#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge

Piece by Piece

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

mountainToday’s meditation was just under eleven minutes long.  The topic of today’s meditation was a grounding exercise, although they didn’t call it as much.

It started out with imagining a mountain, then adding in details like the snow top and jagged rocks, trees near the base, etc.   And then guided the listener to take that mountain within the self and feel the solid strength of it there inside.

That’s grounding.   What really stuck with me strongest, though, was the quote that was included with the meditation, which I have put into a graphic and can be seen to the right.  It’s about the constancy of a mountain’s presence, and is the epitome of what grounding meditations are about, finding that calmness and solid footing that allows the whirlwinds of the world to swirl around you while you remain calm and still at the center of it all.

Hush Tarot - Seven of CupsToday’s draw is the Seven of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of being confronted with a plethora of choices.  Sometimes this variety of many options can feel like boundless opportunities, and other times it feels chaotic and overwhelming.  The Seven of Cups encompasses both aspects of this experience.

What strikes me about the imagery of this card today is the chaos.  There’s so much going on in this card, and so little to focus on.  Or rather, there’s so much to focus on that is equally weighted that nothing specific stands out as a focal point.

What I see as the message in today’s card is not to allow the myriad of options open to you to overwhelm you and make a mess out of things.  Sometimes to make a decision? You have to  untangle the mess and examine each element separately, because when they are all together there’s no making heads or tails of any of it which means you sit there spinning your wheels in indecision.

DECK USED:  HUSH TAROT

#Zentember #LovelyHealing Challenge Prompt
Question: How to increase harmony around me?

Samiramay Tarot

Reading Summary: Be generous (Six of Coins) with your wisdom (The Hierophant), and both judicious and articulate in the sharing of it (Queen of Swords).

Take Away:  Too often I feel like a pain in the ass when when I share my knowledge with others, or like a know it all.  I try very hard not to come across in such a way, but it is a worry and a vulnerability that I can’t seem to shake.  The advice in these cards is that is not at all the case and as long as I continue to share my knowledge in a way that is open and helpful and judiciously chosen, it will continue to not be the case. 

DECK USED:  SAMIRAMAY TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsSep2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: What personal growth should I be directing my energy toward at this time?

The Painted TarotReading Summary:  Personal changes (Death Rx) and how I view and think about security and stability (Four of Pentacles). You don’t have to split yourself apart to make it happen (Page of Swords).

Take Away: This is about the crap Gideon and I have been talking about over the past few days. It’s about the changes that have been coming up with autumn now upon me and the holiday rush quickly approaching. The cards here are telling me that I need to focus on finding that balance between the security and centered self that I’ve found through my growth over the year, and the change that’s coming.

The solid blue of the Four of Pentacles splinters into the Page of Swords indicating that by focusing on that stable center, I can save myself from having to pick up the pieces and re-learn everything again later.

DECK USED:  THE PAINTED TAROT

Lionharts #AstroTarotChallenge
Question: What in my life has the potential to be most supportive of my best self when choosing a direction in my soul’s journey?

English Magic Tarot

Reading Summary: You’re fortunate enough to be given all of the tools you need (The Magician) in order to make the good choices (Justice) that will carry you forward instead of holding you back (The Chariot).

Take Away:  This is about self empowerment.  The cards are saying that I am a strong, capable, knowledgeable, and talented individual with all of the tools I need to get where I need to go as long as I use those qualities wisely and well. It’s about depending on yourself, listening to your inner compass and strengths.   Depending on others and having those that support you is all well and good, but self empowerment and trusting your own strengths is even more so.

So often my cards remind me that there are others in my life to help me and support me when needed.  Here is the reminder that above all else, self reliance is of key importance.

DECK USED:  ENGLISH MAGIC TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: How do I choose hope over fear?

Telluric Tarot

Reading Summary: Lean on Gideon (King of Cups)… And take what you have been so passionately exploring over the past few months (Ace of Wands) and choose to carry those lessons forward and incorporate them into your life moving forward (The Lovers atop The Hierophant).

