#MysticStarChallenge

Strength and Tenderness

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s meditation was again curtailed due to the need for sleep. I didn’t mean to doze off, but I’ve just been so tired these last couple of days and the moment I settled in and relaxed? Suddenly I was out like a light.

Madam Lydia Wilhelmina's Tarot - King of CupsToday’s draw is the King of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of a projective alpha energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s emotions, relationships, creativity, and intuition.

I don’t know what it is about this card, but there’s something so… sexy here.   I’m not sure what.  Maybe it’s the shoulder.  Or the hip.  Or the fact that the hand appears to be holding that scrap of tartan in place.  Whatever.  It’s hot.   And thus…. my brain goes to Gideon, because Gideon is hot… and is my King of Cups.

The thing that draws my gaze the most (along with the whole hotness factor) is the drape of tiny pearls. They hang from his hat, drape his body, as well as his right hand.

What I see here is a contrast between strength and fragility, power and delicacy.  It displays a balance.  The same sort of balance that Gideon shows me every day.  The balance I crave… especially when I am feeling vulnerable.

DECK USED:  MADAM LYDIA WILHELMINA’S TAROT

LionHart’s #TheOctoberTarot #SeasonOfTheWitchChallenge Prompt
Question: Itch-it-a-kup-it-a, mel-a-ka-mys-ti-ka, a poison {1}, the potion {2}, the magick {3}, my witchy calling {4}.

Luis Royo's Dark Tarot

A Poison – The High Priestess Rx – Not listening to your intuition has the ability to poison both your actions, your motivations, and your confidence. It’s important to be able to trust yourself, and when you second guess your intuition, it breaks down that trust.

The Potion – The Wheel – Whether things are on the way up or on the way down, it is through the times that your intuition speaks to you that you learn to trust it in the first place.  This takes repetitive practice.

The Magick – Queen of Pentacles – Only through experience can we develop that trust.  It takes time and nurturing to make it happen, and it takes even more time and nurturing to help it flourish.

My Calling – The Lovers – Some people ignore their intuition, and thus it rarely speaks.  Others accept their intuition and allow it to become a part of their lives.  It is my calling to have this type of close relationship with my intuition, and to choose it’s voice over that of logic or reason again and again so that with each trusting step forward it grows healthier and stronger.

DECK USED:  LUIS ROYO’S DARK TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: You / Your Current Path / Potential Outcome

Gothic Horror TarotYou – Death – I am going through an adjustment at this time in my life. Not just the gradual growth and adjustment that came with the emotional growth I’ve been focused on in the past year… but also the adjustment that comes from shifting out of the more relaxed part of my year into the chaos of the holiday rush.  For me, autumn is all about adjustments and changes, shifting gears and transitioning. 

Your Current Path – King of Staves – I am on the trajectory of diving into my holiday rush. Control and motivation need to be high, not just for myself but to lead those that work with me this year into the fray and give them the inspiration to keep going when things are at their peak.

Potential Outcome – Four of Swords – Exhaustion and a need for recovery.  Ten weeks from now, I am going to be at the end of my rope.  My eyes will feel like sandpaper, my body will feel as if I’m wasting away, and my mind will be a fuzzy blur as the adrenaline of the holiday rush begins to fade. Ten weeks from now I will reach the end of the chaos of the holiday rush… and it will be time to take a very much needed restorative break.

DECK USED:  GOTHIC HORROR TAROT

#MysticStarChallenge October Challenge Prompt
Question: What message has my Spirit Guide been trying to send me that I have not heard?

Terrestrial Tarot

Reading Summary:  Be proactive (Knight of Swords) about making sure you’re getting enough rest (Four of Swords).  Soon enough you’ll be up to your eyeballs in ambition and creativity (Queen of Wands) and dealing with being overwhelmed by the fray of the holiday rush (Five of Wands).

Take Away:  These last couple weeks are the last bit of rest and relaxation I’m going to get for a wile.  I need to make sure I get what I can while I can and not allow myself to fall into the “oh fuck oh fuck” panic of what’s to come.  I’ve done the holiday rush before, and I’ll do it again. Don’t freak out and lose what chance for rest and restoration that I have left.

