Morning Bonus Read – Connecting With Your Guides

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Malpertuis Lenormand - Connecting With Your Guides Tarot Spread

What I’m not aware of.

Book – Well geez. No fucking shit. The book is an indication of secrets and hidden information.  This card in relation to this specific question is essentially telling me that there’s a whole hell of a lot that I’m unaware of and to mind my own damned business.

Things you’re here to teach me.

Bear, Man, Tower – To stand strong and protect my territorial interests to to the best of my ability.  There’s a whole lot of masculine energy in these cards, combined with a watchfulness that stretches from beyond responsibility to a mentality of territorial responsibility.  The lessons here surround learning how to better look after and protect those things I hold dear from others, standing strong against those things or people that might threaten what I consider as mine.

How I can align with my true purpose.

Fish – Go with the flow.  This is not a salmon and you don’t have to fight so hard.  Trust that abundance is yours and that the actions you take will allow that abundance to continue to flow through your life, even in times where you might float along instead of swimming at full speed.

Signs I should look out for to indicate their presence.

Lily, Ring, Sun – They are always there and feel a responsibility to be there, obligated to help guide me towards success and positive outcomes. Although late to the party, they aren’t going anywhere.

A message from the Divine.

Coffin, Moon – Get a handle on your negative inner dialogue and it’s negative eroding influence on your emotions before they get the upper hand and end up having a handle on you.

DECK USED: MALPERTUIS LENORMAND

Put Your Oxygen Mask On First

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IMG_1551Today’s meditation was just under thirteen minutes long and was a guided meditation with the Calm app combined with an interval timer for my piriformis stretching. I’ve done a lot of skipping in meditation lately, and my stretches are definitely telling me that this is a bad idea. I’ve been having a bit more trouble with my lower back as well over the past week. It’s time to get back into things, either that or I’m going to have to increase my chiropractor visits.  I’d rather not sink the money into that option.

The focus of today’s meditation was about  how sometimes the first step in any journey can be the hardest. The thing is, though, the first step doesn’t have to be a big one. None of the steps on that journey need to be big ones. As long as you’re at least shuffling along a few inches at a time? You’re still making progress.  It might not feel like it, but it’s still progress.

Isidore Tarot Sea and Sand Spring Edition and Flower Fortune CardsToday’s draw is the Ten of Coins, which is traditionally a representation of stability and security obtained through hard work and shared with others.  These themes often center around financial success, good health, stability and security at home, and other material themes being shared with those closest to you such as family and friends.

In this manner, the well dressed bird in the imagery of today’s card shares his wealth and good fortune with the other birds  in his care, building them a luxurious house and making sure that they are comfortable and well cared for.

Combined with the Flower Fortunes card for today, which states that “Before trying to please others, firstly think of what makes you happy”, there is a message here today not just about tending to one’s own happiness, but also your own needs and self care.

No matter how much you want to care for others, it is absolutely imperative that you care for yourself first. You cannot expect your body, your finances, or your stamina to old out if you are not giving it what it needs.  That includes down time, good food, happiness, and all the other things that you need to care for yourself.   Just as you need to make money before you can share the wealth, you have to make sure you have found your  happiness before you can make others happy.  Doing it the other way around doesn’t make sense and is extremely unhealthy.

DECK USED:  ISIDORE TAROT SEA AND SAND SPRING EDITION AND FLOWER FORTUNE CARDS

Raven Willow Tarot’s Emotional Exploration Prompt
Questions for May 17th & 18th

The Alchemist's GardenWhat role does pride play in my life?

Eight of Swords (Monkshood) – If it is not held in check by a heavy dose of self-awareness and objectivity, pride can blind you to the truth.

Five of Cups (Taique) – It can drag us down when we take pride in things that aren’t meant for us. We then miss those things that are.

Seven of Wands (Living Rock) – Pride lights fire beneath our convictions, principles, and values, giving us the strength to stand fast against opposition that tries to rise up against what we feel is right.

How can I better enhance the positive aspects of pride?

The Emperor (San Pedro) – When you feel that pride is cutting you off from seeing the whole picture, take ownership of that feeling and the fact that the blockage is coming from within you instead of from an external source. Explore and seek to understand what’s going on rather than letting it pass by unnoticed.

Nine of Pentacles (Sassafras) – When feeling a sense of entitlement and discontent, pause to take a look around at what you really have, how far you’ve come, how much you’ve truly accomplished, and how good you really have it. 

Four of Pentacles (Lions Mane) – In times when you stand up for what you believe in, make sure that you have steady footing and that you are not cutting down others in the process of lifting yourself up.

DECK USED:  THE ALCHEMIST’S GARDEN TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsMay2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: In what area are you not practicing enough self-care?

Isidore Tarot Sea and Sand Spring EditionReading Summary: You’re not giving yourself enough benefit of the doubt (Strength) where finding balance in your life is concerned (Two of Coins). Moderation is not a punishment, but a path to better things (Temperance), so lift yourself up with optimism and hope, and start looking at this effort in a more positive light (The Star).

Take Away: The message here is about moderation and optimism.  Here is where the lack resides and where I need to work on fostering something more hopeful, positive, and lighthearted.

My naturally pessimistic tendencies have started to come out a bit more strongly of late, and they need to be brought back in hand (along with that negative inner narrative in my head).  It’s important to remember to celebrate your accomplishments along the way, even the tiny ones.  Each step forward is progress, no matter how small that step might be.

DECK USED:  ISIDORE TAROT SEA AND SAND SPRING EDITION

Daily Self Kindness

I had myself a nice epsom salt and apple cider soak in the tub today, and even managed to not fall asleep in the process!

