Ethereal Dreams Tarot

Finding the Positive for February 17 – 19

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Brightwork Tarot, Dick Pic Tarot, Tarot Draconis, and Sweet-Ass Affirmations

February 17 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Today’s draw is the Four of Wands combined with the affirmation “My mind is exceptional. My body is optimal. My soul is serene.”

Your body is the home of your soul. It’s not meant to be perfect any more than life is meant to be easy.  It’s through the challenges we face, both in life as well as with our body, that we grow and learn and become better people than we are currently.

Limitations are frustrating, absolutely, and there’s lots of people that don’t like the body that their souls are housed in, whether that is because of disabilities or defects, weight issues, or any other issue.  Everyone… absolutely everyone has things about themselves they’re self-conscious about.  The important part? Is to love your soul’s home anyway, and value what it does for you.  After all, where would you be without it?

DECKS USED: BRIGHTWORK TAROT GOLDEN LOTUS EDITION AND SWEET-ASS AFFIRMATIONS

February 18 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Today’s draw is the Queen of Cups (Zaddy of Urinals) combined with the affirmation “By pumping my action muscle I make hesitation my bitch.”

Yesterday’s cards were about acceptance of your body, and today’s are about improving it in the ways that will make you and your body happy.

It’s about setting unreasonable expectations behind and acceptance, with the knowledge that we can all do a little bit better, and take care of ourselves a little bit more.

For me, this means making sure that I’m getting time outside in nature, no matter the time of year or the weather.  It’s what I need, both for happiness emotionally as well as my physical well being.  It means making sure I do my PT exercises each day so that I don’t stiffen up and lose mobility. It’s about making sure that I’m taking in enough protein and fuel to keep me going rather than skipping meals.

All of these things are things I have learned over the years that I need in order to be healthy and happy.  Some of them?  I don’t always enjoy, but I know that I need them. I do them because I need them, regardless of if I’d rather hibernate away or relax in bed for another half hour instead of getting up.

Self care is important, and means giving yourself the things you need for your body and soul to both feel healthy and happy.  Don’t forsake them just because you’d rather play possum.

DECKS USED: DICK PIC TAROT AND SWEET-ASS AFFIRMATIONS

February 19 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Today’s draw is the King of Cups atop the King of Wands. They encourage us to take a moment to look where we’re going, and who we are taking with us along for the ride.

Kings are leaders, and in the Cups and Wands suit, they lead through passion and understanding.  The problem is that sometimes, we need to make sure that we aren’t getting so wrapped up in the flames of our passions that we forget to pay attention to making sure things are going smoothly not just for you, but for others on the journey with you as well.

Make sure that you check in on those other people in your life and ensure they are doing okay, rather than ignoring their needs and how they’re doing while your gaze is focused on your goal.

DECKS USED: TAROT DRACONIS

Finding the Positive for February 13 – 15

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Starlight Tarot Gold Edition, Student Tarot No. 5, Ink Witch Tarot Second Edition, and Rage Create's Sweet-Ass Affirmations

February 13 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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The @GlitterbyInk #FairyTales25 Challenge
Once Upon a Time Prompt for February 13 : Unknown

Today’s draw is the Eight of Pentacles atop the Four of Pentacles.

The message here is a reminder that if you want to be a greedy fuck (look at that pinched expression on the woman in the Four of Pentacles), you have to work hard to get there. Stability, especially in the face of the unknown, doesn’t come easy.

It recently came to my attention that some people thrive in chaos, and have absolutely no interest in stability in their lives.  This seriously blows my mind.  Stability is such a driving force for me in my life, a need as great as water or food in fact, that it’s hard for me to wrap my mind around the idea that others might reject the idea and, in fact, even thrive without it.

For me, stability is the end-all be-all, and I feel like I can never have enough.  It is the thing that constantly drives me to push myself harder.

The message in today’s cards brings that work into focus, as well as the fact that maybe?  Just maybe I’m grasping too tightly to the idea of more stability and working myself to the bone (and to my detriment) in the process.

DECKS USED: STARLIGHT TAROT GOLD EDITION

February 14 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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The @GlitterbyInk #FairyTales25 Challenge
Once Upon a Time Prompt for February 12 : Trickery

Today’s draw is the Four of Cups combined with the affirmation “I am a contagious fireball of laughter and joy everywhere I go.”

