Delicate and Tenacious
Hope is a glowing star
in a night sky,
a shimmering flower
in the shade
delicate and open
vulnerable and lovely
easily crushed
with a careless hand
or the wrong conditions
and yet
given the chance
to flourish and shine
with the smallest kiss
of encouragement
The prompt for this reading came from one of my Discord servers and is as follows:
“This week, let’s value ourselves by looking for ways to accommodate our needs. Ask your divination tools:”
What is an area where I need extra support?
Four of Spades – You need to stop and rest more. Take more breaks while working. Intersperse rest and recovery into the every day more instead of reserving it just for special occasions. You won’t get so tired and need those longer rests so much (and will be able to enjoy them more) if you allow yourself a bit of rest along the way.
What support or accommodations can I give myself in this area?
Three of Hearts – One of the ways you can accommodate yourself in this area is to let others help you more. Not just help you in bearing the weight of work and responsibility, but allowing them to help you enjoy your down time, to help you decide when you need to take a break, and help you have more fun during those longer breaks as well.
What support or accommodations do I need from others around me in this area?
Four of Hearts and Eight of Clubs – Allow yourself to rest while they work. It will help them to pick up the speed on their own rather than you always being in the mix slowing things down. They don’t need your constant supervision. They are more than capable of doing these things without you there hovering all the time.
What outcome can I expect if I get this support?
Jack of Spades atop Eight of Spades – More time to sort out your own shit (especially mentally) rather than constantly pushing it aside. This isn’t about sorting through these things faster, but will allow for a higher quality of attention to be paid to this process, creating room for better results.
What outcome can I expect if I do not pursue this support?
Five of Diamonds atop Ten of Hearts – A happy family and no money. ’nuff said.
Today’s meditation was skipped because it’s Friday and I had a long 6 hour drive to get to doing and didn’t feel like putting off getting on the road to get it done. Then when I got home I felt that a nap was better use of my time.
Today’s draw is the Five of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of scarcity, tests, and trials in the area of one’s finances, resources, home life, health, manifestations, and the physical world.
When you look at the imagery in today’s card, the figure is definitely wrapped up in their feelings of scarcity. So much so that they aren’t even aware of the offered coins around them or the shining light of the candles. This is something that really speaks to me, as sometimes, as in my case, scarcity is all in our heads.
In these instances, instead of being a reality in the physical world, the feelings of scarcity are a product of scars we carry within us from times where things were far more difficult and our needs we’re not being met. This is often the case where I am concerned. I’ve worked hard to get to a place where I’m not terrified I might not have enough food to survive… and yet sometimes that worry is still there, even if no longer based in reality.
The affirmation card for today, combined with today’s draw, is a reminder that we’re allowed to enjoy life. It’s okay to acknowledge how far you’ve come, and how much better off you are now. It’s okay to look at the present and remind yourself that things -could- be worse, and how good you have it in the now. Is it where you want to ultimately end up? Probably not. But count your blessings, yeah? Cuz it could be worse… and in most cases? It’s not as bad as it feels like it is.
Cosmic_Crow_Tarot’s #FreedomTarotChallenge Prompt
Questions for July 23rd and 24th
What do I need to be more tolerant of?
Black Medic (Medicago lupulina) and Eight of Batons atop Five of Swords
The over eager. The meddlers, or what you perceive to be meddlers. The gossipers that are always oh so ready to dive in and take over the conversation.
Don’t forget that these people have lots to share and the information gleened can be useful. Is it always? Absolutely not. But there’s little nuggets of useful hidden in the torrent. So don’t just tune them out and disregard everything that comes out of their mouths.
What am I too tolerant of?
Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) and Three of Pentacles
Clingy people who “only want to help”. Remember that just because they say that they had altruistic intentions doesn’t mean that they did. Nor does saying so excuse bad behavior. Don’t be afraid to make it clear you know that they’re “I just want to help” is false. Don’t be afraid to rip away the blindfold they’re trying to place over your eyes (and the eyes of others).
