Bonestone & EarthFlesh Tarot

Do What Makes You Feel Good

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Today’s meditation hasn’t happened yet.  I got up early this morning to get on the road, because I had a special hike I wanted to do.  It takes two hours to hike to the lake and nearly 45 minutes to drive to the trail head.  So if I don’t start out early at this time of the year, I won’t make it back to my car before dark. And at this time of year? It’s definitely too damned cold to be hiking after dark, even if I’m familiar with the route.   So… I will do today’s meditation before bed tonight.

Bonestone & Earthflesh Tarot - The StarToday’s draw is the Star card, which is traditionally a representation of hope, optimism, positivity, successful beginnings, and spirituality.

What stands out to me the strongest in the imagery of this card is the eagle that emerges from the figure’s chest, and burst of light from the solar plexus.

What I see in this card is an encouragement to do what makes you feel good.  Do what is going to light up your inner spark and give you wings.

For me, this is seeking out fresh air and wet earth, trees clinging with moss and lichen, and bodies of water chilled by mountain temps.

I went hiking.  And it was fucking glorious.

DECK USED:  BONESTONE & EARTHFLESH TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicJan2021 Challenge Prompt
Philosophical Question: Are all emotions irrational?

Hieronymus Bosch TarotReading Summary:  The center vessel cards here are an indication of the two sides of one’s emotions.  One is irrational and always ready to follow one’s desires irregardless of the risk involved, and on the other wside we have the slow pace and reason of emotions brought about through consideration and depth.  Shallow… and deep.

The cards on the outer edges indicate what is needed to find balance in these emotions, and are linked to the cards through color connection. The birds align with depth, speaking of the nature of those emotions to drag you down if you are not careful with their unique seduction.   The Kings of the East on the other hand represent stability and forethought, which is something the impulsive and shallow emotions lack.

Take Away: No.  Not all emotions are irrational.  Sometimes they are… and sometimes those irrational emotions can be harmful without stability to help temper them.  Sometimes our emotions are brought about through thought and depth, but here too we run the risk of them being dangerous if we are allowed to sink too deeply. 

DECK USED:  HIERONYMUS BOSCH TAROT

Purefield.Healing’s Taking My Power Back Challenge Prompt
Question: What triggers me to give my power away?

Tarot de Marseille Anima Antiqua

Nine of Coins atop Eight of Cups – When I am in need of a break so that I can have some time to appreciate what I have.  If I’m not given that rest, it can create frustration and that frustration can then cause my power and control to begin to fray and slip through my fingers.

La Papesse atop Two of Coins – When I need time away from juggling to get in touch with my inner voices and intuition.  As above, this speaks of needing a break and not getting it.  In this case it’s not so much about being overburdened as it is about needing to step off the hamster wheel for a bit and take a cleansing breath.

Le Chariot Rx – When the world is moving too fast and I feel like I’ve lost control. Another form of overwhelm where I just can’t seem to catch those threads of fraying control and there is so much going on that I let them go rather than holding on.

Take Away:  What triggers me to let go of my power is being overwhelmed or worn down to the point that I need a break.

DECK USED:  TAROT DE MARSEILLE ANIMA ANTIQUA

Whose Shoes Are Those?

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IMG_8635Today’s meditation was just over ten minutes long, and was another of the guided meditations from the Calm app with interval timer for my piriformis and forearm flexor stretching.

The topic of today’s guided meditation was about having appreciation for one’s failures and mistakes. This is actually a topic that’s near and dear to my heart, and it’s one that is connected to something that I struggled for a very long time to understand in others (and sometimes still do).  That is to say, I’ve never understood why people hold back from doing things out of fear of being bad at them or not doing them right.

One of the biggest steps to learning a new skill or ability is trying and failing, you then take that knowledge learned about what doesn’t work… and try again. And through multiple failures, you learn what works and what doesn’t… and eventually?  You don’t fail because you become an expert.   This is the process of trial and error that is what learning something new is all about.

