Self Care Saturday (On a Sunday)

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?

Botanical Grace Tarot, White Rabbit Oracle I & II, Divine Heart In Flight Oracle

EarthKing of Earth and Desire – Owning what brings you pleasure and stirs your sense of desire is the theme of the day to day for you this week. This isn’t about buying or spending, but rather ownership without shame or self recriminations or worry over what others may think.  What you like is what you like, and that’s that.  Stand tall with pride and allow your authentic self, as well as what makes you tick, to be seen.

AirQueen of Water atop Four of Air, Direction – Make sure that you are spending down time getting in touch with your emotions and finding ways to bring them forward to others in a way that creates connection and worth instead of imbalance and discord. This may require a pause before speaking up in order to move things in the right direction.

WaterThe Lovers atop Temperance, Wonder – It’s okay to wander around with rose colored glasses on sometimes, as long as it’s done with a bit of moderation and caution. Seeing things from this perspective can create a sense of balance on an emotional level that’s currently missing in your life.  Give it a try.

FireEight of Earth atop Seven of Fire, Playfulness atop Adventure – When it comes to what you know is right, you’ll fight to the ends of the earth to stand your ground against those that might try to sway you off your path.  You’ve had a lifetime of practice with this from a young age and are very adept in the ability to stand by your own principles and ideals.  Just remember it doesn’t always have to be so serious. It’s okay to approach such confrontations with humor and a sense of fun and adventure, instead of with outright aggression or dispassionate disregard.

WaningSerene Soul Connection – Okay so maybe things might not go as smoothly this week on the romantic side of the coin as they have just recently.  Just remember that even when that connection isn’t at its most relaxed and serene?  It’s still there and holding strong.

WaxingTear Down Your Walls – Want to restore that serenity?  Suss out those hidden walls that you’re ignoring and pretending don’t exist and give them a hard poke or two.  And make sure that you avoid building on those preexisting walls or building new ones.

Take Away – Tapping into the heart of your wants, desires, ideals, and values is going to be a core part of this week’s theme and you need to make sure that you are being honest with yourself as well as others.   That doesn’t mean just dropping word bombs everywhere and sweeping the debris up later.  Pause and think, and take a moment to consider if this is really a time for aggression, before you speak and things will go a lot smoother all the way around.

DECKS USED:  BOTANICAL GRACE TAROT, WHITE RABBIT ORACLE I & II, DIVINE HEART IN FLIGHT ORACLE

Bending In The Wind

Today’s meditation was skipped again.  This time it wasn’t interruptions, though.  It was sleep.  I got home from the farm and took a shower, then sat my ass down on the bed for a minute to look at the messages on my phone and… fell asleep.  It was a good nap tho!

Botanical Grace Tarot and Thera-Pets Emotional Support Animal CardsToday’s draw is the Ten of Fire (Wands) which is traditionally a representation of allowing your enthusiasm for something to overburden you to the point of overwhelm and potential burnout.

I’m actually a bit confused by this card due to the illustration.  The herb that is (according to the guide) supposed to be represented by this card is Zanthoxylum americanum (Prickly Ash Bark), but the illustration on this card looks like Jasminum flowers.

What I find today is that the today resides not so much in what card popped out (Ten of Fire) but rather the confusion that surrounds the card’s illustration.

Combined with the message on the Thera-pets card for today, what we see here is a message about acceptance and adaptability.   Don’t allow the unexpected to knock you off track or make you doubt yourself.  Stay open to new experiences and new perspectives.  Bend like a tree in the wind and you will weather the changes far easier than if you hold yourself rigid in the storm.

DECK USED:  BOTANICAL GRACE TAROT AND THERA-PETS EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL CARDS

The #httSelfImprovementTarotChallenge Prompt
Question
: What needs to be released to unburden my soul?

Lunaria Tarot

Reading Summary: Trying to pretend you can ignore (Five of Inkwells) new ideas and inspiration (Ace of Pens) is creating a situation where you end up judging yourself harshly (Judgement) and allowing anxiety to thrive (Nine of Pens).

Take Away:  Essentially?  The cards here are telling me to pull my head out of my ass and start writing down my ideas again as they come up.  Allow them to pour out onto paper and keep a log of them.  As a result I will feel like they have been preserved and not be so down on myself for not pursuing them right away, or forgetting them and then feeling anxious about what I’ve lost with my forgetfulness.

DECK USED:  LUNARIA TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsApr2021 Challenge Prompt
Trolley Problem
: Do you divert the course of nature let one person die to save five strangers, or let nature take its course and let five people die?

Botanical Grace Tarot Reading Summary: Instinctive reaction (in the fire colors within the first two cards).  I would instantly go for (Two of Fire Rx) the thing I feel passion for (Knight of Fire). And then spend the rest of my life judging myself (Judgement) and retreating to beat myself up inside (The Hermit Rx atop Eight of Water).

Take Away: That sounds about right. Honestly?  I’m a selfish fuck and… I would probably kill the five to save the one that matters to me.

In that moment of panic? I can absolutely see myself making that choice, no matter how wrong it might feel later on down the road (or how wrong it might feel if I’d taken time to think). No time to think? I’d just do it… then spent the rest of my life beating myself up about it.

DECK USED:  BOTANICAL GRACE TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I forced myself not to work today, even though I was very, very tempted to do some work.  I want to try and give myself the most rest and recuperation that I can.   Going back to work will happen soon enough.

Weekly Creativity Prompt – The Fool

Prompt: “Pull the card from your deck that matches [The Fool from Tarot of the Hidden Realm]. Compare the imagery between the card provided and the card from your own deck(s). How would you read them differently and why?

The Fool - Tarot of the Hidden RealmTarot of the Hidden Realm – The Fool in the Tarot of the Hidden Realm is filled with joy and light that casts a bright golden glow over everything.  The Fae here speaks with a butterfly and the mind can easily imagine him dancing off into the green to follow the butterfly’s flight with laughter on his lips.  The image is filled with carefree joy and a sort of gentle lightheartedness fostered by the flower he holds.  The message here is “Ignorance is Bliss” and the joy that comes from being able to let yourself be consumed by heart filled and innocent pleasures.

The Fool - DNAXCAT Tarot, Kitchen Tarot, Botanical Grace Tarot

DNAXCAT Tarot – Vibrant splashes of color make this card loud in the funnest sense of the word, like a child taken to the playground and set free to have their fun races from the car to their friends and playground games with eager abandon.  Here in this card’s imagery, especially in the colors used, it is all about joyful abandon.  Here we see the classic cliff represented which also gives a word of caution in the card’s meaning, as it is easy to get so carried away with that joyful abandon that we forget to look out for the dangers that may surround us.

Kitchen Tarot – The Colander was a bit of a confusing one as the fool when you first come upon it until you see the words around the colander’s rim. “The colander lets everything wash over it, and remains the same. This is the innocent one, who helps us all to purify.”  Sometimes it is the innocent that remains stubbornly filled with faith that can refresh us all when we encounter them.  We see the potential of a world through their eyes, and with that potential realized, we are cleansed of negativity and given a brighter perspective.

Botanical Grace Tarot – Here we have an illustration of Codonopsis pilosula (Dang Shen), which is often used to treat ailments associated with weakness, fatigue, poor appetite, and anemia.  In this way, this herb connects to the energy of the Fool through embodiment.  it is the light shining forward to uplift and revitalize, and the colorful splash of hues in the background help reinforce the presence of this clean and vibrant energy.

DECK USED: DNAXCAT TAROT, KITCHEN TAROT, BOTANICAL GRACE TAROT, TAROT OF THE HIDDEN REALMS