DECK USED:  TERRESTRIAL TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: How important is my health in my spiritual life?

Nightmare Before Christmas Tarot

Reading Summary:  Think of it this way (King of Needles imagery)… Your loved ones (Three of Potions) are there to make you take care of yourself so that you can get the most out of life (Nine of Presents).  If you don’t take care of yourself? No forward motion will be forthcoming (Three of Candles Rx).

Take Away:  Just sayin’?  But the way that King of Needles showed up was so funny.   It’s literally telling me that I need to really take some time to sit and think about this message.   The message being, of course, that my health is extremely important to my spiritual life.  No health means no progress upon my path.  Those that love me are here to help and make sure that I stay healthy, but their presence in my life is also an integral part of what makes me healthy as well.

DECK USED:  NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS TAROT

Choosing Your Poison

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s meditation was curtailed in the face of my need for a nap… because I totally dozed off in the middle of my meditation. I’ll try again before I go to sleep tonight but I’ve had two naps today, bot of them unanticipated, so… yeah.   Definitely not taking the chance of lying down again until bed time.

Tarot of Haunted House - The DevilToday’s draw is the Devil card, which is traditionally a representation of themes and situations that have to do with addictions and temptations.  It’s about those things you fall into that seem good and can become unhealthy if allowed to go to far, and about the bad habits and addictions that you fall into and then find yourself unwilling to leave behind even when you know they are bad for you.

I very much try to keep in mind Gideon’s take on this card.  For me, this card is often a representation of addiction, and a representation of the temptation that my addictive personality can create for me.  For him, it is a reminder of the temptation of me… how obsessed and addicted to me that he is.

Regardless of the temptation or addiction is beneficial or not, though. What really stands out to me in this card (and in many Devil cards) is that the chains on those caught and bound are loose. They could slip free.

The message of today’s card is that you choose your addictions and what temptations you want to allow into your life.  It’s important to pay attention and be diligent so that you make conscious choices about these things, instead of just wandering randomly from one to another.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF HAUNTED HOUSE

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2020 Challenge Prompt
Question:How can I best release negativity carried froward from my ancestors to me?

Cryptid TarotReading Summary: Instead of getting up in arms (Five of Wands – Tatzelwurm) when disaster strikes (The Tower – Mothman), take control and plunge into it (The Chariot – Kelpie).

Take Away:  Be proactive about the direction you go in and how you react to the chaos that starts to crash around you.  Don’t shirk, and don’t get your back up about it, move forward, adapt, and keep moving.  

It’s the difference between fighting change, or actually moving with it and adapting to it.  Sometimes, you have to just allow change to happen and control your own actions and responses rather than fighting against the change and causing things to go even harder on yourself.

DECK USED:  THE CRYPTID TAROT

#MysticStarChallenge October Challenge Prompt
Question: How can I utilize mine and my Spirit Guide’s different personalities to my advantage?

Trick or Tarot

Reading Summary: When I’m in need of help (Five of Swords), just remember that they’ve been through all this before (Ten of Swords), and they’re trying to help by giving advice based on knowledge that they have obtained through experience (Queen of Swords).

Take Away:  It’s about trusting what I hear, and trusting what I fee.  They give me messages through the same sensations as my intuition to make sure I listen, so remember that the advice comes from a good place and is the same as when someone that’s been to war gives someone that hasn’t advice on using a gun.  It’s guidance given through expertise I didn’t have to live myself to take advantage of.

DECK USED:  TRICK OR TAROT

Don’t Knock It ‘Til You Try It

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

IMG_7011Today’s meditation was ten minutes long and was about finding the path that is right for you and seeing ourselves through our own eyes instead of basing out self worth on what others think of us.

I think everyone does this to a point.  We all worry, in one way or another, about what others think of us or how we are perceived.  That’s pretty natural and probably has something to do with some sort of “human tribal/societal genetic wiring” of some kind or another.

