ace of pentacles

The Unexpected Boon

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Confession… I did not meditate today.  There’s just so many hours in a day, and so many ten minute segments in each hour, and I was significantly short on both today so it just didn’t get done.   Depending on when I get done with orders tonight (or tomorrow morning probably), I might be able to fit it in before bed.  At least… if I manage to get some sleep tonight and don’t end up pulling an all-nighter.

Madam Lydia Wilhelmina's Tarot - Ace of CoinsToday’s draw is the Ace of Coins, which is traditionally a representation of new beginnings and new opportunities in the areas of finances, resources, hearth and home, health, and manifestations. 

The thing is?  Today’s been a bit rough.  I’ve needed to be home getting work done and yet had to be out dealing with traffic and doctors and rude as fuck people.  And yet? 

*Clears his throat.*  Just about 1/8th of my remaining mortgage got paid off today out of the blue due to some serious surprise income.

SO!  The message in today’s card?  Don’t discount good things happening out of the blue.  Just don’t discount it.  Because it can happen when you’re least expecting it.  Was the money free?  Not by any means… but neither was the opportunity to earn it at all anticipated or even something I thought possible.   So… stay open to the possibilities, even the surprise ones. 

DECK USED:  MADAM LYDIA WILHELMINA’S TAROT

LionHart’s #TheOctoberTarot #SeasonOfTheWitchChallenge Prompt
Question: What is my major Hallowe’en / Samhain theme?

XII Tarot

Intuitive Hit:  Take your time and do it right.

Reading Summary: Okay so breaking this down, we have the Page of Cups as a learner in the area of emotions moving into the Four of Cups, which is about a disconnect between your motivation and your emotions.  The Five of Pentacles speaks of loss and struggle, but is overshadowed by Temperance expressively displayed with a searing sword though the heart.  What I see here is that when things move too fast, accidents happen.  When you aren’t willing to put in the effort and pay attention?  Bad things happen.  If you’re going to learn a new skill, or sink yourself into the process of learning?  It’s self defeating to not take your time or keep yourself invested through thick and thin.

Take Away:  And thus all of that circles back to the whisper of my intuition prior to breaking down the cards.   Take your time and do it right.

DECK USED:  XIII TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: What do I need to focus on for self care this full moon?

Tarot of Haunted HouseReading Summary: Stand up for what’s yours (Seven of Wands) and those that collaborate with you (Three of Pentacles), and shine a light on (Knight of Wands) those that try to take from you (Seven of Swords).

Take Away: This fits with what my full moon ritual tonight was about, which is to say that it is a ritual that began with the new moon and beginning the process of building strength and condensing it over the past couple of weeks in order to refresh my home’s protective wards and other protections this evening.

I do not want a repeat of what happened last year, with the shadow of my father’s influences invading my life to create significant inner struggle and a sickening shrivel of sensation in my soul as the month progressed toward its end.  For the month of October and November, I’ve therefore chosen to up my wards and protections, shifting their focus and construction over this time period to include these issues.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF HAUNTED HOUSE

#MysticStarChallenge October Challenge Prompt
Prompt: The card for this month is the ______, which indicates…

Carnival at the End of the World Tarot - The HierophantThe card for this month is the Hierophant card, which indicates that you will have much to learn this month, and many people to share what you learn with, to teach, and guide along the way.

During this month it will also be important to remember that not all traditions and “old ways” of doing things are bad or need to be broken… or even altered.

Sometimes when we get too carried away with our own independence, we forget that many of the “old ways” of doing things have lasted as long as they have for a reason.  Because they hold meaning, and because they work.  It will be important to pay attention to what old ways you might be discarding without truly thinking through their value.

DECK USED:  CARNIVAL AT THE END OF THE WORLD TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: A message for my spiritual path.

Ludy Lescot Tarot

Reading Summary: Listen closely to your inner wisdom and intuition (High Priestess) and allow it to tell you when the time for celebration (Three of Cups) of your accomplishments (Six of Wands) is needed (Justice)

Take Away:  The thing is?  I have a very difficult time giving myself the credit that I deserve.  I am aware of this issue.  Gideon calls it modesty, but I’m not really sure that’s what it is at all.  It is far more likely that it has to do with that “never enough” shadow of mine.

The message for my spiritual path is that I need to start healing that inner shadow by listening to the quiet whispers  in the darkness that tell me when I’ve done something good… listen to them and allow them to lift me up.  Wallow, even if just briefly, in that moment of elation.   In doing so, I am helping to balance out the scales between that shadow’s influences and my need for growth and progress.

