#reapandsowtarot

Seeking Out The Good Stuff

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Today’s meditation was skipped in preference for a 2 1/2 hour nap.   I had really only planned on an hour, but it turned out to be more than double that.  Which, since it’s Tuesday, is fine.  It just meant that I got things done around the house a bit later than planned.

Moonroot Tarot and Flower Fortune CardsToday’s draw is the Five of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of apathy, boredom, pessimistic mentality, and discontent.

The image in this card is very relatable to me.  Here we have a scene where snow is falling in the background, and the figure in the image is sitting there like “oh great, it’s snowing” in a very negative way.

The thing is?  I love the snow.  Yes, it’s inconvenient and can be dangerous, but it’s also beautiful and fresh and fun… and in this part of the world, quite unusual. I could understand the negative attitude coming from people that deal with snow for months on end.  But here?  I don’t understand those that can’t see the beauty through the fear or discomfort.

These people stay inside, refuse to even go out for a walk, let alone a drive, and generally just complain the entire time about the weather.  But what is really holding them back from appreciating what’s going on around them?   It’s fear.  It’s the fact that some people can’t drive in the snow, and sometimes you slip and fall in the snow.  They focus on the discomfort, on the fear, and on the negative aspects rather than sinking into the positive and joyful aspects of the experience.

As the Flower Fortune card says for today, “If you are afraid to shake the dice, you’ll never roll a six”.  The “roll a six” for those that don’t know (since I had to look it up) is about the game of craps and lady luck helping you to win.  The message in these cards is that if you spend too much time focusing on the negative in a situation or your fear, then you loose out on the opportunity to actually find something fun, beautiful, or good in the whole situation.

DECK USED:  MOONROOT TAROT AND FLOWER FORTUNE CARDS

Raven Willow Tarot’s Emotional Exploration Prompt
Questions for May 25th and 26th

Seventh Sphere RWS TarotWhat role does relaxation play in my life?

It’s a healthier way forward (Six of Swords) into an entire new way of life (The World) where balance is the focus, and self-care and work are more evenly distributed (Two of Pentacles).

Over the past two years, I’ve been working hard at creating a new balance in life where I’m not constantly on a cycle of burnout and recovery.

In order to create this new balance, the key lies in the amount of rest and relaxation I allow myself to have, and in making sure that this relaxation is scattered throughout the day to day instead of “saved up” to use for recovery from burn out.   Because if the relaxation is scattered throughout the day to day, you never end up hitting burnout in the first place.

How can I enhance relaxation in my life?

Gideon may be greedy, but he also has your best interests and welfare at heart (King of Cups). Look back at the things in your life (Six of Cups) that have breathed fresh air into your inspiration and enthusiasm (Page of Wands)… Do more of those.

Gideon is eager to help you find that balance, and works hard to make sure you treat yourself well.  You need to listen to him and take these efforts to heart, as well as his suggestions to help you in finding and maintaining that balance. He watches over you, and watches everything you do with a keen eye, and can catch your slip ups often before you do.

Make sure that a part of your relaxation process includes those things you enjoy.  It doesn’t always have to be about sleep, but it needs to be about distancing yourself through small acts of personal kindness from the stress and pressure of work… and the stress and pressure you put on yourself concerning your responsibilities.

DECK USED:  SEVENTH SPHERE RWS TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsMay2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: What do you need to focus on for self-care for this full moon?

Moonroot TarotReading Summary: Those around you that you support (Six of Pentacles) are seeking new ways to return the favor (Page of Pentacles).  Don’t turn them away in your stubbornness (Eight of Swords Rx).

Take Away: Although the relaxation mentioned in your previous reading is an important part of finding a new and healthier balance in your life, so is making sure that you are staying open to the help others are offering.  Don’t reject out of pride or stubbornness.  Allow them to try, teach them how to help you, and share the load instead of carrying it all on your own shoulders.

DECK USED:  MOONROOT TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I took a nice long nap today.  I didn’t realize how badly I needed it until I woke up and felt so much better afterward.