The key, though, is to make sure that you prioritize how you feel about yourself above how others feel about  you. This requires having a positive view of yourself.  An honest view that allows for you to have things that you are proud of, and things that you like about yourself.  It means knowing your strengths and your weaknesses and finding a place within yourself where you are happy with yourself and who you are.

We are all works in progress, but its that comfort in your own skin that allows you to take other’s opinions and perceptions in stride, and not allow them to take over your life or your own perceptions of yourself.

Madam Lydia Wilhelmina's Tarot - DeathToday’s draw is the Death card, which is traditionally a card that indicates organic transition.  That is to say, it is about the slow and gradual build up of change that takes place over time.   Sometimes change happens all at once and is a chaotic mess of clashing energy and distress (aka The Tower)… the Death card, on the other hand, is about the kind of change that happens over time though. The kind of change that happens little by little until one day it reaches a tipping point  where you realize something is happening, and that it has been happening all along.

What stands out to me the strongest in the imagery of this card today is the hourglass in the lower right side, and the fact that with whatever is lying on the desk behind it?  It kind of looks at first like a gavel.

The message in today’s card is “Don’t knock it until you try it.”  Sometimes?  When we go through change we make snap judgements and reject the changes without even giving them a chance to grow on us, or time for us to adjust and give it a go.  But what we learn when we relax into change instead of immediately going up in arms to fight against it, is that we adapt more quickly and re-discover happiness more easily.

Consider the potential if we could relax into changes more often, and find our joy again more quickly in the wake of those changes.  Imagine how much less time we’d waste and how much more happiness we could enjoy.

DECK USED:  MADAM LYDIA WILHELMINA’S TAROT

LionHart’s #TheOctoberTarot #SeasonOfTheWitchChallenge Prompt
Question: As above, so below, I will channel this {top of the deck}, so I can grow {bottom of the deck}.

Tarot of the Sweet TwilightReading Summary: A certain amount of solitude and self reflection (The Hermit) can help me in growing beyond the perceived limitations of my ambition (Knight of Swords).

Take Away:  The message here is that when I channel my inner hermit and go after that alone time that I need?  It fosters within me the ability to stretch my limits and do better, learn more, and become stronger.  I am one of those people that needs their alone time. I need time by myself to ground.  This alone time gives me the opportunity to settle and process. From there I can then move forward calmer and stronger than before.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE SWEET TWILIGHT

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: Do Spread #2

Anne Stokes Gothic TarotBat – What is ending at this time that needs my awareness and focus?
Six of Cups

Last year at this time of year, I was far too close to my past and it allowed feelings and reactions to experiences in my past to rise up and overwhelm me a bit.   This card is a reminder that I need to set my past experiences and feelings from the past aside for now in order to make sure they do not invade and create a repeat of the experience.

Calendula – Who is a loving constant in my life that needs a bit more recognition?
Ten of Pentacles atop The Lovers

This card is pointing to my twin sister, L. Over a decade ago, my sister came to me and told me that she wanted to move out of our parent’s house, but felt uncomfortable living on her own. I made the choice to allow her to come move into my home, and she has been here ever since.

She is, in essence, a part of my home now. It’s hard to imagine living here (or anywhere, for that matter) without her. I think that the choice I made those years ago was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in my entire life… which is saying something, because I’ve made a hell of a lot of good decisions along the way so far.

Owl – What do I need to know right now to trust that I’m on the right path?
Ten of Cups

This card is the carrot dangled before the ass, yeah?  It’s telling me that my emotional growth that I’ve been working on is leading somewhere positive and that I’ve made the right choice in diving into this exploration and taking up the journey towards greater emotional intelligence.

This is actually something I needed to hear, as I have been worried about the effect that the upcoming holiday rush might have on my progress.  I think I’ve gotten to a point now where I realize though, that even if I backslide a bit during the holiday season, that I’ll be able to regain my footing and continue on that path of exploration once the rush has ended.