Usually when I read with this deck, I take time to break down all of the nuances in each of the stones and herbs used in the cards. They always completely reinforce the reading, but I’m just not feeling inspired to do that this time. Because of that, I almost skipped including this reading today… but since I did actually translate the cards, even if not fully breaking them down, I figured I’d include it anyway.

Take Away:  This is also about what we’ve been talking about lately.  It’s about carrying those lessons I’ve learned this year forward with me instead of putting them on a shelf and waiting until the holiday rush is over to take them back down.  I admit to feeling a little trepidation about this, but I’m willing to give it a try and see how it goes.

DECK USED:  TELLURIC TAROT

Reaping and Direction

/ Twist the Leaf / 2 Comments

IMG_6550Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and was a guided meditation with interval timer again.  My stretches today were a bit stiff, which I suppose shouldn’t be a surprise since I missed my medication yesterday, which means the pirifomis stretches didn’t get done.

The topic of today’s guided meditation was about how meditation does not necessarily mean sitting in complete physical stillness.  It is about being still on the inside.  It’s about finding a quiet inner peace for those ten or fifteen or thirty minutes of our meditation practice, so that when we need it elsewhere in our day we have experience with it so that we can reach inside and find it again more easily.

Botan Tarot - Nine of CoinsToday’s draw is the Nine of Coins, which is traditionally a representation of fulfillment on an independent level in the area of one’s finances, resources, home, health, and manifestations.

What really stands out to me in the imagery of today’s card are a couple of different elements.  First, the scythe and beside it? The compass that hangs there as one of the coins on the right hand side.

These elements speak to me of the reaping that is a part of how one reaches the level of satisfaction and fulfillment that this card is about, and about the security of knowing that you have a direction that you’re moving in, and that you’re comfortable with.

Both of these elements are very important (at least to me) in finding a level of true fulfillment concerning my home life, work life, and my accomplishments. The scythe represents work and is about the feeling of accomplishment that comes with a job well done.  It’s the difference between having something of value handed to you… or actually earning it with sweat and tears.   It holds so much more value in the end when you earn it.

The message in today’s cards is to take stock of those things you’ve earned, and value them as well as the direction that they have lent to your path that allows you to feel the security of solid ground under your feet with each new step you take along the way.

DECK USED:  BOTAN TAROT

#Zentember #LovelyHealing Challenge Prompt
Question: Where is my heart heavy?

Dragon Age Inquisition Tarot

Reading Summary: Dependable hardworking sensibilities (Queen of Coins) directed towards my new focus and goals (Ace of Staves). It’s coming up fast (The Chariot) and I have to bite the bullet and bear down on a direction (Two of Swords).

Take Away:  I don’t feel ready to set aside the growth and inner work that has been my focus so far throughout this year in order to move into the holiday preparations and holiday rush that’s coming. The thing is, though, that I have no choice in the matter if I want the holiday rush to go smoothly and turn out well.  I need to do the responsible thing and be prepared, whether I really want to change gears or not. 

DECK USED:  DRAGON AGE INQUISITION TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsSep2020 Challenge Prompt
Topic: Your Personal Pain / A Healing Action To Take / Possible Positive Outcome

Wiener Secession TarotYour Personal Pain – The Fool and Eight/Three of Spades -Weighing responsibility over the joy of playing the fool. This was touched upon in my reading for the Zentember challenge today as well. It has to do with feeling an inner reluctance to move away from the growth and exploration I’ve been doing over the year so far, and moving into the hard and fast responsibilities involved in preparing for the holiday rush and then riding it out when it arrives. I’m trying to not allow myself to think that having been kind to myself and going easy on myself over the spring and summer hasn’t made me lazy… but honestly?  It kinda feels like it has. And those thoughts bring with it a strong sense of disappointment in myself.

A Healing Action To Take – Queen of Spades – Instead of burying these worries or hiding from them, I need to actually listen to them with understanding and offer myself solutions that can incorporate both the responsibilities of my work along with the needs of that softer inner self. At first thought, there doesn’t feel like a lot of options here, but I think that might be my pessimism rearing it’s ugly head. 

