#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge

Something Has To Give

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Today’s meditation was skipped… although I did get a lot of napping in.

Note of Intent:  The holiday rush is about to swing into overdrive and steal away whatever spare time I might have -thought- I had left. With it’s arrival, I’ve need to cut down on my blogging for the time being.  I’m going to try to continue to pull my daily card, though, as well as note down my daily kindnesses.  The longer posts and participation in divination challenges, etc will resume once the holiday rush has ended.

Le Tarot de la Sorcière et de La Roue de l'Année BrochéToday’s draw is the As de Terre (Ace of Earth/Pentacles), which is traditionally a representation of the seed of new beginnings in the area of one’s finances, resources, health, home, labors, manifestations, and the physical world. It often references themes that involve opportunity and fresh starts.

Today’s card is a representation of my self care, and the changes that I am making to ensure that I am giving myself some self care instead of just abandoning it for old, unhealthy habits over the holiday season and the rush that creates such pressure on me during these last few weeks of the year.

The massive amount of growth seen in the card is a promise of healthy changes… the stars are a shimmer of hope that these changes can reap results that will benefit me in the future.

DECK USED:  LE TAROT DE LA SORCIÈRE ET DE LA ROUE DE L’ANNÉE BROCHÉ

Daily Self Kindness

As outlined above, I’ve decided to cut down on my posts over the next few weeks in order to give myself more time for my personal needs during the busy month ahead.

Taking the Wheel

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

Tarot of Spells and PotionsToday’s draw is the King of Wands atop the Strength card. I don’t usually accept two cards for my daily pull, but the deck insisted.

Traditionally, the King of Wands is a representation of a projective alpha energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s drive, willpower, passions, determination, and inner spark. This often translates into themes that have to do with a style of leadership that impassions others to the leader’s projects and cause.

The Strength card is a representation of inner strength, courage, persuasion, and sometimes manipulation.

With the King of Wands atop Strength, the message in today’s card(s) is about building upon your inner strength when pursuing your dreams. It’s not always enough to want something, or to even want it enough to be fired up about it. Sometimes it’s in convincing others to join you in your goals where success lies.

This card combination asks us to examine where in our lives would our goals benefit from the involvement of others? And how can we best gather others to us to help in achieving our goals?

DECK USED:  TAROT OF SPELLS AND POTIONS

@The.Journey.Well ‘s Friendship & Community Challenge Prompt
Questions for November 21st and 22nd

Inklings Meditation CardsWhat energy do you bring to relationships?

Grounding and Dream – You provide a sense of grounded strength and stability, while encouraging others to see the worth in their dreams and go after them.

What activates you in conversation?

Freedom and Self-Love – When you are able to accept myself, you are better able to join in conversations and not hold back.

What triggers you in conversation?

Divine Timing and Abundance – You don’t like it when people blame the good things in life (either in your life, or in their own) on chance instead of the hard work that it took to achieve them.

DECK USED: THE INKLINGS MEDITATION DECK

#DiscordTarotholicsNov2022 Challenge Prompt
Question for November 22nd: What do I need to focus on for self care for this new moon?

Tarot of Spells and PotionsReading Summary: Don’t judge yourself harshly when you are still feeling your way forward (Judgement and Page of Pentacles). Be happy with how far you’ve come (Nine of Pentacles) and keep moving forward on the “straight and narrow” (Judgement).

Take Away: It’s important with this new moon that you re-dedicate yourself to the goals you want to achieve and the person you have decided you want to become.

Make sure that those things you do in life from day-to-day continue to further these distant targets and aspirations you have decided to go after instead of inserting distractions and obstacles in your path.

DECK USED: TAROT OF SPELLS AND POTIONS

Daily Self Kindness

Today was early Thanksgiving, and I ate a LOT of really, really good food.  God so much food.