Rosemary – What memory in my past needs revisited to guide in my future safety?
King of Swords

For a very long time, I associated very strongly with the King of Swords. Over the past few years, I’ve found that has shifted a bit and I relate far more to the Queen of Swords these days than I do the King. The memory of when I was in that place where I related more to the King is something I need to keep in mind to guide me in my future safety. The strength and the accuracy and ambition, as well as the sharp and keen perception and tongue, are still there. They reside beneath the surface and can be brought out when needed. This is important to remember.

Black Cat – Where is conformity more of a risk than independent thought?
Ace of Cups

My emotional journey is something that is unique to me.  I can’t follow in another’s footsteps, nor allow others to lead the way, because my emotions are my own and how they manifest and communicate with me, as well as how they relate to the world around me, are unique to me.

Although I can take in guidance as needed, it’s important to remember that this journey is about my path and my growth… and it is important to not restrain myself to expectations (whether mine or that of others) when exploring the path ahead and this growth.

Wormwood – During this time when the veil is thin, what in my life needs protection?
Eight of Swords

There is much I have not learned yet and much I do not yet know.  Because of this, there is much yet that I don’t see or understand.

This is about my explorations of mediumship, spirit guides, etc.  I have been doing a bit of delving, in very surface ways, into the mediumship and spirit guide area of things.  The card in relation to this question makes it clear that I need to be careful and take precautions even in these smallest of explorations during this time of year when the veil is at its thinnest.

Raven – Where can sating my curiosity lead to the resurrection of something I’ve lost?
Queen of Pentacles

I need to call Ms B.

DECK USED:  ANNE STOKES GOTHIC TAROT

#MysticStarChallenge October Challenge Prompt
Question: How can I embrace my Spirit Guide’s personality more effectively?

Tarot de Marseille Par Pole Ka

Reading Summary: The two left cards really stand out strongly to me in this reading.  They hold warmth and power that feels like it overshadows the rest of the cards. The Kings, on the other hand, both appear to be decreasing in power in some way, from the leeches that suck power from the King of Swords to the blood dripping from the head of the King of Wands.

Heart open (Ace of Cups and The Empress), and personal motivations on the back burner (King of Swords atop King of Wands).

Take Away:  To embrace my Spirit Guide’s personality more effectively, I need to remember that they speak through my intuition and to not just hear them clearly but understand their messages most effectively, I need to be open and welcoming to their messages. Closing myself off muffles their communications, and when I am digging deep into my  personal motivations and ambitions?  I am usually very much also closing myself off.

DECK USED:  TAROT DE MARSEILLE PAR POLE KA

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: How can I my perform spellcraft more effectively?

Ludy Lescot Tarot

Reading Summary: Slow down and be mindful of secrets (Eight of Wands and the skulls under the stairs). While you delve deeply into the study and learning process (the men in both the Seven of Swords and Page of Pentacles are deep in study… one of maps and the other in books), make sure that you do not neglect hands-on experience (Five of Wands).

Take Away:  The advice in these cards is that in order to more effectively improve my spellcraft I need to make sure I don’t lose myself so deeply in theory and study that I forget about the experimentation and practice part of things.  Both are equally important, as is taking things slow so that you don’t miss something important along the way.

DECK USED:  LUDY LESCOT TAROT

You Don’t Have To Do It Alone

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

IMG_6992Today’s meditation was  just over ten minutes long and was another guided meditation with interval timer.   The thing is tho?  I wasn’t really paying attention to the guided meditation part today.  I’ve been a bit flaky and “off” today, which means that I’ve not been able to really fully focus or concentrate today.  Which is fine, because a blank mind was very easy to fall into…. but listening to that guided meditation as she spoke about whatever it was she was speaking about?  Not so easy.   And even if I listened to it (which I’m almost positive I didn’t), I clearly didn’t retain it.

At the same time?  I liked the quote provided by the meditation today, so I included it in this post.  It speaks to the survivor in me, and to the chronic pain patient in me.

It speaks to me of acceptance so that you can continue on.  Being told that you will never be pain free again, that you will be in constant pain for the rest of your life? It’s a hard pill to swallow.  A really, really hard pill to swallow.  But, once you can accept it and choose to live on and enjoy life regardless, tho?  Then your life finds ways to stretch and accommodate for that pain, allowing for you to have love and joy and all those experiences alongside it…. instead of having to forsake them all because of it.

