Emerging Toronto Artists Tarot

A Bit of Wallowing is Okay

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

IMG_3717Today’s meditation was just over twenty minutes long and was not a guided meditation.  Instead I did one of my pain management techniques.  Because I haven’t been able to go in for treatment by the specialist over the past few weeks, I have a few issues cropping up concerning my pain and, subsequently, my flexibility.

This technique is a meditation based upon the breath, and centered upon gentle stretching during that focus.   As you breathe in a slow deep breath, you visualize the air slipping through your nose and down your throat, traveling through your body like swirls of smoke to seek out a specific place of pain and tension.

That visualization of air is then seen swirling within that body part, filling it up and dispersing through the pain as you hold the breath for a pause.  A beat of two or three seconds.  You then exhale and visualize that swirling air carrying pain and tension out of the afflicted area, up through your body, and out through your nose.  You then wait a beat of two or three seconds to savor the peace and stillness before repeating again.

It is peaceful, and it helps.  Is it perfect?  No.  But sometimes it really boils down to the little things and every little bit helps.

The Star Card - Stolen Child TarotToday’s draw is The Star card of the Major Arcana, which is traditionally a card representing hope and renewal of faith.

What I see in this card’s imagery is more than hope but comfort.  In the imagery, the sea-otter boy lingers among the bounty of a tide pool, and surrounded among these creatures it has all that it needs.  Land and sea, food and much more.  Everything is looking up in the world for the otterboy.

What came into my mind when I saw this happy otter was that the twilight of joy comes with a moment of uncertainty… followed by the sun.  A phrase that stretches the span of not just the Star card, but also the Moon card and the Sun card.

Today’s message is to bask in the good stuff.  It won’t always be there and soon enough uncertainty will come to toy with your thoughts and emotions and life.  So enjoy what you have while you have it.  Take pleasure in those things that give you a sense of goodness, hope, and well-being.  Hold them close and enjoy them for all their worth.

DECK USED:  STOLEN CHILD TAROT

#TarotForGrowthApril Challenge Prompt
Question: What part of my current state of spirit is within my control to change? (built off yesterday’s cards)

ETA Tarot - Emerging Toronto Artists TarotReading Summary:  Allow that growth to develop and grow (Seven of Pentacles).  Don’t allow yourself to be pulled aside (Seven of Wands) by misplaced confidence (Six of Wands) that urges me to go developing new distractions (Ace of Pentacles) to replace those that have been discarded.

Take Away:  This is a huge bad habit of mine.   That is, the habit of piling more and more on my plate until I’m swamped and overwhelmed, and then forcing myself into sustaining it over long periods of time.   The cards here indicate that this habit is a distraction that will hinder my spiritual growth at this time, as well as hinder my ability to move into a better relationship with my spirit guides.

DECK USED:  ETA TAROT (EMERGING TORONTO ARTISTS TAROT)

#DiscordTarotholicsApr2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: Do Spread #2 How can I better handle this lack of alone time?

Cosmic TarotReading Summary: Appreciate and foster the growth (Seven of Pentacles) of the connections coming from the added feminine influences (High Priestess) in my life right now rather than struggling in vain against what cannot currently be changed (Nine of Swords). Acceptance is a better path (Temperance).

Take Away:  Having this extra time with L and Z is a blessing, and when I am struggling with feeling overwhelmed by my current lack of alone time, I need to step back and take some time to remember that blessing and the opportunity that it is providing me to develop a deeper and stronger bond with both of them.

DECK USED:  COSMIC TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: How do others perceive me?

Fantastical Creatures Tarot

Reading Summary: A planner and a go-getter that uses their past experiences to map the course forward.

Take Away:  The cards indicate that people see me as someone that uses their past experiences and the positive aspects of what has been learned from them to both guide my own steps, but also assist others in finding their path forward in the direction of their goals as well.  To be honest?  I really like that.

DECK USED:  FANTASTICAL CREATURES TAROT

#MidnightTarotChallenge Prompt
Question: What is my relationship with my mind? How can I improve it?

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Relationship With My Mind: I am both well seated and happy to guide others with the workings of my mind and have a deep sense of independence and decisiveness. (Queen of Swords)

How to Improve that Relationship:  Foster more positivity (The Sun) and seek balance by reaching out for (and accepting) the help of others (Two of Cups).

Take Away: Although I don’t have an issue with decisiveness and independence, I can improve upon my relationship with my mind by allowing more input from others, especially in the area of interpreting my emotions and giving me a “light at the end of the tunnel” to focus on when I get too wrapped up in my own thoughts.

DECK USED:  COSMIC TAROT

 

Finding the Calm

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

IMG_3496Today’s meditation was just over ten minutes long and focused upon finding calm in the midst of chaos, and how mindfulness and meditation can help you in finding that calm.

