Daily Focus

Making Better Choices

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Today’s meditation was combined into my yoga practice, which involved deep breathing and a good deal of work on my right shoulder, elbow, and wrist.  I’ve been having a bit of a problem with it over the past few days and the focus from the meditation is very helpful in working through the pain involved in maintaining my mobility in painful joints through my yoga practice.

Lovers - Tarot of the Unknown Today’s card is the Lovers card, which contrary to novice perceptions has very little to do with romance and a whole lot to do with choices the choices we make and have made (in my experience). More specifically, because this is a Major Arcana card, to deal with life-path choices.

The message in today’s card is that there is never “a rut”.  People often speak of being “stuck in a rut” but, in truth, this isn’t a rut at all.  It is a moment of indecision.  There are always choices to be made in life, but when we refuse to make them it can lead to a time of imbalance and stagnation.  Sometimes, that’s okay, because we need the break.  But eventually, you’re always going to have to step back into the game and make a choice.

The Lovers card in this draw is a reminder that those choices aren’t going to go away if you ignore them, and that it’s okay to trod the path less traveled on occasion, if it’s the right path for you.

Deck Used:  Tarot of the Unknown

Bonus Reading – #TarotForGrowthNovember

Question: How can I better recognize when I’m being overly impulsive?

Tarot of Pagan CatsReading Summary:  Focus on what you have and what’s good in your life (Four of Wands and Ten of Pentacles).  When you do this there will be less need to delve for more (Knave of Swords) while pretending you are still in control (The Chariot) and in charge (The Emperor).

Take Away: When I get to a point where I’m starting to overwhelm myself through my impulsivity, I have a tendency to hold on harder to the reins of my life in other areas and tell myself that I’m in full control and in charge even when, in those moments, I’m not.   A better way to deal with this is to approach these times when I’m feeling impulsive with a reminder of all the good that is already a part of my life and all that I have to be grateful for.

There is also advice to be found here in these cards concerning reaching out to friends and family for their help in identifying when my impulsive behavior is “going too far”, rather than closing off and keeping things to myself.

Deck Used:  Tarot of Pagan Cats

 

It’s Okay to Play

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Today’s meditation was very nearly a nap, because it took place in the bathtub and it was very, very relaxing.   I did not fall asleep, but it was a hard thing.    I did learn my lesson, though.  If I am going to do the kind of meditation where I sink into a comforting and/or comfortable sensation?   Don’t do it somewhere I could drown.

The Sun - Slow TarotToday’s draw is The Sun card, which is all about warmth, positivity, and letting that inner child out to play.   The message in this card arriving during today’s draw is that I need to pay attention to ensuring I incorporate FUN into my life, even during the busiest of times.

Part of the reason for turning my hobbies into a business is so that I can play while I work.  And yet, there are times when I bear down so hard on my focus that I lose track of that part of things.   The sun card is a reminder that it’s okay to have some fun along the way.

Deck Used: Slow Tarot

Bonus Reading – #TarotForGrowthNovember

Question: Where do I need to take more action?

The Herbcrafters TarotReading Summary: Oak is a synonymous with strength and abundance, and when combined with the Seven of Earth, it reinforces the message of steady progress and sustainability that that card represents. There is bounty in the image, but it is bounty that is the product of hard work.

Chicory is a symbol of patience and perseverance.  In this card, it is joined with the Two of Air, which brings in an aspect of weighing one’s options and struggling with making important but difficult decisions.  The combination creates a sense of needing to wait before you make the choices necessary to move forward.

In the tarot, roses are often a symbol of balance and an offering of hope and new beginnings.  Combined as it is with The Empress card, there is a feeling of freshness and stability within the expression of this card.  There is also a symbolism of the rose hips, which represents the ‘bearing of the fruits of love’.  This theme  fits well with the fertility of the Empress card, and reinforces this aspect of the Empress.

Take Away:  The message in these cards is one of control and restraint in order to further one’s aspirations and ambitions.  Sometimes to achieve abundance, you have to be steadfast and strong, but not hard and ruthless.  In areas where I feel a need for that stability and comforting strength, it would be wise to take a pause to ensure I will be heading in the right direction, then set loose in that direction, moving forward while holding on to both the goals I wish to achieve, but also a nurturing respect for myself and my current needs.