Fertile Soil

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IMG_1743Today’s meditation was just over ten minutes long and was another of the guided meditations from the Calm app combined with an interval timer for stretches.  I don’t really do meditations on order days, but I really felt the need today so I went ahead and did it anyway.

Today’s meditation was about making sure that you are taking care of yourself and doing the things needed to keep yourself healthy and happy, because if you want to help others you have to help yourself first.  If there’s no energy or if you’re burnt out, you’re not operating at your best… and that means you’re not giving your best either.

The Alchemist's Garden Tarot and Flower Fortune CardsToday’s draw is the Tower card, which is traditionally a representation of tearing down established structures and patterns in order to make room for something new to be built in its place.  This type of change comes on suddenly, is chaotic, and can often be frightening or painful.

The Iboga plant (Tabernanthe iboga) is a psychoactive plant that is highly toxic and commonly used in certain areas of the world to bring about visions and near death experiences.  It is my understanding that through the process of these NDEs it is believed that you tear down you shed your past, your sicknesses, or your life that is not working for you, and return with fresh and fertile soil to build from moving forward.

Combined with the Flower Fortune Card, which states “Never fear what you do not know”, what I see here is a message about that process of tearing down to re-build. Sometimes we invest a lot… a lot… in making something work in our lives.  And it can feel horrible when that thing just isn’t working, or maybe it did work for a long time, but isn’t anymore.  When those things are dismantled or torn out of our lives, the change we struggle with isn’t about losing those things usually.  It’s about the unknown that lies ahead.

The message in today’s cards is a reminder.  Don’t allow fear to keep you from tearing down what isn’t working and starting fresh.  Starting again puts all the control in your hands, and fertile soil in your life with which to grow something new and beautiful from.

DECK USED:  THE ALCHEMIST’S GARDEN TAROT AND FLOWER FORTUNE CARDS

The Sacred Grounds Tarot Club Prompt
Topic for May 23rd thru 25th:

Tarot RenardMind – Forefront of Consciousness
Four of Swords, Eight of Swords atop Page of Swords

You are fooling yourself if you think that you are looking at rest in a healthy manner. You’re not getting enough and you know it. Open your eyes and look closer.

Body – Subconscious
The Tower and The High Priestess

That inner critic needs to go. It’s holding you back and even your intuition is being affected.

Spirit – Deepest Desire
Ten of Cups

Happy home, success, more positivity.  Stop looking so hard at the earthy side of things and pay more attention to the watery elements in your life.  Emotions are more important.

Spirit – Deepest Issue
Nine of Swords

Anxieties and worries clouding your judgment. Fears holding you back. The hesitation you’re dealing with isn’t about time or preparedness.  It’s about fear.  Deal with the fear and the procrastination you’ve been feeling in so many areas of your life lately will lift as a result.

DECK USED:  TAROT RENARD

#DiscordTarotolicsMay2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: What are you ignoring that needs to be dealt with?

The Alchemist's Garden Tarot

Reading Summary:  Closed minded thinking from an external source (Hanged Man on its side) is holding you back (The Chariot in the left position) and stealing your potential and progress (Eight of Wands in the right position).

Take Away: This is the second time in a few days that the topic of a closed minded influence in my life has been brought up. I can’t think of anyone in my life at this time that could be exerting this influence, but it’s clear from these cards that they (or a situation causing this mindset) is on the way, and that I need to shut it down quickly when it arrives.

This could be about “all or nothing” thinking in the moment.

DECK USED:  THE ALCHEMIST’S GARDEN TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I’m soaking in the bath before bed tonight.

Let Your Guard Down

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Today’s meditation was just over ten minutes long, and was a guided meditation through the Calm app with an interval timer included for my piriformis stetching.

The focus of today’s meditation was about find what feels right for you.  Sometimes, it can be hard when bombarded by different options and ideas to figure out what’s the right one for you.

Sometimes you can’t even figure it out when you try them out for yourself and can’t -feel- it deep inside.  Sometimes?  That means you just have to go with whichever one feels best in the moment… other times?  It means that the right thing or right idea just hasn’t come along yet.

Men + Monsters Tarot and Flower Fortune CardsToday’s draw is the Seven of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of standing up for yourself and your principles, standing strong for those things you believe in, and hold to your values even during times of opposition.

