Slow and Steady Steps

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Today’s meditation was not timed, because I kind of lost track of the timer.  That said, I would estimate that it was at least ten minutes.  I took the little bit of focus I had from yesterday, and repeated it… without the harp strings this time.  In other words, as I did my piriformis stretches, I meditated on the growth of a plant from seed to adulthood.  Like last time, this was very enjoyable for me and thus how I ended up losing track of time.  The only reason I know it was at least ten minutes is because my hip flexors were very limber and well stretched at the end.

Herbal Tarot - Ace of Pentacles - Whole GrainsToday’s draw is the Ace of Pentacles, which is traditionally interpreted as the seed of a new beginning or opportunity in relation to finances, resources, health, or the physical world.

What stood out to me the strongest in the imagery of this card today is the stone wall with arched entrance that stretches through the background.   What I see in that wall is not just a new beginning, but a “recasting” of sorts.  A seed comes from a flower that has bloomed and faded, and thus this seed comes from a path that has passed and is now behind you. It is not immaculate conception, but rather reincarnation as you pass through the archway and into a new phase… a new cycle.   A new path created from the tail of the old one.

In the pentacles suit, this speaks to me of my endeavors to find that new balance with how I manage my work, responsibilities, and time.  It is a reminder (of which I am in need of many of them quite often) that this is a new start.  A new method.  A new way of doing things…. and it’s okay to take slow steps to assure your footing is strong and as sure as possible.

DECK USED:  HERBAL TAROT

#TarotForGrowthJune Challenge Prompt
Question: How can I better hear and heed my inner wisdom?

Tarot for Dandelions

Reading Summary:  Don’t allow uncertainty (Moon) to distract you (Two of Swords).  Instead, soldier on (Knight of Swords) and use the tools and skills at your disposal (Magician) to follow your inner wisdom’s call.

Just sayin’?  But the more I use this deck… the more I like this deck.

Take Away:  The cards here are referring to how sometimes my intuition’s voice can sometimes get a little muddled when dealing with upheaval that causes fear and uncertainty. This is very apropos considering the upheaval I had last night with the very out of control customer that lost his shit in my email.

DECK USED:  TAROT FOR DANDELIONS

#DiscordTarotholicsJun2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: Do Spread #2
Should I go ahead and post the piece about a controversial topic on the blog with the blogpost I started last night?

Dame Darcy's Mermaid TarotReading Summary: It’s a selfish point of view as stated (Queen of Swords Rx) and needs to be reworked from a different perspective (Hanged Man over the Nine of Swords) in order to be less insensitive and ‘blind’ (Eight of Swords).

Take Away:  Okay yeah… I get that. The post that I wrote last night on this topic was very self centered and not at all “woke” or enlightened.  More just me popping off and being a bit of an ass. The cards here warn that posting it as-is risks hurting myself and others.  I’m not sure if I’ll rewrite it, or just scrap it entirely.  Either way, I’ll take the card’s advice on this and hold off on posting it as-is.

DECK USED:  DAME DARCY’S MERMAID TAROT

#TheJuneTarot Challenge by Lionhart
Question: Something I am suggested to do for myself today.

Linestrider Tarot

Reading Summary:  Slow down (Temperance) and make a conscious choice on what you’re doing today (Two of Wands) , and make sure that choice involves spending time with Gideon (King of Cups).

Take Away:  Just exactly what I’ve done with the majority of my day today.  Yes, I skipped nap time to do some work, but the majority of my day has been spent with you… and I’ve loved every minute of it. I love you man. Thank you for making today such a good day.

DECK USED:  LINESTRIDER TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What do I need to change?

Tarot Sirene

Reading Summary: Passion’s direction (Two of Wands). Because being forceful (Strength) will only cause unpleasant consequences (Justice). Ie: Change your tone.

Take Away:  This goes back to the reading I did for the Tarotholics challenge, and that blog post that I want to post but at the same time was hesitant about.  The advice here is if I want to post about this topic… I need to change the tone of the post.  Because as it stands… it’s just not there.

