Cythia Elliott’s Positive Affirmation Oracle

Finding the Positive for May 20 – 22

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Phantasm of Life Tarot's Knight of Cups, The Mythical Creatures Tarot's Four of Swords, The Tarot by Caitlin Mattisson's Seven of Cups, and Affirmation Cards from Little Otter's Mindful Kids Emotions Deck

May 20 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and was one of the #DailyTrip sessions in the @Calm app.

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The @GlitterbyInk #MayTag25 Challenge
Celebrating Our Community Prompt for May 20 : Nurturing

Today’s draw is the Knight of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of an active beta energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s emotions, relationships, intuition, and creativity. This often portrays itself in a theme of going after what brings someone joy or following your imagination and creativity into new adventures.

Often, the word “nurturing” is associated with what we do for others or how we affect others. It’s seen as a gift to be given. Sometimes, though? The one that most needs to be nurtured is the self.

The Knight of Cups asks us what do you want? What do you need? It’s message is that sometimes it’s okay to be selfish. It’s perfectly okay, and even healthy, to nurture yourself and to at times prioritize your own wants and needs over those of others.

Today’s message is an encouragement to get in touch with those needs and wants, and give yourself the nurturing you need rather than expending all that energy on others.

DECK USED: PHANTASM OF LIFE TAROT

May 21 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Today’s draw is the Four of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of taking time to rest, recuperation after a trying time, and stillness for restoration and meditation on the events that have brought you to this place as well as where to go from here.

It’s hard to connect with joy when you’re not fully rested. This is why we need vacations, time off, and… well, sleep. Deprivation of rest isn’t just detrimental to our physical health and concentration. It’s also detrimental to our happiness.

The Four of Swords combined with the Joyful Sandpiper are a reminder that we all need rest. Even you. It’s important to make time for it even when there’s no time for it. Even if it’s fifteen minutes here or there when we just can’t fit more than that in.

Rest more. When we allow for recovery from the daily fray, happiness and joy are easier to reach in everyday moments.

DECK USED: THE MYTHICAL CREATURES TAROT AND LITTLE OTTER’S MINDFUL KIDS EMOTION CARDS

May 22 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Today’s draw is the Six of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of charity, generosity, sharing the wealth, asking for or accepting help, and balancing the scales between the “haves” and the “have nots” in life.

Let’s talk about “scarcity mentality”. This is an issue that I personally struggle with a lot. It’s the mindset or habitual assumption of not having enough. Not enough food, or money, or resources, etc. It keeps you in a constant semi-state of anxiety, pushing you to always work harder and earn more, often to the detriment of your health, happiness, and well-being.

The thing is? In many cases (such as mine), that fear that drives this mindset is unfounded. I have simply lived in a place in my life where scarcity was a very real thing, and fear returning there.

The message in the Six of Pentacles combined with the Scared Bear card is a reminder to check in with yourself and the fears that drive your unhealthy behaviors. Look at that fear objectively and ask yourself if things in this moment are really justifying the fears that are driving you. If not, maybe it’s time to ease up a bit.

DECK USED: THE TAROT BY CAITLIN MATTISSON AND LITTLE OTTER’S MINDFUL KIDS EMOTION CARDS

Finding the Positive for May 13 – 15

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Major Tom's Tarot of Marseille Lovers Card, Low Scare Tarot's Ten of Pentacles, Archania Tarot's The High Priestess card

May 13 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and was a #DailyCalm session from the @Calm app.

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The @GlitterbyInk #MayTag25 Challenge
Celebrating Our Community Prompt for May 13 : Artistic

Today’s draw is the Lovers card, which is traditionally a representation of love and relationships, harmonious unions, and making choices that are geared toward what is best for you.

The card pulled for today offers us an opportunity to look at our  needs through a different lens. In the marseille tradition of tarot, the imagery we see is a central figure in one of life’s age-old battles as they are pictured between a matronly figure and a new love. It is a choice between past or future, stable stagnancy or new beginnings.

Everyone needs to make these choices in life, whether it’s moving away from home, choosing a partner, etc. The artistic representation here depicts making a crossroads where a decision must be made for your future… one that you’ll have to live with for a very long time, and advises us to make the choice that aligns with what we want out of life and need in our loves moving forward. For, whatever choice we make, we’re making a commitment to move in that direction.

