Healthy Seeds… Healthy Growth

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long and one of the harp chord meditations with chimes that delineate the different positions of my piriformis stretches.  I’m sore still from having skipped one of my physio practices, so it was a good stretch and a good meditation, if a little difficult to hold my position for as long as each one needed to be held for.

Cosmos Tarot and OracleToday’s draw is the Two of Fire (Two of Wands) which is traditionally about making  decisions and plans, and plotting progress in concern to one’s drives, desires, and those things that strike at one’s interests and inspirational spark.

What caught my attention the strongest in the imagery of this card today are the seeds that the spirit above spreads, and how they glow in the night as they fall.

I was also very much drawn to noticing the key words on this card, and I have to admit that incubation and pregnancy are an interesting take on the Two of Wands.  They gave me pause and made me think  But, I see it. And I like it. Two of Wands has to do with preparation and potential concerning one’s drive and passions.  And what represents all of these things more than pregnancy and the potential of impending motherhood?

When the seeds of inspiration fall and are planted into the hearts of men, there is a time of incubation. This time is for planning and brainstorming, preparation and the fostering of all that will be needed to support the birth of the inspiration into action.

My “incubation” period is often done in the unconscious, and by the time it floats to the surface, it’s hard to say how long it’s been lingering there in the quiet undergrowth growing behind the scenes.  Sometimes, my incubation period is lightning fast.  I see something, and I get a spark of inspiration, and bolt immediately into action. In both cases, though, that seed has to come from somewhere.

The message in the cards here today is about taking the seeds given and paying attention.  It’s about allowing that spark to create the inspiration that drives me forward, instead of wallowing and waiting and letting the seeds rot rather than flourish.

Don’t forget to write down your ideas.  Don’t allow them to get lost like falling seeds to decay in damp shadows.  These seeds are gifts, and need consideration and planning.

DECK USED:  COSMOS TAROT AND ORACLE

#TarotForGrowthJuly Challenge Prompt
Topic:  I’m so overwhelmed.
Question:  What can I do to remove guilt from the act of saying “no”?

Animism Tarot

Reading Summary: Accept that not everything that looks good is actually a good thing (The Happy Squirrel). Hold onto my past experiences of being overburdened (Ten of Wands), and learn from them (The Hierophant).

Take Away:  This is about both discernment concerning what I choose to go after and accept as a part of my responsibilities or obligations, as well as making sure I remember what the beginning feelings of overwhelm feel like and learn from those experiences so that I don’t repeat them. 

DECK USED:  ANIMISM TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJul2020 Challenge Prompt
Topic:  Do Spread #3

Psychopomp Tarot

What have I forgotten that needs to be brought with me upon my path?

King of Pentacles – Over a good part of the spring/summer months I’ve been playing it a little fast and loose with my finances.  Not just in the area of my deck collection, but also in the areas of brand name food purchases, less pricing for groceries in general and deal finding in that area, supply purchases for the business that aren’t entirely necessary right now and could have waited to hit when on sale, etc. Some of this is definitely self-soothing behavior, which does not so much excuse it but does help explain a good part of it. What I have forgotten that needs to be brought with me upon my path is a stronger sense of fiscal discipline.

How can I begin to incorporate that back into my life?

Death – Accept and move forward. Self soothing is one of the ways in which I’ve gone off track with my spending lately.  Between the pandemic and the growth spurt I’ve been going through emotionally over the past few months, it’s not surprising that I’ve fallen into a pattern of self soothing.  In order to move past that and incorporate fiscal responsibility more strongly back into my life, I need to accept that the change needs to happen and move forward into it instead of resisting against it.

Where am I on my path at this time?

Eight of Wands – Zoom Zoom.  Good progress and moving forward.  I’m not stalled out at this time, nor dragging my feet.  If anything, I might be moving a little faster than I’m ready for.  That’s okay as long as the progress continues to be positive.