In other words?  Find your ambition and goals…. take a moment to pause and find your footing and direction… THEN act, but do so consciously with awareness of not just those goals for the future, but the present as well.

Deck Used: The Herbcrafter’s Tarot

Self Care… Even in Chaos

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Today’s meditation was just over fourteen minutes long, and focused on the body and how when you place your focus solely upon a place of discomfort or pain, sometimes it your perception of that pain will ease and cause the pain to feel as if it dissipates.

By the same turn, by focusing on something beyond the pain, you can also allow it to ease into the background, which will allow it to feel as if it is dissipating as well.

These are mental tricks that I was already familiar with.  Due to the car accident in my late teens and the resulting surgeries that allowed me mobility and functionality after so much damage, I have done a great deal of exploration in pain management techniques over the years.  In fact, it’s one of the major benefits I’ve found of keeping up a regular meditation practice.

Queen of Pentacles - Tarot of the Unknown Today’s draw is the Queen of Pentacles, which is a representation of a receptive alpha energy, personality, or person in the areas of finance, resources, manifestation, and the physical world.

I accidentally missed my meditation the other day, and then nearly again last night (I ended up taking them a few hours late, but I didn’t miss the dose entirely).

With the holiday rush picking up and me going through the adjustment period into this time of the year, it can be hard to keep track of everything that needs done, and the first thing to fall to the side is my self care.  The appearance of the Queen of Pentacles in today’s draw is a reminder to make sure I’m taking care of myself and not letting self-care fall to the wayside.

Deck Used:  Tarot of the Unknown

Bonus Reading – #TarotForGrowthNovember

Question: How can I better recognize whether a new idea is worth chasing?

Badger’s Forest Tarot Reading Summary:  This reading is a 100% intuitive hit off of card imagery (rather than read by traditional interpretation of the suits)… If I’m feeling overwhelmed (Ten of Badgers) and like it’s me against the world (Seven of Badgers), then I am doing myself a disservice by taking on more at that time (Seven of Rabbits).

Take Away:  I am bombarded by ideas ALL the time, and I have a lot of projects on the go at once no matter the time of year or what’s going on in my life.  This doesn’t just include jewelry design ideas, but also other types of crafts and art and miscellaneous other endeavors.   The problem comes when I have too many projects on the go, and the new ideas continue to keep coming.  The drive and passion to explore EVERY idea can make me start to feel not just overwhelmed but as if everything is crashing in on me.  The cards are a reminder that it’s okay to let some of them go, or to write them down for later on down the road rather than taking them all on in the moment.

(This answer actually came as a bit of a surprise, as I was anticipating an answer about the quality of said ideas, which is not at all the direction this reading took.)

Deck Used:  Badger’s Forest Tarot

 

Exploring Perspectives

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I haven’t managed to get in my meditation yet today, as the helper has been here since early morning and probably won’t be leaving until late tonight.   I will do it when I go to bed, though, if I do not get a chance to do so sooner.

Hanged Man - Slow Tarot Today’s draw is the Hanged Man, which is my favorite card in the tarot, irregardless of the deck.   This is because I have a personal connection with this card, but it also has to do with the meaning of the Hanged Man, which often represents taking a step back in order to see things from a new perspective, taking time to settle into new perspectives until they become familiar and comfortable, and with that, the surrendering and/or letting go necessary to foster growth.

The Hanged Man is an especially fitting card for today, as I need the reminder about taking a different perspective due to the long hours the helper is working today.  As I find her presence somewhat abrasive, it’s good to also remain mindful that her help is not just needed but greatly appreciated.   So I need to remember to sit in a perspective of gratitude rather than inconvenience.

Deck Used: Slow Tarot

Bonus Reading – #TarotForGrowthNovember

Question: How can I better communicate with others?

Tarot de aux ArcsReading Summary:  It’s important to make the choices that are right for you (The Lovers) and stand by your personal values (Nine of Wands and The Star).  In the end, though, you also have to know that when that quiet, balanced approach isn’t working (Temperance), it’s okay to allow yourself to walk away and find a better place (Six of Swords).

Take Away:  I really struggle at times with communication, and I don’t just mean by the fact that I’m mute.   Even before that, I struggled a lot.  Some of this has to do with being so god-awful at reading body language and facial expressions.