DECK USED:  LUDY LESCOT TAROT

Appreciating Opportunities

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Today’s meditation was put off because I ended up oversleeping.  I’m not even sure why I overslept but damn did I ever.   So… I bounced out of bed directly into work today so that I could make sure to get my orders done.  I’ll do a meditation before bed.  It’s not the same, but it’ll happen.

Hush Tarot - Ace of PentaclesToday’s draw is the Ace of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of  the “seed” of new opportunities and new potential in the areas of one’s finances, resources, health, home life, and manifestations.

What really stands out to me in the imagery of this card today is the key that is held in the dove’s beak.  To me the key is a symbol of opportunity, which weighs out over possibilities in the imagery here today.  It also appears that the bird is smiling.  Yes, I know that birds can’t smile, but it really does appear to me that there is a smile on that bird’s face.

The message in today’s card is that sometimes you have to grab hold of the opportunities presented to you and run with them.  Held high above the tangle below, the key of opportunity in its beak, this card is reminding me that I have the key to my own future.

Sometimes?  It’s good to take a moment to just sit with that truth instead of planning or leaping forward.  Instead, just taking a moment to appreciate just how fortunate you are and the possibilities that are open to you is enough.

DECK USED:  HUSH TAROT

#Zentember #LovelyHealing Challenge Prompt
Question: What helps me achieve my goals?

Samiramay Tarot

Reading Summary: Standing up for what you believe in (Seven of Wands) is a learning experience (Page of Cups). This means that I come out of the other side of these conflicts a winner (Five of Swords) even when I appear to have lost.

The Two of Cups is an outlier in this reading, reminding me to be open to others input and involvement.  This reminder then ties into the other three indicating that when I allow myself to be more open to others I further benefit from the conflicts indicated in the previsions cards, and at times may develop new friendships out of those conflicts as well.

Take Away:  Learning from the battles that I choose to fight, no matter if I come out of the conflict on top of the bottom.  Trusting in others and welcoming others into my life that allow for supportive relationships to thrive.

DECK USED:  SAMIRAMAY TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsSep2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: How will my courage be tested this autumn season?

Haindl TarotReading Summary: Feeling like I’m prepared and ready to go, and have all the tools to deal with my responsibilities (The Magician). Then a moment of crushing disappointment that lead to discontent (Five of Cups… “crushing” is due to the imagery in the  card). You’ll end up feeling blocked from making any positive progress (The Universe Rx) and have to start over (The Fool).

Take Away: I’m going to take this as a warning of something I need to work at avoiding.  The cards here indicate that my courage will be tested this Autumn by a situation where I “drop the ball” and seriously fuck up due to over confidence in my abilities to deal with things.  The results of which bring me to having to start over from the beginning.   I’d rather avoid that if possible, so I’m going to do my best to keep an eye out for the development of this situation so that I can side-step it if possible.

DECK USED:  HAINDL TAROT

Lionharts #AstroTarotChallenge
Question: What (more) do I have to offer that could benefit my direct surroundings, or the community/communities I am part of?

Joe Sparrow Tarot

Reading Summary: Offering at my expense (Seven of Swords) more leadership (Emperor) and perspectives (The Hanged Man).

Take Away:  The cards here indicate that I have the ability to offer more leadership and perspectives to others in my community, but in doing so, it will be at my own personal expense.  Although this reading indicates what I have to offer, there is a warning here reminding me not to over-extend myself.

DECK USED:  JOE SPARROW TAROT

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

 

 

 

The Power of Optimism

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s meditation was attached to the end of my yoga / physio practice, as I was a little short on time today due to obligations to help an employer getting ready to re-open his business.

It was nice and relaxing, and honestly?  The yoga practice went a little more smoothly than I anticipated as well.  Usually I have a little bit more resistance in my hips and ribs when it comes to easing tension in the muscles.   Today, however, it seemed to ease smoothly in each position after just a deep breath or two.

Forager's Daughter Tarot - Ace of PentaclesToday’s draw is the Ace of Pentacles, which is traditionally interpreted as an indication of new beginnings or new opportunities in the area of one’s finances, resources, manifestations, and the physical world.

This card is essentially the “seed” of the pentacles suit, and is all about potential, just as when you plant a seed within soil that practice is all about the potential that seed has within it.

So much stood out to me today in the imagery of this card, that I got a little overwhelmed with it all and it took me a bit to actually walk back and figure out what stood out to me first.  What first stood out to me in this card when I pulled it this morning was the fruit. Although the apples on this tree are not quite ripe yet, they are plentiful, and the symbolism of apples as a whole is one of abundance.

