Don’t Let Them Rust

#DailyCalm with the Calm app - Charles Dickens quoteToday’s meditation was twelve minutes long and was one of the #DailyCalm sessions with the Calm app.  The session today was a “loving kindness” practice that had to do with directing loving kindness first toward yourself, then towards loved ones, and then towards those that have wronged you or irritate you in some way.

Interestingly, they said that the directing feelings of loving kindness towards those that wronged you would be the hardest part of the practice, but for me?  It was directing that energy and sentiment towards myself.

Remembering the Sweet Fool Tarot, Eight of Pentacles, Eight of Hills, and It's Going to Be Okay 2024 Day-to-Day Calendar by Kate AllanToday’s draw is the Eight of Hills (Pentacles) combined with the affirmation “As tempting as it may be, you can’t hate yourself into health.”

There is truth to the saying that depression is a form of self hatred. Over the years you have been in therapy you have developed a great many skills to help you with your depression.

These cards are a reminder that those skills are always available to you, and always improving with each use. Don’t let them get rusty. Use them, and use them often, even during times when you’re not in the grip of a depressive episode.

DECK USED:  REMEMBERING THE SWEET FOOL TAROT AND IT’S GOING TO BE OKAY 2024 DAY-TO-DAY CALENDAR BY KATE ALLAN

#DiscordTarotholicsJan2024 Challenge Prompt
Questions for January 25th and 26th

Remembering the Sweet Fool Tarot and Reflections Mindful Ritual CardsWhat is your greatest vice you’re not consciously aware of?

Nine of Cups and “What if you embraced it for what it is instead of dwelling on how you think it should be.” – Slugabedery. Procrastination. Dallying in stagnancy because of an enjoyment that comes from the contentment involved in those moments.

What is a positive thing in your life that you are overlooking?

Four of Hills (Pentacles) and “Let go of the urge to understand or control. There is peace in surrender and trust that all is in alignment.” – You don’t have to work so hard for the stability you seek. It will come to you naturally, if you let it.

DECK USED: REMEMBERING THE SWEET FOOL TAROT AND REFLECTION MINDFUL RITUAL CARDS

Daily Self Kindness

I took a much needed nap today even though it’s an orders day. I also  had the most magnificent turkey sandwich for lunch. Like, really amazing.

Be Encouraging

Today’s meditation was eleven minutes long, and was the “human being, not human doing” session from the FitBit app that I’ve done once before. It’s a repeat I did of the one the other day that dealt with one of my personal issues (about the whole feeling like I’m enough) that included the surprise yoga nidra at the end.  It’s one of the free ones in the FitBit app, and if it sticks around, I feel like it’s one I’ll return to again and again.

Wizard's Tarot Queen of Swords and It's Going to Be Okay 2024 Day-to-Day Calendar by Kate AllanToday’s draw is the Queen of Swords combined with the affirmation “Just because you feel gross about your body doesn’t mean your body is gross.”

Your mind has a cutting tongue, especially when you -allow- it to speak to you that way.

Your body is not your enemy. It’s been through a lot and carries a lot of damage and, because of that, a lot of pain. That doesn’t make it your enemy, but rather something that requires your care, acceptance, and understanding.   Don’t let harsher judgements slip through and turn your mind and emotions against your body.  Life is better when you encourage yourself through difficulties instead of berating yourself for your shortcomings during these times.  Be encouraging.

DECK USED:  WIZARD’S TAROT AND IT’S GOING TO BE OKAY 2024 DAY-TO-DAY CALENDAR BY KATE ALLAN

@Lionharts #TheJanuaryTarot 2024 January Initiation Prompt
Questions for January 23rd thru 25th
:

Wizard's Tarot - Eight of Wands, Two of Swords, Eight of Cups, Page of Swords, Death, Three of Pentacles, Four of SwordsDraw a card that embodies a significant insight uncovered during this initiation phase.

