The Soul’s Exhale

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Today’s meditation was a self directed ten minute session that was focused on a Forest Meditation card, which states, “The Home of Senses” and, in the guidebook, encourages seeking comfort in your surroundings by expanding your senses and letting them guide you, then focusing in on what drew you in the first place.

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Forest Meditations and Casanova Tarot's Eight of WandsDaily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is the Eight of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of action, speed, alacrity, fast paced events or change, or having a target goal in your sights that you are charging towards.

Where in your life do you feel most at ease? Where is that place where your inner tension eases up and the knot in your solar plexus unfolds? Is it your own home where you find that deep breath for the soul? Is it another house? In the woods? In your car? At the beach?

We all need these moments where we breathe easier and tension falls away. We all have places where we don’t have to work at these moments of peace, but instead it feels almost as if they’re gifted to us.

Today’s message asks us where these places are for you, and encourages visiting them and appreciating them posthaste.

There will always be times when you need that breath of air for the soul and ease of tension. The message for today is an encouragement to identify where these places are, acknowledge what those places gift us, and not to hold back on giving yourself that when you need it.

DECK USED:  CASANOVA TAROT AND FOREST MEDITATIONS

#DiscordTarotholicsSep2025 Challenge
Prompt for September 21st : Do the Second Harvest Spread

Second Harvest Oracle Reading with the 100 Dragons Oracle

Amber – Where do I need to work on my emotions to create more balance in my life?

Taco Drake – Your issues with scarcity mean that you’re always grasping for more and never feel like you have enough. This mentality translates to your emotions that you are never enough and can never do good enough. To create more balance in your life, you need to work on easing up on this cycle that your issues with scarcity create.

Cedar – How can I use my present day fortitude to strengthen my future protection?

Pansy Plucker – Even during times when you are struggling and at the end of your rope, make sure that you are continuing to seek out the small pleasures and little joys in life. Being able to bring this positive practice forward with you into the future will help to protect you from the negative self talk in your head.

Marigold – Where should I focus on my health in order to develop a happier outlook?

Metal Nibbler – Pause before you put stuff in your mouth. Work on eating healthier, instead of just grabbing whatever is available and easy. Quick snacks are all well and good until it turns out that that’s all you’re eating all day long. When your diet is balanced, you feel happier and healthier.

Walnut – How can I be more discerning in picking positive friendships?

Teacup Lung – Make sure that those you choose to associate with aren’t adding more drama to your life. Look for those that are there to support you when you need it and care about your well-being, instead of having their own ulterior motives that leave them unconcerned with your struggles.

Sapphire – How can I best discern between logical thought and true wisdom?

Tinker Imp – Play with these thoughts and look at how to apply them to different scenarios in life. Wisdom doesn’t need tinkering, but logic often does.

Yarrow – How can I move from a place of trauma into a place of healing?

Oracle Wyvern – Stay open to working with your ancestors and guides. They are there to help you if you’re open to it, and will come to you when you’re ready if you trust them to step in when needed; but no sooner.

Other elements included in this reading:
Dehydrated Pansy Flower for Hearing the Heart More Clearly
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: 100 DRAGONS ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

I bought myself frosted two-bite brownies today, and they are delicious.

Gideon’s Challenge – Nineteen

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Dragonfly - Blue-tailed damselflyNineteen

“You aren’t
nineteen anymore.”
The words hit
like a bowling ball
in the gut
and I’m not
sure why
when this fact
has been true
for well over
a decade
at this point
and my mind says,
“So what?”
while by body says,
“Exactly right.”

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?

Self Care Saturday Tarot Reading with the Feng Shui Tarot and Earth Lenormand Romulus & Remus Edition

Earth – Seven of Cups – “One situation improves another.” – Guidebook

Our situations in life are created by the building blocks we use to get there where we’re going. Each time you make a choice, it influences your life and all of the things in your life, as well as your trajectory forward into the future. Make sure this week that you are making choices that align with the direction you want to go in.

Air – Knight of Cups – Sometimes it’s not enough to know which direction you want to go in. You actually have to take action to get there. Just make sure that those actions you choose are well thought out and strategic; not reactionary or rash.

Water – Five of Wands atop Knight of Swords – Take care to temper your “get up and go” this week. Although stagnancy is not your friend, you need to make sure that you’re discussing your plans and ideas with others and getting their input before you move forward. This week is not a “do it now and tell them about it later” type a week, so try to avoid that mentality.

Fire – King of Swords – A good leader listens to those that they lead. Strategy is a big part of your path this week, but part a of strategy involves listening to others and weighing in their ideas along side your own. Make sure that you are actually listening, and not just “hearing” them.

