Edmund Dulac Tarot

Transitioning from November to December

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This is a spread that I do at the end of each month to close out the month.

Edmund Dulac Tarot, Jeremy Miranda Cards

Individuality – Ace of Cups – You seek a new more positive path and sail the seas that take you in the direction of that which you seek. You are currently still hesitating, though, hiding in the shadowy shelter of the old way of doing things instead of taking the plunge full on.

Dependence – Six of Cups – You are trying to shed how things were done before. Not just in relation to how you work and deal with the responsibilities you take on, but also in how you see success and in the reorganization your priorities and values.

Creativity – Eight of Coins – Using your skills and abilities to assist in finding a sense of home and security. At this time you’re working hard and tapping in to everything you you’ve learned and know, all your creativity and expertise in order to find the security you seek that will set you up for the rest of the year.

Limitation – Two of Cups – The cold hard influence of your parents values and disciplines have made this progress harder than it needs to be.  They want you to share their values and in many ways you have.  Now that you are re-evaluating the balance of those values, placing joy higher on the list and responsibility a bit lower, that separation from their teaching is causing a cold dissonance that needs time to overcome.

Change – The Hermit –  The peace and serenity you gain through allowing yourself a touch of alone time helps you connect with your inner truth and the quiet voice of your intuition. It allows you to see the path that is right for you and you alone.

Sympathy – Four of Cups – Make sure when you take time for yourself that it is done in a productive way. Too many times you retreat into yourself and from everyone else both emotionally and physically. Even productive alone time can turn unhealthy if you linger for too long.

Luck – Eight of Cups – When you left home, you dove into a world of hurt on many different levels, and yet even through all the struggles and pain of that time, there was joy in the fact that you had gained your independence and freedom from tyranny. This joy existed even within the chaos and struggle, the pain and the fear. It is a part of you even now.

Power – Three of Swords – You can defeat encroaching forces of fear and depression with celebration and familial warmth. Embrace family and loved ones and allow them to pick you up when you’re feeling low or feel the darkness trying to slip in. They can help you, but you have to let them in.

Responsibility – Four of Swords – A future boon is coming in the form of rest and recovery and true peace. Right now you struggle and there’s so much to do, but remember that this is only a temporary thing.  Quieter times are coming and you’ll be able to enjoy some peace and rest soon enough.  It’s on the horizon and not that far off.

Message from Spirit World –  The new path you are on is providing you room for more joyous celebration and enjoyment of life as well as a more restful recovery and enhanced inner peace. Be kind to yourself.

Message from Mind’s World – Child-like imagination can take you to amazing places and awaken your creativity. Embrace the fanciful and let your mind wander a bit now and then. You don’t have to be so serious and studious all the time.

Message from Known World –  Too much work and not enough rest will leave you in a world of cold misery when you are left drained and alone. It’s important to stay connected and close with those you love and allow them to help you so that you can remain healthy not end up hurting yourself (and them) by trying to do too much on your own.

Take Away – There are a lot of warnings here about encroaching darkness and old habits trying to get a foothold. You need to remember to reach out to those you love for the emotional support you need to keep this darkness at bay.  If you can hold it at bay, your reward at the end of the holiday rush will be a rest and recovery that does not include the normal depressive sludge you usually need to wade through in January.

DECKS USED:  EDMUND DULAC TAROT, JEREMY MIRANDA CARDS

Full Moon in Gemini – November 2020

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Edmund Dulac Tarot - Full Moon in Gemini Tarot Reading

Today is the full moon, and like all new moons and full moons, I did a spread aligned to the moon’s current themes as a part of my recognition of the moon’s cycle and influences upon us.  Today’s spread is brought to you by Ethony‘s Tarot By the Moon series.

1. Where am I deluding myself?

Happily ever after doesn’t just magically appear no matter how much you want it to.  Cinderella may have had a fairy godmother, but you on the other hand have to steer your own chariot.  Although the summer was very relaxing and the fall was filled with procrastination and lack of direction, you’re no longer in either of those seasons any longer.  No time to dawdle anymore.

2. What am I missing?

The wind blows at your back and the water laps at your feet.  They usher you forward and all you need to do is ride the energy they provide. You may have to do for yourself, but the chaos will make its own energy for you to ride if you open yourself up to it and let it sweep you away.

3. What perceptions need to be shifted?

What others see and think doesn’t matter. Don’t use your perception of their judgements as an excuse to swirl darkness into your life.  Be kind to yourself instead and allow light to shine through the darkness that would otherwise be allowed to spread through your insides.