Three of Pentacles – Working together instead of alone provides better results and has the added benefit of being a bonding experience.

How can I seamlessly incorporate this into my journey throughout 2024?

Four of Swords – Allow yourself to rest more by spreading the work load between yourself and others.

Draw a card to symbolize a pivotal insight discovered in this exploration phase.

Page of Swords atop Eight of Wands Rx – You don’t have to move fast to make valuable progress.

How can I weave this understanding into the fabric of my 2024 journey?

Two of Swords – Spend more time researching, and less time acting on impulse.

Draw a card reflecting a key insight obtained in this integration.

Transfiguration (Death) beneath Page of Swords but atop Eight of Wands Rx and Two of Swords – Slow or fast, change happens. It’s sometimes important to step back, observe, and study that change instead of immediately reacting to it.

(Note: this card fell into this exact positioning when it jumped from the deck.)

How can I integrate this wisdom into the tapestry of my journey in 2024?

Eight of Cups Rx – Remember not to immediately look to fix things the moment something goes wrong. Pause you emotional reaction and observe instead.

DECK USED: WIZARD’S TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I wasn’t feeling the greatest earlier today, and instead of trying to eat a full meal at once, I broke it up into four and ate a quarter of the meal an hour, stretching it out until I felt better.

The Empty Cup

#DailyCalm from the Calm appToday’s meditation was ten minutes long, and was one of the #DailyCalm sessions from the Calm app. The topic of the meditation was about our past experiences and memories, and how it is important to to not look back at our pasts with regret, but view those things that one might look upon with regret as lessons instead.

Yes, we all fuck up.  Yes, we all make mistakes… sometimes we wrong others and sometimes we wrong ourselves.  Sometimes we trust who we shouldn’t or do things we know are wrong.

It’s important to move on from these experiences (and their consequences) and learn from them rather than just carry on the bad feelings from them and never learn a thing.

The Octopus Tarot Six of Pentacles and It's Going to Be Okay 2024 Day-to-Day Calendar by Kate AllanToday’s draw is the Six of Pentacles combined with the affirmation “You are lovable. You are wanted. You are needed.”

Generosity goes beyond others wants and needs, and needs to involve yourself as well. Sometimes all others need from you is a little of your time, but in order to feel stable and balanced? Sometimes that’s what you need from you as well.

These cards are a reminder that you cannot give to others when you have nothing left to give, and in order to avoid having nothing left to give? You have to take care of yourself.  No one wants you to stop taking care of yourself… not even for them, so stop pushing yourself to do just that.

DECK USED:  THE OCTOPUS TAROT AND IT’S GOING TO BE OKAY 2024 DAY-TO-DAY CALENDAR BY KATE ALLAN

#DiscordTarotholicsJan2024 Challenge Prompt
Questions for January 22nd and 23rd

The Octopus Tarot Four of Wands and Ace of Pentacles, Dream Ritual OracleHow can you bring more of what you want into your world?

Trust atop Surrender, Four of Wands – Return your focus towards home, and nothing is so much more “home” than the one you love. There is a give and take to the balance you have with with him. There is trust in the drown… trust in the surrender to him. And it’s there that you find your true home.

It’s through this balance with him that you allow yourself to feel stable. Even when there are subdrops… maybe even especially then.

What do you need to focus on for self-care for the upcoming full moon?

Patience and Ace of Pentacles – Breathe through this new experience with your business and have patience both with yourself and the business as a whole. It’s new and scary, but it doesn’t have to be all bad and it won’t last forever.

DECK USED: THE OCTOPUS TAROT AND DREAM RITUAL ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

I managed to meditate three days in a row, which is a record lately (because I’ve not had a very good track record over the past few months).

Keep Your Head Down… Keep Going

Today’s meditation was twenty-two minutes long, and was a yoga nidra practice from the FitBit app… and it was just a bit too long in my opinion. I stuck it out through the entire practice, but I think they could have shaved off about five minutes and it would have been perfect. Granted, it was a free session, so I probably don’t have that much room to bitch.