[Digression Note spurred by the “Artistic” prompt for today:  When reading tarot, the reader also makes a similar choice pertaining to their practice. They can learn the traditional meaning of each card and stick to them with strict adherence, or they can use the traditional meaning in conjunction with visual cues in the card’s artistic choices.Neither choice is more right or wrong than the other, only more right or wrong for an  individual. 

For me?  It’s the latter that fits best. Colors, forms, shapes and lines. All of these things provide so much extra information, making reading the cards more than the rattling off of card meanings and introducing an element of art interpretation into the mix, where each card’s illustration doesn’t just speak to me but offers a conversation.]

Combined with the prompt of “artistic”, what I see her in the Lover’s card is a reminder not to just choose what’s easy in life.  Look at the context and consider the future. Think outside the box and use your imagination, then choose. Taking what is easy without considering the alternatives often leads to a lackluster life.  Sometimes, easy is still the right choice, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t need to consider other choices and perspectives first and make sure.

DECK USED: MAJOR TOM’S TAROT OF MARSEILLE

May 14 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was eight minutes long, and was a #DailyTrip session from the @Calm app.

The topic of today’s session was about restorative activities, and how important they are to our general well-being.  Activities in life that make you feel restored, such as going for walks, meditation, cloud watching, spending time with a loved one, coloring in a coloring book, watching a movie, etc.

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The @GlitterbyInk #MayTag25 Challenge
Celebrating Our Community Prompt for May 14 : Resourceful

Today’s draw is the Ten of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of satisfaction and stability in the area of one’s finances, resources, home, health, manifestations, and the physical world. This often translates into themes that have to do with hard earned success, accomplishments, abundance created through patience and hard work.

How do you recharge?  Is sleeping the beginning, middle, and end of your restorative process? Or are there other methods and moments mixed in there as well?

For me, it’s time in nature. Hiking or taking macro photos of nature’s interesting intricacies. Digging in the dirt or tending to plants that need a little TLC. These things are restorative to me.

The thing is? Success isn’t just about what you earn  monetarily or through status. It’s about how you are able to spend your time, and how you feel about life as a whole. If you’re constantly pushing and struggling, then life is missing something.  And just maybe? That something isn’t more money, but rather the time and energy to give yourself the restorative activities that make life feel a little bit more like a treasure and a little less like a chore.

Today’s “resourceful” prompt combined with the Ten of Pentacles card and the topic of today’s meditation session is a reminder that restorative starts with “rest” for a reason, and that we all need not just sleep, but also activities in life that feel restorative to us.   Sometimes that means being resourceful and thinking outside the box. Stealing a few minutes here and there to experiment and try new things, even silly things, to find those that allow you a moment of respite now and then. As a result, you may discover you’re already more of a success than you think, as you begin to enjoy life just a bit more.

DECK USED: LOW SCARE TAROT

May 15 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was eleven minutes long, and was a #DailyCalm session from the @Calm app.

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The @GlitterbyInk #MayTag25 Challenge
Celebrating Our Community Prompt for May 15 : Energetic

Today’s draw is the High Priestess card, which is traditionally a representation of intuition, secrets, sacred knowledge, mystery, the subconscious mind.

The High Priestess in this card seems oftly cheeky with her flash of thigh and flirtatious glance up at the pillar of masculine strength in the upper corner.  I don’t often see the High Priestess as a sensual card, but in this one, it’s hard to miss. It seems to say loud and clear “when you know… you know”.

The other day, I had a card of the day that spoke about how just because we like something or find it appealing, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s right for us.  Today’s card? Says that when it *is* right for us? We’ll know.  No doubt. No questions asked. When you know, you know… you know? This knowledge comes from within. It comes from your gut and has nothing to do with thought or reason. It’s inner ken that says “YES” because it is right for you.

Today’s message is to not ignore those feelings. When they come, it means you’ve stumbled upon something special and “just right” for you. In those instances, maybe give yourself the opportunity to explore instead of just reject, for you never know what new good thing you might be discovering.

I am as at-fault as anyone else for missing these signs at times, by the way. Nearly seventeen years ago, when I first met Gideon, it wasn’t I who knew. I was too much in my head and full of resistance to know… to recognize who he was and the potential he held for me and my future.  It was him.