Possible Positive Outcome – King of Spades – If I can find a way to both find as well as sustain a balance between the work I need to do and giving myself that freedom I’ve become used to and now don’t want to lose, there’s a good chance I will be able to develop a stronger interconnection allowing for clearer site that is unclouded by these issues.

Take Away – I’m not seeing the whole picture and because of it I’m feeling a sense of loss that isn’t necessary. I need to find a way to take off the blindfold that is keeping me from seeing possible solutions open to me. Finding and enacting these solutions will bring a stronger foundation to both my work, my emotional growth, and my self care along with a greater clarity on how to juggle these things in a healthy and successful way.

DECK USED:  WIENER SECESSION TAROT

Lionharts #AstroTarotChallenge
Question: Something that I’m stubbornly holding onto that I need to let go of?

Science Tarot

Reading Summary: Fear of the unknown (Wheel of Fortune).  Let go of that fear and see it as an adventure (Knight of Wands), and a whole new world of possibilities will open up to you (The World).

Take Away:  Meh… yeah.  I completely agree with this.  I do struggle with the unknown quite a bit. I feel so certain and strong on my spiritual path and life path, that when elements of the unknown crop up it makes me feel like there’s a big inky black sink hole in the middle of my path.

I know that seeing these moments as an adventure is a terrific way to get through this fear, and that in doing so it opens up a vast world of opportunities and possibilities… but sometimes it’s really hard to take those moments as an adventure, no matter how hard I try.

Side note:  The Schrodinger’s Cat card in this deck is one of my favorite cards in this deck.

DECK USED:  SCIENCE TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: How can I love myself more?

Haindl Tarot

Reading Summary: When you actually do your work (Three of Stones) instead of fucking around, and get it done (The Chariot), you feel a sense of accomplishment (Six of Wands) and inspiration to do more (Ace of Wands).

Take Away:  Oooph.  Okay so today’s readings are all about my work, my business, and about gearing up for the holiday rush. This makes sense, but it’s definitely a noticeable thread through my personal readings today.

Okay, anyway.  The answer to one of the ways that I can love myself more is to actually do my work instead of procrastinating or putting it off.   When I actually do my work, I lay the groundwork for self-esteem and a sense of accomplishment to bolster my self image as well as my mood, which in turn lights my inner spark for new inspirations to take fire.

DECK USED:  HAINDL TAROT

Abstinence is a Strength

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s meditation was… well… it kinda turned into nap time.  I actually took a grand total of two naps today. So although I didn’t really get in a decent meditation, I did manage to get well rested.  It was actually really nice, to be honest. Although, I have to say…  satin pillowcases are way too comfortable and make it so tempting to just nuzzle in and go back to sleep. Dangerous stuff right there.

Hush Tarot - Five of WandsToday’s draw is the Five of Wands is traditionally about trials, tests, and conflict in the area of one’s passions and drive.  The word “passions” in this instance is not about sex, but rather about the interests that light that spark within you and create an inferno of interest that needs to be followed and/or obtained in order to be sated.

I really like the imagery on this card.  I mean at first it just looks like a tangled mess with some spears added in, but when you really sit down and look at it, what you find is three snakes, two of which are in conflict concerning something they are both passionate about, while the third is caught in the crossfire.

That is how conflict goes sometimes, right?  It’s not always clear cut.  Sometimes people get caught in the crossfire and are forced to either choose sides or end up tangled up and embroiled in a mess not of their own making. That third snake in the imagery clearly just wants to get out.  It wants no part of this quarrel, and yet it is stuck in the middle and unable to get free.

The message in today’s card is to take care not to become tangled up in conflicts that you really don’t want to be in.  Sometimes? It’s okay to take a step back and abstain.

DECK USED:  HUSH TAROT

#Zentember #LovelyHealing Challenge Prompt
Question: Where to love more?

WilderWoven Tarot

Reading Summary: It’s OK to take things slow (Tree of Life and Knight of Pentacles both depicting long, slow journeys), just don’t give up (Eight of Cups).

