The Value of an Anchor

Today’s meditation was eleven minutes long, and was the “human being, not human doing” meditation from the FitBit app.

The Gentle Tarot's King of Pentacles and It’s Going To Be Okay 2024 Day-to-day Calendar By Kate AllanToday’s draw is the Harvest of Stones (King of Pentacles) combined with the affirmation “Everything changes, nothing is permanent. Don’t throw your life away for a temporary terrible time.”

NOTE: If the topic of suicide bothers you?  Skip reading today’s card of the day post.

Confession time.   I have had suicidal thoughts since puberty. Not only have I had suicidal thoughts since puberty, there are times when those thoughts have become overwhelming suicidal urges. A compulsion that was nearly impossible to ignore (and that once or twice I did not ignore at all).

Prozac was a life saver for me.  After trying a swath of other medications that “sort of” worked in one way or another with my anxiety or depression but never took away those thoughts and urges? Prozac did.  The idealization went away.  The urges and compulsions disappeared. The thoughts, on those very rare instances they come, are far more manageable.

For me?  This is the miracle of treatment.  Talk therapy helps with anxiety and depression, and Prozac keeps me wanting to live.  You know what else helps?  Remembering that everything is temporary. I can’t say I don’t still have depressive episodes… just that they are far less life threatening these days. One of the major ways I get through them is reminding myself that depression lies and that everything is temporary. The depression will not last forever. It might last weeks… it might last months, but it won’t last forever.  It creates a sense of stability in the storm.  A foundation of truth to stand on when depression is whispering lies in my ear.

These cards are a reminder of that truth, and the stability that they offer.  I hope that me writing this helps someone else find that stability and truth as well.

DECKS USED:  THE GENTLE TAROT AND IT’S GOING TO BE OKAY 2024 DAY-TO-DAY CALENDAR BY KATE ALLAN

#DiscordTarotholicsFeb2024 Challenge Prompt
Questions for February 5th and 6th

Solace Oracle and The Gentle Tarot- Knight of Cups and Five of PentaclesShower With a Friend Day – What memorable activity should you and a friend try together?

Root of Cups and Windfall – Let those around you help to guide you back to yourself. The past year has created a disconnect within yourself that it’s time to begin healing. Do something that is purely you, and take a friend along for the ride. In other words… take J or L with you and go for a hike in the woods.

Lame Duck Day – What in your life has reached its end and needs to be “shown the door”?

Five of Stones and Invisible Ink – Let your feelings of aloneness and scarcity go. You no longer need to linger in the holding pattern that the past year has contained you to.

DECKS USED: THE GENTLE TAROT AND SOLACE ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

I took a nap even though it was orders day.  It put me behind on finishing things, but was something I really needed.

Sharing Is Caring

Today’s meditation was eleven minutes long, and was the “human being, not human doing” meditation from the FitBit app.

Honey Knight Tarot's Page of Swords and the Cozy Comfort Cards for Sad and Anxious MomentsToday’s draw is the Page of Swords combined with the affirmation “Sharing is caring.”

Learning things together increases the potential to retain what is learned.  Share what you learn with others and let them elevate the experience, and in return you won’t be the only one to experience growth, as they will as well.

I like the imagery of the affirmation card for today combined with the Page of Swords. I like the idea of releasing knowledge so that it floats up into the air and becomes shared, cherished, and something to feel excited about -with- others instead of by yourself.

DECK USED:  HONEY KNIGHT TAROT AND COZY COMFORT CARDS FOR SAD AND ANXIOUS MOMENTS

Daily Self Kindness

I took time to play with Gideon today and even steal a kiss, even though I had to work on orders as well.

It’s Not a Race… Fit In Some Time for Rest

Today’s meditation was skipped.

The Tarot of Aphrodite's Priestess of Coins and It’s Going To Be Okay 2024 Day-to-day Calendar By Kate AllanToday’s draw is the Priestess (Knight) of Coins accompanied by the affirmation “you deserve to rest”.

The Knight of Coins is a “man” of action, but he’s not a man of fast action. He’s not impulsive or thoughtless, nor is he rash or impetuous.  He is slow and methodical, working through his goals a little at a time, step by step.

When this card is combined with today’s affirmation, these cards are a reminder to make space for rest and recovery. Don’t just push yourself to keep going, keep moving, and achieve more.  Instead, space things out and give yourself enough room to to have that space for rest.  You will still be able to move forward with your goals, you’ll just have to do it at a bit of a slower pace.

