Flower Fortune Cards

Parting’s Sweet Sorrow Is A Lesson

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Today’s meditation was skipped because I dozed off.  I was so damned tired and when I settled in to meditate, as soon as I closed my eyes, that was it.  I was out like a light.

Cosmic Cycles Tarot and Flower Fortune CardsToday’s draw is the Eight of Cups, which is a representation of moving on, abandonment, looking for something new, escapism, and withdrawing from a situation especially due to disappointment or frustration.

Here in the imagery of today’s card we see a clear demonstration that when you move on to something new, you have to leave something else behind in the process.  And that sometimes? That’s not always a good thing for everyone involved.

The Flower Fortune card for today tells us that “There are no mistakes, there is only experience,” and that is especially true when there is a parting of ways.  We learn from the things that don’t work out.  We grow from the experiences, even if those experiences end in a parting that isn’t exactly amicable.

This echoes how I feel about negative experiences as a whole (and that includes the Ten of Swords). Bad experiences help us grow.  It’s unpleasant, and it hurts… but it is the fertilizer to our growth and becoming better human beings.  We make choices… sometimes those choices don’t work out.  And we then learn not just from the fact they didn’t work out, but also from the fallout that happens as a result.

DECK USED:  COSMIC CYCLES TAROT AND FLOWER FORTUNE CARDS

LionHart’s Reap & Sow Tarot Challenge Prompt
Question: Think of something you want {to manifest} right now or in the nearby future and draw a card.
Want: I want my damned mortgage paid off.

Good Karma TarotFour of Cups – Stop daydreaming about it and actually do something. If this is a goal you truly want to accomplish, you need to start paying closer attention to what’s going on instead of having your head in the clouds.

There are options available to you and things you can do right now just set you back on this path. Yes, there were setbacks, and still are. (Especially considering that you’re not working as many hours as you were in pre-pandemic times… not that you couldn’t but because you’re working on not sacrificing your health and well-being for your goals).

But, it’s time to be proactive, and with what your Self Care Saturday reading had to say today, maybe it’s time to sit down with your financial advisor and have a talk about structuring a new plan.

DECK USED:  GOOD KARMA TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsMay2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: How can you improve upon the person you are now?

Cosmic Cycles TarotThe Fool –  Be on time and watch your step.  This is about making sure you are aware of what you’re doing, where you’re going, and making sure you’re paying attention to cautionary warnings and other dangers along the way. To improve upon the person you are, make sure to stay aware of what’s going on around you and how you fit into the rhythm of the world.

The High Priestess – Connect more strongly with your inner knowledge and your guides. Have faith when there’s no logical reason to do so, be open to guidance from signs and unusual sources, and allow your inner knowledge to rise up and speak.  More than that… listen and act on that knowledge instead of disregarding it for logic.

The Emperor – Allow the strong and benevolent leader that you are to shine. Sometimes it feels like your dominant nature overwhelmed or “outshone” by Gideon’s, but the truth is that you are simply a different type of dominant. A different type of strength.  A different type of leader. Instead of measuring yourself against those that are more blatant in their approach, allow your own strength to shine in its own unique way and don’t worry about the rest.

DECK USED:  COSMIC CYCLES TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I worked on getting some of my orders done today from my week off in the hope of getting enough done that I’m not feeling so much pressure on Monday.

Hesitation and Procrastination

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Today’s meditation was another valiant effort without much success on the meditation front.  I laid down twice to try and meditate and both times phone calls forced me to break off after only a minute or two in.  The first time I got pulled in to work.  The second time was my mother.

Floriography Tarot and Flower Fortune CardsToday’s draw is the Devil card, which is traditionally a representation of temptations, addictions, and the quandary that we get ourselves in when we go “too deep” into something we (at least initially in some way) enjoy.

Are you holding back because something you want in life is unhealthy for you? Or are you holding back because you’re scared? When we hesitate… what is the motivation behind that restraint?

If there’s something that you want, and you evaluate whether it’s healthy for you or not, and whether or not you can handle the “addiction factor”. If you evaluate all these things and you find that it’s safe to move forward anyway, even if it’s unconventional or something just for you… Then why not? Why are you hesitant?

