balance in life

My Struggle With Balance and Moderation

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There was no meditation today, although I will make an effort to do it when I lie down tonight to go to bed.

Today’s draw is from a new deck, as I try to switch the deck out once a month (more if I’m just not getting what I need out of it, such as I did last month).  This month’s deck is starting with a newer deck in my collection, the Stolen Child Tarot by Monica L Knighton.   I do not have the guidebook for this deck (as it hasn’t been finished yet), so all my interpretations of the artwork are just that, completely my own, as I have no input from the artist about their work to share at this time.

I would like to share the “theme” of the deck with you, though.   It is based after a poem by William Butler Yeats called “The Stolen Child“.

Come away, Oh human child!
To the waters and the wild
With a faery, hand in hand,
For the world’s more full of
weeping than you can understand.

Ok…. so onward to the draw for today.   Today’s draw is the Ten of Flame, which traditionally is a representation of transitioning cycles, regeneration, endings and renewals in the area of one’s ambitions, drive, willpower, and passions.

In the picture for this card, you see a leopard boy looking very grown up, quite stern, and in control.  The leopard body is in repose while the human is erect and strong, a visage of a smaller cat aflame in the corner.

Intuitively speaking, this card speaks of control and strength of will, and that is the message that I draw from this card.   My inner beast is one that is often preoccupied with wants and needs in the form of pleasure pursuits and expressions of my creativity.  When I let it free, it can forget about practicalities and responsibilities if allowed to do so.   Today’s draw is a reminder to seek balance, but not so much control that you torch that inner spark that finds life so much fun.

It is the message of moderation that we spoke about earlier today, and you know just how much difficulty I have with moderation…. no matter if it is moderating that controlling workaholic self, or the fun and creative side.  Either way, this is something that I struggle with quite a bit, and so it’s not surprising that it is a recurring theme in my self care spreads and daily draws.   It helps that I incorporate a lot of my creative energies into my work, but yet that balance is still a struggle.

Today’s card is a reminder of the need for that, though, and an encouragement to keep at it.

Deck Used: The Stolen Child Tarot

Balance and Prioritization

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes and fifty four seconds, and focused on how to defuse anger.

The guided meditation discussed how when we feel that first spark of anger, it is through our thoughts that we fuel the fire of the anger. This then feeds it, allowing it to grow to greater and greater heights.

Yet, if we instead take a moment when we feel that initial spark of anger, and just step back for a moment and breathe… sometimes this is all we need to help defuse the anger, or at the very least keep it from building upon itself until it develops into an unruly inferno.

Today’s draw is the Two of Pentacles, which is a representation of dualities, balance, partnerships, unions, and division in the area of the human experience concerning the physical world, resources, and finance.

As I mentioned in previous appearances of this card, the Two of Pentacles is one of the cards that I identify the most strongly with in the Rider Waite Smith system. Like the person depicted in the card’s imagery, to me this card is all about juggling and balance most of the time when it comes up in a reading, and today is no different.

I have a busy day of processing orders and prepping for my trip to the post office tomorrow. I need to balance this with my own personal self-care… as well as my needs that you awoke last night that need to be satisfied damnit!! The balance between responsibilities, personal care, and my own wants and desires is always a difficult one to juggle. There just never seems to be enough time in the day.

Today’s draw is a reminder that each of these aspects of my life is important and, like one of the pentacles is higher than the other in the eternal juggle of the two on the card, it is important to prioritize… but not to the point that you drop everything else.

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.