Intuitive tarot reading

❤️ 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?

Self Care Saturday Tarot Reading with the Gourmet Tarot and A Kitchen Witch's Culinary Oracle

Earth – Three of Cups – Make sure you are not isolating yourself this week. At this time, there is greater stability to be found in the company of others than on your own, even if it might not feel that way at the time.

Air – Queen of Cups – Seek out comfort where you can find it, and most especially with those you know can provide it. It’s okay to need others to help you in your inner struggles. They want to be there for you and will welcome you with open arms.

Water – The Empress – Care and understanding are needed right now, especially directed toward yourself and those delicate vulnerable parts. Be gentle with yourself and your emotions this week.

Fire – The Magician Rx – You’re going to be feeling “all thumbs” this week, and like you just can’t get anything right. Remember the guidance the other positions in this reading have given. Cut yourself a break and lean on others. Remember that this experience is temporary.

Waning – Cherries – You are still feeling the faint lingering effects of the subdrop. It can be tempting to try and hide from them by initiating more sexual intimacy, but although this will give a temporary relief, it will bring subdrop back with a vengeance when you’re still trying to shake off the last one.

Waxing – Pumpkin – “Count your chickens” and focus on building lasting stability instead of quick fixes.

Take Away – The lingering hints of subdrop are going to be niggled at by your sense of clumsiness and failure this week.  The struggle is real for you, and you need to seek out support rather than just plowing through on your own.  Not just with the tasks you want to get done, either, but also with your emotions and inner narratives. You need their stabilizing influence this week.

DECKS USED: GOURMET TAROT AND A KITCHEN WITCH’S CULINARY ORACLE

Finding the Positive for July 3 – 5

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Medieval Feathers Tarot's Five of Cups, Agni Roerich Tarot's The Moon card, and Royal Animals Tarot's Ace of Wands

July 3 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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The @GlitterbyInk #JulyJoy25 Challenge
Celebration of Joy Prompt for July 3 : Freedom
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is the Five of Cups (Eastern Meadowlark Feather), which is traditionally a representation of pessimism, regrets, doomsday thinking, disappointments, and occasionally, failure (or at the very least, the perception of failure).

It takes a village to raise a child, or so they say. The thing is? That’s not all that it takes a village to do.

I’m an introvert and a pessimist. This means that in general, I’m not a fan of society and often to look at humanity with an overly critical eye.

To me? I feel people should “live by example”, and I very often feel that people don’t do this anymore. More and more we see people behaving badly with entitlement as their excuse. Even those in power that should be setting an example for others seem to have lost that “live by example” creed that used to be integral to good leadership.

Today’s message is a shift in perspective on this pessimistic viewpoint, and encourages considering that freedom allows us to act as we see fit and feel is right. This freedom allows us to make mistakes, and like a child raised by an addict that will never touch drugs themselves as a result, teaches us by a different type of example. These days, more and more, it appears that we are being shown the consequences of acting foolishly, rather than the shining example of what good looks like. Regardless, the lessons are still there.

DECK USED: THE MEDIEVAL FEATHERS TAROT

July 4 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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The @GlitterbyInk #JulyJoy25 Challenge
Celebration of Joy Prompt for July 4 : Happiness
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is the Moon card, which is traditionally a representation of uncertainty, illusion, anxiety, fear, the unknown, and the subconscious.

What is happiness? I have a hard time answering this question, whether it’s for myself, or in an “in general” sense.

Inability to answer this question in a general sense is not surprising, as I think that happiness is subjective. But, I’ve often wondered why I’m unable to answer this question for myself. Is it the issues within my upbringing? Is it my pessimistic tendencies? Is it my battle with depression? Maybe uncertainty plays a role? What is it that creates the disconnect in being able to identify what happiness means for me?

I don’t know. And, I don’t know what happiness looks like for me. Or maybe I do… and just I’m unable to identify it as happiness in the same way I struggle to learn to identify so many of my emotions.

This meander through uncertainty is brought to you by The Moon card, which encourages us to bring our uncertainties “out into the light” now and then to observe and consider… even when doing so leaves is as “in the dark” as ever in the end.

DECK USED: AGNI ROERICH TAROT

July 5 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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The @GlitterbyInk #JulyJoy25 Challenge
Celebration of Joy Prompt for July 5 : Inspiration
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is the Ace of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of the seed, start, or new beginnings in the area of one’s passion projects, inspiration, drive, willpower, and determination. This often translates into themes that have to do with budding new interests and new passion projects.

I am not a big fan of structure. Which honestly, is a bit odd because I often seek it out and thrive under it.

In my conversation with my shrink the other day, we were discussing how I feel a great deal of guilt over times when I languish. You know, just relax and do nothing but play on the phone or what not.

