#OctoberCauldron24

Collateral Damage

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Jack-O'-Lantern Tarot's Page of Swords and Halloween Affirmation CardsToday’s draw is the Page of Swords combined with the affirmation “I embrace the shadows, knowing they make my light shine brighter.”

Watch your back swing, and make sure as you strive to move forward you aren’t leaving anyone behind. Ambition can sometimes make us take action, when we should remain still and wait.  In those moments of impulsivity where we fumblingly try to act, sometimes we generate collateral damage rather than solve anything.

Instead?  Sit in the darkness and uncertainty of the moment. Embrace it and take your time, for sometimes when you wait? The solution lands in your lap.

DECKS USED:  JACK O’ LANTERN TAROT AND SELF-MADE HALLOWEEN AFFIRMATION DECK

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2024 Challenge Prompt
Question for October 31st : Grab a spread of your choice that you’ve been curious about… and give it a go!

Ghost Boy Tarot - Knight of Swords, The Chariot, The Lovers, Two of Cups, Justice, King of Cups

What do I want to bring into my home?

Two of Cups – Love and trust. Harmony and togetherness. A cohesive working environment, where everyone is on the same page not just with what needs to be done but with how everyone feels about each other as well.

What needs to be swept away?

Justice – Don’t worry so much about what’s fair, or what’s right. Trust the universe to balance the scales instead of trying so hard to do it yourself.  Sometimes, you just have to leave it up to the universe’s need to seek balance, rather than seeking that balance yourself.

What do the squeaky floorboards conceal?

The Lovers – A long life of love lives in every squeak of those boards, as it’s your loved one’s feet that put those squeaks there in the first place. Make sure you aren’t losing sight of that love when irritation raises its ugly head.

What has been caught in the spiders web?

King of Cups – Gideon, of course. That loyalty bordering on obsession makes him your no.1 fan of all time and your greatest source of emotional support and stability.

What does the smoke from the hearth reveal?

The Chariot – That smoke isn’t from the hearth, but from the dust kicked up in your passing. All this uncertainty and worry clouding your path right now will lift under the strength of your determination to keep going.

Where will the broom take me this season?

Knight of Swords – If you’re not paying attention? It will take you charging headlong into the past. Make sure you are facing the right direction before putting the force of your ambition to the task.

DECK USED: GHOST BOY TAROT

@Lionharts #TheOctoberTarot Season of the Witch Prompt
Question for October 31st : Tonight, I honor the witch within, my lineage, my roots, my craft and my kin. Guided by ancestors beyond the veil, what shall this night of my Sabbath unveil?

Jack-O'-Lantern Tarot - Page of Pentacles, Queen of Swords, Five of Wands, Eight of PentaclesReading Summary: You are far more skilled in your craft (Eight of Pentacles) than you realize (Page of Pentacles Rx). Don’t let naysayers’ and harsh words convince you otherwise (Five of Wands atop Queen of Swords Rx).

Take Away: Not everyone has the capacity to be supportive, especially when their own agenda is contrary to your cause.

Don’t let the negative things that others may say bring you down or distract you from the skills that you have honed so well throughout years of practice. Not everyone’s opinion matters and you can’t please everyone all the time.

DECK USED:  JACK O’ LANTERN TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I ordered pizza today, which I’ve been craving for what feels like forever.

Validation vs Abuse

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

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The Strange Beast Tarot Eight of Swords and Halloween Affirmation Cards@GlitterbyInk #OctoberCauldron24 Prompt
Cauldron of Wisdom Prompt for October 20th : Reflection

Today’s draw is the Eight of Swords combined with the affirmation “Brewing success daily. No tricks, just treats.”

Instead of ignoring your accomplishments, take time to enjoy them. You spend far too much time stewing over what might happen next or what needs to be done.  You discount your accomplishments, and instead always try to look forward toward the next moment, the next responsibility, the next thing  you need to get done.

This leaves a life filled with lackluster moments and a ton of little cuts and wounds caused by all that lack of validation. Instead, take time to reflect on your accomplishments, even the little ones that seem insignificant.  They aren’t as insignificant as you feel that they are, and by celebrating them, you draw yourself out of the cycle of abuse that ignoring them causes.

DECKS USED:  THE STRANGE BEAST TAROT AND SELF-MADE HALLOWEEN AFFIRMATION DECK

@Lionharts #TheOctoberTarot Season of the Witch Prompt
Question for October 20th :When ghoul and ghost come creeping near, what am I to embrace, not fear?

