#julydeckbond

You Do You

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Today’s meditation was a bit spotty, although I did give it a go.  It was intended to be a quiet breathing exercise turned into an on-again-off-again nap sort of thing.  I gave up after the second doze off and just let myself sleep. Clearly, I needed it.

Linestrider Tarot and Less Anxiety Affirmation CardsToday’s draw is the Five of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of conflict over one’s principles, values, or those things that we truly believe in and stand behind. This type of conflict often happens at work when collaborative efforts hit creative differences, but it is not the only area of life in which these types of conflict can arise by any means.

The Five of Wands is all about standing strong and personal perspective clashing with the perspectives of others.  Combined with the affirmation card today, what I see in the clash demonstrated in the imagery of today’s card is a reminder about where our sense of self-value comes from.

Today’s cards are a reminder not to let other people’s judgments of you break you down. Stand strong. They have their feelings and perspectives, their values and goals… and you have yours. Judge yourself on your own perspectives and values instead of through the eyes of others.

DECK USED:  LINESTRIDER TAROT AND LESS ANXIETY AFFIRMATION CARDS

Mr Lionharts’ #TheJulyTarot #TarotSuitsChallenge Prompt
Topic: A reminder of how I can remain in the moment this week.

Auset Gypsy TarotReading Summary: Leave behind (Six of Swords) impatience (Queen of Wands), as it only disappoints (Three of Swords).

Take Away:  When we are eager to follow our interests and our pursuits, invested and engaged in the things we love or helping others in engaging in their own passions, sometimes it feels like there’s never enough time to get everything done we want to do.

This feeling is an illusion created by our eagerness.  To truly be in the moment, to enjoy the moment, it’s important to let go of where we’re going and our expectations.  Only then can we truly enjoy being in the moment.   So set your ambition and your expectations aside and allow yourself to linger and savor instead.

DECK USED: AUSET GYPSY TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJul2021 Challenge Prompt
Topic: Do Spread #2
Question: Is now a good time to rehire a housekeeper?

Linestrider TarotReading Summary: Make sure she’s been vaccinated (The Moon Rx) to clear up any worries in that area.

She can help you find a happier place with your emotions, because you judge your “dirty house” too harshly. (This is seen in the color coordination between the mask in Judgment and the subconscious lobster in The Moon. This connects to the crown that the Queen of Cups wears, indicating that these judgments are all about you and in your head.)

A theme of blue spread throughout. In the cards indicating one’s results (the Queen of Cups and Judgement), the shades of blue lie at the bottom of the card. These blue tones stink slowly from the main focus in The Moon card, to central background in the Queen of Cups, to the bottom of the card in Judgment. This indicates that ensuring she is vaccinated will take away any worries that are left concerning rehiring her at this time.

Take Away: On the 27th I will be fully vaccinated (two weeks will have passed since my second shot). This is the milestone I have been waiting for in order to get a housekeeper back in here on a regular basis. Now I just have to make sure that she is vaccinated as well, and then all is good.

DECK USED: LINESTRIDER TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

Aside from taking a nap today, I also got the challenge made for next month and a few other things done.  It really feels as if it lifted a weight off of my shoulders by getting these things done and catching up on my blog posts.

Balancing Out

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Today’s meditation was… ugh…. you guessed it.  Skipped again.

The Fox Tarot Pips Edition and Less Anxiety Affirmation CardsToday’s draw is the Ten of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of painful endings, coming to the end of a difficult life journey, defeat (or defeatist thinking), and moving on.

Sometimes life is unfair. Sometimes, things have to come to a head. And yeah, sometimes it really sucks.  Everyone feels these moments of defeat and as if life is picking on them. Everyone.

That doesn’t mean that life is against you, though, or that you’re cursed with bad luck. What it means is that your life is out of balance in some way, and is trying to balance itself out and align itself along the path you need to tread. You’ve gone off course… and often, the crappy shit happening in your life is a course correction to put you back on the right path.

Don’t forget this during troubled times.  Trust that life is seeking balance.  Sometimes that means crappy shit has to happen.

