questions

Ethony’s 31 Days of Tarot 2019 (Part 2)

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Wheel

It’s time to return to Ethony’s 31 Days of Tarot challenge. As previously discussed in Part 1 of this series, I’m doing these a bit at a time instead of one a day.

  1. Top 5 decks on your wish list now
    Tyldwick Tarot, Delos Tarot,  Les Adorables Tarot, Liminal Tarot (2015 Version), Tarot of the Hidden Folk. These are in order, incidentally, although the Delos and Tyldwick sometimes change places with each other depending on my mood.
  2. Tarot goals 2019
    I really just want to get back on track with my spirituality. I feel a bit like a Christian that’s been “skipping church”. You know, they’re still a Christian, but not practicing? The last two years, that’s been me with my spirituality. Tarot is (and has always been) a part of that spirituality, and my goals for returning to practicing my faith and my tarot practice are intertwined.
  3. Tarot decks that you want to work with more in 2019
    I have a handful of new decks in my collection this year that I’m excited to work with and get to know better. I also have a few that I haven’t used in years that I would like to reconnect with. That list includes (but is not limited to) the Cucoloris Tarot, Alchemical Tarot, True Black Tarot, Anima Mundi Tarot, Crow Tarot, Anna K Tarot, Sacred Circle Tarot (which I recently did a major modification on), and Mary El Tarot.
  4. Oracle decks that you want to work with more in 2019
    Like with the tarot decks listed above, this list is not comprehensive but more of a sampling of decks from a longer list. They include the Moonology Oracle, Roots and Wings Oracle, Empty Cup Oracle, Hedgewitch Botanical Oracle, and the White Hare Wisdom Oracle.
  5. Have you ever dealt with Impostor Syndrome in your Tarot practice?
    I had to look this term up.

    Impostor syndrome is a psychological pattern in which an individual doubts his or her accomplishments and has a persistent internalized fear of being exposed as a “fraud”. Despite external evidence of their competence, those experiencing this phenomenon remain convinced that they are frauds, and do not deserve all they have achieved. Individuals with impostorism incorrectly attribute their success to luck, or as a result of deceiving others into thinking they are more intelligent than they perceive themselves to be. – Wikipedia

    I’ve had my fair share of times when my self confidence was at its worst and my insecurities were a torment I couldn’t seem to escape. That said? I don’t think I’ve ever experienced this particular issue. I work damn hard for what I have from my physical comforts to my education, and everything in between.

And there you have it, another handful of questions from Ethony’s 31 Days of tarot complete. Like last time, I’ll come back in a few days to make another post to continue the challenge.

Ethony’s 31 Days of Tarot 2019 (Part 1)

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dh18ou2z

So each year Ethony (which is a blog I follow) does a “31 Days of Tarot” challenge in January. This is mostly done by YouTubers that put their replies in vids up on the site. I don’t use YouTube, but I wanted to try the challenge this year.

That said? Between my very challenging beginning to 2019 and the depression that soon followed and stole nearly two months from me, I’m just now finding myself in a place where I can attempt this challenge. I figure better late than never, right?

Instead of doing one a day, I’m going to group them into a few at a time. There may be days I only do one (or none). There may be days I do five or more. I’m not on any huge time schedule, really, so I figure I can just do them at my own pace.

