A Moment’s Sun
A sea of sword fern
as tall as a man
sway in light breezes
as a moment’s sunlight
dips through trees
to bathe fronds
briefly
before the angle
changes
and shade returns
Don’t get lost
in the shadows
Weekly Creativity Prompt – Doomed From the Start
Prompt: “Draw up to three cards from your tarot (or oracle) and use them for guidance in choosing something to share with us about your childhood.”
My sister and I once made a plan that was doomed from the start. (The Tower)
We decided to force our father to treat us as equals by cutting her hair like mine and dressing identically so that he couldn’t tell us apart. (Strength Rx)
Instead, it resulted in him following through on a threat he’d made a number of times in the past, and he took the door off our bedroom and the bathroom too. (Death)
DECK USED: D’MORTE DISNEY TAROT
Breaks Are Not Setbacks
Today’s meditation was done submerged in the bathtub today. Well, submerged all but my nose, mouth, and knees anyway. It was another hot day and I took a cool bath and did my meditation in there during my hour of cool-down. There was no real focus other than on my breathing and the cooling, calming sensation of the water all around me.
Today’s draw is the Nine of Crystals (Pentacles), which is traditionally a representation of personal satisfaction and satiation with one’s home life, abundance, and financial independence. This is the well earned moment where you realize all you have worked toward and feel gratitude for that. It is the last step of accomplishment before we begin to share our good fortune with those around us.
The thing is, in order for many to get to this point in their lives, they feel that they have work themselves to the bone and that they need to be on top of every little thing and in control 100% of the time.
The reminder in the combination of the Nine of Pentacles with the affirmation card for today is that your goals don’t require constant diligence and supervision. It’s okay to enjoy what you have in the now. Momentum will keep things moving forward, even while you take a break.
DECK USED: INNER CHILD CARDS FAIRY TALE TAROT AND LESS ANXIETY AFFIRMATION CARDS
#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: Where do I want to be 10, 15 or 20 years from now?
Although I don’t really look so far ahead, I thought that this reading might be fun to help tell me what things I might likely be into doing or be of interest to me through these long term perspectives.
Ten Years From Now – Selfless – Whether I am committing more time to reading for others, or more time teaching and mentoring others, I can see this being something I’d be interested in exploring. Ten years from now I will be forty-three and my mortgage should be fully paid off. Without that weighty responsibility weighing on me, it’s possible I’d have a bit more free time to do these sort of things with.
Fifteen Years From Now – Investigate – Still interested in exploring new things and seeking out answers. At forty-eight years old, it would be terrific to still be fostering a sense of excitement and curiosity at the mysteries before me. The possibility of new ideas, passions, and interests keeping things fresh and life interesting sounds good to me.
Twenty Years From Now – Awaken – A new journey… and new potential. At fifty-three years old, the peacock indicates that even as I move into a different stage of life and deal with the issues that new stage will hold for me, I’ll be ready to stretch myself and seek new motivation to keep me going. New goals could inspire new changes.
DECK USED: SHE WHISPERS HER TRUTH ORACLE
#DiscordTarotolicsJun2021 Challenge Prompt
Topic: About similarities…
Question: How can I strengthen my awareness of the similarities between myself and others?
Cinderella (The Moon) and Earth Child (The World)
These cards are calling me out on my uncertainty when interacting with others. I don’t think that most people realize just how awkward I feel when interacting with others. The Moon here is a reminder that I’m not the only one that feels that way. Lots of people have social anxieties and uncertainties. The World then steps into this reminder to let me know that it’s okay to feel that newness and awkwardness, as it’s a part of the process of growth.
Ten of Crystals (Pentacles)
I have a lot to offer. I don’t always feel like it, but even though I might see myself as inconvenient, awkward, and a pain in the ass… others don’t. They see someone that has accomplished a great deal and is happy to share what they’ve learned along the way with everyone else.
DECK USED: INNER CHILD CARDS FAIRY TALE TAROT
Cool bath time again today. I soaked in a nice cool bath for about an hour earlier today after I’d pulled the decks I’m putting into rotation next month (and put away all of this month’s other than the one’s I’m using tomorrow).
Gideon’s Challenge
Fomitopsis pinicola
Hungry tendrils
tap the heart
making fallen trunks
into brittle twigs
as stronger brothers
look on
towering above
to provide shelter
for all that
now call
their fallen bretheren
home
Photo © ZenStatePhotography
Morning Bonus Read – Monthly Key Spread
Key to Your Heart: What will Guide you to make decisions that are aligned with your heart and your truths this month?
Sun – Keep faith that everything is going to turn out just right. Optimism and focusing on the direction you want to go in will ensure that as you move forward through the month of July that you continue to head in the right direction. Hold on to the optimistic view that everything will turn out okay in the end… and you’ll find that’s exactly what will happen.
