Find The Boon

I’ve managed to fall behind yet again… and I can’t remember whether I meditated on the 23rd or not. So I’ll leave this empty this time around as I finish up these posts that got started… but never published on the blog.

Tarot of the Little Prince - StrengthToday’s draw is the Strength card, which traditionally is more about inner strength than physical strength, and is a representation of persuasion and influence, an inner core of compassion, and the ability to bend others to one’s will.

What stood out to me in this card today is the expressions on the faces of both the boy and the fox. The holiday rush is in full swing and the message here is that even though it’s going to be a hard and busy day, it’s important to make sure that I’m finding some joy in it as well.

Don’t sink so deep into the work that you turn into a robot.  Breathe deep and find the pleasure.  The comfort.  And the joy in what you do.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE LITTLE PRINCE

#DiscordTarotolicsNov2020 Challenge Prompt
Question
: Pick a topic and pull a card for… Tomorrow / Next Week / Next Month
Topic: My financial health…

Mary El Tarot 1st EditionTomorrowDeath – In the present, my finances are in the process of going through a natural shift.  This is not news, as with the holiday rush upon me, the money is flowing in freely and (sometimes) feels like it’s sifting through my fingers like sand as I spend on postage and supplies almost as quickly as the money comes in.

Next WeekKing of Cups – In the week ahead, you will find that you will come to a place of ease and security.  Knowing that the money is there, knowing that bills are being paid and things are going well will give you an emotional boost and confidence.

Next Month – Five of Wands – By this time next month, you will be struggling with the slow down from the holiday rush.  Anxiety over the drop off of sales is natural, as is the struggle to push it forward and keep it going. Inner conflict and the need to push will be burning wild in your chest, conflicting with the slowdown and need to back off and ease up.

DECK USED:  MARY EL TAROT 1ST EDITION

The Secrets We Keep

IMG_7811Today’s meditation was just under ten minutes long and was a guided meditation with interval timer for my piriformis stretches.  The topic of the guided part of the meditation was gratitude, and how it is possible to find peace and contentment in the moment if you stop comparing what you have against what you don’t.

I think that this is a really valid concept, in a general sense.   Maybe in a more than general sense, although I think that there are some situations (extreme situations) where even without comparison to something better or expectation of something better, you just cannot find contentment or bliss in the moment.

In general, though?  I agree with this concept.  Most people experience discontent specifically because they are comparing what they have to what others have or to what they want, or think they should have.

Traditional Manga Tarot - The High PriestessToday’s draw is the High Priestess card, which is traditionally an interpretation of strong inner knowledge, intuition, esoteric spirituality, and the subconscious.

The only thing that really stands out to me in the imagery of this card today is the coloring, and I’m not sure that there’s a message there so much as that the shift from purple to yellow feels… incongruous.

I take that back.  The longer that I look at this imagery today (and I have returned back to looking at it many, many times today) is that her eyes appear to be red, and yet her posture is very straight and still and proper.  It is another “clash” to me, but one that speaks of an inner fire not visible from the exterior.

Sometimes, we have to stay silent on our beliefs.  Sometimes, for our own safety, it’s important to be innocuous and keep your thoughts, belief, and knowledge to yourself.  I too have been exposed to these times… and the card here is a warning to watch out for them.  Don’t be careless and have it result in becoming a victim.

DECK USED:  TRADITIONAL MANGA TAROT

LionHart’s As Above So Below Challenge Prompt
Uranus Question
: Something that truly makes me unique, or something that can support my individuality.

Druidcraft Tarot

Something That Truly Makes Me Unique

Prince of Pentacles atop Six of Swords – My ability to know what is right for me and go after it while leaving behind what isn’t working. I see so many people that are unable to figure out what is right for them and stew in confusion and indecision whenever such opportunities to do so are presented to them.  It’s something… I am unable to grasp.

My question is…. it that really so common that my knowing what’s right for me and discarding what isn’t becomes something unique?