So, here we go…

  1. 2019 – Reading – Energy – Major Lesson
    The major lessons in my Year Ahead spread is that there is going to be a lot of struggle and strife going on this year and that, as long as I continue to strive for balance in the different aspects of my life and within myself, everything will work out in the end.
  2. Top 5 Tarot Decks of 2018 (ones you purchased and or released in 2018)
    Tarot of the Hidden Realm is at the very top of this list. I’ve had a handful of decks that I really connected with, but this is the strongest I’ve ever experienced. From the moment of the unboxing, I was connecting with this deck on a whole new level than any other deck I’ve ever used.
    Cucoloris Tarot – I’m not sure if I bought this at the end of 2018 or beginning of 2019. The moment I saw this deck I fell for it, and when it arrived i was not disappointed on any level. There’s something about the lines and use of color in this deck that really draws my eye.
    Japanese Myth Tarot – I love the artwork and the color scheme. I haven’t done a lot with this deck since receiving it, but I have plans to explore it further in the near future.
    Linestrider Tarot – I actually bought this deck because the artwork was a good match to the Hedgewitch Oracle Deck. I was curious how they would play together and they definitely do in my opinion. Surprisingly, all the white space in both decks compliments rather than being overwhelming.
    Shadowscapes Tarot – I resisted buying this deck for a long time, but curiosity finally won out and I did end up getting one. I’ve flipped through and admired the artwork on the cards, but I haven’t used it for readings yet. It feels very “light and airy” to me, and I require a certain head-space to work with decks that have that sort of energy.
    Smith-Waite Centennial Tarot – A research deck. I have the original 1971 version of the Rider, but I felt the need for a newer version for reference material.
  3. Top 5 Oracle Decks of 2018 (ones you purchased and or released in 2018)
    Angels and Ancestors Oracle Deck – I use this deck for a seasonal spread this year, and I’ve been really happy with the results and I find them to be a remarkably easy read. I also like that the angels in this deck aren’t the traditional take on angels or cupids, which is something that can often really turn me off on a deck that incorporates angels in the artwork.
    Hedgewitch Botanical Oracle – As a lover of the green, this one was irresistible to me, and I’ve enjoyed working with it since its arrival in my collection. I have plans to do a deep dive on this deck at some point and do some pretty hefty research into it beyond my science-based botanical education and into the more hedge-witch side of things.
    Kuan Yin Oracle – This deck is all about the artwork for me, which is beautiful but does not necessarily meet up with my interpretation and understanding of Kuan Yin. That said, I choose to view this deck more as a general “goddess” deck than a Kuan Yin deck, and that works for me. These cards have a soft, warm feeling to their energy, and I have a couple of tarot decks I want to try pairing them with, but I have a feeling they will work better as an affirmation deck.
    I could be wrong… but I think that these are the only Oracle decks that I purchased in 2018.
  4. Top 5 Tarot Books of 2018 (ones you purchased and or released in 2018)
    Holistic Tarot, Tarot Reversals (which was helpful in my 2018 year long in-depth study of the WildWood deck), Guidebook to the Tarot of the Hidden Realm, Modern Tarot: Connecting with Your Higher Self through the Tarot, and Mary K. Greer’s 21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card.
    To be honest, I don’t get a good deal of time to sit down with books for the pleasure of just reading. This means that I’m part way through each one of these books rather than having finished any one of them cover to cover. The exception to this is the Tarot Reversals, which I have not read cover to cover but I have read in its entirety by skipping around from place to place through my use of it as reference material.
  5. The card that stalked you in 2018
    I didn’t have a single stalker card in 2018. I had three. Three queens, to be exact. The Queen of Cups, Queen of Pentacles, and Queen of Swords. Although two of the queens have since eased off in their constant attention, the Queen of Swords continues to follow me to date this year.
  6. The deck you finally crossed off your wish list in 2018
    The Anna K Tarot. I stalled on buying this one for a long time. I’m not sure I can explain why I waited so long other than it just didn’t feel like the time was right. A few videos on BohoTarot’s YouTube channel ended up tipping the scales for me, though. She has some really great video work, clear pictures and nice aesthetic that really set off the cards and pushed this deck’s long-lingering existence on my wish list into a purchase.
  7. Most worked with Tarot deck in 2018 and why
    I did a lot of work with the WildWood Tarot in 2018. I found the differences and contrasts between it and my own tarot teachings very interesting, and it took me a lot of time to explore this deck as it’s quite a bit different than the number/suit basis that I’ve been using for the last 20 years. I did a year-long deep dive into this deck in 2018. My only regret? I wish I’d journalled the journey, and I believe I made a mistake in not having done so.

I think that’s it for today.  I’ll get a few more done and make another post with Part 2 in the near future.

 

Random Stuff About Me

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I swiped this from #millenniallifecrisis, who swiped it from something called “Vogue’s 73 Questions”. I thought it had some fun and interesting questions, so I decided to do it myself.