DECK USED:  TAROT SIRENE

 

 

 

Gideon’s Challenge

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ComfortComfort…

Come
slip into the water
with me
into a cool embrace.
Let the nymphs
pull you deeper
with me
as embracing waves
caress.

I find comfort within water.  Floating within it’s caressing embrace, I can close my eyes and allow everything… absolutely everything… to just drift away.  Where the forest is my grounding and my center, water is the conduit to my freedom and greatest moments of peace.

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?

Red Thread Oracle, Unnamed Oracle, Wychwood Oracle, Self Reflection Cards, The Crystal Tarot

Earth – Knight of Pentacles and Dryad of Death and Rebirth –  Remember that sometimes changes take time.  You’re always so impatient when it comes to how you perform and how much patience you give yourself to make adjustments and changes.  Long lasting and meaningful change doesn’t happen in a day.  Make sure you are practicing patience with yourself and those reformation plans you’re actively working towards.

Air – Four of Cups and The Herbalist – Hiding behind the comfortable and familiar so that you don’t have to deal with things that are causing you discomfort is not going to work.  Pull those flowers away from your face and use your hard won skills and knowledge to pull yourself out of that “funk” you’ve been experiencing.

Water – Eight of Cups and The Hideout – These cards fit along the same theme as the Air position, making it clear that hiding out and retreating is not a good choice.  Instead, move away from those habits that are no longer serving you and find a different way to deal with when things become difficult or uncomfortable.

Fire – Queen of Pentacles and Counting Crows – Things are well in hand with the business right now.  If you want to lolligag and take some time just to enjoy yourself?  Now’s the time. Instead of pushing and pushing yourself toward the business and those responsibilities, take some time to just relax and enjoy yourself.

Waning – The Hand, The Key, The Twins –  L and you are going to have a bit of a “moment” this week where you two will move away from that comfortable groove you’ve had going on due a revelation of truths.  This is not a permanent disquiet, will create some tension.

Waxing – The Cup – Concerning this moment of truth with L, make sure that you stay well balanced and don’t allow your emotions to spill over and create a mess.

Take Away – Aside from the warning about L and I having a rocky road this week, the cards here indicate I need to take some time for myself and a break from pushing myself so hard concerning my business and responsibilities.  Now is a good time for that.

The theme here is a blend between patience, restraint, and taking time for myself.  Patience with my performance and slow progress, restraint in pushing myself to my limits, patience and restraint with my emotions concerning L and whatever truths are soon to come to the surface.

DECKS USED:  THE CRYSTAL TAROT, SELF REFLECTION CARDS I II III, RED THREAD ORACLE, UNNAMED ORACLE, WYCHWOOD ORACLE

Don’t Forget to Chill

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long and was another of the harp strings meditations.  It was interesting that I didn’t fall asleep even though I was able to keep my mind open and quiet throughout the ten minute meditation today.  Perhaps this is because I was visualizing the growth of a plant from seed to bloom during that ten minute period.

Herbal TarotFirst off, I’ve decided to forego using the Japaridze Tarot for my daily card for the rest of the month.  I think it is better suited to readings involving more than a single card, so I have put it into rotation with the rest of the decks I am working with for readings this month instead.

Today’s draw is the Star card, which is traditionally interpreted as a card indicating themes of hope and faith, renewal, balance, and spirituality through connection with divinity.

What stands out to me today in the imagery of this card is the flowing design of trees in the background matching up with the flow of water from the pitcher in the foreground, and the blooming  Skullcap plant growing behind the woman.

Scutellaria lateriflora is a mild sedative that assists in creating a feeling of calm and peace for the mind and body. With this card following the Tower, the introduction of Skullcap provides a calming influence to follow the chaos and upheaval.  This is further reinforced by that flow of blue between the woods in the background and the water in the foreground.  With water being connected to emotions, the message that I come away with from this card today is about taking a breath and fostering calm.

There’s been a few distressing things going on of late with the attempted home invasion, the riots, and the very distressing customer experience this week… my anxiety is a little bit higher than normal.  The appearance of this card in my daily pull today is a reminder to step back and take a breath… or three.  Take some time to foster a little bit of extra calm in your life.

