#MayTag25

A Friendly Greeting

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and was one of the #DailyCalm sessions with the @Calm app.  Although I enjoyed today’s meditation this morning, I can’t for the life of me remember what the session was about.

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Floral Tarot - The HermitThe @GlitterbyInk #MayTag25 Challenge
Celebrating Our Community Prompt for May 3 : Friendly

Today’s draw is the Hermit card, which is traditionally a representation of inner exploration, self reflection, and healthy alone time.

Snowdrops are the first of the spring flowers to arrive. They come out eagerly before everyone else to announce that spring is on the way and pave the way forward for everyone else that then follows.

The flower on this card is actually a narcissus, probably in reference to the fact that it retreats into a bulb underground through winter to hibernate ’til spring. But, so too is the snowdrop that this card reminded me of on first glance. Its eager emergence after the time spent in restorative solitude an expression of friendly optimism for the spring months ahead.

The message in today’s card is that it’s okay to retreat into solitude for some much needed rest and healthy reflection. Just make sure that when you emerge that you are working to put on a friendly face and optimistic spin to what’s coming. Be open and look for the positive, and it will help others to do the same.

DECK USED:  FLORAL TAROT

#detarotjufmeitarotchallenge Tea With the Queens Challenge by @de_tarotjuf
Tea with the Queen of Wands : Creativity and Passion
Prompts for May 4 – 5

Oracle Reading with the Memento Homo Oracle CardsWhat in my environment motivates me to pursue my dreams?

Left Card – Trust. It takes a lot to trust someone with your safety and well-being. When you surround yourself with those you trust to do so, it allows you to be vulnerable in a way that opens you up to being honest about your dreams and gives you the bandwidth to pursue them with more vigor.

What can I do to bring more joy into my life?

Right Card – Play with abandon. Even if you feel you need to put on a front of composure or show a particular outward countenance… play anyway. Have some fun instead of internalizing that outward mask that is sometimes needed.

Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Silver Maple Key for Bouncing Back to Thrive
Omarolluk for Protection and Bridging Liminal Divides
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: MEMENTO HOMO ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

I did the things I wanted to do today, instead of the things that were expected of me by others. That included playing with a few new decks I got in over the past couple of weeks, and taking a nap… oh, and having raspberry swirl cake for breakfast.

I Did a Thing!

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and was a self guided meditation focusing upon the “just make it exist first” graphic by @growthbyvisuals shared alongside the card for today.

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Neuziet Tarot's Nine of PentaclesThe @GlitterbyInk #MayTag25 Challenge
Celebrating Our Community Prompt for May 2 : Optimistic

Today’s draw is the Nine of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of solitary satisfaction, a job well done, self-sufficiency, abundance, financial independence, and luxury earned through hard work.

It’s hard to remember at times that  accomplishment doesn’t have to be about perfection. Just the fact you created something or did something is enough.

When the cards say (as they often do) to “take a moment to reflect upon, appreciate, and/or celebrate our accomplishments,” they’re not talking about our big or perfect ones. The imperfect and small are just as important and need recognition as well.

“I did a thing,” no matter how small or seemingly insignificant holds just as much weight as “I created this perfect thing” does. The value, sometimes, is not in the results… but in the doing. Both in the fact that you are doing something, as well as the fact you are gaining joy or experience or knowledge during the task being done. So, “I did a thing” is absolutely valid, all on it’s own… whatever that thing may be or how it turns out.

DECK USED:  NEUZIET TAROT

#detarotjufmeitarotchallenge Tea With the Queens Challenge by @de_tarotjuf
Tea with the Queen of Wands : Creativity and Passion
Prompts for May 1 – 3

Oracle Reading with the Alchemy of the Spirit OracleWhat inspires my creativity?

The Sword – New ideas combined with a sense of balance. When there is no fairness, balance, or justice, you feel out of sorts and it will smother your creative spark and the impetus of new ideas. As new ideas are what your creativity thrives on, you need that balance to allow your creativity to be set free.

Reflect on a passion project. How can I make it grow?

Project – A wood burned casting tray made into the underside of my wooden reading tray with personally drawn design.

The Rainbow – Have faith that you will find the time to work on this project when the timing is right. You need time when you can slow down and really focus, which requires a number of different conditions to achieve. That time will come.

What energy do I bring into my work?

The Library – You bring into your work an openness to try new things, and the ability to know your worth in this area, regardless of being raised to think your efforts are worth nothing. Your work is all about things that you are good at and the exploration of those skills and abilities. This gives you a sense of worth that helps in rewriting the “not enough” narrative in your head.

Other elements included in this reading:
Bind Rune on Cedar for a Protected Home
Dried Rhododendron Leaf for Fostering Confidence
Rose Quartz for Gentle Kindness to Self and Others
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: ALCHEMY OF THE SPIRIT ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

I spend a lot of time not listening to people today, and instead listening to the music or audiobook coming in through the bone conduction headphones hidden in my hair.

