Da Brigh Black Tarot

Full Moon in Aries – October 2021

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today is the full moon, and like all new moons and full moons, I did a spread aligned to the moon’s current themes as a part of my recognition of the moon’s cycle and influences upon us. Today’s spread is about rocking your authenticity, and brought to you by Sharron Basanti of Seeds of Shakti.

Da Brigh's Dark Tarot - Full Moon in Aries

1. What half truths about myself do I need to acknowledge and release in order to rock my authenticity?

The Hierophant atop Six of Swords – Sometimes you feel the urge to run away rather than deal with things in an adult manner. This is actually natural for everyone, and not something that you need to be ashamed of or beat yourself up about.

2. How can I tap into my true potential to accomplish my core desires?

Queen of Wands – Give yourself the praise and encouragement that you crave, so that you are not looking for it elsewhere.

3. In what aspect of my life do I need to step up to the plate as a leader?

Seven of Wands – You aren’t giving enough praise to those around you. By providing them with praise you are encouraging them, telling them that are appreciated, letting them know that what they contribute is appreciated, as well as putting it out there that they are doing well. This then encourages them to take pride in themselves and their work.

4. When would I benefit from taking risks and being impulsive?

The Tower – When the time to tear things down and rebuild has arrived, impulsivity and risk taking is okay.  It can even be beneficial in these times, to be impulsive instead of strategizing out every single minute detail.

5. Message from the Ancestors.

Five of Swords – Focus on getting ready, for the battle is almost upon you. (aka. the holiday rush)

DECK USED: DA BRIGH’S BLACK TAROT

Not All “New” Ideas Are Good Ideas

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s meditation was ten minutes long and was a quiet non-guided meditation with interval timer for my piriformis stretches. I really just needed a little peace, and I felt that the guided meditation, or even a bit of music, would feel like a bit too much over-stimulation.

Tarot of Haunted House - Ace of SwordsToday’s draw is the Ace of Swords, which traditionally is a representation of new ideas, the beginning of educational pursuits, and ambition.

What stands out to me in this card is the position of the hand that is holding the knife. In this position, it is poised to press down and slice which indicates to me that this is a prime position for suicide.

Not all new ideas are good ideas.

When I was younger I had a whole lot of suicidal ideation. In fact… I had a whole lot of suicidal urges. It wasn’t just ideas and it wasn’t just daydreams and it wasn’t just thoughts. It was an overwhelming urge that visited me again and again, whether I was in the middle of a clinical depression or not. It was something my brain would just not let go of, a longing I couldn’t seem to release.

I’d like to say that love was the answer to this issue, but it wasn’t. Things really changed for me when Prozac came into my life in my 20s, and slowly but surely, the urges began to fade… and then the thoughts followed suit.

Now, as I’ve aged, I’ve come to realize that my life is precious. I want to live a long life, and I want to enjoy every minute of it. And when the end comes, I’m going to be sad about that. These are the realizations that came and developed over time once the suicidal ideation was finally moved out of the way.

I can’t say that the suicidal thoughts don’t come back… because they do. Prozac helps keep me balanced and level, but it doesn’t prevent the occasional major depressive episode from sneaking in. During those times the world looks a lot different and the urges to end my life come back, and I have to remind myself that the depression is only temporary and an illusion. What I’m feeling at those times is a lie.

Not all new ideas are good ideas.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF HAUNTED HOUSE

LionHart’s #TheOctoberTarot #SeasonOfTheWitchChallenge Prompt
Question: Trick – What have I learned this month?

Grim Tarock

Reading Summary: This month I have learned that entertaining addictions (The Dark Lord) for too long leads to a deconstruction of stability and old values (The Tower).  But, you can counteract that with patience and moderation (Temperance) which then leads to reigning in chaos to your advantage (Nine of Citadels atop Knight of Chaos).

Take Away: This isn’t only about deck collecting, which I need to slow down on for a bit as it is a bit of a drain on the finances.  But there’s other addictions here too.  Issues with eating unhealthy foods, with retreating into myself, skipping my meditations, and not getting the time in nature and exercise I need.   All of these things boil down to the addictions and temptations that are, when allowed to go on too long unrestrained, unhealthy for me.  At the top of this list is my self destructive urge, as well, and that is also a problem as it’s what drives so many of my other bad habits and allowances towards excess.

Moderation (which I admit is not my strongest of skills) is the key to the whole mess, of course. With moderation, I can then get a reign on that chaos so ready to run out of control and bring it to heel and benefit me instead of becoming destructive.

DECK USED:  GRIM TAROCK

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2020 Challenge Prompt
Philosophical Question: Does one’s name influence the person they become?

Ludy Lescot TarotReading Summary: A name can absolutely be a factor in leading the way in one’s life (Eight of Cups), especially if someone is not secure in themselves and have stability in their life (Four of Wands). It’s something that we carry with us throughout our lives (The World). But ultimately, there is an uncountable number of factors that influence the people we become, and it’s just one of the many (Seven of Cups).

