anima mundi tarot

🎨 Weekly Creativity Prompt – Page of Wands

/ Twist the Leaf / Leave a comment

Prompt: “Pull the Queen of Cups card from your deck(s). Compare the imagery between the card provided below and the card(s) from your own deck(s). How would you read them differently and why?“

The Slow Tarot - Page of WandsSlow Tarot – The kid in this imagery looks so happy and so proud of all that he’s learning and experiencing on this camping trip of his. He’s set up a tent, lit a fire, and stands tall with a big smile on his face. This card is a reminder that we need to take pride in our adventurous spirit, new experiences, and accomplishments… even the beginner ones. Maybe… especially the beginner ones.

Page of Wands - Hong Kong Tarot, Anima Mundi Tarot, Tarot of the Hidden Realm

Hong Kong Tarot – Leaving the house vulnerable and unprepared while thinking you actually are?  This is a serious novice move. Yes, some time outside would be wonderful, but honestly? Umbrella in hand or not, clothes are important. Sometimes, we don’t learn these things until we try them and realize it, though. Remember to look for the better way in the things you experiment with. One’s first try is wrought with pitfalls, large and small.  Pay attention to them, and you’ll learn all the ins and outs.

Anima Mundi Tarot – The salamander is associated with the Wands (fire) suit because, at least according to legend, the salamander can pass through fire without getting hurt. Through this association, they represent a theme of resilience through conflict. In this card, though, the salamander is colorless. There are no reds and oranges of flame as would normally be seen in such a depiction on a Wands card. I would read this to mean that there is a lack of reaching for one’s potential.  A stagnancy that one needs to break free of in order to breathe “life” into their situation.

Tarot of the Hidden Realm – Pure joy.  That is what I see in the expression on this boy’s face, and in the spark of color that fills this card’s imagery. I would read this card as an encouragement towards enthusiasm and going after those things that make you feel excited and inspired.  Reject those things you don’t enjoy and dive into the ones you do.

DECK USED: SLOW TAROT, HONG KONG TAROT, ANIMA MUNDI TAROT, TAROT OF THE HIDDEN REALM

📆 Transitioning from April to May

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Month End Tarot Reading with the Anima Mundi Tarot and The Energy Archaeology Oracle

Here and Now I Exist – Who you are now, in your entirety.

The Sun (Horse) and Release – You have (quite literally) been purged clean both physically and emotionally over the past week and you are now at a place where, with all that has been released, you have the opportunity to start again upon your path lighter and cleaner than before. This allows for the opportunity to focus on healthier and happier energies than before.

The Slough – What is to be left in the past as you move forward.

Queen of Cups (Humpback Whale) atop Six of Pentacles, Supporting – Allowing your self-care and how you treat yourself to be dictated by your emotions needs to be left behind. You should be supporting yourself no matter where you are emotionally. Generosity and support towards oneself is not meant to be tied to one’s emotions.

What Lies Ahead – An ideal state or ideal self you are seeking at this time.

Ten of Pentacles (Red Wolf) and Grace – Healthy, happy and hail, along with the ability to balance rest and recovery with active pursuit of your goals. No more fumbling around in a fog, but instead a clear objective combined with healthy balance.

Limitations – Negative influences, opposition, or ill will.

Ace of Cups and Open – Be careful who you are letting into your “circle” right now. Being too open, forgiving, or invested in these new relationships and outside influences at this time can have a negative effect that you won’t want to have to deal with.

The Boon – Positive influences, higher guidance, or divine intervention.

Strength (Hercules Beetle) and Refine – Pull from your inner strength to do the things that you know need to be done to help yourself feel better and become stronger. You know what these things are, and you need to work at doing them even when you feel uninspired to do so. Tap in to your inner strength to find the willpower to get them done, even when you don’t necessarily want to.

The Wound – An unpleasant past experience or event that is ripe for some support and healing.

Death (Death Adder) and Power – There have been a number of experiences in the past couple of years where you’ve had to deal with feeling powerless (and helpless) in the face of change, and this has caused a disenchantment of late in life as a whole. It’s time to delve into these feelings and help restore faith in your personal empowerment, even (or especially) in the face of change.

Nostalgia – A positive past experience or event to acknowledge, reflect upon, and enjoy.