It’s easy, when we’re on our own and there’s no opposition to the contrary, to be strong in our values and principles. And sometimes when we meet new people, we make assumptions about how they will view us and what we value.  Sometimes we put up walls prematurely to protect ourselves from those predicted or perceived judgements.

The combination of the Seven of Wands with the Flower Fortune card for today which says “A stranger is a friend you have not met yet” creates a reminder about these moments in our lives when we come upon new people that enter our sphere, and how we handle their arrival.

The message in today’s cards is to not prematurely erect walls and barriers between yourself and others on what you think they will think (or feel) about you or your beliefs, values, and principles. Not everybody’s out to get you or tear you down. When meeting new people, stay open and see what happens.  You may find yourself pleasantly surprised now and then if you give people a chance.

DECK USED:  MEN + MONSTERS TAROT AND FLOWER FORTUNE CARDS

Raven Willow Tarot’s Emotional Exploration Prompt
Questions for May 23rd & 24th

Tarot of the Wishmaster MinikinsWhat role does excitement play in my life?
Queen of Pentacles, The Moon, Five of Wands atop Death

When something catches your attention and sparks your excitement, it keeps you moving forward and encourages you to keep going (even if sometimes slowly) when you’re having doubts and your inner conflict tries to put you into a stall pattern.

How can I better enhance excitement in my life?
Three of Wands atop The Emperor, The Hierophant, Page of Cups

Own your passions and the direction you want to take them in with more certainty. You will continue to learn as you go, and inspire others to do the same, if you stay open both emotionally and creatively to new things.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE WISHMASTER MANIKINS

#DiscordTarotolicsMay2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: Do Spread #3

Men + Monsters Tarot What is the core stressor in my life at this time that is under my control to change?

Knight of Swords atop Three of Cups – Impulsiveness of others in my social circle. L seems to think that she’s in no danger from the stalker issue because the letter that showed up on our doors was addressed to me. I don’t feel like I have a lot of control over this issue, but I suppose that’s why it’s being brought up in this reading, yeah?

What has allowed this stress in my life to take root and grow?

Ten of Coins – Overconfidence of in our health and safety. Although she’s okay still with not going out alone due to the Asian hate crimes going on right now.  She always has Z or one of her other friends, or even J with her when she goes out.  And yet she doesn’t take the stalker issue seriously in relation to herself even though I’ve told her Gideon’s theory that they could have addressed it to me to throw us off.  After all, it was -her- that trucker waved to.  Not that it’s the trucker, but it could be.  It could be anyone.

What can I do right now to ease my stress and anxiety related to this issue?

Five of Wands – Hash it out.  Control over this issue has to do with actually butting heads with her on it again and again, reminding her again and again, talking with her, fighting with her, and making sure she stays alert even if it’s through the constant reminders and pokes and prods given to her on a daily basis.  In this way you can make sure that the danger stays in the forefront of her awareness, regardless of whether she wants to take it seriously or not.

DECK USED:  MEN + MONSTERS TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I had a lot of stuff to do today that was really hard to let myself do since I’ve got so much I need to get done.  But I did do it, and I feel better for it so I’m glad I did, even if I slept an hour longer than intended.

Parting’s Sweet Sorrow Is A Lesson

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Today’s meditation was skipped because I dozed off.  I was so damned tired and when I settled in to meditate, as soon as I closed my eyes, that was it.  I was out like a light.

Cosmic Cycles Tarot and Flower Fortune CardsToday’s draw is the Eight of Cups, which is a representation of moving on, abandonment, looking for something new, escapism, and withdrawing from a situation especially due to disappointment or frustration.

Here in the imagery of today’s card we see a clear demonstration that when you move on to something new, you have to leave something else behind in the process.  And that sometimes? That’s not always a good thing for everyone involved.

The Flower Fortune card for today tells us that “There are no mistakes, there is only experience,” and that is especially true when there is a parting of ways.  We learn from the things that don’t work out.  We grow from the experiences, even if those experiences end in a parting that isn’t exactly amicable.

