Morning Bonus Read – Transitions

The prompt for this reading came from one of my Discord servers and is as follows:
This weekend was the halfway point between solstice and equinox. Depending on your hemisphere, it marks the start of the planting season or the start of the harvest season. Let’s use divination to enter this transition time mindfully.

Jeu Japonais Playing Cards1. What lessons has the current season been teaching me?

King of Diamonds and Seven of Hearts – With taking up more responsibility to care for yourself as well as others, there comes a wide array of options and decisions you’re not always prepared to make on the fly.

Two of Spades and Ten of Spades – Taking time to think things through and make the best decision possible with all the information you can gather can help you avoid unpleasant endings.

2. What steps should I take to close out this season well?

Queen of Hearts – Allow yourself to be kind with yourself for just a while longer. Soon enough you’ll have to raise shields and buckle down. Wear your heart on your sleeve a while longer, both for yourself and for others.

3. What lessons await me?

Six of Spades atop Three of Spades – Sometimes shit just doesn’t go your way no matter how hard you try. You need to learn when to cut and run.

4. What steps should I take in the transition period to prepare myself for the lessons to come?

Nine of Diamonds – Time to get back on the gratitude train. Whether that’s the morning devotional done each day, or just taking time each day to really sink into thoughts on what you are grateful for.

DECK USED:  JEU JAPONAIS PLAYING CARDS

Morning Bonus Read – Self Growth

Cat-Rot Tarot - Self Growth Tarot Spread

Your Past SelfNine of Pentacles – Once upon a time?  I thought that I had all my ducks in a row and everything in hand.  Back when I was closing myself off to my emotions and working myself into the ground, I really thought I was in a good place.

Your Current SelfSeven of Pentacles – But I soon came to realize that there’s a lot more growth to come and it’s going to take a long ass time to work through. I began to realize that there was a lot more to life than work. I began to realize that I needed to slow down.

Your Higher SelfThree of Swords – I am my best and highest self when I’m able to look beyond my pain and negativity to see the growth and lessons these experiences are offering me. In the moment, this can be difficult, but I know that those lessons are there and I only need to find them and understand them.  It does not take the pain away, but it gives the pain worth.

What Blocks Your PotentialThe Devil – Ego. Over confidence. And allowing myself to indulge too deeply in what would otherwise be harmless pursuits. I have an addictive personality, and even though I’m aware of it?  Sometimes it still manages to get its hooks in and take me for a ride I’m not ready for, causing blockages and detours, backsliding and often… recovery as well.

Family PatternsSix of Pentacles – Being too generous and forgiving with my family.  My father’s abuse.  My mother’s narcissism. Their hurtful behavior is something that has left some serious scars, and yet I can’t manage to hold it against them.  At least not to the extent that would seem reasonable and healthy.

Personal IssuesFour of Pentacles – Overly focused on security and stability.  This is a need that grew from homelessness and severe scarcity. It comes from taking showers in the school locker rooms and sleeping under abandoned cars.  It comes from the instability of couch surfing, and an apartment furnished with car tires, milk crates, and cardboard boxes. It’s my past… and yet something I still struggle with.

ConscienceTen of Wands – Feeling guilty about slowing down and taking things slower, not doing as much, and not progressing as fast as I’m used to doing. That hard, nose-to-the-grindstone pace that I’ve been pushing myself on for so long has taken its toll and I know it’s time to slow down, but somehow?  There are a lot of times when I feel so fucking guilty about that.  About not doing more and pushing harder.

DesireTemperance – Less pushing and more time off. More time to connect with my spirituality and path. More time to connect with the world around me.  I have gotten a taste of the slower path and worked through some of my guilt concerning it, and I’ve come to a point where I actually crave more.  This from the man who, just a couple of years ago couldn’t take a couple hours off without going stir-crazy.

LessonWheel of Fortune – Ups and downs happen. It’s part of life. Adapt, and keep moving.

AdvicePage of Swords – Slow down more. Now is the time to indulge in this behavior. Soon enough the holiday rush will start and you will have so much work on your  hands that you’ll be struggling just to keep up.  While things are slow, it’s okay to take time for yourself.  This is a new path, and there’s going to be struggles, but you’re aware of what’s come before and what needs to change.

DECK USED:  CAT-ROT TAROT

Morning Bonus Read – Monthly Key Spread

The Prince Lenormand - Monthly Key Spread

Key to Your Heart: What will Guide you to make decisions that are aligned with your heart and your truths this month?

Ship – You know that whole proverb that says “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket“?   Yeah… that.  A lot of times, the Ship card is about travel and business, but in this case? It’s about making sure that you’re not screwing yourself (and your business) over by focusing too much in one area.  Even if you’re not diversifying now?  Make sure you have an escape plan for if you need to. In order to adapt and come out on top, this is important.

Anchor: What will ground you in the face of anxiety, stress, overwhelm, and existential dread in general?

Letter – Write.  Write down your thoughts and your feelings, write down your anxieties and worries.  Share them with Gideon.  Fill your blog with them.  Have a big idea that you can’t explore right now? Write those down too.  List making is a good thing this month, expressing yourself through the written word is very much in your forte.  Use these skills to help ground yourself and find balance when things feel out of control.

