Today’s meditation was a fifteen minute self-guided visualization session while listening to a loop of Kip Mazuy’s Bird Song track.

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Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is the Temperance card, which is traditionally a representation of moderation, balance, slowing down, practicing patience, and can at times represent a connection between the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.

The Temperance card has then been combined with an affirmation from the In This Moment Mindful Affirmation Cards, which says, “In this moment, I lovingly forgive myself and others.”

It is hard to let go of unreasonable expectations. When you’ve spent the majority of your life pushing yourself to do more and be more every single day, it is hard to let go of that mentality and forgive yourself for doing less.

I feel like in this moment of transition between unreasonable expectation and grounded performance, that the forgiveness should be lain at the feet of the abuse you have done to yourself up to this point by expecting so much more than as reasonable. What I find, though, is that in order to reach that part of myself that has been abused, I first have to forgive myself for “slacking off”.

Yes, I know that it’s not actually slacking off, it’s reevaluation of expectations and being more reasonable in how far we’re willing to push ourselves. But in the moment it does feel like slacking off. And, in my experience, I find that this needs to be forgiven first in order to reach that part of myself abused by previous behavior and find it open to giving forgiveness as well.

The message in today’s Temperance card and affirmation is a reminder that easing up on your expectations of yourself is not a failure. It’s not something frivolous, nor is it slacking off. It’s called self-care… and you need to forgive yourself for needing self-care first and foremost, or the guilt may keep you from being able to make the transition stick.

DECKS USED:  OTHERKIN TAROT AND IN THIS MOMENT MINDFUL AFFIRMATION CARDS

@lightningildflower‘s August Reflections Challenge
Prompt for August 26th and 27th

Clarifying – What confusion is starting to clear?

King of Swords and Oceanic Manta Ray

You’re beginning to see more clearly that you don’t have to be a harsh task master in order to get things done. By focusing on grace, and prioritizing it over blunt force, you are able to get more done and at the same time charm others in the process.

Sun conjunct Mercury – What have I been overthinking lately?

Four of Swords Rx and Ocellate River Ray

You focus far too much upon what you’re not getting done during times of rest and solitude. Even during these times of rest, you aren’t losing full sight of what’s going on around you, so there is no need to be worrying over the things that can take care of themselves for a little while while you recoup.

Other elements included in this reading:
Pressed Pansy Flowers for Hearing the Heart More Clearly
Foraged Parmeliaceae Lichen for a “Breath of Fresh Air”
Desert Rose for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: FINE LINE TAROT AND EVY BENITA TRADING CARDS

#DiscordTarotholicsAug2026 Challenge
Prompt for August 27th : What do I need to focus on for self-care for this month’s full moon?

Reading Summary: Be kind to yourself (Six of Pentacles) in the face of disappointment (Three of Swords) or discomfort (Five of Pentacles).

Take Away: It’s important to remember that it’s not the end of the world if things don’t go as planned. Give yourself a little bit of grace in these moments instead of beating yourself up for them (as you have been over the past week).

Holding onto these more negative thoughts and perspectives will just get in your way.

Instead of focusing on what went wrong and the potential repercussions that may arise from what went awry (such as scarcity and other hurdles), direct your focus toward bringing things back into balance with a healthy dose of adaptability and forgiveness.

Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Wood Fern for Exorcising Negative Influences
Black Spruce Needles to Boost Self-Confidence and Positive Thinking
Dried Rosebuds for Potential and Beauty Waiting to Unfold
Dried Purple Heather Flowers for Independence and Luck
Rose Quartz for Gentle Kindness to Self and Others
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: OTHERKIN TAROT

I had peanut butter jelly instead of lasagna leftovers because I didn’t want to have to try and tackle heartburn or acid reflux later.