Tranquility
wisps of clouds
thread among the hills
like string through
a sewing needle’s eye
until they blend
together
in a mockery
of movement
when everything
is actually still
and the seat
of my jeans
soaks through with
rainwater
as I watch for hours
on end
Today’s meditation was skipped.
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.
Today’s draw is the Six of Cups (Oberon), which is traditionally a representation of nostalgia, joyful memories, childhood experiences, and revisiting the past in some way.
The card has then been combined with a card from Twist’s Halloween Affirmations Deck, which says, “You are strong. You are resilient. You will defeat this.”
I was a terror as a child. Not because I threw tantrums, misbehaved, or otherwise broke the rules. Rather, it was because I had a tendency to go missing. Put me near a wooded area, a bush, a tree, or even tall grass… and I would disappear, going missing for hours at a time.
I didn’t really realize or understand until I was much older how distressing this was for my parents. I was drawn into the green and played the hours away only to eventually emerge happy and hale to parents that were losing their minds with worry that quickly turned to anger at my reappearance. This (of course) just made the green spaces all that much more appealing.
The message in today’s Six of Cups and affirmation card is a reminder that those green spaces offer healing and are waiting for me. I need the peace and healing they hold even more during times of struggle, stress, and anxiety. These cards encourage returning to these green spaces more often at this time to help ease the stress of my current hurdles. Maybe these places could do the same for you, too.
#DiscordTarotholicsOct2026 Challenge
Prompts for October 19th through 21st
Bewitched: What lies beneath the mask that you show the world?
Newsboy (Blocked) – Beneath the mask that you show the world is someone that really doesn’t want anything to do with the world around them.
You yearn to be the recluse living deep in the woods, inaccessible and self sufficient.
Banshee: What inside you is screaming for release?
The Seance House – You have far more ability with mediumship than you allow yourself to explore. These abilities are seeking an outlet, and are getting harder and harder to ignore.
Philosophical Question: Is there an afterlife?
Brain Fog (Grounded) atop The Violinist (Grounded) – Yes, but we don’t remember the “music” once we are firmly back on the earth (in a body). That other place isn’t meant to be known by us during our time here on earth.
Other elements included in this reading:
Bird Figurine for Fostering Hope, Positivity, and Renewal
Desert Rose and Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
October Prompts by @forgotten.dumpling & @ml.mecham
Prompt for October 18th and 19th : shivering hope / horrifically alive
it trembles on the edges
pushed away but still there
lingering like a shadow
stalking prey
(Two of Hearts)
that sliver of hope
persistent and eternal
like a vampire’s obsession
given sway
(Four of Diamonds)
it shivers alone
outside the window glass
looking for a crack to slip through
(Jack of Clubs)
eager to rise up and bite you again
the smallest invitation will do
(Ace of Clubs)
Other elements included in this reading:
Pressed Pansy Flower for Hearing the Heart More Clearly
Dried Rosebuds for Potential and Beauty Waiting to Unfold
Flower Agate for Opening the Mind to New Possibilities
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
@owlandbonestarot #OctoberinBetween Challenge
Prompts for October 19th
Seek – Strength – When you are seeking strength to carry you through struggles and hardship…
Find – Six of Cups atop Five of Swords – … look to the triumphs and defeats of your past to find it.
Take Away – It’s your successes and survival of the trials of your past that show you what’s happening in the present is something that you can also overcome.
Not only were you strong enough -then- to deal with the struggles that seemed insurmountable at the time, but you learned from them. As a result, you’re even stronger and smarter now than you were then, and far more capable of making it through than when you were dealing with the trials and tribulations of that time.
Your struggles didn’t break you then, and these new ones certainly won’t break you now.
Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Rhododendron Leaf for Fostering Confidence
Clear Quartz for boosting Mental Clarity
Citrine for Energy Lift (easing the weight of heavy energies)
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
I took a nice long nap at Ms B’s house today (and surprisingly, was allowed to by others. It feels like I didn’t nap at all, but I clearly needed the extra sleep.
Softness
a moment
on the floor
lingering
and quiet
as a soft breeze
lightly shifts
gauzy fabric
to dance
lazily
in a moment
of silent
movement
in the stillness
Today’s meditation was a ten minute self-guided session based on an affirmation card that says, “The negative voice in your head isn’t worth your time.”