What should I prepare to harvest at the end of the month?

Page of Cups – Intuition and possibilities abound on the creative side of things at the end of the month. There’s lots of possibilities here and you’re really going to be feeling that creative flow.

How do I begin those preparations?

Page of Pentacles – Make sure that you take things slow and don’t get overwhelmed with all that you want to accomplish and manifest into reality.  Overwhelming yourself with work is not going to help.  Write things down and take them one at a time, a little at a time.  As long as you are taking notes, there’s no rush to complete everything at once.

DECK USED:  PSYCHOPOMP TAROT

#OwlandBonesJuly Challenge by Owl and Bones Tarot
Topic:  I want… // I need… // I am…

Numinous Tarot

Dreamer of Tomes – I Want more knowledge, opportunity, and stability. Growth, but not through plowing ahead hard and fast… instead I want to take my time and really explore those things that awaken my curiosity.

The Moon – I Need a little mystery and uncertainty in my life, no matter how much I dislike it.  These qualities create a certain kind of energy and a certain kind of “spark” and flavor to life.  Without them, life would become more dull and less satisfactory.  I understand this, even if I’m not entirely thrilled about that need.

Strength – I Am strong inside and out. No matter what life throws at me, I am a survivor, and I will persevere.

DECK USED:  NUMINOUS TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question:  How can I share my inspiration?

Aquarian Tarot

Reading Summary: Strong sometimes means stoic and wise (Strength).  Gather up and hold on to your ideas (Page of Swords). Defend these ideas in development from those that would take them from you (Seven of Rods).

Take Away:  Don’t.  Stand strong against the temptation to share. Protect yourself and your inspired passions in this manner.  This warning has come up a few times over the past couple of days.  I’m listening.

DECK USED:  AQUARIAN TAROT

Gideon’s Challenge

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IMG_8739Guardian

Protected
and secure
you watch over me
and let me grow
you give me strength
in the stillness
that lets me find
my own path
and yet always there
to brush me off
and heal my wounds
should I trip
and fall.

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?

Wild Unknown Tarot, Animal Spirit Oracle, Sovereign Oracle

Earth – Starfish and Visibility –  You are beautiful and capable and talented enough to both shine brightly and not be vapid. Allow those things you want to manifest to flow forward and be brought into reality.  Stand tall and proud as you show them off and allow others to see them.  Translation? It’s okay to share your shops with others and you shouldn’t be shy about showing off your work.  Doing so is not spam.

Air – Otter, Vulture, Co-Creation – It’s time to clean out your mental closet and let go of the hangups that are preventing you from embracing a lighter outlook and more fun attitude.  You don’t have to be serious all the time, take some time this week to consider how you can purge some of that dour energy and replace it with joy, humor, and a little more playfulness.  You have all these qualities within you already, you just need to take out the trash in order to uncover them.

Water – Octopus and Ritual – Sometimes when emotions start to move towards overwhelming, you find yourself confused with how to deal with them. You might feel the urge reach out to those incompatible to the situation or share more than is healthy with those you shouldn’t.

(Note as well that sharing too much was a theme in yesterday’s reading concerning people spiriting off with my new ideas, and I think that the Octopus here relates to that reading as well.)

To tamp down on this temptation, make sure you are falling back on those steadfast people in your life that are dependable and have become established in your life as safe. Repetition and rote might sometimes feel stagnant and it may feel like you’re being a pain in the ass to those you care about most, but they are also safe, and when it comes to your emotions?  You need to lean into the safe and dependable.

Fire – Unicorn, Lamb, Compost, Genius – That inner spark within you is a precious thing and a part of what makes your soul sing.  Allow it to thrive and flourish by discarding “half baked” ideas that have no future and following through on the ones where potential lives.  You know how to tell the difference, just listen to your soul and have patience.  Those shimmering diamonds of greatness will rise to the surface… and the rest will sink.

