Balance and Releasing Negativity

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and focused on the release you can create in your mind and body during your exhale. This is a practice I am very familiar with through both my pain management techniques, and my yoga practice. It was not a big leap to use this to mindfully release negative emotions and bad habits.

Today’s draw is the Two of Pentacles, which is a representation of duality, balance, division, and “opening” in the areas of money, resources, and the physical world.

The image on this card really speaks to me today. The juggler in an eternal juggle of different aspects, always seeking balance, and looking just slightly overwhelmed.

The message of the Two of Cups today is that balance is important, as without it comes recklessness, danger, and irresponsibility. The appearance of this card is a reminder to go slow, take my time, and focus on fostering balance in all aspects of my life.

Ethony’s 31 Days of Tarot 2019 (Part 5)

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Tarot cards mystical background. Senior card lovers.

Returning again today to Ethony’s 31 Days of Tarot challenge.   I’m having a bit of trouble with question #18, so I’m going to skip it for the moment, and move on to the next, then revisit the one I’m struggling with at a later date.

  1. If you were shipwrecked on an desert island, which five tarot or oracle decks would you want to have with you and why.
    Well, the Tarot of the Hidden Realm is a given. The way I connected with that deck is just remarkable and I wouldn’t want to leave it behind.
    My very newly modified Sacred Circle Tarot, as well, is now (after the modifications) one that I’ve found myself really connected to and would like to bring along.
    Any one of my “classic” Waite/Smith decks (Radiant Rider Waite, Universal Waite, Original Rider, Smith-Waite Centennial) because the versatility is a must.
    The Blue Owl Lenormand because of our history and familiarity (using this deck is just like coming home).
    And… hm. The Roots and Wings Oracle, I think. It’s pretty new to my collection, but it works well with every deck that I’ve paired it with thus far.
  2. What is your favorite Tarot Spread at the moment?
    I just recently did a re-create on my deck interview spread, and I’m very happy with it. It’s a nine-card spread with room for jumper cards to add additional input when they show up. I’m so happy with it, in fact, that I’ve recently begun the process of re-interviewing all my decks. This, of course, is going to take a good deal of time.
  3. Do you use the Tarot for mediumship readings? Why or why not? If no, would you like to?
    No. I’m very much of the mind that this isn’t the kind of thing I would like to open myself up to, even with a intermediary (the cards) there as a buffer. Whether or not I even have the ability is not something I have an interest in exploring.
  4. Where is one place in the world you would love to read the Tarot and why? It could be a sacred site, event, mystical shop, anything.
    I never really thought of tarot as a travel companion for reasons explained in my previous post. My answer to this would be in the depths of the Olympic Rainforest… in the rain. Obviously, tarot cards are not water proof so that would be a bad idea, although I did recently find a couple decks that are so it may be a possibility in the future.
  5. What is your most sassy Tarot deck, what is your most gentle Tarot deck? Why did you pick these decks?
    My Eight Coins Tattoo Tarot has a mouth on her. She’s very blunt and snippy, and very picky about how she’s used. For the most gentle deck, it’s a tie between the Mesquite Tarot and the MoonChild Tarot. Both are equally gentle, but the moon child is a better communicator where as the Mesquite has more of a “shy” voice. The gentlest deck I’ve ever handled, though, isn’t a part of my collection. It belongs to my sister. That would be the Soul Cards Tarot.
  6. What Tarot card do you feel is the most misunderstood and why?
    I imagine my answer is pretty standard for most tarot readers, but it’s the Death card. It seems whenever it comes up people that are unfamiliar with the tarot always immediately have that “oh shit” reaction. The death card is so much more about organic change than some horrible omen from beyond, but you can’t convince a lot of people of that it seems.
    Another, I’ve found, is the Tower card. This one, a lot of people even familiar with seem to not fully appreciate the Tower. It’s not all doom and gloom, and much good can come from the chaos the card indicates. I see people often given pause, though, when it appears. As if its presence jerks them out of their flow.
  7. Do you have any Tarot self-care rituals that are only for your personal practice?
    Yes. I have a Saturday check-in spread that I do each week to help in reconnecting myself to… myself. It includes ritual bathing and meditation, followed by a time bonding with the deck I’m using at the moment and then drawing the spread and journaling it afterward.