Walk, Don’t Run

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

Lux Ex Umbra TarotToday’s draw is the Cavalier de Épée (Knight of Swords), which is traditionally a representation of a projective active beta energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s thoughts, intellect, education, ambitions, logic, and communications.

I find it amusing that I pulled the Mercury card today, as I am feeling very mercurial, especially after somehow getting locked out of my IG account and going through the whole verification process with no results forthcoming.

The card encourages care instead of impulsivity… and I’m going to take its advice and do my best to be patient instead of jumping around screaming at the top of my lungs.

DECK USED:  LUX EX UMBRA TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsNov2022 Challenge Prompt
Question for November 21st: Advice I need to hear at this time concerning the holidays ahead.

L'oracle des Êtres Invisibles de la NatureReading Summary: Let go of your rigid grip of control and have a little faith in things working out how you want on their own (Les Ondines). You don’t have to push yourself so damn hard, or punish yourself for no good reason (Les Dryades). You are remarkable and what you can accomplish is remarkable, connect with others to share with them the energy you create when getting things done (Les Elfes).

Take Away: You don’t have to tackle the holiday rush alone, so don’t corner yourself into doing just that. Ease up on that controlling grip enough to let others in so that they can help by taking some of the weight off your shoulders.

DECK USED: L’ORACLE DES ÊTRES INVISIBLES DE LA NATURE

Mr Lionhart’s The Suits: Revisited #TheNovemberTarot Prompt
Questions for November 21st and 22nd

Lux Ex Umbra TarotSuit of Swords – How can I best keep focus on the things that are good for me?

Valet d’Épée and Ten of Cups – Learn to lean into the things that make you feel content and happy, and to share those feelings with others.

Suit of Swords – How, or where, is my spiritual practice strengthening me?

Three of Swords Rx and Two of Swords – Your spiritual practice allows you to see things in a more positive light, and through that perspective, choose a better path.

DECK USED: LUX EX UMBRA TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

This is a catch-up post, and I can’t remember what self-kindness I might have done on this day.

Connections Within Diversity

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

The Unfolding Path Tarot - The HierophantToday’s draw is the Hierophant card, which is traditionally a representation of tradition, spiritual guidance, long standing institutions, teachers and guides, and themes that deal with conformity and social norms.

What stands out to me the strongest in the imagery for today’s card is the scarf that this holy man wears.  It holds symbols not just from one religion, but from a great many of them, and feels like a reminder that there is no “one true way” when it comes to faith, beliefs, and traditions.

We all have our beliefs and those things that are a part of our history and tradition, and there’s a great value in that. Here in today’s card, though, what we see is a reminder that even through our differences we can connect.

DECK USED:  UNFOLDING PATH TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsNov2022 Challenge Prompt
Topic for November 20th: Do Spread 3

The Forest OracleWhat have I been taking for granted?

Enchantment – The magic of healing and comfort that comes from time spent out in nature among the trees. You haven’t gotten a lot of time out in nature this summer and fall due to circumstances beyond your control, but don’t forget the benefits you get from time in the forest and give yourself permission to seek out that connection, even through the winter months when the green is dormant and the ground is frozen.

What’s been holding me back from seeing my blessings clearly?

Heal – You have to allow yourself what you need to heal.  Time in nature, time to rest, and other self-care that will give you the restorative healing you need. Stop withholding these things from yourself as a form of punishment, and be open and receptive to them instead.

How can I better express my gratitude in the future?

Crossroads – Look at the times you have chosen to go against your nature. To hold grudges, to be unforgiving, to be unpleasant instead of kind. In the future, seek out choosing a better path. A path that is for aligned with your nature. Sometimes it can be difficult to get past those baser instincts, but when you do, you are better able to identify those things to be grateful for.

What do I need to acknowledge gratitude for in my relationships?

Abundance – Just how much you have.  How many friends you have.  How many people there are in your life that love you… that care about you, and are there for you. It is in taking these things for granted that you miss out on all that you have to be grateful for.

What do I need to acknowledge gratitude for in my finances?