4. What requires further investigation?

Open your eyes and look around.  A threat comes from the east and it needs your attention.  You have the capability of deflecting the worst of it from landing and wreaking havoc, but only if you keep your eyes open for the attacking harpy that’s coming your way.

5. What possibilities are ready to show themselves?

This holiday rush is providing me the opportunity to see just how much illumination and light that a bit of extra optimism can bring into my life. The little seed of light that was available to me and fostered by me in the summer months is now ready to glow brightly, but will only be as bright as the energy that I feed into.  Don’t forget to feed that light even when things are at their busiest and most chaotic.

DECK USED: EDMUND DULAC TAROT (TRIMMED NAKED)

Self Care Saturday (On a Sunday)

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These Saturday readings are (not usually) bearing in on any one thing or event in my life, as the question used is asking for a more general outlook. This is a self care exercise, and is not meant as a predictive reading… although that, too, happens on occasion.

The question is… What do I need to focus for self-care through the week ahead?

Scorpio Sea Tarot, Edmund Dulac Tarot, Sacred Journey Oracle

Earth – The Sun and Consulting the Ancestors – Echoing back to yesterday’s reading about where joy resides, here we see The Sun in the earth’s grounding position. What would your ancestors say to you if they saw you working the way that you do?  Not your father, but your guides and those that love and support you on the other side.  Would they tell you to work yourself to the bone and neglect yourself in the process?

Stability and security are merely a foundation.  They are the safe and sturdy foundation on which you then dance joyously upon, safe in knowing each step of your dance will not be on crumbling stone, but sturdy ground.

Air – Ten of Cups and In the Clouds – Keep your chin up and make the effort to keep your inner dialogue positive.  Crappy shit happens and stress can be a killer, but if you can keep your mind focused on the positive it will help you in overcoming the darkness that tries to seep in.  And start taking some vitamin D.

Water – Three of Cups, The Ice Queen, Clandestine Escape – This week may feel like everything is working in sync, but watch out for the darker emotions just beneath the surface.  Don’t freeze them out or forget they’re there, or you may find them sneaking up on you unexpectedly when you’re not looking.

Fire – Five of Wands and The Butterfly Trap – You know that saying that when you fall off the horse, get up and try again? Here it is, literally before your eyes. Keep in mind that things are going to take some patience and a bit of a gentle touch this week if you don’t want to fall on your ass again and again.

Waning – The Actress – Step away from showing a brave face this week and give the genuine article to the world. Vulnerability sucks, but it’s necessary, even now during the hurried chaos of the holiday rush. Don’t hide behind a mask of composure and control.

Waxing – Mother Earth – Rising into power this week and in need of your focus is the need to make sure you are taking care of yourself. This doesn’t just include self care activities like soaking in the tub or doing your meditation, but also making sure that you’re getting out in nature, even if it’s just for an hour now and then.  Don’t forsake that connection, as it can help you in feeling more at peace and more in control.

Take Away – The take away here is that I need to make sure I focus on self care and fostering joy this week.  Right now the holiday rush is about building up that foundation that helps foster stability and security.  That stability and security is the building blocks that create the house of joy. Take care of yourself, love yourself, give yourself what you need, and be gentle with yourself.  Stay aware of lurking shadows and keep them at bay by leaning into optimism, but make sure you don’t forget they’re there… and sneaky.

DECKS USED:  SCORPIO SEA TAROT, EDMUND DULAC TAROT (TRIMMED NAKED), THE  JOURNEY ORACLE

Positive Memories

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I’ve managed to fall behind yet again… and I can’t remember whether I meditated on the 24th or not. So I’ll leave this empty this time around as I finish up these posts that got started… but never published on the blog.

Traditional Manga Tarot - Six of CupsToday’s draw is the Six of Cups, which traditionally is a representation of the emotions that circle around topics of nostalgia and looking back into the past and embracing the joy and innocence that often comes with childhood memories and remembering past relationships.

What really stands out to me in the imagery of this card today is how much gold there is in the picture.  A golden glow seems to enshroud the entire scene, casting it alight in warm hues.

The message her is a reminder to keep your attention focused on the positive when you take a wander down memory lane.  Don’t allow yourself to stray off the path into the dark woods, but rather stay in that golden glow of warmth and positivity.

DECK USED:  TRADITIONAL MANGA TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsNov2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: Advice I need to hear at this time concerning my personal growth.

