#DecemberBones2021

What Matters… and What Doesn’t

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Today’s meditation was about fifteen minutes long and was just some quiet time with breathing exercises combined with piriformis stretching and forearm stretches.

The Pacific Northwest TarotToday’s draw is the Nine of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of (both founded and unfounded) anxiety, nightmares, insomnia, stress, and worry.

When you come upon a rattlesnake, that is the time to worry about the rattlesnake.  Stressing out about the possibility of rattlesnakes does nothing but stress you out.  There is nothing you can do about it until there’s actually something there in reality to deal with.

Don’t worry about those things that just don’t matter. You have enough on your plate without them cluttering things up.

DECK USED:  THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsDec2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: Find a spread that you’ve been curious about… and give it a go!

The Pacific Northwest Tarot

2022 Theme – Page of Swords (Horned Lark) atop The Fool (Sea Otter) – Be clever… be adventurous.  Don’t let doubts hold you back, but instead be brave and curious.  Allow yourself to jump into the projects that you want to accomplish.  This year is not a time for hesitation, stagnancy, and recalcitrance.

January / Visualize – Seven of Pentacles (Black-Tailed Bumble Bee) – Moving into January you are getting the opportunity to see what the hard work you’ve put in through the holiday rush has allowed you to reap.  The benefits are great and need to be respected and cherished, planned properly to stretch forward into the future to keep things afloat during the times ahead when things slow down.

February / Plant – Three of Cups (Pale Swallowtail, Lorquin’s Admiral, Boisduval’s Blue) – Take time this month to reestablish relationships.  Everyone was so tired and worn out after the holiday rush and all needed a bit of a break from each other.  Now is the time to reconnect, smooth out any frayed edges, and strengthen those bonds of friendship once more.

March / Initiate – Nine of Wands (North American Porcupine) – Examine your boundaries. A time of testing boundaries is approaching for you and you need to make sure you have all your ducks in a row before this time arrives. Take the time to reconnect with what’s important to you and what sort of protection might be needed to keep these things (and people) safe and well.

April / Create – Nine of Cups (Pacific Oyster) – Enjoy this time when things feel like they are going so well, but don’t go overboard on the celebration.  There’s trouble coming and you’ll want to enjoy this time while you can… but be prepared for what’s to come.

May / Nurture – The Tower (Douglas Fir) – The trouble has arrived.  Make sure that you aren’t overreacting. Don’t blow things out of proportion.  Stay focused on what you want to change, and let the chaos happen. You can’t build something better without tearing down what’s there first.

June / Grow – Nine of Swords (North Pacific Rattlesnake) – Okay so maybe the rebuilding isn’t going -quite- as well as you’d like it to.  Don’t worry, just keep at it.  It’s natural to have a bit of anxiety when there’s setbacks, especially when those setbacks include chaos that’s not yet resolved itself fully.  Don’t worry, it really isn’t the end of the world… even if it might feel like it is in the moment.

July / Master – Six of Cups (Giant Pacific Octopus) – You have an opportunity this month to get a handle on the past and how much control it has over your life.  Don’t judge yourself harshly during this time, but instead seek positive ways to grow.

August / Enjoy – Ace of Wands (Canna) – Inspiration strikes!  You know how you get when you get inspired.  Sink in and enjoy.  Let yourself have some fun with it.

September / Harvest – Temperance (Western Painted Turtle) – Slow down. The holiday rush is not upon you yet, and it’s not even time to start prepping yet.  Take this time to take stock of all you’ve done this summer and enjoy a sense of accomplishment. Don’t push.

October / Channel – Ten of Swords (Bighorn Sheep) – Watch out for the opening of the veil this year.  You are becoming far more sensitive to the mediumship side of your abilities over the past year or two, and you need to be cautious during this time of year that you don’t end up knocked on your ass on the ground with stars circling your head like a cartoon character.

November / Let Go – Seven of Cups (Pacific Forktail Damselfly) – There is too much to do, and not enough time.  The holiday rush is upon you and it’s time to let go of everything else and dive into the chaos.  This isn’t about making choices, but rather trying to find a way to balance it all and make it work.  It can feel overwhelming, but it won’t drown you… just keep going and find a way to enjoy the ride.

December / Learn – Ace of Swords (Common Starlily) – It takes a bit to move from the chaos of November into finding your “groove” in the holiday rush.  But you do manage to find it!  With that “groove”, clarity follows and you are able to breathe not because there is space to breathe, but because you have managed to connect to the rhythm of the chaos around you and pace your breaths accordingly.

Take Away – This follows a very familiar pattern that I repeat from one year to the next, especially in the early months of the year and the autumn months.   That said, I note that in the May through July months there is a chaotic bit of time going on that coincides with my interest in getting some changes done in the house this summer and reorganization done in the storage unit (because if I’m doing changes in the house?  I’m going to need room in the storage unit).  These cards through those months make it clear this project is going to be stressful and not at all easy.

