Strength’s Guises
Delicate petals
splay wide
hearts open
to greet the sun
as shimmering pink
unfurl
like a blush
rising on pale cheeks
Fragile beauty
with sturdy vines
hidden beneath
a strength
gone mostly unseen
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 – Ace of Honey and Marshmallow – It’s time for a refresh. Let go of what isn’t working and start anew. This week, make sure that you’re taking time to look at what in your, health , home, and finances that’s not working and get started on a new plan.
Air – The Hermit atop The High Priestess, Stinging Nettle – Your intuition is being restricted by the fact that you’re not getting enough healthy alone time. It’s time to figure out how to make this happen. You need the self care and that alone time in order to feel balanced and not be a prickly asshole. Stop using your needs as a way to punish yourself. Instead be generous and gentle and give yourself what you need.
Water – Judgement and Chamomile – Be honest with yourself about your expectations when it comes to your emotional growth, and expect that it’s going to take time and you’re going to have to be nicer about it. Lower those expectations to something more reasonable that can be accomplished at a more sedate pace.
Fire – Nine of Dreams and Goldenrod – Continue to stand strong and positive in the face of fears and anxieties that may be trying to eat you alive. This week may hold some worries when it comes to your business or your creative spark, but remember that sometimes fear and anxiety is about perspective and not reality.
Waning – Mosquito – Last week you were made aware of something that was tapping into your energy and creating a negative counter balance in your life. You’ve dealt with this issue and it’s time to move on. You can still stay aware and alert without having to focus all your energy in this area now.
Waxing – Mirror Spider – Vulnerability fosters awareness. Feeling threatened can allow you to be more aware of what’s going on around you. Camouflage can be your friend.
Take Away – The theme of this week appears to be examining how things are (and aren’t) working for me and making healthier choices in these areas. Starting a new path in these areas of my life will keep me on track. There’s also a reminder here that it’s okay to be just a little paranoid… but not to let it get out of hand.
DECKS USED: BLOOD MOON TAROT, MATERIA MEDICA ORACLE, SMALL SPIRITS ORACLE
Where Are You Focused?
Today’s meditation was skipped because I couldn’t get any peace and quiet to do my meditation in. I did some breathing exercises, though.
Today’s draw is the Justice card, which is traditionally a representation of finding balance, give and take, and the cause and effect that balances the scales of day to day life. This card can also be a representation of the law and the legal system, and I have personally had it show up to warn me about speed traps on my commute for the day.
What the Justice card is an indication of here in today’s card, though, is about cause and effect. Combined with the Flower Fortunes card for today, what the cards say is that when your actions are aligned with where you want to go in life, that that’s where you go.
Just like driving a car. You look where you want to go. If you focus on the ditch, that’s where you end up. If you focus on the tree… that’s where you end up. But if you focus on the road and where you’re going, then you stay on the road and get where you’re going. So make sure you’re focusing on where you want to go, and not the potential hurdles, struggles, or obstacles that may show up along the way.
DECK USED: SPIRIT SPEAK TAROT AND FLOWER FORTUNE CARDS
The Sacred Grounds Tarot Club Prompt
Question: One thing to keep, one thing to let go.
Leave Behind – Eight of Wands – My constant need to push, and rush, and move quicker, and do more. Especially when it comes to my business. It’s an old and deeply ingrained habit, and although I know it’s not as easy as just emptying your pockets on the dresser and leaving that stuff behind… it is something that I need to make sure that I’m working on and putting my focus into.
Take With Me – Queen of Cups – My desire to expand my emotional intelligence and grow into someone more understanding of myself and others.
DECK USED: FOREST CREATURES TAROT v2
#DiscordTarotolicsMay2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: What is the biggest lesson that you’ve learned this month?
Reading Summary: To be careful that generosity (Six of Pentacles) is not something you should be walking away from (Six of Swords). Don’t be too hard on yourself; self-forgiveness is important. (Five of Swords atop of The Star)
Take Away: We’re all still learning and we all make mistakes. Not everyone who is generous is out to trick you or screw you over in some way, and you don’t want to live your life feeling like you’re constantly looking over your shoulder for these people.
At the same time, the biggest lesson that I learned this month is that sometimes generosity is a ploy used to further another’s ends and harm me in the process. It’s important to stay alert and aware for warning signs of this happening.
DECK USED: SPIRIT SPEAK TAROT
I sprayed bug spray outside on the balcony on… well, everything. I have to bring everything off my balcony and inside on Monday to stay inside until Thursday so that the outside of my side of the building can be power-washed. I’m fucking terrified of spiders, so… Yeah. I sprayed everything on the balcony today with the intent of getting rid of any bugs or spiders that may be making themselves at home on the stuff I’m going to have to bring in.
Gideon’s Challenge
Gentle Evening
A hint of pink
in a world of blue
promises
delicate hues
through twilight hours
as light shades
slide into dark
and mountain peaks
are swallowed
by stars
Let’s linger here
a while
and watch
Photo © ZenStatePhotography
Morning Bonus Read – Major Events
Prompt: “Think back to 5 major events in your past. For each event, draw a card to represent what your past self from that time needs your present self to understand. Lay down that card, then go through your deck and select a card to indicate the message you would want to give your past self who was in the midst of that.”
Event – Father’s Degradation
Summary – I spent the majority of my childhood hearing how (due to my preferences) I wasn’t good enough, how I was a disappointment and a source of shame for my family, and my father encouraging others in my extended family to dole out the same.
What the Past Self Needs To Say – Four of Hearts – “It hurts, and I want to disregard what’s being said and leave it behind me, but I feel like it will always be there lingering in the background.”