Bonestone & Earthflesh Tarot - The Hanged ManToday’s draw is the Hanged Man, which is traditionally a representation of taking time to look at new perspectives and gather additional data.  It’s about taking a pause in order to see things from a different angle, and allowing yourself time to wrap your mind around different viewpoints and opinions, ideas and angles… to see things from a different view in order to find more depth in understanding.

What stands out to me the strongest in the imagery of this card is the feathers in the lower right hand corner. They drew my eye very strongly today and are an indication of thought… of the fact that this man has a great need for thought and reevaluation… and clearly the opportunity to do so.

The thing is, even in situations like his?  We still have a choice on whether we are going to be open to reevaluation and a different perspective than the one we ourselves carry, or if we are going to remain closed in our own personal box and unwilling to see our situation (or any other topic) from a place removed from our own opinions and perceptions.

I have found, over time and observation, that I don’t communicate with people that are unwilling to try and see things from outside their own personal “box”, as if stuck in the certainty that their viewpoint on something is the -only- view point and only reality.  I struggle with communicating with people that have that mindset a lot, and it feels a lot like trying to squeeze blood out of a stone, especially when trying to help them in expanding their view to find a different perspective that might help them in some way.

I still try though, because I want to see their perspective… but I want to help them see more than that perspective as well in order to help them find a path out of the situations that have caused them to end up feeling stuck or stagnant.

DECK USED:  BONESTONE & EARTHFLESH TAROT

LionHart’s Elements Tarot Challenge Prompt
Question: How can I attune to my internal elements to manifest my best in 2021?
(I had to rephrase this question so that it better suited my needs.)

Wayward Dark Tarot

 Reading Summary: Part of making sure that I am attuned to my internal elements is in finding a balance between the self care and nurturing that I need in my life (pomegranates) and the strength and responsibility that I carry on my shoulders (stag beetle).  To do this, I need to learn how to create some organization and control within my inner narrative so that the negativity does not overwhelm (Princess of Air).

(Note: The first two cards are actually the Three of Cups and Four of Pentacles, but when they landed on the table in this reading, what I saw here were the Empress and the Emperor.  I have not been able to divorce my mind in this reading from feeling that the Empress and Emperor are within these cards and they were read intuitively as such.)

Take Away:  One of the things that sends me out of whack the fastest is when my pessimism and negative inner talk starts to take a front seat.  It screws with my head and tumbles me into overwhelm, and both my responsibilities and my personal self care suffer as a result.   If I want to attune myself to manifest the best 2021 that I can, I need to make sure I keep things in that department in hand, because I need to both ensure I am getting the self care I need, and also not dropping the ball on my responsibilities.

DECK USED:  WAYWARD DARK TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicJan2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: What is something that you miss that you can bring back into your life?

The Deck of the Celestials TarotKing of Cups atop Two of Cups: More quality time with Gideon. More harmony and time together, working together and “feeding” off each other to create a positive and happy synergy.  This is something that the holiday rush took away, and that I didn’t get much of even during my time off after the holiday rush.  It’s something I’ve missed and, as the cards here indicate, is definitely able to be brought back into my life now.

Nine of Pentacles: More gratitude practice. Another thing that had to be set aside for a time during my holiday rush was the morning devotional that I usually do each morning prior to my meditation.  This devotional creates a daily regular opportunity for me to consciously focus upon the things in my life that I am grateful for, and express that gratitude openly.  I have not yet picked back up my daily devotional since the end of the holiday rush, but this gratitude practice is something that would benefit me and is definitely something that it’s time to reestablish now that the mess of the holiday rush is over.

Three of Wands atop The Magician: More confidence and surety in the direction I’ve chosen to go in. I’ve taken a lot of steps over the past year to learn new ways of looking at and handling the balance between my personal needs and my responsibilities, new ways of acknowledging and dealing with my emotions, and new perspectives on how to make space for personal growth.  All this newness creates a sense of unsure footing that can make avoiding backsliding into old habits difficult to avoid. The confidence and sure footed progress I want may be more of an illusion than reality… but the progress itself? It is something that it’s time to bring back into my life now that I am out of the rush and able to focus on my growth once more.