Star Wand: What accelerates your magic, creativity, and manifestation powers?

Sun – Optimism and positivity. Sometimes I feel corny when I get this response from the cards. But the thing is? It really does work. Does it entirely take away the depression? No. It doesn’t. But it makes the time spent in them not as severe, and it makes the visits into a depression not as long. It provides more energy, and just… makes the days better. What is “it” that I’m talking about? Optimism and positivity. Making the -effort- to try and see the good side of things, including the Card of the Day activity that I do where I ask each day for the cards to provide me with a positive message to carry with me throughout the day and foster perspective. It helps, no matter how corny my inner pessimist says it sounds.

Blessings from the Stars: The Universe has got your back – how will you be supported this month?

Man – Gideon will be a huge influence in your life this month, in supporting you and helping you in working through what comes up. Don’t forget that he’s there for you and don’t shy away from leaning on him when you need to, sharing with him whatever and whenever you want, and trusting him to always have your best interests at heart.

One Trick Up Your Sleeve: A life saving idea or inspiration for any unexpected challenge or difficult moments?

Lily – Take a pause to think things through, and don’t be shy about asking for advice from those with more experience that have time tested wisdom to offer up to you. Crones are called wise women for good reason.

Emergence Pt 1: What is emerging within you / within your reality right now?

Moon – You’re finally starting to come out of the mind fog that you’ve been struggling with through this season. As you do, your curiosity and creativity are beginning to thrive once more, and you’re starting to experience more enjoyment in your artistic endeavors.

Emergence Pt 2: What are you expanding towards?

Tree – Evolution from past to present. Growth that comes from finding connections to the past that will help you flourish rather than wither your roots. It is time to transform those issues that still drive your inner destructive tendencies, and turn them around into something healthy.

DECK USED:  PRINCE LENORMAND ORACLE

Morning Bonus Read – Procrastination

The prompt for this reading came from one of my Discord servers and is as follows:

Bosch Puzzle Playing CardsWhat have you been putting off/procrastinating?

Jack of Clubs and Three of Diamonds – This was something that the cards have recently brought up.  It has to do with finding enthusiasm and joy in my work instead of looking at it as a chore.

If I want to keep my business running smoothly and moving forward, I need to make sure that I’m connecting with the enthusiasm and joy that running that business can bring.

How is that procrastination impacting you?

Queen of Hearts – It’s allowing me to concentrate on sorting out my emotions.  This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as growth in my emotional development and learning how to identify and deal with my emotions is something I’m currently working on.   But, it’s important that I don’t get so wrapped up in this process that I close my eyes to the needs of my business and keeping it running smoothly.

How is that procrastination impacting others?

Ace of Hearts – When the business isn’t as profitable as it can be, it impacts more than just myself but also those around me.  We all need the business to work and thrive.

What good things lie in your future related to this activity?

Nine of Hearts – This card is a reminder that things will pick back up.  Both through the eventual re-invigoration of my enthusiasm, and also because now is the slow season and it won’t last forever.  I’m allowed to focus on my emotions for now… the money aspect will come later.

DECK USED:  BOSCH PUZZLE PLAYING CARDS

Morning Bonus Read – Leo Season

Leo Season Tarot Reading - Napo Tarot

What is a major theme of Leo Season for me?

The Star – Hope and positivity. Reconnection with your spiritual self and your spiritual practices. It’s time to focus on these things and not worry  so much about what’s coming in the fall.  Enjoy the time you have left this summer and use Leo season to get back in touch with practices that you’ve let slide to the way side (such as your meditation practice and daily devotional).

How will this theme impact me?

Temperance – It will help you in your relationship with moderation, as well as your connection to what lies beyond yourself and your personal sphere.  You can’t expect to sustain that connection without doing the work involved that supports it.  By doing the work, you will reestablish the frayed edges of the connection you’ve been letting deteriorate recently.

How can I play with the world around me?

The Devil – Have some fun, dabble in a bit of mischief, and play devils advocate now and then. Tip people on their ear and make them think about what they’re doing and why they’re doing it.

How can I better express myself?

Ten of Disks Rx – Make sure you’re expressing to others what doesn’t make you happy and what needs to change. You can’t be sunshine and roses all the time.  Sometimes you have to point out the flaws and make sure that shit gets fixed up. Better to air out the dirty laundry than let it molder through inattention.

How can I harmonize my relationship with my ego?

Queen of Disks – Remember to be supportive and nurturing with others. Just like everyone else in the world, you sometimes end up a little too focused on yourself and your won shit and perspectives.  It’s not all about you.

DECK USED:  NAPO TAROT

Morning Bonus Read – Invader Zim

Bagiue Lenormand

1. What to conquer

Mountain – Obstacles in your path.

2. What to question

Anchor – Where are you getting your stability from?

3. What to feed my soul

Cross – Your faith and belief system.

4. What to rage against

Clouds – Self doubt.

Side Note: This reading totally came off as a cheerleader chant. It’s almost hilariously succinct. I have never seen this cartoon/show so I have no idea how they talk or what the tone is concerning Invader Zim or the other characters in the show, but I sort of wonder if the cards are channeling their “tone” in the answers.

DECK USED:  BAGIUE LENORMAND