What I Want To Say To Them – Strength – You are stronger and more sure of yourself, who you are and what you want, because of this. Yes, the experience will carry forward with you into the future, but it will become a part of the building blocks that create the man you become. A man that’s strong and agile, confident and compassionate.
Event – SemiTruck Accident and Recovery
Summary – Early in my 17th year, I was in a car accident where I was in the passenger seat of a car when it was t-boned by a semi-truck. The impact damaged a large number of joints and bone structure on the right side of my body. I then went through multiple surgeries to repair/replace what was damaged, physiotherapy, and a stint at a pain clinic.
What the Past Self Needs To Say – Eight of Spades – “Don’t forget me. Don’t forget how hard I worked to recover. Don’t turn a blind eye and undo all that I worked for.”
What I Want To Say To Them – The Hanged Man – You taught me what I needed to move on. Your strength and knowledge gained during this time of pain and recovery helped me see the world differently. This doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten about you, but that this experience is threaded through my life from now on. It can’t be lost, or forgotten.
Event – Ex’s Attack
Summary – An ex friends-with-benefits that I broke up with due to his developing meth addiction stalked me and eventually broke into my home one evening to attack and sexually assault me.
What the Past Self Needs To Say – Ten of Spades – “The most painful ending of all. It still hurts, even if you’ve moved on… my feet still bleed in the snow.”
What I Want To Say To Them – Wheel of Fortune – You made the right choices for your health and happiness at the time. What happened was not predictable and is not your fault. He is in prison now, and you’ve moved on. This too will pass, it’s just going to take more time.
Event – Blood Moon Betrayal
Summary – The word “pissant” is hands down my least favorite word in the English language. Essentially, Gideon and I had a group of friends who it was anonymously revealed to me really only wanted Gid and were making fun of me behind my back while plotting how to keep Gid and get me out of the picture. These were people I liked and trusted and the betrayal damaged the optimism I had for human nature as a whole, ripping youthful naivety from me in one vicious eyeopening moment.
What the Past Self Needs To Say – Five of Diamonds – “This still hurts. The experience feeds into those ‘less than’ feelings that rise up now and then.”
What I Want To Say To Them – The Star – You are still healing and working on building up your faith in others. Just remember not everyone is the same. There really are good people out there. Promise.
Event – Home Invasion
Summary – The ex friends-with-benefits mentions above convinced a “friend” of his to come pay me a visit. The fight involved ended up with me destroying his kidneys with an ice pick, permanently losing my voice when he tried to cut my throat, and having a near death experience on my kitchen floor.
What the Past Self Needs To Say – Ace of Spades – “I see the world in a new light, one filled with danger and potential for violence.”
What I Want To Say To Them – The Hierophant – I am using this experience as a lesson. It taught me to be safer and more aware of the world around me. I’ve consulted home defense and self defense experts, and I will continue to seek new knowledge and better ways to further the safety of myself and my home.
DECK USED: DEAD ON PAPER’S ARCANA IN WHITE
Dive In!
Today’s meditation was just over ten minutes long and was one of the guided meditations from the Calm app, which I chose not to do the timed piriformis stretches with because I was wearing a pair of jeans that was a bit restrictive in the hips. I decided to do them later in the day instead of half stripping just to get my meditation done.
The topic of today’s meditation was about change and how trying to avoid change doesn’t truly allow us to avoid it at all, instead it just drags it out and makes it more difficult than necessary. Instead, if you plunge into the change and allow it to happen, go with the flow and don’t fight it, then things move along much more quickly, and much more easily.
Today’s draw is the Page of Wands (Seeker of Fire in this deck… Yes, I know it says Swords on the card, but the suits of Wands and Swords in this deck are all sorts of jumbled up so trust me, with the imagery? It’s the Page of Wands), which is traditionally a representation of a receptive omega energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s passions and enthusiasm, joys and interests.
In the imagery, as mentioned above, you see boundless enthusiasm. The centaur given the perception of wings in their enjoyment of these things they are inspired to pursue. In the Page you find renewed enthusiasm to expand and grow, a re-connection or a new avenue opening up to begin exploring.
In the Flower Fortune card for today, the saying “If you think you’ve peaked, find a new mountain”, which perfectly aligns with the theme of the Page of Wands and its boundless enthusiasm for something new.
The encouragement here in today’s cards is that when you find yourself no longer enjoying what you’re doing, don’t just keep plugging a long at it. Change things up and try something new.
DECK USED: SHAPESHIFTER TAROT AND FLOWER FORTUNE CARDS
#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: When do I struggle to trust others?
Reading Summary: When their expressed intentions (Ten of Pentacles) don’t line up with their actions (Five of Wands Rx), it tells me to watch out and pay attention (The Hierophant).
Take Away: I don’t think that this is so much about struggling to trust someone as about how I know when not to trust someone. I see a lot of people that talk about what they want out of life and how this or that needs to be just right, and yet when I watch them, they don’t act in a way that progresses them towards these goals.
It’s like wanting to be a lawyer and telling everyone that’s your goal, but not even bothering to apply to law school. If you’re not willing to go through the process to get what you want out of life, how can you expect to get it. It’s not going to just land in your lap.
Anyway, when I see people with this attitude about life, it makes it extremely difficult for me to trust pretty much anything that comes out of their mouths. Their actions (or rather, their inaction) speaks far louder than any words they could speak.
DECK USED: CONFERENCE OF THE BIRDS TAROT
Today was the post office day and a long ass drive to the border. I was so tired when I got home that I ended up taking a much needed nap. Then I played with Gideon and did my post office haul show and tell with him.