We often tell ourselves that the things we want have to wait because it’s “not the right time”. We put off happiness enjoy in order to focus on goals and responsibilities. But as the Flower Fortune card says… “If not now, then when?”

The message in today’s cards is about looking before you leap… and then leaping once you’ve looked.  It’s time to examine why you’re hesitating.

DECK USED:  FLORIOGRAPHY TAROT AND FLOWER FORTUNE CARDS

Raven Willow Tarot’s Emotional Exploration Prompt
Questions for May 21st & 22nd

Blood Moon TarotWhat role does love play in my life?
The Empress and The Hermit

Love is nurturing and supportive, even in times when you’re sinking into solitude. It’s always there. Even when you’re not reaching out for it.  It’s unconditional and patient.

These things make love a reassurance, and a refuge whether you are with those people that love you or not.

How can I better enhance love in my life?
The Fool, Three of Honey, Strength

Be more “free” and unrestrained with those closest to you with whom life is a collaboration. Together you are stronger than apart.

DECK USED:  BLOOD MOON TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsMay2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: In what ways are you unhappy with who you are now?

Floriography TarotReading Summary: I want to be more comfortable with my emotions (Queen of Cups), and I want to feel like I’m not sacrificing control in that process (Emperor). As it is now, I am feeling uninspired and out of control in my creative endeavors, restless and ready to restructure (Ace of Wands atop The Tower).

Take Away: As my COTD indicated for today, I am hesitating in taking the leaps needed to get things on track both with my inspiration and my creativity.  I just… feel like I’m not rested enough?  Even coming out of having had a week off, I still feel like I’m wrung out and don’t have the energy to do the work involved right now.

On top of that, is the fact that in my emotional growth I’m in a place where emotions still feel completely unstable and unpredictable. I’m not someone that enjoys instability and so it’s a struggle for me to allow for that fluidity in something that can have such a strong influence on my perceptions and my life.

DECK USED:  FLORIOGRAPHY TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

Orange Ceamcicle ice cream and Cheetos Puffs.  Need I say more?

Don’t Squeeze Too Tightly

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Today’s meditation was skipped.  I did actually try to meditate, laid down and put myself into position for the stretches, got the meditation timer going, the whole deal.  But I couldn’t sit still.  So I struggled with it for about five or six minutes then gave up and went to go get myself some food.

Conference of the Birds Tarot and Flower Fortune CardsToday’s draw is the Four of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of stability, conservation, scarcity issues, control, jealousy (not to be confused with envy), and miserly behavior.

The bird stands on the coin demanding it remain where it is, it’s theirs and they don’t want it taken away.  Sometimes when we get too focused on holding on to what we have, we forget to stay open and receptive to what others have to say. We essentially “close ranks” and become overly controlling.

The problem with this behavior is that it closes us off from others.  Communication becomes limited.  When communicating with others, yes, as the Flower Fortune card says today, “the most important thing with communication is to listen to what isn’t being said”.  But there’s no way to hear what isn’t being said if there’s no communication at all.

The message in today’s cards today is that no matter how important something is or how possessive you feel about it, you need to make sure you don’t become so territorial and guard it so jealously that you shut others out and close yourself off.

DECK USED:  CONFERENCE OF THE BIRDS TAROT AND FLOWER FORTUNE CARDS

The Sacred Grounds Tarot Club Prompt
Question: Start of Gemini – How can I more effectively communicate and express myself this season?

White Numen TarotReading Summary: The opinion of others (Six of Wands) is fickle (Wheel of Fortune), so don’t look in that direction. Instead focus on your own perceptions of yourself and not being too hard on yourself (Judgement).

Take Away: The advice here is about making sure that you aren’t allowing your worry about what others might think to silence you or cause you to adjust how you say what lands on your tongue.  Just be yourself and be true to who you are and what you want from yourself and your path, everything else will fall into place on its own.  Public opinion is too unpredictable to base…. well, pretty much anything on, and that includes the value of your own words and communication.

DECK USED:  WHITE NUMEN TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsMay2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: Where in life do you need to “step up” and do better?

Conference of the Birds TarotReading Summary: Taking action to further your desires and dreams (Knight of Cups). Dive deeper (The Hanged Man) and enlist others in the cause (Three of Cups).

