Daily Focus

Morning Bonus Read – Responsibilities

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

The prompt for this reading came from one of my Discord servers and is as follows:
“In these uncertain times, let’s look at a few positives this week with the help of our divination tools. What good thing has not changed in the world this year? What do you have to look forward to? What can you do right now to move yourself toward a good future? And what can you do right now to move the world toward a better future?”

Permaculture Playing Cards

What good thing has not changed in the world this year?

Five of Spades – We have not been beaten into submission.  Instead society continues to fight.  Perhaps sometimes their fight is misdirected, but that spark is still there and burning bright. We continue to stand tall, even as 2020 tries to break us all.

What do I have to look forward to?

Six of Clubs – Vitality within my ambitions and drive. My endeavors will continue to thrive and go well, as long as I am willing to put my interest into them and apply my creative drive to keeping them going.

What can I do right now to move myself toward a good future?

Jack of Spades – Apply yourself to finding better ways to communicate with others and express yourself and your ideas clearly. Make a list of your interests and ideas so that you can explore them at your leisure instead of either rushing through with the concern you will forget about them before you learn what you want to learn.

What can I do right now to move the world toward a better future?

Two of Spades – Make good choices. Every positive thing you do and good choice you make trickles outward into the world much in the same way your creations bring positivity to others and that positivity spreads out from them.  Sometimes more can be accomplished through a million small good choices than one grand gesture.

DECK USED: PERMACULTURE PLAYING CARDS

Familiar Comforts

/ Twist the Leaf / 2 Comments

Today’s meditation was ten minutes long and I admit that I was a little distracted because I was eager to get out and go hiking. I did a second meditation in the woods lying naked on the forest floor in the mountains before going above the treeline, and that was much more relaxing. Although I didn’t time it, I would estimate the meditation probably lasted about half an hour… maybe a bit longer.

Cosmos Tarot and OracleToday’s draw is the Ten of Air (Ten of Swords) which is traditionally read as “the end of the line” of the tragedies of the Swords suit and is a culmination of the suit’s struggles.  It indicates themes that have to do with defeat, betrayal, and wounds that cut deep.

What stood out strongest to me in the imagery of this card today is the defeated slump of Medusa’s posture, but even more so… the snake that is closest to her face which then brings my attention to the others in the light… and from there the others yet still hidden in the shadows. In noticing this I feel that they must offer some sort of comfort.  They have been with her all this time and are surely, even as they are a part of her, also a comfort to her that they are there in this moment.

The message in today’s card is about not allowing times when you feel defeated by wounds (internal or external) that have cut you down also isolate you. Take comfort in others, seek out those that love you and care about you, find those that will sit and make space for you to just be… you.   Don’t look to them to solve anything, but take comfort in their presence and the fact that they are there.   You are not alone.

With my subdrop sure to be just around the corner, today’s card is a reminder that when I am feeling out of sorts from the drop, you are there for me to help me through.  Just your presence makes things better and eases that ache inside my soul.  I need to not hold myself apart and strive instead to move in closer and let you soothe the drop and untangle those inner knots that the drop creates.

DECK USED:  COSMOS TAROT AND ORACLE

#TarotForGrowthJuly Challenge Prompt
Topic: I’m struggling with self-worth.
Question:  How can I be more mindful about challenging and correcting negative self-talk?

Way of the Panda Tarot

Reading Summary: Remember to look at things from another angle (Judgement) and pay attention to the fact that you really have done a lot (Ten of Pentacles) and you’re a hard worker with great deal of hard earned skill (Eight of Pentacles).

Take Away: Instead of allowing my inner narrative to have free reign, pay attention to what you hear with your ears and take that to heart. You’ve spent your life refusing to allow people’s perceptions of you matter, but those same perceptions can boost you up and create a positive narrative to help you in counteracting the negative inner dialogue you deal with on a constant basis.

Remember as well that you have created a comfortable life not just for yourself, but for L as well.  You share your stability and comfort with others, and are more than capable of sustaining it going forward.  The skills you have worked so hard to master, and have used to create this stability  in your life, are not going to just disappear.