Take Away:  This is about self-love.  It’s about the impatience I feel towards myself when I feel that I am not moving fast enough or progressing quickly enough.  It’s about that “Not Enough” shadow deep inside that is always nitpicking at everything I do and telling me it’s not enough.  The love that is needed is a love of self, and the understanding that it’s okay to take my time and not to let that inner voice cause me to say “fuck it” and walk away.

DECK USED:  WILDERWOVEN TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsSep2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: What do I need to focus on for self-care for this new moon?

Joe Sparrow TarotReading Summary:  Preparation (Page of Wands). Self Care (The Empress). Streamlining (Ace of Swords).  Note: Color combinations between the Page of Wands and Ace of Swords connect these two cards into a singular theme.

Take Away:  As this week is my week off and lands right smack dab upon the new moon, this is the ideal time to give myself a little rest and nurturing recuperation that is suggested in the Empress card, the placement of which in the center of this spread indicates its priority and how its theme should permeate through the rest of the reading.

My self care this new moon needs to be a combination of taking care of my need for rest and nurturing activities, joined with the needed preparations necessary for the holiday rush that is right around the corner.  Part of that preparation requires the streamlining of certain processes, as well as the progress of actually stocking up on supplies for my business and it’s needs.

DECK USED:  JOE SPARROW TAROT

Lionharts #AstroTarotChallenge
Question: What could further support my partnerships?

Brady Tarot

Father of Feathers atop The Empress Rx – Although being kind to yourself and others is all well and good?  It isn’t always the answer and sometimes tough love is needed. Lighting a fire under someone’s ass to get them motivated is sometimes the only way you’ll be able to get them motivated.

Five of Horns atop The Hierophant Rx – Don’t allow times when you’re feeling down to influence how you interact with those that come for your help. This isn’t about having eased up on the teaching schedule to give yourself space for your own personal growth, but rather it’s about your current influences on others.

Five of Feathers atop Death Rx – Being competitive has its place… be sure to keep it there. Being competitive is not really in my nature, but like everyone else… sometimes it sparks up when I’m least expecting it. This is another “choose your battles wisely” message like so many I have received from the cards lately.

DECK USED:  BRADY TAROT 2ND EDITION

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What needs to be different in my life?

El Goliath Tarot 2nd EditionReading Summary:  Too much juggling (Two of Pentacles) leading to burnout and a resulting apathy (Five of Cups) that then smothers out my natural creative spark (Ace of Wands).

Take Away:  This is what I have been working on so intently over the year thus far. I’ve come a long way toward giving myself more space and allowing myself more rest along the way.  As a result, I experience less burn out.   The cards here are a warning that these tendencies are very likely to try and rise up and repeat as I get closer to the holiday rush.  It’s something I need to watch out for and work at being conscious concerning so that I can catch these bad habits and course correct along the way.

DECK USED:  EL GOLIATH TAROT 2ND EDITION

Don’t Forget to Anchor

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

IMG_6518Today’s meditation was fifteen minutes long and was a guided meditation with interval timer again.  The topic of today’s meditation was an introduction to the act of shinrin-yoku (forest bathing), which is in its essence, a form of nature therapy.

This is something that I do quite often.  In fact, the majority of the time when I say that I’m “going for a hike”?  You can bet that there is a bit of shinrin-yoku going on in there at least part of the time.

Forest bathing is different than hiking, though, as instead of moving at a steady pace that exercises the body, you move at a slower, meandering pace and your focus is upon the surroundings and “smelling the roses” as you move through the forest. The Pacific rainforests where I live have always enchanted me, and I have done this sort of activity since I was a very young child.

Botan Tarot - Eight of WandsToday’s draw is the Eight of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of movement, action, speed, and rapid changes.  Many people have trouble seeing this card as a stand-alone card and feel that it is more of a support card to others, much like an adverb or adjective would be added to a sentence.

I see a lot of things in this card that indicate speed.  A shooting star streaks across the sky while bamboo grows at a fast pace below, stretching upward and flourishing.   But I also see constancy in the sky itself.  Stars sparkle in inky darkness, moving at a much slower pace that sailors and explorers alike have used for centuries as tools of navigation and inspiration.