Anchor: What will ground you in the face of anxiety, stress, overwhelm, and existential dread in general?
Rider – Keep in mind that every day is a new day. You don’t have to carry all that crap with you from one day to the next. Exhale and let it go, then surge forward with renewed energy and a more positive outlook (The Sun above) to tackle the new day with vigor and an open mind.
Star Wand: What accelerates your magic, creativity, and manifestation powers?
Coffin – Ride the change and allow your adaptability to shine. Sometimes what sparks that inner creative glimmer and creative energy of manifestations isn’t about what’s familiar but in finding creative ways to adapt to change and mold those moment to work for us even when within the grasp of changing tides.
Blessings from the Stars: The Universe has got your back – how will you be supported this month?
Clover – Optimism brings luck, so look up and let the luck roll in. You’re being given the opportunity to “sweeten the pot” by fostering an echo of luck and joy in your life through the optimistic lens you seek to look at life through. Don’t give up… good things are coming.
One Trick Up Your Sleeve: A life saving idea or inspiration for any unexpected challenge or difficult moments?
Cross – You have been through a lot. Fall back on these experiences and what you have learned from them to help you through struggles or challenges this month. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel here, you’ve already experienced all the hardships needed to possess the knowledge and skills required to overcome what may come.
Emergence Pt 1: What is emerging within you / within your reality right now?
Heart – Finding “your place” in how you care about others, feel about others, and connect with others. This month will help you come to a better understanding of what you contribute to other’s lives, and how much they mean to you.
Emergence Pt 2: What are you expanding towards?
Scythe – Making a clean break. You’ve been struggling for quite some time to let go of old habits in order to make room for new better ones to take their place. You’ve struggled to find the catalyst that will allow you to truly let go. This card indicates that the epiphany that you’ve been searching for is coming and will be based in cold hard logic.
DECK USED: HYBRID TAROT
Try, and Try Again
Today’s meditation was skipped because it’s an orders day and, honestly? It’s too fucking hot and miserable.
Today’s draw is The Magician, which is traditionally a representation of having all the tools and skills needed to achieve your goals. The card is about resourcefulness to manifest the results that you want and being inspired to carry things through to fruition.
Sometimes when we’re working towards a goal we can feel like we just don’t have everything together (or can’t manage to get it together) and the endeavor is therefore going to fail.
And the thing is? No matter how prepared we are? Sometimes that’s going to happen.
The key is to take that failure and remember that we’re still here. We can still try again, and adjust our approach to give us a better chance of succeeding.
As long as we’re still here? There’s always room for learning and improvement. There’s always room to try again for the things you really want, and each failed try will only make the next effort that much better than the one before it.
DECK USED: HEXEN 2.0 TAROT AND LESS ANXIETY AFFIRMATION CARDS
#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: How can I improve upon my self care?
Reading Summary: Meditate (Crystal Visions atop Cosmic Journey). You are holding yourself back (Rising) in more ways than one (Expanse) by avoiding your meditation practice.
Take Away: I often meditate with crystals, which is how “Crystal Visions” comes into play in the meditation aspect. The thing is? I don’t know why I keep avoiding my practice, but I’m self aware enough to know that no amount of excuses can conceal the fact that that’s exactly what I’m doing.
The cards here are right, though. I need to get back to it. It’s beneficial on so many levels and avoiding it is holding me back not just in my health and well-being, but also in my growth.
DECK USED: WILDERNESS COLLIDE ORACLE
#DiscordTarotolicsJun2021 Challenge Prompt
Topic: About differences…
Question: How can I resolve differences between myself and others with less anxiety?
Reading Summary: Spend less energy worrying (Nine of Swords Rx) over if things might turn out badly (Three of Swords Rx), more authority and sharing of inspirational perspectives. Be passionate and innovative, and use that energy to inspire others to your way of thinking (King of Wands).
Take Away: So… this reading was about a little anxiety riddled character conversation the other day in the literary roleplay/writing realm that Gideon and I are in. Sometimes, with some people, I feel like I’m walking on glass as I fulfill my leadership responsibilities. It just goes that way, you know? Things that should be a discussion feel like a confrontation and a direct challenge rather than having a chat.
So, yeah. The advice here is to worry less about the whole “blowing up in your face” aspect of communication with these type of people, and instead turn the tables and draw them in with ideas and enthusiasm.
DECK USED: HEXEN 2.0 TAROT
I took a nap on orders day. It was a combination of having a full stomach and the heat. I just got so tired that I didn’t have a choice in the matter so I let myself lay down for a couple hours.