#DiscordTarotholicsJul2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: What do I need to focus on for self-care for this full moon?
Reading Summary: Slow down (Knight of Coins) on making any important life changing decisions right now (Eight of Cups and Two of Swords).
Take Away: Take it easy. Take it slow. Don’t make any stress inducing or life changing decisions for yourself or others. This week, even though you’re back to work, take a little extra “easy time” for yourself by putting off important decisions for a while. You may find that with a bit more time to let things percolate, that the decisions will be far easier to make when needed.
So many of these self kindness things are about me taking naps, but I have to admit that’s exactly where my self kindness came in today. I didn’t mean to sleep as long as I did, but I let myself lie down for a short nap and felt a lot better for having done so.
The Next Bend
A shadowed path
through
towering trees
and dappled sunlight
is promised ahead
but it’s
in the shadows
where cool air sits
and soothes
inviting a pause
and a moment’s rest
before curiosity tugs
us onward
Today’s meditation was skipped due to orders day. I’ll be back on the horse again tomorrow.
Today’s draw is the Ten of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of accomplishments and abundance, and sharing that abundance with those around you.
What stands out to me really strongly in today’s card is that her knees are red. This echos back to one of my photo writings I did a few days ago where I mused about how closely people really look at nature. Surely I am not the only one that goes beyond a glance, that slides down to knees on the forest floor for a closer look at a pattern of bark on a fallen log, or lies down in the moss to watch how things respond as shade shifts and sunlight bathes the spot I’m watching for a moment.
Hilda, in this card, looks like she’s gotten down and close with nature. It’s in the redness of her knees and the openness with which she shares with the skunk that’s paused to visit with her. Combined with the affirmation card for today, we’re reminded that it’s important to explore our world with a sense of wonder. To look beyond our self centered perspective and see what lies beyond. Look for the miracle in a blade of grass, the beauty in a flower petal. Seek the wondrous and let it fill your life with a sense of abundance.
The Sacred Grounds Tarot Club Prompt
Questions for July 21st thru 24th
“What is to Come” for me?
Seven of Cups – A bountiful opportunity to consciously choose your own path. A crossroads with many different routes to choose from stretching out before you like spokes from a wheel.
What should I expect from “What is to Come”?
The Star – Remember that you can only choose one path. Moderation is going to be key in making the right choice for you, as will making sure that you are consulting your guides and your intuition during the decision making process.
What should I know about “What is to Come”?
Seven of Swords – Anyway you go about it, you’re going to lose opportunities that you wish you could keep. Remember that you can only carry so much. Again, you can only choose one path.
What guidance will support me in “What is to Come”?
Strength – You are stronger than you realize. You can make the choice to use your inner strength in a healthy way, instead of allowing your inner strength to be used in your habitual tendency to take on too much.
Advice from your ancestors and guides.
Queen of Pentacles – Grounding will help immensely. Make sure that you’re getting enough time in nature, and that that time is not wasted, but is quality time used to nurture, restore, and ground yourself.
Cosmic_Crow_Tarot’s #FreedomTarotChallenge Prompt
Questions for July 21st and 22nd
How can I find more freedom to do what I love?
Rock Water and Queen of Swords Rx
Stop worrying so much about others, and focus more on yourself. It’s okay to be selfish when you’re already giving far too much of yourself to others. It might not feel like it’s okay, or that you’re giving as much as you are… but it -is- okay.
How have I taken my freedom for granted?
Scleranthus and Three of Cups
There has been far too much hesitancy in letting go and allowing others to take on their share of the work. There has been far too much “holding yourself apart” instead of drawing those you care about in closer to celebrate with you the joys in life.
In both cases this is about fear of releasing control.
I worked hard today to make sure that I got done at a decent time so that I could get some sleep tonight.
Centaurea Cyanus
Petals like
delicate tissue paper
vibrant
in calming tones
as stems stretch tall
and flower heads sway
in every little breeze
as beautiful buttons
face to the sky
and kiss the senses
with a
sweet moment
of serenity