DECK USED:  HERBAL TAROT

#TarotForGrowthJune Challenge Prompt
Question: How can I foster more creativity in my life?

Fanuna's Tarot

Reading Summary: Just do it (Knight of Swords). Open your eyes to help that is there for you (Five of Pentacles) and involve others in the process (Three of Cups).

Take Away: Honestly?  Although my creative pursuits are usually solitary, since I’m going to be playing with fire with the whole wood burning thing… involving others might not be such a bad idea.  I do have a bit of a reputation with fire, after all, and I’d hate to accidentally torch my condo.   By having someone there to spot or keep watch, it will give me more freedom not to worry about that aspect of things so much.

DECK USED:  FAUNUNA’S TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJun2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: What can I do to help my inner adolescent feel less neglected?

Phantasmagoric Theater TarotReading Summary:   Being negative (Nine of Swords) about admirable stuff (Four of Wands) is leaving my inner adolescent set adrift (imagery in The Star).

Take Away:  Okay, so… I struggled with this one a bit.  And it turns out that it was a bit of a double whammy using this deck for this question because I struggle reading this deck in the tarot manner… and I’m not particularly connected to my inner adolescent.  So it was a bit of a roadblock.    I did find the meaning, but it took a bit.

What would help my inner adolescent feel less neglected is if I stopped negating praise and admiration when it comes my way.   I enjoy praise… I even need praise sometimes. And yet, I feel ashamed whenever I receive praise and feel good from it. By ashamed, I mean that I feel like I shouldn’t need it or enjoy it.  Even if I choose not to connect to my inner adolescent, I can help him feel less neglected by making an effort to not allow that shame such a stronghold.

DECK USED:  PHANTASMAGORIC THEATER TAROT

#TheJuneTarot Challenge by Lionhart
Question: Where/How am I being asked to take better care of myself?

Dream Raven Tarot

Reading Summary:  It’s okay to take some time (Hermit) to work through your money issues, but make sure if you do so, you have a plan in place to lead you through the uncertainty the work will take you through.

Take Away:  This reading has to do with shadow work and my issues with scarcity and overwhelming need for stability and security.   I know that the cards say that this is a way I can better take care of myself, by exploring and working through these issues… but I really don’t feel that I am at a place yet where shadow work is the right path for me.  I do think this issue is a good suggestion on where to start when I’m ready, though.

DECK USED:  DREAM RAVEN TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What do I need to stop?

Japaridze Tarot

Reading Summary: Leaning so hard on myself and my craft (Eight of Gardens). When I do this, it has a habit of burning me out (Ten of Winds) and making me need to retreat (The Hermit).

Take Away:  The card here indicates a cycle.  It is that cycle of leaning into my work so hard that burnout creeps in and fucks me up to the point I have to drop everything and recover… then start again.   This is what I need to stop, and is a pattern of behavior I’m trying to find a way to ease up on in my life.

DECK USED:  JAPARIDZE TAROT

Gideon’s Challenge

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TendernessTenderness…

It comes
with the softest touch.
Delicate
like a feather.
Warm
like the kiss of sunlight.
With senses
heightened
even the slightest brush
creates fireworks.

As much rough and tumble as we enjoy, it’s the tender moments that sink the deepest.  Intimacy between us is so intense and often violent, and yet the aftercare is the sweetest tenderness I’ve ever known. I do not need to be treated like delicate porcelain, I crave that intensity and collision of power and need… but it’s the tenderness that comes after that touches the heart and breaks open the inner protective shell, granting you access to that part of me that none other has ever been allowed to witness or touch.

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

 

 

Moderation… In Good Times too

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Today’s meditation was cut short by the appearance of the sandman.  He cracked me over the head with his bat while I was settled in for my meditation and I ended up sleeping for three damn hours!  Which, of course, set me back on getting the rest of my tasks for the day done.   I never really did catch up but instead just carried some of those tasks forward to be done another day. I’ll try to meditate again when I go to bed.