DECK USED:  WAY OF THE PANDA TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJul2020 Challenge Prompt
Question:  How can I feel more grounded on my life’s current path?

Evolution TarotReading Summary: Make sure you are getting the alone time that you need (The Hermit) and use that time to forge a new path for your inner dialogue (Knight of Swords). Keep in mind that positivity and optimism (The Star) is not a natural state for you and takes repetition and diligence (Knight of Swords again).

There is a theme of darkness and purple through each of these three cards that does not carry through the entire deck.  This speaks to me of not just solitude, but peaceful solitude.  This is why I indicate that the cards say that I need to use the alone time for distancing from my normal inner critic’s dialogue.

Take Away:  Peaceful alone time and continued work on the optimism perspective will combine to give me an increased feeling of grounding in my life at this time. Neglecting my alone time now that I have the opportunity to get it (even if not in the same ways I could before) is detrimental and I need to make sure I’m fitting that in.

DECK USED:  EVOLUTION TAROT

#OwlandBonesJuly Challenge by Owl and Bones Tarot
Question:  pencil // pen  // permanent marker // tattoo

Slavic Tarot

Recipe For A Good Life

Pencil in the hardships.
Add strength and purpose in pen.
Write in nurturing balance in permanent marker.
And tattoo motivation and drive into your soul.

DECK USED:  SLAVIC TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question:  How can I think more creatively?

Karma Tarot

Reading Summary: Don’t allow (Seven of Wands) your addictions (The Devil) to get in the way of your motivation (Eight of Wands).

Take Away:  Having an addictive personality is a bitch.  Just sayin’.   But it’s really hard sometimes to force yourself away from the stuff that feels good and you want more of.  Whether that’s certain foods, or sleep, or whatever…  So many things seem so innocuous but can become a mess of addiction and patterns that need to be broken so easily… so very easily.

The cards here indicate that it’s by staying on top of that addictive personality trait and making sure it’s kept in hand that allows my creativity free reign to flourish and grow.

DECK USED:  KARMA TAROT

Youthful Exuberance

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and I dozed off somewhere at the end of it, although I don’t think for very long. I was just feeling super relaxed and my allergies made my eyes feel good when closed… that combination sort of snuck up on me a bit with the nap.

Herbcrafter's TarotToday’s draw is the Hija of Fire (Page of Wands) card, which is traditionally interpreted as a receptive omega energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s drive, passions, interests, and inner spark.

What stands out to me the strongest in the imagery of this card today is the stuffed tiger up in the corner, and the amber sphere. The tiger speaks to me of youthful innocence and comfort. Even now in my 30’s I still can hug a stuffed animal up to my chest under my chin and find comfort in the soft fuzziness and squish in my arms.

Amber, on the other hand, is a healing stone. Not in that it heals, but in that it draws out negative energy, which then stimulates the body, mind, spirit into healing itself. Combined with the stuffed tiger, it reinforces that sense of innocence. The energy of the amber pulling out the negativity in the scene, sponging away pessimism, to leave behind youthful exuberance and innocent creativity.

The message in today’s card is a reminder to enjoy yourself. Exploration and creativity should be a fun process, not a chore. Do the things that interest you and let them carry you away into that place of positive energy and eager excitement.

DECK USED: HERBCRAFTER’S TAROT

#TarotForGrowthJuly Challenge Prompt
Topic: I’m struggling with self-worth.
Question: How can I reframe self-worth as something I possess intrinsically, rather than something I need to earn?

Wild Unknown Tarot

Reading Summary: Make a choice (The Lovers) to move away from uncertainty and self doubt (The Moon Rx) and accept that your sense of fulfillment comes from within (Ten of Pentacles).

The imagery for the Ten of Pentacles in this deck looks like a tree’s rings to me. The pentacles are clustered at the center, speaking of the value being within the core of the trunk from the beginning and remaining as a part of the inner make up rather than from anything external. The motion of the geese in the Lovers card reinforces the “moving away from” aspect of the reversed Moon.