So here’s mine:

  1. What was the name of the first person you ever had a crush on? Why did you like them? Jonathan Brandis. Honestly? I never learned or knew a damn thing about the actor, but I was totally enamored with his character Lucas on SeaQuest DSV. Not only was he so very cute, but smart and empathetic as well. He’s also the only celebrity crush I’ve ever had.
  2. What is one thing you regret having done or not done in your life? Getting my degree. That said, I’m not entirely sure why I regret this when I’m happy with my life the way it is and wouldn’t be using it anyway. It just seems like a waste that all that time , effort, and money that didn’t come to any sort of fruition.
  3. Which parent do you identify with the most? I used to think my mother, but as I’ve gotten older and gotten to know my mother more and more after my father’s death, I’ve come to realize that I take after my father. The need for balance. The moral compass. I may not agree with his ideas and behavior on many things, but beneath those differences, there is a similar stubborn foundation.
  4. What do you think you cook or bake the best? Teriyaki sauce. Rice.
  5. If you could change your first name what would it be? Leaf.
  6. Can you hula hoop? I have no idea. I’ve never tried.
  7. What embarrasses you the most in front of other people? When they cringe at my facial scar. I can handle the staring, but it bothers me when someone shirks from it, cringes, or grimaces.
  8. Have you considered running for president? HELL no.  
  9. If you had to choose one thing you were most passionate about, what would it be and why? Balance. With creativity coming in at a very close second.
  10. Who are you most envious of—real or fictional—and why? I don’t really envy other people. Situations, sometimes. But not people.
  11. Where is the most beautiful place on earth and why? Northwestern Washington state. You have mountains, lakes, rivers, rainforests, beaches, the ocean and lots of inlets. Lots of green, lots of water, lots of nature, and lots of rain.
  12. Are ghosts real? Yes. 
  13. Are aliens real? Yes. It is statistically impossible that they don’t exist. Whether or not they fly space ships or are intelligent (by human standards)? That’s debatable.
  14. How old is the most expired item in your fridge? Good thing you asked about the fridge and not the freezer. The most expired item in my fridge is a tub of gochujang that expired in Oct 2018. 
  15. What are your favorite style of underwear? Boxer briefs.
  16. What’s the saddest song you’ve ever heard? Mad World by Gary Jules and Michael Andrews. 
  17. How about the sweetest song? I Will Follow You Into The Dark by Death Cab For Cutie. 
  18. Do you know how to play dominoes? I do not.
  19. What’s under your bed? Boxes of antique dishes. 
  20. Have you ever prank called someone? I don’t think so. 
  21. 100 kittens or 3 baby sloths? If it means I have to take care of them? Sloths. 100 vs 3… it’s all in the math. 
  22. Are you proud of what you’re doing with your heart and time right now? I am proud that my heart belongs to Gideon. I’m happy with how I spend most of my time.
  23. Why or why not? As for my time… I guess I could be doing more good for myself and others, but I could be doing a hell of a lot less good too. It’s a happy medium. As for Gideon… he’s amazing. Top to bottom, inside and out.
  24. How many bones have you broken? I’ve lost count, although to be fair I’ve ‘broken’ more joints than I have bones.
  25. Have you ever won anything? Big or small? I won $15 bucks at the casino yesterday.
  26. If you could buy one material thing, and money was not an issue, what would it be? A larger home (or the condo next door and renovate it and mine into one big condo). 
  27. What’s your favorite movie from your childhood? Escape to Witch Mountain
  28. What food will you absolutely not, under any circumstances, eat? Sauerkraut.
  29. What’s the best way to comfort you when you’re having a really terrible day? Cuddles from my cat Luna and time with Gideon.
  30. Has anything/anyone every saved your life before? Yes.  
  31. Would you ever adopt a child? Under the right circumstances… yes. 
  32. What is one thing you’re embarrassed to admit you want to try? I can’t think of anything.
  33. If you were a cake which cake would you be? Raspberry vanilla swirl.
  34. What is the most important material possession you have and why? Pluto (stuffed dog). 