The @GlitterbyInk #OctoberAlchemy26 Challenge
Breathe Prompt for October 18th : Peace
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.
Today’s draw is the Ten of Pentacles (Diez de Oros), which is traditionally a representation of satisfaction and stability in the area of one’s finances, resources, home, health, manifestations, and the physical world. This often translates into themes that have to do with hard earned success, accomplishments, abundance created through patience and hard work, and reaching a point in that abundance and stability where it is comfortably shared with those around us.
It takes a long time to build lasting security that you can share with others. You have done what you can to prepare for the destabilization of the lives connected to yours, and now you are facing that situation.
Remember that you are not without resources. You also aren’t alone when you need some support. Don’t let your inner negative narratives tell you that things won’t work out. Your track record proves otherwise.
The message in today’s Ten of Pentacles, affirmation card, and Peace prompt is a reminder that your pessimistic and negative thoughts are lying to you. Community creates peace, and your backstory proves you’re more than capable of setting things back to rights with a bit of time, ingenuity, and effort.
#DiscordTarotholicsOct2026 Challenge
Prompt for October 18th : Do Spread 3
Smoky Quartz – How can you best clear negativity from your life and in turn gain greater stability?
Nine of Spades – Stop allowing your fears and “what if” thinking to steal your focus and call the shots.Your anxiety is high right now, and that “what if” scenario thinking your inner narratives are trying to pitch to you needs to be rejected outright. Don’t play with it or consider what it’s saying… let it go instead.
Apple – What insight is needed to improve your physical health at this time?
Queen of Spades – You talk a good game but need to work on your follow through. Make sure that you’re actually getting the activity you need instead of just thinking and talking about it.
Chrysanthemum – Where do your defenses and boundaries need some bolstering?
Seven of Spades – Work on not allowing others problems and actions to have so much influence over your own joys and perspective on the world. Remember that you can and -should- be more focused on what -you- believe to be right and true than what others think about it all.
Aquamarine – In what ways can meditation promote more calm and confidence in your life?
King of Diamonds – Meditation provides the kind of grounding that shores up your foundation. It’s not a quick fix, but a long term maintenance type of thing that helps in keeping you grounded in the day to day.
Mint – What factor in your relationships needs some reevaluation and perhaps adjustment?
Five of Diamonds – Again, remember that although other people’s scarcity can affect your own, this is not your crisis. Support them without taking ownership.
Carnelian – In what ways can including more creativity in your life brighten your daily outlook?
King of Spades – Your particular brand of creativity both exercises the mind and invites others to join you. Thus, including more creativity in your life invites both mental clarity and a greater sense of community.
Pomegranate – What wish of yours is ready to be manifested into reality at this time?
Three of Hearts – More love, understanding, and camaraderie; less discord.
Other elements included in this reading:
Carnelian Agate Mushroom for Focusing On Aspirations
Foraged Parmeliaceae Lichen for a “Breath of Fresh Air”
Honey Calcite for Optimism and Motivational Boost
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
One Card Tarot Journal Activity by @mariasofia_astro
Chapter 5 | Entry 1 – Health and Body
Affirmation : “I value my physical form, even what I perceive as its flaws.”
Prompt : Use the card you draw to guide you as you write a gratitude letter to your body. Work keywords attached to this card into your letter.
What feelings came up when I pulled this card?
In my personal readings of late, I’ve had a lot of messages from the Hermit come through as a reminders of how to identify and avoid unhealthy alone time.
It took me a minute to get out of that headspace and consider the card free from that perspective today. Not that that perspective doesn’t play a part, more that it was blocking what else might be there for me to see and understand.
For this reason, there was a moment of disgruntled dissatisfaction before I picked apart why I was feeling that way.
What elements of the card’s meaning resonate with me and this prompt?
The Hermit is often about alone-time and solitary self-reflection. It’s about looking within and illuminating what needs our attention, soul searching for answers, and connecting with our inner shadows.
Alternately, it can often shed light on times when unhealthy alone-time is trying to masquerade as healthy solitude.
Bare bones, it’s about connecting with self.
What in the artwork spoke to me?
The lantern always hits in the Hermit card, for it speaks of shedding light in places where perhaps visibility is not at its best. We often lie to ourselves and deceive ourselves, and this lantern symbolizes pushing back the shadows to see what’s really hidden there.
