February Tarot Challenge

Idols and Role Models

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Today’s meditation was skipped, as was the card of the day, sue to migraine issues.

@thetarotprofessor Self Love Challenge Prompt
Question: Find your idol or role model in the tarot. (For example: Which figure in the tarot cards do you admire the most? Which card’s energy do you find yourself trying to channel and embody most often?)

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Start listing all the reasons why this tarot card/figure is your role model.

Honestly? There are so many I could choose for this exercise, but I chose the first two that came to mind. Note that the choice of these cards is very much based upon their imagery. In other decks, it would be different cards.

Why do you admire them so much?

Five of Flame (Wands) – They fight for what they want, but never take it so far that it tears apart the family unit in the process. Conflicts happen, but the connections and ties that bind remain strong.

Ten of Swords – Fierce and wild, she survives against all odds.  The storm may take her to her knees, and yet she will charge forward still, screaming in the face of defeat and never giving up.

Why do you want to be like them?

Five of Flame (Wands) –  I like the idea that our individuality is not detracted from even when we belong to each other as a group or a family.  I like the idea that you can fight for what you believe in, even butt heads with others of your inner circle concerning what you believe in, and still those others remain just as cherished and important to you as ever.

Ten of Swords – That fierce energy to take on every challenge as it comes, and tear through it to move forward to the next.  You may not win them all, but that survivor’s spirit to fight ever forward is a draw for me.

What personality traits does this tarot figure have?

Five of Flame (Wands) – Strong. Stubborn. Not afraid of conflict. Independent without having to be alone.  Loving with strong priorities towards what is right for them balanced with those that they love.

Ten of Swords – Fierce.  Volatile. A survivor. Determined, with a never give up attitude.

What do others think of this tarot figure?

Five of Flame (Wands) – They are aware that this figure is determined and stubborn, and yet feel safe in their presence and even when in conflict with them, because they know that the disagreement will not wreck that connection. This provides a sense of security, even in moments of chaos.

Ten of Swords – Probably a bit of annoying that they always seem to be in chaos.  And yet there’s admiration there as well, for others recognize that they have been through a lot, and yet are still going strong and just as fierce as ever.

How does this tarot figure treat their family and friends?

Five of Flame (Wands) – They support and value their family and friends, but don’t allow them the power of peer pressure and is not a people pleaser.

Ten of Swords – Possibly a bit neglectful. They’re too focused on dealing with what is right in front of them and needing dealt with, slaying the chaos and surviving… that makes everything beyond that focus more of an afterthought.

What kind of lover or partner is this tarot figure?

Five of Flame (Wands) – Possibly a bit selfish, but they won’t leave you hanging entirely.

Ten of Swords – Wild in bed.  The type of lover that wants to wring ever last drop of pleasure out of the experience and break the bed in the process.

How does this tarot figure react when threatened or insulted?

Five of Flame (Wands) – I would say that this depends on who is doing the threatening or insulting.  In general, I can see them standing tall against these experiences, and allowing what is said to slide off their back like rain off of a slicker.

Ten of Swords – Immediately going on the offensive… or walking away because it’s not worth their time.  There is no middle ground.

Read the list back to yourself slowly and meaningfully. Let the magnificence of your tarot idol wash over you.

Take a moment to realize that you too embody these qualities. The reason role models and idols and mentors resonate with us so deeply is that we see ourselves in them.

Okay. I sort of disagree with the last statement (even if it is true for the two cards I chose in this exercise).

Although I think that sometimes the above is true, I feel that far more often individuals become our idols, role models, and mentors because deep down we see the potential of who we want to become within them. Those qualities then become a part of us because of that desire as we seek to follow their example.

I agree, though, that it means all those things listed above then become a part of who we are, for in our admiration we (whether subconsciously or consciously) begin to strive to be more like them, and those qualities we admire begin to develop within ourselves.

DECKS USED: THE STOLEN CHILD TAROT AND TAROT OF THE HIDDEN REALM

Daily Self Kindness

I actually skipped all cardwork for today. I knew the cards I wanted to use for the exercise above and already had pictures of them to work with.  I deleted and/or removed other cardwork to another day.

Time Spent

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

Pastoral Tarot - Three of CupsToday’s draw is the Three of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of friendships, revelry, celebration, and collaboration between those that are like not just in mind but also in heart

Here in this card we see togetherness and fun without the wineglasses and revelry. It is a reminder to us all that sometimes fun is in being with the ones you love and has nothing to do with Bacchus or over indulgence or cutting loose.