The message here in this card is about the whirlwind of moving fast, but it is also about the steady purity of having an anchor in the storm.  Unleashing energy into the wild maelstrom of inspiration and intent is  empowering and can feel wild and freeing, but make sure that you don’t follow that wild feeling so deeply into the storm that you lose your grip on the safety and security of those things that give your life stability.

DECK USED:  BOTAN TAROT

#Zentember #LovelyHealing Challenge Prompt
Question: What needs healing on my heart chakra?

Tarot of Alexander Daniloff 2012

Reading Summary: No matter how much you give (Six of Coins) or how hard you work and how skilled you become (Eight of Coins), you never feel like it’s enough (Seven of Swords).

Take Away:  It’s that “Never Enough” shadow eh?  It lives right there in my heart chakra, whispering insidiously in my ear from time to time, making sure I’m not going easy on myself or slacking off.  I knew that it would probably come up eventually as we went through the chakras on this month’s challenge, and it doesn’t surprise me that it shows up in this one.

I had planned on doing shadow work this year concerning this particular shadow, but it turned out the shadow work I did instead was about allowing myself to feel my feelings and finding a new balance for my self care and work methods.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF ALEXANDER DANILOFF 2012

#DiscordTarotholicsSep2020 Challenge Prompt
Philosophical Question: What are the 3 major weaknesses of humanity?

Archeon TarotSeven of Swords – Envy / Covetousness – So many fights, battles, wars, and horrible acts stem from this weakness. Coveting what others have and giving into the envy we feel moves our inner conflict from these feelings to spill out into violence against others, whether that violence be emotional, verbal, physical, economical, or otherwise.

Herald of Pentacles – Intolerance for Differences – This is less about the “Herald of Pentacles” and more about the imagery. It’s from the clash of colors in the image as well as the expression on the herald’s face.  The thing is that intolerance of differences is a huge failing for the human race. On the average, when humans are confronted with differences they react with fear, disgust, and/or morbid curiosity.  Although this is an evolutionary reaction developed over centuries of survival instincts, it is also hurtful and, in today’s society, so very closed minded and wrong on so many levels.  Although understandable, it is also a weakness that is time to begin overcoming.

The High Priestess – Disregarding Intuition – So many in the world consider intuition to be “a bunch of woo” instead of a real quality of humanity meant that all people possess.  This quality is a skill that we all have and has been developed over millennia of evolution to help us navigate life. It is given many names from “gut feelings” to “inner compass”, but whatever we call it, the fact is that it is there to help us make good decisions.  Ignoring it is misguided and self-defeating behavior that helps no one.

DECK USED:  ARCHEON TAROT

Lionharts #AstroTarotChallenge
Question:  Am I currently in the right romantic partnership to fully flourish?

Tarot of Reincarnation

Reading Summary: When I’m a mess (Nine of Spades) he provides me what I need (Ten of Hearts) to continue on and improve (Eight of Diamonds).

Take Away:  Yes.  He is the counterweight that keeps me balanced.  When my inner dialog turns into a slaughter house of cruelty, he is there to make sure that my emotional fulfillment with him is able to heal what my mind is trying to tear apart.  He supports me and my ambitions to be the best I can at all that I do, giving me his unconditional love each and every day.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF REINCARNATION

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: How can I silence my inner critic?

Sasuraibito Tarot

Reading Summary: Focus on your growth beyond what has tried to hold you back in the past (Page of Pentacles), accept you are strong enough to overcome that voice (Strength), and be kind and accepting to yourself (Nine of Cups).

Take Away:  My inner critic’s voice is one of pessimism and beratement.  In order to overcome it, the cards here indicate I need to take stock of all that I have done and accomplished in growing beyond what my past tried to lay upon me, and to allow those experiences and my triumph over them to foster my feelings of strength so that I can then use that strength to fight back against my inner critic’s voice and what it whispers in my ear.