Goblin Antics CardsReading Summary: The discomfort that you feel toward cultural appropriation (Tiki Goblin) virtue warriors (Warrior Goblin) that sweep in to bash others (Goblin and Goliath) is not because you are feeling awkward, but because it is in these situations and people that you feel a sense of fear. It’s that fear that causes you that discomfort.

Take Away: Virtue signaling and aggression in the area of cultural appropriation has a tendency to piss you off and make you uncomfortable. Too often people pile on with any little thing, whether it’s the recent shifting of terms once common and now taboo, or the demand to no longer hold in your practice something that has been integral to it since childhood.

Remember to do your best to see beneath their snotty and entitled “justice warrior” or “karen-type” behaviors, and hear what lies beneath. Don’t fall into a battle with them. Just listen and do research to look for actual –legitimate– sources. Then, be open to adapting if verification can be obtained.

Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Wood Fern for Exorcising Negative Influences
Amazonite for Self Awareness and Facing Truths
Rose Quartz for Gentle Kindness to Self and Others
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: GOBLIN ANTICS CARDS

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2024 Challenge Prompt
Prompt for October 20th : Do Spread 3

The Strange Beast Tarot - Five of Coins, Ten of Wands, Five of Cups, Two of Wands, King of Cups, Judgement, Three of Swords

Smoky Quartz – How can you best clear negativity from your life and in turn gain greater stability?

Five of Coins Rx – Abandon your tendency towards feelings of scarcity. Remember that these thoughts and feelings are a habit, and thus not necessarily a reflection of the truth.

Apple – What insight is needed to improve your physical health at this time?

Ten of Wands – Remember that overwhelm is not your friend. When you overburden yourself, you break yourself down, not just mentally and emotionally, but also physically.

Chrysanthemum – Where do your defenses and boundaries need some bolstering?

Five of Cups – That negative inner narrative and natural inclination towards pessimism need more boundaries and defenses in place. Make sure that you are working for the optimistic view and leaning into positivity whenever possible, instead of falling into old negative habits.

Aquamarine – In what ways can meditation promote more calm and confidence in your life?

King of Cups – A regular meditation practice helps you in finding more calm and stability in your emotions, giving them a stronger foundation that then leads to less overall uncertainty.

Mint – What factor in your relationships needs some reevaluation and perhaps adjustment?

Three of Swords Rx – Don’t worry so much about disappointments. All relationships have ups and downs, and even those who are closest to each other have differences of opinion and beliefs. This is a natural part of relationships and not something that you need to worry about. It won’t be the death of these friendships and relationships.

Carnelian – In what ways can including more creativity in your life brighten your daily outlook?

Judgement – For you, striving to be a better person includes creativity being a part of your life. When you include more creativity in your day-to-day, it helps you in seeing yourself eventually becoming the person that you want to grow into.

Pomegranate – What wish of yours is ready to be manifested into reality at this time?

Two of Wands – Flip back in the pages of your ideas book and take a closer look at the lists of future plans that you wrote down “for a rainy day”. Now is the time to find the ones that look appealing and begin taking steps to bring them into reality.

Other elements included in this reading:
Ceramic Pine Tips Impression for Protection
Carnelian Agate for Warmth and Courage
Desert Rose for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: THE STRANGE BEAST TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I am doing what I can to not force myself into overworking, and keep my anxiety under control as the holiday rush approaches.

Hiatus is Okay… Leaving is Not

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

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The Emperor of Todd Alcott's Horror Tarot and Halloween Affirmation Cards@GlitterbyInk #OctoberCauldron24 Prompt
Cauldron of Wisdom Prompt for October 19th : Fulfillment

Today’s draw is The Emperor card combined with the affirmation “You are not a burden. We are lucky to have you.”

You receive fulfillment from being a leader, but there are times when self doubt makes it hard to see the forest through the trees.  There are times when you retreat, when depression pulls you into yourself, and you forget that there are others in your life that need you.

Remember that these others understand that these times happen, and are willing to wait, as long as you are willing to return once more once the darkness and self-doubt lifts.  Depression steals a lot of things from you, and self confidence is one of them.  It’s temporary, though.  In time, that sense of self returns and as you step back into the role of leader once you can take a deep breath once more? Your loved ones will be there waiting for you, eager for your return.