The mountains behind the Hermit speak to me of hurdles and obstacles yet to be dealt with. With the Hermit standing at a place where he can cast his light over these mountains, to me it symbolizes using our ability to dig within to find the strength needed for these hurdles, and root out anything we’re struggling with internally that might make the journey harder than it has to be.
My prompt response and reflections.
Let me first apologize for the abuse. I know that you are doing the best that you can, and that my demands for more hurt you. I know that you are hurting, and yet even during these times I punish myself by punishing you with unreasonable demands and even more pain.
There is no excuse for this behavior. There are reasons, of course, but they excuse nothing.
Thank you for keeping going even when I am being cruel or unreasonable. Thank you for the mobility I still have, and for putting up with my demands for more. I could be in a wheel chair, but you continue to allow me to walk. I could be in a great deal more pain, but you do what you can to mitigate my abuse.
I can’t promise to do better, but I do promise to try. I appreciate you, scars and metal pins and all. I appreciate you through the pain and stiffness, I appreciate you through the days when just waking up and getting out of bed are an agony. I don’t just appreciate you on the days when I can move more easily, so please don’t think that is the case. I’m just an asshole at showing how much I truly am grateful for all you go through for me and all you give.
Other elements included in this reading:
Labradorite D20 and D6 Gemstone Dice
@owlandbonestarot #OctoberinBetween Challenge
Prompts for October 18th
Soften – Cuarto de Oros – Soften your need to grasp and grab and hold on so tightly. This instinct keeps you from moving on and moving forward.
White knuckling what you have solves nothing, for it’s only with letting go and letting things flow that you actually manage to make progress.
Strengthen – Siete de Bastos – As you let go of this need to grasp so tightly, take care to connect and strengthen your priorities, values, and beliefs. These things ensure you aren’t lead astray.
Look to those things you value and put effort into ensuring they are getting what they need to stay healthy and strong. Lean into the beliefs, values, and mores that are the bedrock of who you are and who you want to become.
Remember to push back against those that would try to draw you off the path and into the weeds. You don’t need their help or their interference.
Other elements included in this reading:
Black Wood Kitsune Carving for Cleverness and Ingenuity
Staghorn Sumac for Connecting with Nature and the Wild Within
Pressed Pansy Flower for Hearing the Heart More Clearly
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
I took the photo of the Maravilla Tarot on the floor instead of trying to fight with fitting those massive cards on a table and having to stitch together too many pictures to get the full image.
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 – Knight of Cups – Actively pursue the things that make you happy this week. You have enough bad going on. You need a little extra good to work as a counterbalance. When the opportunities arise to indulge or enjoy, jump on them without delay.
Air – Five of Swords – Keep a tight grip on your tongue and your temper. Depression has a tendency to make you cranky and give rise to your “my way is the only way” attitude. This is natural, but you need to take care with your determination and will power that it doesn’t overpower others and bend them to breaking.
Water – The Emperor – Don’t let the fact that you’re not going to get everything you want this week keep you down. Sometimes the greater good has to take priority over personal whims and self medicating behaviors. Don’t let not getting what you want be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.
Fire – Ace of Swords – Communicate instead of just doing shit on your own and expecting them to either keep up. Others can’t read your mind and won’t know what you need from them without you saying so.
Waning – Tower and Key – Hyper-vigilance is not the end all be all answer to everything. Make sure you put down those binoculars and take a breath instead of letting your defense mechanisms and anxiety keep you on constant alert.
Waxing – Fox and Garden – Take care to watch closely for those wearing masks that hide their true intentions. Not everyone can be trusted this week. Pass on associating with those you feel even a niggling of distrust for. Now is not the time to deal with them.
Take Away – Seek more positive experiences this week, and go for those things that create pleasure for you instead of allowing yourself to wallow in your depression and anxiety. You may not be able to do everything you want, but there’s plenty to enjoy if you open yourself up to it, especially if you communicate with others what it is you want instead of trying to “make things happen” on your own. Take care that frustrations and anxiety don’t loosen the leash on the sharper edge of your tongue, and take care with who you trust.
Fanciful
a hag stone
in progress
left on the beach
lingers
among friends
not lonely
but waiting
for someone
to notice
pick it up
and send it
back in