Waning – Death – You are moving out of a time of transition and into a time of recovery as you begin to find your balance and settle into the new reality that has been given room to grow.  Your time of growth is not exactly over, but turning to a new stage where it’s time to become familiar and comfortable in your new skin, having left the old one behind.

Waxing – The Emperor and Six of Wands – Taking some autonomy and control will create admiration in others this week, which means there’s an opportunity to garner some of that praise and encouragement that you are so loathe to admit you need.  Keep in mind that the Emperor is not active, he is a passive projective.  So do your thing and tend to your own business, everything else will fall into place on its own.

Take Away – “Stay in your lane” and on track both concerning your responsibilities and concerning your support system. Focus this week on settling into your new reality on the other side of the emotional growth spurt you’ve been going through.  Your period of growth is coming to an end for the time being, but the time of adjustment still stretches out before you.  Make sure that you are prioritizing instead of compiling, all those things not worth your time are really…. not worth your time.  So don’t bother to direct your energy there.

There is a neediness represented in these cards today that needs addressing as well.  The Octopus especially, but also within the Starfish, and the Six of Wands.  Make sure that you stick to those trusted people in your inner circle to fulfill that neediness that arises this week.  Now is not the time to branch out.

DECKS USED:  THE WILD UNKNOWN TAROT, ANIMAL SPIRIT ORACLE, SOVEREIGN ORACLE

Every Day is a New Day

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Today’s meditation was about fifteen minutes long and very, very relaxing.  I’d just finished soaking in the tub and went from soaking to meditation and that was apparently just the prompting I needed for a nice nap as well.   All in all, it was just an all around relaxing morning, and that included the meditation if not necessarily the yoga part as I was just a bit stiff from having skipped yesterday.

Herbcrafter's TarotToday’s draw is the Ace of Earth (Ace of Pentacles) which is a representation of new beginnings in the area of one’s finances, health, resources, manifestations, or the physical world.  It is the beginning.. the very start.. and thus, the “seed” of the suit.

It’s interesting, but I noticed something today when pulling this card.  The graininess of the imagery in this deck really bothers me.  I know that it’s intentional, but it really bugs me a great deal lately.

That aside, what stood out to me the strongest in the imagery for today’s card was not the nettles or any other specific subject matter in the picture.  It was the green.  All that lush and vibrant green.

I also want to touch upon the representation of Nettle in this card.  Urtica dioica is a nutrient rich plant that is well known and widely used around the world for its anti-inflammatory properties and is also a mild diuretic used to flush out toxins.  In metaphysical circles it is often used in protection spells, but I have found it far more useful in spellcraft that is focused on aspects of nurturing, self worth, and respect.

The blending of the lush green that catches my eye combined with Nettle’s unique qualities send me a message concerning self care.  The message here is that it’s important to respect your body, and important to do the things that allow you to care and nurture yourself, no matter how busy you are… or how tempting it is to skip.  Each day is a new day, with a new opportunity to start over and begin again.  Take this opportunity to begin again and do better at keeping up on the self care that keeps you healthy both physically and mentally.

DECK USED:  HERBCRAFTER’S TAROT

#TarotForGrowthJuly Challenge Prompt
Topic:  I’m so overwhelmed.
Question:  How can I become more intentional about which commitments I choose to undertake?

Star Seeker Tarot

Reading Summary: Do the things that bring you pleasure (Four of Wands). Make sure you regulate (Temperance) how much time you spend on others and their path (The Hierophant). Choose your battles wisely (Five of Wands) and make sure you tap in to your emotions when making your choices on what to take on (Knight of Cups).

Take Away:  This is all about moderation and regulation, which makes sense why Temperance ended up in the center of these cards.   Being more intentional about what commitments I undertake means being more selective.  It means picking those things that bring you joy and letting go of the ones that feel even a little bit “too much” for the moment, or have the potential to create unneeded conflict or stress. 

