Rabbit Tarot

I Choose to Stand My Ground

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

@GlitterbyInk #AprilAffirmations24 Prompt
Affirmation Prompt for April 17th: I Choose…

Rabbit Tarot - Seven of WandsSeven of Wands – I choose to stand my ground.

Confrontation is not a problem as long as it’s regarding something that you believe in or value. It doesn’t matter the adversity, you are willing to take it head on.

Although you don’t enjoy confrontation, and although there are times when it can make you anxious when you know it’s coming, your moral compass will not allow you to yield on the things that truly matter to you.

Instead, you stand your ground and deal with the fall out, as well as the opposition that is trying to change your mind and usurp your values.

DECK USED:  RABBIT TAROT

@Lionharts #TheAprilTarot Mercury Musing Prompt
Question for April 17th: In what area should I cultivate patience and nurturing energy during this time?

Quest Enlightenment OracleEmpathy – Lean into seeking perspectives that allow you to feel more empathy for yourself and others. It’s through empathy that true patience can be found and connected with, and in taking time to see things from another’s perspective and feel a taste of what they are feeling, your kindness and nurturing tendencies are brought forth to the surface.

Accept Plainness – Stop the comparisons and the judgements. Variety is the spice of life, and sometimes calm reserve is just as needed as excitement can be at other times.  Sometimes slow can be needed at some times, just as at other times speed rules the day.  Don’t forsake the other side of the coin you rarely lean into and explore, but instead take time to look into that other side of the coin more in depth.

Emptiness – Accept that depression is a part of life, and a day to day factor that needs constant care. You have to be willing to give yourself that care and do those things that help you stay afloat so that you don’t sink into the darkness so easily.

DECK USED: QUEST ENLIGHTENMENT ORACLE

#DiscordTarotholicsApr2024 Challenge Prompt
Philosophical Question for April 17th: What does it mean to live a good life?

Rabbit Tarot - Nine of Swords, Knight of Pentacles, Four of PentaclesReading Summary: Not allowing fears and anxieties to get the better of you (Nine of Swords Rx) while taking time along your journey (Knight of Pentacles) to pause and smell the roses (Four of Pentacles).

Take Away: Enjoying the little joys in life is important, as is being present in the moment.

These cards indicate that to “live a good life”, both are essential, and that they can even assist you in ensuring that you don’t let your fears and worries rule you and your life.

DECK USED: RABBIT TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

This is a catch-up post, and I don’t remember what my self-kindness was for the day.

What We Pass On

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Today’s meditation was just under ten minutes long and was a guided meditation that I had saved on my phone from the Calm app that is from last winter.  Along with the guided meditation, I included an interval timer for my piriformis stretches.

I really liked this meditation the first time I did it, and so I decided to do it again.  The topic of today’s meditation was about silence and stillness, and how even when we don’t feel like meditation does anything for us, it quietly works behind the scenes and makes changes in not just how we see and deal with life, but also with our health.

This is something that I relate to a lot.  When I do my meditation, whether it’s hit-or-miss or done regularly every day, I don’t really feel a difference in myself.  I don’t feel any different, or see any differences just on the surface level.  But other people notice the differences.  They notice I am a bit more relaxed and a bit less high strung.  They notice that I smile more and react more noticeably to music and songs that I enjoy. And my Fitbit notices as well, for doing meditation regularly significantly changes my resting heart rate by over ten bpm.  I have a feeling that if I had a blood pressure cuff, that I would see a noticeable difference there as well.

Queer Witch Tarot and Thera-Pets Emotional Support Animal CardsToday’s draw is the Three of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of heartbreak, disappointments, and hurt feelings. The key to remember in this card is that it is in the Swords suit, which is about the mind.  We are not in the Cups suit.  These emotions are about being stuck in your head, they are produced by the thoughts, opinions, and inner narrative going on up in the mind.  Thus, they live in the Swords suit instead of in the Cups.

The thing is?  People fear this card regardless of where the pain comes from.  This is because people fear pain.  Whether it’s created from out mind or not, it hurts… and that is (understandably) something that can instill fear.