Tarot of Haunted House - TemperanceToday’s draw is the Temperance card, which is traditional representation of well… temperance.  Wikipedia says that Temperance is defined as “moderation or voluntary self-restraint... typically described in terms of what an individual voluntarily refrains from doing. This includes restraint from revenge by practicing non-violence and forgiveness, restraint from arrogance by practicing humility and modesty, restraint from excesses such as extravagant luxury or splurging by practicing prudence, and restraint from rage or craving by practicing calmness and self-control.”

Although this is a large part of what the Temperance card is about, it is not the whole of it, as the Temperance card goes beyond the virtues of moderation and also reaches past them into the philosophical spiritual connection that practicing those virtues can create.  This means that the Temperance card is not just about the virtues of moderation, but also a connection to one’s spirituality, and thus a connection between the earth and divinity.

I don’t really see much in the way of the spiritual aspects in the imagery of today’s card, though.  What I see here is a statement about restraint and moderation being a choice.

The message here is about making that choice. Moderation is not a strong suit for me, and when I find myself at a point where I am no longer able to make that choice on my own?  It ends up being something I have to walk away from instead.  The encouragement here is to not walk away so quickly, but work harder at making moderation a standard in life…. perhaps with the help of others when needed.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF HAUNTED HOUSE

LionHart’s #TheOctoberTarot #SeasonOfTheWitchChallenge Prompt
Question: Ever mind the rule of three, what ye send out {card 1}, comes back to thee {card 2}.

Dark Angels TarotReading Summary: Sharing your knowledge and skills (The Magician) carelessly with those unwilling to walk the path and do the work (Eight of Swords)… and you are charging directly into regret and backlash for your reckless behavior (Knight of Cups Rx).

Ever mind the rule of three, what ye send out {reckless sharing of knowledge and tools to those not ready for such things}, comes back to thee {backlash for your reckless behavior}.

Take Away:  And this is why I do not provide hexes, spells, curses, etc. to novice witches… or to any witches for that matter. If they don’t have the knowledge under their belt to make their own spells, then they’re not far enough down the path yet to do the spell they are asking about.

I actually just ran into the situation last night on a Discord server, and run into it pretty regularly with new witches that have not figured out that this practice is something to be respected and not a toy.  I’m not referring to basic candle spells or things like that.  I’m referring to advanced spellwork (which hexes and curses definitely fall into).

I’m happy to provide guidance on ingredients that might benefit certain purposes and tools that might help someone get where they want to go within their spellcraft, but I’m not giving anybody any spells or curses or hexes. In my personal opinion and experience, people need time and practice to grow and be able to build their own experience and spells, and adapt them to be personal to them… instead of just cut copy and paste what someone else gives them without understanding any of what they’re doing or what the elements they’re using mean.

Obviously, as you can see, this is a pet peeve of mine.

DECK USED:  DARK ANGELS TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: What negativity in my ancestral history is it time to let go of in the present?

Golden Age of Horror Comics TarotReading Summary: Sometimes when you trust in others to do the work for you (Three of Cups) instead of doing it yourself (The Magician) you can end up experiencing malicious backlash (Witch in the Background of the Three of Cups) and hardship as a result (Five of Pentacles).

Take Away: Although I don’t agree with a lot of the ways that I was raised, one thing that I do agree with is that I was raised to be independent, strong, and hard-working. I was taught that there are no good shortcuts, therefore there’s no point in looking for them because they only end up causing problems.

This is something that my ancestors have learned, and through them I was taught to be different and do different… learning from their mistakes.

DECK USED:  GOLDEN AGE OF HORROR COMICS TAROT

#MysticStarChallenge October Challenge Prompt
Question: How does my personality align with that of my Spirit Guides?

Cute and Creepy Tarot

Reading Summary: I am open to my intuition (The High Priestess) and willing to follow where it leads (Knight of Cups), and in doing so, embrace the results as they pour in along the way (Nine of Cups).