Self-Acceptance

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Today’s meditation was twelve minutes long, and one of the #DailyTrip sessions in the @Calm app.

The session for today discussed how acceptance is our greatest tool toward growth and self-improvement. When we pause to understand our flaws and flawed reactions, and open ourself up to accepting that they are a part of who we are as humans, it allows those parts of ourselves to soften and become more malleable. It feels a bit counterintuitive, and yet this is how through acceptance of ourselves and forgiveness that change is facilitated.

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Tarocchi by Michelangelo Rossato - The HermitThe @GlitterbyInk #MayTag25 Challenge
Celebrating Our Community Prompt for May 1 : Curious

Today’s draw is the Hermit card, which is traditionally a representation of solitude, self reflection and introspection, alone time, and inner guidance.

Even for an introvert like myself, spending time alone can be a blessing or a curse, depending on where your head is at at time time.

If we are in a mindset that allows our thoughts to run in circles around our mistakes, flaws, or these things that we don’t like about ourselves, then alone time becomes an unhealthy simmering of negativity.

On the other hand, alone time spent in self-exploration with a focus on curiosity, understanding, and acceptance allows for healthy solitude and eventual growth.

The theme of today’s card, meditation, and prompt combo is to remember that not all alone time is healthy or productive, and encourages us to discern the difference and choose our moments of solitude wisely.

DECK USED:  TAROCHI BY MICHELANGELO ROSSATO

#DiscordTarotholicsMay2025 Challenge
Prompt for May 1 : Do the Beltane Spread

Beltane Oracle Reading with the Apothecary Spirits Oracle

Dandelion: How can I use my inner strength to help me in healing old wounds?

Marigold – Instead of focusing on the pain of past experiences, explore their memories while working to recognize the gift that these experiences have offered you. Whether it has created within you a greater sense of independence, understanding of human nature, knowledge or skills you wouldn’t have otherwise developed, etc. these things are life’s offerings to you in appreciation and respect for what you went through. They are earned and hold great worth in and of themselves, but also in allowing you to see that those painful moments held value as well.

Bees: Where could I put in more effort to help my community?

Cayenne – Be bold and loud. Let your anger show when it stirs to the surface. In doing so you validate others and their own feelings, for not everyone is able to speak up as easily or freely as you can. You embolden others, in these moments, to share their own thoughts and feelings as well rather than staying quiet in the background.

Garnet: What do I need in order to foster a greater sense of self-empowerment?

Damiana – You need to be able to allow your vulnerability to shine through without shame or fear in order to foster a greater sense of self-empowerment. This not an easy task for you, and it is often done through the vulnerability that you offer to Gideon in the drown. Over time, he has helped you to see the submissive side of your inner self as a strength rather than as a weakness to be ashamed of.

Swallow: Where do I need to more openly display my love and loyalty to others?

Rosemary – Memories are important. With so many of them fleeting in your head and often slipping through your fingers like grains of sand through a sieve, it’s important to revisit those ones that you can when you’re able.

When you walk down memory lane with others, you allow them to help you remember things that you have forgotten. This takes trust and openness, for you are trusting in their memories to refresh yours and not distort the truth. Within this process of helping to recount happy memories and joyful moments with you, it also creates new bonding experiences.

Malachite: How can I better use intention to bolster the abundance in my life moving forward?

Roses – Roses take a great deal of care in order to not just thrive but become abundant in blooms. So do relationships. Love, romance, and friendships do not just “happen” and will not thrive on their own without your participation. Lean into the intent to keep your friendships and loving relationships happy and healthy, and they will grow to be abundant like the roses in this card.

Goat: How can I best overcome obstacles before me at this time?

Wisteria – Cling tightly, but with a gentle touch.  It is through your connection with others that you find strength in moments when obstacles become too heavy to handle on your own. Lean into them.

Primrose: How can I add more of the exuberance of young love into my life?

Borage – Don’t allow your uncertainty, nor moments of fear, to hold you back. There is no energy or exuberance in stagnancy. It is in motion and courage that we find those lighter and happier emotions associated with young love. If you want to instill that energy into your life, it takes courage and the willingness to take a leap with alacrity, rather than standing still in uncertainty.

Other elements included in this reading:
Orange Aventurine Leaf for Pause and Reflection
Rose Quartz for Gentle Kindness to Self and Others
Green Aventurine for Harmony and Balance of the Heart
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: APOTHECARY SPIRITS ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

Bah, I worked all day today from the moment I woke up this morning to just before bed time, and I feel like I haven’t given myself a single self kindness today.  I suppose I would count making sure that I ate on time using the timer on my phone as one, though. So there’s that.