The reminder here is about this card, and about life in general. It’s about realizing pain is coming, seeing or feeling a warning of what’s to come… and not flinching or shirking away from it.  It’s about understanding and accepting pain, and separating yourself from it internally so that you do not lash out at others and spread that pain onward.   Smiles are not the only thing that can be contagious, and it’s important to make sure that we spread love; not pain and not fear.

DECK USED:  QUEER WITCH TAROT AND THERA-PETS EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL CARDS

The Sacred Grounds Tarot Club Prompt
Question: How can I deepen my connection with my intuition?

Rabbit Tarot

Reading Summary: Lean into grounded empathy and nurturing (The Empress) instead of aggression (Seven of Sticks). Be generous in sharing your time and attention with others you connect strongly with (Six of Daisies atop Two of Tulips).

Take Away: Pause and pick your battles.  Make sure what you’re fighting for is really worth it, and if it really needs that rise of aggression that comes to “save the day”.  Would empathy and understanding work better?  Would working to find common ground and making a connection be a better path?   Removing aggression from the equation will help in that intuitive connection, as you will no longer be stepping into habitual behavior.

DECK USED:  RABBIT TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsApr2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: What do you need to focus on for self-care for this full moon?

Queer Witch TarotReading Summary: Slow down in the addictions (The Devil) that are scarcity driven (Five of Pentacles)… or else (The Tower).

Take Away: This is something that I have been doing over the past month or so, the slowing down on those addictions that tap into my finances.  With this full moon we are looking at a lot of things that need to be paid for.  Insurance,  the accountant, more than likely the IRS, etc.  Extra expenditures that I don’t usually need to deal with on the regular. 

This extra precaution right now is necessary, but temporary and will ease off as the month moves closer to the new moon in a couple of weeks.

DECK USED:  QUEER WITCH TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I tried to give myself plenty of small breaks today without it getting to a point where it negatively affected my work or my bed time.  I think I did pretty good.

Self Care Saturday (On a Sunday)

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These Saturday readings are (not usually) bearing in on any one thing or event in my life, as the question used is asking for a more general outlook. This is a self care exercise, and is not meant as a predictive reading… although that, too, happens on occasion.

The question is… What do I need to focus for self-care through the week ahead?

Rabbit Tarot, Carrot Cards, Nest of Light Oracle

Earth – Six of Daisies and The Double Carrot – Be generous, but only when it’s special and pulls to that mystical mysterious side within. This isn’t just about decks and money, but in all things.  This week the focus needs to be on where you’re being pulled and investing in those things that speak to the mystical and mysterious.  There will be time for more mundane pursuits later on.

Air – Ten of Daisies and Thick Fur –  You’ve spent a lot of time fostering your sense of stability and need to keep this in mind as you move about your week.  Stability is important to you, so make sure you don’t discount it as unimportant when the time comes that it should be taken under consideration in order to continue fostering its growth.

Water – Nine of Carrots atop The Fool and The Butterfly – Again we visit the theme of mystery and mystical, this time in the area of one’s emotions.  It’s important to not allow your worries and anxieties to overshadow your joy and enthusiasm for the small and beautiful mysteries in life. It’s okay to have fun.  It’s okay to enjoy having fun.

Fire – Justice and Babies – Working on balance will foster better results than pushing yourself too hard and then having to recover after.  Imbalance is not good for you, it’s unhealthy, you know this well.  That includes in the area of the things you are most passionate about.  Turn over a new leaf and try a different way.

Waning – Indigo Flame atop Yellow Flame – Plotting and planning and those things of the mundane need to be set on the back burner this week.  It’s okay to cut loose.  Let go of those weighted and heavy topics and let them slide away for a time.  They will be there waiting for you next week.

Waxing – Rainbow Ray – Healing and Awakening.  This week marks the awakening from that pit of depression and finding your footing once more.  The last tendrils of healing need time to stretch, grow, and flourish.  Make sure that you are being kind to yourself, and ensure that you are not weighing yourself down during this time when your healing is in its last delicate and tender moments.