DECK USED:  THE DECK OF CELESTIALS TAROT

Creative Control

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Today’s meditation was sort of circumvented into a nap.  Okay, so there’s no “sort of” about it.  I settled in to meditate and promptly drifted off to sleep instead.  And I slept longer than I’d have liked (big surprise right?) so I haven’t tried to settle in for meditation since, because I wanted to get online and spend some together time.

Bonestone & Earthflesh Tarot - The DevilToday’s draw is The Devil card, which is traditionally a representation of temptations, addictions, and other types of unhealthy attachments that one inflicts upon oneself.

I like this depiction of The Devil with the Medusa hair.  Because, when I think of Medusa?  I think of how strong the temptation would be to look at her, even knowing the consequences… perhaps that temptation would be even stronger because of the consequences involved, because it makes it that much more forbidden.

The Devil stands on all of those that have come before and been unable to resist the temptation of taking a look… just a quick glance.  But in the Clash of the Titans mythos, Perseus finds a way to look at Medusa without suffering the consequences of the curse.

And there is the lesson in temptations, obsessions, and addictions.  Control and creativity.  You don’t have to give up the things that you love, but you do need to find a way to keep them under control and in a place of moderation.  Sometimes, this requires a bit of creative thinking to accomplish, but it’s possible.  Instead of creating a mindset of scarcity and deprivation by trying to “cut out” the things you enjoy that you get carried away with, find a way to moderate them and keep things in control and perspective.

DECK USED:  BONESTONE & EARTHFLESH TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicJan2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: What in your life needs started now for it to be ready when you need it?

Zolar's New Astrological Tarot c.1973Reading Summary: Move away (Eight of Cups) from the urges towards impulsivity (Knight of Swords Rx), so that you can be in an advantageous position (Knight of Wands) when plans start to go sideways (Three of Wands).

Take Away: This isn’t so much about the planning itself going sideways as it is about how sometimes the best laid plans still go awry.  When that happens, if I prepare now I can have a “cushion” in place to deal with it and work through the issue more easily.

In order to prepare, though, I need to get a handle on my more impulsive tendencies and set them aside before they get out of hand and become harmful to me in the present as well as my future.

DECK USED:  ZOLAR’S NEW ASTROLOGICAL TAROT c.1973

Battening Down the Hatches

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IMG_8568Today’s meditation was just over thirteen minutes long and was a guided meditation with interval timer for my piriformis stretching. 

The topic of today’s meditation was about gratitude and love, and how getting in touch with those emotions can create a sense of peace and calm when one is stuck in moments of chaotic thought or dealing with sensory overwhelm.

This is an interesting approach, as usually when I am feeling chaotic and overwhelmed, I pause to take a deep breath, or even a moment’s calm meditation… but I’ve never thought of really bringing in gratitude into the practice.  This is definitely something I’m going to need to try the next time I need to calm down from chaotic moments.

Bonestone & Earthflesh Tarot - Nine of WandsToday’s draw is the Nine of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of “standing guard” over what is important to you, setting strong boundaries, and having the courage and resilience to stand strong when one is being tested.

I think that I’m going to need to read the book for this deck in order to help me reconcile some of the artwork in the deck with the specific tarot cards that the imagery is placed on. I struggled a bit with the Ace of Cups… and this one, as well. I think that it will help to at least skim through the book in order to get a better feel of where the artist is going in connecting artwork to the cards.

What stands out to me the strongest in this card today, though, does actually fit with the traditional meaning of the Nine of Wands.  It is in the expression on the features of the figure among the leaves.  It’s an expression of determination that says “I will not stand down, and I will not falter”.

I guess that it is because he is “of the green” that I’m thrown off by the imagery here in contrast to the traditional meaning.  Which is fine, and usually doesn’t bother me but for some reason, in this deck, I feel the need for them to connect and make sense.

The message in today’s card is to remember what you’re “fighting for”.  What is it that’s important to you?  Are you taking the precautions and steps necessary to keep those things and people safe?  It’s time to examine what you’re doing in this area and ensure everything is where it needs to be.  (It’s also a reminder to renew my Nest subscription.)