Take Away:  My personality aligns with that of my spirit guides because I am open to allowing direction from my subconscious and my intuition, and they’re taking that opportunity to lead me forward and help me find positive outcomes in my life.   Without my willingness to blindly follow these qualities in myself… qualities they manipulate to nudge me along in my trajectory…. and without their willingness to do the nudging?  It wouldn’t all come together so seamlessly or winningly.

DECK USED:  CUTE AND CREEPY TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What does magick mean to me?

Murder of Crows Tarot

Six of Wands – An interest to excel at.

The thing is?  I enjoy the spellcraft and magic(k) part of my path, quite a lot.  I enjoy the studying and the learning, the researching and the experimentation.  I enjoy expanding my horizons and finding my strengths and affinities.  I also enjoy being knowledgeable in these areas and able to help others (and yes, at times, even looked up to by others) with knowledge and experience I can share.

The Star – A way to connect spiritually with the world around me and its energies.

My faith is based upon the energies that surround us.  Energies of the elements, energies of creation, evolution, and balance.  These energies are how I see divinity, how I grasp how the world works, and are the foundation of my path.  Spellcraft and magic(k) are at their very core taking control and direction of energy through intent and using tools assist in that purpose.  In this way, spellcraft and magic(k) then becomes an extension of my faith, and a connection to divinity.

The Chariot – And a means to an end.

None of the above changes the fact that spellcraft and magic(k) is a tool.  It is something that is used to accomplish a goal.  You put your intention into action to make something happen using energy as the force for moving things along.

Take Away:  In the end, spellcraft and magic(k) are many things to me, although these three are definitely at the top of the list.  It’s a part of my faith, a means to an end, a connection to divinity, and a passionate pursuit. It is a sense of security and a lifelong past-time, a hereditary gift passed down from my mother and my ancestors… and much more.

DECK USED:  MURDER OF CROWS TAROT

Your Unseen Influence

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s meditation was skipped because I dozed off.   What was supposed to be a ten minute meditation instead turned into a three hour nap.  Seriously.  THREE HOURS.  So… I was a bit ticked with myself and decided to hold off on the meditation until bed time just to make sure I didn’t end up dozing off again in the middle of the day.

Madam Lydia Wilhelmina's Tarot - Page of CoinsToday’s draw is the Page of Coins, which is traditionally a representation of a receptive omega energy, personality, or person in the area of finance, resources, manifestations, hearth and home, or health. This often displays itself as someone learning how to be responsible in these aspects of life, or learning a new skill associated with those aspects.

What stands out most strongly in the imagery of today’s card is that the woman seems both quite sensual, and a bit cocky.  I have a hard time equating the pages of the tarot with “cocky” but I definitely connect the earthy sensuality of temptation and sex with the pentacles.

She is nubile and beautiful, and although her expression is a bit cocky, it also looks a bit tender. Like she is aware of her appeal, but doesn’t quite understand the power she holds… yet.  But she’s getting there.

The message in this card today has to do with that lack of self awareness… or rather, perhaps it is a lack of awareness of others, and the power and influence you hold over them.  Make sure to stay aware of that influence you hold, even when at times you may doubt it’s presence or it’s power.

DECK USED:  MADAM LYDIA WILHELMINA’S TAROT

LionHart’s #TheOctoberTarot #SeasonOfTheWitchChallenge Prompt
Question: I trust my intuition and I allow it to flow here.

Halloween Magick Tarot

Reading Summary: When I am protecting my home and values (Nine of Wands) from the outside world (The World), I am willing to go to great lengths to do so (Knight of Wands) with little moderation (Temperance Rx).

Take Away:  I trust my intuition and allow it to flow freely when it comes to anything that has to do with the protection of my home and loved ones, and the defense and strength of my values.

There have been too many times that my intuition has said something is coming, and if I had not listened could have resulted in disaster. I now have not even the smallest niggling of doubt when my intuition speaks in this area, nor even the slightest temptation in ignoring those impulses.  I dive in and do what needs done without question.