Take Away –  Serious mundane issues need to be set aside this week.  It’s your time off and you need to rest and heal, recover, and have fun.  Don’t bother investing in anything that isn’t speaking to that deep inner voice and allowing you rest and pleasure.  Serious things can wait… they’ll be there for you when you go back to work next week.

DECKS USED:  RABBIT TAROT, CARROT CARDS, NEST OF LIGHT ORACLE

Smelling Roses… or Tulips

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Today’s meditation was skipped because I was lazy as hell and stayed in bed way longer than I had intended to.  As my first day off, I think it’s fair to say that I did a good job in lazing about, even if I didn’t actually meditate.

Rabbit Tarot and Thera-Pets Emotional Support Animal CardsToday’s draw is the Seven of Tulips (Cups) which is traditionally a representation of being presented with a wide variety of choices.  This can be a book of fortune that allows you to select exactly what you want or what is best for you, but sometimes it can also be overwhelming and lead to confusion and indecision.

What stands out to me in this card is the oh-so-very dejected angle of the rabbit’s ears.  He’s really innit now, yeah?  Completely flummoxed and without a clue just which flower he wants to eat first.  His good fortune is in the bounty of options available to him… and yet, it sometimes doesn’t feel that way when you’re having trouble choosing.

Combined with the Thera-Pets card for today, what I see here is a need to slow down. You don’t have to choose your path right this instant.  Life is not a race.  Slow down.  As long as you’re still moving forward, that’s what really matters.  Maybe the rabbit just needs to pause and take some time to smell the flowers before choosing one.

DECK USED:  RABBIT TAROT AND THERA-PETS EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL CARDS

The Sacred Grounds Tarot Club Prompt
Question: Where does my creativity need nurturing?

Seventh Sphere Tarot de Marseille

Reading Summary: Everywhere (The World) you are passionate about (Five of Wands), but with moderation and a balanced approach (Temperance).

Weirdness Side Note:  The World card here in this deck reminds today me of a vagina.  The Star card in this deck reminds me today of a uterus diagram.  Both of these connect to a need for that nurturing energy to be poured into how I deal with the conflict I’m feeling in the area of my creativity.

Take Away:  Honestly?  My creativity has been suffering since the new year.  Or… well, maybe since November. Between the holiday rush and then the MDE that followed, my creative spark has been taking a bit of a beating.  And… I admit I’ve been beating up on  myself a little bit for its lackluster enthusiasm in this area.  It’s really not like me… at least not the me I’m used to.

The need for time off and some time to recover has been pretty intense for the past few days, and what I see here is that there isn’t one particular area where I need to direct that nurturing energy, but rather I need to work on being kinder to myself and make sure as I move forward into my recovery that I take things slow so that I don’t overwhelm myself as my enthusiasm starts to respark.

DECK USED:  SEVENTH SPHERE TAROT DE MARSEILLE

#DiscordTarotolicsApr2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: How can you tap into additional inspiration this month?

Rabbit TarotReading Summary: Take things slow and smell the roses (Knight of Tulips). Take time to really delve into and enjoy (Queen of Sticks) the creative manifestation that helps root you (Ace of Daisies).

Take Away:  It’s not so much about going after things as it is about taking some time to appreciate what’s already there. Chill.  Enjoy.  Maybe wallow just a little bit.  It’s okay to have a little fun this month and it’s okay to take a break to do that.

This is a fitting message for my time off, and a reminder to allow myself to enjoy this time instead of feeling bad about not getting things done or pressuring myself to get other non-work stuff done since I’m not doing work stuff.

DECK USED:  RABBIT TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I’m actually playing catch up at the moment, so I can’t really remember what it is that I did on the 3rd for self kindness, but I bet I played with Gideon in our new realm… and that counts!

