Morning Bonus Read – Connection and Clarity

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The prompt for this reading came from one of my Discord servers and is as follows:
“I’m working my way through The Witching Way Of Hollow Hill and it’s amazing– so this week’s divination prompt is based off of where I’m at in that book. Please note that I’m not advocating for any one spiritual framework here– substitute in whatever words work best for you! Chat with your divination tools this week about connection and clarity.”

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In what ways do I experience connection and clarity within my spiritual reality?
Two of Clubs – Heartsease

The Wild Pansy is a gentle flower filled with love and luck. Combined with the Two of Clubs, it indicates that the ways in which I connect with my spiritual reality and find clarity there is through a sense of duality and direction upon my path.  By being aware of all of the options open to me and allowing my intuition to be my guide in this area, my path is always clearly stretched out before me, and there is no hesitation or confusion concerning if I’m headed in the right direction.

In what ways do I close myself off from, or am unaware of, that reality?
Seven of Spades – Wood Anemone

Wood Anemone is a flower of the duality between anticipation and relaxation.  In this card it is combined with the Seven of Spades, which indicates that I spend too much time pushing forward instead of meandering upon my chosen path and enjoying the journey.  This constant push steals away both my enjoyment of the journey and my anticipation of what each new step might bring, as long as the easy relaxation that such a journey could… and perhaps should include.

How should I go about becoming aware of that reality?
Three of Diamonds – Harebell

The Scottish Bluebell holds within it the qualities of humility and constancy, and is strongly associated with glen sprites and forest Fae.  Here, it is combined with the Three of Diamonds, which speaks of coming together in harmonious collaboration to reach a goal.  The suggestion here is to open myself up to working with others, and the use of the Harebell in this instance leads me to understand that those “others” are in reference to my spirit guides.

Is this a good time to go looking for greater spiritual connection?
Queen of Diamonds – Meadow Buttercup

The Meadow Buttercup is a flower filled with youthful energy and enthusiasm.  Combined as it is with the Queen of Diamonds, there is an encouragement here to seek out the earth and her nurturing embrace and allow her to renew my sense of optimism.  Be open to allowing a shift in view, and let the sunshine in.  It is a very good time to seek out that deeper connection.

Or should I focus on the mundane for right now?
Ten of Diamonds – Policeman’s Helmet

One of the strongest qualities of the Policeman’s Helmet is the energy of impatience that it possesses.  The Ten of Diamonds blends this meaning into a desire for stability and fulfillment through security.  It tells me that I am already focusing on the mundane more than enough at this time, and pushing more in this area is simply an expression of impatience that will get me nowhere.  These mundane goals I desire to accomplish are not easily or quickly gained.  Enjoy the path… don’t rush.

DECK USED: FAMOUS WILDFLOWERS PLAYING CARD

Preparation and Strategy

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long and was one of the harp string meditations. It was relaxing but it was cut a little short by the phone ringing.  You can probably guess who was on the other end, yeah?   Anyway, the phone call kind of fucked with my zen, but at the same time?  I think that my meditation right before the call also helped me in dealing with her a bit better than usual.

Next World TarotToday’s draw is the Queen of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of a receptive alpha energy in the area of one’s thoughts, logic, communication, and intellect.

This is a woman prepared.  That was the first thought that came to mind when I saw the imagery on this card this morning.  Not only does she have her sword and clearly appears to know how to use it, but she’s wearing sturdy boots, has her lunch box along as well as a bit of extra food on the side.  Colorful trillium shaped flowers blooming behind her combined with the delicate pink accents of her skirt speak of a secret softness mostly hidden, but she is focused and braced, ready for anything that comes her way.

What I see here is a message about preparation and organization (I mean, look at how neatly those fruit are lined up with the lunch box, yeah?)   It’s about having your ducks in a row, and being prepared for what is to come.

Even though I am taking a few days off, my mind is still turning over strategy and preparing for what is to come as the holiday rush creeps closer and closer.   I might not be putting my hands to work, but my mind is not so easy to restrain.  And maybe that’s okay, as long as I’m not pushing or stressing myself out.

That peek of softness also holds a second message in today’s card.  A reminder that even when you need to be on your guard, you don’t have to lose yourself in the process.

DECK USED:  NEXT WORLD TAROT

#TarotForGrowthAugust Challenge Prompt
Topic: I’m plagued by anxiety.
Question: What is my anxiety trying to tell me?

