Everyday Witch Tarot

Leave It Behind

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

Everyday Witch TarotToday’s draw is the Six of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of transitions, changes, moving on to better things, and leaving behind problems and baggage.

In the imagery of this card, a group of witches steal away in the dead of night with all that they can carry, following the light of the moon while autumn winds flow around them. One witch looks back, as if one last look is needed.

There’s something to be said for not looking back, and times when that’s essential. Escaping abusive relationships, leaving behind painful or unhealthy patterns, etc.  These things will always have pieces and parts that want to draw us back in.  Good times that are difficult to let go of, because to do so and truly move on means giving up on old hopes.

The thing is, though, that we can’t truly make a new start and begin anew if we don’t leave what’s in the past alone. Listening to that abusive ex’s excuses, or the whispers of temptation on unhealthy patters trying to call us back, will only stick us back where we were… in a broken hope or reaching for an unattainable dream.

Today’s card is a reminder that in order to begin something new, you have to let go of the old.  Let go of those old hopes and dreams that were a part of that untenable situation or behavior…. and instead of recycling them, build new hopes and dreams to replace them.

DECK USED:  EVERYDAY WITCH TAROT

Mr Lionhart’s The Suits: Revisited #TheNovemberTarot Prompt
Questions for November 15th and 16th

Everyday Witch TarotSuit of Cups – Something I am asked to reflect/meditate on right now.

Six of Cups and Strength – Remember how far you have come, and the strength that your past has provided you. Remember that the difficulties and struggles you’ve gone through are what has made you who you are today, given you the strength you carry with you from day to day.

Major Arcana – A lesson I have learned from the Cups suit during this challenge.

The High Priestess and Judgement – Intuition and emotions are connected, and when you judge yourself harshly and your emotions are affected by this… so too is your intuition.  If you, on the other hand, stay open and kind to yourself, allowing positivity to flow, your intuition flows freely as well.

DECK USED: EVERYDAY WITCH TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I un-pledged myself from 16 of the projects I’d previously backed on Kickstarter.

❤️ 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?

Everyday Witch Tarot and the Black Salt Lenormand

Earth – The Lovers – Make sure you are doing what is needed to keep you happy, healthy… and grounded.  Connecting with others right now is extremely important for your well-being.  So is making sure you allow them to keep you grounded.  Not everything has to be done alone, and you will need input from others to make healthy choices for yourself this week.

Air – Queen of Pentacles – Again we see a need for grounding.  Seek out those that help you find that stability you need instead of insisting you can do it all on your own.  Their input can help put your mind at ease and keep you from spiraling into anxiety and other non-grounded mental avenues.

Water – Three of Pentacles – Another reminder that this is not a time to do things on your own.  Incorporate others in seeking out what you need, and in providing it.  You don’t always see what you need half as clearly as others around you do.  Make sure you are consulting them instead of just settling for what you can manage on your own.

Fire – The Devil – Do  not allow yourself to fall into bad habits or the temptations that could harm you this week.  Keep an eye on those things that seem far too good to be true and turn away from them instead of trying to figure out how you can accept them without them causing harm.  You can’t.  Spurn them instead, no matter how tempting they appear.

Waning – Scythe and Snake – Do not lean into your work this week.  This is your opportunity to have a few easy days to breathe before the holiday rush falls into full swing.  Don’t waste them trying to accomplish more… just breathe.

Waxing – Rider and Tower – Pay attention to those that try to step in and integrate themselves into your life at this time. Lean into those that are there with you all the time, and reject the advances or offerings of those that are suddenly trying to step in and be a part of things.

Take Away –  Tried and true friends are the way to go this week.  Don’t waste these last days of rest, and allow those around you that you trust to keep close to help you find a positive spin on things so that your worries and anxieties don’t get a chance to try and eat at you.

DECKS USED: EVERYDAY WITCH TAROT, BLACK SALT LENORMAND

Creativity and Joy

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IMG_5033Today’s meditation was just under eleven minutes long and was a guided meditation that worked through connecting the heart and your emotions to first flesh, then muscle, then bone, before then turning it outward to radiate from you.

It was a really interesting progression that I’ve never tried before, and I found it relaxing, which is surprising considering how damn bad my back is hurting today.

Herbal Tarot - Eight of Pentacles - GingerToday’s draw is the Eight of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of hard earned expertise and hard work in the areas of one’s finances, resources, health, home, and manifestations.  This is a card about personal skills and strengths.