In our conversation, she reminded me (and not for the first time) that everyone needs downtime. That is, time to not be productive. Even me. She encouraged me to try combating the guilt I feel with a greater show of intention. Specifically, by scheduling my languishing, rather than just “squeezing it in” at the expense of all those other things my brain says needs to be done.

I’ve never looked at languishing as something you might intentionally schedule (instead of time stolen from other pursuits). I’m going to give it a try, though. Maybe in doing so, I’ll find myself feeling a little less guilty about doing something that feels good and I enjoy. Or… that’s the hope at least.

DECK USED: ROYAL ANIMALS TAROT

Dirty Words

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and was one of the #DailyCalm sessions from the @Calm app. Today’s session focused on myopic positivity (aka. toxic positivity), which I write more about below in my card of the day musings.

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The Banned Books Tarot - Strength cardThe @GlitterbyInk #JulyJoy25 Challenge
Celebration of Joy Prompt for July 2 : Friendships
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is the Strength card, which is traditionally a representation of inner strength, persuasion usually through means of compassion, influence and/or manipulation, and courage.

Myopic positivity (also known these days as toxic positivity) is the act of using positivity to discredit or ignore negative things. It’s the belief that if we just “think positive” that bad things won’t (or can’t) happen and that all our wishes will come true.

Myopic/toxic positivity has made words like gratitude, positivity, and optimism “dirty words” that are often snickered at or rejected by those that need them the most.

Myself included.

What I have learned through this daily exercise in finding a positive message in the cards, though, is that positivity/optimism and myopic/toxic positivity are not the same thing.

Healthy positivity and optimism doesn’t encourage us to ignore the bad things, but instead helps us to bear through those bad things in a healthier way. It makes us stronger, supporting us in ways that keep us afloat when things are turbulent. Thus, it’s part of a healthy support system, just like friends and family are.

The message for today is a reminder that what I’m doing here in this card of the day activity. That is… to explore healthy positivity and optimism, and how these things can help counterbalance one’s (my) own negative and pessimistic tendencies.

DECK USED:  THE BANNED BOOKS TAROT

Oracle Reading with The Naughty Oracle@LightningWildflower‘s July Tarot Challenge
Begin Prompts for July 1 – 3

What is waiting to begin if I give it space?

Clusterfuck of Fairies – You can find calm in the chaos, you just need to step back and let things play out on their own. Serenity comes in not engaging with the bullshit.

What mindset will support the next phase of my journey?

Pissed as a Parrot – Authenticity. People don’t say things they don’t mean when they’re drunk, they simple say the things they didn’t mean to say. That bald honestly is needed right now as you step forward on your path, sans alcohol.

What small steps can I take today that my future self will thank me for?

Boogeyman Bullshit – Confront your fears rather than hiding from them. This might feel like a monumental step, but in truth? It’s not as bad as your imagination is making it out to be.

Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Rhododendron Leaf for Fostering Confidence
Onyx Stone Fox for Identifying and Connecting to Truth
Gneiss Stone for Patience in Moments of Discomfort
Desert Rose for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: THE NAUGHTY ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

I took a nap because I needed it, even though I really didn’t want to.

Weight Disbursement

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Buzzing Mosquito Tarot - Six of PentaclesThe @GlitterbyInk #JulyJoy25 Challenge
Celebration of Joy Prompt for July : Opportunity
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is the Six of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of charity, generosity, sharing the wealth, asking for or accepting help, and balancing the scales between the “haves” and the “have nots” in life.

It can sting at our pride and cause us to think that others don’t see us as capable of handling things on our own when an offer of help is given. Sometimes, this makes it difficult to see an offer of help as anything other than an insult to our capabilities.

What these offers are truly doing, though, is providing you with opportunity. Opportunity to have more time or more money or more resources for more fun, or more time with loved ones, or more self indulgence.

Accepting help, therefore, becomes a strength; it allows you to enjoy life more by “spreading the load” through delegation and diversification. Could you do it all yourself? Yes. Of course you could. But accepting help allows you to get it done faster and/or easier so that you then have the energy and time to do something else entirely.

The message in today’s card is a reminder that accepting help isn’t an insult to your capabilities; it’s an invitation and an opportunity to both fill your time with something better and not exhaust yourself so that you can enjoy life more.

DECK USED:  BUZZING MOSQUITO TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJul2025 Challenge
Prompt for July 1st : Do the Third Quarter Spread

Third Quarter Tarot Reading with the Buzzing Mosquito Tarot, Atomic Age Tarot, Herbarium Oracle, and Haven Oracle

Year Ahead Theme : Temperance

Moderation is the name of the game this year.  Take care not to move too fast or go overboard in the grand scheme of things. Remember that even things that are healthy and good for you can turn bad if taken in excess.