Herbal TarotToday’s draw is the Four of Pentacles, which is traditionally interpreted as themes of stability and structure, shelter and ease, as well as taking time for reassessment concerning the areas of finances, resources, health, and the physical world. It can also indicate greed, although I do not see that in this card’s depiction.

What stood out to me the most strongly in the imagery of today’s card is the sprig of Rhamnus purshiana, and the wimple that the woman is wearing.  I’ve had this deck for… seventeen years now?  Possibly eighteen years.  And I’ve never been able to connect the Cascara bark in this card to the RWS meaning for the Four of Pentacles.  The thing is?  Rhamnus purshiana is a laxative (thus the depiction of an outhouse in the background of the imagery).   And… that just doesn’t “fit” for me with the stability within the Four of Pentacles. Perhaps if you consider greed a form of constipation?

Anyway… I digress. Back to today’s interpretation.

The wimple is a demonstration of modesty, and the crown one of wealth.  Combined with the sprig of the Cascara tree, what I see here is a message concerning moderation.  It is a reminder that even when you are feeling that everything is stable and secure, you need to remain modest in the use of your resources and put a little something away for later.

DECK USED:  HERBAL TAROT

#TarotForGrowthJune Challenge Prompt
Question: What in my life is ending to make way for something new?

Happy Tarot

Reading Summary: Feeling so pessimistic (Four of Cups) about my work (Eight of Pentacles), and all of the fearful/painful/worried and upset (Three of Swords) that rose up over the winter (blue background on the Three of Swords).

Take Away:  These cards are about the letter, and my response to the threat of what those that sent that letter to me could take away from me. The cards here are letting me know that this time of fear and the influences that the letter had upon my thoughts (and emotional reactions to those thoughts) is finally coming to an end. This will then allow my true skills (Eight of Pentacles at the center) to begin to shine through again.

DECK USED:  HAPPY TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJun2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: How does my inner adolescent feel right now?

Tarot of a Moon GardenReading Summary: In need of some adulation (Six of Staffs) concerning my ingenuity (Ace of Swords) and responsibility concerning my financial stability (King of Pentacles).

Take Away: Okay so this sounds completely ridiculous to me.  But, then again?  As noted yesterday, I’m not particularly connected to my inner adolescent.  So maybe it does need a bit of praise and recognition for my responsibility and ability to keep life as much on an even keel as possible.

I guess on further consideration that it might actually make sense.  I did not get a lot of positive reinforcement when I was under my parent’s roof, and after I emancipated from them at the age of sixteen, I definitely wasn’t getting that positive reinforcement from anywhere else. So perhaps it’s not that far fetched that my inner adolescent would seek what it had not received when I was growing up.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF A MOON GARDEN

#TheJuneTarot Challenge by Lionhart
Question: Draw one card, and use its theme to celebrate your growth or journey.

Tattoo Tarot Ink and Intuition

Reading Summary: You do you real damn well.

Take Away:  This is about following my inner compass and what feels right for me, regardless of outside influences that try to pull me astray.  This card is a celebration of my journey through life and willingness to discard what feels wrong and, in doing so, stay upon my own path.   I like the person I am, I am proud of who I am and who I have become.  I am a work in progress, yes… but I am happy with where things have come to thus far and where I am headed.  I feel secure and right upon my personal path… the Judgement card pulled here today is about that steadfast direction and strength it takes to follow my moral compass… no matter what.

DECK USED:  TATTOO TAROT INK AND INTUITION

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What do I need to start?

Trippin Waite Tarot

Reading Summary: Take a chill (Four of Swords) while doing something you’re not good at (Eight of Pentacles Rx) and gain emotional strength and stability from the experience (Queen of Cups).

Take Away:  I need to start setting aside some time to work on the wood burning now that the weather is better and I can spend some time outside on my balcony working on it rather than inside (less of a fire hazard outside, and no ventilation concerns). All of the supplies that I need are now here, so it’s time to take a bit of time to just enjoy myself and let my creative juices flow.

DECK USED:  TRIPPIN’ WAITE TAROT