Daily Focus

Ups and Downs… It’s All Temporary

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Today’s meditation was non-existent thus far, as I was late making it home from the farm, which meant that the housekeeper was here waiting for me when I got home.  I will do a meditation tonight when I go to bed, which will probably result in me dozing off.

I don’t get the same benefits from bedtime meditation as I do when I do it in the morning, but I also recognize that I can’t always manage the mornings, and there are still benefits even if not as noticeable.

Wheel of Fortune - Efflorescent TarotToday’s draw is the Wheel of Fortune card, and as one would suspect from this card, it represents good luck, but also the bad luck.  It represents the ups and the downs of life, and like all Major Arcana cards, deals with an overall outlook rather than any one aspect of the human experience.

This is my birth card for the year, and it is one of two cards that have been spending a lot of time stalking me over the past two weeks.   This one, I understand as there is a theme to the beginning of the year and the new year’s birth card.  Clearly this year is going to be filled with ups and downs.

The lesson here?  It is in the hands in the water.   The Wheel of Fortune is here to remind me to appreciate the good times, because they don’t last forever… and to hold on and keep treading water in the bad times… because they are also temporary.

DECK USED:  EFFLORESCENT TAROT (COLOR EDITION)

#TarotForGrowthJanuary Challenge Prompt
Question: How can I make the most of that energy (from yesterday’s read)?

The Fey TarotReading Summary:  Instead of allowing the daunting task before me to intimidate me (Seven of Chalices), I need to concentrate on putting my energy into the planning and organizing side of things and taking things one step at a time (Knave of Wands).

Take Away:   There’s a lot of elements involved in figuring out the best way to move forward.  It’s not so much the path before me that’s changing as I restructure things with my business, but rather how I walk. With so many elements involved, it feels a bit overwhelming and intimidating, but as with most things of this nature, I know that if I just take thing one very small step at a time, the progress will begin to add up.

DECK USED:  THE FEY TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJan2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: What could you use more of in your life?

Ethereal Visions Tarot

Reading Summary:  Authority (King of Wands) and ownership (The Empress) over my fear of things falling apart (Five of Pentacles).

Take Away:  All decisions to make a change have the potential to create anxiety for me, and the thing is that with the changes in my business that I’m making?  I have a LOT of anxiety that I might screw things up and end up tanking my business as a result.  These fears are a bit irrational, and I know that, but they bring about a need for a far more self possessed and grounded energy than I’ve been riding on of late.

DECK USED:  ETHEREAL VISIONS TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge Prompt
Question: Who would I like to be?

Wheel of Fortune TarotReading Summary:   Someone who is centered and self assured (Queen of Pentacles) in their abilities and able to have the stability of good fortune on my side (Ten of Pentacles) in life as I make difficult choices (Two of Swords) that normally create within me a sense of uncertainty.

Take Away:  This read is about wanting to feel more stable and grounded during situations that would normally create a good deal of anxiety for me.

DECK USED:  THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE TAROT

Forethought and Choices

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Today’s meditation was just over twelve minutes long, and was focused (again) on the new year.  It spoke of new years resolutions, and how they don’t work.   Not because we don’t want them to or don’t have every intention of following through with them, but because change is often something that needs to be integrated into our lives one small step at a time so that we have time to adjust and adapt.

When we try to instill change in a sudden sort of way, what  often happens is that you have difficulty following on through the larger changes once the newness has fallen away.   When you stretch out the process and take little steps?  There’s a better chance of it sticking as it means that the new habits have time to integrate and overwrite the old.

My personal opinion is that sometimes it works… and sometimes?  It doesn’t, yeah?  Some habits need more than willpower to break.  Sometimes it’s not about habits, but about a mindset.  And sometimes?  What we’re trying to break the habit of doing isn’t a habit at all, but a part of our very nature.  All of that’s okay.  It doesn’t mean we give up, only that  we try again and search for new and different methods that might work better the next time.

Knight of Swords - Spacious TarotToday’s draw is the Explorer of Swords, which is the equivalent of the Knight of Swords in this deck. Traditionally this card represents a proactive beta energy, personality, or person in the realm of logic, thoughts, intellect, and communication.   This often comes through as relating to the themes of quick minded ambition and, occasionally, impulsiveness.

The thing is, though, when I see today’s card, what I see is less impulsiveness and more of a “look before  you leap.   The crow sits upon the blade of the sword, but thinks twice about moving out onto the blade where it overhangs open space, as if considering if it is a wise decision (which, of course, it is not… that crow is far too heavy to perch out there).

Yes, the crow will survive either way.  It can fly.   But the choice the crow makes now is the the one that matters.  If it steps out on the blade?  It will force an action that otherwise the crow would never have made.  A choice forced upon it by the previous choice already made.

As a result, this message is more about thinking before you act.  And about making sure that the steps taken are taking me in the right direction, the direction that I want to go in, rather than allowing my choices to force me into decisions and directions I wasn’t planning on going in.

DECK USED:  SPACIOUS TAROT

#TarotForGrowthJanuary Challenge Prompt
Question: What energy did I bring along into 2020?