Note: These cards all depict water fowl, and this is not a water fowl deck… it’s a bird deck. This means that the Cups theme carries over into all of the cards in the reading and intertwines them together as one.

Take Away:  Sometimes, a journey taken alone ends up no journey at all.  Where I need to step up and do better is in making sure that I’m allowing others in and enlisting their help in furthering my dreams and desires.

The issue here is in  how I view enlisting their help, and I need to look for a better perspective on this so that it’s something that cam become more natural and less forced.  With their help, I can then go further and do more, and realize the dreams that right now are hovering just out of reach.

DECK USED:  CONFERENCE OF THE BIRDS TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I switched Gideon and I from play to IMs when I started feeling lost and vulnerable instead of trying to “tough it out” and keep playing.

Earning Wishes

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IMG_1571Today’s meditation was just over eleven minutes long, and was one of the Calm app guided meditations with an interval timer added in for my piriformis stretches.  I’m actually a bit surprised I managed to do the meditation today since I slept when I got home from the farm today. The girls gave me a bit of space, though and it was nice.

The focus of today’s meditation was about taking a pause when in the middle of reacting to something so that you can react in a better, calmer, more focused manner rather than just lashing out or popping off.  The method in teaching to focus on the pause was to pay attention to that moment of pause between one’s inhales and exhales.  That moment when one turns to the other.   It reminded me of how I calm when I am crying and it has gotten out of control.

Although this type of emotional outburst is extremely rare (I think the last time was when Meanie died), it has happened.  When it happens and I’m worked up and breathing hard and bawling, I calm my self by hitching in a breath and holding it.  Letting the stillness of the silent lack of air to create a pause.  Done repeatedly, it can help immensely in bringing things back under control. This is apparently something I have done since I was a toddler.

Heroine Tarot and Flower Fortune CardsToday’s draw is the Page of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of a receptive omega energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s thoughts, intellect, education, communication, and instincts.

Creative thinking and the expansion of one’s consciousness and intellect is the theme of the Page of Swords.  Here in this imagery we see the classic figure holding a sword, but without the experience and confidence (and attire, in this case) to wield it efficiently.  She has much to learn yet, and the opportunity before her to learn it.

Combined with the Flower Fortune card for today, which states “Your wish will come true”, what we see here is a message that when you put your focus on learning what you need to learn and expanding in the direction you want to go in, you can accomplish anything you put your mind to.   Sometimes that means you need more education, or more experience, or need to explore things more in depth to find the path to those wishes and goals… but where there’s a will there’s a way.  As long as you’re willing to put in the work to learn, to expand, and even fail and try again… you will eventually succeed.

DECK USED:  THE HEROINE TAROT AND FLOWER FORTUNE CARDS

Raven Willow Tarot’s Emotional Exploration Prompt
Questions for May 19th & 20th

Love and Mystery TarotWhat role does admiration play in my life?
The Moon, The World, Eight of Pentacles

In this life, admiration often feels like a form of reassurance that things are headed in the right direction and your skills are continuing to improve.  Anything you put your effort into, it is through the admiration of others that we discover sometimes just how big a feat what we’ve learned and accomplished actually is.  It’s easy to discount our progress when left without that external input to help us realize how far we’ve come, and in turn sometimes encourage us to keep going.

How can I better enhance admiration in my life?
Three of Cups, Six of Swords, Ace of Wands

In order to enhance admiration in your life, it’s important to continue to share your work with others.  Sometimes it is only through their eyes that you can see your own progress.  Keep trying out new things and pursuing new interests and passions, for it is only through this pursuit of new methods and ideas, and the exploration of new techniques and concepts, that we can continue to grow and advance in our skills and abilities.

DECK USED:  LOVE AND MYSTERY TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsMay2021 Challenge Prompt
Philosophical Question: Can achieving nothing make a person happy?

Heroine TarotReading Summary: Content and comfortable (Four of Wands), but there are no happy memories to look back on (Six of Cups Rx) and there is no hope looking forward (The Star Rx).

Take Away: The answer laid out within these cards is a “No”.