Gideon’s Challenge

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IMG_7115Everyday Miracles

Bird song
and unfurling rosebuds
delicate spiderwebs
and hummingbird wings
lichen growth
and the resiliency
of life
and vibrant colors
splashed across the sky
Sometimes life
is about
everyday miracles
and not what we do
or how much progress
we make

Take a pause and breathe

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Something Worth Fighting For

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Today’s meditation was skipped because I was a lazy fuck and totally overslept today.  In fact when the girls got up I moved from the couch to the bed and went back to sleep.

Forest Creatures Tarot v2 and Flower Fortune CardsToday’s draw is the Five of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of discontent and casting focus upon one’s disappointments and bad experiences instead of upon the good in life and what’s going right.

Like most Five of Cups, the figure in this card looks completely unimpressed with the boon around them.  Even with it right in front of her, the bounty displeases.  She is focused elsewhere and rejects that which is to her good fortune out of displeasure she feels towards something else.

Combined with the Flower Fortune card for today, which says that “If you have something worth fighting for, then fight for it”, the message that I see in today’s cards is about not looking a gift horse in the mouth.  Maybe the grass looks greener elsewhere, but don’t lose your own lawn by being so distracted by the one on the other side of the fence that you don’t tend (and enjoy) what you already have.  It’s okay to work for something more or something better… but don’t forsake what’s good in the now in order to do it.

DECK USED:  FOREST CREATURES TAROT v2 AND FLOWER FORTUNE CARDS

LionHart’s Reap & Sow Tarot Challenge Prompt
Questions for May 16th through 18th

Darlings TarotAre my current choices in alignment with my inner voice?
Four of Pentacles and Knight of Pentacles

Yes, with a big dose of stability added in due to my need for that, and a big dose of taking it slow added in for self care.  You may be moving at a slower pace than you would like, but the choices you make are aligned with the guidance your inner voice is providing.

Where am I asked to listen {more} to my inner voice?
Eight of Pentacles and King of Wands

When it comes to my business. Not just in the creation and manifestation aspect, but also in the direction that I want to take the business in and how I go about getting there. Keep in mind that it’s not enough to just listen, there must also be action in order for what is said to be applied.

What can listening {more} to my inner voice establish {for me}?
Ace of Cups and King of Swords

It will lead to a more comfortable and stable strategy of introducing my emotions into the process. This is something that I have been trying to do for a while now, as somewhere along the way I feel like all the cycles of burnout and recovery caused me to lose track of my joy in the process.  A strategy that preserves stability and self care while also allowing me to begin finding joy in the process of my work again is what is being offered here… and sounds amazing.

DECK USED:  DARINGS TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsMay2021 Challenge Prompt
Topic: Do Spread #2
Question: Why am I so driven to work even when I know that I need to rest?

Forest Creatures Tarot v2Reading Summary: Fear (Nine of Swords) of losing my sense of security and stability (Four of Coins), as well as fear (Nine of Swords) of losing the feelings of success that satiate me on an emotional level (Nine of Cups).

Take Away: Fear.  The answer here is that the reason I work so hard even when I need to rest is fear.  Fear of losing my stability.  Fear of losing my sense of security.  Fear of losing my contentment and the happiness I’ve found in the now.  Fear of losing my sense of “comfortable”.

These fears drive me on even when it’s not healthy for me to push myself so hard.

DECK USED:  FOREST CREATURES TAROT v2

Daily Self Kindness

I called an end to play with Gideon tonight when I started feeling tender.  I didn’t want to and was really worried about disappointing by doing so but… it got to the point I was struggling to concentrate and stay in character.

Gideon’s Challenge

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IMG_6404A Winter’s Memory

Remember when
the grass was dry
and branches barren
of leaves
when cold winds
whipped through
underbrush
and nipped at
fingertips and nose
Remember hard ground
beneath your back
as you stared up
at wandering white
as cold seeped through
clothes and skin
to cause quaking tremors

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

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?

The Gentle Tarot, Dear Heart Oracle v.II, Nature & Soul Yoga Wisdom Oracle

Earth – Temperance and Letting Go – You need to make sure that you’re letting go of your responsibilities this week and just being in the now. Get in contact with your spirituality and use this time to find your center. Don’t allow stress concerning your responsibilities set you off-balance.

Air – Ten of Wands, Inspired, Balance – There’s going to be lots of brilliant ideas this week, and lots of ideas on what you should be doing with this time, but you need to remember that this week is meant to be a time of rest in order to restore balance. Write down your ideas and set them aside so that they don’t overwhelm you.

Water – The World and Awakening – Focus your emotional energy upon what makes you feel complete. This means spending time with Gideon, but it also means making sure that you’re doing the things that nurture your soul in other ways as well. Allow this week off, combined with letting go of responsibility, to give your emotions room to stretch and grow.

Fire – Nine of Thunder atop Flower of Stones, Secrets – This week your passions should be focused upon self-care and making sure that you’re getting the recovery time and relaxation that you need, not on work on the business. Don’t sneak around doing business shit when you shouldn’t be doing any of it at all right now.

Waning – Camel (Fortitude) – Now is not the time to push through and force yourself to go the extra mile.  Take your time off for what it is, time off.  Not time to catch up on other shit or get things done you have put off for “when it’s more convenient”.

Waxing – Dove (Open Heart) – Be open and receptive this week.  You don’t have to guard yourself so harshly or keep everyone at arms length.  Relax your guard a bit and trust Gideon and others to take up the slack in this area while you are giving yourself a bit of a break.

Take Away – Rest and recovery is the theme of the week this week. This includes not sneaking about doing work when no one is looking.  You need to allow this week to be about you and taking care of yourself.  Give your body, mind, and emotions the rest that they need.

DECKS USED:  THE GENTLE TAROT, DEAR HEART ORACLE v.II, NATURE & SOUL YOGA WISDOM ORACLE