I see the message of this card to be one of optimism.   When you plant a seed, you never know what is going to happen.  You have to wait.   When you plant a tree from seed?  That wait can be a very, very long one and there are many stages of worry and concern involved from waiting for the sprout, and then caring for that sprout to make sure it survives.

Growing an apple tree from seed takes years and a good deal of care, and yet when it is finally established and matured enough to bear fruit, the prize is sweet.

So the message of optimism has to do with planting the seed… and keeping a positive outlook as you foster that seed into growth.  Whether that seed is better health, starting a savings account in the hopes of creating a substantial sense of security one day, or literally planting seeds to grow your own food. Stay positive, and that positivity will help that seed to become a seedling… and foster that seedling into growth.

DECK USED:  FORAGER’S DAUGHTER TAROT

#TarotForGrowthMay Challenge Prompt
Question: How can I better prioritize my needs without falling into guilt?

Mermaid Tarot

Reading Summary: Remember that everyone has needs, and that’s ok (Judgement). You’re human just like everyone else (Five of Pentacles) and you go through crappy situations, just like everyone else (The Tower).

Take Away:  The message here is that I’m not invincible, nor am I perfect.   I make mistakes like everyone else, and I struggle from time to time, just like everyone else.   It’s okay to need to take care of myself… because if I don’t take care of myself, then I’m of no use to myself, or anyone else either.   Our flaws and our vulnerabilities are a part of what make each and every one of us who and what we are… and along with everything else that makes us human comes the need for self care.

DECK USED:  MERMAID TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsMay2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: Philosophical Question – Is absolute freedom / free will possible?

Cosmos Tarot and OracleIntuitive Interpretation: Freedom is subjective (Sculptor) and is all about how you choose to perceive the world (Libra). A mentality of victimhood will never find freedom (Cepheus).

Take Away:  Wow.  Talk about just “dropping the bomb and walking away”.  *Chuckles*  This makes sense to me, though.  Everyone has a different definition of what “freedom” and/or “free will” actually is.

Those that focus upon the positive and choose a path of optimism are more likely to find their definition of freedom and be happy with it.  Meanwhile, those that choose to linger on the side of negativity and pessimism, on the other hand, will very rarely ever find freedom, because they will always be looking for something more or something different than what is right before them.

I write this as a pessimistic person myself, incidentally.   I work very, very hard for each and every one of my little nuggets of optimism.

DECK USED:  COSMOS TAROT AND ORACLE

#MysticStarChallenge
Question: What should I learn from this time away from my ‘normal life’?

Sun and Moon Tarot

Reading Summary:  How to reign myself in (Prince of Swords) while discarding what isn’t working for me (Eight of Cups) so that I can take better care of myself (Empress).

Take Away:  I’ve said this again and again… and the cards have said it to me again and again… but I push myself too hard.  I know it.  The cards know it.  Pretty much everyone knows it.

The lesson I should learn during this time when “normal life” is  a distant memory and not likely on the horizon for a bit of time to come is that I need to better organize and prioritize my responsibilities, and weed out those that aren’t working for me or no longer resonate with me. By doing this, I free up space in my schedule and my life to better care for myself physically, mentally, and spiritually.

DECK USED:  SUN AND MOON TAROT

 

Creation, Evolution, and Balance

/ Twist the Leaf / 2 Comments

Today’s meditation was disrupted by the fact that I had to run Z to the hospital.   I did do a good deal of 2 minute pauses and deep breathing while at the hospital in order to keep myself calm and clear headed.   But I didn’t really get an actual, official meditation as the emergency happened just after I had lain down to try and get the meditation practice in.

Z is fine, and back with us, btw.  She just had to stay overnight to make sure that her allergy reaction didn’t return as the medication used to suppress it wore off.

Ace of Oak - Ace of Pentacles - Stolen Child TarotToday’s draw is the Ace of Oak (Ace of Pentacles) which is a representation of the seeds of new beginnings in the area of one’s resources, finances, health, and the physical plane.

Aside from the Five of Flame, this is one of my absolutely favorite cards in the Stolen Child deck.  The imagery in this card speaks to me of the aspects of nature and energy that I revere in my practice.   That is, that it speaks to me of the energies of creation, evolution, and balance.  It speaks to me of cycles and balance.