DECK USED:  THE TAROT OF APHRODITE

#DiscordTarotholicsFeb2024 Challenge Prompt
Prompts for February 2nd and 4th

Cards of Desire Manifestation OracleGroundhog Day – Is spring coming early for you? Or will it be late?

Summary: Recognition – The answer to this is easy if you open your eyes and pay attention to what’s going on all around you. Don’t just observe, but recognize the signs being given.

Take Away: Here where I live we’ve had very little snow and a great deal of rain early in the season this year. If going by what we are seeing around us at the tail end of winter, then it’s clear that spring is well on its way and will be early this year .

Do Challenge Spread 1

February is often about making plans and preparations for the arrival of spring just right around the corner.  Plans and preparations are great! But they are only the first step. Use the three cards pulled in this spread to discover what signs you should look for to tell you when it’s finally time to take action.

Cards of Desire Manifestation Oracle and The Tarot of Aphrodite - The Lovers, Seven of Swords, Five of Wands, The World

Signs for February

The Lovers Rx – Look for situations when you find yourself faltering on making good choices.

What area of your life action will be needed in.

Aspiration – Pause and take a deep breath. Step up your meditation and keep your eye on where you want to go instead of on the unhealthy ways you are currently seeking comfort.

Signs for March

Seven of Swords – If you feel you’re being cheated, that’s because you are being cheated. Don’t ignore it.

What area of your life action will be needed in.

Gain – Train your focus in the areas where you feel you are being held back from making the gains you expected. Here is where you can suss out who has been holding you back and how to overcome.

Signs for April

The World atop Five of Wands – When it feels like there is so much potential that it’s bursting at the seams, make sure that you are moving forward instead of dithering with yourself and others.

What area of your life action will be needed in.

Patient – Those things you have been so impatiently waiting for are now up to plate and it’s time to act.

DECK USED: THE TAROT OF APHRODITE AND CARDS OF DESIRE MANIFESTATION DECK

Daily Self Kindness

I made sure that the pharmacy had my prescription right rather than waiting until I was out to call them and ask what was up.

Conformity is Overrated

Today’s meditation was skipped.

Mini Love Tarot and It’s Going To Be Okay 2024 Day-to-day Calendar By Kate AllanToday’s draw is the Seven of Swords combined with the affirmation “Not everyone’s cup of tea & mostly okay with that.”

Instead of striving to make a bad situation work with people that seem unwilling to see your side or connect with you in the way that you hope, let it go and walk away.

Not doing so steals away your time, energy, and confidence, and they will continue to do so as long as you allow them to make you think you need to conform to their standards.

You can find your own tribe and don’t have to assimilate yourself into trying to be accepted by those that don’t fit.

DECK USED:  MINI LOVE TAROT

The #mysticstartarot Challenge Prompt
Questions for February 1st thru 3rd

Mini Love Tarot and the All-Seeing Heart OracleWhat card represents my relationship with myself?

Inner Unity and The High Priestess – You know yourself better than anyone else. Connecting with your inner truth allows you to present yourself with authenticity to others in a way creates a strong and solid foundation.

What will support me in improving my relationship with myself?

Doorway to Sacred Union and Ten of Pentacles – Share your stability with others, and allow them to share their stability with you. Family and friends are called a “support system” because they are a community that helps hold each other up and strengthen each other along the way.

What challenges do I have in improving my relationship with myself?

The Damaged Brow atop Sacred Space, Queen of Cups – For you, there is a very intrinsic connection between the condition of your home and your sense of emotional stability. It’s time for you to call back in the housekeeper and wrangle some of the chaos into order.

DECK USED: MINI LOVE TAROT AND ALL-SEEING HEART ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

It was a very early morning and I managed not one but TWO naps through the day to help mitigate the lack of sleep the night before.

Disappointing Others

Today’s meditation was supposed to be ten minutes long but turned into an 80 minute nap when I dozed off in the middle.

Paw of Light Tarot and It’s Going To Be Okay 2024 Day-to-day Calendar By Kate AllanToday’s draw is the Queen of Claws (Swords) combined with the affirmation “Hurt is not the same as hopeless. No amount of sadness or sickness can swallow the light inside of us.”

Do you know that feeling when you disappoint a parent, and it matters even though you don’t want it to? I feel that feeling a lot. These cards are a reminder that just when you disappoint someone, it doesn’t mean you’re less than or not enough. Even if they say that you are.  Even if all that they can see in you is your flaws, mistakes, and those things in you that disappoint them again and again.

Parents are people too, and they have their likes and dislikes, just like everyone else. They have their prejudices, and they’re often wrong just as we all are. Take care not to internalize that as your problem. It’s not… It’s theirs and theirs alone.