This echoes how I feel about negative experiences as a whole (and that includes the Ten of Swords). Bad experiences help us grow.  It’s unpleasant, and it hurts… but it is the fertilizer to our growth and becoming better human beings.  We make choices… sometimes those choices don’t work out.  And we then learn not just from the fact they didn’t work out, but also from the fallout that happens as a result.

DECK USED:  COSMIC CYCLES TAROT AND FLOWER FORTUNE CARDS

LionHart’s Reap & Sow Tarot Challenge Prompt
Question: Think of something you want {to manifest} right now or in the nearby future and draw a card.
Want: I want my damned mortgage paid off.

Good Karma TarotFour of Cups – Stop daydreaming about it and actually do something. If this is a goal you truly want to accomplish, you need to start paying closer attention to what’s going on instead of having your head in the clouds.

There are options available to you and things you can do right now just set you back on this path. Yes, there were setbacks, and still are. (Especially considering that you’re not working as many hours as you were in pre-pandemic times… not that you couldn’t but because you’re working on not sacrificing your health and well-being for your goals).

But, it’s time to be proactive, and with what your Self Care Saturday reading had to say today, maybe it’s time to sit down with your financial advisor and have a talk about structuring a new plan.

DECK USED:  GOOD KARMA TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsMay2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: How can you improve upon the person you are now?

Cosmic Cycles TarotThe Fool –  Be on time and watch your step.  This is about making sure you are aware of what you’re doing, where you’re going, and making sure you’re paying attention to cautionary warnings and other dangers along the way. To improve upon the person you are, make sure to stay aware of what’s going on around you and how you fit into the rhythm of the world.

The High Priestess – Connect more strongly with your inner knowledge and your guides. Have faith when there’s no logical reason to do so, be open to guidance from signs and unusual sources, and allow your inner knowledge to rise up and speak.  More than that… listen and act on that knowledge instead of disregarding it for logic.

The Emperor – Allow the strong and benevolent leader that you are to shine. Sometimes it feels like your dominant nature overwhelmed or “outshone” by Gideon’s, but the truth is that you are simply a different type of dominant. A different type of strength.  A different type of leader. Instead of measuring yourself against those that are more blatant in their approach, allow your own strength to shine in its own unique way and don’t worry about the rest.

DECK USED:  COSMIC CYCLES TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I worked on getting some of my orders done today from my week off in the hope of getting enough done that I’m not feeling so much pressure on Monday.

Hesitation and Procrastination

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Today’s meditation was another valiant effort without much success on the meditation front.  I laid down twice to try and meditate and both times phone calls forced me to break off after only a minute or two in.  The first time I got pulled in to work.  The second time was my mother.

Floriography Tarot and Flower Fortune CardsToday’s draw is the Devil card, which is traditionally a representation of temptations, addictions, and the quandary that we get ourselves in when we go “too deep” into something we (at least initially in some way) enjoy.

Are you holding back because something you want in life is unhealthy for you? Or are you holding back because you’re scared? When we hesitate… what is the motivation behind that restraint?

If there’s something that you want, and you evaluate whether it’s healthy for you or not, and whether or not you can handle the “addiction factor”. If you evaluate all these things and you find that it’s safe to move forward anyway, even if it’s unconventional or something just for you… Then why not? Why are you hesitant?

We often tell ourselves that the things we want have to wait because it’s “not the right time”. We put off happiness enjoy in order to focus on goals and responsibilities. But as the Flower Fortune card says… “If not now, then when?”

The message in today’s cards is about looking before you leap… and then leaping once you’ve looked.  It’s time to examine why you’re hesitating.

DECK USED:  FLORIOGRAPHY TAROT AND FLOWER FORTUNE CARDS

Raven Willow Tarot’s Emotional Exploration Prompt
Questions for May 21st & 22nd

Blood Moon TarotWhat role does love play in my life?
The Empress and The Hermit

Love is nurturing and supportive, even in times when you’re sinking into solitude. It’s always there. Even when you’re not reaching out for it.  It’s unconditional and patient.

These things make love a reassurance, and a refuge whether you are with those people that love you or not.

