… than others.
How can I best convey how I feel to others?
Death – Patience and adaptability are both necessary to get across your feelings to others. Not just because of your communication challenges caused by your mutism, but because you are still learning how to listen to and understand your emotions. This means you are still learning how to express them in constructive ways. This change in how you deal with your emotions and express them is slow going, but continues forward one step at a time.
How can I best convey what I need to others?
The Fool – You can best convey what you need to others by throwing caution to the wind. Just come out with it instead of worrying about timing, wording, and strategy. Sometimes you just need to get it out and set it free.
DECK USED: THE GNOSTIC TAROT
It’s amazing how play with Gideon, even when it’s just something mundane and/or silly, can help make me feel more at peace and happy. Today we played Alexandros and Tatsumaki.
Gideon’s Challenge
The Frolic
Wallow in
the mud with me
with laughter
ringing clear
you and I
covered in leaves
pine needles
in our hair
a tumble in
the rich green moss
without a single care
a little mud and dirt
won’t harm you
I promise
I swear
Photo © ZenStatePhotography
Cartomancy Reading – Focus On Practice
The prompt for this reading came from one of my Discord servers and is as follows:
“I wish you well on the start of this new month! It may be slow, fast or just right, but no matter the pace, know that you are still an amazing soul.”
What is an aspect of my practice can I look into by the end of this week?
King of Diamonds and Jack of Clubs – You need to explore different ways you can get out in nature and ground yourself that won’t aggravate your knee. There are benefits you get from spending time in nature that you need right now. Benefits that can help you transition into the holiday rush that starts in a few days just a bit more smoothly.
How can I better apply this feature of my practice to my daily life?
Four of Clubs and Nine of Spades – Stop allowing your mental health to keep you burrowed in at home. Hiding away from the world in the comfort of your home and wallowing in that welcoming comfort might feel good, but it isn’t helping anything. In fact, it may be furthering the mental health struggles you’re trying to get a handle on.
What is a way I can finish this week with a better or more improved outlook for next week?
Three of Hearts and Jack of Hearts – Give in to pursuing those things that will lift your spirits.
DECK USED: THE REMINISCE PLAYING CARDS
The Authentic Self
Today’s meditation was skipped again. Instead I spent the time (and about two hours extra beside that) on the phone with my bank sorting through fraudulent charges on my credit card.
Today’s draw is the Queen of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of a receptive alpha energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s passions, enthusiasm, interests, determination, willpower, and inner spark.This often translates into themes that have to do with nurturing and encouraging the dreams, passions, and interests of others.
Combined with the affirmation card today, what we see here is just that. It is about doing what is in your heart, expressing yourself, and allowing your true colors to shine free.
In nature, this is often displayed clearly in the colors displayed on the outside. With people? We have to work a little harder to show our true colors sometimes, especially if we’re used to being defensive or hiding from others.
DECK USED: VALENTINA TAROT AND HOW TO BE A WILDFLOWER DECK
Mr Lionharts’ #TheNovemberTarot Solitary Tarot Challenge Prompt
Questions for November 5th
What is a personal dream I should honor or work on?
Calming the Waters and Four of Swords
The dream of allowing yourself to have the calm, restful recuperation that you need. Even in times of actual physical injury, you rush recovery instead of allowing yourself the time that you truly need. This kindness and space to heal fully and completely is something you continue to push aside again and again, even though you long for it often. Only you can give yourself permission to take that time.
What can I establish with manifesting this dream into reality?
Divine Mother and Four of Pentacles
A kinder and more nurturing life. More stability and more strength bred from that stable footing created by being the calm in the storm as well as hale and healthy.
DECK USED: THE PRIESTESS OF LIGHT ORACLE AND DANCING IN THE DARK TAROT
#DiscordTarotholicsNov2021 Challenge Prompt
Questions for November 5th and 6th
Wish for the Future
Queen of Pentacles – Nurturing stability.
This is an echo of the Mr Lionharts reading that I did for today (previous reading). It’s what I want. I want stability, but I want to be kinder to myself. I want to allow myself the things I need to rest, recover, and find my footing. I want to feel cared for instead of neglected, but the only one neglecting me? Is me.
Next Step in Getting There
Six of Cups – Letting go of the past.
A lot of the beliefs, drive, and tendencies to treat myself cruelly are rooted in the past. Finding ways to leave the past where it belongs and seeking out new ways to see myself and my performance in work and in life is the next step in “getting there”. It’s something I’m working on, but I understand it’s going to take some time.
The Home of My Hope
Five of Wands – Those things you hold dear and believe in.
This imagery reflects upon my belief in the need for fairness in the world. The need for people to fight for fairness. Yes, I know life isn’t fair, but I feel it could be much, much MORE so if people would only stand up for that concept instead of doing whatever they want or people please things into imbalance. No matter how many times I see fairness disregarded or abandoned, I continually seek it out, expect it, and hope for it to emerge in all sorts of everyday situations.
Advice from my guides that I need to hear at this time concerning my friendships.
The Heirophant – Lead and give guidance.
Your friends look up to you and through watching you, you give guidance on how to do things, and how to be better themselves. It’s okay that you don’t see it… just know that it’s true.
DECK USED: VALENTINA TAROT
I took an ibuprofen and a nap. I hate that taking naps cuts into time I could be spending with Gideon. I wish there was more time in a day. A couple extra hours would be perfect.