Take Away:  A person’s name can influence who they become, but it is only one in a vast number of influences that make up the whole of a person’s development, and a rather small influence at that as long as the person has a good foundation beneath their feet and a solid surroundings and home life to lean into so that such things don’t take up too much of their focus.

DECK USED:  LUDY LESCOT TAROT

#MysticStarChallenge October Challenge Prompt
Question: How do I nurture myself to strengthen my relationship with my Guides?

Curio Tarot

Reading Summary: Be kind with yourself (Queen of Cups), and pick a direction (Two of Wands) for your expertise to grow into (Eight of Pentacles). Keep hope alive in your head and heart, and work on your optimism (The Star).

Take Away:  Nurturing myself with kindness and working on my optimism are repeating themes in my cards, and things that I truly need repeated reminders to keep up on.  The center cards about picking a direction for my expertise to grow into is an interesting addition, and something I need to turn over in my mind for a bit.  It’s good advice, it’s just not something I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about.  I’ve so long been a man of many skills that picking an expertise and a direction… even while making excellent sense? Feels weird to consider.

DECK USED:  CURIO TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What cards represent my spiritual best?

Da Brigh Black Tarot

Queen of Spheres – Grounded and deeply rooted within that grounding. Filled with creativity and nurturing manifestation, the need to create and bring to life those things that are only thoughts is in my soul whether it is through the growth of plants, artistic pursuits, or the creation of jewelry.

Justice – My need for balance and fairness is an integral part of my moral compass.  I know that life is not fair, but I also know that even if the only fairness in the world comes from me?  I’m going to do my best to instill a level of fairness and balance into my life and, when possible, the lives of others as well.  It is needed.

King of Swords – My knowledge is extensive and diverse, and I have the ability to inspire others to seek knowledge on what inspires their curiosity as well. Leading by example, I delve into any subject that draws my interest and my focus, and although I am willing to share that knowledge with others, I’m also very much interested in pushing others to explore on their own as well.

DECK USED:  DA BRIGH BLACK TAROT

New Moon in Libra – October 2020

/ Twist the Leaf / 2 Comments

De Brigh Black Tarot - New Moon in Libra Tarot Reading

Yesterday was the new moon, and like all new moons and full moons, I did a spread aligned to the moon’s current themes as a part of my recognition of the moon’s cycle and influences upon us.  Today’s spread is brought to you by Ethony‘s Tarot By the Moon series.

1. What is my sensual side craving?

Queen of Swords – Control without harshness.  Guidance without sharp edges.  Just pretty much exactly what I’m been getting from Gideon.  This is not surprising, because Gideon and I are often in sync as to the “flavor” of intimacy we’re delving into.

2. Where can I be more romantic?

Ten of Swords atop Eight of Cups –  Yield instead of running away.   Don’t avoid the submission you crave.  Enjoy it for as long as you can, because soon the holiday rush will not be allowing for any dropping at all… which means no drowning/subspace will be possible either.

3. What needs rekindling?

Ace of Swords – Our communication. Okay so this is just something I’ve noticed lately, but a big part (not in its entirety of course as there’s also a good deal of mental health stuff and teaching going on here, as well as the fact I’ve turned to using it as a digital tarot journal)…. right.  Digression.

Anyway, a big part of the reason for the existence of my blog is to allow Gideon to look into what’s going on with me.  What’s up with my thoughts and worries, my concerns and my feelings. To give him the ability to see what’s going on.    And the thing is, it does that.  But it feels like… I dunno.   I feel like there’s just a quick skim and then a quick “I love you” or other brief response to like one tiny thing that catches the eye.

So it kind of makes me wonder…. is he reading the whole thing?  Or is he just reading a bit of it?  Is he really reading?  I guess I kind of feel that way about the Gid’s Challenge posts sometimes too. They are just for him, but sometimes it feels like… there’s barely any response to them at all.

Maybe it’s not our communication that needs rethinking at all, but rather my clarity concerning why I’m writing in this blog in the first place and the expectations placed upon it and upon him.

4. How can I be more tender with myself?

Four of Swords atop Five of Wands – Meditation over conflict is the message in these cards. I need to start meditating more regularly again, as it will help me in taking control over my inner conflict and allow for a calmer and more centered energy in my day to day.  This calm and centered energy is going to be extremely important as the holiday rush takes hold and turns my world upside down.

5. Where can I best direct this new moon’s energy?

Seven of Swords atop Five of Cups Rx – Strategy is going to be important in order to avoid personal setbacks as I move into the end of the second half of this month.  Be sure that I have my strategies in place for how to deal with the things I need to get done, and don’t deviate from them.

This is an echo of a reading I did a week or so ago that stated “start as you wish to continue on”.  Now the cards speak of that “continuing on” by sticking to the plan.

