All the Love
Love
shines through
illuminated
in golden glow
by jack-o-lanterns
that smile
in the dark
so at night
it isn’t
the spooky
you see
but love
everlasting
on display
Blood, Sweat, and Tears
Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and was one of the #DailyTrip sessions from the @Calm app.
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The @GlitterbyInk #OctoberMagic25 Challenge
Mother Prompt for October 11th : Devotion
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.
Today’s draw is the Queen of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of a receptive alpha energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s knowledge, education, logic, ambitions, or communication. This often translates into themes that have to do with the people that foster you through tough love and sharp-tongued advice.
The Queen of Swords has then been combined with one of the Sinister Affirmations cards that says, “Don’t be too hard on yourself about your weaknesses. We all have them. Dracula can’t even go outside during the day and he’s still the immortal prince of darkness.”
Sometimes sticking with something in order to become adept at it requires a bit of injury and healing along the way. It’s those that, even when they fight through the pain come out the other side intact with experience gained, show their true devotion to whatever it is they were focused on achieving. The scars are simply proof of lessons learned along the way, as the pain of the experience begins to fade into memory.
The message in today’s cards reminds us that true success is never achieved without sacrifice. Blood, sweat, and tears go into our work, and when we come out the other side we are sometimes scarred by the experience, but triumphant in our achievements and/or what’s been gained along the way.
DECKS USED: SOUL SPLASH TAROT AND SINISTER AFFIRMATIONS
@CrowSister #PreparingForTheDark Challenge
The Storeroom Prompts
Preserve – Ace of Cups and The Swing – You may be looking for a bit of balance in your emotions, but don’t swing so far the other way that you end up not feeling anything because you’re holding yourself still and stagnant. Emotions need movement, even when that movement feels unsteady or uncertain.
Store – The Hanged Man and The Lonely Highway – Put away your judgment and stay open to others and their perspectives. Sometimes holding back on judgment can feel like you’re being smothered, but in truth, you’re not being smothered you’re just opening up to seeing more than your own point of view.
Protect – Justice and The Dunes – It takes longer to do things “the right way”. That doesn’t mean the right way isn’t the exact path that you need to take for the rewards that you seek. You need to make sure you are protecting that path, because the longer time period means it’s more open to problems and the negative impacts of intrusion by outside sources… or your own self-destructive tendencies.
Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Red Oak Leaf for Fostering Unconditional Love
Dried Rhododendron Leaf for Fostering Confidence
Septarian Stone for Physical and Mental Healing
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
DECKS USED: NIGREDO TAROT AND THE MIDWEST GOTHIC ORACLE
#DiscordTarotholicsOct2025 Challenge
Trick or Treat Prompt for October 11th : What consequences await a choice yet to be made?
Reading Summary: Avoid trying to be the “smartest guy in the room” (Knight of Swords), and instead hang back and pay attention (The Hanged Man). In doing so, you might discover something that sparks your own interest and passions (Knight of Wands), far more than whatever you were going to share in the first place.
Take Away: When you speak out of turn, you miss out on all that you could learn by staying quiet. Make sure as you move into your day (or week) that you are staying quiet more than you are speaking. You don’t want to lose out on that knowledge and perspective that’s going to be on offer to you if you stay open to it.
Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Silver Maple Key for Bouncing Back to Thrive
Ammonite for a Sense of Stability During Times of Change
Gneiss Stone for Patience in Moments of Discomfort
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
DECK USED: SOUL SPLASH TAROT
I took a nap at Ms B’s today. For some reason after I ate, I felt really flushed and it made me sleepy. Instead of fighting it, I chose to just go with it and have a nap.
Gideon’s Challenge – Come Find Me
Come Find Me
Would you
come find me
if I were
to float
in the ripples
of the sound
and let
currents
draw me out
to the sea
where waves
dance
and no one
feels the rain
Photo © ZenStatePhotography
One Thing at a Time
Today’s meditation was nine minutes long, and was one of the #DailyTrip sessions from the @Calm app.
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The @GlitterbyInk #OctoberMagic25 Challenge
Mother Prompt for October 10th : Strength
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.
Today’s draw is the Ace of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of the seed of new beginnings in the area of one’s thoughts, intellect, education, logic and reason, ambition, or communication.
The Ace of Swords has then been combined with one of my personal affirmation cards that says, “You deserve to celebrate your victories rather than immediately moving your goal posts.”
New ideas are amazing, and you have a -lot- of them because you’ve got a massive amount of imagination and creativity. Because of this, it’s important to remember that new ideas don’t have to be acted on immediately. Sometimes it’s better to let them percolate first.
Write them down so you don’t forget instead of pouncing on them right away, and it will give you more time to truly appreciate your successes and accomplishments, rather than discarding them out of hand for something new and different.
Today’s message is a reminder that when you introduce working on too many new ideas at once, you end up overwhelmed and not enjoying any of them. Better to space them out so you can explore them and enjoy them, than to try and do them all and not enjoy any of it.
DECKS USED: ANNE STOKES GOTHIC TAROT AND TWIST’S HALLOWEEN AFFIRMATION CARDS
#DiscordTarotholicsOct2025 Challenge
Zombies Prompt for October 10th : What new opportunities are rising up in at this time?
Reading Summary: Revisit your past experiences (Six of Cups) as a way to foster greater stability for you and yours (Queen of Pentacles) as you move forward in new endeavors that require returning to the drawing board once again (Page of Swords).
Take Away: There are a lot of reminders lately concerning ensuring that you are referencing back to past experiences. By doing so you don’t just build your confidence for new things, but help remind yourself of the pit falls and stumbling blocks that can be avoided as you move forward in the present.
