Cythia Elliott’s Positive Affirmation Oracle

Finding the Positive for March 13 – 14

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Loong's Dream Tarot Ten of Wands, Arcana Iris Sacra Tarot Ace of Pentacles and Six of Pentacles, Tasseomancy

March 13 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was twelve minutes long, and was one of the #DailyCalm sessions from the @Calm app. The session started out with one of my very favorite meditation practices; a yoga nidra where the narrator walks you through a full body scan from head to toe. It then moved on to the theme for today’s session, which was a discussion on ending relationships.

The discussion posed that when we end a relationship, it is not a value judgment on the other person, but rather simply deciding when something (or rather, someone) is or isn’t for you.

I have a hard time, seeing discarding someone from your life as not being a value judgment in one way or another. That said, the quote used (“I’m learning to love the sound of my feet walking away from things not meant for me”) makes sense to me and helps me in seeing this perspective more clearly, giving me some food for thought for the day.

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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.

Joined with the theme for today’s meditation, what I see as the message in today’s card is that sometimes we need to sit down and take a good look at our friendships and relationships, and make sure that they are a good fit.  If someone in your life constantly makes you feel less than, exhausted, or negative… perhaps it’s time to consider that that’s not a relationship you need to have in your life.

The people who truly love and care about you won’t do things and say things to make you feel that way again and again. Accidents happen, until it’s not an accident but a pattern, and over time that pattern becomes too much.  Keep in mind that there’s no reason you  have to wait until things hit critical mass before you remove these people from your life.  The sooner you deal with it? The sooner that weight will be removed from your shoulders.

DECK USED: LOONG’S DREAM TAROT

March 14 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was nine minutes long, and was one of the #DailyTrip sessions from the @Calm app. The session for today explored sinking into one’s senses as a form of focus for one’s meditation. Not all of the senses at once, but by picking one to focus on for a duration of time, before you then shift to another. In this way, you then cycle through the sense of sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell.

The premise being that, even when you are not meditating, you can use this momentary hyper-focus on a sense, or cycling through the senses, to help you to center yourself when things are feeling overwhelming or chaotic.

🍵 Tasseomancy Notation:  Don’t take your shoes off or you’ll be sorry.

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Today’s draw is the Six of Disks atop the Ace of Disks.

  • In the Thoth tradition (which is the system for this tarot deck), the Six of Disks is often interpreted as success, achieving or creating harmony and balance, the opportunity to succeed at an endeavor, and the balanced stability that comes through experience.
  • In the Thoth tradition, the Ace of Disks is often seen as a representation of the “root” of the Earth element’s power. Within this root is the power of manifestation in the area of our resources and opportunities, as well as the connection between nature and our inner selves.

[Note that I am not as learned on the Thoth system as I am in the RWS system. The definitions above are my understanding of the Thoth system, and if you are in the process of learning that system, please take those interpretations with a grain of salt.]

Like the meditation topic for today, these cards, encourage focus in order to manifest a specific result. In the meditation, you focus on the senses (or a specific one of your senses) in order to find balance and center yourself in the middle of chaos. In these cards, it says when you are striking out on a new endeavor, make sure that you are focused on success so that you can manifest that success as you move forward.

If you focus on failure, you have a greater chance of failing. If you focus on success, you have a better chance of succeeding. Just as with the meditation exercise today if you were to focus on the chaos around you as opposed to upon a specific sense, instead of finding the centering that you’re looking for you would only sink deeper into chaos and overwhelm it creates.

DECK USED: ARCANA IRIS SACRA

Finding the Positive for March 10 – 12

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Friborg's New Classic Tarocchi Seven of Coins, Unnamed Tarot's Five of Wands, Student Tarot v3's Fool and Hierophant

March 10 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was nine minutes long, and was one of the #DailyTrip sessions from the @Calm app.  Today’s session was all about how we can inure ourselves to heavy and chaotic emotions by allowing ourselves to “sip at the emotional well” a little at a time each day.

This doesn’t mean that we have to “sip at” negative emotions either, but rather that the activity of allowing ourselves to experience our emotions in the day to day (good, bad, and otherwise) instead of closing them away or ignoring them, allows us to gain experience in all types of emotions as a whole.

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In Tarot de Marseille, the 7 di Denari is often interpreted as a card of apprenticeship, speaking of the long journey one takes in learning and honing one’s skills.  It’s about not just guidance and mentorship, but about the patience and time involved. True skill takes time to develop and hard work to hone.

Combined with the meditation session from earlier this morning, the message in today’s cards is that emotions are not meant to be one of those things you just master with a snap of your fingers. Emotions take time to become accustomed to and understand.  The more we work with them, the more we understand them and the better we get at not just experiencing them, but reacting to them.