Although people can be content and comfortable without achievement, without a past filled with memories to look back upon and enjoy, or a future filled with hopes and dreams to look forward to, there can be no joy and thus no true happiness.

DECK USED:  THE HEROINE TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I had a good sleep after getting home from the farm today.  I also dismantled my (very rusted) barbecue on the balcony and got rid of it.  After the power washing of the exterior of the building (including my balcony) next month, I’ll go shopping for a new one to replace it.  I want to get something a bit smaller next time.

Openness and Grace

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Today’s meditation was skipped because I got distracted by fresh baked chocolate chip cookies hot from the oven. I’m not entirely sure why they were being made in the morning, but… well… cookies are cookies and who doesn’t love still-warm cookies?

Shapeshifter Tarot and Flower Fortune CardsToday’s draw is the Queen of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of a projective alpha energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s emotions, relationships, creativity, and intuition.

Here in this card we see the Goddess of Water, her posture open and the swan there in the shift of shape, an echo behind her so close to the surface as lilies and cherry blossoms surround her and float float in the water.

The imagery depicts grace and openness. Combined with the Flower Fortune card for today, which states that “If you have something good in your life, don’t let it go!” what I see here isn’t about things at all, but about people.

Sometimes things happen in life that cause us to forget to be grateful for the people in our lives we should appreciate. We become irritated with them, or bored with them, or just so over exposed to them that you need some space.  The key is to make sure that even in these moments we remember just how good they are for us… and just how valuable they are to us.  Closing ourselves off and pushing them away isn’t a solution.  Next thing you know, they could be gone for good.

A better option is staying open and accepting that sometimes? Even those we love the most are going to irritate us.  Let them know how much you care for them, be open with them and let them know how grateful you are for them… and let them know you need a little breathing room.  By opening up, you keep these people in your life instead of pushing them away (possibly permanently) with your need for a bit of space.

DECK USED:  SHAPESHIFTER TAROT AND FLOWER FORTUNE CARDS

The Sacred Grounds Tarot Club Prompt
Questions for May 16th through 19th

Spirit Speak TarotWhat change is coming?
Eight of Swords atop Eight of Cups

A change in perspective and opening of eyes pertaining to something that has been frustrating you. Although unpleasant and at times uncomfortable, it will allow you to move on from a feeling of being stuck.

How will this change affect me?
The Lovers atop Four of Swords Rx

There will be a sense of restlessness and discomfort related to your self care needs that will need to be overcome through making sure you make healthy choices for myself. Gideon’s watchful eye is there to help in keeping those self care practices going, even when you struggle.

As you move through this change you need to make sure room in your life stays open for self care. Don’t fill up that space with other tasks and responsibilities.

What new challenges will I face?
Six of Cups Rx

This upcoming change will bring up some unpleasant memories and might require working through. You may find that doing some light shadow work pertaining to your childhood and upbringing will help.

What will I possibly become as a result of all of this?
King of Wands and Three of Pentacles

Stronger in your business and purpose, and better able to delegate tasks and responsibilities so that the work load is more evenly distributed. That work towards a healthy balance is a long and multi-legged journey, but this holds the potential of being a step in the right direction toward that goal.

DECK USED:  SPIRIT SPEAK TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsMay2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: How can you improve upon your self-care at this time?

Shapeshifter TarotReading Summary: Expressive openness while welcoming others to share with you in turn (Goddess of Water).  Supportive strength (God of Earth) as you find direction for yourself and help others do the same for themselves as well (Two of Wands).

Take Away: To improve upon your self care, you need to remember that in order to connect with others, give support, and provide for them the guidance to help them find their own unique path, you also need to be open to them emotionally and creatively.

Being approachable is important.  Not just for that connection with others, but for yourself.  You may not be the most suave when it comes to social matters, but you still need a certain amount of social interaction, as well as the opportunity to help others with their personal journey and self actualization, to be healthy and happy.

DECK USED:  SHAPESHIFTER TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

We had a hard rain here earlier today and I spent some time out on my balcony enjoying the cold drops on my skin and soaking my hair and through my clothes, just enjoying the sounds and scents and feeling of it for a bit.

