Identifying Obstacles

Today’s meditation was skipped.

Tanya Teibtner's Tarot de Marseille - Eight of WandsToday’s draw is the Eight of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of action, speed, alacrity, and having a target goal in your sights that you are charging towards.

I didn’t realize it at the time, but I just noticed that this card is reversed in this image… and that that reversal holds relevance in today’s message.

When the Eight of Wands is reversed, it speaks of obstacles getting in the way of a smooth and steady flow forward, and I feel that the fact I initially missed that this card was reversed plays into today’s message in the card of the day.

The message today is to make sure you are paying attention to what’s holding you back and slowing you down.  Don’t just shrug it off and keep pushing forward anyway.  Instead? Give yourself time to look at what’s really going on and sort things out the right way… instead of the quick way.

DECK USED:  TANYA TEIBTNER’S TAROT DE MARSEILLE

@Lionharts #TheMarchTarot Wander Lust Challenge Prompt
Questions for March 25th

Old Gypsy Fortune Telling Cards ca.1940In what area can I use the beauty of nature to find joy or rekindle my passions?

The Safe and The Dog – Bring your friends into your adventures in nature right now. It may feel like a burden to do so, but remember wealth comes in many forms, and this is one of them for you right now.

Where do I begin?

The Switch, The Bride atop The Rider – Forgive and let things go already so that the relationship can flourish and move forward on a positive note.  You can’t invite them with you if there’s still resentment stirring inside you, so do the work needed to let go of those feelings so that you can enjoy their company.

DECK USED: OLD GYPSY FORTUNE CARDS ca.1940

#DiscordTarotholicsMar2023 Challenge Prompt
Question for March 25th:
International Waffle Day – How can you best treat yourself today?

Tanya Teibtner's Tarot de Marseille - Nine of Coins, Six of Swords, Queen of CupsReading Summary: Focus on what you enjoy in your life and your accomplishments (Nine of Coins) and don’t worry so much about pleasing others today (Seven of Swords Rx). You need and deserve a supportive uplift as much as the next guy (Queen of Cups).

Take Away: You may not lean into people pleasing in the conventional way that most do, but it’s still something you struggle with in your own way.  For today, let go of the urge to make others happy and spend some time enjoying the fruits of your labors.  Doing so will give you an emotional boost that you are in need of right now, and deserve to enjoy.

DECK USED: TANYA TEIBTNER’S TAROT DE MARSEILLE

@lucet.in.aurora.tarot’s #lucetinauroraMaartTarotChallenge Prompt
Prompt for March 25th: A bromance between a tarot deck and an oracle deck.

Pagan Underworlds Tarot and the Compendium of Witches OracleThis is the Pagan Otherworlds Tarot and the Compendium of Witches Oracle.  Ever since the latter came into my home, they have been paired together and used for my Sabbat readings for each holiday on the Wheel of the Year.  I combine then with an herbal oracle that has a similar color scheme, and a collection of holiday cards I use to signify which holiday I’m reading for.

They read beautifully together, as you can see in my most recent Sabbat reading for the Spring Equinox. They, in fact, work so well together that I rarely ever use them separately for anything else.

DECK USED: PAGAN UNDERWORLDS TAROT AND THE COMPENDIUM OF WITCHES ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

This is a catch-up post, and I can’t for the life of me remember what my self-kindness on this day might have been.

Lessons From the Past

Today’s meditation was skipped.

Purple Cat Tarot - Two of WandsToday’s draw is the Two of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of making future plans, plotting your course towards progress and possibility, and making the decisions that support this type of planning and the endeavors planning in this manner can support.

Here again I see a theme that has been repeating quite a bit lately.  Either I’m not listening, or the advice hasn’t come to fruition yet.  In the imagery of this card, this cat doesn’t just look out at the world as in most Two of Wands, but actually looks directly to the left… into the past.

The advice I see in this card is to make sure you are looking back at what you’ve tried before and carry forward what works into your future plans and the plotting of your course moving forward.

DECK USED:  PURPLE CAT TAROT

@lucet.in.aurora.tarot’s #lucetinauroraMaartTarotChallenge Prompt
Prompt for March 24th: The place where your tarot sleeps.

Tarot Deck RackIn a previous prompt for this challenge, I have already shared with you the shelves that my tarot decks live on. So, for this prompt I am showing you the rolling rack that I use where the decks that are in rotation for the month are stored.

This three-shelf rack (on wheels) sits beside my reading table, and usually holds between 40 and 60 decks at any given time that are currently in rotation to be used for the month.