What stood out to me the strongest in the imagery on first seeing this card today is the new shoots on the ginger root, and the hammer in the man’s hand.

Zingiber officinale (aka Ginger) is a stimulant that gets the blood moving and, as a result, warms the body. Unlike with the Wild Ginger of yesterday, this herb has a full body effect instead of focusing directly upon the pelvic region.  The metaphysical properties are also about warmth and spark, as the herb is often used to stimulate one’s talents and spark one’s motivation.

The message in today’s card is about allowing my spark to combine with my talents to manifest something new.  It’s about developing one’s skills, and creating something new from that effort of development.  This is about working on the wood burning, and about making time to not just develop my skills, but to enjoy the process of creation.

DECK USED:  HERBAL TAROT

#TarotForGrowthJune Challenge Prompt
Question: Where have I grown that deserves more recognition from my conscious self?

Nicoletta Ceccoli Tarot

Reading Summary: Both figures in the outside cards face towards the center, giving me a sense of self-awareness, where in the center card the girl’s eyes are closed and it appears she has turned inward to find calm among the chaos of dark tangles around here which indicates having found an inner calm and centering.  This centering is not disrupted by outside influences (the movement and action going on in the two outer cards), nor by my own inner critic (indicated by the whip in the hand of the rider on the left card, and the lack of organization in the blocks and toys in the background of the card on the right).

Take Away: The growth that I’ve experienced that I need to give myself more credit for is that I’ve become better at centering myself and staying mindful in times of chaos and distraction.   I’m more aware of, and thus more able to tune out, the negative influences around me.   This isn’t to say I don’t have a long way to go… only that I’ve also come a long way already.

DECK USED:  NICOLETTA CECCOLI TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJun2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: How can I go about lightening up in these areas? (Built off yesterday’s cards.)

Phantasmagoric Theater TarotReading Summary: I need to find more time for others (Three of Cups) and more joy in including them in my path (Two of Cups).  Allow them to take care of me sometimes, and allow myself to be nurtured not just by others, but by myself as well (The Empress).

Take Away: What I take myself too seriously on is my focus on stability.  The cards here indicate that I need to try to frame stability in a different way, and realize that there’s more to stability than hard work and finances.

Stability is also about my connection with others, and their connection with me.  The love they provide is a comfort and can take the place of some of that obsession I feel towards my current view of stability and need to push myself so hard to obtain it.

DECK USED:  PHANTASMAGORIC THEATER TAROT

#TheJuneTarot Challenge by Lionhart
Question: What can I embrace in support of my strengths?

Golden Girls Tarot

Reading Summary: Remember that starting over is okay (Ten of Swords) and it makes you stronger than you were the first time around (King of Swords). You need a little temptation , and the joy that comes from that temptation (The Devil), in order to obtain emotional fulfillment (Ten of Cups).

Take Away: Okay… so this one is a big one to unpack.  The thing is that how I view stability and security at the moment needs to be reevaluated.  This is indicated above in the Tarotholics reading, but it’s reinforced here in the mention of starting over through reassessment in order to become stronger… as well as the presence of the Ten of Cups, which indicates I need to try and ease my focus from the Ten of Pentacles as my goal to more of a Ten of Cups goal instead.

Both are fulfillment and both represent stability, but the Cups provides an emotional element that includes connecting to others and allowing their support, which is something I’m currently lacking in my Ten of Pentacles view of stability and security.   The Devil card in this reading is a reminder not to be ashamed of the things that bring you joy.  It’s okay to have those enjoyments and take pleasure in them as long as they are not becoming a detriment to your goals. 

DECK USED:  GOLDEN GIRLS TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: How can I cut through the noise and get to what’s important?

Everyday Witch Tarot

Reading Summary: Take the first step beyond planning (Three of Wands). Choose a direction and step off the teeter totter (Two of Pentacles Rx). Follow what is stirring your interest at this time and claim these interests as yours (Queen of Wands).

Take Away: Stop waffling.  Stop screwing around and sitting on my ass thinking about what I need to do to make the changes I want to make. Take the first step and lose yourself in the process of passionate creation.  Wallow in the joy that comes from manifestation through creative expression.   In other words?  Stop focusing so damned much on work and allow yourself to ease up on that tight-ass grip of yours and have some damned fun already.