DECK USED: TAROCCHI BY MR FRIBORG

March 11 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was nine minutes long, and was one of the #DailyTrip sessions in the @Calm app. The session for today was titled “Thunderscribble” (I love this word, I think), and referenced that angry scribbling thought-bubble that sometimes appears in comics sometimes when a character is mad or frustrated.

The session spoke about how when we are upset, our emotions and thoughts get mixed up together just like those scribbles, and that during those times is the ideal time to step away and take a breath.  That this moment of peace when you step away, clear your head, and take a breath is in fact a form of meditation, like a mini session that allows you to calm your mind and come back a little less tangled and with a bit more clarity.

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Today’s draw is the Five of Spring (Wands), which is traditionally about conflict with others, especially when those involved all have their own passionate ideas concerning the topic of the conflict, and keep butting heads as a result.

The message in today’s cards is a simple one.  When you are butting heads with someone and begin to feel frustrated or angry?  Step away.  Take a moment.  Take a breath to help untangle your emotions and thoughts.

Take that pause and come back with a clear mind and a calm heart, and you will find the conflict does not have to be so intense or aggression driven after all.  That moment… that deep breath taken… can make all the difference in turning things around and getting things back on track, or at least resolving things amicably, rather than on a discordant note.

DECK USED: UNNAMED TAROT

March 12 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was nine minutes long, and was one of the #DailyTrip sessions in the @Calm app. I can’t really remember what the session was about this morning, although I know that the majority of its focus was on finding the space between sounds and breaths.  That silent, still moment between one breath and the next, or between one sound and the next.

It encouraged using this space as a way to focus during meditation. An anchor that allows us to stay in the moment, and to return back to again and again when we become distracted during meditation practice.  And, I have to admit… there was an interesting type of peace found in following these moments from one to the next throughout the practice. It’s a focus during my meditation practice that I’ll definitely be visiting again.

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Today’s draw is the Hierophant card atop the Fool card.

  • The Hierophant card is traditionally a representation of tradition, spiritual guidance, long standing institutions, teachers and guides, and themes that deal with conformity and social norms.
  • The Fool card is traditionally a representation of innocence, enthusiasm, newness and fresh starts, carefree outlooks, spontaneity, naivete, and occasionally foolishness.

Combined with the Nadine Blacklock quote from today’s meditation session, “The more I am open to the world around me, the more I find what I seek”, what I see as the message in today’s cards is a reminder to make sure you are listening to those with the long term expertise that you don’t have rather than just jauntily going off on your own.

It’s great to experiment and to learn things on your own, but the advice here is to keep in mind that the time to experiment is often after you learn traditional methods first. With this knowledge under your belt, you then have more to work with and experiment with than you would have if you’d ignored traditional methods from the start.

DECK USED: STUDENT TAROT v3 aka. CLASSIC LOVE TAROT

Finding the Positive for March 6 – 8

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Oriental Drawing Tarot Blue Dragon Edition, Housing Tarot, Le Petit Oracle de Stef, Find Your Magic Tarot, and Think Oracle

March 6 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Today’s draw is the Page of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of a receptive “omega” energy in the area of one’s finances, resources, health, labors, home life, and manifestations. This often translates into themes that have to do with work apprenticeships and learning a new ability or skill.

When combined with the affirmation “From your feelings of gratitude come abundance”, the message that I see in today’s cards is that even when you are at the beginning of a journey? It’s important to appreciate where you are and what you’ve accomplished.

This sense of appreciation (also known as gratitude, although some have warped that term into something ugly of late it seems) means that you know where you stand and have solid footing in that position.  It means that you appreciate those that have helped you to get to where you are, as well as your own work in the process.  It means that even as you look forward into the accomplishments you still plan to make?  You also acknowledge how far you’ve already come.

The message in today’s cards is all about fostering that appreciation, and the feelings of abundance it creates in your life.  You know… so you don’t feel like a starving artist scraping your way by your fingernails… or whatever path (if not artist) that you choose for yourself.

DECKS USED: ORIENTAL DRAWING TAROT BLUE DRAGON EDITION AND LE PETIT ORACLE DE STEF’

March 7 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Today’s draw is the Ace of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of the seed of new beginnings in the area of one’s emotions, relationships, creativity, and intuition.

When combined with the affirmation “Your heart is a fire, and sometimes, it can burn you”, the message that I see in today’s cards is a reminder that experiencing new emotions can be overwhelming.  That doesn’t mean that we stop and bury them or tuck them away.

Instead, it means that we need to work through them and familiarize ourselves with them.  Just like when we’re learning a new skill or a new job, learning our emotions and familiarizing ourselves with brand new ones we’ve never experienced before takes time. It makes us feel vulnerable and sometimes at-odds with our experience.

Today, we are reminded to sit with these feelings and allow them time to become familiar instead of pushing them away, burying them, or otherwise giving up on them.  They’re new, but you’ll get the hang of them if you stick with it.

