Stillness
Let’s sit a spell
and watch
clouds travel
over calm waters
like little boats
that don’t make ripples
Stay perfectly still
and the silence
will fade
to be replaced
by soft sounds
of foragers seeking
tasty treats
but stop at the
water’s edge
for a drink.
Learning tarot is something that a lot of people are intrigued about at one point or another in their life. For some, it’s a phase that they dabble in and then move on from. For others it is an opportunity to exploit others. For some it is a lifetime fascination. For still others, it is a part of who they are… or a part of their spirituality.
There are plenty of assumptions about the tarot and plenty of abusers that use the decks for their own purposes. That use the tarot to manipulate people, or to hurt people… or as a game, unintentionally hurting others simply by not understanding or being unwilling to grasp the power that the tarot can possess.
The sad thing is that this type of harmful behavior is going to be the case for no matter what you are talking about. There will be some that respect these different things, and others that won’t. Just as there are those that will appreciate a public garden, and others that will only pause to piss on the flowers.
The thing is that most of those who are truly invested in tarot in some way, whether that is through helping others or helping themselves, acknowledge that tarot is more than just a handful of cards. They aren’t out to hurt people, manipulate people, or use tarot as a game or a weapon. They are seeking to use the tarot to help themselves or others, seek out guidance for themselves or others, to delve into their psyche in order to heal themselves or others.
Tarot is a way to reach into the minds and souls of the self and others, and to find depth… to find answers. Whether a secular or spiritual reader, I think that it’s important to respect and own the responsibility that using something that can do this inherently holds. I find that I sometimes struggle with fresh, brand new beginners because of this. Because they aren’t ready yet to grasp the responsibility behind what they’re seeking to learn. They don’t realize that it’s not a toy or a game, but rather a tool to help that can also harm if we aren’t careful.
For this reason, I try to remind beginners (and even some that have dabbled for quite some time but don’t seem able to grasp the gravity of the tool in their hands) that reading tarot is not just about getting answers. It’s about how you present those answers, either to yourself or to others. It’s about acknowledging that anything that you say can have a huge impact on another person and their life, etc. And therefore, when reading the cards, it’s important to present things in a way they understand and that is empathetic to another person and their journey.
Without empathy, understanding, and a sense of empowerment in the message… the cards can easily become something that can do a great deal of harm instead of good. When people speak of “respecting the tarot” it is this influence… this responsibility… that they are referring to. A responsibility that I feel is absolutely essential, especially in reading for others… but also in reading for yourself.
Today’s meditation was skipped today. I was feeling stressed about the orders that I needed to get done and sort of lost the battle with any of my self care stuff today, not just the meditation but the probiotic smoothie, the vitamins, the tea with peptides, yoga physio crap…. the whole thing. I’m definitely going to pay for it too.
Today’s draw is the King of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of a projective alpha energy, personality, or person in the areas of intellect, communication, ambitions, and instinct. The King in this suit is often associated with someone that is highly intelligent that has strategical acumen and leadership qualities rooted in their ability to lead through their ideas and skills in communication.
What stands out to me the strongest in the imagery of this card today is the fact that the king’s throne is on wheels. He’s not sitting still and letting the world come to him, but sits upon a mobile throne, prepared to go where he is needed with the strength of his convictions behind him and intelligence to lead the way. (Okay, so the dude’s muscles also stood out but… of course they did. Just sayin’. I’m not blind. That particular notation had nothing to do with the reading tho.)
Right. So… the message today is about taking control by having a plan… a stress on the “plan” part of that. This card is saying if I want to take control of my orders and get done what needs done, there’s more to the process than just getting up and moving your ass… you need a plan and you need to focus on it and stick to it and make it happen.
#DiscordTarotolicJan2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: What do I need to focus on for self-care during this full moon?
Reading Summary: Don’t push too hard right now (Page of Wands). It’s okay to have some alone time if you need it, as long is it’s done in a healthy way (The Hermit) and you aren’t allowing the wolf in through the door in the process (Nine of Wands).
Take Away: Although I feel like I’ve managed to stop my slide down the walls of that dark pit, it would be a mistake during the full moon to use the energy available from the full moon to push myself to do more and dive into things.
Instead, I need to focus on taking care of myself and participating in healthy things that can fight back against the darkness. It is very easy at this time to tip over the line from healthy to unhealthy in my actions and thoughts. The Hermit card here is a reminder of just how close that line is and how easy it is to slip over it without realizing it, as alone time is something I crave often and yet it is not always healthy for me, while at other times it is immensely benificial.
#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: How can I treat myself with more compassion?
Reading Summary:Â Instead of projecting your energy and ambitions outward (King of Crystals) and overfilling your plate with responsibilities that then turn into heavy burdens (Ten of Wicks), right now you need to focus upon fostering and sustaining your inner strength (Strength).
Take Away: Recovery from an MDE takes time and piling on responsibilities and additional crap to get done won’t help but instead will only slow down that recovery. A better path that will allow the healing to happen instead of ignoring those needs, is to focus on doing the things that build your inner strength and give you a bit more stability.
Damn.  This is the first time since I started this self kindness section that I really can’t think of anything that I’ve done for myself today as a self kindness. Nor can I think of anything at this point and time just before bed that I can do for myself right now as a self kindness.