Field Tarot

Reading Summary:  I’m feeling a bit of disappointment over the past year (Five of Cups) and want to move forward with changes to how I juggle (Two of Disks) my business and ambitions over the next year (Ace of Wands).

Take Away:  I’ve mentioned this in previous readings, so it’s not a huge surprise that it would come up today with this question.  I feel like my plate has been too full with work related mess over the past year, and I need to put some priority on the more administrative side of things in order to help my business grow.

I always set the administrative side of things to the back burner and then things end up a bit of a mess. Moving into the new year I’m carrying with me that desire to try balancing things in a different way, the disappointment of the year behind me there to push me onward into that goal.

DECK USED:  THE FIELD TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJan2020 Challenge Prompt
Gideon… This is not just a reading prompt, but also an invitation for you to join me in one of the tarot discord servers I am a member of.  It is my congratulations gift to you for having completed the first stage of your lessons in the tarot, and I have been looking forward to giving it to you for some time.  I hope you will decide to join me.
Question:  Do Spread #1

Maregician Tarot Sleeplessness EditionReading Summary:   This is a spread about the wicked witch of the deep south.  I did not choose the target of the spread, but rather allowed the spread to choose for me.  The King of Clubs indicates that the negative influence she had over my life was to yank me forward into that habit of mine of being over-analytical while stuffing my feelings in a box to the side.  The Moon indicates that in return, my negative aspect on her was to create within her a sense of uncertainty.  The Star indicates that the positive influence that they had upon my life was in planting the seeds of inspiration to get more deeply in touch with my spirituality.  The Two of Hearts indicates that my positive influence on her life is that she developed a closer, deeper bond her crones as a result of our encounter and that possibly one in particular in her group stepped forward in a big way in this capacity at that time.

Take Away:  What I get from this spread is that my encounter with the wicked witch of the deep south created not just bad things… but also benefits.  This is something that’s not always easy for me to see, but I do understand how it works, as even negative experiences have positive aspects in how they play out.

DECK USED:  MAREGICIAN TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge Prompt
Question:  My biggest challenge this year.

Lighteater’s Tarot

Reading Summary:  Mmm well, this is a new deck, and I’m apparently going to have to work past the whole face of the guy in the Knight of Staves because he looks JUST like this super slob gross person that used to live next door.  Just sayin’.  Onward to the reading…

Working with others can always be quite challenging for me (Three of Coins), but if I want to advance in my ambitions concerning my business (Knight of Staves) I am going to have to find a way to be the boss and direct a helper while keeping my own issues about working with others stable and centered, and my eye on the ball (King of Staves).

Take Away:  Now that I’ve moved on from my last helper and her undependable ways, it’s going to be necessary to reassess my own reactions to working with others and search for someone that is a better fit for the way I work.   Preferably someone far more dependable than the last.   This won’t be an easy process, but if I’m proactive in the approach, I’ll be able to find what I need.

DECK USED:  LIGHTEATER’S TAROT

There Is Light at the End of the Tunnel

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Today’s meditation was just over ten minutes long and wasn’t really focused on anything in particular even though it was a guided meditation.   The guide took me through a breathing exercise and then spoke near the end about the new year and how important it is to step forward into the future with a mentality of hope and anticipation rather than pessimism.

The Emperor - Ostara Tarot Today’s draw is The Emperor of the Major Arcana.  I really love the imagery for this Emperor card, which speaks to me of not just dominance and control, but an earthy power behind that strength as well.

The Emperor’s appearance on this last day of the year is an encouragement.  I have been feeling very adrift and struggling with an awkward sense of directionless discomfort over the past week since the holiday rush ended.  The Emperor is a reminder that it won’t always be that way and I’ll find that familiar sense of grounded strength and surety once again soon enough.

DECK USED:  OSTARA TAROT

Bonus Reading – #TarotForGrowthDecember

Question: How can I make the most of this coming year?

Fateshifter’s TarotReading Summary:  Set aside my inner conflict (Five of Swords) and instead embrace the new beginnings that the new year represents (The World) and jump in with both feet (Eight of Wands).  Give and Take (Six of Pentacles)

Take Away:  Sometimes how you take your steps forward into the future is an inspiration to others, and sometimes the way others do so can be an inspiration to us.  The cards in today’s draw is telling me to look outside myself and seek out the guidance of others to help me in embracing  the new year and all that it entails with open arms.

DECK USED:  THE FATESHIFTER’S TAROT

Year’s End Reflections

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Today’s meditation was not guided and not particularly eventful.   It was a body scan that started at the top of my head and moved slowly down to the tips of my toes before focusing upon certain areas that were showing tension that needed a bit of extra work.

I often do some of my physio and stretching during my meditation, as it allows me to breathe and pause for long moments in a stretch, and that is what the second half of my meditation was is that stretch and pause routine with breathing exercises to keep me focused.

Judgement- Tarot of the Little Prince Today’s draw is the Judgement card of the Major Arcana.  The Judgement card is often about looking at the “big picture” of a person’s existence and ascertaining the value of what has been offered and done.  It is about seeking out “the right thing” and knowing whether or not you are on that path.   It is about one’s moral compass, and how one follows that compass not just in a moment or event, but overall upon one’s life path.