Edmund Dulac TarotReading Summary:  You’re going to pay for it (Justice) if you don’t allow yourself some rest (Four of Coins) and keep striving for a positive perspective during this busy time (The Star).  It won’t last forever (Eight of Cups).

Take Away: The holiday rush is a really difficult time for me on a number of different levels.  The reminder here that it doesn’t last forever is a good one, but doesn’t excuse not getting enough rest or allowing yourself to fall into those darker negative inner dialogues that can often drag you down.  Personal upkeep, but on a physical level and an emotional one are no less important now than any other time of year, just harder to fit in for a brief amount of time.

DECK USED:  EDMUND DULAC TAROT

Modulating Enthusiasm

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I’ve managed to fall behind yet again… and I can’t remember whether I meditated on the 11th or not. So I’ll leave this empty this time around as I finish up these posts that got started… but never published on the blog.

Tarot of the Little Prince - Knight of WandsToday’s draw is the Knight of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of exuberance and a intensity directed towards one’s focus through passion and drive.  This card is about inspired action and the embodiment of the phrase “Go get’em cowboy.”

What I see in the imagery of this card today is overkill.  That, too, is a part of the meaning behind the Knight of Wands.  Impulsive action and overkill often go hand in hand with feelings of enthusiasm and drive.

The message here is about moderation.  It’s great to be motivated, and spectacular to feel a sense of enthusiasm for a purpose or project.  But the thing is?  When you get too carried away in those feelings of motivation and enthusiasm, it’s very easy to become destructive to yourself, to those around you, and to the project at large.

It’s important to remember not to let those feelings of motivation and enthusiasm carry you away to the point that you become a destructive force instead of a productive one.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE LITTLE PRINCE

LionHart’s As Above So Below Challenge Prompt
Mars Question: An obstacle, or blockade, I am asked to deal with.

Antique Anatomy Tarot Mass Market Edition

Reading Summary: There’s a big difference between avoidance (Four of Elixirs), and moderation (Temperance). Avoidance (Eight of Blades) leads to overburdening and overwhelm (Ten of Wands).

Take Away:  I need to work on learning the difference because I excel far to well at avoidance… and not well enough at moderation.  The cards here indicate that my tendency toward avoidance is a part of the problem that causes me to hit overwhelm and burnout.

DECK USED:  ANTIQUE ANATOMY TAROT MASS MARKET EDITION

#DiscordTarotolicsNov2020 Challenge Prompt
Philosophical Question: What harsh truths do you prefer to ignore?

Delos TarotReading Summary:  That I can’t last forever with fresh as a daisy enthusiasm (Ace of Wands) without getting some rest and recovery along the way (Four of Swords). Gideon can help you find balance (King of Cups) but you have to reach out to him for that help (Two of Cups).

Take Away:  I hate that I need to rest.  I really do.  I hate that I can’t go the way I could have ten years ago, non stop and moving fast.  It just doesn’t feel right to me to need the amount of rest that I do, regardless of the fact that I know I get less rest than the average person.   Rest feels like an inconvenience more than a necessity and it drives me nuts that I have to take time for it. Time I could be putting forward into things that I need to get done.

I’m aware this is an issue that’s rooted in my upbringing and in my determination to be independent from a young age.   My need for stability requiring money that you have to work for, etc.  And I know that Gideon can help calm that desperation.  Sometimes, I fear, though, that in calming that inner desperation, I will lose my independence and the stability that has been so hard won so far.

DECK USED:  DELOS TAROT

Heal & Transform November Challenge Prompt
Question: How can I heal myself?

Lunatic Tarot

Reading Summary: Pay more attention to where you wanna go (Ten of Pentacles), and less attention to your feelings of scarcity (Five of Pentacles). You need to be able to rest and recover (Four of Swords)… and focusing on your feelings of scarcity is just not going to get you there.

Take Away:  Rest and recovery.  Recuperation and rest are the path to healing myself.  Feelings of scarcity rooted in my past (figure looking to the left in the center card) drive me to treating myself badly and making unhealthy choices.

I need to remember that I won’t be able to enjoy the stability I’ve accomplished, or further stability I might gain, if I’ve worked myself to death in trying to fill that never ending hole of emptiness that those feelings of scarcity create.

DECK USED:  LUNATIC TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What part of my life would I like to improve over the next year?

Edmund Dulac Tarot

Reading Summary: A better work / life balance (Two of Coins). The ability to enjoy my time with my loved ones freely (Three of Cups). Reclaiming my ambition while finding a better way (Knave of Swords).