Take Away: What keeps me from framing self worth as something intrinsic within me is my self doubt. If I can make the choices that move me away from that self doubt, I will find it easier and easier to see the worth of those “inner rings of growth” within me and their weight and strength will more easily shine brighter within my eyes.

DECK USED: WILD UNKNOWN TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJul2020 Challenge Prompt
Topic: Do Spread #2
Should I make this few days off break a monthly thing (other than during the holiday rush)?

Star Seeker's TarotReading Summary: Times of stillness create new perspective (The Hanged One) which create a sense of clarity to assist me in the choices I make (The Lovers). Opening up the door to a whole new world (The World).

The color coordination between the water in the first and the sky in the second connects these two cards into a flow of energy, connecting the perspective gained in the first card into the clarity of the sky in the second. The third card is completely different in color scheme and appearance, reinforcing the “whole new world” aspect.

Take Away: Yes. Do it. It will help you view your work and your life through a different lens, and in turn give you a more positive outlook both concerning your work, as well as concerning your free time. As you are stepping forward in trying to restructure your organization of your responsibilities and into your emotional growth, this change could assist in fostering both of these things.

DECK USED: STAR SEEKER TAROT

#OwlandBonesJuly Challenge by Owl and Bones Tarot
Question: Mercury goes direct: release // return // retry

Psychopomp Tarot

Release – Ten of Wands – It’s time to release the last remnants of that sense of betrayal that came with the arrival of “the letter” last fall/winter. The dregs of that pain has continued to be a block to my creative flow.

Return – The Magician – In releasing the pain mentioned above, I can then return to the confident creative man I’ve always been without the restraint of fear and pain holding me back. My skills and abilities can then shine bright and I will be able to apply them to my endeavors freely and without restraint.

Retry – The Sun – Finding joy in my work. This is something that has been a progression since the mess that “the letter” created. In stages I have tried and stalled out, then tried again. I will continue to work at instilling more joy into my work and appreciating my craftsmanship as well as the pleasure I take in sending my work out into the world to bring joy to others as well. I will continue to try and try again.

DECK USED: PSYCHOPOMP TAROT

 

Morning Bonus Read – Responsibilities

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

The prompt for this reading came from one of my Discord servers and is as follows:
“This week, check in with your divination tools about what burdens you might be carrying or things you believe are your responsibility, that you should not be—and what things you aren’t carrying or aren’t recognizing as responsibilities that you should be.”

Birds Oracle Deck

Left Three:
What do I take responsibility for that I should not?

Grackle – You don’t have to “show up” for everything or be a part of everything.

Black Capped Chickadee – It’s your ego that drives you to take on too much. You need to feel like you’re doing enough, and you overfill your plate in an effort to fulfill that need.

Kiwi – Pick your battles and pick your projects, and let the rest go.

Take Away: Taking on too much is an addiction that needs breaking.  Stop seeing it as an admirable quality and be more reasonable with what you can handle.

Right Three:
What is my responsibility that I have not claimed?

Ruby Throated Hummingbird – Taking advantage of a situation to get something you want rather than leaning towards conservation.

Zebra Finch – Find the grounding roots you need rather than allowing yourself to drift in limbo.

Flamingo – You are not taking care of yourself physically.

Take Away: Self care includes more than just dealing with internal demons and fostering inner growth.  You have to take care of your body as well.  It’s time to stop using your “change in situation” from the pandemic as an excuse for not exercising or eating properly.

Center Card:
How can I correct the imbalance between these two?

Ivory Billed Woodpecker – It’s important to look for the ways that letting go of overburdening yourself and taking better care of your body can improve your future.  Don’t get so wrapped up in the now but look forward and look for the small opportunities that can build over time into large results.

DECK USED: BIRDS ORACLE DECK AND BIRDS ORACLE DECK 2

Seasoning the Food

/ Twist the Leaf / 3 Comments

Today’s meditation was probably about five minutes long, but I ended up falling asleep in the middle of it so I’m not entirely sure just how long it lasted.  I’ve been really tired today and even after two naps, I’m still feeling a bit groggy and fuzzy.   This is something you have definitely noticed and I just want to say it again… it isn’t anything to do with you. That’s all.   I’ve not missed any dosages of my meds and you haven’t done anything that would cause me to avoid you. I’m spacey and fuzzy brained.

