Today’s meditation was ten minutes long and was about finding the path that is right for you and seeing ourselves through our own eyes instead of basing out self worth on what others think of us.

I think everyone does this to a point.  We all worry, in one way or another, about what others think of us or how we are perceived.  That’s pretty natural and probably has something to do with some sort of “human tribal/societal genetic wiring” of some kind or another.

The key, though, is to make sure that you prioritize how you feel about yourself above how others feel about  you. This requires having a positive view of yourself.  An honest view that allows for you to have things that you are proud of, and things that you like about yourself.  It means knowing your strengths and your weaknesses and finding a place within yourself where you are happy with yourself and who you are.

We are all works in progress, but its that comfort in your own skin that allows you to take other’s opinions and perceptions in stride, and not allow them to take over your life or your own perceptions of yourself.

Today’s draw is the Death card, which is traditionally a card that indicates organic transition.  That is to say, it is about the slow and gradual build up of change that takes place over time.   Sometimes change happens all at once and is a chaotic mess of clashing energy and distress (aka The Tower)… the Death card, on the other hand, is about the kind of change that happens over time though. The kind of change that happens little by little until one day it reaches a tipping point  where you realize something is happening, and that it has been happening all along.

What stands out to me the strongest in the imagery of this card today is the hourglass in the lower right side, and the fact that with whatever is lying on the desk behind it?  It kind of looks at first like a gavel.

The message in today’s card is “Don’t knock it until you try it.”  Sometimes?  When we go through change we make snap judgements and reject the changes without even giving them a chance to grow on us, or time for us to adjust and give it a go.  But what we learn when we relax into change instead of immediately going up in arms to fight against it, is that we adapt more quickly and re-discover happiness more easily.

Consider the potential if we could relax into changes more often, and find our joy again more quickly in the wake of those changes.  Imagine how much less time we’d waste and how much more happiness we could enjoy.

DECK USED:  MADAM LYDIA WILHELMINA’S TAROT

LionHart’s #TheOctoberTarot #SeasonOfTheWitchChallenge Prompt
Question: As above, so below, I will channel this {top of the deck}, so I can grow {bottom of the deck}.

Reading Summary: A certain amount of solitude and self reflection (The Hermit) can help me in growing beyond the perceived limitations of my ambition (Knight of Swords).

Take Away:  The message here is that when I channel my inner hermit and go after that alone time that I need?  It fosters within me the ability to stretch my limits and do better, learn more, and become stronger.  I am one of those people that needs their alone time. I need time by myself to ground.  This alone time gives me the opportunity to settle and process. From there I can then move forward calmer and stronger than before.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE SWEET TWILIGHT

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: Do Spread #2

Bat – What is ending at this time that needs my awareness and focus?
Six of Cups

Last year at this time of year, I was far too close to my past and it allowed feelings and reactions to experiences in my past to rise up and overwhelm me a bit.   This card is a reminder that I need to set my past experiences and feelings from the past aside for now in order to make sure they do not invade and create a repeat of the experience.

Calendula – Who is a loving constant in my life that needs a bit more recognition?
Ten of Pentacles atop The Lovers

This card is pointing to my twin sister, L. Over a decade ago, my sister came to me and told me that she wanted to move out of our parent’s house, but felt uncomfortable living on her own. I made the choice to allow her to come move into my home, and she has been here ever since.

She is, in essence, a part of my home now. It’s hard to imagine living here (or anywhere, for that matter) without her. I think that the choice I made those years ago was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in my entire life… which is saying something, because I’ve made a hell of a lot of good decisions along the way so far.

Owl – What do I need to know right now to trust that I’m on the right path?
Ten of Cups

This card is the carrot dangled before the ass, yeah?  It’s telling me that my emotional growth that I’ve been working on is leading somewhere positive and that I’ve made the right choice in diving into this exploration and taking up the journey towards greater emotional intelligence.

This is actually something I needed to hear, as I have been worried about the effect that the upcoming holiday rush might have on my progress.  I think I’ve gotten to a point now where I realize though, that even if I backslide a bit during the holiday season, that I’ll be able to regain my footing and continue on that path of exploration once the rush has ended.

Rosemary – What memory in my past needs revisited to guide in my future safety?
King of Swords

For a very long time, I associated very strongly with the King of Swords. Over the past few years, I’ve found that has shifted a bit and I relate far more to the Queen of Swords these days than I do the King. The memory of when I was in that place where I related more to the King is something I need to keep in mind to guide me in my future safety. The strength and the accuracy and ambition, as well as the sharp and keen perception and tongue, are still there. They reside beneath the surface and can be brought out when needed. This is important to remember.

Black Cat – Where is conformity more of a risk than independent thought?
Ace of Cups

My emotional journey is something that is unique to me.  I can’t follow in another’s footsteps, nor allow others to lead the way, because my emotions are my own and how they manifest and communicate with me, as well as how they relate to the world around me, are unique to me.

Although I can take in guidance as needed, it’s important to remember that this journey is about my path and my growth… and it is important to not restrain myself to expectations (whether mine or that of others) when exploring the path ahead and this growth.

Wormwood – During this time when the veil is thin, what in my life needs protection?
Eight of Swords

There is much I have not learned yet and much I do not yet know.  Because of this, there is much yet that I don’t see or understand.

This is about my explorations of mediumship, spirit guides, etc.  I have been doing a bit of delving, in very surface ways, into the mediumship and spirit guide area of things.  The card in relation to this question makes it clear that I need to be careful and take precautions even in these smallest of explorations during this time of year when the veil is at its thinnest.

Raven – Where can sating my curiosity lead to the resurrection of something I’ve lost?
Queen of Pentacles

I need to call Ms B.

DECK USED:  ANNE STOKES GOTHIC TAROT

#MysticStarChallenge October Challenge Prompt
Question: How can I embrace my Spirit Guide’s personality more effectively?

Reading Summary: The two left cards really stand out strongly to me in this reading.  They hold warmth and power that feels like it overshadows the rest of the cards. The Kings, on the other hand, both appear to be decreasing in power in some way, from the leeches that suck power from the King of Swords to the blood dripping from the head of the King of Wands.

Heart open (Ace of Cups and The Empress), and personal motivations on the back burner (King of Swords atop King of Wands).

Take Away:  To embrace my Spirit Guide’s personality more effectively, I need to remember that they speak through my intuition and to not just hear them clearly but understand their messages most effectively, I need to be open and welcoming to their messages. Closing myself off muffles their communications, and when I am digging deep into my  personal motivations and ambitions?  I am usually very much also closing myself off.

DECK USED:  TAROT DE MARSEILLE PAR POLE KA

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: How can I my perform spellcraft more effectively?

Reading Summary: Slow down and be mindful of secrets (Eight of Wands and the skulls under the stairs). While you delve deeply into the study and learning process (the men in both the Seven of Swords and Page of Pentacles are deep in study… one of maps and the other in books), make sure that you do not neglect hands-on experience (Five of Wands).

Take Away:  The advice in these cards is that in order to more effectively improve my spellcraft I need to make sure I don’t lose myself so deeply in theory and study that I forget about the experimentation and practice part of things.  Both are equally important, as is taking things slow so that you don’t miss something important along the way.

DECK USED:  LUDY LESCOT TAROT