DECKS USED: FIND YOUR MAGIC TAROT AND THINK ORACLE

March 8 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was twelve minutes long, and was one of the #DailyTrip sessions from the Calm app.  I really liked this session, and I saved it to return to again in the future.   The topic was on how we are not failures at meditation when our minds wander.   The goal of meditation, as described in this session, isn’t to keep your mind blank, but to train your mind to return to a meditative focus again and again when it wanders.  Therefore, each time your mind wanders and you realize it, then bring it back to your meditative focus? You are actually excelling rather than failing.

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Today’s draw is the Hierophant atop the Queen of Cups (called the Dormitory of Missions in this deck).

  • The Hierophant card, is traditionally a representation of tradition, spiritual guidance, long standing institutions, teachers and guides, and themes that deal with conformity and social norms.
  • The Queen of Cups, is traditionally a representation of a receptive (and often nurturing) “alpha” energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s emotions, relationships, creativity, or intuition.

These cards for today are a reminder that calling ourselves failures is an emotional response to a situation where things are not going as we want them to.  It doesn’t help anything or fix anything, it just makes us feel worse. Together, the Hierophant and the Queen of Cups combine to speak of taking the advice of those in the know and using to foster a better sense of kindness and understanding towards yourself.

This, then, ties in with the meditation session I had today as well, and as a whole, speaks of a need to make sure that when things don’t go as we want them to, that we lay off the self blame. Listen to those that tell you it isn’t a failure, that it isn’t your fault, or that you should try again with a different perspective or method.  That negative voice in your head? It’s a novice.  These external influences that are encouraging you know better… so take that outside advice to heart and run with it.

DECK USED: THE HOUSING TAROT

Finding the Positive for March 3 – 5

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Card of the Day Tarot Reading with the Victorian Faery Tarot, Tarot of Transcendence, Fairy Tale Tarot, and Star Seeker Oracle

March 3 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Today’s draw is the Five of Spring (Wands), which is traditionally about conflict with others, especially when those involved all have their own passionate ideas concerning the topic of the conflict, and keep butting heads as a result.

Add to that the fact that some people find conflict fun (because some of the Fae in this card absolutely look like they’re having a good time), and we find a message here about social interactions. and remembering that conflict isn’t the end of the world.  Sometimes, though?  If we’re not enjoying the experience, it can be better to step back rather than keep swinging that stick.

This message is reinforced by the larkspur (Delphinium elatum) used as decoration around the edges of the card and in its background.  The larkspur encourages staying open and optimistic to new experiences.  When we step back instead of continuing to engage, we allow ourselves to find that openness within ourselves, and often give space for others to do the same.  You can then come back to the discussion with a more open and constructive attitude.

DECK USED: VICTORIAN FAERY TAROT

March 4 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Today’s draw is the Star card combined with Depletion. The Star card is often about hope, and creating balance between one’s physical reality and life’s non-physical attributes such as spirituality, emotions, etc.

Not surprisingly, what stands out to me in this Star card is that the woman is blindfolded combined with the spiral of stars above her head which look like circling thoughts.  Combined with the Depletion card, the message I see here is a reminder that when we are feeling worn out and depleted, it can be hard to remember to keep our thoughts positive.

This is part of the reason that rest is important.  Exhaustion or depletion drags us down, including not just our energy but our moods and our thoughts as well.  Since we can’t always avoid exhaustion or feelings of depletion, it’s important to remember the effects that these experience can have on our inner narratives and ensure that we don’t allow ourselves to spiral down into increased negative self-talk.

DECK USED: TAROT OF TRANSCENDENCE AND STAR SEEKER ORACLE

March 5 – 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.

The imagery on this card is a beautiful example of how the Two of Cups is not always about love or romance.  Sometimes it’s about harmony and connections of the heart that have nothing to do with romance or sex.

The message I see in today’s card is a reminder to make sure we focus on working with people instead of in opposition to them, and to seek opportunities to foster harmony instead of conflict or discord.

DECK USED: The Fairy Tale Tarot

Finding the Positive for February 21 – 23

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Lighthouse In Fog Tarot, Love and Courage Quest Tarot, Myths & Legends Tarot, and Sweet-Ass Affirmation Cards
February 21 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Today’s draw is the Queen of Wands atop the Five of Swords.

When others are feeling defeated, take a moment to step back and help them find their footing again. It’s easy to see them as not your problem, or even as a potential obstacle now no longer in your path. The cards for today, speak of taking another path.  One of compassion.

These cards are a reminder that it costs us nothing to help another who has stumbled get to their feet. Kindness costs us nothing but a little bit of our time.

So when you see someone struggling, take a moment to provide them with some encouragement. Help them light that inner spark of passion and purpose within them once more. It costs very little to give an encouraging word or a kind gesture, and it lifts not just the recipient up in the process… but yourself as well.

