Today’s meditation was just over ten minutes long, and was another of the guided meditations with interval timer for my piriformis and forearm stretches.

The topic of today’s meditation was about appreciating your connections with others.  Sometimes, we take those connections and interactions for granted, and it can be hard to remember that each moment we share with others is precious.

I think that this is an excellent message, and perhaps even more important now (to myself and others) than normal when so many of us are living lives far more isolated than we ever have before. In my own life, this message really hit home considering Mister R’s current situation and the risk he is in of passing.  As much as he’s always been a hard ass, he’s also been a substitute grandparent to me since my youth.  I look down at the time I spent with him and I worry there won’t be anymore, or that I didn’t appreciate all that time that I had with him enough.

Today’s draw is the Knight of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of taking action to go after those things that spark your drive and passions, feeling that spark of inspiration burning bright and driving you onward, and diving into adventurous pursuits.

This card can also represent impulsivity, and that’s what I see here as what stands out the strongest to me in the imagery of this card is the skull that is formed in the rippling sands that the snail is moving into.   Snails need moisture and a desert in Egypt (see the pyramids in the background) so no place for a snail to be diving into.  Yet the rider drives the snail on, either uncaring or ignorant of the certain death about to become of his steed.

The message here is about making good choices, and how important it is to pause and use your brain instead of diving forward mindless and focused on your goal without any planning or thought for strategy or consequences.

The message here reflects back to my own life in the feelings that both Z and myself have been feeling all day concerning Mister R.   We want to go.  To just hop in the car and GO and be a support to her mother and be closer to help and comfort and lend our strength.  But doing so would be a folly.  A dangerous folly for he is very weak and when he comes home from the hospital he is going to be at extremely high risk.  Her mom is also a high risk person.  Going just to go?  Is not safe for either of them and could very well be disastrous, no matter how badly we both want to be there.

DECK USED:  INKROMANCY TAROT

LionHart’s 20/21 Tarot Challenge Prompt
Topic: How can I keep nurturing my dreams and desires throughout 2021?

Reading Summary:  Work at avoiding episodes of debilitating burnout (Ten of Wands Rx) by taking control of yourself and your environment (The Emperor) so that you can get the rest you need when it’s needed (Four of Swords).

Take Away:  In the summer of this year, I had started scheduling myself a handful of days off now and then.  This is something I’ve never done before, but in the early part of the year I’d found myself hitting a brick wall of burn out over and over again in fast rotation.  It turned out that having these days off helped with that, and I didn’t have any more burnouts the rest of the year (although I was very close with the holiday rush, but that’s another beast all together).

The answer to how I can facilitate my dreams and desires throughout the year ahead is to continue with that practice.  Make time to step away for a few days each month.  I need to turn away from the business for a bit and take a breath, and in doing so, give myself the fresh eyes and fresh energy I need to dive back in again without the sharp claws of burnout raking at my shoulders.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE HOLY SPECTRUM

#DiscordTarotolicsDec2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: Do Spread #3

Thistle: How can I ward off the blues that are trying to encroach now that the holidays are ending?

Three of Cups – Sink into enjoying time with loved ones and let them to uplift your spirits.  Z and L are not just comforting, but they’re both pretty damned silly and fun as well.  Allow them to sweep you up in that fun now and then.

Garnet: How can I purify myself to help find a better balance for the new year ahead?

The Devil – It’s time to seek control over your addictions instead of allowing them to have free reign. You did a lot of spending over the past year, but it’s time to slow down a bit and let other things take priority.  This doesn’t mean cutting yourself off entirely, so don’t create a situation where you will feel the need to binge later… just slow down and pay more attention to where your focus lies and what you’re doing.

Yew: What practices need resurrected in my life to protect my personal well-being?

Four of Swords – More rest.  This was mentioned as well in my Lionhart’s Challenge reading for today.  Now that the holiday rush is over I need to turn back to giving myself a few days off each month, allowing for time and focus to shift away from the business and giving myself the reprieve and rest I need to stave off overwhelm and burnout.

Diamond: How can my imagination foster more fearlessness in my life?

The Hermit – The words that flickered through my mind when I saw this card land on the table are “shine a light on it”.  Imagination and creativity often go hand in hand, and in order to foster more fearlessness in my life, I need to shine a light on those imaginings and possibilities, and encourage their growth rather than tucking them away in the shadows and ignoring them.

Holly: How can I create longevity in the fertile soil of my new endeavors?

King of Wands – Use all that inspiration, drive, and experience to claim what is rightfully yours.  You are fierce in your entrepreneurial spark, let that spark glimmer and glow, and use it not just to drive your own endeavors forward, but to inspire others to your cause.

Emerald: How can a closer connection to hearth & home affect my sense of loyalty?

King of Pentacles – You are the king of your own castle, and in this position as leading at the helm, others naturally fall into line in your footsteps, respecting your opinion and authority while trusting you to care for those things that need dealt with, and delegate as needed.  This sense of stability and security fosters trust and loyalty, strengthening that connection to those nearest and dearest (and under your roof).

Peppermint: What methods can I use to best stimulate my mind when I need a boost?

Nine of Cups – Wallow in the good stuff. Sometimes you just need to focus on the present and take some time to ignore the crap and enjoy the good stuff that makes you happy.  They’re nothing wrong with a little “good stuff” focused “vacation” now and then.

DECK USED:  SHADOW TAROT