Mindfulness meditation is, at its very core, a way to train your brain.  People that let their thoughts and worries run away with them, or suffer from anxiety, or have a hard time getting their brain to just shut up…. mindfulness meditation is the exercise and training that can help in overcoming these issues, because it essentially trains you to find that calm and quiet place.

It isn’t about “doing it right” or being “good at it”.  Just the act of trying helps start that training process and gives your brain the exercise it needs to begin learning how to find that calm.  I didn’t understand this when I first started mindfulness meditations, but I get it now.

I’m far from “perfect” at being calm and silent and still and not allowing thoughts to intrude in my meditation…. but I am absolutely flawless at now *catching* myself when that happens and doing the mental “push up” of returning back to silent calm.  Sometimes, I have to do that mental “push up” countless times in those ten minutes or so that I meditate for.  Sometimes, I only have to do it once or twice.   But the fact is?  I’m still doing it… and that’s what counts.

Queen of Brine - Queen of Cups - Stolen Child TarotToday’s draw is the Queen of Brine (Queen of Cups) which is typically interpreted as a receptive alpha energy, personality, or person in the area of relationships and emotions.

What I see in the imagery of today’s card is the abundance of motion that swirls around the center figure.  So much life and so much chaos, and yet she is calm and steady amidst it all.

The message here is an echo of what I’ve written above concerning meditation and finding that inner calm.   Sometimes you get swept up in the chaos of life, but it’s important to take the time to pause and touch upon that inner source of calm.  It’s there, but sometimes we have to teach ourselves how to reach for it… and remember to then do so when we need it.

The message here in today’s card is a reminder to do my meditation and put my all into it instead of just going through the motions. Being dedicated to the task will strengthen the ability to more easily touch upon that calm when it is needed most.

DECK USED:  STOLEN CHILD TAROT

#TarotForGrowthApril Challenge Prompt
Question: Current state of body.

ETA Tarot

Reading Summary: I want to get back to that place that I was at before (Six of Pentacles), but I’m having trouble fitting the changes into my life (Two of Pentacles) and so I am feeling quite stagnant and stuck in place (King of Cups).

Take Away:  I want to get back to that place that I was at before the cancer and chemotherapy upended everything. To do this, though, requires weight training combined with a specific diet heavy in protein and carbs.  At this time, I’m having trouble fitting the type of exercise I would need (not to mention the amount of food I would need to consume) into my life.  Because of this, I am feeling quite stagnant and stuck in place where my body is concerned.

DECK USED:  EMERGING TORONTO ARTISTS (ETA) TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsApr2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: What difficult truth about the human condition I am ignoring?

Shadowland TarotIntuitive Interpretation:  Most people crave love to the point that they’re willing to do damned near anything for it… but turn their back on it when it’s offered freely without them having to put in the effort to earn it or if it doesn’t live up to the ideal in their head.

Take Away:  I don’t actually have a whole lot of experience when it comes to matters of the heart and people trying to hand you their heart.  Just one, actually.   That said?  I do a good amount of observing of others and the read above from the cards seems pretty accurate.  I see truly amazing people offering their heart on their sleeves to others all the time and being turned away for what seem to be purely superficial reasons or simply because there was no challenge in getting that love. 

I see it, but I choose to ignore it. Because it is frustrating and flabbergasting to see it happen again and again, and yet those constantly turning their back on these offers complain about being alone and unloved. It is a pattern that becomes disheartening if observed and acknowledged too often.

DECK USED:  SHADOWLAND TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What takes my confidence away?

Universal Celtic Tarot

Reading Summary: When I find myself on uncertain footing stability wise and am not giving myself enough self care to keep things balanced.

Take Away:  Both the Ace and the Page are cards that indicating a beginning.  During these times when a new start is before me, there’s a feeling of uncertainty and newness that can set me off kilter, especially if that uncertainty and newness is in the area of my financial security and home stability.  The cards indicate that at those times, a little self nurturing can go a long way in bolstering my self confidence, but even then, the struggle is still present, just concealed a bit by a blanket of warmth.

DECK USED:  UNIVERSAL CELTIC TAROT

#MidnightTarotChallenge Prompt
Question: What do I need to bring into my life to nourish my growth?

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Reading Summary:  Be less miserly (Four of Pentacles) with my praise (Six of Wands) and foster good feels (Ace of Cups).

Take Away:  By finding ways to connect with others and foster their growth, I in turn foster my own growth.    I have noticed this lately in my interaction with others.  I feel a bit less awkward in interacting with others, and even seem to catch humor and jokes more often than I have in the past. This is emotional and social growth for me, which is pretty impressive in my opinion… especially concerning the amount of social awkwardness that I have spent the majority of my life experiencing.

DECK USED:  SHADOWLAND TAROT