Leadership – You are the master of your own castle and all that lies within it. That means you have the ability to make whatever decisions are needed, change things as you wish, and take full control of your finances and resources to move them as needed.

What do I need to acknowledge gratitude for in my work life?

Hibernation – That it’s not this busy all of the time. There are busy times, and then there are quiet times. Although the holiday rush is a crazy time of year and extremely busy, you are also given times in which to breathe, relax, and recover. You can’t sustain the holiday rush year round, so having the lulls that allow you this time for other things is important.

DECK USED: THE FOREST ORACLE

@The.Journey.Well ‘s Friendship & Community Challenge Prompt
Questions for November 19th and 20th

The Unfolding Path TarotHow can solitude empower you?

Two of Cups Rx atop Ace of Cups – Stepping away to have some solitude out of the influence of others gives you the opportunity to see and process your emotions without their bias guiding you. The more you experiment and experience processing emotions in this way, the more confidence in doing so you will build.

What kind of social life empowers you?

Ace of Wands and Ten of Pentacles – You are empowered by relationships that allow your creative juices to flow while supporting you with stability. You need both that freedom for your spark of inspiration, as well as that sense of stability and security.

DECK USED: UNFOLDING PATH TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I watched a movie today.  It sucked, but it helped ease my nerves a bit while I worked. It -did- slow me down a bit in my work, but not enough that I didn’t get done what I needed to for the day.

The Next Adventure

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

El Goliath Tarot 2nd EditionToday’s draw is the Eight of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of bailing on a situation out of frustration or disappointment, themes of abandonment or withdrawal, and moving on.

What stands out to me the strongest today in the imagery on this card is that at the very top of that long staircase that the cat has begun to climb… the door is open.  Not wide open, but it is open all the same.

This speaks to me of the promise of opportunity, and curiosity means that there’s a bit of eagerness involved in seeing what’s on the other side.  But in order to head up that big ass flight of stairs?  You’re going to have to leave everything behind. It’s a long climb and carrying extra burdens isn’t going to help.

What I see as the message in this card is that often, when we’re looking at making a change, we forget that we have to leave behind the past in order to move forward. If we focus on our curiosity, eagerness will flourish and that open door at the end of the climb becomes a treat you seek to obtain, your focus on the potential of what’s to come.    Not so, unfortunately, if you try to haul all your past baggage up those stairs with you.   So when looking at new opportunities?  Make sure you’re leaving your baggage behind, and not trying to carry it with you to the next adventure.

DECK USED:  EL GOLIATH TAROT 2ND EDITION

#DiscordTarotholicsNov2022 Challenge Prompt
Questions for November 19th

Untamed Spirits Animal OracleGreatest Strength – Squirrel – You are resourceful and you find the task of providing for yourself to often be more of a game than a chore. It’s all about testing yourself and predicting what is needed, finding the path forward that will create the greatest amount of success and provide for yourself and others. This makes you better able to do these things without feeling as if you are being taken advantage of or wearing yourself down.

Greatest Weakness – Seahorse – As much as structure and consistency are good for you, they can be hard for you to stick to. And when you aim for them, then something goes awry, you have a habit of coming down on yourself far harder than necessary.  This creates in you a difficult relationship with constancy and consistency, especially in your self care.

Finding Balance – Swan – Be kinder to yourself. It’s okay to slip up, and it’s okay to be carefree now and then and -enjoy- things. There’s nothing wrong with it, even if you were taught otherwise. Don’t allow that negative inner narrative of yours to treat you harshly, and be kind and forgiving with yourself instead.

DECK USED: UNTAMED SPIRIT ANIMAL ORACLE

Mr Lionhart’s The Suits: Revisited #TheNovemberTarot Prompt
Questions for November 19th and 20th

El Goliath Tarot 2nd EditionSuit of Swords – Where, or in what way, is my current energy hindering my growth?