DECK USED:  THE FOX TAROT PIPS EDITION AND LESS ANXIETY AFFIRMATION CARDS

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge Prompt by E Roebuck-Jones
The Earthcraft Oracle and The Experiential TarotQuestion for July 24th + Bonus Question

If I could live my life more creatively, I would…
Drought and Six of Pentacles
…find myself struggling to contribute more to others.

The thing is?  I only have so much time in a day and so much energy to give out. More time pushed into creative endeavors means less time for other people, less time for myself, and less time in general.  Creativity takes time, and no matter how much I might enjoy it, I don’t enjoy the drought of energy and feelings of burnout that overextending myself can bring with it.

How can I balance my energetic output for a healthier and happier life?
You Are Sacred and Five of Cups Rx

Stop ignoring what you need. Treat yourself as if you are sacred, instead of as an afterthought. Your needs are important and shouldn’t be put off or ignored.

This is something I’m working on, although those six weeks of the holiday rush are coming, and as much kindness as I can give myself now, I know that time of energetic drought mentioned in the first question is coming.

DECK USED: THE EARTHCRAFT ORACLE AND THE EXPERIENTIAL TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJul2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: Where in life do I need to be more serious and buckle down?

The Fox Tarot Pips EditionReading Summary: Moving away from (Three of Wands) allowing your childhood and past negative experiences (Six of Cups Rx) to influence the present and how you treat yourself in the now (Ten of Wands atop Nine of Cups).

Take Away: Although you’re taking time off, and you’re working on putting the past in its place, you’re still in a mindset where you’re trying to overwhelm yourself with things to do and that need to get done. It’s blocking your path to happiness and it’s something that you’re going to have to deal with, because it’s not going to go away on its own.

Work at building that severing gap between the present and the past, and remember that it’s okay to go slow, to take time for your self, and to dawdle when you’re enjoying yourself.

DECK USED: THE FOX TAROT PIPS EDITION

Daily Self Kindness

So, this is a bit different from my normal self kindness today.  I made the conscious choice to not get upset and worked up about EA and his super rude, thieving ways. Normally the kind of shit he pulled would really bug me a lot, but I feel like I just don’t have the “oomph” to really give a fuck where he’s concerned.

Reality Check

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Today’s meditation was skipped because it’s Friday and I had a long 6 hour drive to get to doing and didn’t feel like putting off getting on the road to get it done.  Then when I got home I felt that a nap was better use of my time.

Joie de Vivre Tarot and Less Anxiety Affirmation CardsToday’s draw is the Five of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of scarcity, tests, and trials in the area of one’s finances, resources, home life, health, manifestations, and the physical world.

When you look at the imagery in today’s card, the figure is definitely wrapped up in their feelings of scarcity.  So much so that they aren’t even aware of the offered coins around them or the shining light of the candles.  This is something that really speaks to me, as sometimes, as in my case, scarcity is all in our heads.

In these instances, instead of being a reality in the physical world, the feelings of scarcity are a product of scars we carry within us from times where things were far more difficult and our needs we’re not being met.  This is often the case where I am concerned.  I’ve worked hard to get to a place where I’m not terrified I might not have enough food to survive… and yet sometimes that worry is still there, even if no longer based in reality.

The affirmation card for today, combined with today’s draw, is a reminder that we’re allowed to enjoy life.  It’s okay to acknowledge how far you’ve come, and how much better off you are now.  It’s okay to look at the present and remind yourself that things -could- be worse, and how good you have it in the now.  Is it where you want to ultimately end up?  Probably not.  But count your blessings, yeah?  Cuz it could be worse… and in most cases? It’s not as bad as it feels like it is.

DECK USED:  JOIE DE VIVRE TAROT AND LESS ANXIETY AFFIRMATION CARDS

Cosmic_Crow_Tarot’s #FreedomTarotChallenge Prompt
Questions for July 23rd and 24th

Unruly Game Cards and Nigel Jackson's Rose TarotWhat do I need to be more tolerant of?

Black Medic (Medicago lupulina) and Eight of Batons atop Five of Swords

The over eager. The meddlers, or what you perceive to be meddlers. The gossipers that are always oh so ready to dive in and take over the conversation.