DECK USED:  BONESTONE & EARTHFLESH TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicJan2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: What do you feel you deserve?

5 Cent Tarot 2nd EditionReading Summary: *Wincing as the cards go all ugly as they echo the negative inner narrative in his head.*

The more “in charge” I strive to be (The Emperor), the more anxiety and worry (Nine of Needles) I deserve to have clouding my judgement (Ace of Needles Rx) and creating confusion which keeps me frozen in indecision (Two of Needles Rx).

Take Away: Failure. Specifically, failure bred through my own ineptitude. 

I knew that in doing this reading there was a risk my negative inner voice would be given a loud speaker, but… damn.  I wasn’t really expecting it to be quite so ugly. Not that I’m not aware how ugly it can be but, I feel… exposed.

DECK USED:  5 CENT TAROT 2ND EDITION

Tending Wounds

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IMG_8514Today’s meditation was a little different than the norm of late.  Instead of doing a guided meditation or using a timer, I settled in with my earbuds and my favorite meditation music playing, and focused on a little poem/quote that I saw on Casper the Boy Diviner‘s Instagram this morning. He wrote it, and it really spoke to me.

Sometimes I forget that not everything is about self improvement and moving forward.  It’s important to remember what we’re doing now… right here in the now.   And that’s what this little poem said to me today. I think that much of the time, I spend far too much time trying to strive for more and better instead of enjoying what and who I am in this moment.

Bonestone & Earthflesh Tarot - Ace of CupsToday’s draw is the Ace of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of the seed of new beginnings in the area of one’s emotions, relationships, creativity, and intuition.  This can arise in the form of new relationships, new emotions or feelings, or new creative ideas among other things.

What stands out to me in this imagery is that the blood moon is bleeding. Honestly, I wouldn’t normally associate this card with the Ace of Cups, because… it’s red.  I’m not entirely sure why I feel that way about the color red, but it just… I dunno.

Anyway, what I see here is a moon bleeding.  Blood on the moon bleeding into a dark ocean.  And to me this speaks more of endings than it does to beginnings.  Perhaps I would feel differently about this imagery if I read the guidebook for this deck, but I’ve yet to dive into the book.

The good thing about endings is that beginnings come afterward.  But first you must lance the wounds of the battle that has passed and wash away the cuts and bruises.  Here, this is what I see.  I see a representation of that time at the end of a journey when you finally get to take a shower, tend your wounds, lance the infection out of the wounds that became infected, and then move forward after.   Here in this image, I see that lancing taking place… the preparation that must come before the beginning can… begin.

This card’s appearance today is a reminder to take time off to breathe and recover, to make sure that your wounds (especially those inner emotional ones) are being tended to properly and are healing.

DECK USED:  BONESTONE & EARTHFLESH TAROT

LionHart’s Elements Tarot Challenge Prompt
Topic: Something I am asked to work on during January.

Neon Tarot

 Reading Summary: More self-restraint (Knight of Wands Rx) on the things that I am obsessed about (The Devil) will in the end make me happier (Ten of Cups) rather than feeling so uncertain (The Moon).

Take Away:  Uncertainty is bred by allowing my addictions and obsessions to run wild.  This isn’t just about things that cost money like brand name cookies and decks, but also addictions like working too hard, pushing myself too far, etc.  This month I’m asked to work on “slowing my roll” a bit, and a bit of a breather so that I can find balance and help my self find a comfy happy space.   This is not one of my strong suits, but I am doing my best… and will continue to try.

DECK USED:  NEON TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicJan2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: How have you grown over the past year?

Bridgett's Mosaic Dream TarotReading Summary:  Don’t worry so much (Temperance) about what other people think (Six of Wands)  and just go for it (Eight of Wands).

Side note… I’m almost burnt out on the new years themes now.

Take Away: These cards are about being myself and allowing others to see the true me rather than the diluted and carefully restrained impression of me that I usually show.