DECK USED:  SASURAIBITO TAROT

Self Care for Sustainability

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

IMG_6456Today’s meditation was just under twelve minutes long and was another of the guided meditations with interval timer.   This guided meditations was one of my favorite types.  That is to say, it was one of the yoga nidra full body scans that starts at the top of the head and slowly moves through each of the body’s parts from head to toe, focusing on sensation and relaxation one body part at a time.

These meditations are very relaxing for me, and they also have the added benefit of allowing me to find problem areas in my body that need a little extra stretching or care.

There was also a small speech at the end about how to increase one’s focus so that you can tune out distractions, but… to be fair?  I wasn’t really listening to what she was saying, because I was enjoying the music that was playing in the background.

Hush Tarot - Queen of PentaclesToday’s draw is the Queen of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of a receptive alpha energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s finances, resources, home, health, and manifestations.  This often translates into themes of nurturing energy that holds the weight of responsibility for others.

In the imagery of this card today, what I see is the “bride of dandelions”.  A beautiful and earthy queen that does not have time to dawdle but will make the time to care for and support those that are important to her.

The dandelions are a reminder that when you take care of others, you must also care for yourself, and that is the message in today’s card.  Without caring for yourself, you are unable to care for others.  Don’t forget that.  Self care sustains us and helps us in everything we do and everything we want to do… not just for ourselves, but for others as well.

DECK USED:  HUSH TAROT

#Zentember #LovelyHealing Challenge Prompt
Question: How to strengthen my personal power?

Tyldwick Tarot

Reading Summary:  Connect to the optimism you have been fostering (The Star) and bring it into your work and expertise (Eight of Coins) in order to kindle the strength of your passions (Ace of Wands)

Take Away:  In order to strengthen my personal power I need to make sure I’m not allowing myself to fall into old pessimistic habits.  Optimism is not easy for me, but it is healthy for me and opens me up to opportunities  because begins to filter into my work.   As this positivity slips into my work, it lightens and brightens the end products I produce, all the while inspiring me to create new beautiful things.

DECK USED:  TYLDWICK TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsSep2020 Challenge Prompt
Topic: Write something free form inspired by the cards.

Hardy TarotThere was once a young woman that was fed up with her husband’s behavior and decided she’d had enough. He no longer brought her flowers or wrote her love letters, and all he seemed to do these days was work and sleep.  With her heart on her sleeve and her emotions driving her, she gathered up their two children and left him behind, striking out on her own to find something better. (Eight of Cups)

For a while, the freedom of her new life on her own with her children was glorious.  She wallowed in the new life that independence brought into her life and busily went about making a new home for herself and her children. (Page of Cups)

Soon, though, the newness of it all wore off and she found herself constantly overbooked and overburdened.  She came to realize that her husband provided her with more than just love, but also support.  Support that she had not realized he provided until she was left without it and had to carry all of the responsibility on her own shoulders. (Ten of Wands)

DECK USED:  HARDY TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What is my favourite mantra?

Tarot of the Secret Forest

Reading Summary:  Don’t allow outer conflict to crush your inner spirit, instead take comfort in those that love you and the security and stability of home.

Take Away:  This was an interesting question and although I’m not sure this translated directly into a mantra?  I think what the cards did here was just as clear.   The thing is, when I feel like I need to crawl into a corner and “lick my wounds” after conflict?  It can be hard to deal with reality… because all I really want to do is go find a rock to hide under.

This isn’t unusual, and is pretty common with a lot of people.  But it’s important to remember that too much alone time is a bad thing, especially when feeling down.   So instead, I need to make sure I’m reaching out to others to get their support, not just in making the world feel okay again… but in emotional support to help soothe my suffering.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE SECRET FOREST

Be a Hero, Not a Villain

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

IMG_6396Today’s meditation was just over ten minutes long, and was another guided meditation with interval timer.  I’ve decided that the guided meditations definitely have a place in my meditation practice.  Although the non-guided meditations are nice, these guided ones sometimes allow me to relax a bit more fully and can assist in keeping my mind from wandering.