He knew.  He knew from the moment he first saw me, before we ever even met.  He knew, and he followed that knowing, worked hard to turn my gaze and get me to realize that being with him would not sacrifice my independence and how good we could be together.  And nearly seventeen years later? Here we are, still happy, and still going strong.

So don’t let FOMO conceal itself as that inner knowing.  If it’s meant to be?  It’ll be yours… even if you miss the signs at first.

DECK USED: ARCHANIA TAROT

Finding the Positive for May 5 – 7

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Avalon Revelation Tarot's The Empress, The Avian Tarot's King of Swords, Orc Alien World Tarot's The Hanged Man

May 5 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and was one of the #DailyCalm sessions from the @Calm app.  The session for today was in regards to the difference between sympathy and empathy, and to be fair?  Although I very clearly understand the difference between the two? I  have a hard time seeing empathy as the better of the two.

They presented sympathy as being perceived as “pity”, and empathy as being perceived as “I’m on your side”.   The thing is? I was always taught and understood myself that sympathy was a kindness of letting another person have their experience while you lend support, whereas empathy is making their trauma “all about you” and thus not giving them what they need.

I dunno.  Now I’m a little confused on which is the better route in such situations. Does my sympathy (instead of using empathy) come off as cold and distant?  I’m not sure.

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The @GlitterbyInk #MayTag25 Challenge
Celebrating Our Community Prompt for May 5 : Insightful

Today’s draw is the Empress card, which is traditionally a representation of the nurturing, female strength and empowerment without losing that “softer side” in the process, abundance, fertility, the divine feminine, and Mother Earth.

I’ve connected this card with the song that I woke up with stuck in my head this morning, which was “Not in the Mood” by I’MIN & Daryl Kim.   This combo between the song and the Empress reminds us that it’s healthy to set limits and boundaries in our lives to protect our peace and nurture our sense of well-being. In order to nurture a feeling of abundance in our lives, sometimes we have to learn to say “no”.

Today’s combo says that it’s okay to say “no”.  It’s okay to protect your own sense of well-being and abundance by choosing to use your time and energy to nurture yourself instead of expending it all on other sand their needs.  In fact, maybe? Some of us need to practice saying “no” more often.

DECK USED: AVALON REVELATION TAROT

May 6 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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The @GlitterbyInk #MayTag25 Challenge
Celebrating Our Community Prompt for May 6 : Motivating

Today’s card is the King of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of a projective “alpha” energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s thoughts, intellect, education, ambitions, and communication. This often translates into themes that have to do with someone that has a way with words and is able to use those skills to lead others to their way of thinking, as well as those that are in authority on intellectual topics such as professors, doctors, etc.

In the guide for this deck, one phrase (“Vulnerable and strong enough to let go of control”) really stuck out to me stronger than the rest.

Logic dictates that you cannot take care of or lead others if you are not taking care of yourself first.  This is why if there’s a problem on airline flights they tell you to put your own mask on first before helping others with theirs. What help are you to anyone else if you aren’t in any condition to do so?

Today’s card and it’s associated Andean Condor speaks of the need, in moments of stress or trouble, to rise above the situation and see things from an analytical viewpoint. Are you in any condition to step in now? Or would you be better served by standing back, letting go of control, and tending to your own needs first, then stepping in later if still needed?

Lean into taking care of yourself first… and you will find yourself not just better capable of taking care of others by doing so, but more motivated to engage as well.

DECK USED: THE AVIAN TAROT

May 7 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and was one of the #DailyCalm sessions from the @Calm app. The topic for today’s sessions rested on how it’s often our thoughts about our emotions that cause the most damage, as opposed to the emotions themselves. For example, our thoughts of when in the grip of severe depression often circulate about how it will never end, when in truth, like everything else in life, the depression is temporary.

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The @GlitterbyInk #MayTag25 Challenge
Celebrating Our Community Prompt for May 7 : Joyful

Today’s draw is the Hanged Man, which is traditionally a representation of taking a pause, considering alternate perspectives, relaxing into difficult situations, surrender, or letting go.

The cards are being very persistent lately on the “wait and watch” messages, it seems.

Look at the expression on the face of the figure in the card, though. This entanglement makes it clear that they didn’t wait and watch, and that fate took things into their own hands to make them do so whether they wanted to or not.  There’s humor and a hint of bashfulness in that expression, speaking of humility and the ability to laugh at oneself when you pause to actually get a look at your screw ups.