Tabula Mundi in Minima

Reading Summary:  Life is cyclical but can often also be overwhelming (The Universe). Your emotions are just a little too close to the surface (imagery in the Queen of Cups). Take a step back and make sure you’re still on track and in control of your trajectory (Two of Wands).

Take Away:  My anxiety has actually been quite a bit better lately, but when it starts to spike, the message is usually one of three. It’s telling me that 1) I’m approaching a state of overwhelm, 2) it’s trying to tell me that my emotions are a little too close to the surface and that is causing me to be reactionary, or 3) I need to check in with my direction upon my path and make sure I’m still on track.

DECK USED:  TABULA MUNDI TAROT  IN MINIMA

#DiscordTarotholicsAug2020 Challenge Prompt
Topic: Use Your Logic With This / Use Your Intuition With This

Gypsy Palace TarotUse Your Logic With This – Ten of Pentacles – When planning for the future and preserving the stability in my life that is so important to me, it is important to apply logic to the equation and methods.  Reacting with emotion or impulsivity will not get me where I want to go, instead I need to strategize and use my mind and logic to get there.

Use Your Intuition With This – The Hermit –  Sometimes when I need to retreat and be with myself, it’s in reaction to hurt or emotional upheaval.  These are not the times it is healthy to take that alone time.   I need to listen not with my emotions or my pain for these times of retreat, but instead listen to my intuition and allow that to guide me to when it is healthy and beneficial to retreat.

DECK USED:  GYPSY PALACE TAROT

Lionharts #TheAugustTarot#ElementalChallenge
Question: Fire, how can I attract exactly what I want to manifest?

Pride Tarot

Reading Summary: Be more open and free with my praise (The Messenger) for myself and others, while practicing acceptance (Three of Pentacles) of those things you don’t necessarily agree with concerning others (imagery in The Wheel of Fortune).

Take Away:  If I want to attract the things I want to manifest in life, I need to be kinder to myself and less judgemental of others.   Sometimes being close to others is a struggle for me, especially when certain qualities are displayed such as carelessness and immaturity.  The cards indicate that if I want to smooth out the bumps in the road before me, I need to understand that offering them praise for those things I agree with is okay, even while the things I disagree with keep me at a distance.

DECK USED:  PRIDE TAROT

Gideon’s Challenge

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IMG_4197Time Off

Relaxation
irritation
beauty
and  chaos.
Flawed peace.
Judgements
and guilt
justifications
for balance.
Choose to bask
instead of batter.

Taking time off is always hard for me, and it is no different this time.  I feel like I struggle with guild, and I feel guilty saying it, but L and Z are getting on my nerves which is not helping my relaxation level at all.  The fact is tho?  They’re not judging me.  I’m the one that’s judging me… and I need to stop.

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

#31DaysofWitchcraft Prompt No.7 (non)VR to Heather Carter

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Heather Carter on YouTube put together a series of prompts titled #31DaysofWitchcraft that she’s been working her way through since the beginning of May. I really liked this idea, but I can’t handle the responsibility of any more daily posts, so I thought that for the next little while I would do one (or a few) at a time for the end of week “My Pagan Perspective” posts.  I still have a handful more to go… but this week I’m doing Prompt 7.

hummingbird

7. Do you work with a specific animal spirit? If so, which animal and why? If not, is there one you would like to work with?

Although I don’t work with specific animal spirits, I do feel a connection to them and have used their representations in ritual as a connection to specific energies. This isn’t something I do often though, as I feel that even if I am asking for permission first, there is an element of usury involved in using creatures (whether they be nature’s animals, the Fae, or any other creatures) in my magic and ritual.

This isn’t to say that animal spirits, or animals themselves, are not welcome in my practice.  But, I feel that if the choice is not entirely voluntary, without me asking first, then it is taking advantage.   Interestingly, bees are very eager to take part in my practice and are often drawn to my spellcrafting and ritual when it is performed outside.  I’ve also had the occasional squirrel, butterfly, hummingbird, moth, caterpillar, fly, dragonfly, chipmunk, robin, ant, chickadee, crow, and the Fae step in to participate without request.

These unprompted voluntary participation are always welcome.

Growth and Experimentation

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Today’s meditation was a shortie at only eight minutes long, primarily because I just couldn’t seem to convince the girls (including Miss Luna) to leave me alone long enough to get in a full meditation.  It was still quite nice, but at the same time, aggravating due to the interruptions.