In my bathroom, I have a picture of a cat with a huge (human) smile spread over its face.  This cat is called “Bathroom Kitty” and she sits in a frame on my bathroom counter where I can’t avoid seeing her every morning when I wake up.   Bathroom Kitty makes me smile.   Even when I’m feeling at my absolute worst?  Bathroom Kitty makes me smirk… or snort… or react in some way.  She lightens the mood.

Even today, when you’re feeling sick as a dog throughout your entire digestive system from entry to exit. You have the opportunity to spread kindness and lift other’s spirits instead of dragging them down.

The cards for today are a reminder not to take feeling sick out on other people. Instead,  just rest and take it easy. The trickery here is in the fact that you’re not actually getting sick, regardless of that you feel like you are. You’re paying for misbehavior from the night before, even if you don’t feel like you deserve it. (Tuna fish sandwiches, potato chips, and peanut M&Ms before bad is a very, very bad idea.)

DECKS USED: STUDENT TAROT No.5 AND RAGE CREATE’S SWEET-ASS AFFIRMATIONS 2

February 15 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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The @GlitterbyInk #FairyTales25 Challenge
Once Upon a Time Prompt for February 15 : Bravery

Today’s draw is the Page of Cups atop The Emperor card.

You abound with creative spirit and the spark of inspiration.  It’s a significant part of your inner fire and what makes life worth living for you.  In the cards pulled today, there is a reminder here to not allow your sense of responsibility bog down your creativity and imagination. There’s room in your life for both.

Often, responsibilities have a tendency to take priority, and when you pile on too many responsibilities in your life, it can be hard to find time to “cut loose” and create new things or really sink into the creative spark and enjoy your imagination.    These are integral qualities within you, though, and need time and space to thrive in order for you to be healthy and happy.  Make sure you’re allowing time for them to flourish.

DECKS USED: INK WITCH TAROT 2ND EDITION

Finding the Positive for February 4, 7, 8

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Card of the Day Tarot Readings with the Pop Culture Tarot, Nemeth Tarot, and Beira's Snow Crystal Tarot

February 4 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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The @GlitterbyInk #FairyTales25 Challenge
Once Upon a Time Prompt for February 4 : Mystery

Today’s draw is the Knight of Wands beneath the Eight of Cups.

Curiosity may be what drives you more often than not, but keep in mind that you can’t chase every little thing that catches your interest.  “Picking your battles” applies to more than just the fights you decide to take on and which you don’t.  It’s also about making sure you are putting your energy into those things that will truly be fruitful or matter… and being realistic enough to let go of those that won’t be.

I struggle with this a lot, because I find so many creative projects and ideas to be interesting. There’s so many different things I want to learn how to do, and hone into a skill I do well. The problem?  Just how many spoons do I have to give?  Energy is a limited commodity, as is time.  Sometimes that enthusiasm to explore the new makes it hard to remember that it’s only by setting aside the stuff that’s least likely to fulfill you that you are able to put time and energy into the ideas that will.

DECKS USED: POP CULTURE TAROT

February 7 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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The @GlitterbyInk #FairyTales25 Challenge
Once Upon a Time Prompt for February 7 : Quest

Today’s draw is the Six of Swords atop the King of Coins.

Sometimes if you want stability, you have to make the chances necessary to help it come into fruition. Sitting on your ass doing nothing won’t help. Only movement will.  Only changing things up will create the shift that needs to happen to keep growth going and further the stability beneath your feet.

A lot of times when we find stability, we freeze within it an try to preserve it through stagnancy. The problem is that stagnancy actually creates cracks in that stable foundation we’ve managed to create, weakening it.  Instead, today’s cards are a reminder that we must go after what we want, even when what we want is sitting right in our lap.  It’s important to keep it healthy and strong through continued effort and a focus on healthy growth and moving in a direction that is right for you.

DECKS USED: NEMETH TAROT

February 8 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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The @GlitterbyInk #FairyTales25 Challenge
Once Upon a Time Prompt for February 8 : Spell

Today’s draw is the Eight of Pentacles atop the Tower card.