I will give meditation another try before bed tonight, although I will probably fall asleep during that one too.

Cosmos Tarot and OracleToday’s draw is the Ten of Earth (Ten of Pentacles) which is traditionally a representation of completion and fulfillment in the areas of one’s finances, resources, health, and the physical world.

Two things stand out the strongest to me in the imagery of this card today.  The first is the fact that she has one of her eyes bandaged.  This speaks to me of the nature of perfection. In my experience, perfection cannot exist without the existence of a flaw of some sort.  As this card is a representation of completion and fulfillment, it feels only right that there should be a “fly in the ointment” to create that perfect finish.

The second thing that drew my attention in this card today is the glowing cross in the angel’s hands. This cross is stunted in its length, which in turn reminds me more of the circle of the elements and seasons.  The lines of the cross in this incarnation indicates the four directions, and the spaces between each of these lines represent the seasons.  In this way, the cross in this card feels today as if it represents the “everything” concept, bringing in all things and all time together as one.

The message here is in accepting the flaws that make a life perfect.  Perfection exists, but only in the fact that it is the imperfections that make perfection what it is.  When looking at your life, do not focus only on the struggles and strife, but consider them the sprinkling of pepper that seasons the delicious dish that is your life as a whole.

DECK USED:  COSMOS TAROT AND ORACLE

#TarotForGrowthJuly Challenge Prompt
Topic: I’m struggling with self-worth.
Question:  What is inherently toxic about the way I currently evaluate my worth?

Tarot of the Journey to The Orient

Reading Summary: There’s no patience or understanding (Temperance Rx) and no joy (The Sun Rx), only a clusterfuck of bad choices (imagery in the Seven of Chalices) and the constant push for more (imagery in the Three of Pentacles).

Take Away:  The toxicity in how I evaluate my worth has to do with the fact that instead of being kind and understanding with myself, whenever I make a mistake or a bad choice my inner critic jumps at the chance to rip me a new one and tear me down.   This combined with that constant pushing for more and better combine to create an extremely toxic inner dialogue.   The cards indicate this could be turned around by allowing more kindness and patience into the equation, and more positivity into that inner dialogue.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE JOURNEY TO THE ORIENT

#DiscordTarotholicsJul2020 Challenge Prompt
Topic:  Current Challenge / Potential Resolution

The Animism TarotCurrent Challenge – Nine of Swords – Negative self talk and a destructive inner dialogue are causing a bit of overwhelm.  This is part of the reason I decided to take some time off.  Yes, this creates a different type of criticism to take place as guilt over taking time for myself screws with my head a bit… but at the same time?  I can feel the relief that allow myself some time away from the pressure has already given me.  I don’t have to go back to work until Wednesday, and it’s a wonderful bit of a break.

Potential Resolution – The Empress and Ace of Wands – Take this time to pamper yourself and give yourself some nurturing and comfort while you explore creative ideas and interests.  There’s a lot of fun to be had in that exploration if you let yourself just enjoy it and treat yourself with nurturing understanding instead of that normal slave driver mentality you usually approach yourself with. 

DECK USED:  ANIMISM TAROT

#OwlandBonesJuly Challenge by Owl and Bones Tarot
Topic:  you // me // us

Numinous Tarot

You – The World – The end all, be all of everything. You are the end of the road and culmination of all that has come before, as well as the future that is spread out before me.

Me – Mystic of Candles – I light the fire of passion and am the driving force. I kindle the spark of passion and interest and even obsession between us, and you are the moth to my flame.

Us – The Sun – Pure joy and happiness.

DECK USED:  NUMINOUS TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question:  From where do I get my best ideas?

Albano Waite Tarot

Reading Summary: Times of struggle and strife, defeat and destruction (Ten of Swords and The Tower) drive me forward and kindle my inner spark where my creativity lives, while the need to share with the world (as well as be seen as) more than these things emboldens me to take these ideas forward and share them with others (Six of Wands).