Don’t forget that these people have lots to share and the information gleened can be useful.  Is it always?  Absolutely not.  But there’s little nuggets of useful hidden in the torrent. So don’t just tune them out and disregard everything that comes out of their mouths.

What am I too tolerant of?

Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) and Three of Pentacles

Clingy people who “only want to help”.  Remember that just because they say that they had altruistic intentions doesn’t mean that they did. Nor does saying so excuse bad behavior. Don’t be afraid to make it clear you know that they’re “I just want to help” is false.  Don’t be afraid to rip away the blindfold they’re trying to place over your eyes (and the eyes of others).

DECK USED: UNRULY GAME CARDS AND NIGEL JACKSON’S ROSE TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJul2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: What do I need to focus on for self-care for this full moon?

Joie de Vivre TarotReading Summary: Slow down (Knight of Coins) on making any important life changing decisions right now (Eight of Cups and Two of Swords).

Take Away: Take it easy.  Take it slow.  Don’t make any stress inducing or life changing decisions for yourself or others.  This week, even though you’re back to work, take a little extra “easy time” for yourself by putting off important decisions for a while. You may find that with a bit more time to let things percolate, that the decisions will be far easier to make when needed.

DECK USED: JOIE DE VIVRE TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

So many of these self kindness things are about me taking naps, but I have to admit that’s exactly where my self kindness came in today.  I didn’t mean to sleep as long as I did, but I let myself lie down for a short nap and felt a lot better for having done so.

Celebrating Everyday Miracles

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Today’s meditation was skipped due to orders day.   I’ll be back on the horse again tomorrow.

Hilda Tarot and Less Anxiety Affirmation CardsToday’s draw is the Ten of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of accomplishments and abundance, and sharing that abundance with those around you.

What stands out to me really strongly in today’s card is that her knees are red.  This echos back to one of my photo writings I did a few days ago where I mused about how closely people really look at nature.  Surely I am not the only one that goes beyond a glance, that slides down to knees on the forest floor for a closer look at a pattern of bark on a fallen log, or lies down in the moss to watch how things respond as shade shifts and sunlight bathes the spot I’m watching for a moment.

Hilda, in this card, looks like she’s gotten down and close with nature. It’s in the redness of her knees and the openness with which she shares with the skunk that’s paused to visit with her.  Combined with the affirmation card for today, we’re reminded that it’s important to explore our world with a sense of wonder.  To look beyond our self centered perspective and see what lies beyond.  Look for the miracle in a blade of grass, the beauty in a flower petal.  Seek the wondrous and let it fill your life with a sense of abundance.

DECK USED:  HILDA TAROT AND LESS ANXIETY AFFIRMATION CARDS

The Sacred Grounds Tarot Club Prompt
Questions for July 21st thru 24th

Tarot at the End of the Rainbow“What is to Come” for me?

Seven of Cups – A bountiful opportunity to consciously choose your own path. A crossroads with many different routes to choose from stretching out before you like spokes from a wheel.

What should I expect from “What is to Come”?

The Star – Remember that you can only choose one path. Moderation is going to be key in making the right choice for you, as will making sure that you are consulting your guides and your intuition during the decision making process.

What should I know about “What is to Come”?

Seven of Swords – Anyway you go about it, you’re going to lose opportunities that you wish you could keep. Remember that you can only carry so much. Again, you can only choose one path.

What guidance will support me in “What is to Come”?

Strength – You are stronger than you realize. You can make the choice to use your inner strength in a healthy way, instead of allowing your inner strength to be used in your habitual tendency to take on too much.

Advice from your ancestors and guides.

Queen of Pentacles – Grounding will help immensely. Make sure that you’re getting enough time in nature, and that that time is not wasted, but is quality time used to nurture, restore, and ground yourself.

DECK USED: TAROT AT THE END OF THE RAINBOW

Cosmic_Crow_Tarot’s #FreedomTarotChallenge Prompt
Questions for July 21st and 22nd

Healing Flower Color Cards and Hilda TarotHow can I find more freedom to do what I love?
Rock Water and Queen of Swords Rx

Stop worrying so much about others, and focus more on yourself. It’s okay to be selfish when you’re already giving far too much of yourself to others.  It might not feel like it’s okay, or that you’re giving as much as you are… but it -is- okay.