The also give me a little something to think about now and then.  Not that they are all gems, but there are definitely a few diamonds in the mix.

Today’s message was about choosing your battles.  There are things you can change, and things that you can’t change.  The moral of the story for today’s guided meditation was to make sure that you are choosing the battles you have a chance of winning… instead of railing uselessly against the rain.

Botan Tarot - Five of SwordsToday’s draw is is the Five of Swords, which is a representation of tests, trials, and conflict in the area of one’s mind, intellect, and communication. This often comes into play in the form of disagreements, arguments, misunderstandings, and debates.

What stands out to me in this card today is the look on that pheasant’s face.  I mean I know that pheasants can’t really show expressions but he sure is looking pretty damned cocky, yeah?  Cocky to the extend that it actually appears a bit snide to me.

That’s the thing about winning tho, right?  Sometimes when you win? It’s hard not to look back with that snide moment of triumph. It can be hard not to kick’em when they’re down.

The message here is that when that opportunity arises?  Rise above it. You’re better than that.

DECK USED:  BOTAN TAROT

#Zentember #LovelyHealing Challenge Prompt
Question: What’s one of my super powers?

English Magic Tarot

Reading Summary: Learning what makes people tick and how to motivate them (Page of Swords) helps me build on my emotional knowledge (Page of Cups) and grow into a better person (Queen of Cups)… Even if that growth is somewhat slow in the making (Page of Coins into King of Cups).

Take Away:  Although emotions are not my strong suit, my ability to reason through people’s reactions is. Using this ability in a way allows me an entry point into understanding both my own emotions as well as other’s… which in turn assists me in my own growth.

DECK USED:  ENGLISH MAGIC TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsSep2020 Challenge Prompt
Topic: The Problem / The Lesson to Learn / Advice to Help You Through

Art Nouveau Tarot c 1989The Problem – Eight of Cups – Giving up too quickly or feeling the desire to walk away too easily and too soon. This is bred from my need to step aside when I become irritated or frustrated. Especially in the area of people.

The Lesson to Learn – The Fool Rx – Grow up.  It can’t always be about you and what you want.  Sometimes you have to do shit just because it’s the responsible thing to do, whether you like it or not.

Advice to Help You Through – Ten of Cups – It’s important to remember just how ‘well off’ you are in your own life and appreciate that.  It gives you the luxury to behave in the ways written above without a lot of consequence, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a consequence on the other side of the table where a person’s cup is perhaps not as full as your own.

Take Away – I need to be more patient and understanding of others.  Not everyone can motivate as quickly as I can, or think as fast as I can, or come up with the right words as quickly as I can.  Instead of getting impatient and cranky, I need to make sure I’m practicing patience and understanding, and keep in mind that not everyone is as fortunate as I am.

DECK USED:  ART NOUVEAU TAROT c.1989

Lionharts #AstroTarotChallenge
Question: How am I asked to deal with areas in my life that currently feel like too much of a grind?

20th Century Tarot

Reading Summary: Suck it up buttercup (Five of Cups) and get your ass in gear (Eight of Wands). Just make sure you’re practicing moderation (Temperance) and making good decisions (Two of Swords).

Take Away: The thing is?  Whether it feels like a grind or not?  You can’t put off and avoid these things forever.  They’re a part of life and sooner or later you have to suck it up and do them.  That’s just a part of being an adult.   So is making sure that when you do them, you don’t overdo it and send yourself into burn out.   Making good decisions about how you work and when is  just as important as the work itself that needs to be done.

DECK USED: 20TH CENTURY TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What can I do about the fear of being wrong?

Lonely Dreamer Tarot

Reading Summary:  Explore more (Page of Wands) and accept that sometimes it’s going to happen (Five of Pentacles).  Learn from it (Knight of Swords).

Take Away:  You need to use these as opportunities to further your education and knowledge instead of hurdles in your way.  Being wrong can suck and feel really bad, but that doesn’t mean it’s something to fear or avoid.  Instead it’s an opportunity for growth, as long as you’re willing to take it that way.

DECK USED:  LONELY DREAMER TAROT