DECKS: TODD ALCOTT’S HORROR TAROT AND SELF-MADE HALLOWEEN AFFIRMATION DECK

@Lionharts #TheOctoberTarot Season of the Witch Prompt
Question for October 19th :As spooky season fills the air, what is my truth {draw a card}, what should I dare {draw a card}.

Halloween Tarot of the Trick or Treat - Three of Swords, Four of PentaclesWhat is my truth?

Three of Swords – You are a pessimist at heart. It’s just a part of your make up. This is why affirmations and other such practices that help bring an element of positivity into your life are so important, as it helps keep the depression away that is fed by your negative inner commentary and pessimistic nature.

What should I dare?

Four of Pentacles – Continue to feed into your need to hoard money. Seek the dopamine high that comes with building up a sense of stability on a financial level. It’s okay if it becomes an obsession for a while. You can work on breaking that addiction later down the road when the big expenses that aren’t under your control have passed.

DECK USED: HALLOWEEN TAROT OF THE TRICK OR TREAT

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2024 Challenge Prompt
Question for October 19th : Bewitched : What depths lie beneath the mask that you show the world?

Todd Alcott's Horror Tarot - Three of Cups, The Sun, Ten of Wands, Queen of Wands, Seven of PentaclesThree of Cups Rx, The Sun Rx, Ten of Wands – Asking for others to lend you a hand does not make you happy and is always a struggle for you.

You understand that t’s a necessary  part of life in order to keep you from hitting overwhelm and burn out, though, and do your best to not let them see your distaste in asking in the first place.

Seven of Pentacles and Queen of Wands – While you don’t enjoy asking others for help, you do enjoy sharing your passions with others.

You take pleasure in the process of teaching them your skills and watching them grow within their own unique skill sets as a result as they branch off from what you’ve taught them onto their own path.

DECK USED: TODD ALCOTT’S HORROR TAROT

@HealingThruTarot’s #httOctoberTarotChallenge2024 Prompt
Prompt for October 19th and 20th

Halloween Tarot of the Trick or Treat and Ask Your Cat OracleEnchantments to weave this magical season.

The Tower and Ignoring You – Instead of allowing your anxiety and worries over how badly things are going, step back from the emotions and away from the fears.  Just let shit fall apart while you wait on the sidelines and keep your worrying to a minimum.

A trait taught to you when you were young, you excel it being willfully ignorant when you want to be. Now is the time to practice that skill.

Darkness within I can transform with light.

Five of Cups and So Not Happening – Use that stubborn nature of yours and strength of will to ensure that you are not falling too deeply into pessimistic thinking or a defeatist attitude. Make sure you are leaning into optimism whenever possible instead of just letting that natural inclination take over and drag you deeper into the dark.

DECK USED: HALLOWEEN TAROT OF THE TRICK OR TREAT AND ASK YOUR CAT ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

Once I’d taken Ms B’s friend to the airport, pulled over and took a nap before trying to drive the rest of the way home.

Life Raft Inflation Techniques

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

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The Tarnished Tarot and Halloween Affirmation Cards@GlitterbyInk #OctoberCauldron24 Prompt
Cauldron of Wisdom Prompt for October 18th : Magick

Today’s draw is the Five of Cups combined with the affirmation “You are not Failing. Depression lies. Keep going.”

When I started doing this exercise a couple of years ago, I was extremely skeptical as to their efficacy. I have been a life-long pessimist, and my brain’s litany of negative input and abuse is pretty impressive and extensive.

The psychologist proposed using an “affirmation a day” app and meditating on each affirmation that came up, but I didn’t relate to the affirmations, and meditating on them felt stupid as hell.  So I adjusted the practice to (at first) make it a card of the day practice with tarot, the goal being to find a positive message to carry with me each day through whatever card came up that day.

Over time, I’ve done different things with the practice.  I’ve made myself a few affirmation decks that I connect with more strongly than the affirmation apps I’d tried.  I’ve picked up a few affirmation decks with the same themes so that I can connect to them easier as well.   I’ve also begun sometimes combining affirmation decks and tarot cards or oracle cards.

And the thing is?  It works.  I was shocked.   Does it take the negativity away?  Does it make me -not- a pessimist?  No.  No it doesn’t. What it does, though, is create a ray of light in the darkness.  It’s like a little extra air in a partially inflated life raft.  On its own, that air doesn’t really account for much, but when added to what’s in the raft? It helps keep me that much more afloat so that I don’t sink into the depths quite so easily.