NYC Tarot and It's Going to Be Okay 2024 Day-to-Day Calendar by Kate AllanToday’s draw is the Eight of Pentacles combined with the affirmation “This feeling will pass. You’re not stuck here forever.”

The combination of these two cards is an encouragement not to let low moments and dark feelings cause you to retreat and shut down. Instead, just keep your head down and keep working.

You don’t have to push for more than you’re able to give, but don’t let yourself fall into stagnancy and lose the hard one skills that you’ve developed over time.

These low feelings?  They’ll pass.  And, by not allowing yourself to fall into stagnancy, you’ll already have the ball rolling on getting back up to your norm once more, instead of having to start from scratch and break free of the paralysis lack of movement can cause.

DECK USED:  NYC TAROT AND IT’S GOING TO BE OKAY 2024 DAY-TO-DAY CALENDAR BY KATE ALLAN

#DiscordTarotholicsJan2024 Challenge Prompt
Question for January 20th
: What are you clinging to that can be let go of without repercussions?

NYC Tarot - Six of Wands, Death, Four of WandsReading Summary: It’s time to ease up on your drive to please others (Six of Wands), and instead redirect your focus (Death) to what makes you feel comfortable and at home (Four of Wands).

Take Away: Last year was all about pleasing others and taking care of others, instead of yourself. You did a lot for a lot of people and very little for yourself.

It can feel scary to stop, as if by stopping you might jinx things and end up falling back into the same situation again. That’s your fear of change talking, though… not reality.

It’s time to stop focusing so much on what they want and need, and more upon what is right for you, and what makes you happy and comfortable in your own skin and in your life.

DECK USED: NYC TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I spent time today reorganizing some drawers that house some of my jewelry supplies. It’s become such a struggle and hassle to get into them, that I’ve started trying to avoid it entirely (to the point some stuff has gone out of stock because I don’t want to dig the supplies out and make them).  With a new organizational system in place, everything is much more accessible and I’m now not feeling that whole reluctance that I was prior.

The Salmon Run

Today’s meditation was skipped.

Slavic Legends Tarot, Two of Swords, It's Going to Be Okay 2024 Day-to-Day Calendar by Kate AllanToday’s draw is the Two of Swords combined with the affirmation “I don’t know if I will make it, but I will still try.”

I know the fish in this affirmation card is a koi, but with the affirmation that was used with it, it reminds me of salmon. Each year they strive to swim upstream under what seems like insurmountable odds to lay their eggs in the safe streams of their youth (as opposed to the treacherous oceans they come from as an adult).  The species lives on because they beat those insurmountable odds again and again, year after year.

Today’s cards are a reminder that we all have to make hard choices and survive the trials and tribulations of life.  Just because something feels difficult or impossible doesn’t mean it’s not worth choosing.  In fact, those are usually the things that reap the greatest rewards in the end if you put your all into the effort.

Funny enough, at the end of my day I stumbled across someone online who was bitching about not wanting to have to go through “trials and tribulations” in order to reap the reward of good stuff at the end. I was far more irritated and offended by that (what I interpreted to be an extremely) entitled attitude than I expected I would be.

DECK USED:  SLAVIC LEGENDS TAROT AND IT’S GOING TO BE OKAY 2024 DAY-TO-DAY CALENDAR BY KATE ALLAN

@Lionharts #TheJanuaryTarot 2024 January Initiation Prompt
Questions for January 19th thru 22nd

Slavic Legends Tarot - Eight of Wands, Five of Cups, Four of Swords, Ten of Coins, Ten of PentaclesHow can I further stoke my fires of creativity and innovation to propel my plans or projects forward? (draw a Wands card)

Eight of Wands Rx – Keep moving, but do it slowly. Don’t get so wrapped up in too many things at once and try to push them all forward at top speed.