How have I taken my freedom for granted?
Scleranthus and Three of Cups

There has been far too much hesitancy in letting go and allowing others to take on their share of the work. There has been far too much “holding yourself apart” instead of drawing those you care about in closer to celebrate with you the joys in life.

In both cases this is about fear of releasing control.

DECK USED: HEALING FLOWER COLOR CARDS AND HILDA TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I worked hard today to make sure that I got done at a decent time so that I could get some sleep tonight.

Judicious Boundaries

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Today’s meditation was a little over fifteen minutes long and was not a guided meditation.  Instead I simply took some time to work on breathing exercise on my own, concentrating on my breath and on slowly relaxing one body part at a time from head to toe.

The Pri8m Tarot and Less Anxiety Affirmation CardsToday’s draw is the Nine of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of being battered and exhausted yet still upholding one’s boundaries.  It’s about courage and resilience, even in times when you aren’t at your 100%, and protecting those things that are important to you by “standing the line”.  Sometimes this can also translate into having one’s beliefs and faith being tested, for it is when we are beaten down and tired that we are most often tempted to let go of those things we would otherwise stand firm on.

When I first saw this affirmation card?  I read it to say “then they have served their purpose” (as opposed to “when”), and I think that this misread was actually important, especially in relation to the tarot card pulled today.

The thing is?  A lot of times we build up walls where our emotions are concerned.  Walls to keep them out.  Walls to dull their strength.  Walls to bury them under.  These walls are not healthy. Three different walls, with three different purposes, but none of them are healthy.   It’s only when we allow our emotions to run their course that we can get a healthy result.  That is what emotions are for… to help us learn, to help us grow.    If we aren’t allowing the emotions to come, to stay so that we can learn from then, then leave when that learning has taken place?  Then we aren’t allowing them to serve their purpose, and hurting ourselves in the process.

DECK USED:  THE PRI8M TAROT AND LESS ANXIETY AFFIRMATION CARDS

Mr Lionharts’ #TheJulyTarot #TarotSuitsChallenge Prompt
Questions for July 21st thru 23rd

Hedgewitch Botanical Oracle and Radiant Scales TarotWhat am I asked to overcome to embrace / support my best self?

Sage / Salvia officinalis (Purify) and Six of Water – You have had a childhood history filled with a myriad of experiences in pain and betrayal served up by those that you should have been able to trust implicitly. You can begin to overcome the remnants of these experiences through acknowledgement of where these remnants come from.  By remembering that they are a part of the past, you can then purify their negative influences from your present and your future.

How can I best keep focus on the things that are good for me?

Chicory / Cichorium intybus (Sustain) and Seven of Air – Stay the course, no matter who or what tries to steal it away.

This is about making sure that I keep my focus on the changes I’m trying to make in my life.  The healthier balance of work and rest, the lean into optimism and positivity instead of rejection of these things, the efforts to find a path that allows me to share my work rather than hoard all the work and responsibility for myself.

How, or where, is my spiritual practice strengthening me?

Sage / Sambucus nigra (Ritual) and The Sun – Joy is created through your spiritual practices and rituals. Not only are the things in your day to day spiritual practice supporting your successes and efforts to focus on the positive, but the larger rituals are also helping in fostering those efforts.

DECK USED: HEDGEWITCH BOTANICAL ORACLE AND RADIANT SCALES TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJul2021 Challenge Prompt
Philosophical Question: Do acts of kindness always have a motive?

The Pri8m TarotReading Summary: It doesn’t always “pay off” as expected (The Void), but every act of kindness serves either a purpose towards balance (Three of Pentacles), or as a strategic personal motivation (Knight of Swords).

Take Away: So all acts of kindness have a purpose, which means they inherent have a motive. That doesn’t mean that all acts of kindness are strategically motivated, though. Sometimes that motive is more about trying to find balance either within ourselves or the world around us, and of course, other times it’s more selfish. And sometimes, no matter the motive or purpose, acts of kindness get lost in translation.