DECK USED:  EVERYDAY WITCH TAROT

 

Finding the Good

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Today’s meditation was curtailed by the fact that I was too distracted by how much that I needed to get going. I was behind on orders even before I ever woke up, so it was a bit of a problem even sitting still long enough to get some of my stretches in, let alone a meditation.  I will try to fit it in when I go to bed this evening.

Herbal Tarot - The Sun - AngelicaToday’s draw is the Sun card, which is traditionally a representation of hope, joy, and fun.  The card is the epitome of positivity and vitality and often appears as a message of success.

I really like the last line of the guidebook’s interpretation of this card, which is “It’s time to regenerate the self and to follow the heart’s path.” What stood out to me (not surprisingly) in the imagery of the card, though, is the plant itself. Angelica archangelica is used spiritually to attract good energy and good fortune into one’s life, as well as to purify one’s energies so that one’s true heart path becomes clear to them.

The message in today’s card is one of enjoyment. It is a reminder to incorporate joy into my work and seek out the pleasure that creativity and creation bring. Today is one of my busy days, where prepping orders is the theme of the whole day. The message here is to bring joy into the process so that the day includes more pleasure and less obligation.

DECK USED:  HERBAL TAROT

#TarotForGrowthJune Challenge Prompt
Question: What is my relationship with sexuality?

Everyday Witch Tarot

Reading Summary: A cycle of greed (Six of Swords), overload (Ten of Wands), and then crash and burn (The Tower).  The interpretation of the first card is not off traditional meanings, but specifically off the imagery, which looks like thieves running away through the night.

Take Away:  What is described here is a cycle that we go through together on a pretty normal basis.  The issue here lies in the Tower card. It lies in the fact that when I have gorged myself to the full extent and am bloated and heavy with the goodness of our mutual pleasure, that then when my libido slips back into its normal lesser amount… I feel like I’m fucking up and the world is coming to an end.

It’s stupid, I know.  But ever since the RPLND, I can’t sustain that heightened libido and… it bugs me.  It feels like a failing.  Logically, I know that it’s not.  But, as we both know…. emotions are rarely logical.

DECK USED:  EVERYDAY WITCH TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJun2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: Write something free form inspired by the cards.

Golden Girls TarotThe Sun – Maggie loved her life.  Every day was a dream filled with sunshine and roses.  She spend her time helping others and uplifting the spirits of everyone she knew. Never had she ever understood those that went through “clinical depression” and she always wondered why they couldn’t just “brighten up” and feel better.  All you had to do was turn your thoughts to positive things, after all.

The Tower – Then one day her husband was in an accident, and while he was in the hospital, she discovered that he was having an affair with a neighbor.  Her marriage and her life felt as if it was falling down around her, and for the first time in her life she was unable to find the light at the end of the tunnel.  No amount of positive thinking could make things better, and the discovery changed her life in ways that made seeing the positive impossible.

The Hanged Man – After a time, she took the advice of a friend and called a therapist and began going to regular appointments with a psychologist.   Through therapy, Maggie was able to see her split with her husband in a better light, and view the transition to a new life on her own as an opportunity instead of a disaster.  This new perspective, over time, allowed her to begin bringing positivity back into her life and her world view.

DECK USED:  GOLDEN GIRLS TAROT

#TheJuneTarot Challenge by Lionhart
Question: Why is honoring my own needs so important?

Nicoletta Ceccoli Tarot

Reading Summary:  Depending on others (left card) can lead to either feelings of neglect (middle card) or micro management (right card).

Take Away:  If you don’t take care of you, who will?  More importantly… who will take care of you in the ways that you need?  Lots of people are happy to take care of this or that, but no one can take care of every need that another has, which leads to either a feeling of neglect or a feeling of being micromanaged.  Either way, it just doesn’t work. 

This is why it’s important to take care of yourself.  No one else can do it as well as you can.  Sometimes that means you can ask for help, though.  Just don’t expect that anyone is going to take it all on and do it as well as you can do it for yourself. Nor will others honor your needs if you don’t honor them first.

DECK USED:  NICOLETTA CECCOLI TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What takes me out of my comfort zone?

Trippin' Waite Tarot

Reading Summary:  I’m a big fan of stability (Four of Pentacles) and bounding forward at full charge to take risks (Knight of Swords), or to delve into the world of constantly flowing and shifting emotions (King of Cups), are definitely things that take me out of my comfort zone.