Theme for July : Page of Cups

July will be a time for a lot of emotional exploration. For now, it would be wise to observe rather than act. You will learn more by watching than doing for the time being.

Focus / Advice for July : Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

You can be both resilient and adaptable when you need to be; these qualities are not mutually exclusive. Stay true to your authentic self, acknowledge your weaknesses, and let your strength shine this month.

Ray of Hope for July : Ignite Your Inner Fire

Remember that it is through those things that you are passionate about that you find motivation and inspiration. Here is where the fun lies, and where survival becomes less of a chore and more of a game you are in the process of winning.

Theme for August : The Lovers

Make sure this August that you are connecting to what rings true for you and is best for you. Be around those people that encourage you to take care of yourself, and focus on doing the things that you need to do in order to rest and recover from stress and struggle. Some things just make life a little easier and more comfortable… and they’re worth your time and attention.

Focus / Advice for August : Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria)

August is a time to break out of your comfort zone. Try new things and explore. There are new paths offer being offered to you that you need to look at more closely. Stay true to yourself and make sure that you are getting what you need, and if you’re not? Then now’s the time to make a change.

Ray of Hope for August : Let take a deep breath and let the nervousness go. It’s time to get a move on. This is a month for taking action, especially during the first and last quarter moon. You’re safe as long as you stay within the sphere of what is right for you. Place that above all other considerations this month.

Theme for September : Queen of Cups

Remember that it is okay to seek out comfort from others. There are people in your life that provide you refuge on an emotional level. Seeking them out does a service not just to yourself, but also to them and the relationship between you both.

Focus / Advice for September : Daffodil (Narcissus)

Changes that you have put into effect in August bloom this month into a renewed sense of happiness and love for those areas of life that have been influenced by those changes. This creates a sense of renewed vigor and self-satisfaction that is meant to be enjoyed and shared with others.

Ray of Hope for September : Receive Grace

Don’t be a braggart. It’s all well and good to share your good fortune with others, especially in ways in which they can partake in it as well. Just don’t go overboard.

Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Wood Fern for Exorcising Negative Influences
Western Hemlock Cones for Balance During Disruptions
Aventurine Goddess for Harmony and Balance of the Heart
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: BUZZING MOSQUITO TAROT, ATOMIC AGE TAROT, HERBARIUM ORACLE, HAVEN ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

I took a break from work to pull these cards, enjoy these decks, and later on also finish this blog post. Oh, and I had shin ramyun for dinner, which I’ve been craving for a few days.

📆 Transitioning from June to July

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Month End Tarot Reading with the Twice Told Tarot

Here and Now I Exist – Who you are now, in your entirety.

Six of Cups atop The Hanged Man – What are you really getting hung up on? You’re currently in a holding pattern. Stuck and trying to determine which lessons from the past ring true, and which can be set aside. This means there’s a lot of time spent reflecting upon the past and how you feel about the things that went on back then. There is advice here to let those thoughts and emotions come and observe them, rather than trying to hide from them or ignore their existence.

The Slough – What is to be left in the past as you move forward.

The Empress – Stop trying so hard to give everybody else what they need and to be what they need you to be. Wearing yourself down for the needs of others leaves no room for you to give yourself what you need to be fulfilled as well.

What Lies Ahead – An ideal state or ideal self you are seeking at this time.

Temperance – You would like to find a happy medium between taking time to slow down and breathe, and staying on top of your responsibilities.  This balance requires careful moderation.

Limitations – Negative influences, opposition, or ill will.

Seven of Wands – Everybody wants a bit of your time and a piece of you, but there’s only so much to go around. Make sure that you’re standing your ground when others try to test your limits and boundaries. There’s a lot of that going on right now, even if you’re not really noticing it yet.

And for fucksake, stop allowing Ms B to pull you into talk on politics. It gets you nowhere, it’s aggravating as hell, and it has the potential to cause a rift.

The Boon – Positive influences, higher guidance, or divine intervention.

The Sun – Your work on leaning into positivity and optimism is having a good influence. You really are succeeding in this area, even if you don’t notice it all the time. Keep it up.

The Wound – An unpleasant past experience or event that is ripe for some support and healing.

The Star Rx – That sense of hopelessness that comes with depression is something you fear, but also something that sometimes feels a bit… tempting. Welcoming, even. This is due to your self-destructive tendencies, and you need to make sure that you’re watching yourself so that you don’t end up inviting in the depression you’re trying to avoid.

Nostalgia – A positive past experience or event to acknowledge, reflect upon, and enjoy.

Two of Pentacles Rx – Remember that when shit falls apart, sometimes it makes things better in the long run. Go ahead and drop some of those balls you’re juggling when you need to. Past experience has proven that it’ll be okay even if you do.

A Warning – Something coming that can be prevented or overcome.