DECK USED: THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I’m playing catch up and this is one in a series of posts that I don’t have a clue what was done for a self kindness.

Please Yourself

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Today’s meditation was just shy of ten minutes long and more of a quiet time with breathing exercises than a full blown meditation.

Fungjai TarotToday’s draw is the Six of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of the kind of success that garners one public admiration and accolades.  This includes the seeking of such attention as well as the obtaining of it.

The reminder in today’s card is about what I truly want to accomplish with my days in these first few days back at home.  Do I want to spend this time pushing towards what others want to see from me?   Or… do I want to give myself what I need?

Soon, I will need to fill orders, but for now?  It’s more important to take some time to please myself instead of immediately hopping back on the hamster wheel.

DECK USED:  FUNGJAI TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsDec2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: Where in my life do I need to work on better boundaries in the year ahead?

Hidden Forest OracleSweets atop Cottage – Too much time wallowing at home can become an unhealthy pleasure. It’s important to make sure that you’re getting time outside and away from the house.  Don’t allow yourself to get so wrapped up in the comfort of home that it becomes unhealthy for you.

Dagger atop Cow – Cut ties with where you expect nourishment to come from. You’ve found it elsewhere.

This is about having finally experienced what family actually feels like.  You’ve truly experienced the emotional nourishment of mother energy without demands, requirements, and bartering involved.  No expectations… just love.  It’s time to accept that you can indeed find this type of energy elsewhere, and let go of the expectation that you will get it from your own family.

DECK USED: THE HIDDEN FOREST ORACLE

Mr Lionharts’ #TheDecemberTarot The Path Ahead Tarot Challenge Prompt

Fungjai Tarot and The Visionary OracleWhat seeds can I plant today in support of my personal growth?

The Devil and Slow Down – You think you’ve slowed down lately in your addictions, and it’s true that you have made great progress, but there is still further to go in this area.

What can I do to nurture these seeds to full growth?

The World and Do Nothing – Recognize that everything you need will come with time. Don’t lean into your addictions.  This isn’t about turning away from them, but realizing that they are not needs and don’t have to drive your actions as often as they do.

DECK USED: FUNGJAI TAROT AND THE VISIONARY ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

I’m playing catch up and this is one in a series of posts that I don’t have a clue what was done for a self kindness.

Get It Done

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Today’s meditation was skipped.  I woke up from a nightmare and needed to get out of bed. Once up and out, the nightmare made it extremely unappealing to return so I just stayed up instead of returning to meditate.

Intuitive Night Goddess TarotToday’s draw is the Eight of Wands, which is traditionally about action, speed, motivation, vigor, and alacrity.

The theme of the card fits very well with the day today and I’m not sure that it was so much about giving sage advice as today’s draw was an encouragement.

Aside from packing the car (which is a long and arduous task in itself), there was also a few chores around here I wanted to finish before we left.  On top of that I did some maintenance on the computer to get it running a bit more smoothly, and a few client readings as well.

All in all, today’s card was about endurance and keeping moving in order to get everything done that needed to be.  And.. that’s exactly what I did.

DECK USED:  THE INTUITIVE NIGHT GODDESS TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsDec2021 Challenge Prompt
Philosophical Question: Which is more important… love or trust?

The Little Prince Playing CardsReading Summary: The connection (Two of Hearts) and support that love creates (Queen of Hearts) between people is of greater importance, but both is better than having to choose (Two of Spades).

Take Away: You can love someone without trusting them, but that love will be incomplete. You can trust someone without loving them, and that trust can be whole and without flaw.  And yet, what we see here is that when it comes right down to it and to the way we work in our heart of hearts… love is more important, as it is through love that kindness is born and connections with others are made.

DECK USED: THE LITTLE PRINCE PLAYING CARDS

OwlandBonesTarot’s #DecemberBones2021 Tarot Challenge Prompt

Intuitive Night Goddess TarotLove – Three of Cups – Cherish the time you have with others and focus on how much richer having those you love in your life makes you feel.

Light – Seven of Pentacles – Pay attention to where you spend your time and energy. Focus it towards the “long game” and sustainabilit,y instead of squandering it on temporary fickle things.

Peace – Revolution (The Tower) – Look at what needs changing and get going on it. The sooner you work through the upheaval and get it over with, the sooner you will be able to take a breath on the other side… with the accomplishment under your belt and knowledge you are then in a better place.

DECK USED: THE INTUITIVE NIGHT GODDESS TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I spent some time outside with the camera, and I got the majority of the packing and organizing of the car out of the way so that departing tomorrow can go more smoothly.  We’re just waiting on Z’s test results before we can leave (which still have not come in but will hopefully be ready by the morning).