The message in today’s card isn’t just “continue to wait and watch” on my personal situation. It’s that when things go awry? You can instill more joy into your life by looking for the humor in the situation you find yourself in and how  you got there.

DECK USED: ORC ALIEN WORLD TAROT

Finding the Positive for April 27 – 29

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The Stained Glass Tarot, The Moon Witch Tarot, Once Upon a Time Cards, Magical Messages Cards, and Prophesies Foretold Hades Tarot

April 27 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped (cuz I fell asleep).

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Today’s draw is the Eight of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of hard work, expertise through practice, honing a skill, quality craftsmanship, handicrafts, and manifestations through skill and hard work. The card is often the embodiment of the “practice makes perfect” adage.

Needing to “buckle down” and work when we just aren’t feeling it can make the work we’re doing seem miserable and endless. It can even at times erase from our awareness the value that the work holds and why we’re doing it in the first place.

Today’s card combo reminds us that there’s good in the work we do, otherwise we wouldn’t be doing it. The message here is an encouragement that during these times when we are feeling less than enthused with our work, we try to focus on the good that is coming from the work, rather than on our discontent.

DECK USED: PROPHESIES FORETOLD: A HADES TAROT AND MAGICAL MESSAGES CARDS

April 28 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was eleven minutes long, and was one of the @DailyCalm sessions in the @Calm app.

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Today’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 resources, financial stability, health, home, labors, manifestations, or other aspects of the physical realm. This often translates into a supportive or nurturing energy or entity in the areas of one’s health, home, and financial responsibilities.

Only allow into your life those things that support your dreams.

Dreams are one of those things that help us to look forward to the future. They are the fertilizer to our growth and happiness. They are not silly, or stupid, and when things or people come into our lives that try to influence us into thinking that they are? Those are the things and people that have no business being in our lives in the first place.

Nurture your dreams by kicking these things and people to the curb. In doing so, you are supporting yourself and those dreams of yours, and living true to yourself in the process.

DECK USED: MOON WITCH TAROT AND ONCE UPON A TIME CARDS

April 29 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was eleven minutes long, and was one of the @DailyCalm sessions in the @Calm app.

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Today’s draw is the King of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of a projective “alpha” energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s thoughts, intellect, education, ambitions, and communication. This often translates into themes that have to do with someone that has a way with words and is able to use those skills to lead others to their way of thinking, as well as those that are in authority on intellectual topics such as professors, doctors, etc.

Stop discounting your abilities in sorting out issues and strategizing solutions. You have been using that clever mind of yours all of your life to stay on top of things and adapt from one moment to the next, piling on experience that only adds to your abilities.

There is no need to be modest, let alone disparage yourself. Instead, allow yourself to feel the confidence that hs been well earned. Lead with it, not just with others but yourself s well. When you trust in yourself, your experience, and your knowledge, others trust in you as well.

DECK USED: THE STAINED GLASS TAROT

Finding the Positive for April 23 – 25

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The Fusion Tarot's Queen of Wands, Magical Messages Cards, The Gaucho's Arcana 1928 Tarot's Five of Pentacles, Once Upon a Time Cards, and Hexen 2.0 Tarot's Two of Cups

April 23 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Today’s draw is the Queen of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of a receptive alpha energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s passion, drive, willpower, determination, values, and principles. This often translates into themes that have to do with being supportive of others projects and passions, or searching for inner truth within your own values and principles.

Make sure that you’re letting creativity flow by encouraging exploration and curiosity both in yourself and others.

Your creative spark is one of the most magical things about you, and one of the qualities that others are most inspired by. When you let it wither, you are not the only one who suffers as a result.

Today’s card combo is a reminder that creativity is a treasure given by the essence of life itself, and when neglected, you neglect not just yourself but those around you that are inspired by you, as well as the world as a whole.

DECK USED: THE FUSION TAROT AND MAGICAL MESSAGES CARDS

April 24 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Today’s draw is the Five of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of tests, trials, struggles, and setbacks in the area of one’s finances, resources, health, home, work, or manifestations. This often translates into themes that have to do with scarcity and times in life when one needs to seek out help from others instead of suffering through alone.