A lot of people for get that when looking at the Three of Cups.  They see three women dancing with their cups raised and think “party on!” The thing is, though?  That’s not always what the Three of Cups is about. Sometimes, it’s about comfort and companionship.  About having fun with those like-minded friends and loved ones that mean something to you.

DECK USED:  PASTORAL TAROT

@the_mystic_star February Tarot Challenge Prompt
Question for February 5th thru 7th

Herbal Astrology Oracle CardsHow can I embrace the loving energy of this month?

Nettle – It’s not about how… it’s about doing. It’s about embracing. It’s about reaching out and making it happen because that’s what you want.

How can I amplify this love energy in my life?

Milk Thistle – As the Nettle says “just do it” so the Milk Thistle says that the actions you take need to be gentle and kind. Take care you don’t be too aggressive in your efforts.

How can I reduce the barriers to the love energy that is all around me?

Tulsi – Look at all that is around you, and take time to appreciate all that you have. Barriers fall when your awareness and gratitude opens you to the good stuff in your own life.

DECK USED: THE HERBAL ASTROLOGY ORACLE

@thetarotprofessor Self Love Challenge Prompt
Question: Do the Self Love a struggle Spread

Self Love Struggle Tarot Reading with the Pastoral Tarot

What do I struggle the most to love about myself?

Page of Cups – Your lack of emotional intelligence. You kick yourself over your struggles in the exploration and growth in this area again and again, when in truth you are simply growing. A little at a time, bit by bit.

What can I release to make it easier to accept that part of myself?

Death – Embrace change. Accept that it’s going to take some time and allow change to happen instead of fighting against it.  It’s a natural part of life, and when you fight, it just makes everything harder.  That includes accepting you are changing… and that -those- changes are going to take time as well.

What can I do to begin to love that part of myself?

Wheel of Fortune – Keep in mind that there are ups and downs in any part of life and in any time of growth. Sometimes things will be easy, and other times? Extremely difficult. It’s better to ride the ups and downs than fight against the tides.

What do I love most about myself?

Seven of Pentacles – Your connection to the earth and those things that grow from it.

DECK USED: PASTORAL TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I took a bit of a break when I got home today instead of plowing into all the “things I need to get done”.

Don’t Shut It Out

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

Forager's Daughter Tarot Afterlight EditionToday’s draw is the Queen of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of a receptive alpha energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s passions, enthusiasm, interests, determination, willpower, and inner spark.This often translates into themes that have to do with nurturing and encouraging the dreams, passions, and interests of others.

I’m not sure how I get this from the imagery, but what I see here in the imagery of this card is to not reject the support that is offered to you.  Sometimes it can come from unlikely sources, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less genuine… any less valuable. In fact, sometimes help and encouragement from unlikely sources hits harder and digs deeper than from the expected ones.  Be open to it… don’t shut it out.

DECK USED:  FORAGER’S DAUGHTER TAROT AFTERLIGHT EDITION

@thetarotprofessor Self Love Challenge Prompt
Topic: Draw one card.

Love Story Oracle DeckWhat positive message or energy does this card have for me today?

The Self Love-Card is a pretty clear message. Take care of yourself and give yourself what you need today. Life can be hard enough without being hard on yourself and making things more difficult. Give in to your needs instead of brushing them aside, and tell your body that you care.

Turn your interpretation into a one-sentence affirmation.

I will give myself what I need without beating myself up for needing it.

DECK USED: LOVE STORY ORACLE CARDS

#DiscordTarotholicsFeb2023 Challenge Prompt
Questions for February 6th and 7th

Forager's Daughter Tarot Afterlight EditionWhere do you resist being generous with yourself?

Six of Swords Rx – You spend too much time hesitating before embracing change, and it creates a sense of stagnancy in an unhealthy space.

Why?

Two of Swords – There’s only so much of you to go around, and sometimes you just have to make a choice. You invariably choose to put others before yourself and your own needs.

How could you benefit by giving in to that generosity instead?

The Hermit – By putting yourself first, that time of stagnancy can be turned into healthy alone time instead.

DECK USED: FORAGER’S DAUGHTER TAROT AFTERLIGHT EDITION

Daily Self Kindness

I took a nap at Ms B’s before heading home.  I’ve been really tired and the nap really helped.

Take Pleasure In the Process

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

Tarot of the Celtic Fairies - JusticeToday’s draw is the Justice card, which is traditionally a representation of finding balance, give and take, and the cause and effect that balances the scales of day to day life.