Take Away:  I’m not sure what more to say here.   I struggle with taking risks, and I struggle with that constantly shifting movement that is inherent in emotions.  I love being on solid footing and having a sense of stability and security.  Both taking risks and emotional shifts do not foster those qualities.   And yet, there are times when it’s necessary to delve into both, yeah?  It’s just a matter of choosing when and where.

DECK USED:  TRIPPIN’ WAITE TAROT

 

Staying Open to Change

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long and another of the harp strings meditation sessions.   Another session that I had a bit of a struggle in concentrating, mostly because of the whole aggressive customer issue that was going on this morning and getting that dealt with.  I hate having to turn from kind and courteous customer service into that more firm and authoritative voice.

Anyway, it messed up my groove a little bit and because I was all stirred up and my brain was in “compose this message” mode, I really struggled at staying focused in the meditation today.

Herbal Tarot - Two of Pentacles - Yellow DockToday’s draw is the Two of Pentacles, which is traditionally interpreted as struggling with multiple priorities, the juggling of responsibilities, and finding balance (or being out of balance) between one’s obligations.

What stands out the greatest to me in the imagery of this card today is the combination of the yellow dock on the page, and the two sailboats off in the horizon.   The meaning of the sailboats in today’s message is twofold, as they speak both of freedom as well as adaptability and how, through that adaptability, freedom can be obtained.    The Rumex crispus is one I needed to brush up on, as I could only remember that it was a good cure for athletes food and edible in small quantities.

What I found is that the spiritual properties of Rumex crispus lies in the purging of what is no longer working for you, clearing out stagnancy in order to help strengthen what is left and allow for room and growth.     This message is very much in line with my current goals.

The message in today’s card is a reminder that I need to stay open to change in order for change to happen. If I close myself off, even if it’s subconsciously, it will effect my progress.  So stay present, stay aware, and stay open.

DECK USED:  HERBAL TAROT

#TarotForGrowthJune Challenge Prompt
Question: What unconscious rhythms have settled into my life?

Brady Tarot

Reading Summary: This reading is about “greener pastures syndrome” and the fact that when I am feeling fulfilled, I can’t stay still.  The progression here is in the new shiny thing (Ace of Roots) that I learn and master (Nine of Cups) and as a result end up bored or frustrated (Eight of Cups) and ready to move on to the next new thing (Six of Arrows).

Take Away:  Actually, this isn’t an uncommon rhythm for me, but it is one that I’ve experienced again and again throughout my life (although, not as often as Z apparently *LOL* who is where I got the “syndrome” title from).   It has to do with interests only being interesting for as long as they are a challenge, but not so much of a challenge that you can’t conquer them.   So you fall into this pattern of finding interests and exploring them until you feel you’ve reached a level of expertise, and then going “meh” and discarding them for something else.  Fortunately, I have far more staying power than Z, although I do this often with my periphery interests. 

DECK USED:  BRADY TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJun2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: Philosophical Question: Is it easier to love or be loved?

Grimalkin TarotReading Summary:  In the center of this reading, we have a cat that stares adoringly at a firefly while the firefly is without any interest in the cat at all.  On one side, we have unrequited affection.  On the other we have homecoming and celebration shared with others.

Take Away:  In both scenarios (the right side and the left) there are emotions involved and in both the emotions involved include having “full cups” (even if on the left there are not as many full cups as you might desire.   I would say that, from these cards, it is better to love than to be loved.   I’m not entirely sure that I agree with that, but this is what the cards say to me.  They say that when you focus on your own heart, you will always have love… whereas if you focus on other’s hearts and love directed at you, you will always feel as if you are missing what you seek.

DECK USED:  GRIMALKIN TAROT

#TheJuneTarot Challenge by Lionhart
Question: Think of something you are proud of and draw a card for input.
Pride: Fostering stability and responsibility in my life.

Everyday Witch TarotReading Summary: The Queen of Swords (for once) did not immediately bring to mind my mother.  Instead, in this card she appears to be saying, “Good job.  Your independence is admirable. Keep it up.”   She is a reminder to listen to that good, strong, and proud inner voice that lives within me, and to not allow my inner critic to interject.

Take Away:  You are smart and resourceful. You can be the Queen of Wands without turning into your mother.

DECK USED:  EVERYDAY WITCH TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What good habits do I have?