Grounding Through Self Nurturing

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Today’s meditation was skipped today because we had to get going on the road super early in order to get Z to her appointment on time.

 Revival Art Tarot - Queen of CoinsToday’s draw is the Queen of Coins, which is traditionally a representation of a receptive alpha energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s finances, resources, home, health, manifestations, and the physical world. This often translates into themes that have to do with nurturing and supportive, well grounded energy based in finding things to help one find their center and stability in their lives.

Today’s card is a reminder that I need to find my center and re-establish my foundation.  I need time in nature to clear my head of yesterday’s stress and mess, and to bond with the earth and her nurturing energies.

I spent a good deal of the day doing just that, as I went hiking in the woods with my camera in tow.  I took pictures of the beauty of nature, capturing images of my love for all that surrounded me while moving through the snow covered forest. I then came back to the house and broughtt in firewood, then fill up the back of the truck with more so it will be easy to get into the house later.  After that, I helped feed the birds, squirrels, and deer that visit the property here daily, then took some pictures of the tree that fell on the woodshed the day before yesterday.

DECK USED:  REVIVAL ART TAROT

Mr Lionharts’ #TheDecemberTarot The Path Ahead Tarot Challenge Prompt

Revival Art TarotIf today is a crossroad, what path leads to the left? – Nine of Pentacles – Worrying over the past. Left is the past, and this path is about worrying over the past, and thus in turn, allowing the past to rule your present through those worries and fears.

Obstacles – The Hanged Man – Perspectives allow for clarity. You need to find a way to look at these experiences through a different lens. Until you can find a new perspective that will “stick” and stay with you, you will continue to struggle with these issues from the past.

Where does it lead? – Eight of Cups – Leaving behind those things that disappoint. If you take the “obstacle” in the way of living a life focused on past hurts and use it wisely, you can find yourself better able to leave the past in the past where it belongs instead of carrying it with you to overly influence your present and future.

What path lies to the right? – King of Swords – Strategizing for future successes. Right is the future and what is to come.  Here the King of Swords speaks of future planning and ambition. It is the workaholic that pushes others too hard and themselves even harder.

Obstacles – Six of Coins – Needing to provide for others and being generous. These themes stand in the way of the single minded focus and ambition that the King of Swords symbolizes.

Where does it lead? – Ace of Coins – Money money money. Yes, ambition and stratigizing can lead to significant new income.  But, what are you sacrificing onto the sword’s edge in order to focus so intently on the raking in of money.

What lies straight ahead? – Two of Coins – Seeking balance. Now in the present there is an opportunity to balance out the imbalance of the past few months and get back on track with finding a healthy balance between work and rest, between shadow work and pleasure seeking, between what is healthy and what isn’t. In the present lies potential and opportunity to set off on the path that will help you in developing that healthier balance if you are willing to reach out and go for it.

Obstacles – The Devil – Your addictions and temptations are a distraction. Sinking too deeply into the in order to block out the things you don’t want to deal with will only impede you on finding a healthy path forward and create stagnancy where there doesn’t need to be any.

Where does it lead? – The Sun – Happiness, joy, and a more well rounded sort of success than money alone can offer.

DECK USED: RIVIVAL ART TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

As mentioned previously in this post, I went for a hike in the woods today and spend some time taking pictures as well as bonding with nature.

Derailment Ahead

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

Tarot of the Little PrinceToday’s draw is the Page of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of a receptive omega energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s willpower, drive, passions, and inner spark.

There is a message here in the train and the tracks, and what I found this message to be relevant for today is as a reminder to not allow distractions to derail me from where I want to go.

The distractions today had to do with going to lunch, and some of the things that were said there.  It has to do with the fact that those things said sort of derailed my self confidence and left me feeling disheartened, adrift, and exhausted.  Clearly I didn’t hear the message clearly until it had already happened. I have some ideas on what I can do to help myself re-center tomorrow, though.M

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE LITTLE PRINCE

#DiscordTarotholicsDec2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: What last minute preparations for the new year need my focus?

Le Tarot de GulliverReyne de Deniers and Le Bateleur – Make smart choices with your money.  There’s a lot of potential in your hands right now, with the holiday rush freshly at an end.  Make sure that as you move forward you are spending from a solid foundation with an eye on what you want to accommplish, instead of through your emotions.

Nine of Coins atop Valet d’Épées – Success comes via discernment.  Learning to look at things differently and change your viewpoint is difficult, but promises a far more stable resulting success than winging it. Make sure that you are thinking things through.

DECK USED: LE TAROT DE GULLIVER

OwlandBonesTarot’s #DecemberBones2021 Tarot Challenge Prompt

Tarot of the Little PrinceWhere You’re Stuck – Temperance – Instilling temperance into your life and habits has stalled out over the last six weeks or so. Although you have been feeling more engaged with the world around you during this time, you can’t sustain this type of energy expenditure on the long term.