Take Away: The cards here indicate that my best creative ideas are sourced by a combination of the kindled spark of “fight” within me created by the struggles I’ve gone through, and the need to share something beautiful with the world so that others do not look at live (or me) through eyes that see only the struggles dealt.  I want others to see and experience beauty and good things… I want to share that with them, and have that beauty I share, in turn, associated with me.

DECK USED:  ALBANO WAITE TAROT

Rolling Stones Standing Still

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

IMG_5153Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and a guided meditation that focused upon vulnerability and creativity.  There is vulnerability in creativity… as well as in all those other things mentioned in the Brene Brown quote on the right.   I’m not sure if I would consider vulnerability the birth place of these things…. but I think that it takes a certain level of vulnerability to allow them in and allow them to have influence over you.

All of those emotions leave you vulnerable to being hurt, and creativity does as well.  It takes bravery to create, to put what you have made out there in the world and allow people to see it.  Whether we want them to judge these creations or not?  They will.  And those judgements can hurt when they are not positive.

Herbcrafter's Tarot - The World - PachamamaToday’s draw is The World card, which is traditionally a representation of the fulfillment and achievement that can be obtained by reaching the end of a journey, transitioning through growth into a new journey, as well as the cycles of life and reincarnation.

What stands out to me the strongest in the imagery of this card today is the monarch butterfly.  A butterfly’s life is full of cycles.  The cycle from caterpillar to butterfly, the cycle of migration they go through each year, etc.   They are in constant flux of one sort or another, and never fully still or stagnant in life.  At the same time, the stones in the floral mandala also really catch my eye.  These stones are positioned to represent the four directions and thus, the four elements.

The combination of these two aspects are a message of encouragement concerning finding balance and direction. At the moment I am feeling a bit stagnant and struggling with direction, and I feel like the stones in the imagery and how they stand out to me today is an encouragement that taking this time off to just relax and de-stress is a good move.

DECK USED:  HERBCRAFTER’S TAROT

#TarotForGrowthJuly Challenge Prompt
Topic: I’m struggling with self-worth.
Question:  When did I first start to lose my sense of worth?

New Palladini Tarot

Reading Summary: There were many times in my youth when uncertainty was an issue for me (The Moon) and yet I was left to deal with it on my own as everyone abandoned me during my times of need (Eight of Cups). I did the best that I could with what I had at the time to work with (Page of Rods), but I was judged harshly for the results regardless (The Last Judgement).

Take Away:  This type of behavior pattern from others during my developmental years created a sense of always needing to do better and the mentality that only perfection was acceptable from me. This is something I’ve carried into adulthood, and I’ve only started to recognize as a problem and work on over the last few years.

DECK USED:  NEW PALLADINI TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJul2020 Challenge Prompt
Question:  How can I strengthen my relationship with my loved ones?

Tarotbot TarotReading Summary: Be generous (Six of Coins) in sharing your passions with others (King of Wands) and spread your enthusiasm and inspiration around and see what comes back to you in turn (Page of Wands).

Take Away:  By involving them more in those things that I enjoy and find inspiration in.  Most of my creative endeavors and passionate interests are solo activities, but many have the potential to be more by sharing these activities with others.  By doing this, I open myself up to let them in closer, and become closer to them in turn, which then strengthens those relationships.

DECK USED:  TAROTBOT TAROT

#OwlandBonesJuly Challenge by Owl and Bones Tarot
Topic:  embrace // erase // face

The Fifth Tarot

Emperor – Embrace your power and accept the authority that you have over others, whether you really want it or not. Embrace your role in this family and among others, and your role as a leader. You are the stable protector and provider, the foundation, and that’s okay.

Judgement and Ten of Swords – Erase self-doubt. The struggles that you have gone through do not need to be rehashed again and again in your mind, and evaluated over and over looking for flaws and mistakes. You’ve done the best you could so let these worries go and focus on moving forward.

Three of Lotus – Not even stone can withstand the flow of water, forever unchanged by its currents. Face the fact that you cannot stand stagnant and move forward at the same time. You have to be able to except that things are going to change in all aspects of your life as well as within you as you move along this path of growth you are on.

DECK USED:  THE FIFTH TAROT