Take Away:  These three cards tie in together, in that it is through finding that better balance between work and life that I can find time to spend with loved ones free of guilt or negative inner dialogue.  The cards also indicate that on the work side of things, the lagging of my ambition over the past handful of months is a reflection of the efforts to settle into the new work / life balance I’ve been trying to foster.  As I learn to adjust to this new balance and find it more comfortable, the card indicates that my ambition will then rekindle.

DECK USED:  EDMUND DULAC TAROT

New Can Be Scary… That’s Okay

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IMG_7581Today’s meditation was just over ten minutes long with interval timer for my piriformis stretches.  The topic of the guided portion of the meditation was about holding space for others and listening with more than our ears but our mind and our heart as well.

Often, when we are talking with others, we don’t spend enough of our energy on listening to what the other person has to say.  Instead, we’re in our own heads formulating what we’re going to say next, or musing over our opinions of something that was said, or planning what we need to do later on in the day, etc.

The encouragement in the guided meditation is to use the mindfulness that we use in meditation, and carry it forward into the world in how we listen to and communicate with others.

Traditional Manga Tarot - Ace of CupsToday’s draw is the Ace of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of the seed of new beginnings in relation to one’s emotions, relationships, intuition, and creativity. This often translates into themes that have to do with new relationships, new creative ideas, or new emotional growth.

What really stands out to me the strongest in the imagery of this card today is the small pink lotus flower on the right near the woman’s arm, and on the opposite side, the gray swirl of what I think is supposed to be her hair… but looks a lot like a shark to me at first glance.

The message here is that there is always a bit of risk in new things.  Things can go well and go smoothly, or they could turn around and bite you in the ass when you’re not looking.  The key is in her lifted arms… which speak of moving forward into new experiences regardless of the risk.  Sometimes you just have to step up and see what’s waiting for you.

DECK USED:  TRADITIONAL MANGA TAROT

LionHart’s As Above So Below Challenge Prompt
Sun Question: What am I asked to create for myself, or work on, throughout the month of November?

Delos Tarot - The Magician, DeathWhat am I asked to create for myself throughout the month of November?

The Magician – Confidence. I’ve felt a lot of uncertainty and insecurity lately when it comes to my ability to juggle my emotions and the holiday rush.  It’s been sort of wittling away at the edges of my confidence in other areas pertaining to my business.  The Magician is a reminder that I’m capable and that through the next few weeks I need to prove this to myself and create for myself  the confidence that I’ve felt wavering a bit lately.

What am I asked to work on throughout the month of November?

Patience through slow change. Patience is not my strong suit when it comes to my expectations of myself and my personal progress.  I need to keep in mind that most of the changes I’m working for this year are slow growth changes, and not sudden transformative moments.

DECK USED:  DELOS TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsNov2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: Advice I need to hear at this time concerning my personal happiness.

Tarot of the Little PrinceReading Summary:  Alone time is needed (The Hermit) so move your ass (Eight of Wands) and take the reigns and make it happen (The Chariot).

Take Away: Get your ass out into the woods. Stop procrastinating.
Wednesday.  I’m going on Wednesday after my dentist appointment. I plan on running a few errands in the morning after the dentist, and then heading out into the forest by late morning or early afternoon at the latest.

I’ve been feeling the need to get out into the forests for a bit now, but things have just felt so clusterfucked that I haven’t really managed to do it.  But I’ve set aside time for it on Wednesday and have every intention of spending a handful of hours out there.  It’s not as good as a day hike, but it’ll be a good long visit all the same. More than enough time to untie some internal knots and enjoy some alone time with the trees.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE LITTLE PRINCE

Heal & Transform November Challenge Prompt
Question: What previously unknown shadow aspect has presented itself this year?

Edmund Dulac Tarot

Reading Summary: My issues with slowing down (The Chariot Rx) and taking things at a slower pace (Knight of Pentacles). These issues are rooted in my childhood (Six of Cups).

Take Away:  Ugh.  So much shadow work has been peeking out at me and trying to make itself known recently.  I can’t do shadow work in the fall and winter, and yet it always seems ready to make itself known around this time of year each year.  This shadow, like so many that try to get my attention in the fall, is rooted in my childhood.  Speed and efficiency are highly prized in my family, especially by my father, and I’ve spent a huge part of my life developing my speed and efficiency in all aspects of my life, work, and business. 

Over this year, I’ve been trying to spend more time slowing down instead, which has brought this specific shadow aspect I wasn’t really all that aware of as a shadow aspect rising up to the surface again and again.

DECK USED:  EDMUND DULAC TAROT