Stagnancy does not protect you from scarcity (whether real or imagined). If anything, it will cause those problems and associated worries to grow like weeds planted in fertilized garden beds.

Movement is your friend. Don’t hide under the covers and tremble, but instead throw the covers off and deal with the issue. Adapt and keep moving forward. Be proactive in choosing your future instead of sitting back and letting it happen to you all because you’re too scared that more scarcity is coming.

DECK USED: GAUCHO’S ARCANA 1928 TAROT AND ONCE UPON A TIME CARDS

April 25 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Today’s draw is the Two of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of connection and unification, mutual attraction, and emotional connections.

Good stuff happens when you allow yourself to stay open to connecting with others. Sometimes empowerment requires back up from like-minded souls.

Not every goal or value can be reached or advocated for on your own. Make sure that you are connecting with others, and inviting them along for the ride on challenging journeys you decide to pursue. It will make the trek a little easier, as well as more enjoyable.

DECK USED: HEXEN 2.0 TAROT AND MAGICAL MESSAGES CARDS

Finding the Positive for April 17 – 19

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Card Captor Sakura Tarot's Wheel of Fortune, The Children of Ostara Tarot's Ten of Wands, Out of Hand Tarot's Three of Cups

April 17 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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The @GlitterbyInk #AprilFinds25 Challenge
Lost and Found Prompt for April 17 : Courage

Today’s draw is the Wheel of Fortune, which is traditionally a representation of luck (both good and bad), changing circumstances, the ups and downs of life, and the cyclical nature of life and the world.

Courage doesn’t mean that we don’t feel fear. It means that we act accordingly to our values and moral compass despite being afraid.

This can be difficult when we are taken off guard by unanticipated setbacks and surprises. Sometimes these obstacles and unexpected events make us want to run or hide, burying one’s head in the sand until they pass.

Today’s card and prompt combination is a reminder that life is unpredictable and this fear is not just okay but perfectly natural… and that courage is in resisting the fight or flight response in order to stand strong in who we are and what we believe.

DECK USED: CARD CAPTOR SAKURA TAROT

April 18 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped. (Side note:  I really need to work on avoiding the sessions that point out the physical and psychological benefits that meditation provides. It appears to trigger my self-destructive tendencies, and this causes me to then react by avoiding meditation.)

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The @GlitterbyInk #AprilFinds25 Challenge
Lost and Found Prompt for April 18 : Freedom

Today’s draw is the Ten of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of overwhelm, burnout, struggling under too much responsibility, and can indicate a need to do some prioritizing and delegation.

“Some battles may yet be worth winning, while others are not worth even beginning.” – Xia Hunt

…and isn’t it lovely that we have the freedom to choose what battles in life we choose to put out efforts into and those we don’t.

We can’t fight all the battles, explore all the projects, or take on all of the responsibilities. It’s up to us to execute our freedom of choice by choosing only those we deem most valuable, most important, or most interesting to pursue so that we don’t overwhelm ourselves by trying to pile too much on our plates at once.

Today’s card and prompt combination is a celebration of that freedom to choose, and a reminder that it’s there for you when you need it in order to allow you to avoid becoming overburdened or overwhelmed.

DECK USED: THE CHILDREN OF OSTARA TAROT

April 19 – Mental Health Card of the Day

The @GlitterbyInk #AprilFinds25 Challenge
Lost and Found Prompt for April 19 : Love

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Today’s draw is the Three of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of friendships, revelry, celebration, and collaboration between those that are linked or alike not just in mind but also in heart.

I am an introvert. This doesn’t mean that I’m particularly shy, scared of people, or even that I’m particularly uncomfortable around people in general. It simply means that I enjoy my own company far more than I do the company of others.  It means that I don’t particularly need social interaction, and thus I rarely seek it out.  In fact, most of the time I feel like I get too much social interaction, whereas I’m aware that an extrovert would feel like that same level of social interaction wouldn’t be nearly enough.

That’s where today’s card and prompt combo come in. It’s a reminder that for many… dare I say, for most, social interaction is an expression of love. It’s how they express their love for you, and how they feel that they receive love from you in turn.

Today’s message, therefore, is a reminder that even if social interaction with others isn’t really something you enjoy? Try to remember that participating is an expression of love that others easily understand and appreciate, and that them spending time with you is them telling you that they love you too.

DECK USED: OUT OF HAND TAROT