  35. What is the most important memory you have and why? My sister and I comforting each other after our first day of school. It had been a crappy experience for both of us.
  36. When was the last time you cried? Three days ago.
  37. How old was your mother when she had you? 26
  38. Which famous person would you like to be BFFs with? I can’t think of anyone. Fame really isn’t something I’m interested in being around. I guess I’d be open to a famous friend if I could be that secret refuge of normalcy for them, but otherwise? No thank you.
  39. Is there something you wish you had said sorry for but never did? I’m sure there are plenty of things I’d feel that way about if I could remember any of them.
  40. Have you been on your first date? Define “date”. *LOL* I have never been out on a “traditional date” (at least, not that I’m aware of) with the intention of it going anywhere besides a one night stand.
  41. If someone wanted to really understand you, what would they read, watch, and listen to? I think they could get a pretty good idea of me from my literary RP with Gideon, maybe with additional access to my IM history.
  42. Have you ever found a writer who thinks just like you? if so, who? Not entirely, no. Gid and I do have a good amount of synchronicity tho. And of course I run across writers now and then that I can agree with on certain topics or ideas.
  43. If you could, would you take back your last kiss? Hell no. I would never take back any kiss I’ve given to him.
  44. Who would you like to see in concert? I’m not a concert person. Too loud and chaotic.
  45. What was the last concert you saw? Dave Matthews Band
  46. What was the last thing that made you laugh? A story about a friend of mine on a camping trip. 
  47. What are you craving right now? Ice cream.
  48. Have you ever been cheated on? No
  49. Do you believe in true love? Yes. 
  50. Favorite weather? Overcast and rainy… aka. gray days.
  51. Do you want to get married? Not really.
  52. What’s your favorite pasta dish? Chicken Florentine lasagna. 
  53. What color do you really want to dye your hair? I don’t.
  54. Are you a morning person? Hell no. 
  55. Tell us a story of something that happened to you after 3AM when you were with friends. Jer snores like a freight train when he’s drunk and I once used his gaping, snoring maw as target practice for my water pistol.
  56. Who was the last person you gazed at the stars with? My sister. 
  57. What was your biggest fear as a kid? is it the same today? Spiders. And hell yes. 
  58. Think of a person. What song do you associate with them? I Will Possess Your Heart by Death Cab For Cutie
  59. What are some of your worst habits? Self-judgment and self-recrimination.
  60. Describe a good friend of yours without using their name or gendered pronouns. Very submissive and yet really wants to be seen by others (read everyone) as more dominant than they really are. Has a good heart, but is too much of a self-absorbed ass.
  61. Is there anything you should be doing right now but aren’t? Fixing my mother’s CD burner drive on her PC.
  62. What’s one of the cutest things someone has ever done for you? Gideon enjoyed watching me splurge on a tarot deck the other day. I count this as done -for- me because his enjoyment made me feel good when he shared how he felt about it with me.
  63. Are you planning on getting tattoos? I have considered a small semicolon a few times, but no.
  64. List some songs that resonate to your soul whenever you hear them. The songs previously mentioned in this survey. Suicide is Painless by Johnny Mandel (music) and Michael Altman (lyrics). Knights In White Satin by the Moody Blues. One by Three Dog Night. Singularity by BTS. Now Is Good by Kim JaeJeong. I could go on for a long ass time on this one.
  65. If you were presented with two buttons, one that allows you to go 5 years into the past, the other 5 years into the future, which one would you press? Neither. There is nothing I would change, and I have no interest in looking ahead.
  66. What do you do when you’re sad? Sleep
  67. What are some things you do when you can’t sleep? Work on jewelry projects. Play games on my phone. Masturbate.
  68. Who is the last person you told a secret to? Gideon
  69. What’s the best piece of advice you ever received? Go read “The Dash” by Linda Ellis.
  70. What’s your favorite food? Vanilla Orange Swirl ice cream with Cheetos Puffs
  71. What’s your secret dream? Financial freedom.
  72. Do you have trust issues? Yes.
  73. Do you believe in soulmates? I didn’t until I met Gideon. Now? Yes.