Why You’re Stuck – Eight of Swords – You’re unwilling to look at the negative repercussions and accept a new balance needs to be found. Making excuses doesn’t change the fact that this time of year is a detriment to your health and well being. These effects cannot be ignored forever and must be dealt with.

Resolve It – Six of Wands atop Three of Pentacles – Appreciate all that you have accomplished and how well Z, L, and you have done over this time.  Appreciate and admire, but don’t carry it forward with you.  Leave it as a memory to build your confidence for what lies ahead.

DECK USED: TAROT OF THE LITTLE PRINCE

Daily Self Kindness

Reaching out to Gideon while in the casino to find a bit of peace in the mess of what was lunch.

Appreciating Emotional Support

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Today’s meditation was just under ten minutes long and was not guided.  Instead it was simply a few minutes of peace and quiet, complete with breathing exercises and piriformis stretching.

The Pacific Northwest Tarot - King of CupsToday’s draw is the King of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of a projective alpha energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s emotions, relationships, intuition, and creativity. This often translates into themes that have to do with those with an intensive amount of emotional intelligence and the ability to use that to support and motivate others in the way that those others need.

In my life, Gideon is the King of Cups. He naturally draws others, and people naturally and easily open up to him. He is supportive and always seems to know what is needed to provide the emotional bolstering needed to help people find their way forward out of their struggles. This is not the nurturing comfort of the Queen of Cups, but a supportive strength of the hand that pulls you off the edge of the cliff or hauls you out of a snow drift.

Combined with the correllation of Gideon and the King of Cups, the connection is furthered by the turtle, which is Gideon’s favorite animal (well, that and the wolf).

The message in today’s card is all about Gideon from start to finish. It’s about appreciating him and his support. It’s about acknowledging my need for him in my life and in each day that passes. It’s about remembering that his help and support are there for me whenever I need it.  It is a reminder that we shouldn’t take these supportive people in our lives for granted, but take time to appreciate them every single day.

DECK USED:  THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsDec2021 Challenge Prompt
Topic: Do Spread #2
Question: How can I best continue with reigning in my addictive tendencies?

Witches Wisdom Tarot - Goddess of Fire, Queen of Wands, Nine of Pentacles, Nine of Earth, 10 Offering, Wheel of FortuneReading Summary: There is a color corellation between the wolves in the Nine of Earth and the Goddess of Fire’s cauldron that speaks to me of the need for hard work in order to yield positive results.

The largest corellations though, are between the Goddess of Earth and the Offering.  In these cards, the background is a scene that appears to be very much the same, except in the Goddess of Earth it is night and in the Offering it is day. There is also a connection between the position of the figure in the Offering and the Crone in the Goddess of Earth.  These connections speak to me of the work mentioned in theprevious connections being something that needs constant tending and attention, as well as a little extra help from beyond (the standing figure in the Offering and connection to the beyond in both of these cards through ethereal figures and swirling smoke).

Take Away: The message here is that the goal of getting the upper hand and better balance for these addictions is possible, but it will take dedication and diligence to accomplish, as well as reaching into “the beyond” to pay respects and garner extra guidance.

DECK USED: WITCHES WISDOM TAROT

OwlandBonesTarot’s #DecemberBones2021 Tarot Challenge Prompt

The Pacific Northwest Tarot - The Emperor, Ace of Wands, Nine of Wands, Nine of Cups, and Knight of CupsWhere You’ve Been – The Emperor atop Nine of Wands – In control and building my “empire” by shoring up extra funds and other accomplishments as a protection against failure and unforseen circumstances.  That is what the holiday rush is all about.  The influx of new customers that can be turned into repeat customers, the added income that will help float the business through the slower months that are to come later next year, the added exposure, etc.  All of it pumps new life into the business and allows a “cushion” to form between any unforsee circumstances and negative repercusions they may have the potential to cause.

Where You’re Going – Knight of Cups – It’s time to switch gears and reconnect with the more creative side of things instead of the “large and in charge” business side of things. Seek out what brings you joy and don’t worry so much about the “chores” and harsher sides.  As things slow down it is now also time to reconnect with your emotions and emotional growth. You had to disconnect for a bit, but that’s no longer necessary and it’s tine to re-engage.

How To Keep Momentum – Ace of Wands atop Nine of Cups Rx – Don’t worry so much about where you’re going and long term happiness.  Instead, focus on the little joys that will make each day a little more fun.  You’ll have time to deal with the bigger picture later on.

DECK USED: THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I spent a great deal of the day outside taking pictures in the snow. AND I took a nap.  All in all?  It was a great and relaxing day.  I had a lot of fun and it was very relaxing.