There are times when it doesn’t matter how hard you’ve worked or how skilled you are. Shit happens and what you have spent so much time and effort building falls anyway. This is because we get stuck, and the universe hates stagnancy.

Today’s cards are a reminder that these moments allow us to start over and do it better the second time around. This time, you have the skills under your belt to start over with some modicum of knowing what you’re doing. So you’re not really starting from scratch this time after all, are you?

DECKS USED: BEIRA’S SNOW CRYSTAL TAROT

Finding the Positive for February 1 – 2

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February 1 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Marseille by Night Tarot's Four of Wands and The Lovers CardThe @GlitterbyInk #FairyTales25 Challenge
Once Upon a Time Prompt for February 1 : Dream

Today’s draw is the Lovers combined with the Four of Wands.

Utilize what is familiar and known as tools in reaching your goals.

Dreams are built on innovation, but they’re also built on hard work.  Even if the dream you hold dear is a new idea, remember that you don’t have to reinvent the wheel to get there. The skills and abilities that are already under your belt are there for you to use to further your dreams and goals, no matter what those dreams and goals are, and no matter how new and innovative they are.

DECK USED: MARSEILLE AT NIGHT TAROT

February 2 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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The Energy Dragon Tarot's Queen of Wands and King of PentaclesThe @GlitterbyInk #FairyTales25 Challenge
Once Upon a Time Prompt for February 2 : Adventure

Today’s draw is the Queen of Wands atop the King of Pentacles.

The Queen of Wands conceals her face while looking down to the King of Pentacles, wondering… is he playing with his junk, or concealing it?

There are secrets in her, while he seems content just to let everything hang out. The suspicion and caution within the interaction between these two cards all resides with her.

The moral of the story here is that sometimes you can show all your cards and still be suspect in the eyes of others. Some people will never trust, as they are too busy pouring all their energy into long practiced distrust and skepticism.

Don’t allow these people to hold you back or thwart your goals. Don’t allow them to disrupt your stability. Just because their focus is on you doesn’t mean that your focus has to be on them.

DECK USED: THE ENERGY DRAGON TAROT

Finding the Positive for December 29 – 31

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Card of the Day Tarot Reading with the Christmas Tales Tarot, Christmas Cheer Tarot, and Yuletide Tarot

December 29 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Today’s card is the Five of Cups combined with the affirmation “You are not failing. Depression lies. Keep going.”

There is a specific reason that these card of the day exercises are always focused on the positive. It’s a part of the mental health exercise that my therapist encouraged me to start a few years ago.

The problem is that when your brain resides constantly in a state of negative inner narratives and pessimistic views, it begins to hold sway your emotions and outlook on life, and can thus negatively influence your mental health. That is where my therapist comes into the picture, because I am absolutely one of those people whose brain lives in that negative space when left to its own devices.

This card of the day exercise is for self-care, and focuses on helping in seeing a more positive, optimistic perspective. When I started a few years ago, I really didn’t think it would help. In fact, I scoffed at the idea and was not at all enthusiastic about it.

Years later, though, there’s no arguing with the results. By pulling a card each day asking for “a positive message to carry with me throughout the day and offer perspective”, and taking the time to write out what that positive message is each day?  I have managed cut down on the number of depressive episodes I experience as well as shorten their duration.

This exercise doesn’t mean that the bad stuff isn’t still there, or that I ignore it. It just provides a positive touch of perspective to my otherwise pessimistic mind. It helps.

With the holiday rush over, it’s time to get back on the wagon. Today’s cards are a welcome back, as well as a reminder about what this exercise is all about.

I hope that in my sharing these daily cards publicly, it helps you too.

DECK USED: CHRISTMAS TALE TAROT AND SELF-MADE CHRISTMAS AFFIRMATION CARDS

December 30 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Today’s card is the Knight of Wands combined with the affirmation “I choose to see the magic and wonder in every moment.”

There is a reminder here about being enthusiastic in the pursuit of the things that you enjoy.  Don’t trudge through life with your enthusiasm flagging, but instead sprint forward eagerly like a kid with a sled in the snow. 

When you bring this enthusiasm into the every day, and apply it to ordinary moments, it allows you to see life through a lens filled with magic and wonder, rather than the sloop shouldered disregard that us adults often cast our gaze upon the world around us.