DECK USED:  HALLOWEEN MAGICK TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2020 Challenge Prompt
Topic: Listen / Process / Release

Luis Royo's Dark TarotListen – Three of Swords – When your feelings are hurt? They’re trying to tell you something. At those times, instead of wallowing in how you are feeling, take some time to try to pick things apart and find the message hidden within the experience.

Process – Queen of Pentacles – One of the aspects of the Queen of Pentacles is finding that work/life balance that allows for providing for the home and family financially as well as in a nurturing role.  This is very similar to the type of balanced juggling that I have been trying to instill in my own life, and feel that I have found but is not “cemented in place” as well as I would like it to be yet.

Release – Ace of Wands – As I move into the holiday rush (which is only a few weeks away now and time is running down quickly), that spark of inspiration for new projects and ideas needs to be put on the back burner in order to train my focus more fully on what needs done and the overwhelm that is coming.  Something has to give at this time of year to make room for that overwhelming pick up in orders…. and this is one of those things.

DECK USED:  LUIS ROYO’S DARK TAROT

#MysticStarChallenge October Challenge Prompt
Question: What is my presently most influential Spirit Guide’s personality?

Catton Candy Nightmare Tarot

Reading Summary: Sneaky (Seven of Swords), controlling (Wheel of Fortune Rx), and willing to do what is needed to make me see the truth in the world around me (Eight of Swords).

Take Away:  Sometimes sneaky is also clever, and honestly?  As hard as I worked for so long to ignore the presence of my spirit guides?  It does not surprise me that the one in the foreground at the moment is both sneaky and controlling. After all, without that ingenuity? They wouldn’t be getting their messages across, would they? The goal is to make sure I’m not closing my eyes to reality, and I think that for the most part they’ve done a pretty damned good job.

DECK USED: CATTON CANDY NIGHTMARE TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What are my divination challenges?

Zombie Tarot

Reading Summary: Slow progress (Seven of Hazards) can be frustrating (Five of Cups). Although that frustration can make it hard to be kind to myself (Empess), I need to make sure I’m giving myself the grounding (potted plant in the Empress card) and love I need (Locked Heart Charm) or it will just continue to hold me back (Anchor Charm).

The lily charm sitting over the woman in the Five of Cups indicates that when I am feeling frustrated, I can often feel like I’m in the right in feeling that way and have a hard time seeing that the feeling is temporary and lacking in true wisdom.

Take Away:  These cards (and charms) indicate that they are referring to my spirit guide efforts.  I want a stronger and more conscious connection with my spirit guides and it’s something I’ve been trying to develop since the beginning of the year.  Although I have found some success in the effort, it has been minute progress through very small, barely imperceptible steps.

The guidance in these cards is to make sure that I don’t allow that frustration to take over and ruin what small progress I’ve made or convince me to give up.  The smart play is to continue on and make sure that I’m being kind to myself along the way concerning the pace I’m moving at.

DECK USED:  ZOMBIE TAROT

Don’t Dawdle Too Long

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

IMG_6970Today’s meditation was just over ten minutes long and was another of the guided meditations with interval timer for my piriformis stretches.  I’m sort of wondering if the additional soreness I’m feeling lately isn’t just because I skipped a couple of days of stretching, but also because I have not been going in to the sports medicine doctor for adjustments since the spring.

The topic of today’s meditation was in taking a pause when reacting and responding to others to check if you are being kind.   It focused upon the quote by Rumi that is posted in this blog post to the right.   I’ve never heard this quote by Rumi before, but I can honestly say that it’s become one of my favorites.  I work really hard to do this when I interact with others… although perhaps the “Is it necessary” gets skipped a bit more than it should.  Still, I think it is a good guideline, and something as a whole that we all need to keep in mind more often.

Tarot of Haunted House - The Hanged ManToday’s draw is the Hanged Man, which is traditionally a representation of taking a step back to mull things over or see things from a new and different perspective.  This involves letting go of your own preconceptions and opening your mind to a new view.