There’s a lot of lessons available to you by examining past experiences and digging out the gems of knowledge among the rubble of both your failed efforts and your successes. Moving forward, take care to use these past experiences in the seizing of new opportunities.
Other elements included in this reading:
Carved Bamboo for Positive Outcomes
Citrine for Energy Lift (easing the weight of heavy energies)
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
DECK USED: HALLOWEEN WAITE
@LightningWildflower October Tarot Challenge
Fire and Air “The Fours” Prompts for October 10th thru 12th
Four of Wands
How can I create a greater sense of community and connection in my life?
Four of Pentacles and Love Endures – If you share with your community in those times when you need to hunker down in the storm and hold yourself tight or else fall apart, they will be more understanding and more supportive than if you just disappear on them. The key here is to allow others to help support you rather than retreating into yourself and away from them in the process. The first step in that is sharing.
Four of Swords
How can I make more time for peace and stillness?
The Empress and Future Past – Sometimes when you’re considering what you need to feel nurtured, it’s important to look forward to the future and consider how you will feel about how you’re treating yourself now. What will your future self look back on with a sigh and say, “Ahh, I should’ve done that differently” when it comes to your own needs?
What will slowing down now allow me to prepare for later?
Five of Pentacles and We Are Grains of Sand – Slowing down gives yourself a chance to see things from a greater perspective than the feelings of the moment. For example, when scarcity comes to call, you can step back and see the bigger picture, and ascertain whether these feelings of scarcity are actual reality or just an emotional reaction to something going on with you or your environment.
Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged English Oak Leaves for Strength and Stability
Foraged Ponderosa Pine Cone for Resilience and Adaptability
Foraged Deer Rib for Connection through the Veil
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
DECKS USED: ANNE STOKES GOTHIC TAROT AND RED WHEEL’S MEMENTO MORI
I had Chinese food. I’ve been craving it for a while, but it’s become -so- expensive that I’ve been shying away from it for a few months now.
Gideon’s Challenge – The Guardian
The Guardian
A moment
of quiet
in a hectic day
as sore bones
slip
beneath water
and warmth
soaks in
as my friend
watches on
to guard me
from
interruptions
Photo © ZenStatePhotography
Find the Fit
Today’s meditation was skipped.
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The @GlitterbyInk #OctoberMagic25 Challenge
Mother Prompt for October 9th : Nurture
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.
Today’s draw is the Judgement card, which is traditionally a representation of judgements, one’s inner calling and chosen life path, and looking back on one’s life to consider how they feel about the path they’ve taken and who they have become.
The Judgement card has then been combined with an affirmation card from the Sinister Affirmations deck, which says,”In case no one told you today: Your gaze is as bewildering as it is haunting. You’re like a breath of fresh hellfire” You’d be terrifying to encounter in a dark crypt.”
Be true to you. There’s always going to be people out there that are a perfect fit for you, of you’re open to allowing them into your life. Stop trying to impress those that aren’t a good match, and instead look for the ones that are.
We all want to “belong” and many dream of belonging to “the in crowd”. The thing is, though? That “in crowd” sucks. To fit in with it you have to fake being what you’re not, and once you’re in it becomes a miserable experience of always doubting yourself and worrying that you might be ousted.
Better to find those people that fit you, and in fitting? That anxiety isn’t such a worry, and the stress of being something your not isn’t a worry either.
The message in today’s cards is a reminder that as cliche as it sounds? Being yourself really -is- the best choice when making friends. Stop looking for who you think you -should- fit in with, and instead look for those that you actually -do- fit in with.
DECK USED: SUPER HEROES PARODY MINI TAROT AND SINISTER AFFIRMATIONS
@thetruthinstory #embracethemagical2025 Challenge
Prompt for Veil (unseen) : What is hidden, blurred, or waiting just beyond sight?
Reading Summary: Imposter syndrome and self-doubt are a thing (Imposter Syndrome), even for you. And, although it’s not present 24/7, it does come to visit you under the right conditions (The Nightside Tree).
When it does, you need to focus on grounding yourself in your learned knowledge and experiences (The Roots of Experience), and accept that these moments of self-doubt are not reality, just a temporarily altered perception of the moment at hand (Altered State).
Take Away: Everyone feels awkward in moments of uncertainty. This isn’t something you experience alone, and when you ground yourself in your past experiences and the knowledge you’ve gained from them, it can help you in keeping that uncertainty at bay. The solution is in drawing on your past experience, and that solution works whether it’s a moment of uncertainty, or feeling as if you aren’t knowledgeable enough.
Other elements included in this reading:
Deodar Cedar Ceramic Impression for Clarity and Spiritual Connection
Onyx Stone Fox for Identifying and Connecting to Truth
Black Tourmaline for Grounding and Protection
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
DECK USED: ARCANALESS APOCRYPHA
#DiscordTarotholicsOct2025 Challenge
Witch Prompt for October 9th : How can you seize control over your path at this time?
Reading Summary: Deity work is not the answer at this time (The Offering and Stupid God). Focus instead on your mediumship (A Cold Spot).
Take Away: You do a bit of deity work with the Minoan goddess Amalthea from time to time, and you’ve been looking at ways on deepening that connection. Now is not the time, though, to move in that direction.
While the veil is thin at this time of year, now is the time to work on your mediumship. Connect with the dead and allow your abilities to grow organically while they are being naturally influenced by the shifting veil and those reaching through it.
Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Purple Heather Sprigs for Independence and Luck
Orange Flowers on Bamboo for Positive Outcomes via Enthusiasm and Creativity
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
DECK USED: SUPER HEROES PARODY MINI TAROT AND GOLDEN AGE OF HORROR COMICS ORACLE
This post is a catch-up post, and I can’t remember what my self-kindness might have been for this day.
Twisting the Leaf 