Tarot of the Sidhe - Maker Princess - Page of PentaclesToday’s draw is the Maker Princess (Page of Pentacles) which is traditionally a representation of a receptive omega energy, personality, or person in the areas of manifestation and creation, finances and resources, as well as hearth, health, and home.

The “Gift of Creativity” is a terrific prompt for this card, as is the Fae burdened with pregnancy.   The Page of Pentacles is a card filled with possibilities.  It indicates a time of learning, of growth, and of manifestation that is very eloquently expressed through the swollen belly of pregnancy… the ultimate act of manifestation.

This is the message of today’s card (not the pregnancy).  It’s about potential, and about allowing yourself to be open to learning and growing, so that  not just you grow, but your potential grows with you.

Whether you are creating another person, a piece of artwork, an opportunity for others, or your own comfortable nest… the act of manifesting something out of nothing is a miracle.  It takes growth and experimentation.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE SIDHE

#TarotForGrowthAugust Challenge Prompt
Topic: I’m struggling with boundaries in my relationships.
Question: How can I reframe the maintenance of boundaries as a necessary act of self-acceptance?

El Gran Tarot Esoterico

Reading Summary: To have joy (The Sun) you have to actually choose joy (Two of Swords) which means having faith (The Star) that that joy is OK and will lead to a good place (Four of Wands).

Take Away:  Sometimes you have to take a blind step forward in the direction you think is right.  For me, joy is like that. My background makes it hard for me to grasp that joy can lead to positive growth towards my goals.   It’s hard to understand this because I have always been taught both through my youth and experience, that when you want something?  You work for it.  To me, joy and “working for it” seem incongruous. So in order to have the things I want… a lack of joy is necessary.

The cards here indicate that is not the case, and that I need to take that blind step forward to embrace joy and have faith that it will lead me to the stability I want… joy included.

DECK USED:  EL GRAN TAROT ESOTERICO

#DiscordTarotholicsAug2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: Where could I benefit from a new perspective at this time?

Anthro TarotReading Summary: If the uncertainty that’s coming actually happens (The Moon) you need to embrace it and move into it with purpose (Knight of Wands), because it might actually end up being a good thing in the end (Queen of Cups).

Take Away:  There is a possibility that having to move could put me into a position where I’m even happier and in a better, more emotionally strengthened position than the one I’m in now. Although the possibility is still a long way off, if it’s going to happen at all… if it does come to pass, I need to embrace what I see as an uncertainty and a hurdle as a challenge, and move forward with purpose.

In other words, stop looking at this as an upcoming catastrophe and push yourself towards seeing it as an opportunity.  If the rumors that you hear come to be something real and moving ends up being necessary, embrace that with open arms and move forward into the project with purpose.

DECK USED:  ANTHRO TAROT

Lionharts #TheAugustTarot#ElementalChallenge
Question:  What am I currently manifesting? What am I moving past?

Vivid Journey TarotWhat am I currently manifesting? – Knight of Wands – I’m working on taking control and actively preparing for the holiday rush to come.  Although at this moment, I’m taking a few days off, even now I’m planning and preparing, just in a less stressful or aggressive way.

What am I moving past? – Two of Swords – Prior to finally feeling the pull to start preparing for the holiday rush, I felt I was in a moment of limbo and struggling with a bit of lack of direction. Although I was aware of this, I wasn’t really paying much attention to it, but the Two of Swords is a very good representation of that momentary lack of direction.

DECK USED:  VIVID JOURNEY TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What do I love about me?

Alan Tarot

Reading Summary:   I am constantly fed by and inspired by (Ace of Hearts) my connection with the natural world and my spiritual path (The Star), which carries me forward with confidence in the direction I have chosen (Three of Clubs)

Take Away:  This is about my certainty upon my path.  It’s about knowing who I am and where I “fit”… and what fits for me. It’s about hearing that inner voice and following its guidance without fear of it being wrong or doubt in what it says.

I’ve never had a hard time in following that compass, or allowing myself to be pulled upon my spiritual path in the direction that feels right for me.  I see a lot of people struggle with these things, and I am extremely grateful that it is not one of my own personal struggles.

DECK USED:  ALAN TAROT

Gideon’s Challenge

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IMG_7089Hope

Knots
beginning to loosen
and light
filters in.
A breath pulled
and
the expansion happens
tightness gone
constriction eases.
Tender but protected
scabs
replace raw wounds.

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.  The subdrop is beginning to ease.  Still here… but with an end in sight.

Photo © ZenStatePhotography