DECK USED: THE PRI8M TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I spent about two hours out on the balcony with my plants today, just tending to them, watering them, making sure they’re getting the right nutrition, etc.  I also replaced the pansies and lobelia that didn’t make it through the 110+ F heat wave we had.  They just couldn’t handle it, so I’ve replaced them with a few plants I picked up from the nursery.

Screw The Naysayers

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Today’s meditation was the fourth installment of the introductory meditation program on the Balance app, which was ten minutes in length.  I did not include piriformis stretches in the meditation today.  I wanted to see if it made any difference in my perception of time during meditation if I left it out.  Which… it does not.

Golden Age of Romance Comics Tarot and Less Anxiety Affirmation CardsToday’s draw is the Page of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of exploring one’s emotions and creativity, and the potential that lies in delving in to one’s curiosity.

What strikes me in the imagery of this card is the irritation on the face of the man who looks over the woman’s shoulder.  While she pursues her curiosity and interest? He is looking on with irritation and jealousy.

Sometimes? That happens. We discover something new, we invest ourselves within it to begin to explore, to learn, and to discover the possibilities it presents to us. And some asshat is there over our shoulder being a bastard… or maybe even it’s your own inner dialogue filling that role.

The affirmation card for today is a reminder that if you choose to stay on task… to not be dissuaded by the naysayers and negative influences? You will get through it. You will find yourself on the other side of it, and in having stayed the course… you will have grown along the way and have far more to enjoy and discover on the other side of it all. In other words? Don’t let the assholes get you down. Do your own thing and have fun with it.

DECK USED:  GOLDEN AGE OF ROMANCE COMICS TAROT AND LESS ANXIETY AFFIRMATION CARDS

#DiscordTarotholicsJul2021 Challenge Prompt
Questions for July 20th and 22nd

Green Witch Oracle and Michelangelo TarotAs an adult, where am I neglecting myself at this time?
Snapdragon (Purification) and The Devil

You are not being discerning enough with your addictions and which ones you choose to pursue. Nor are you being proactive enough in purging what isn’t working.

Decks. Selling shit on eBay. Houseplants. Food. Even jewelry supplies. All of these are things that you enjoy, and anything you enjoy has the potential to become an addiction.  In order to keep these things from building up and becoming unmanageable, occasional purges are necessary.

How can I begin to resolve this pattern of neglect?
Bay (Wisdom), The Sun Rx atop Two of Pentacles

To begin to resolve this unresolved pattern of neglect, you need to acknowledge that when you juggle too much, it’s no longer fun.  This is true with work, and it’s equally true with anything else that you enjoy, especially that may build up over time (like collections of things).  If you are juggling too many of these things at once, it becomes unwieldy and difficult to manage.  That then begins to eat away at the fun and enjoyment that attracted you to these things in the first place.

DECK USED: GREEN WITCH ORACLE AND MICHELANGELO TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge Prompt by E Roebuck-Jones
Question for July 20th plus Bonus Question

Golden Age of Romance Comics TarotHow does a creative blockage feel?

Creative blockages feel like the end of the world (Ten of Swords). In those moments (or days, or weeks), it can feel like I can’t to anything right (Judgement Rx) and there’s no joy left in the life (The Sun Rx).

So much of my life is wrapped up in my creative spark, from my hobbies to my work, from the things that bring me joy, to the things that expand my perspective and allow me to look at the world through a more positive lens. It is, in one way or another, incorporated in nearly everything that I do.

When my creative spark falters and sputters out, it makes the world look gray and lifeless, and as if there is no longer any place for me within it.

How can I work at overcoming these blockages when they arise?

Acknowledging the wealth of good fortune (Five of Pentacles Rx) and accomplishments (Nine of Pentacles) that  hard work has filled my life with.

Gratitude.  The more gratitude that I feel for what I have in the present, the less there is of the past’s scarcity to drive my need for more. With less of a need for more, there is less dissatisfaction, and with less dissatisfaction there is more room for creativity to flourish in place of the grappling need my past creates within me.

DECK USED: GOLDEN AGE OF ROMANCE COMICS TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I took my progressive glasses in to bitch about the alignment of the bottom portion of the lens. I took some of my jewelry work with me so that I could demonstrate how I work and what I need, and they’re going to send them in to be redone.