Self Reflection on Prejudice

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Suk1

I’ve never really considered myself a prejudice guy, yeah? I mean I guess I am in some ways, but it never really stood out to me until I decided to hire this new worker to come in and work for me as a housekeeper and helper.

I feel all kinds of awkward about him being East Indian… or, maybe you’re right and it’s about the whole “it’s a strange guy that will be coming into your house and touching your things. I know you’ve had housekeepers before but they were also females”, thing.

But what does it matter if the person working for me is a guy or a girl as long as they do the job? Hell, what does it matter if they’re East Indian or whatever, for that matter?

It doesn’t.

So the question is… it either of these things? Neither of these things? Am I making excuses for that internal instinct of mine that likes to speak up a warning when someone is bad news?

Suk2

Now that I think of it, I wonder if it’s neither the guy thing or the East Indian thing. It has that “fighting my instinct” feeling.

Damnit.

Considering that I know better than to ignore my instincts, I guess that means I’m still looking for a housekeeper and helper.

Favorites… 132 Questions

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Gideon – Linette insisted I fill this out.  And, since I had to fill it out, I figured I might as well share it with you.  I’m pretty sure most of this stuff you already know, but… here goes.

Food

food

Favorite Restaurant – Denny’s
Favorite Fast Food Restaurant – Jack In The Box (their Oreo shakes are the BOMB)
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor – Chocolate
Favorite chocolate candy? Reece’s Peanut Butter Cup Minis
Favorite Fruity Candy? Creme Savers Hard Candy in Orange & Creme
Favorite dish at Olive Garden? Chicken con Broccoli
Favorite kind of sushi? Sake Nigiri
Favorite Asian dish? Bibimbap with Bulgogi
Favorite Italian dish? Chicken Florentine Lasagna
Favorite food of all time? White Rice
Favorite way to cook a steak? Medium Rare
Favorite pasta dish? Fettuccine Alfredo
Favorite cookie? Chocolate Chip (homemade only)
Favorite fast food French fries? McDonalds
Favorite cereal? Capt’n Crunch w/ Crunchberries
Favorite breakfast food? Eggs
Favorite pizza toppings? Pineapple, Pepperoni, Mushrooms, Black Olives, Canadian Bacon
Favorite fruit? Oranges
Favorite vegetable? Broccoli
Favorite dessert? Ice Cream
Favorite comfort food? Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup
Favorite way to eat bacon? Crispy but not Burnt
Favorite thing at a buffet? Shrimp (as long as it’s deveined)
Favorite dish at Thanksgiving? Deviled Eggs
Favorite cake? Raspberry Swirl
Favorite ice cream sundae toppings? Crushed Oreos, Chocolate Syrup
Favorite thing to cook? Stir-Fry
Favorite alcoholic drink? Vodka
Favorite non-alcoholic drink? Ice Water

TV and Movies

movies

Favorite classic movie? The Women (1939)
Favorite movie quote? “Look at me, jerking off in the shower. This will be the high point of my day. It’s all downhill from here.” – American Beauty
Favorite 80’s movie? Breakfast Club
Favorite Family Guy character? Stewie
Favorite cartoon? Vintage Looney Tunes
Favorite scary movie? Night of the Living Dead (1968)
Favorite movie you’re embarrassed to like? A Cinderella Story (young Chad Michael Murray is HOT)
Favorite chick flick? 10 Things I Hate About You
Favorite Leonardo Dicaprio movie? Catch Me If You Can (2002)
Favorite actress over 50? Gena Rowlands and Betty White (it’s a tie)
Favorite Marvel movie? The Incredible Hulk (2008)
Favorite TV show? Big Bang Theory
Favorite cancelled TV series? Perry Mason
Favorite YouTube video? Screaming sheep

Music

music

Favorite instrument? Cello
Favorite band? Dave Matthews Band (runners up include Matchbox 20, Deathcab For Cutie, JYJ, and Silversun Pickups)
Favorite solo music artist? Kim JaeJoong (although Bi Rain is a close runner-up)
Favorite music genre? Indie
Favorite style of dance? Ballroom Freestyle
Favorite boy band? Big Bang
Favorite 80’s song? Love Song by The Cure
Favorite cover song? Love Song by 311
Favorite lyrics? The first stanza of I Will Possess Your Heart by Silversun Pickups
Favorite Song? Everybody Knows by Leonard Cohen
Favorite one-hit wonder? Touched by Vast