Don’t let fun, amusement, and moments of gaiety and laughter pass you by.  Dive in to experience and savor them instead.

DECK USED: YULETIDE TAROT AND SELF-MADE CHRISTMAS AFFIRMATION CARDS

December 31 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped

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Today’s card is The Hierophant combined with the affirmation “You make the world merrier with your festive cheer.”

Okay, so… to be fair?  I’m not really the cheery type. This isn’t really a surprise to those that know me. I do, however, really love the holidays.  I love seeing everyone’s enthusiasm for decorating and making things look beautiful and festive.  I like seeing the traditions that take place, and how they differ from person to person and from family to family.  I find a great deal of joy in these things.

In the week following Christmas? I’ve actually been able to enjoy some of them too.  I’ve taken drives to look at the decorations that people still have out on display, and visited stores where I’ve taken pleasure in seeing the holiday frosted cupcakes, the decorations on last-minute sale, and enjoyed the more relaxed atmosphere of everyone -not- rushing around like spastic chickens with their heads cut off.

In doing these things, I’ve seen those around me also finding enjoyment in them… in getting to share them with me.

Today’s cards are a reminder that when traditions are shared? They take on meaning. Importance.  And an atmosphere of joy and enjoyment that touches everyone involved.  Traditions are important. They’re special, and they’re meant to be savored and enjoyed.

Happy New Year everyone!

DECK USED: CHRISTMAS CHEER TAROT AND SELF-MADE CHRISTMAS AFFIRMATION CARDS

Finding the Positive for December 4 – 5

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The Storybook Christmas Tarot, The Christmas Tarot, and Christmas Affirmation Cards

December 4 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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The @GlitterbyInk #DecembersChild24 Challenge
Healing the Inner Child Prompt for December 4th : Wonder

Today’s card is the Lovers card combined with the affirmation “You make Christmas feel like a warm and cozy hug.”

This affirmation card triggers a specific memory for me.  Last year (I think it was last year?) Gideon gifted my sister with a weighted axolotl plushy, which she absolutely loves.  Because the ends of it’s long arms are weighted, she says when she snuggles with it she can wrap its arms around her, and it feels like a real hug. I also have a weighted plushy from him (a fox) that I snuggle with often, because it’s size and weight makes it feel somehow… more substantial than a pillow or regular stuffie. Mutually, when we snuggle with these plushies, we feel a miraculous kind of release and easing in our chests and solar plexus.

Which brings us to the message in today’s cards and the wonder prompt for today.  For when we find things that make us feel good and soothe us on the inside, it feels like a kind of magic. Something wonderful to wallow in for a moment, and return to again and again.

In life, there are times when we need that connection. Not so much to a person, but to that feeling of peace and soothing. Today’s cards are a reminder to return to what helps us in connecting with that feeling.  It’s important to untie the knots inside now and then, especially when stress in life is high.  Doing so is a healthy choice, and a kindness.  An act of self love that we all need from time to time.

DECK USED: THE STORYBOOK CHRISTMAS TAROT AND SELF-MADE CHRISTMAS AFFIRMATION CARDS

December 5 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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The @GlitterbyInk #DecembersChild24 Challenge
Healing the Inner Child Prompt for December 5th : Healing

Today’s card is the Four of Wands combined with the affirmation “Tis the season to be jolly. Fuck jolly.”

A few days ago, I had a COTD that encouraged seeking out the magic in the holiday season, even when it’s not your favorite part of the year.  Today’s card is a reminder that sometimes it’s okay to retreat when you need to… even when others hold expectations over you to not do so.

Healing takes time, and isn’t always convenient. Whether you find refuge in being home alone, or refuge in the embrace of family or friends… the cards for today are encouraging us that it’s okay to give yourself what we need. If that means celebrating?  Then celebrate.  If that means retreating and being a Grumpus over the holiday season?  That’s perfectly okay too.  The key is that whatever you choose, it is a healing process, and not just letting old wounds fester.

DECK USED: THE CHRISTMAS TAROT AND SELF-MADE CHRISTMAS AFFIRMATION CARDS
Note: This particular affirmation card was made from a Christmas Card gifted to me. I don’t know the artist’s name as it wasn’t on the card.