DECKS USED: LIGHTHOUSE IN FOG TAROT

February 22 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Today’s draw is the Temperance card combined with the affirmation “I do what I love. I love what I do.”

Earlier this month, I did a reading that talked about my addictive tendencies, and how it’s not about addictive substances, but rather about pleasure and dopamine and moderation.

The lion’s share of my income comes from running my own business. I love this job, but there are times when I get a bit burnt out on it. Especially when I end up in a rut just remaking the same things over and over because they sell well, instead of being given the freedom to create new things and experiment at will.

That, though, is a part of being responsible.  Isn’t it?  We have to sacrifice a little of our passion if we want to create something steady and stable. We have to do the things we don’t like, and combine them with those things that we do.  Would I be happier wildly creating at will without the need to do the repetitive parts of running a business?  Probably… at least for a while until the business started to fail because the drudgery parts of it weren’t being done. 

The cards for today are a reminder that moderation is needed in all things, even those things that are good for us, and especially in those things that we enjoy.  Otherwise?  Things can easily get out of hand.

DECKS USED: LOVE AND COURAGE QUEST TAROT AND SWEET-ASS AFFIRMATIONS 3

February 23 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Today’s draw is the Eight of Wands combined with the affirmations “I decorate my life with quality relationships, experiences, and purpose.”

Quality over quantity is an important message here in today’s affirmation card. It’s a reminder that more isn’t always better.  That is especially true when it comes to the people you surround yourself in.

Look at the witches in the Eight of Wands. They are a tribe.  Like minded and moving together, they are aligned with each other and all heading in the same direction.

Have you found -your- tribe yet? Or are you still forcing yourself to try and blend in with those that don’t quite fit you well at all?  That is the question asked in today’s cards, along with an encouragement to stop trying to “fit in” with those that aren’t for you, and instead start looking for those that -are- for you and that you will fit in with effortlessly.

DECKS USED: MYTHS & LEGENDS TAROT AND SWEET-ASS AFFIRMATIONS

Finding the Positive for February 17 – 19

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Brightwork Tarot, Dick Pic Tarot, Tarot Draconis, and Sweet-Ass Affirmations

February 17 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Today’s draw is the Four of Wands combined with the affirmation “My mind is exceptional. My body is optimal. My soul is serene.”

Your body is the home of your soul. It’s not meant to be perfect any more than life is meant to be easy.  It’s through the challenges we face, both in life as well as with our body, that we grow and learn and become better people than we are currently.

Limitations are frustrating, absolutely, and there’s lots of people that don’t like the body that their souls are housed in, whether that is because of disabilities or defects, weight issues, or any other issue.  Everyone… absolutely everyone has things about themselves they’re self-conscious about.  The important part? Is to love your soul’s home anyway, and value what it does for you.  After all, where would you be without it?

DECKS USED: BRIGHTWORK TAROT GOLDEN LOTUS EDITION AND SWEET-ASS AFFIRMATIONS

February 18 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Today’s draw is the Queen of Cups (Zaddy of Urinals) combined with the affirmation “By pumping my action muscle I make hesitation my bitch.”

Yesterday’s cards were about acceptance of your body, and today’s are about improving it in the ways that will make you and your body happy.

It’s about setting unreasonable expectations behind and acceptance, with the knowledge that we can all do a little bit better, and take care of ourselves a little bit more.

For me, this means making sure that I’m getting time outside in nature, no matter the time of year or the weather.  It’s what I need, both for happiness emotionally as well as my physical well being.  It means making sure I do my PT exercises each day so that I don’t stiffen up and lose mobility. It’s about making sure that I’m taking in enough protein and fuel to keep me going rather than skipping meals.

All of these things are things I have learned over the years that I need in order to be healthy and happy.  Some of them?  I don’t always enjoy, but I know that I need them. I do them because I need them, regardless of if I’d rather hibernate away or relax in bed for another half hour instead of getting up.

Self care is important, and means giving yourself the things you need for your body and soul to both feel healthy and happy.  Don’t forsake them just because you’d rather play possum.

DECKS USED: DICK PIC TAROT AND SWEET-ASS AFFIRMATIONS

February 19 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Today’s draw is the King of Cups atop the King of Wands. They encourage us to take a moment to look where we’re going, and who we are taking with us along for the ride.

Kings are leaders, and in the Cups and Wands suit, they lead through passion and understanding.  The problem is that sometimes, we need to make sure that we aren’t getting so wrapped up in the flames of our passions that we forget to pay attention to making sure things are going smoothly not just for you, but for others on the journey with you as well.

Make sure that you check in on those other people in your life and ensure they are doing okay, rather than ignoring their needs and how they’re doing while your gaze is focused on your goal.

DECKS USED: TAROT DRACONIS