Something That Can Support My Individuality

Queen of Swords atop Six of Pentacles –  Sharing with others my thoughts and perspectives in an effort to guide them on their own path.  This doesn’t just support my own individuality, but helps others in theirs as well.  I don’t expect anyone to follow in  my footsteps or believe what I believe.  Instead, I encourage others to hear what I have to say and choose what sounds and feels right for them. 

DECK USED:  DRUIDCRAFT TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsNov2020 Challenge Prompt
Question
: Draw or write something free form inspired by the card(s).

Multi-Stabber TarotKing of Swords – There was once a crotchety old man living in a care home that was extremely good at making people believe what he wanted them to believe and go after what he wanted them to go after.  He ruled over the home like a king would rule over his kingdom, and everyone, including the nurses, both admired his strength and knowledge, but feared his wrath.

Queen of Pentacles – One day a new nurse came to the care home, and she moved around the place like a breath of fresh air, caring for everyone with a kindness that was also steady and strong and took no shit.  Every time he would try to get her to go against the rules and bring him ice cream even though he’s diabetic, or let him smoke out the window instead of going outside, she would put him back in his place with firm strength and love.

Eight of Cups – He watched her as she worked, trying to figure her out, and the more he watched her the more he realized how much she gave of herself every day.  He realized that she gave so much more than she ever received from anyone, and especially him.  With each day this realization sank in, he became less of a crotchety old man with her and more of a friendly father figure and in time they came to not just like each other, but love each other like family.

DECK USED:  MULTI-STABBER TAROT

Heal & Transform November Challenge Prompt
Question
: What is 2020’s greatest opportunity for my personal growth?

Mary El Tarot First Edition

Reading Summary: Finding ways to incorporate more positivity and joy (The Sun) into the exploration of new projects (Ace of Wands) and new opportunities (Ace of Disks).

Take Away:  This is one of the issues I’ve been working at throughout the year.  It’s about positivity.  It’s about optimism.  And that is something that I struggle with.  But as I’ve worked this spring and summer on my emotional growth, a part of that has included finding more joy and more positivity in how I view the world around me.  I don’t think that this is a journey that I have completed by any means (thus the Aces), but rather it is the first step.  The inkling of possibility that will allow for growth with some tending and attention.

DECK USED:  MARY EL TAROT 1ST EDITION

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What have I learned so far from my life challenges?

Sweeney Tarot

The Hermit – Self reflection is good, but retreat is not always healthy. There is a fine balance between the light and the darkness, and it’s important to keep that balance intact so that when you need alone time it can be healthy alone time that is good for you and assists in the centering and grounding you need.  When the light and the dark are not in balance, that alone time becomes self destructive.

Six of Cups atop The Hierophant – Sharing my experience and knowledge with others creates positive memories for me and a positive experience to look back on later. These memories help to put distance between myself and the unpleasant memories from earlier in my life, providing me with positive ones to focus on instead that can build me up (as opposed to the negative ones that try to tear me down).

The Fool – It’s okay to indulge in playing the fool sometimes. Just don’t overdo it. Being silly and optimistic isn’t something I find particularly easy the majority of the time. I’ve learned, though, that there’s nothing wrong with it in those times I’m able to find it and sink into it.

DECK USED:  SWEENEY TAROT

Accolades To The Self

IMG_7720Today’s meditation was just under ten minutes long and was a guided meditation with interval timer to allow for my piriformis stretches. 

The topic of today’s meditation was about checking our expectations in order to assure you do not create repeated situations of disappointment.  This is something that I have been doing my entire life and, I suspect, is something that the majority of pessimists do regularly.

Interestingly enough… even with this precaution in place?  There is one place where I am continually finding myself disappointed and caught in expectations that… I didn’t really think were unrealistic and yet have been proven to be again and again.   That area would be… people.

I am taken by surprise and disappointed in this area so many times when it comes to people and their common sense, their intelligence, their respect of others or the earth, their ability to empathize, their lack of awareness…  The list goes on.  People… somehow even my low expectations are often just too lofty.   As I’ve aged, the bar has dropped more and more, and yet is never low enough it seems.