How can I better enhance love in my life?
The Fool, Three of Honey, Strength

Be more “free” and unrestrained with those closest to you with whom life is a collaboration. Together you are stronger than apart.

DECK USED:  BLOOD MOON TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsMay2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: In what ways are you unhappy with who you are now?

Floriography TarotReading Summary: I want to be more comfortable with my emotions (Queen of Cups), and I want to feel like I’m not sacrificing control in that process (Emperor). As it is now, I am feeling uninspired and out of control in my creative endeavors, restless and ready to restructure (Ace of Wands atop The Tower).

Take Away: As my COTD indicated for today, I am hesitating in taking the leaps needed to get things on track both with my inspiration and my creativity.  I just… feel like I’m not rested enough?  Even coming out of having had a week off, I still feel like I’m wrung out and don’t have the energy to do the work involved right now.

On top of that, is the fact that in my emotional growth I’m in a place where emotions still feel completely unstable and unpredictable. I’m not someone that enjoys instability and so it’s a struggle for me to allow for that fluidity in something that can have such a strong influence on my perceptions and my life.

DECK USED:  FLORIOGRAPHY TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

Orange Ceamcicle ice cream and Cheetos Puffs.  Need I say more?

Don’t Squeeze Too Tightly

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Today’s meditation was skipped.  I did actually try to meditate, laid down and put myself into position for the stretches, got the meditation timer going, the whole deal.  But I couldn’t sit still.  So I struggled with it for about five or six minutes then gave up and went to go get myself some food.

Conference of the Birds Tarot and Flower Fortune CardsToday’s draw is the Four of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of stability, conservation, scarcity issues, control, jealousy (not to be confused with envy), and miserly behavior.

The bird stands on the coin demanding it remain where it is, it’s theirs and they don’t want it taken away.  Sometimes when we get too focused on holding on to what we have, we forget to stay open and receptive to what others have to say. We essentially “close ranks” and become overly controlling.

The problem with this behavior is that it closes us off from others.  Communication becomes limited.  When communicating with others, yes, as the Flower Fortune card says today, “the most important thing with communication is to listen to what isn’t being said”.  But there’s no way to hear what isn’t being said if there’s no communication at all.

The message in today’s cards today is that no matter how important something is or how possessive you feel about it, you need to make sure you don’t become so territorial and guard it so jealously that you shut others out and close yourself off.

DECK USED:  CONFERENCE OF THE BIRDS TAROT AND FLOWER FORTUNE CARDS

The Sacred Grounds Tarot Club Prompt
Question: Start of Gemini – How can I more effectively communicate and express myself this season?

White Numen TarotReading Summary: The opinion of others (Six of Wands) is fickle (Wheel of Fortune), so don’t look in that direction. Instead focus on your own perceptions of yourself and not being too hard on yourself (Judgement).

Take Away: The advice here is about making sure that you aren’t allowing your worry about what others might think to silence you or cause you to adjust how you say what lands on your tongue.  Just be yourself and be true to who you are and what you want from yourself and your path, everything else will fall into place on its own.  Public opinion is too unpredictable to base…. well, pretty much anything on, and that includes the value of your own words and communication.

DECK USED:  WHITE NUMEN TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsMay2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: Where in life do you need to “step up” and do better?

Conference of the Birds TarotReading Summary: Taking action to further your desires and dreams (Knight of Cups). Dive deeper (The Hanged Man) and enlist others in the cause (Three of Cups).

Note: These cards all depict water fowl, and this is not a water fowl deck… it’s a bird deck. This means that the Cups theme carries over into all of the cards in the reading and intertwines them together as one.

Take Away:  Sometimes, a journey taken alone ends up no journey at all.  Where I need to step up and do better is in making sure that I’m allowing others in and enlisting their help in furthering my dreams and desires.

The issue here is in  how I view enlisting their help, and I need to look for a better perspective on this so that it’s something that cam become more natural and less forced.  With their help, I can then go further and do more, and realize the dreams that right now are hovering just out of reach.

DECK USED:  CONFERENCE OF THE BIRDS TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I switched Gideon and I from play to IMs when I started feeling lost and vulnerable instead of trying to “tough it out” and keep playing.