Five of Wands (Antelope) atop King of Pentacles (Grizzly Bear), Potential – Empowerment comes in many different guises, and you need to remember and reflect upon those times when you have fought for what you believe in, having held strong and solid to defend and protect what is important to you. There is potential to carry this energy forward with you now, and allow it to lift you up and strengthen your resolve in the areas that need it.

A Warning – Something coming that can be prevented or overcome.

Five of Pentacles, Activating atop Belonging – Keep an eye out for scarcity issues that may start creeping in and influencing how you see the world as well as your own behavior. You can circumvent this process by staying actively vigilant and ensuring when you see signs of it coming that you don’t ignore it or shut it out, but deal with it instead.

Empowerment – A future opportunity to work toward.

Two of Pentacles and Co-creation – An opportunity for collaboration with others that will allow you to find a better balance in the different aspects of your own life.

Message from the Spirit World – Feeling like an outcast sucks. Make sure that you are aware of when you feel this sneaking up on you, and when those feelings are being displayed in others. Use your inner compass and strengths to bring these issues forward and help work them out with others so balance can be restored.

Message from the Mind’s World – Finding the emotional support needed to let yourself let go of the past can help you in finding peace and better appreciate the present.  Only through forgiveness can this freedom truly be found.

Message from the Physical World – You have a chance at this time to release bad habits and other treatments of your physical self, and leave them behind.  Powering through isn’t the answer, and there’s a great deal of opportunity as you move past being sick to find a better path that will provide a stronger foundation for you to stand upon.

DECKS USED:  ANIMA MUNDI TAROT AND THE ENERGY ARCHAEOLOGY ORACLE

Seizing Ambition’s Reigns

/ Twist the Leaf / Leave a comment

Today’s meditation was skipped.

Anima Mundi Tarot - Ace of SwordsToday’s draw is the Ace of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of the seed of new beginnings in the area of one’s thoughts, intellect, education, ambitions, or communication.

Here in the symmetry we see the sword surrounded by a crown, which is what stands out to me the strongest in this imagery and speaks to me also of a modicum of control in the areas mentioned above.

I have a crapload of orders to get done before shipping out on Tuesday morning.  Today’s card is all about ambition.  My ambitions to garner new customers and grow my business. My ambitions to succeed.  It is a reminder that if you want to achieve your goals, you have to seize control and steer yourself in the direction of those goals, touch upon your sense of ambition and let it inspire you to charge forward eagerly.

DECK USED:  ANIMA MUNDI TAROT

The Self Appreciation #STCTarotChallenge for April Prompt
Questions for April 23rd and 24th

Flourot OracleI will work to sever…

Nasturtium – … my tendency to try and control my emotions, rationalize my feelings, and my efforts to somehow connect them to logic.

To make room for…

Weeping Willow – …feeling my feelings instead of putting them away and burying them. Even negative feelings have their place and time, and need to be experienced.

I give myself permission to…

Marigold – …be upset and cry, rage against, and otherwise feel my feelings fully instead of burying them.

Because?

Anemone – Holding in and burying my emotions will only create mental health issues, whereas if I let it out and actually experience them, I can then transform those feelings into something better and healthier.

DECK USED: FLEUROT

Mr Lionharts’ #TheAprilTarot Animal Guide Challenge Prompt
Question for…

Anima Mundi TarotThe Suit of Wands- Day 24
What will be my mantra of creation for this astrological year?

Five of Wands Rx (Antelope) atop King of Wands (Coyote) – Confront conflicts with strength and integrity, differences of opinion don’t have to degrade into ugliness if you seize control and create direction for others.

The Suit of Cups- Day 27
What will be my mantra of vibration for this astrological year?

Four of Cups (Hermit Crab) – Seek inner peace. It’s okay to pass on opportunities if you’re doing so for healthy reasons. Focus on the value and comfort you find in your home base.

The Suit of Swords- Day 26
What will be my mantra of determination for this astrological year?

Three of Swords (Robin) – Disappointments in life do not have to take away all your joy and overshadow all aspects of your life. Don’t let times of disappointment and depression take over everything in life.

The Suit of Pentacles – Day 25
What will be my mantra of manifestation for this astrological year?

Four of Pentacles (Raccoon) – Focus on creating a greater sense of wealth and stability through the next twelve months. This supports not just yourself, but everyone around you as well.