The message in the appearance of the Judgement card in today’s draw has to do with the year coming to an end and looking back on what I have done over the past year, taking store of the good and the bad and the lessons learned, and moving forward to do better in the year ahead.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE LITTLE PRINCE

#TarotForGrowthDecember

Question:  Where can I challenge myself moving into the new year?

This Might Hurt Tarot

Reading Summary:  I need to look at finding a more seated and secure way of doing things (Nine of Pentacles) rather than allowing conflict (Five of Wands) and struggle (Seven of Wands) to always be a challenge in my path. Instead, it is important to lean upon my expertise (Eight of Pentacles) and skill to find a better way (Death).

Take Away:   There are a lot of times that I find I feed off of the stress of being overburdened with work.  I think it is probably an adrenaline thing.  The thing is, though… it’s not healthy.  Not physically, or mentally, or emotionally.   One of the challenges I have decided to take on for the next year is finding a stronger footing and more rooted and secure way to “get my stuff done” that abandons that need for an overwhelming amount of stress.  The cards indicate the path forward to that change is through leaning on the skills and abilities I have honed over the years in relation to my craft and business.

DECK USED:  THIS MIGHT HURT TAROT

 

It’s Okay to Take It Slow

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Today’s meditation was just under eleven minutes long, and focused on the shame some feel when taking a break or a needed rest.

To be honest?  I’m guilty of this.  I have a hard time allowing myself to rest and relax, and taking a break always feels like a waste of time.   It’s not.  I know that it is not a waste of time.  I know I need sleep and that sometimes I need to step aside and allow my focus to falter and my body and mind to both have a rest.   But it is…. so very difficult to let go.

It feels like if I take a break I’m wasting time I could use to make whatever I’m doing better or get more done of all that needs to be finished.

It’s something I need to work on, and this meditation today was a reminder of this, and of how it is not wrong nor a failure to rest and relax now and then.

Ten of Wands - Ostara TarotToday’s draw is Ten of Wands, which is a reiteration of the topic of my meditation for the day.   Today, the appearance of the Ten of Swords is about being overburdened and struggling under the weight of it all.

This card is a reminder that the holiday rush is over.  I am struggling with finding my balance after the whirlwind and the Ten of Wands has come to tell me to breathe, and that I don’t need to fill every minute of every day with everything that needs to be done.

It’s okay to set down some of the things I want or need to do, and take my time with others.  It’s okay to put a few things on the back burner and just ease up on those burdens instead of allowing myself to continue trying to ride the stress and adrenaline forward when there’s no need.

DECK USED:  OSTARA TAROT

Bonus Reading – #TarotForGrowthDecember

Question:  How can I best honor myself in the coming year?

Sinking Wasteland Tarot

Reading Summary: Be generous with my time (Six of Pentacles) in the planning stages of new adventures (Three of Wands, because there are pitfalls (Nine of Swords) in acting too quickly (The Chariot).  Wheel of Fortune is my year card this year, and its presence in this spread indicates the ups and downs that the year has in store with me.

Take Away:  In the coming year there are going to be a lot of ups and downs.  It will be important, throughout them all, that I keep in mind the need for planning and taking my time.  Rushing into any situation that needs even a modicum of planning first will only cause problems.

DECK USED:  SINKING WASTELAND TAROT

 

Finding Footing

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Today’s meditation was non-existent, because my day turned into a bit of a clusterfuck the moment my feet hit the floor.   I did enjoy doing the char creation thing at the end of the day though.  The graphics part of things was very relaxing to me and I really appreciated that you were okay with that.

The High Priestess - Ostara Tarot Today’s draw is The High Priestess card of the Major Arcana, which means that the card is not about any one aspect of the human experience, but rather deals with more of a “big picture”.

The High Priestess card is usually an indication of the subconscious and/or intuition, but what I am really picking up from this card in today’s draw is that I am repressing.  It may not be intentionally…. in fact, I feel that it’s definitely not intentionally.   But there’s a sense of limbo over the past few days that is odd.  It’s as if I can’t quite find my stride after the holiday rush, and am still struggling with the strain even though the actual stressors from that time are no longer a part of my day.

The positive message here is in awareness and acknowledgement, and which will assist in finding a way through that limbo and back on solid footing.

DECK USED:  OSTARA TAROT

Bonus Reading – #TarotForGrowthDecember

Question:  How should I greet 2020?

The Fairy Tale Tarot

Reading Summary: With an attitude of openness to new perspectives (Hanged Man) and grounded authority (The Emperor) while keeping in touch with the lessons I’ve learned in the past year (Six of Cups) when moving forward into seeking a new path with my business (Princess of Pentacles)

Take Away:  This is a continuation of my draw of the day, which spoke of finding my footing.  As the new year approaches, now is the time to find that footing and the balance I need, and to do so might mean entertaining new perspectives on how I structure my life and my time.   This is not surprising, as I am moving forward into restructuring how I run my business (behind the scenes) over the new year, and as I do this, it will be important to keep in mind the lessons I’ve learned about what works (and what doesn’t).

DECK USED:  THE FAIRY TALE TAROT (SPANISH EDITION)