DECKS USED:  THE TARNISHED TAROT AND SELF-MADE HALLOWEEN AFFIRMATION DECK

@Lionharts #TheOctoberTarot Season of the Witch Prompt
Question for October 18th : The weird ones chant beneath the stars, what strength lies underneath my scars?

Tarot Obscuro - Seven of Swords, The Empress, Eight of Swords, Queen of WandsReading Summary: There is strength in the stillness needed (Seven of Swords Rx) to sort out what is real and what is not (Eight of Swords). This allows you to be judicious in where you direct your energy (The Empress) and what projects you choose to support (Queen of Wands).

Take Away: One of the things you have learned through painful experiences in your past is to pause and pay attention rather than just reacting.  By listening and watching first,  you see more and that gives you a greater understanding of what’s going on and those involved.  This knowledge is helpful in making good choices not just for yourself, but sometimes for others as well.

DECK USED: TAROT OBSCURO

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2024 Challenge Prompt
Philosophical Question for October 18th : Is there an afterlife?

The Tarnished Tarot - The Hermit, The Lovers, Six of WandsReading Summary: It’s not about others experiences or pleasing others in life (Six of Wands Rx), but instead is all about you and learning to know thyself  (The Hermit), as well as the choices you’ve made and motivations behind those choices (The Lovers).

Take Away: The answer here is that the afterlife is an individual thing.  Some people experience an afterlife, and others don’t, won’t… or even, can’t.

Whether someone experience an afterlife or not, as well as what that experience may entail, is dependent upon what choices they’ve made along the way and how they’ve lived their life.

These cards indicate that whether or not there’s an afterlife is about who you are deep within yourself, how you’ve grown, and who you have become through the journey of your life and your spirit.

DECK USED: THE TARNISHED TAROT

@HealingThruTarot’s #httOctoberTarotChallenge2024 Prompt
Prompt for October 18th : Limiting thoughts that need banishing.

Norwegian Woods The Soul Oracle CardsFae Dance – The limiting thought that others opinions and wants should outweigh your own. As independent as you are, you still fall into people pleasing habits. In doing so, you put your welfare in the hands of others and allow them the ability to rip you asunder. It is a no win situation.

Blood Drop – You’ve heard all your life that it’s not a good job until you bleed on it. Who says that everything has to be -that- perfect that a blood sacrifice is required?  This limiting thought holds you back from trying things, and pushes you to overextend yourself when you do.

Conquering Crow – Vengeance and ensuring people you’ve defeated are securely put in their place is unnecessary and limits you from moving on from conflict and adversity once the dust has settled. Contrary to what you’ve been taught, it does not always keep the troublemakers from coming back to try again.

DECK USED: NORWEGIAN WOODS THE SOUL ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

This post is a catch-up post, and I’m not entirely sure what my self kindness was for the day.

Practice Makes Perfect

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Dark Angels Tarot Seven of Cups and Halloween Affirmation Cards@GlitterbyInk #OctoberCauldron24 Prompt
Cauldron of Wisdom Prompt for October 17th : Growth

Today’s draw is the Seven of Cups combined with the affirmation “Feeling worried doesn’t mean anything bad is going to happen. You are going to get through this fine; you always find a way.”

There are times when you feel overwhelmed by choices that you end up frozen and unable to make any choice at all.  During these times, those choices become a burden and they fluster us, often because we fear making the wrong one.

This paralysis happens to everyone.  It’s a part of life.  As we pause in these moments, we are plagued by fears that should seem minimal, but in the moment of our overwhelm seem insurmountable.

The message in today’s cards is that if we actually make a choice, any choice, we are able to move past that moment of frozen uncertainty and learn from it.  Sometimes it’s in that moment after the choice that we are able to see the best choice that was sitting in front of us all along.  That’s when the phrase “I changed my mind” comes in, and a course correction is needed.

When we experience this process enough times?  We begin to grow from the experience and know ourselves better, making choices becomes less intimidating,  and allowing us to better see what we want from the start instead of needing to “change our minds” after in order to get to what we wanted all along.

DECKS USED:  DARK ANGELS TAROT AND SELF-MADE HALLOWEEN AFFIRMATION DECK

@Lionharts #TheOctoberTarot Season of the Witch Prompt
Prompt for October 17th : Sisters of the Moon Full Moon Spread

Night Fairies Oracle and Dark Angels Tarot - Ace of Swords, Four of Wands, Six of Pentacles, Nine of Pentacles, Ten of Cups

Sisters of the Moon, we rise, what do I channel beneath the Moon sky?