DECK USED: ANIMA MUNDI TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I made sure to set a timer and eat on a schedule today so that while I was so busy I wouldn’t forget to eat.

❤️ Self Care Saturday (On a Sunday)

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

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?

Anima Mundi Tarot, Energy Archaeology Oracle, Binx Lenormand

Earth – Ten of Wands, Forgiveness atop Pride – Shit happens. Sometimes you over work yourself a your body is upset as a result. Sometimes money gets mismanaged or unexpected expenses rear up and you feel overwhelmed by it all. Don’t let your pride and resulting indignation from that pride turn around and hold you back from letting go of blame, whether that blame is directed at others… or cast upon yourself.

Air – Three of Cups atop Knight of Swords Rx, Dreaming – Don’t let thoughts of “should be doing” take away the joy of time spent with loved ones. You can still get done those things you long to do, just do them with others instead of alone. Speed isn’t always everything, and sometimes help might make things go slower instead of faster, but that’s okay.

Water – Temperance and Supporting – Stop pushing yourself so hard and give yourself time to process. Emotions aren’t something that just always makes sense right away, and even when they seem to make sense, they aren’t logical.  You can’t just plow forward and ignore how you feel.  Instead, you need to give yourself time to work through them and support yourself rather than ignoring what’s needed.

Fire – Three of Swords and Worthy – Disappointments happen and are a part of life. They are not a reflection upon you. This is about Gid and I’s friend “N”, and the fact that he’s still repeating old behaviors I’d hoped that we had helped him to correct in himself.  Old behaviors that involve abuse.

I’m very disappointed and I’m struggling with my emotions concerning this. Honestly?  I’m just not sure I want anything to do with him anymore… and that just makes the disappointment that much worse.  These cards are a reminder that his actions are not a reflection on me and I shouldn’t allow myself to feel responsible.

Waning – Mice and Tree – Degradation and corruption of health caused by pushing too hard and doing too much. Burnout is a real thing, and you need to make sure that you don’t allow it to slide past a bit of exhaustion and into taking advantage of your reduced immune system to create health issues.

Waxing – Fish and Tower – Go with the flow for now, but make sure you’re paying attention. Look around and be watchful as you move along in the currents of time.

Take Away – There’s encouragement here to go easy on myself this week, and to take care of myself and my needs.  Make sure I’m focusing on the present, and on the positive, so that I’m not dragged back into negative inner dialogues and unhealthy habits.  It’s still not time for indulging in alone time.

DECKS USED: ANIMA MUNDI TAROT, ENERGY ARCHAEOLOGY ORACLE, HELOISE LENORMAND

Where the Small Joys Live

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

#DailyCalm with the Calm appToday’s meditation was just over ten minutes long, and was another of the guided #DailyCalm meditations offered in the Calm app.

It’s odd to me that sometimes I am able to focus on what the guide is saying in the meditation, and other times? I only hear her voice, but not what she says. Today’s meditation was one of the latter.  It was very relaxing, but I really didn’t process what was said during the meditation.

The Houseplant Tarot - The SunToday’s draw is the Sun card, which is traditionally a representation of joy, happiness, success, warmth, and fun.

The imagery in this card is about photosynthesis, or well, that’s what I see in this card. I see a plant that is healthy and filled with joy as the sun provides its warm rays and leaves turn toward its warmth.

What is it in your environment that brings you joy? Are you taking it for granted? Today’s card is an encouragement to spend some time enjoying and appreciating those small things that bring us joy that we often find so commonplace that we start to take them for granted.

DECK USED:  THE HOUSEPLANT TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsApr2022 Challenge Prompt
Question for April 7th – Where do you need…

Anima Mundi Tarot and Energy Archaeology OracleMore space?

Page of Wands and Wisdom – Give yourself some room to grow and expand on a fundamental level. Look at your principles, your passions, your spiritual path… seek to become more than you are.

More air?

Four of Cups, Receiving atop Worthy – Don’t shame yourself into feeling you are not worthy of rest and self care. Instead, open the “windows” within your life that your judgements hold closed and allow cleansing air to wash away stagnant negativity.

More love?

Two of Cups and Supporting – Allow those around you to help and support you. You don’t have to do everything yourself. It’s okay to accept (and even ask for) help, and giving that help is one of the ways others express their love for you.