I’ve always been very, very aware of my issues concerning social norms and ability to socialize “normally” with others. It has never been one of my strong suits.

Over the past year, as I’ve spent less time trying to please others and more time just trying to express myself clearly and do what I enjoy (as well as take care of myself) I’ve found that I’m far less hesitant to step in and offer my two cents or show parts of myself, my interests, and my personality that I would have otherwise kept hidden away from the world.

DECK USED:  BRIDGETT’S MOSAIC DREAM TAROT

Dawn’s Light

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IMG_8485Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and was another of the guided meditations from the Calm app with added interval timer for my piriformis stretching.

The topic of today’s guided meditation was about encouraging one’s imagination instead of squashing it under the weight of realism and responsibility.  Sometimes even unrealistic dreams come true, and it’s important not to crush the hope that lives within your heart by quashing your dreams before they have a chance to grow into fruition.

Bonestone & Earthflesh Tarot - Ace of CupsToday’s draw is the Ace of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of the seeds of new beginnings in the area of one’s emotions, relationships, creativity, and intuition.

What really stands out to me in this card today is the glow.  I know that it looks like it’s coming out of the cup, but it’s really coming from behind the cup, as evidenced by the fact that the interior of the cup is dark.

The message here is about the shadows cast by the dawn.  Sometimes when we’re in the dark, which is often the case when we’re experiencing something new and different, we long for the dawn and the light that will make everything more familiar again.  But there are always going to be shadows on any experience, because there is no positive without negative and no light without darkness.

The message here in today’s card is to not allow the dark moments to taint the dawn light.  Bask in the glow and take a breath, and leave the darkness alone for another time.  Spend  some time focusing on the good and enjoying the now.  It’s okay to let go of the shadows for a bit.  They’ll still be there for you later on.

DECK USED:  BONESTONE & EARTHFLESH TAROT

LionHart’s Elements Tarot Challenge Prompt
Question: What can I do to start my 2021 positively?

Tarot of the Divine

 Reading Summary: You need to start off on your journey with a plan (Two of Wands) to begin as you intend to continue (Justice).

The Five of Wands in this reading isn’t about the question at all, but rather it is an objection to me trying to get out a third card when the deck didn’t want to give me one. Sort of a “fuck you” to my insistence on having a third card.

Take Away: The cards here are a reminder not to procrastinate on the way I want to do things.  If I want to focus on self care this year, I need to start off this year focusing on self care.   If I want to focus on balance this year, I need to start off focusing on balance.  If my focus for this year is to be furthering my emotional intelligence and fostering my emotional growth, then I need to begin as I want things to continue.

To start my 2021 on a positive note, I need to begin as I wish things to continue. In this manner, I can pick up and maintain momentum on my intentions from the start instead of wasting time on procrastination and avoidance.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE DIVINE

#DiscordTarotolicJan2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: What could you use less of in your life?

Guardian of the Night TarotFive of Pentacles atop Four of Cups – Procrastination being egged on by issues with scarcity. It isn’t so much that scarcity creates the breeding ground for procrastination to grow and thrive so much as… fear does.  And scarcity issues are fertile ground for fear to grow within.  And once fear has taken root and starts to take over like an invasive species of weed allowed to get out of control, it binds you up and drags you down until progress to getting things done and moving on to better horizons becomes no more than a crawl at best.

Ace of Wands – Clutter and feeling crowded (imagery in the card) due to having so many potential projects going on at once. New projects put off until there’s a bit more time build up over time, and that includes the ones that you’ve bought the supplies for and maybe even started before needing to set aside for one reason or another.  All that clutter is feeling mighty crowded these days and now is a good time to begin looking at ways to re-organize and clean out what isn’t working for you anymore.

Three of Wands – The drive that pushes you forward with such stringent enthusiasm, even when it’s not entirely healthy to push at that time. This also ties into the Ace of Wands and all those projects partially done or not yet started.  Leave behind the urge to keep piling more and more on your plate.  It doesn’t create progress or get you anywhere, it just slows you down.

DECK USED:  GUARDIAN OF THE NIGHT TAROT