Put Your Oxygen Mask On First

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IMG_1551Today’s meditation was just under thirteen minutes long and was a guided meditation with the Calm app combined with an interval timer for my piriformis stretching. I’ve done a lot of skipping in meditation lately, and my stretches are definitely telling me that this is a bad idea. I’ve been having a bit more trouble with my lower back as well over the past week. It’s time to get back into things, either that or I’m going to have to increase my chiropractor visits.  I’d rather not sink the money into that option.

The focus of today’s meditation was about  how sometimes the first step in any journey can be the hardest. The thing is, though, the first step doesn’t have to be a big one. None of the steps on that journey need to be big ones. As long as you’re at least shuffling along a few inches at a time? You’re still making progress.  It might not feel like it, but it’s still progress.

Isidore Tarot Sea and Sand Spring Edition and Flower Fortune CardsToday’s draw is the Ten of Coins, which is traditionally a representation of stability and security obtained through hard work and shared with others.  These themes often center around financial success, good health, stability and security at home, and other material themes being shared with those closest to you such as family and friends.

In this manner, the well dressed bird in the imagery of today’s card shares his wealth and good fortune with the other birds  in his care, building them a luxurious house and making sure that they are comfortable and well cared for.

Combined with the Flower Fortunes card for today, which states that “Before trying to please others, firstly think of what makes you happy”, there is a message here today not just about tending to one’s own happiness, but also your own needs and self care.

No matter how much you want to care for others, it is absolutely imperative that you care for yourself first. You cannot expect your body, your finances, or your stamina to old out if you are not giving it what it needs.  That includes down time, good food, happiness, and all the other things that you need to care for yourself.   Just as you need to make money before you can share the wealth, you have to make sure you have found your  happiness before you can make others happy.  Doing it the other way around doesn’t make sense and is extremely unhealthy.

DECK USED:  ISIDORE TAROT SEA AND SAND SPRING EDITION AND FLOWER FORTUNE CARDS

Raven Willow Tarot’s Emotional Exploration Prompt
Questions for May 17th & 18th

The Alchemist's GardenWhat role does pride play in my life?

Eight of Swords (Monkshood) – If it is not held in check by a heavy dose of self-awareness and objectivity, pride can blind you to the truth.

Five of Cups (Taique) – It can drag us down when we take pride in things that aren’t meant for us. We then miss those things that are.

Seven of Wands (Living Rock) – Pride lights fire beneath our convictions, principles, and values, giving us the strength to stand fast against opposition that tries to rise up against what we feel is right.

How can I better enhance the positive aspects of pride?

The Emperor (San Pedro) – When you feel that pride is cutting you off from seeing the whole picture, take ownership of that feeling and the fact that the blockage is coming from within you instead of from an external source. Explore and seek to understand what’s going on rather than letting it pass by unnoticed.

Nine of Pentacles (Sassafras) – When feeling a sense of entitlement and discontent, pause to take a look around at what you really have, how far you’ve come, how much you’ve truly accomplished, and how good you really have it. 

Four of Pentacles (Lions Mane) – In times when you stand up for what you believe in, make sure that you have steady footing and that you are not cutting down others in the process of lifting yourself up.

DECK USED:  THE ALCHEMIST’S GARDEN TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsMay2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: In what area are you not practicing enough self-care?

Isidore Tarot Sea and Sand Spring EditionReading Summary: You’re not giving yourself enough benefit of the doubt (Strength) where finding balance in your life is concerned (Two of Coins). Moderation is not a punishment, but a path to better things (Temperance), so lift yourself up with optimism and hope, and start looking at this effort in a more positive light (The Star).

Take Away: The message here is about moderation and optimism.  Here is where the lack resides and where I need to work on fostering something more hopeful, positive, and lighthearted.

My naturally pessimistic tendencies have started to come out a bit more strongly of late, and they need to be brought back in hand (along with that negative inner narrative in my head).  It’s important to remember to celebrate your accomplishments along the way, even the tiny ones.  Each step forward is progress, no matter how small that step might be.

DECK USED:  ISIDORE TAROT SEA AND SAND SPRING EDITION

Daily Self Kindness

I had myself a nice epsom salt and apple cider soak in the tub today, and even managed to not fall asleep in the process!