Winter Breeze
Whispers swirl
though
windswept fields
as each dried
weed and reed
brush against
each other
to spill
their secrets
into the air
for seeking ears
and open minds
if we
will only listen
Today is the full moon, and like all new moons and full moons, I did a spread aligned to the moon’s current themes as a part of my recognition of the moon’s cycle and influences upon us. Today’s spread is about moving beyond the shadows, and brought to you by Sharron Basanti of Seeds of Shakti.
1. What medicine does the Leo Full Moon offer?
Eight of Cups – The Leo full moon offers you the strength and opportunity to leave behind you the things that are no longer working for you. You’ve been drug down and disappointed, struggling with your emotions, but this full moon is offering you the energy needed to begin the climb back out of that dark place and towards the light.
2. How can I harness the potent medicine of Leo for activating what my heart is yearning to manifest?
Ten of Wands – Don’t overwhelm yourself. It’s okay to take things a little at a time instead of trying to pile it all on and deal with it all at once. Responsibilities can sometimes feel like they are just too much of a burden, but they can be manageable if broken down into smaller bite sized pieces.  Yes, this means it will take more time, but it will help keep you from feeling the overwhelm that can drag you down and hold you back from that climb into the light.
3. How can I embrace Leo’s shadow medicine?
Six of Wands – Listen to those that cheer you on. It’s okay to accept praise. It’s okay to feel good when people say that you’ve done well or say that they admire you. It won’t make you a lesser person to allow these good feelings when you are given compliments or praise.
4. What shifts will emerge after the Full Moon?
Ten of Coins – A return to a sense of security and good fortune is on the horizon as the moon’s energy begins to wane. The healthier you begin to feel, the more that sense of well-being in your situation will improve. It is all about your perception… and your gratitude, which is much easier to get in touch with as you begin to feel better.
5. Message from the Ancestors.
Seven of Wands – Stand up for what you believe in and follow that moral compass so intrinsically embedded in how you think and feel. As the energy of the full moon peaks and its waning begins to lead the way out of the darkness you’ve slid into, make sure that you keep your focus centered on those things that are worth fighting for and what you need to do to protect them and allow them to flourish.
Today’s meditation was just over ten minutes long and was a guided meditation with interval timer for my piriformis stretches. The topic of today’s meditation is one that has come up quite a lot lately. That is… the topic was about change, and how allowing change to happen rather than fighting against it can make life feel much smoother over all.
This is very similar to the thoughts that I was musing about the other day, where I was considering the difference that it would make if we embraced all change in the same way we embrace and adapt to good changes.
Today’s draw is the Chariot card, which is traditionally a representation of control, willpower, determination, and forward motion.
In many decks, this card is represented by a man controlling two horses (in various different situations such as a chariot or wagon). What stands out to me here in this card is that it’s not a chariot that is being pulled behind the horses, but rather it is a home.
This speaks to me of autonomy, control, and direction that is related to more than just a situation, but to one’s life as a whole and their steps along their personal path in their life’s journey. This woman brings with her what is important to her on her journey. She takes with her home and shelter, her safety and security.
She is in control, she chooses her direction with each and every step she takes… and the path she treads upon with these steps is hers and hers alone.  And that is the message in today’s card.  You own your life. You make the choices that decide what direction your life will go in.  Whether these choices are hard or easy, impossible or impossibly simple. Whether you choose to see yourself as a victim in life or a survivor. All of these are choices that shape where you will go on your journey.
Today’s message is a reminder that those choices are yours to make, and that that power is yours and only yours.
#DiscordTarotolicJan2021 Challenge Prompt
Philosophical Question: Would life lose meaning if we could live forever?
Reading Summary: There would always be something or someone to foster your passion and keep you interested and invested (Queen of Wands), if you’re willing to look for it instead of turning away from it (Eight of Swords), and if you are able to take the ups and downs of life in stride (The Wheel of Fortune).
Take Away: The answer is yes… and no. Because the answer depends on the individual and their ability to find things that keep their passion for life and interest in being upon the earth and living and experiencing these things that make life worth living.  If someone isn’t willing to pursue these things, then a life filled with eternity would feel like a prison sentence. But for those that can take life as it comes and fill it with pursuit of their passions, eternal life would become simply that much more pleasure… that much more joy… and that much more life to experience.
Purefield.Healing’s Taking My Power Back Challenge Prompt
Question: How can I take my power back from intrusive thoughts or worries?
Reading Summary: Find a balance between positive and negative (Two of Pentacles) by persuading yourself (Strength) to lean into the positive side of things and the pleasure/comfort you can find there (Four of Wands).
Take Away: When I saw the imagery in the Two of Pentacles today, it reminded me of a binucleated cell, which is about more than balance, but rather about two in one. Positive and negative… inside me. Both there, both circling around each other in an eternal effort to find balance. The problem is that I struggle to feed the positive, where as the negative seems to be more than capable of feeding itself.  This balance, when I can manage it, creates a far more comfortable and centered “seat” within myself, making me much more “at home” within my own skin. Â
Today I replaced the screen saver on my phone. This is one of those tasks that I really hate, and so I put it off and put it off and… I’ve put it off a good six… maybe eight months or more. My screen protector was so cracked and shattered that it was beginning to be difficult to see what was on the screen beneath it.  So today I dug out the protectors I’d ordered months and months ago, and finally did it. Now my phone feels brand new again instead of like a broken piece of junk.