Tarot of Passing Showers

Reading Summary: The ability to look at personal hardships (Three of Swords) and find the positive (Hanged Man and Art).

Take Away:  In the Thoth tarot (which is the system this deck is based upon) the fourteenth card in the Major Arcana is not Temperance, but rather Art, and speaks of taking something mundane and turning it into something precious.  Balance also plays a part in this card, and when combined with the new perspectives presented in the Hanged Man’s card, it demonstrates how I approach the struggles and strife in my life… and how I heal from them.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF PASSING SHOWERS

You Are Not Alone

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long and was another of the harp strings meditations.  It was relaxing and comfortable, and time flowed quickly as if it had no meaning at all.  The shift in time during those ten minutes is really remarkable, and I have been tempted to bump the meditation up to twelve or fifteen.

Japaridze Tarot - Five of Tides - Five of CupsToday’s draw is the Five of Tides (Five of Cups) which is traditionally a representation of stress, struggles, tests, and trials in the areas of one’s relationships, emotions, or intuition.  This often communicates itself through themes involving grief (depicted very eloquently in this card’s image), as well as themes to do with one’s failures and regrets or pessimistic views.

Two elements stand out strongest to me in the imagery of this card today.  The first is the baby bump the woman is sporting. This speaks to me of temporary grief.  The emotions represented here are deep, as communicated by the deep cobalt color of the woman’s dress, but life will move on past this moment and moments of joy still exist in the future.

The second element is about the emblems on the three caskets closest to the bottom of the card.  To me, the moon represents pagan/esoteric religions, while the Star of David is a representation of Judaic religions, and the cross a representation of Christian religions.  The three of these speak to me of diversity.  They indicate that the emotions and experiences depicted in this card are universal.  They are something everyone experiences in their life at one point or another… and when in these experiences, you are not alone.

The message in today’s card is about weathering emotional storms with grace by looking forward beyond the moment for hope, and remembering that you are not alone.  Some of my readings this month have warned of some emotional turmoil over the next month, this reminder is one of hope and comfort.

DECK USED:  JAPARIDZE TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJun2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: What do I need to focus on for self-care for this full moon?

Tarot of the Animal LordsReading Summary: There is a clear depiction of movement in these cards based on the colors.  On the left there is a darkness that as you progress to the right becomes brighter and more vibrant, speaking of moving away from the left and heading to the right.

Use your inner strength (Strength) to take control and move away from (The Chariot) inner turmoil (Three of Swords). Take comfort in your loved ones and those that you love and trust (Two of Cups).

Take Away:  The cards here indicate that my self care this month is going to require that I take steps to turn away from those things and situations that cause me inner turmoil.   This “turning away” from is going to require strength to accomplish, as well as a strong hand and careful control to keep myself on track on this other path.

This is about that “all work and no play” issue that I constantly have going on and the slip up into that mentality that I slid into over the past two weeks.  It’s time to get that back under control and my commitment to leaving room on my plate for the good things in life back on track.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE ANIMAL LORDS

#TheJuneTarot Challenge by Lionhart
Question: How am I asked to honor myself during this full moon?

Tarot of a Moon Garden

Reading Summary: Enjoy what you have (Nine of Cups) and take a rest (Four of Swords)  It’s okay to disconnect for a bit as long as you don’t linger there too long (The Star Rx).

Take Away:  This advice isn’t so much about self care as it is about honoring myself, and the ways I am being asked (by the universe) to honor myself at this time. By taking some time to focus on my gratitude for all that I have and all that I’ve earned, combined with a bit of time disconnecting from my responsibilities while I rest and recover, I honor not just myself but all that I have accomplished up to this point.

I need to remember that life isn’t always about pushing forward constantly, but about enjoying what you have in the present.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF A MOON GARDEN

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What is my favorite memory?

Everyday Witch Tarot

Soon after I emancipated my from my parents, my mother took me out for a ride in her little red Corvette one day. She told me that if I ever needed anything that I should call her, and when I told her that father wouldn’t like that, her response was “what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him”.

At the time it made me feel very supported and loved and cared for.  Even though I would never have taken her up on the offer, just the fact that she offered made me feel as if I could take on the world.

I know now that that’s not how it was meant, and that she was just looking for an “in” so she could get her hooks into me and use me later. But, that doesn’t change the warm and supported feeling that lives within that memory even now.

DECK USED:  EVERYDAY WITCH TAROT