DECK USED:  STAR SEEKER TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJul2020 Challenge Prompt
Topic:  In My Head / In My Heart

Wild Unknown TarotIn My Head – Ace of Wands – In my head there is lots and lots of inspiration going on right now for my business. Most of them are in the “half baked” stage of being thought through and not yet ready to be started or discarded.

In My Heart – Seven of Swords – In my heart there is a worry of being betrayed by someone I might share these inspirations with.  I struggle with this often, that concern that my new ideas will prompt someone else to run off with them and claim them as their own. Note that the weight here isn’t on a sense of betrayal, but rather is on the worry over the possibility.

DECK USED:  WILD UNKNOWN TAROT

#OwlandBonesJuly Challenge by Owl and Bones Tarot
Topic:  mourn // celebrate

Tarot of the Journey to the OrientMourn – Ace of Swords Rx – The times when I have no new ideas.  It happens, no matter how much creative spark I have.  Sometimes?  Everything just feels “meh”. And it’s definitely a time to mourn.

Celebrate – King of Wands – Those inspirational sparks that I’ve already gotten and have followed through on, developed into fruition, and which continue to serve me well. Celebrating these things is especially important when in one of those inspiration slumps already mentioned above.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE JOURNEY TO THE ORIENT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question:  What does creative inspiration feel like?

Tarot Maddonni

Reading Summary:  Direction (Three of Wands) and fulfillment (Ten of Pentacles)… as long as I don’t let it get me so wrapped up (Temperance) that I close myself off to the world and others (The Hermit).

Take Away:  Creative inspiration feels like I have the world at my fingertips.  With a direction set out before me and a sense of fulfillment within, at these times there is no doubt or worry, only curiosity and discovery.  It can become a problem, though, if I close myself off to others too much during this time.  I need a touch of encouragement and feedback, no matter how much I don’t want to admit it.

DECK USED:  TAROT MADDONNI

Gideon’s Challenge

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IMG_9517Cozy is not Warm

Cold raindrops
year ’round,
and rivers
that freeze your toes.
Rocky shores
of gray and blue
the dead of summer
still holds chilly dew.
This is home
it is not warm
to anything
except the heart.

I love where I live.  I live in a land of blues and grays and verdant greens. The rain drops here are cold all year round, and the oceans and rivers are freezing cold no matter what season it is. Evergreens flourish, hardy and strong…. and I love it all.  It’s home, and proof that “cozy” does not always equate warm, because there’s nowhere more cozy to me than here.

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

The Nature of Things

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Today’s meditation was skipped.  This is because I pulled an all-nighter last night with L packaging orders to ship out today.  We didn’t finish until nearly six in the morning.  At which point I went to bed to sleep and woke up just in time to haul ass to go get the packages out in the mail before the last mail truck left.  So… I didn’t get to either my yoga/physiotherapy or my meditation today, and I’m sure to pay for it for a couple of days to come.

Cosmos Tarot and OracleToday’s draw is the Eight of Air (Eight of Swords) which is traditionally a representation of… well essentially, being in your own way and/or blinding yourself to your own obstacles and as a result making things more difficult than they have to be.  It’s all about getting in your own way, and all of the ways in which that can play out.

This is not what I see in this card, though. At all. I’m actually a bit confused by my reaction to this card as I’m struggling with the color combinations, which I find a bit disorienting.

What I see in this card today is in the imagery of the fox and the goose.  It is a display of one’s inner nature, much like the old fable of the frog and the scorpion.  It feels like a warning, although I’m not entirely sure what the warning is about.

So I would say that the message in today’s card is about making sure you are paying attention to the world around you, and those that surround you.  If something seems off and out of place? Pay attention. Be aware when people’s actions are not matching the energy you feel coming from them.   Don’t discount it as a fluke or unimportant.  It’s not as inconsequential as you would like to believe.

DECK USED:  COSMOS TAROT AND ORACLE

#TarotForGrowthJuly Challenge Prompt
Topic:  I’m so overwhelmed.
Question: What can I do to release my fear of saying no?