Nine of Swords and Five of Wands – Fear of conflict. Sometimes the negativity that comes with conflict can be extremely overwhelming and the sharp words spoken can hurt. You need to examine where you are avoiding conflict due to the fear of that pain… and decide if this is really something you need to be afraid of, or if you can let go of that fear and act with a bit more freedom as a result.

Suit of Swords – What am I asked to overcome/embrace in support of my best self?

Three of Swords Rx and The Ojibwe Catcher – The dreams you have abandoned have been let go for a reason.  Instead of being down on yourself about the releasing of those dreams, embrace the opportunities that having let go of them provides. It’s okay to mourn the things you didn’t do, but don’t let it eat you up inside, or create a trap that leaves you shoving others away as a way to punish yourself.

DECK USED: EL GOLIATH TAROT 2ND EDITION

Daily Self Kindness

I got to spend some time with Gideon playing again tonight and it was really nice.  I needed some “us” time.

Standing Strong

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

The Relative Tarot - King of Pentacles - Sitting BullToday’s draw is the King of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of a projective alpha energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s financial security, resources, health, home, labors, manifestations, and other elements of the physical realm. This often translates into leadership that creates a grounded sense of stability for others.

The imagery for this card is an adaptation of a picture of Sitting Bull taken in 1881. The original image has always been one that I’ve somehow connected with and I feel that it fits so very well as the King of Pentacles. He was such a strong leader, seeking stability for his people and providing those people with the sense of strength they needed in a time of trials and strife.  He taught his people independence and fought for the land that was rightfully theirs, lending his strength to not just his own people, but those of other nations that chose to join him.

The message I see in today’s card is about standing one’s ground, and the strength that doing so can create, especially when others decide to stand with you.  Don’t forsake the power that comes from standing strong for your family, your home, and those you value.  Don’t forsake the strength that comes from being rooted, balanced, and grounded in your purpose and goals.  When you are, you don’t just build upon your own strength, but that of all those around you that stand with you as well.

Side Note: I really wish that the guidebook for the deck included information about the figures in the cards themselves, as I’ve noticed a number of famous individuals depicted in the cards, and yet there’s no mention of them in the guide. For example the individual on this card is Sitting Bull.

DECK USED:  THE RELATIVE TAROT

@The.Journey.Well ‘s Friendship & Community Challenge Prompt
Questions for November 17th and 18th

Stay Wild Timing OracleWhat quality in friends can empower you?

Stay Wild – Friends that encourage your individuality instead of expecting you to conform to the standards of others.

Happily Ever After – Those that are in for the long haul, and don’t allow petty squabbles or minor differences to get in the way of long term friendship.

Take Away: You need loyalty, acceptance, and stability to feel empowered within your friendships with others. This sense of security then gives you the ability to ease your defenses, allowing you to become more trusting.

What knowledge could you mentor others in?

Don’t Wait – In following their intuition instead of second guessing that inner knowledge that could flourish into a great strength with a bit of tending.

I Do Yoga – Physiotherapy and body care through yoga, and how to incorporate a spiritual element into that practice.

DECK USED: STAY WILD TIMING ORACLE

#DiscordTarotholicsNov2022 Challenge Prompt
Question for November 18th: Advice I need to hear at this time concerning my family relations.

The Relative TarotReading Summary: You’re going to have to be generous and let go of the past (Six of Pentacles) if you want to create a comfortable and happy atmosphere (Four of Wands ) that’s healthy for you in the present and future (The Lovers).

Take Away: This is about the upcoming Christmas dinner, and the fact that there are going to be a lot of people there that you’ve had negative experiences with in the past. It doesn’t mean you have to become buddy buddy with them or forget the things that have happened in the past, but rather the cards are saying to be nice and not to allow those negative experiences from the past to make you into an asshat in the present or future when gatherings happen. Just be grateful that things are different now.

DECK USED: THE RELATIVE TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I spent time playing with Gideon tonight, and it helped a lot in easing some of the tension I had going on in my chest.