The appearance of this card today and the message it brings has very little to do with traditional meanings, and everything to do with my perception of those energies represented within the imagery.   This card is a reminder that my morning devotional where I call upon those energies and the energies of the elements is an important part of my day and finding balance in my life… and calling me out on skipping it.

DECK USED:  STOLEN CHILD TAROT

#TarotForGrowthApril Challenge Prompt
Question: How can I honor that lesson? (built off yesterday’s cards)

Mibramig Magical Tarot

Reading Summary:   Accept that I’m doing a good job (Ten of Pentacles) and that this lesson is one that is needed (The Tower) in order to become stronger and more assertive in life and a better provider (King of Wands).

Take Away:  I have definitely felt a shift happening as I’ve lead my family (sister, childhood mentor, mother and her nurse) through the crisis that this pandemic has created.  I feel less and less like a kid fumbling in the dark and working at “playing house”, and more and more the responsible and dependable rock that they need.

DECK USED:  MIBRAMIG MAGICAL TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsApr2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: What gifts does the new season bring with it?

Considerate Cat TarotReading Summary:  The opportunity for a little more independence (Nine of Pentacles) that I should grab hold of and use to nurture myself and care for my needs (The Empress) rather than ignoring or rejecting for not being enough (Four of Cups).

Take Away:  Alone time is a really scarce commodity these days and that’s something that I’ve really struggled with.  The cards here indicate that I’m going to have an opportunity for a bit more autonomy with this new season, and instead of squandering that opportunity because it doesn’t feel like I’m getting enough… I need to cherish that opportunity and use it to help take care of myself and my needs.  This feels like an encouragement to jump at opportunities to get outside and enjoy time in nature, no matter how small, short, or limited those opportunities may be.

DECK USED:  CONSIDERATE CAT TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What energy am I attracting in my life?

Forager's Daughter Tarot

Reading Summary: Seeing the world (The World) from a new perspective (Hanged Man) that will allow for a closer connection with others (Two of Cups) through self expression and exploring new ways of communication (Page of Swords).

Take Away:  That openness to new perspectives is something that I always welcome, but the blend of that with a connection to others is something that is very new.   I usually have a really difficult time connecting to people and the message here is that at this time it is important to seek out and be open to finding new ways of communicating with others that help foster those connections that I’m usually not very strong at developing.

DECK USED:  FORAGER’S DAUGHTER TAROT

 

Out With The Old

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and again incorporated into my yoga/physio practice at the end of the forty minute session I do daily. Moving from the ebb and flow of my yoga practice into the stillness of those ten minutes at the end of the practice feels really nice, and gives my body time to ease out of the stretching and exercise to a calm state.   I really like it.

Spacious TarotToday’s draw is a double without a jumper, meaning that the cards came out together as one from the deck.   The cards in today’s draw are the Ace of Pentacles atop the Death card.

When I see these two cards together today, the message that I get from this imagery is that in order for new things to happen, sometimes old things have to die off first.  Its a part of the ebb and flow of life that some things must fade in order to make room for new things to develop.    It’s a rhythm that fits into every facet of life, and it’s no different in mine.

The appearance of these cards is a reminder that you can only fit so much on your plate.  In order to fit in more, you have to let go of something, because only so much will manage to stay on the plate at once.

DECK USED:  SPACIOUS TAROT

#TarotForGrowthJanuary Challenge Prompt
Question: What simple way can I show my loved ones that I value them this year?

Field Tarot

Reading Summary:   Make sure I’m there for them (Prince of Discs) during times of change (Death), and willing to lend an ear without casting judgement (The swan consulting it’s reflection in the Judgement card), and help them find a way forward (Chariot) when they are having trouble seeing a their path through (Princess of Wands) those difficult times.

Take Away:  Sometimes what loved ones need most is an ear and a little help finding the path through the trees.  This is something that my loved ones come to me for now and then through the years and it sounds like this year will be another one of those years.

DECK USED:  THE FIELD TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge Prompt
Question: How can I overcome my weaknesses?

Tarot Cats

Reading Summary: Weaknesses are not meant to be overcome (The Moon), instead they are meant to be sat with and learned from (Four of Cups) so that you can move forward into personal growth and while learning how to utilize those weaknesses to your advantage (Seven of Pentacles) for the future.

Take Away:  This answer really makes sense to me, because I’ve never really understood how you “overcome” weaknesses.  To me, everyone has weaknesses and you learn to adapt to them and use them to your advantage.  That doesn’t mean they aren’t still a weakness, only that they have become a useful weakness.

DECK USED:  TAROT CATS