Midcenturian Tarot

Reading Summary: Embrace the natural cycles of life (Ten of Swords) instead of fearing them (The Moon). Focus on developing your skill at regulating output and practice some patience (Temperance).

Take Away:  I’ve had a bit of a stalker thing going on with the Temperance card lately, and I wonder if this is the message that the card is trying to convey.  It is a message about honing my regulating and moderation skills, and incorporating patience to do so.  This is especially important in the saying “no” to adding too much onto my plate at once.

Add to that the need to get a handle on the trepidation that I feel when it seems something might be coming to an end.  I try and sustain too much because I want to keep going what is before me and try new things and develop new possibilities.  The problem is, when you preserve one while still working on adding and growth at the same time?  Your plate fills up super fast.

Together these two messages indicate a need to learn how to decide on what “phase out” and what to keep going.

DECK USED:  MIDCENTURIAN TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJul2020 Challenge Prompt
Question:  Where do I need to focus on directing more gratitude?

The Fifth TarotReading Summary: When you’re feeling overwhelmed by choices (Seven of Shells), don’t just toss in the towel and walk away (Eight of Shells Rx).  Instead stick around and weather through the storm (Apprentice of Feathers), and allow Gideon to help support you through these times (Elementor of Shells).

Take Away:  The support that Gideon provides me in my day to day life is what I need to focus more gratitude toward at this time. He is there for me every day, and in any way that I need him.  All I ever need to do is reach out, and there he is, ready and not just willing to help, but eager to help. He is my comfort, my anchor, my rock… and he is the calm in the storm when I am feeling overwhelmed and struggling with my own inner demons… or the outer ones as well.

I feel that I often come off as ungrateful for all of these things.  Too wrapped up in my own shit, I forget to look up and look outward, and to acknowledge how much he loves me and how very invested he is in me.. in my life.  In anything and everything I need from him.  I am so very lucky.  And so very grateful.  I wish I was able to express it better, but I will continue to try to both notice these things more… and express my gratitude more clearly and more often.

DECK USED:  THE FIFTH TAROT

#OwlandBonesJuly Challenge by Owl and Bones Tarot
Topic:  sharpen // soften

Student Tarot v4 Godard's BirdsSharpen – Page of Wands – Now would be a good time to sharpen your focus upon those things that inspire you and create within you a spark of curiosity.  Experiment and explore the ideas that kindle your inner spark, and release those that can’t hold up to that sharper focus.

Soften – Queen of Swords and Eight of Pentacles – Stop judging yourself and your work so harshly.  Use your keen intellect to find potential outlets for your skills that will be of benefit instead of standing on the fence and waffling because your inner critic is having a heyday in your head.

DECK USED:  STUDENT TAROT v4 GODARD’S BIRDS

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question:  What do I feel when I work on something creative?

Psychopomp Tarot

Reading Summary: Release (Ten of Wands Rx and Three of Swords Rx) and the birth of positive emotion in its place (Ace of Cups).

Take Away:  There is a release in being creative. When I have pent up creative energy, it becomes a burden of sorts.  A struggle of tamped down and clogged up energy that builds in pressure within me. When I create something new and allow my creative spark freedom to play, it releases this tension in my chest and it is like opening up a special part of my soul to breathe.

At the same time, this release can also be emotional, as when I create there is an element of emotion to it. A letting go of doubts and worries and inner judgements in order to instead wallow in potential and energies that feel positive and pleasing.

In both of these types of release, there is then an opening for something else to sweep in.  And when I am enjoying my creative process, what sweeps in to replace these unpleasant sensations, emotions, and energy… are feelings of positivity.  Emotional positivity that is new and bright and shiny, and not yet touched by or tarnished by the unpleasant effects of my inner critic’s negative dialogue.

DECK USED:  PSYCHOPOMP TAROT