DECK USED:  PAW OF LIGHT TAROT AND IT’S GOING TO BE OKAY 2024 DAY-TO-DAY CALENDAR BY KATE ALLAN

Lionharts #TheFebruaryTarot Once Upon a Tarot Prompt
Prompt for February 1st
: Do the My Fool’s Journey Tarot Spread

Paw of Light Tarot - Nine of Pentacles, The Wheel of Fortune, Four of Wands, The Hanged Man, Six of CupsWhat overarching theme characterizes my life right now, laying the foundation for my journey?

Nine of Snacks (Pentacles) – You are learning to pause and appreciate your hard work, and to be more grateful for what you have accomplished and earned thus far, rather than always pushing forward for what comes next.

What opportunity is presenting itself this month, shaping the landscape for my journey?

Wheel of Fortune – You are being given the opportunity to learn and observe the ups and downs that are a natural part of life rather than reacting blindly to them. This involves learning how to panic less and ride out the unpredictable swings of life with more grace.

What am I guided to work on or overcome this month, adding depth and empowering growth to my journey?

Four of Catnips (Wands) – You need to work on putting home back under the category of somewhere you are enthusiastic to be, instead of seeing it as just your workplace and a place to toil. It’s time to return your home in your mind to a place to relax, enjoy, and find peace.

What knowledge or guidance, internal or external, can I draw upon during this journey?

The Hanged Man – Remember your objective to always be open to other perspectives in order to learn more about not just the world around you and the people in it, but also about yourself. Take care to ground yourself in this intention as you move forward along your path.

Which aspect of myself should I embrace or be aware of throughout this journey?

Six of Bowls (Cups) Rx – You are not always as decisive as you would like to be, or as you would like to have others think you are. You need to stay aware that during those times, you have a tendency to slide into a state of unhealthy stagnancy rather than making a decision.

DECK USED: PAW OF LIGHT

Daily Self Kindness

I didn’t pull all of my February decks today as planned, but just a few. I can pull the rest on a day when it’s not so busy and there’s more time for such things.

It’s Good Enough

#DailyCalm with the Calm appToday’s meditation was ten minutes long, and one of the #DailyCalm sessions from the Calm app.  The subject of the session had to do with getting stuck in the past and how, when we allow ourselves to get stuck in the past, whether that be in good memories or bad ones.

It discussed how when we do this, we then set ourselves up to repeat old patterns… as opposed to experiencing new things should we cast our gaze to the present instead.

Monochromatica Tarot Judgement card and It's Going to Be Okay 2024 Day-to-Day Calendar by Kate AllanToday’s draw is the Judgment card combined with the affirmation “You don’t need to do everything right in order to be worthy of your relationships.”

These cards are a reminder that you don’t have to be perfect, and you don’t have to pick on yourself to make yourself be perfect either.  They are about reminding yourself of the person you want to become, rather than picking apart every little thing you are doing in the present.

This is one of those things that I personally struggle a great deal with.  Learning how to say something is “good enough” rather than constantly trying to “one up” my best is something I’ve been working on for a few years now. To tell me that I am “doing my best” or to “do your best” is a death trap, as my best is far -more- than is often necessary.  Giving something my all means that I’m going to work at it and pick at it until it is as close to perfection as humanly possible to achieve… which is not healthy.

Learning to embrace “good enough” is a far better goal.

DECK USED:  MONOCHROMATICA TAROT AND IT’S GOING TO BE OKAY 2024 DAY-TO-DAY CALENDAR BY KATE ALLAN

#DiscordTarotholicsJan2024 Challenge Prompt
Prompt for January 31st : Grab a spread of your choice that you’ve been curious about… and give it a go!

Imbolc Tarot Reading with the Monochromatica Tarot and Dream Ritual Cards

How can you celebrate the returning of the light?

The Magician and Prepare – Things are going to pick back up and get better, and spring is on its way. There’s a lot you can do to prepare now for the results you want to achieve in the future. Little things that you can do that involve applying your skills to, in order to guide things in the direction of the end goal you seek.

What is awakening?

Wheel of Fortune and Nourish – You are beginning to be more consistent with giving encouragement to nourish yourself and care for yourself no matter if things are up or down. Struggles should not supersede self-care, and you have an opportunity in this time of awakening to continue to improve in this area.

DECK USED: MONOCHROMATICA TAROT AND DREAM RITUAL ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

I took my theracane back from Ms B’s house.  I had loaned it to her during her shoulder’s recovery, but she hasn’t used it in a while and I need it back to help with my lats and thoracis muscles.