So far, this is Part 5 of the series. Here is Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4 for easy reference.

I’ll make another post in a few days to continue on with more questions in the challenge.

Onward, Intrepid Traveler

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and focused on seeking a connection with your authentic self. That is, that self beneath the mask you show the world and the lies you tell yourself. It was about allowing that inner self to stand tall, even during the onslaught of outside influences that try to sway you away from your true self.

I did it twice, because I really liked it.

Today’s draw is the Seven of Wands, which is a representation of movement, progress, leaping ahead, and the unknown in the area of thoughts, logic, communication, and the mind.

This is a card that speaks to the doubts you have experienced, the worries that hold you back, and that moment in time when you return to yourself and surge forward back upon the path those doubts and worries had distracted you from.

It is the perfect card for today’s Full Moon in Sagittarius, which is chalk full of progressive “get it done” energy for one’s thoughts, aspirations, and endeavors.

It is also the perfect card (and moon, for that matter) for my Monday, because today is order preparations day and I have a crapload of earrings to make, which is one of the most time consuming of the types of jewelry I create.

So, the Seven of Wand’s message for today is one of progress. No lollygagging aloud.

Shedding Skin

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and focused on creating balance in your life, not just between work and home but in all aspects. The guided meditation spoke on the necessity of balance in order to live a happy and healthy life.

This is a tenant that I am very familiar with and agree with. As you know, balance is something that I am always striving for. In some areas of my life I find it quite easily, and another areas it is always a struggle to achieve.

Today’s draw is the Six of Swords, which is a representation of transition and change in the area of thought, reason, instinct, and communication.

This card relates directly to the new changes that are going on in my life right now, not just in the reassertion of my spirituality, but also in my renewed efforts to find a balance between responsibility and the things that bring me joy.

When I drew the card, my focus was immediately upon where the points of the swords are embedded into the bottom of the boat.

Reading the card intuitively from that aspect, the appearance of the Six of Swords today is telling me that on my journey forward I need to be sure and check in with myself.

This means that I need to make sure that I am being true to my beliefs and values, while leaving behind any thoughts, assumptions, or habits that are not serving me, and may holding me back or slowing me down.

Hello Again, My Queen

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and focused on “holding space” for others as a way to support them during times of struggle.  It was about how sometimes, people don’t need you to fix things in their life, they just need you to be there with them.  To share space with them in a quiet way that shows support either by listening, or just by the reassurance of your presence, without “butting in” on their problems.

Today’s draw is the Queen of Swords, which is a representation of a “feminine” alpha energy in the area of thoughts, reason, instinct, and communication.  The card embodies the tenants of truth seeking, independence, unbiased consideration, and clear communication.

I haven’t seen the Queen of Swords in a couple weeks, and was starting to think perhaps I had managed to somehow unwittingly absorb the message she has been trying so hard to teach me for the past year and a half, but… here she is once more, regal and beautiful and daring me to seek and speak the truth in all things.

During the depression, and during the time a few years ago when we “switched places” for a while, I stumble a bit in being honest with myself.  Not just with the expectations that I put on myself, but even with looking at -how- I’m doing.

I bundle myself up into this little ball of awareness, that is so focused on the day to day that I miss the bigger picture.

This activity on the blog here, my daily meditation (that I am still doing religiously every day), and my recent return to a more active path in my spirituality has, in a lot of ways, opened my eyes and my mind to how much of myself has been closed off, one little bit at a time.

Thank you for taking this journey with me, man.  I love you.

Ethony’s 31 Days of Tarot 2019 (Part 4)

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Today, I’m again returning to another installment of Ethony’s 31 Days of Tarot challenge. But, I need to revisit the question I answered in my last response, first before moving on to the newer questions.

The question (#13) had been From the Major Arcana Cards, what card correlates to your sun, moon and rising sign? How has that resonated or played out in your life?

I realized today, while spending hours driving, that I neglected a very STRONG correlation between my sun,  moon, and rising signs and myself, and how they resonate in my life.