DECK USED: DA BRIGH BLACK TAROT

Start As You Want To Continue

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

IMG_6923Today’s meditation was just over ten minutes long and was another of the guided meditation with interval timer added in for the position shifts of my piriformis stretches. It’s been a few days now since I’ve skipped my meditation and those stretches, and I’m still struggling with getting my flexibility back that I lost by skipping two days in a row. It’s not so much that I can’t get into the same stretch as before? It’s that it takes longer for my body to release in those stretches, which means it hurts longer, yeah?

Okay, so anyway. Today’s guided meditation focused on practicing a bit of “distance” in our experiences so that we have a beat in which to think before we react. This is a really good practice that is especially valuable when it comes to dealing with anger or frustration.

Developing the ability to take that momentary ‘beat’ of a second when you are feeling reactionary?  It is that split second between snapping at someone for no reason and ruining their day, and realizing you’re being snippy and course correcting not just your own day, but keeping from damaging someone else’s.

Tarot of Haunted House - Two of WandsToday’s draw is the Two of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of making plans and preparations, plotting the course forward, planning for the future, and focusing on progress.

While the poppet card in this deck was my second favorite card in this deck?  This is my third favorite.   Interestingly, though… it isn’t the spirit board and hand that draw my attention this time when I see this card, but rather the open window and the moon beyond.

There is also a significant pull in the imagery in relation to the foreground and the distant background.  There is a huge stretch here between the two, and yet both seem so close at the same time.

The message that I see in today’s card is to start as you wish to continue forward.  Today is a new day.  If you want to do meditation every day? Start today… don’t skip it.  If you want to do an hour of prep every day? Start today… don’t skip it. Procrastination breeds more procrastination, so stop procrastinating and be proactive instead.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF HAUNTED HOUSE

LionHart’s #TheOctoberTarot #SeasonOfTheWitchChallenge Prompt
Question: Something I could work on to strengthen/grow my magic.

Tarot Z

Reading Summary:  Look into better (Ace of Pentacles) and more proactive wards and protections (Five of Wands) that will allow for lower effort and more rest and recovery (Four of Swords)

Take Away:  Okay, so I agree that my wards and protections that I have in place in my home are a bit excessive.  Especially concerning that the Fae I have accepted and welcomed into my home seem to police themselves quite well.  This excessive approach was born from the home invasion that took my voice and, for a minute or two, my life.

It also stole a great deal of my sense of security, that I shored up using these wards and protections I’d developed.    The thing is though?  They do take a lot of work and time and magical energy to keep up.  This energy could be directed in other areas… but to be comfortable doing that I think I need to do some shadow work on that feeling of vulnerability that the home invasion caused.

DECK USED:  TAROT Z

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: What positive theme/event in my ancestral past do I need to acknowledge?

Trick or TarotReading Summary:  Overcoming (The Sun) bad habits and unhealthy temptations (Old Scratch) through innovative ideas, as well as communication and learning from others (Page of Swords).

Take Away:  The indication in these cards is that this is a pattern. The cards here are saying that my addictive personality traits are a hereditary thing, and something that cycles through the life of my self and the ancestors before me. And that those who have used the advice of others and shared their struggles find innovative ways to rise above and find a better more positive path.

DECK USED:  TRICK OR TAROT

#MysticStarChallenge October Challenge Prompt
Question: What message do my spirit guides have for me today?

Tarot of Vampyres

Reading Summary: Make choices (Seven of Grails) that lift you up and allow for you to nurture yourself and others (Queen of Skulls). This is a learning process towards a new future (Daughter of Scepters), and like all learning processes there’s going to be some stumbling blocks along the way (Five of Pentacles).

Take Away:  The message here is about making sure that I’m being kind to myself and easy on myself when I stumble or back slide a bit on this new path of work/home balance and emotional intelligence that I’ve been traveling on. 

DECK USED:  TAROT OF VAMPYRES

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What is my biggest challenge when keeping a spiritual journal?

Da Brigh Black Tarot

Reading Summary: A traditional spiritual journal requires me to be self directed in expressing my emotions (Queen of Cups) without the support and help of others to assist me (Two of Cups) in working through the difficult times and struggles (Five of Spheres).

Interestingly? I thought that this reading was going to tell me that it was about time… but instead it called me out on that issue of “time” being an excuse instead of a genuine reason.

Take Away:  I used to keep a physical journal that was a blend of my spirituality and my personal tarot readings. The thing is? There’s no accountability at all, no encouragement… no input or new perspectives to be had or suggested, and no support. All of these things made it really hard to keep up on this physical journal.

Now?  I do most of my journaling here, and when something needs delved into deeper?  I do it with Gideon.  As I’ve picked up on how much personal readings I do over the past year, it has given a lot of fodder for picking up these helpful conversations. This has created a dynamic that provides me with different viewpoints than my own, as well as support, and also an opportunity to teach someone about my beliefs and my practices a little at a time.   All of this has been a huge plus for me.

DECK USED:  DA BRIGH BLACK TAROT