Waning – Mice and Whip – Negative thoughts are corrosive and unhealthy. Make sure that you’re whipping your self into shape where this is concerned instead of sinking into those negative narratives going on in your head. They might feel familiar and familiar, but they’re poisoning the well.

Waxing – Ship and Rider – Participate in the world instead of holding yourself apart from it. Make sure that you’re paying attention to the direction you’re going in with the choices you’re able to make for yourself; for even while your current path is being forced upon you, the unexpected can still rear up and land in your lap.

Take Away – Your emotions have you in a state where acting without thought or through emotion alone is very much your first instinct. Take care not to rush or make snap decisions this week, though, no matter how much you are tempted to do so.  Move with caution and care, and think things out including sharing them with others for their input, before taking any actions.

DECKS USED: FENG SHUI TAROT AND EARTH LENORMAND ROMULUS AND REMUS EDITION

Never Good Enough

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Today’s meditation was a ten minute long self-directed session based upon @thelatestkate’s affirmation that says “Maybe today is not an “improve yourself” day. Maybe it can be an “accept yourself and get through” day instead.”

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Chang'an's Illusion Tarot and The Latest Kate AffirmationThe @GlitterbyInk #SeptemberSoul25 Challenge
Seeds of Intention Prompt for September 20th : Equinox
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is the Five of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of pessimism, regrets, doomsday thinking, disappointments, and occasionally, failure (or at the very least, the perception of failure).

I have a tendency to push too hard and expect too much. And, as true as this is in regards to other people and things around me, it’s significantly more so in how I treat myself.

I was raised to understand that “doing your best” requires self sacrifice… and that you should never do less than your best. That means that to do your best is to neglect your own needs for the cause. You put everything you have into the perfection that you are seeking to achieve. And, at the end of the task, you don’t look at what you’ve accomplished with pride, but with modesty and humility. Because secretly you know you could have sacrificed more, and in doing so done better.

This is the mentality I was raised with, and one I still struggle with even now. I know it’s unhealthy, but it’s deeply ingrained and difficult to root out.

The message for today is to take a look at your expectations, especially towards yourself. Where are you pushing so hard that no matter how good you do, it’s never going to be enough? Take time today to examine why you are treating yourself this way, and look at ways to ease up on yourself.

After all, no harvest is perfect. So, consider how you can be happy with your achievements and celebrate them, instead of tearing them down.

DECK USED:  CHANG’AN’S ILLUSION TAROT AND THE LATEST KATE AFFIRMATION

Tarot Reading with the Tarot for Pregnancy Deck#DiscordTarotholicsSep2025 Challenge
Prompt for September 20th: What do you need to focus on for self-care for this month’s New Moon?

Reading Summary: Rest remains your number one focus for this new moon (Four of Swords), as well as making sure that you’re staying connected with those that are important to you and enjoying your time with them (Three of Cups). You have a lot to be thankful for, and you should be enjoying these things instead of torturing yourself with uncompromising expectations (Four of Wands atop King of Swords).

Take Away: Although as time goes on this month, you’re trying to create a little wiggle room, don’t get so wrapped up in it that you forget that you’re supposed to be resting and waiting, not taking action. Don’t become so obsessed with your little experiments that you lose sight of that. Spend time with others that you like and care about, and enjoy their company. Give yourself some time to relax, and make sure that your aspirations and impatience for movement don’t cause you to get ahead of yourself.

Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Silver Maple Key for Bouncing Back to Thrive
Ceramic Red Maple Leaf Impression for Adaptability and Connection
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: TAROT FOR PREGNANCY

@de_tarotjuf Time for Yourself
#detarotjufseptembertarotchallenge
Prompts for September 19th through 21st

Tarot Reading with the Chang'an's Illusion Tarot and Change Your Mood OracleWhat lessons can I take with me from the past?

Judgment and Maternal – All of them. You carry those lessons forward with you through your life and into death and what comes beyond.

The one that you seem to be most resistant against thus far is your “mother issues”. You may want to get that sorted out before something happens that makes it impossible to do so.

How can I accept myself more as I am?

The Lovers and Natural – Open yourself up to vulnerability in healthy, low risk ways. Instead of discounting those things about yourself that are positive and good (as you have a tendency to do), take time to appreciate them instead. Foster self acceptance by making choices that validate yourself and those areas of vulnerability.

How can I improve my mind-body balance?

The High Priestess and Pacific – Go with the flow of what you know through your intuition, rather than through logic. Sometimes it’s that inner knowing that has the real answers you need, even for the mind and body. When you connect to your intuition and listen to what’s going on on within you, it allows you to gather knowledge that you wouldn’t otherwise have about yourself and your needs.

Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Fuchsia Flowers for Stability in the Face of External Disruption
Pressed Pansy Flower for Hearing the Heart More Clearly
Foraged Purple Heather Sprigs for Independence and Luck
Rose Quartz for Gentle Kindness to Self and Others
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECKS USED: CHANG’AN’S ILLUSION TAROT AND CHANGE YOUR MOOD ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

I remembered to bring a pair of gardening sleeves with me to protect my arms from the rose thorns.

Gideon’s Challenge – Atmosphere

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Misty AfternoonAtmosphere

Clarity
wars with
foggy mind
just as clouds
shift through
the blue
and sometimes
everything
is crisp and clear
then the threads
of gauzy clouds
return
and I’m lost
once more

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

🌑 New Moon & Solar Eclipse in Virgo – September 2025

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Tomorrow is the New 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 courtesy of @moonlightandmindfulness.

Virgo New Moon Oracle Reading with the Healing Heart Oracle and Ancestral Healing Oracle

This New Moon and Solar Eclipse duo brings with it themes of health, well being, and day-to-day routines.

Where am I being pulled to create stability, structure, and balance at this time?

Reconnect With Your Divine Masculine – This time to look at what “emperor” energy you’ve been carrying with you that needs to be let go. That energy can push too hard sometimes, especially when you need a break. This can cause instability as you feel guilty and shamed into “doing the hard work” when what you really need is to relax and rest.

Where am I being guided to clear clutter and refine my routines?

Longing Heart – It can be hard sometimes to check in with reality, when what you really want is to look back on what used to be and try to resurrect it. It’s time to clear out the past and how things used to be, along with your longing thoughts concerning these things. You need to look forward to what’s coming instead.

In what area am I being encouraged to do a reset on my self-care?

Claim Your Kingdom – Stop looking to others and their opinions concerning what you’re doing and what you need. It’s none of their business, and if they don’t like it, that’s just too bad. Do your thing without worrying so much about the judgments of others.

Virgo is a problem solver and purifier.

What is it that needs to be let go of as it is no longer serving me? 

Go Beyond Survival Mode – Part of the reason you feel like you’re not getting the rest of that you need right now is because you are in “survival mode”, and thus you are not able to fully relax or enjoy this time when the pressure is (involuntarily) off.  This is because survival mode creates more pressure, not less. Look at ways to ease this reaction so that you can let it go and move forward.

What obstacles can this Virgo New Moon help remove from my path?

Open Your Heart To Sacred Love – Because you are feeling vulnerable, you have been closing yourself off and retreating inward. This is shutting other people out is not allowing you to receive the love and support that they are trying to give you. This Virgo New Moon encourages you to take time to work on releasing that defense mechanism that is closing you off from the world and others.

The Virgo Solar Eclipse may encourage you to have difficult conversations, release relationships or jobs that no longer support you, etc. 

What deepest truth within the chaos can this eclipse help me to see more clearly?

Strengthen Your Weakened Masculine – Despite how you were raised to believe that men should be tough, strong, and emotionless, there is a part of you that is a much gentler and kinder sort of man. Look at your defense mechanisms and the teachings from your past for the answers to why you are feeling wounded right now, and seek ways to bolster yourself when in the grip of these feelings.

With power split between the new moon and solar eclipse, now is a time to take a mindful moment, even amidst busyness – take a breath, reflect on what makes you feel whole, and imagine releasing all that no longer serves you.

When the clarity of mindful moments is consulted, what is it time to release in order to make room for something new?

Tune Into Your Feminine Lineage – Why are you still so angry at your mother? Don’t you think it’s about time to look into this, go a little deeper, and start to seek out a path that will allow you to let it go?

New Moon advice from the Minoan Goddess Amalthea.

Own Your Sexuality – Go with what feels right, and he will follow. It doesn’t matter if it’s steady time in one space or another, or if you fluctuate back-and-forth. Remember that he is there for the ride, and eager to be involved in whatever it is you need.

Other elements included in this reading:
Black Spruce Needles to Boost Self-Confidence and Positive Thinking
Dried Purple Heather Flowers for Independence and Luck
Dried Rosebuds for Potential and Beauty Waiting to Unfold
Dried Lavender Bundle for Calming and Comfort
Goat Figurine as Sympathetic Representation of Amalthea
Onyx Stone Fox for Identifying and Connecting to Truth
Selenite Moon Phase Bar for Cleansing and Clarifying Cycles

DECKS USED: ANCESTRAL HEALING ORACLE AND HEALING HEART ORACLE