Tarot of the Little Prince - Nine of PentaclesToday’s draw is the Nine of Pentacles, which is traditionally an indication of taking stock and enjoying the fruits of your labors.  It is about appreciation and accomplishment, and the pride of a job well done.

What stands out to me the strongest in the imagery of this card today is the boy’s fist in the air.  It creates a sense of celebration in this card, indicating that his accomplishments are something that he is elated about.

I also note that, unlike in many Nine of Pentacles cards, he is not alone.  He is accompanied by a lamb that appears to gaze up at him in admiration, perhaps helping to reinforce for him his sense of accomplishment.

The message here in today’s card is about appreciating your own accomplishments, and doing so regardless of who looks on or what their opinions may be on the matter.  If you can’t take pride in your own work and triumphs, no amount of praise or adoration is going to get you there.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE LITTLE PRINCE

LionHart’s As Above So Below Challenge Prompt
Mercury Question
: What can I learn from my Mercury Zodiac placement?

The Multi-Stabber Tarot

Reading Summary: To not tolerate (Six of Swords) what doesn’t work for me (The Sun Rx), when there is so much out there that could suit me better (The Universe).

Take Away:  There’s definitely a lot that I already do not tolerate and am willing to shed when it doesn’t work for me.  The thing is, though?  There is also plenty that I have not yet managed to shed. Much of these things have to do with my upbringing and the negative inner narrative that has spawned from that time in my life.  The cards indicate that having Mercury in Taurus is an element of my chart that could help me in learning to let go of these things and find a better path that is more suited to me personally.

DECK USED:  MULTI-STABBER TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsNov2020 Challenge Prompt
Question
: Self care I need right now for the…. Mind / Body / Spirit

Edgar Allan Poe TarotSelf Care I Need Right Now For The Mind

The World is a reminder that everything is going to be okay. The world moves on and life moves on, and even when things are sometimes difficult, that too is temporary.

Self Care I Need Right Now For The Body

The Wheel of Fortune reminds me that I need to stay grounded. Don’t step to the edge of the wheel where the spin is felt more severely. Instead, remain as close to the center as possible, so that the pull and chaos of the spin does not affect your body and life so strongly.

Self Care I Need Right Now For The Spirit

The Page of Pentacles atop The Magician indicates that new tools are coming my way. I need to make sure that I claim them for myself instead of ignoring them, as they will help in manifesting what I want to bring into reality once I have learned to use them well.

DECK USED:  EDGAR ALLAN POE TAROT

Heal & Transform November Challenge Prompt
Question
: What hidden aspect of myself would be better exposed for the world?

Mary El Tarot 1st Edition

Reading Summary: My ability to share the heart’s truth (Queen of Cups) during times when people are most open and receptive to healing words (Four of Swords) that will guide them into making the choices that are best for them (The Lovers).

Take Away:  Gideon has mentioned this on numerous occasions. That sometimes I come out with a seemingly random (or not random but unexpected) little nugget of thought during a conversation with people, that to these other people is groundbreaking and speaks to their heart, opening them up to something they hadn’t realized was possible.  I don’t know when I’m doing this… and don’t realize notice when it happens.  But I’ve had people occasionally come back and tell me about these moments.

DECK USED:  MARY EL TAROT 1ST EDITION

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: When do I feel happiest with myself?

Elemental Tarot

Reading Summary: When I am in control and in my element (The Chariot) sharing my knowledge with others (The Hierophant), and guiding them toward making the decisions in life that are best for them (The Lovers).

Take Away:  Yes… I am a control freak.  I admit it.  I need my independence, I need my autonomy, and I absolutely need to be in control of my own life.   I also love sharing my knowledge with others, as well as helping them in not just learning the things they want to learn, but in helping them in finding the path that is best suited for them.  Whether done in small ways or large, I also learn during this process… as well as finding it very rewarding besides.

DECK USED:  ELEMENTAL TAROT