Travel and Fun

travel

Favorite state you’ve visited? Montana (actually, Washington, but I live there so it’s not a “visit”)
Favorite thing about America? Lack of Authoritarian dictatorship
Favorite kind of vacation? Cabin in the Rainforest (w/ a safe, accessible water source)
Favorite car? Toyota Prius
Favorite way to travel? Driving
Favorite beach? Kalaloch, WA
Favorite hiking trail? Mt Rose in the Olympic National Park
Favorite ride at a carnival? The Zipper
Favorite thing to do at the beach? Wading in the shallows
Favorite United States national park? Glacier National Park (Montana)

Animals and Nature

nature

Favorite dinosaur? Velociraptor
Favorite breed of dog? Labrador
Favorite flower? Nerium oleander
Favorite bird? Hummingbird
Favorite exhibition at the aquarium? Sharks (followed closely by the jellyfish)
Favorite type of bear? Black
Favorite sea creature? Sharks
Favorite color rose? Dark red
Favorite small mammal? Sugar glider
Favorite big cat? Snow leopard
Favorite animal? Any of the big cats
Favorite reptile? Black caiman
Favorite thing in the sky? Rain clouds
Favorite thing about a rainy day? The way it makes the world feel clean.
Favorite thing about spring? New growth
Favorite natural disaster? Volcano
Favorite season? Fall

Sports

sports

Favorite sport? Swimming
Favorite Olympic sport? Ice Skating
Favorite sport to watch in person? Hockey

Childhood Memories

childhood

Favorite children’s show? Sesame Street
Favorite childhood memory? Learning how to play Gin Rummy with L, TJ, and Z on a camping trip.
Favorite board game? Scrabble
Favorite toy as a child? Water
Favorite thing about school? Out of the house and away from home.
Favorite Halloween costume you’ve worn? The Gender Switch with Lins. I felt silly but very fucking pretty.
Favorite playground fixture? Merry-go-round
Favorite lunchbox snack? Samgak Kimbap
Favorite video game? Dragonfire (Atari 2600)
Favorite superhero? The Hulk

Books and Literature

books

Favorite Winnie the Pooh character? Eeyore
Favorite nursery rhyme? Ladies First by Shel Silverstein
Favorite fairy tale? Sleeping Beauty
Favorite Dr. Seuss book? The Giving Tree
Favorite Book? Little Brothers by Rick Hautala
Favorite Book Series? Bunnicula
Favorite Poem? The Dash by Linda Ellis
Favorite Artist of All Time? Alphonse Mucha
Favorite Current Artist? Yevgenia Watts
Favorite Piece of Artwork? MC Escher’s Relativity
Favorite Author? Stephen Hawking
Favorite Fiction Genres? Paranormal Romance, Apocalypse scenarios (zombies, pandemics, natural disasters)
Favorite Quote? Creative activity could be described as a type of learning process where teacher and pupil are located in the same individual. – Arthur Koestler

Other Random Stuff

questions

Favorite color? Green
Favorite perfume/cologne? Old Spice (original) – not on me
Favorite soap scent? unscented
Favorite shampoo? Pantene
Favorite article of clothing? well worn jeans
Favorite place for a piercing? Helix/Pinna/Auricle
Favorite piece of jewelry? Gideon’s collar
Favorite luxury brand? Joico (at least, it’s luxury to me)
Favorite brand of toilet paper? Charmin
Favorite candle scent? Nag Champa
Favorite extracurricular activity? Roleplay with Gideon
Favorite day of the week? Saturdays
Favorite holiday? Samhain
Favorite way to communicate? IMs and Texts
Favorite kind of house? Large ranch style
Favorite car color? Gray
Favorite thing to do when you’re sick? Sleep
Favorite place to meet up with friends? At home
Favorite hobby? Jewelry Design (a job can also be a hobby, right?)
Favorite way to cheer you up? Water (whether rain, or swimming, or in the shower, etc)
Favorite thing to look forward to? Snow
Favorite kind of gift to receive? The thoughtful kind
Favorite Christmas present? Copper Wok (Gift from Gideon)
Favorite way to relax? SLEEP
Favorite place to shop? thrift stores

OKAY!   Done.   So… did I miss anything?