Sharing and Discretion

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IMG_3683Today’s meditation was just over ten minutes long and focused upon a spreading kindness practice where the guide takes you through a moment of reflection to get you to open up and relax before then guiding you to opening up your heart and spirit to direct loving kindness first to yourself, and then to another that you may have felt a bit of envy towards.

Everyone feels a twinge of envy now and then, and I think that’s pretty healthy.   This practice is meant to help in learning how to turn that sense of envy into a feeling of mudita, or unselfish good will and joy for that other person.

Six of Flame - Six of Wands - Stolen Child TarotToday’s draw is the Six of Flame (Six of Wands) which traditionally is a representation of harmony and growth in the area of one’s drive and ambitions.  This often translates into themes of victory and public recognition.

This is not what I see in the imagery of today’s card, though.  Instead, what stands out to me in this card is the posture of the wolf boy as he appears to actually slink through the night rather than standing tall.   The wolf is a majestic animal, proud but shy.  What I see here is the public perception rather than the truth of the inner spirit.

The question I see today in this card is… What perception are you putting forth that others are picking up on and creating a misconception about?

The message here is about making sure I am watching how I say things and what I share with others.  I’m very open here on my blog.  I also share large parts of those posts with our little Discord community, and the message here might very well have to do with our recently returned poet. It’s possible I need to consider a bit more discretion concerning what I take from here to share over there.

DECK USED:  STOLEN CHILD TAROT

#TarotForGrowthApril Challenge Prompt
Question: How can I use this opportunity to take back control? (built off yesterday’s cards)

Rabbit Tarot

Reading Summary:  I need to focus upon the transition taking place (Six of Carrots) and not allow plans for the future (Two of Sticks) to cause this opportunity for growth to slip through my fingers (Seven of Carrots).

Take Away:  Such cute bunnies.  Just sayin’. This is a reiteration of the reading done previously on this topic (yesterday).   It’s about not adding so much to my plate that it creates a distraction that pulls me away from the spiritual growth and potential connections with spirit that are under development.  It’s about making sure I don’t create a self-sabotage caused by my sense of uncertainty during this time of change.

DECK USED:  BUNNY TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsApr2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: Where does my self-worth come from?

Cry Baby TarotReading Summary: Even during difficult times (Three of Swords) I am able to adapt (Page of Pentacles) and keep my stability in place (Four of Pentacles).

Take Away:  The presence of the pentacles in these cards are an indication of the stability and security that I am able focus on and sustain even during times when difficulties and emotional strife arises.  Instead of allowing things to fall apart, learn as I go and adapt to keep that stable foundation secure.

DECK USED:  CRY BABY TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: How confident am I to make decisions?

Marshmallow Marseilles Tarot

Reading Summary: Sometimes I seek council from others (King of Cups) to find the most sustainable path forward (Seven of Pentacles), but I’m not afraid to discard what isn’t working (Eight of Cups) for the sake of finding something better (Four of Wands).

Take Away:  Very.   The King of Cups in this spread is Gideon, and what is indicated here is that although I  reach out to Gideon for perspectives besides my own, I have no problem doing what needs to be done to better a situation by making my own decisions once I feel that I have all the facts and perspectives I need.

DECK USED:  MARSHMALLOW MARSEILLE TAROT

#MidnightTarotChallenge Prompt
Question: What is my relationship with spirit? How can I improve it?

Cry Baby TarotMy Relationship With Spirit:  I’m not open enough.  I’m willing to seek the connection I want but inside I still am feeling caution and a lack of trust.  This is creating unnecessary boundaries.

How To Improve That Relationship:  My guides are waiting in the wings (Five of Cups) but I need to get out of my own head (King of Swords) and trust on my inner strength to sustain me (Strength) and keep me from erecting those boundaries (Nine of Wands again).

Take Away:  Trepidation is getting in my way and I need to have more trust in myself and in my inner voice.

DECK USED:  CRY BABY TAROT

Finding Calm and Balance

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IMG_3517Today’s meditation was just over ten minutes long and focused on how you find your center when in meditation, especially during trying times when meditation is hard to focus on in general.