Today you must bow to the responsibilities that cannot be avoided, just as the figure bows to the Fae in the imagery of today’s card.  There is no choice… but remember that it doesn’t have to be a slog through the mud.

Look up and enjoy yourself. Take in the beauty of all that you do, and enjoy the creative aspect of the pieces you create, as well as the pleasure you get from sending those little pieces of joy out in the world for others.

If you open yourself up to the process and the pleasure, you will in turn receive pleasure and enjoyment as well as send more of that energy out into the world, instead of being stuck in feelings of pressure and obligation.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE CELTIC FAIRIES

@thetarotprofessor Self Love Challenge Prompt
Question:What can I say no to today as a form of self-care?

Book of Flirts Deck of CardsReading Summary: Take charge of your actions and your time to get the things done that need to be done (Left Card).  Just make sure you don’t get cocky… or it’ll end up causing problems (Right Card).

Take Away: Today is an order prep day, which means there’s a lot of work stretched out throughout today that needs to be done.  These cards are words of encouragement, with a touch of warning.  They say that I can definitely get everything done and even do so well… but that I need to make sure I don’t dawdle.

Sometimes when I think things are going well I’ll step away and have a nap or something if I think that there’s time.  Today will not be one of those days, and the cards here indicate that as long as I stay on task?  Everything will run smoothly and stress will remain at a minimum.

In other words?  Lets not play the “Fuck.  I shouldn’t have taken that nap today” game.

DECK USED: BOOK OF FLIRTS DECK

@Lionharts #TheFebruaryTarot Queen of Cups Challenge Prompt
Questions for February 4th thru 6th

Tarot of the Celtic FairiesWhat can I do to nurture my soul today?

Judgement – Stay aligned with your chosen purpose and growth. Why do you do the things that you do?  Why have you built your life to be what it is? Don’t lose sight of where you want to go and who you want to be today.

In what area am I guided to lovingly listen to my needs right now?

Seven of Cauldrons atop Nine of Spears – Be aware and conscientious of when you begin to feel overwhelmed by all that needs done and set your foot down on how much you can do. Only you can set these boundaries with yourself.

What is my current path trying to teach me?

Six of Stones Rx – Giving less than your all every moment of the day in all things is perfectly okay. Dropping the ball now and then and stepping back instead of constantly trying to be “on” all the time for others is okay.

Why now?

Page of Swords atop The Emperor – Because you need to find a better way of doing things that doesn’t make everything land on your shoulders alone.  You are in the process of learning to accept help from others, but you still have a long way to go to find that new balance.

DECK USED: TAROT OF THE CELTIC FAIRIES

Daily Self Kindness

I finally put the simmer pot back on to raise the humidity in here.  I haven’t been using the humidifiers this year.

They’re Not All Bad Eggs

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

Cookie Story Tarot - HierophantToday’s draw is the Hierophant, which is traditionally a representation of the teachers of tradition. This involves organizations like churches and those that work there like priests, ministers, etc as well as wise women and wise men, spiritual guides, grandparents teaching family traditions, deans or principles that teach school traditions, etc.

The image in today’s card is very traditional Rider Waite Smith in it’s depiction, and speaks to me of priests and churches, which is not surprising at all. That said? I don’t have a whole lot of experience with priests and churches, but I usually see them as a place of community gathering and see priests as teachers of tradition. That sits well with the traditional meaning of this card.

A lot of people in the tarot community, and the world at large for that matter, have a bad taste left over from their experiences with priests and churches.  Some even carry trauma from their experiences. Today’s card is encouraging us all to look at these figures a little differently.  Not all priests (or holy leaders) are bad just because the group has a few bad eggs. Just as not all witches or pagans (or any other faith out there) are all good or all bad.

The message in today’s card is to challenge your first reactions to such leaders in the community.  Those that are truly here to teach us tradition and how to value that which has come before are not here to abuse power but to teach.  Seek out those with a true calling for that purpose rather than those that use it as a cloak to hide behind like wolves in sheep’s clothing.

DECK USED:  COOKIE STORY TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsFeb2023 Challenge Prompt
Topic for February 5th: Do Spread 1
Question: Use the three cards pulled to discover what signs you should look for to tell you when it’s time to stop planning and take action.

Island Time Wellness Love Oracle CardsSigns for February

Heart with a Key and Heartbroken – Getting your heart and hopes stomped on hurts, especially when you open your heart to someone in caring friendship and trust them with it. Watch for signs that that foot is coming down and move out of the way.