Six of Pentacles atop Four of Wands; Patience – It’s okay to take this time to rest instead of diving in to work. The holiday rush is not yet here. There’s no need to put yourself into the headspace of the rush so soon, especially while things are still so slow. Enjoy your time at home instead of making yourself get worked up too early.

The Witch’s Moon hangs soft and low, what magic grows within her glow?

Ace of Swords and The Portal – Now is the time to communicate with those beyond the veil. The moon will amplify their voices, making them easier to hear.

The Moon reveals what hides from day, what may guide me here today?

Two of Pentacles atop Ten of Cups; The Fire Within – Make sure that you are factoring time to indulge in those things that inspire happiness and enjoyment in the day to day. These feelings help kindle the spark within you, allowing you energy and motivation to keep going.

DECK USED: DARK ANGELS TAROT AND NIGHT FAIRIES ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

This post is a catch-up post, and I’m not entirely sure what my self kindness was for the day.

Don’t Give Up

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Spooky Halloween Cat Tarot's Strength Card and Halloween Affirmation Cards@GlitterbyInk #OctoberCauldron24 Prompt
Cauldron of Wisdom Prompt for October 16th : Embrace

Today’s draw is the Strength card combined with the affirmation “You’re doing fine; don’t give up.”

The Strength card is not always about brute strength, but is most often about finesse.  It reminds us that sometimes you have to embrace a more subtle approach in order to get those that might be resistant to you on board with your goals. The first step is taming the beast… and from there, the rest is cake.

Working with others can be a frustrating thing, and working to get others to follow your lead can be not just frustrating but aggravating… but the rewards are well worth it.  Don’t give up.

DECKS USED:  SPOOKY HALLOWEEN CAT TAROT AND SELF-MADE HALLOWEEN AFFIRMATION DECK

@Lionharts #TheOctoberTarot Season of the Witch Prompt
Question for October 16th :On wild and wicked paths I stray, what hidden truth can guide my way?

Medieval Oracle of the Beasts by Libra Moon IncRaven – The Raven reminds us that things slip out of the shadows to be dealt with, not to be buried or ignored. Lean into your intuition in these matters, and use your skills with the cards to help guide your way.

Crow atop Hedgehog – Here again we see another prophecy card in the Crow, reinforcing the message of the Raven above, while the presence of the hedgehog reminds us that it is important to have boundaries in place not just for others but also for yourself. Be smart with what you allow and how you execute your ethics.

Leopard atop Heron – Make sure that you keep in mind that those that do not have your best interests at heart are unpredictable and cunning. They will use whatever mask they can to get to the goal they are aiming for with you. Instead of feeling vulnerable, reach out to others you trust to find balance, and make sure you are doing your grounding exercises to ensure you have a stable foundation under your feet.

DECK USED: MEDIEVAL ORACLE OF THE BEASTS

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2024 Challenge Prompt
Question for October 16th : What do you need to focus on for self-care for this full moon?

Spooky Halloween Cat Tarot - The Sun, Three of Pentacles, Six of Swords, DeathReading Summary: It’s time to work on moving away (Six of Swords) from the assumption that success lies in what’s yet to come (The Sun Rx), and look instead at all you have accomplished and appreciate those things (Nine of Pentacles). Don’t fight against it (Death).

Take Away: This is a recurring theme over the past few days. These cards indicate that things are going to be slow for a while yet with your business, and instead of beating yourself up about it and trying to change things, you should spend this time appreciating all that you’ve done so far. Embrace the change instead of fighting against it.  Remember, everything is temporary, even slumps and slow times.

DECK USED: SPOOKY HALLOWEEN CAT TAROT

@HealingThruTarot’s #httOctoberTarotChallenge2024 Prompt
Prompt for October 16th and 17th

78Tarot's Creatures of the Night OracleHow to ward myself from energy vampires.

Matron Witch and Bat – Use your spiritual practice and long developed skills in that area to help protect yourself. Spellwork and wards are encouraged.

This includes using divination to sense the world around you more clearly than you can with just your mundane senses and abilities.

What is withering away this full moon?

Mad Scientist – This full moon brings with it a withering away of creative inspiration. Don’t look for motivation from your creative spark right now, and make sure you aren’t giving in to feelings of guilt or restless about it. Everyone needs a break now and then.

DECK USED: CREATURES OF THE NIGHT ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

I ate out for dinner today instead of cooking.  It delayed me getting home by a bit, but was worth it because I didn’t have to cook.