Although I see this in the imagery of today’s card, the card’s imagery brings up more questions than answers today.   The reason for this is that the skeleton hangs in darkness beyond an opening in a brick wall.  From that I begin to wonder just how long has that skeleton been hanging there?  How did it get there?  How was it discovered?

These questions bring me to what I feel is the message of today’s card.  That is to say, the message here is about just how long you take in that “step back” to consider other perspectives.  Yes…. making decisions requires seeing as much of the “whole picture” as possible.  But if you get so wrapped up and focused on collecting data?  Sometimes  you end up missing the opportunities presented to you.   It’s a delicate balance, making sure you don’t hang there in limbo so long that you end up walled in.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF HAUNTED HOUSE

LionHart’s #TheOctoberTarot #SeasonOfTheWitchChallenge Prompt
Question: I am in control of the path I walk by…

Curio Tarot

Reading Summary: …being generous and kind with your emotions (Queen of Cups), and not allowing your drive to be more and do better get in the way (King of Cups Rx). Instead, you need to make sure you’re taking time to rest and recover (Four of Swords) and focus on your balance (Two of Pentacles).

Note: The “to do more and be better” is more about the fact that the King of the same suit showed up beside the Queen of Cups, rather than the connotations of the suit he is in.

Take Away:  The indication here is that it is not me in control of my path when I’m allowing those inner demons to drive me on the focus of “more more more”. It’s only when I take control of my life balance, be kind to myself, and allow myself the rest and restoration I need in that I am truly in control.

DECK USED:  CURIO TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: How can I embrace positive influences carried forward from my ancestors?

The Dark Mansion TarotReading Summary: Open your eyes (Two of Swords) and look forward at your progress concerning that emotional intelligence you’ve been working on (Queen of Cups). Inspire others with your kindness to believe in you and fight for you (Queen of Cups leading up into the Seven of Wands).

Note: The Queen of Cups came up reversed, but I think it is more to the point that she is supposed to be looking to the right (and the future), rather than the fact that the card actually means it’s reversed meaning.

Take Away:  It is a conscious choice to reach for progress and embrace the lessons the Queen of Cups has to offer about your emotions and how they influence not just yourself but others as well.

For so long I have chosen to ignore my emotions and their influences. I learned this behavior from those in my past… and this new path I am on is guided by not just my desire to break the pattern but the spirit guides that are there to help guide me along the way.

DECK USED:  THE DARK MANSION TAROT

#MysticStarChallenge October Challenge Prompt
Question: How can I better embrace my Spirit Guide’s message from the 6th?

Grim Tarock

Reading Summary: Sometimes in moving on from what isn’t working for you (Eight of Fish), you find something better (Ten of Citadels). Learn to accept what you’re leaving behind isn’t worth keeping, and it’s worth the sludge and slog of the journey to move forward beyond it (The Hierophant).

Obviously this reading is based off the imagery and not the suits/card names.  The “learn to” is a nod to the Hierophant’s traditional meaning, but otherwise this reading is imagery focused.

Take Away:  When you abandon what is familiar, there’s always a bit of fear involved. That’s true even when what you’re leaving behind is something that doesn’t work for you or is unhealthy for you.  It’s important, during these times, to remember that what you’re moving toward is worth slogging through all that worry and fear.  As long as you keep moving, you’ll get there.  Just don’t look back.

DECK USED:  GRIM TAROCK

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What does the Sun mean to me?

The Cryptid Tarot

Reading Summary: Let’s use those swords (Eight of Swords/Averasboro Gallinipper) to make something great (Ten of Pentacles/Yowie), and let’s do it with enthusiasm (Knight of Wands/Gef the Mongoose).

Take Away:  That critter in the Eight of Swords card is probably pretty blind to just how useful those sword legs can be, but with the help of the Yowie and Gef, goth of which have a far more positive outlook going on, it’s possible to turn what appears to be a dangerous handicap into a positive boon.

This is the energy I see in the Sun, that transformative energy that can turn things around and instill a positive or optimistic spin on something perceived to be negative.

DECK USED:  THE CRYPTID TAROT