Signs for March

The Snake atop Palm Tree and Love Call – Sometimes your loved ones are able to see things that in the moment you can’t see clearly. Don’t discount when they try to “cast a shadow” on your perfect moments. They’re not doing it to hurt you, but to warn you of something you can’t see coming on your own.

Signs for April

Mask atop Paradise – Weed out the liar and remove their mask. When everything is feeling just right and perfect, take a closer look around you and find the person wearing a mask you might have otherwise overlooked.

DECK USED: ISLAND TIME WELLNESS LOVE ORACLE CARDS

@thetarotprofessor Self Love Challenge
Prompt: Do the Inner Child Spread

Cookie Story Tarot - Two of Wands, King of Pentacles, Two of Cups, Wheel of Fortune

How does my inner child feel right now? 

Two of Wands Rx – Bored and uninspired. You aren’t really doing much in the planning and development stages right now that interests your inner child or draws them into the process. Add some fun into the process and it will help them to engage a little more with what’s currently holding your focus.

What did I need but failed to receive as a child? 

King of Pentacles – Stability. There was a lack of stability in your life through your childhood that caused you to push the child down in order to begin adulting far earlier than most. This lack of stability has lead to your hyper-fixation on the same in your adult life.

How does that feeling of lack or rejection affect my relationships now?

Two of Cups – It makes you picky with who you choose to connect with, as you want to make sure that they are going to be accepting of you and your eccentricities. You know that you’re a bit of an odd one, and you try to make sure those you connect with know that up front.

How can I nurture or re-parent my inner child?

Wheel of Fortune – Don’t let the ups and downs of life shut down the attention you pay to your inner child. Waiting until things are “more convenient” is hurtful and won’t work.

DECK USED: COOKIE STORY TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I played kitchen experimentation today instead of giving in and just having something simple and less healthy when my plans on what I’d thought I was making went awry.

Well Oiled Machines Run Best

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

Tarot de Carlotydes - Three of WandsToday’s draw is the Three of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of actively moving from a planning stage into action, picking a direction, and moving towards one’s goals.

The herbs in this imagery make me think of taking care of one’s health, while the estate in the background speaks of long term goals towards security and stability.

The message here is about working towards your goals and the journey that takes you there.  It is a reminder that you cannot focus solely upon the future and where you want to go. Instead, you need to focus on the journey and upon taking care of yourself so that you can continue to move forward in the direction you wish to go.

If you don’t take care of yourself, how can you possibly manage to make it all the way to your goal?

DECK USED:  TAROT DE CARLOTYDES

@thetarotprofessor Self Love Challenge Prompt
Question: How can I show myself love today?

Chocolate Lover's Messenger CardsChewy Nougat – Practice patience with yourself. It’s okay to relax and not worry about being productive.  It’s okay to do the things that make you happy. It’s also okay when you slip up now and then and stop doing some of the things you should (…like writing down what you do through the day so that at the end of the day you can look back and see you accomplished something instead of feeling like you did nothing).  Not everything sticks all the time, just pick these things back up again when you’re ready.

Buttons atop Sundae – Transformative creativity. Spill new ideas and new inspiration into your creative spark and allow it to bloom. Have fun with your creative endeavors today, whether they be in your writing and storytelling with Gideon, or in the pretty things you make with your hands.

Sprinkles – Have some fun. Be a little extra and put a little extra into those things you enjoy.

DECK USED: CHOCOLATE LOVERS MESSAGE CARDS

@the_mystic_star February Tarot Challenge Prompt
Questions for February 1st thru 4th

Tarot de CarlotydesWhat card symbolizes love for me?

Two of Pentacles – Finding balance means that you have made room in your life not just for your responsibilities and those things that you have to do, but you have carved out space to spend quality time with your loved ones as well.

What message do I receive from love?

The Empress atop Six of Pentacles Rx – Don’t waste your time and energy giving to those that don’t give back in turn. Your loved ones deserve that energy and time far more.

How does this message impact my life right now?

Three of Swords – It encourages you to look at your disappointment in others more closely, and cut from your life those that are undeserving.

How can I incorporate this message into my life?

Four of Cups – Take a pause before accepting new friendships into your life to make sure that they will be genuine and reciprocal. As previously mentioned in the cards, not everybody is deserving of your time and attention.

DECK USED: TAROT DE CARLOTYDES

Daily Self Kindness

I had J go get Wendy’s today instead of fussing over making something for dinner when I really wasn’t inspired to cook, and neither was anyone else.