What actions or practices can I integrate to enhance my emotional well-being and fulfillment? (draw a Cups card)

Five of Cups – Stay aware of how your negative inner narratives and pessimistic tendencies affect your mood. Take care to counterbalance their effects instead of sinking into the negative emotions they stir up.

How can I integrate fresh perspectives or mindset shifts into my current state of being (draw a Swords card)

Four of Swords – Don’t be lazy in your times of rest. Use down times to rest and recover, absolutely… but while doing so, take that time to consider and ruminate rather than going brain dead and numb.

How can I practically integrate steps into my daily life to bring these aspirations into reality? (draw a Pentacles card)

Ten of Pentacles – Remember that you are not alone. Allow others to join you in your journey and share in your success. It doesn’t have to be a one-man show.

DECK USED: SLAVIC LEGENDS TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

When I woke up this morning, I took an ibuprofen and then went back to bed for an hour instead of forcing myself to power through the pain.

Good Enough

Today’s meditation was skipped.

Viking Valor Tarot and It's Going to Be Okay 2024 Day-to-Day Calendar by Kate AllanToday’s draw is the Hierophant card combined with the affirmation “it’s okay to just muddle through right now. Good enough is, in fact, good enough.”

Let’s be clear. I struggle with the “good enough” thing on a daily basis.  I -never- feel “good enough” and I never feel that anything I do or produce is “good enough”.

When the chips are down, as they are for me right now in my business?  This “good enough” issue swells and expands, and can become a massive and all encompassing issue.

The Hierophant combined with this “good enough” affirmation is a reminder that the tried and true methods are always there for me to fall back on. That it’s okay to fall back on them, as that’s what they’re there for.  It’s a reminder to keep going… work with what you know… and things will work out fine.

DECK USED:  VIKING VALOR TAROT AND IT’S GOING TO BE OKAY 2024 DAY-TO-DAY CALENDAR BY KATE ALLAN

@Lionharts #TheJanuaryTarot 2024 January Initiation Prompt
Question for January 17th
: How can I balance structured planning with the freedom to roam, creating a harmonious exploration of my path?

Terrestrial Fauna Oracle - Hawk, Parrot, PandaReading Summary: Remember that you don’t have to stay grounded all the time (panda spends a but amount of time in the trees instead of on the ground and both the other two are birds), just be judicial (the parrot is not flying) as to when and where are you soar (Hawk in flight).

Take Away: These cards are about incorporating what you interpret as being “less grounded” (having fun, exploration, etc) throughout your journey and process, instead of saving it up to only experience when you set aside special time for it. They are telling you that fun and adventure should be a day-to-day thing and not something that you are only experiencing when planned out.

DECK USED: THE TERRESTRIAL FAUNA ORACLE

#DiscordTarotholicsJan2024 Challenge Prompt
Philosophical Question for January 17th
: Is it always better to have more choices?

Viking Valor Tarot - High Priestess, Seven of Pentacles, Five of Pentacles, Two of WandsReading Summary: Vying for multiple directions (Two of Wands) can make you feel bereft and like there’s more struggle than there actually is involved (Five of Pentacles). This doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bad thing to have multiple choices, just that you need to remember not all journeys are a travel of instant gratification (Seven of Pentacles), and you need to use your inner wisdom (High Priestess) to make choices during that time instead of listening to your impatience.

Take Away: You know how sometimes when you have a lot on your plate, you end up frozen and unable to do anything… and you end up procrastinating instead of getting anything done? That is what the Two of Wand and Five of Pentacles are indicating here.

The High Priestess atop the Seven of Pentacles is then saying that in order to get through these times, it’s better to move slowly with small steps rather than not move at all, and that using your inner knowledge and intuition can help you best decide which small thing to focus on first.

DECK USED: VIKING VALOR TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I ate cookies.  A lot of really good cookies.  Almost too many cookies, if that’s possible.