DECKS USED: ANIMA MUNDI TAROT AND ENERGY ARCHAEOLOGY ORACLE

The Self Appreciation #STCTarotChallenge for April Prompt
Questions for April 6th and 7th

The Houseplant TarotThis season I will actually…

Seven of Pentacles – …allow myself to slow down and let things move at their own pace. Too often I push and shove, trying to force things to move at a faster pace instead of accepting they will develop in their own time.

In order to…

Eight of Cups – …put distance between myself and the impatience that isn’t working for me. All that pushing raises my stress level and creates an opportunity to make unhealthy decisions for myself instead of healthy ones.

I will take a step back from…

Ace of Swords – …new ideas and inner dialogue that is harmful to me. There is a darkness within that melds smoothly and seamlessly with the darkness of the depression.  It’s time to take a step back from that darkness and shine a light on the fact that I am treating myself badly deep within where others can’t see.

In order to…

The Hermit – …make sure that my alone time this season is good and healthy.  I love alone time.  I really, really love alone time.  But it’s important that when I indulge in alone time, I am doing so in healthy ways. This isn’t possible when my inner dialogue is in control and permeating my thoughts.

DECK USED: THE HOUSEPLANT TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I’m finishing this post before bed.  I know it seems like a silly and very little thing, but I felt like putting off finishing it until later.  When I do that, the posts build up like dirty laundry, with notes and half done writing left sitting for days sometimes.  I’m finishing this post so that I’m not starting another pile of what’s not finished here today.

Transitioning Into Self Care

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s meditation was ten minutes long and focused on acknowledging your feelings rather than allowing yourself to close them off and distancing yourself from them.  This is a topic that is very relatable to me, as I spent pretty much the first two decades of my life doing just that.  And honestly?  Until I met you, that was okay and worked well for me.

It truly is the truth, that saying about ignorance being bliss, because I didn’t know what I was missing and I thought I was just fine.  I didn’t realize that by submerging and boxing away my emotions I was dampening my intuition and blinding myself to a variety of experiences.

Even after over a decade of you tearing down those walls and breaking apart the boxes that held all that from view out of my awareness, I can honestly say that a lot of emotions are still… weird for me.  Uncomfortable.  Awkward.  Even unpleasant.  I don’t mean unpleasant emotions, but that even the pleasant ones can sometimes be unpleasantly uncomfortable.   Still, I have no intention of returning to my old way of doing things.  Instead, I’m going to continue moving forward into finding a different way to deal with and process these emotions that are so often still unfamiliar feeling and awkward.

Ostara Tarot Today’s draw is a double without a jumper, meaning that both cards came out of the deck together as one.  The cards in today’s draw are the Empress and the Six of Cups.

Together these cards speak to me about the transition that is currently in the process of taking place in my life as the holiday rush comes to an end and the time to return to caring for my needs and nurturing myself comes back to the forefront.

During the holiday rush, my self care kind of goes to the wayside.  And, although I can say that I have done better at self care this year during the rush than I have in the past?  I can also admit that a lot of my need, necessities, emotions, and just so much of the more rounded aspects of life as a whole have had to be pushed to the side to make room for the constant focus I had to put on work during the past six weeks.

With the Empress over top of the Six of Cups, there is a communication here about returning to a more nurturing and balanced focus and energy as the chaos of the holiday rush eases into a relaxed energy and speed.

DECK USED:  OSTARA TAROT

Bonus Reading – #TarotForGrowthDecember

Question: What positive impact did others have on me this year?

Anima Mundi Tarot

Reading Summary: Focusing more on my own interests and education (Queen of Swords) as well as my own needs and self care (The Empress).  Encouraged to find a new path with my passions and interests (Hierophant and Three of Wands), and to entertain a greater scope of new perspectives in times when I feel like closing myself off and pulling inward (Hanged Man).

Take Away:  At the beginning of the year I went through a severe depression that created a need for self-care that I really wasn’t that enthusiastic about, as well as a need to close myself off and shrink inward that I was definitely very enthusiastic about.  With the help of others, I was able to turn this around and found myself far more open than I have been in the past, not just to caring for myself and my needs, but in listening to myself and my emotions.  At the same time, by helping me to resist closing myself off, I felt myself open back up to others and their perspectives as the depression receded, rather than trying to continue to protect myself by staying detached and cloistered away.

DECK USED:  ANIMA MUNDI TAROT