The message in these cards is that even when you feel on uneven footing communication-wise, navigating these communications with ease simply takes a knowledge of self and sticking to that rather than trying to conform and people-please. And, sometimes when communicating with others, especially if there’s a miscommunication involved, it can be difficult to accept that you’re just not going to be able to break through that communication barrier and getting anywhere.  In those instances, it’s time to move on.

Deck Used: Tarot de aux Arcs

Keep Your Head Down

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Today’s meditation was about fifteen minutes long, but to be honest I wasn’t really timing it.  It was a full body scan that went from head to toe and back again, and was incorporated into my morning yoga.   It was peaceful, but quiet and easy, and gave me a bit of variety in my yoga from the day to day that I do to keep myself limber and my joints cooperative.

Seven of Swords - Tarot of the Unknown Today’s draw is the Seven of Axes (Swords), which is a representation of leaps ahead and progress no matter the cost, strategic action, secret keeping, and getting away with shit.  Betrayal and deception are common themes under this card’s influence, and although this card can also indicate leaps of progress, those leaps are usually include the previously mentioned representations in some way.

When I see this card today, it created a spark of hope.  Hope that perhaps things really may work out okay with the whole Etsy debacle.  Because clearly, my shop getting the letter that I received is not the only shop to be running into this lately.  Maybe, just maybe, this means that it’s not as serious as it feels like?   Because the letter absolutely felt like a threat.  And I sort of felt singled out.   But perhaps that isn’t the case after all?

Anyway, the card gave me hope that regardless of what small infraction seemed to trigger the letter, maybe it won’t result in the catastrophic events that I’m so worried about coming to pass.  This doesn’t mean that I would be getting away with something deceptive or bad… but getting off scott free is still a lovely idea to entertain in this case.

The appearance of this card today is advice to keep my head down and hope for the best.

Deck Used:  Tarot of the Unknown

Bonus Reading – #TarotForGrowthNovember

Question: What would I benefit from releasing in my life?

WTNV Holloway TarotReading Summary:  Now is not a time for focusing on finance strategy (Page of Pentacles) or emotional juggling (Knight of Cups with the Two of Pentacles), nor  time for playing at learning new skills for fun new projects (Page of Swords)

Take Away:  I have so many ideas and things I want to try both in my business and my creative passions, and so much exploring I want to do with the new level of emotion I started to discover in the fall, as well as the shadow work that is to come in the new year.   But, as swamped as I am with work due to the holiday rush (that is now in full swing), I need to be mindful that a lot of other worries and projects I want to delve into both in my personal and business life need to be set aside for now so that I can pour the lion’s share of my focus on the current chaos sitting in my lap.

Deck Used:  WTNV Holloway Tarot

The Balancing Act

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Today’s meditation was… well, okay.  Non-existent.  I didn’t meditate today.  With so very little sleep, I was worried if I did that I’d end up crashing.  I will be giving it a go once I head to bed tonight, but I don’t expect I’ll be awake for much of it.

Page of Wands - Slow TarotToday’s draw is the Page of Wands, which is a representation of a receptive omega energy in the area of one’s ambitions, passions, and drive.  This often comes through as themes concerning exploring one’s potential and sparks of inspiration.

I can’t remember what the message was for this card a few days ago when it surfaced, but what I’m feeling from this card today is an encouragement to remember the joy that comes with my business and craft instead of allowing myself to become overwhelmed.

At this time of year when things become chaotic and busy, it’s very easy for me to be swallowed up and lose track of the enjoyment aspect that is a part of this journey.   Today’s card is an important message to assist me in essentially surviving the holiday rush.

Deck Used: Slow Tarot

Bonus Reading – #TarotForGrowthNovember

Question: What cycle or journey is closing for me at this time?

Sasuraibito Tarot Reading Summary: Struggling with feeling overburdened (Ten of Swords) while telling myself I can handle it on my own (Knight of Wands).  Sometimes accepting support from others is okay (Three of Cups) while allowing collaboration (Three of Pentacles) to find a better way forward (Page of Swords).

Take Away: This is a message concerning my insistence that I can do everything myself and refusal to look outside myself for support and assistance in achieving my goals.  The holiday rush is going to force me out of this cycle by requiring me to look outside of myself for assistance in the chaos of the weeks ahead.

Deck Used: Sasuraibito Tarot