A lot of meditation focuses upon the breath.  This is because the breath is very easy to focus on.   But sometimes, people have other things that are easier.  For me, although I keep my breath smooth and steady during meditation, what I really focus on the majority of the time is my solar plexus and the sensations going on in there.

This location is the seat of my intuition and my “soul” and so it is a very sensitive area that swirls with a variety of different sensations, emotions, and esoteric feelings.  It is the easiest place for me to focus.

In today’s meditation, you were encouraged to find that place that is easiest to focus upon, and remember to always come back to that place (whether it is the breath, or a part of the body… etc) when you begin to become distracted during your meditative practice… and outside of it when you are presented with chaos in day to day life.

Healing Mantra DeckToday’s draw is “Balancing the Brain” from the Healing Mantra Deck.  I’m not sure this is a good message for me, to be honest. At least not how it is phrased on the back of the card.

The concept of the card is good, though, which is to say that from reading the passage in the book, what the card is trying to express is that you do not have to sacrifice the self (or self care) in order to get things done that need to be done.

This message (as opposed to the first impression from the words on the card) is something that I relate to a lot more, as I often struggle with balancing the self (and self care) with my responsibilities and how much I pile on my plate.

The message here is in the imagery on the front side of the card.  The misty calming background and the three spheres.  It’s a reminder to seek out calm and balance in all things, and not let myself get so carried away with responsibilities that caring for myself starts to stray off to the wayside.

DECK USED:  HEALING MANTRA DECK

#TarotForGrowthApril Challenge Prompt
Question: Root Cause (built off yesterday’s cards)

Marshmallow Marseilles Tarot

Reading Summary:  My “go get’em” (Knight of Wands) has been stolen (Seven of Swords) by a need for other self care (Empress).

Take Away:  This is pretty much what I said yesterday.  I went through chemotherapy and three surgeries with my “adventure” with cancer.  That stole away my ability to do the work I needed to do with respects to keeping my weight up… and probably also stole away some of my enthusiasm in that department as well. 

DECK USED:  MARSHMALLOW MARSEILLES TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsApr2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: What illusions or false impressions are holding me back?

The Rabbit Tarot

Reading Summary:  The feeling that I’m going to end up losing everything important to me (two left cards) is creating a lack of direction (center card) that can be addressed by allowing myself to open up even more to new perspectives and take the time to really reflect on those perspectives as I receive them (two right cards).

Take Away:  I am always interested in new perspectives and I find it the most positive way for me to learn about people as a whole.  The cards indicate that what’s holding me back is that I’m still falling into a bit of a catastrophic mindset… and if I want to defeat that I need to open up more to the perspectives of others that lift me up and allow myself to internalize their messages more.

DECK USED:  RABBIT TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What builds my confidence?

Isidore Tarot

Reading Summary:  New passion projects (Ace of Wands) that allow me not just to delve into a project but include other’s input into them (Three of Cups) as well, so that it becomes less about me and more about balancing into things the contribution from many (Six of Coins).

Take Away:  As much as I love my passions and projects, what really makes them special is when I can get input from others along the way.  Doing something completely on my own without that input is a little too much seclusion in the process, and the end result ends up with me I feeling a bit hesitant about offering the finished project for public consumption.

DECK USED:  ISIDORE TAROT

#MidnightTarotChallenge Prompt
Question: How can I feel more grounded at this time?

IMG_3525

Reading Summary:  Nurture and validate your emotions and feelings of contentment (first two cards) and lean into the strength of your skills and abilities (center card) so that you can help yourself in lifting up your optimism instead of allowing it to be smothered by bad habits (last two cards).

Take Away:  The path to finding a better level of grounding at this time is to foster optimism with in myself.  This is not my strong suit by any means, and the cards have given me a path to finding that optimism by making sure I am being nurturing and validating to my emotions and focusing on the things that allow me to feel content and happy.  One of the ways to do that is to make sure I’m leaning into the skills and abilities that I have confidence in.

DECK USED:  RABBIT TAROT