As mentioned, my sun sign (relating to personality) is Taurus, my moon sign (relating to emotions and inner self) is Scorpio, and my rising sign (related to how others perceive me) is Gemini.

Well so here we have the sun sign of Taurus, and the element that corresponds to Taurus is earth.  From my botany studies to my green thumb, my love of nature and the green to the way I see the world as a whole, this is the element that I most relate to.  Earth and the green are an integral part of -me-.

My moon sign, Scorpio, corresponds to the element of water.  This is the element of emotions and is my refuge.  When our D/s becomes intense and you take me into that space that so many call “sub space”, I call it “drowning”.   I find comfort in the embrace of water, whether swimming or floating, or just curled up in the bottom of the bathtub with the shower running.  I love the rain, and I’ve always found myself attracted to crystals that are water associated, such as amethyst, moonstone, labradorite, aquamarine, tourmaline, pearls, and selenite (although I hate working with the last one in jewelry).

Lastly we have my ascending (rising) sign, which is Gemini.   This sign corresponds to the element of air, which is in turn related to thoughts, judgements, logic, and the mind.  I’ve been told from time to time that I’m often perceived as “stand off-ish” and intelligent.  The one that stands back and takes everything in before choosing the right path for me.  I am fanatical about fairness and balance.   These are all qualities of that element.

Okay, and now onto a few new questions…

  1. Which tarot decks give you the most insight by way of the imagery and symbology of the cards rather than intuition or basic tarot knowledge.
    I’ve mentioned this deck before, but hands down this would have to be the Tarot of the Hidden Realms. I have never encountered a deck that spoke to me like this one does. In fact, when using it I find that my basic tarot knowledge is often the last thing that I tap into. With this deck in particular, it is all about the imagery which includes everything from the main images and facial expressions to the backgrounds, color schemes, and “mood” the artwork portrays.
  2. What is in your Tarot ‘to-go’ bag? Your Tarot travel bag.
    I actually prefer not to take my tarot or oracle decks with me when I travel. Instead, I pack playing cards and use them as an alternate, and I own a handful of decks that are specifically for this purpose. I also do not take my journals with me, but I will take notes on my phone instead.
    The reason for this is because I was raised to understand that there are some places I may travel and some people I will meet that will have such a strong adverse reaction to my faith (and items of my faith such as the tarot, pentagrams, etc) as to put me in danger. Thus, those items stay home and more innocuous items (that can be used for the same purpose) are taken in their place.
  3. What Tarot card in the deck do you look out for the most when you get a new deck? If you don’t like that card does it ruin the deck for you?
    The Hanged Man, the Two of Pentacles, and The Moon. Honestly, I check out these cards prior to ever purchasing a deck. With the internet, it’s usually pretty easy to get a look. There are times when the appearance of these cards could cause me to reject buying a deck, but most of the time, I can work with a deck even if these three cards aren’t as desirable as I’d want them to be.
  4. What is your favorite way to Tarot Journal? Planners, apps, bullet journals?
    For my daily draws, I do them here on the blog to share with you.
    I also have a yearly tarot/spirituality journal, which in the past has always been kept in a spiral bound sketch journal. I’ve been considering changing over to using a bullet journal system next year though, as I would not be stuck drawing lines on pages to keep my text straight. I’ve also been considering using the discbound system of journals, which I could still use in a bullet journal format. I need to find somewhere I can actually play with one in person and see how it feels in my hands, because I worry that structure won’t be secure enough for my liking.
    I have a “tarot study and spreads” journal that is in a Leuchtturm 1917 bullet journal.
    I’ve also recently begun the process of re-interviewing my decks. For this, I’m using a couple of lined CR Gibson journals, so that I can have one book for tarot and lenormand, and another for oracle decks and other systems. I have several of this particular journal, which will allow me to add a third or fourth as needed, if I overflow the first two in my re-interviewing process (which will happen eventually, because I use a two-page spread for the interviews).

So far, this is Part 4 of the series. Here is Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 for easy reference.

I’ll make another post in a few days to continue on with more questions in the challenge.