Ten of Swords atop Death – Changes don’t have to hurt. If you invite it in instead of struggling against it, you can avoid injury and things will go more smoothly.

Empowerment – A future opportunity to work toward.

Six of Swords Rx – If you like where you are, sometimes it’s okay to stay and try to change things instead of moving on. Just make sure if you are staying put, that it’s done in a healthy way and provides an opportunity for growth.

Message from the Spirit World – Sometimes riding through change means you just stay put and let things move around you. When you are the stationary piece of the puzzle, you can watch the show without participating.

Message from the Mind’s World – Take care with how much of the past you lead into your present. Exploring the past a little bit can be beneficial, but when you go overboard, it causes you to get hung up and your moment of pause become stagnancy.

Message from the Physical World – All is not lost, so don’t give up the good fight. It might feel like you’re at the end of your rope, but in truth, this is only temporary just like everything else.

Take Away – This reading indicates that maybe it’s time to look at change differently.  Maybe, instead of looking at it as a “change of scenery”, what’s needed is a change of shoes.  Shift your perspective and look again.

Make sure you are prioritizing your own needs above that of others. Although this isn’t -always- possible, there’s a lot more opportunity for doing this than you’re allowing yourself to do. That includes doing what you need to do to back away from the edge of depression’s pit instead of flirting with it.

DECK USED: TWICE TOLD TAROT

How We Connect

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Happiness Chemicals Cards and Sleepwalker's Tarot II Golden Planet - Page of CupsToday’s draw is the Page of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of a receptive omega energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s emotions, relationships, creativity, or intuition. This often translates into themes that have to do with emotional growth, second chances relationships, or exploring one’s creative pursuits.

Confession. I don’t like to be touched. Not even by most of the people I’m close with. I’m not a fan of hugs or handshakes, kisses or arm touches.

With the exception of sex? I have a tendency to shirk away on the inside whenever someone touches me. That even includes my partner… although in his case, I can usually push past it. Now that I think about it, though? I wonder if that’s why I often misinterpret some of his touches as sexual overtures instead of just touching to touch.

The thing is? I know that this distaste is the “wrong” reaction. It’s a defense mechanism on overdrive that’s far too sensitive.

I know, too, that most people find touch to be comforting. They probably don’t realize it, but the fact that I allow them to touch me and, in fact, allow them to take the lead and not just when and where, but how long they touch me for… is a gift. It is because I love them and want to be someone they come to and feel comfortable with.

I wonder sometimes, though, if it’s confusing to them that I rarely seek out their touch. Instead, I simply accept/give it when they signal it’s needed. Does it make them think I don’t care or love them or trust them? I worry that it might.

Today’s message is about exploring the unexplored emotions within us. How do you express love and acceptance? How don’t you? Why? Look at how others express their emotions to you. Is the connection one you enjoy or just accept? Is there miscommunication of emotion going on between how you express our emotions to others, and how they express their emotions to you? Today’s cards encourage exploring those themes in your life.

DECK USED:  SLEEPWALKER’S TAROT II GOLDEN PLANET

#DiscordTarotholicsJun2025 Challenge
Prompt for June 30th : Grab a spread of your choice you’re curious about… and give it a go!
@Lionharts #TheJuneTarot Radiance Rising Challenge
Prompt for June 30th : The Flow Spread

Naturmomente für Deine Seele and My Goddess Provisions Deck Sets

How am I invited to step into the flow of greater personal freedom?

The Spruce atop The Fox; Sagittarius – Remember that it’s okay to pause and take care, even in moments where it feels like things are rushed and need to be spontaneous. It is a part of your nature to foster stability, and that means that sometimes you just can’t throw everything to the wind without a care in the world. That’s perfectly okay.

How can I deeply root this flow in the daily rhythm of my life?

Root atop Comfrey; The Hedgehog – It’s when things feel the most stable that you’re able to open up and let go. In order to find the freedom to go with the flow, you need to feel that there is stability in place to fall back on. This allows you to feel protected even in times when you are allowing yourself to be vulnerable.

What can this flow lead to for me in the months to follow?

The Mullein and Throat – Following this flow can lead to the ability to speak your truth more freely. When you feel protected, it allows you to communicate more openly instead of holding back.

Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Rhododendron Leaf for Fostering Confidence
Fuchsia Flowers for Stability in the Face of External Disruption
Tree Agate for Fostering Peace and Patience
Rose Quartz for Gentle Kindness to Self and Others
Desert Rose for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: NATURMOMENTE FÜR DEINE SEELE AND MYGODDESSPROVISIONS ORACLE PACK COLLECTION

Daily Self Kindness

I crawled around on the floor to dig through the bottom shelves and pull a collection of decks in rotation for July today, instead of putting it off as I was tempted to do.