When I switch out my decks each month, I roll the cart over to my deck shelves just like using a library cart. At the beginning of each month, the contents of the rack are returned to my deck shelves, and the new rotation of decks is pulled for the upcoming month before the rack is returned to its place beside my reading table.

Daily Self Kindness

I dawdled in bed for a bit today instead of just getting my ass up and getting things done.  I kind of feel a bit guilty about it, but it was really nice all the same.

Safe and Happy Places

Today’s meditation was skipped.

Tarot by Kalan - Nine of CupsToday’s draw is the Nine of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of wallowing in one’s “feel good” feelings. It’s about contentment and taking pleasure in one’s good fortune, as well as feeling emotionally satiated. It can also be an indication of gluttony.

After having been on the road for the past four days, today’s card is a reminder that now that you’re home it’s time for a bit of grateful wallowing in that you have a safe and comfortable place that makes you happy to come home to.

Enjoy.

@lucet.in.aurora.tarot’s #lucetinauroraMaartTarotChallenge Prompt
Prompt for March 23rd: Your favorite gemstone and your tarot card.

This is not just my favorite kind of gemstone (labradorite), but also my absolute favorite individual stone. It’s my meditation stone, and is the perfect size and weight for resting on my solar plexus during meditation, which is what I use it for. It lives on my nightstand and when I do full meditation sessions I set it upon my solar plexus to help ground and settle my energies.

DECK USED:  THE TAROT BY KALAN

Daily Self Kindness

As the Nine of Cups in today’s card suggested, I took time today to wallow in just how happy being home makes me feel after having been away for a few days.

The Creative Quill

Today’s meditation was skipped.

The Likely Tarot - Ace of SwordsToday’s draw is the Ace of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of the seed of new beginnings in the area of one’s intellect, education, ambitions, thoughts, and communication. This often translates into themes that have to do with new ideas and interests, new contacts or ways to communicate with others, or new interests or educational pursuits.

The feather in this card makes me think of a quill and brings my mind to the fact that I am eager to get back home to Gideon where we can then pick up our literary roleplay.

It’s difficult (often impossible) for me to do this activity with him when I’m on the road, and I’m eager to get back to it with him now that my enthusiasm is kindled.

Today’s card brings my mind to these pursuits and encourages being open to trying new things.

@lucet.in.aurora.tarot’s #lucetinauroraMaartTarotChallenge Prompt
Prompt for March 22nd: Flowers and a tarot card.

In the background of this image are flowers that I saw today on my journeys.

DECK USED:  THE LIKELY TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I might have caught a few catnaps yesterday, but I made up for it today with one long nap after another, only waking long enough to navigate when needed or eat when we stopped.

Breathe In the Good

Today’s meditation was skipped.

Tarot of the Hidden Realm - Ten of CupsToday’s draw is the Ten of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of emotional fulfillment, harmonious relationships, and finding abundance on an emotional level that spills over to incorporate those around you.

Breathe in the good and exhale the bad. That is what the imagery in today’s card reminds me of, is that breath exercise used in pain management (and anxiety management as well) where you breathe in the good and exhale the bad.

It’s going to be a busy and chaotic day today, and today’s card is a reminder that you have much to be happy about, and the ability to keep things positive.  Just… breathe out the bad and focus instead on soaking in those things that make you happy instead.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE HIDDEN REALM

Daily Self Kindness

I took breaks where I was able today, even with everyone in a hurry to get here and there.  I ignored an asshole at lunch, and even took a nap in the car at one point.

White Space Lenormand Reading

White Space Lenormand Reading with the Ink Sketch Lenormand

Photo Album: Something important that you have forgotten.

Sun and Stork – You need to reexamine what really makes you happy.  Not what you think is supposed to make you happy, but what really makes you smile and feel good and happy on the inside. You have a habit of getting too caught up in the rigors of responsibility and forget to stay in touch with what actually brings you happiness.

Baseball Bat: Something simple that you can still wield.

Fish and Anchor – You have the ability to choose not to be weighed down by responsibilities, and the ability to let go and go with the flow instead.  It’s not as hard as you think to just loosen up and let things move at their own pace instead of constantly tangling yourself up in the expectations you put upon yourself.

Violin: Something connecting you to something larger than yourself.

Letter and Man – This is Gideon. It’s about the fact that he is constantly reaching for you and there for you, allowing you to lean on him and sharing honestly with you what he thinks and how he feels from one day to the next. Through the example he sets in this area, you strive to be a better person yourself.

DECK USED: INK SKETCH LENORMAND