Guilty Pleasures Shouldn’t Be Guilty

Today’s meditation was skipped.

Romantic Tarot's Nine of Cups and It’s Going To Be Okay 2024 Day-to-day Calendar By Kate AllanToday’s draw is the Nine of Cups combined with the affirmation “Times are tough, but so are you.”

Don’t lose sight of your pleasures and joys when things get tough.

It can be hard to hold onto those joys when everything feels like it’s going to shit.  Focusing on little pleasures can feel wrong in those moments, as if it’s shameful to feel pleasure when everything else is falling apart and there’s so much to do to get things back on track.

It’s those things that make you happy that help in getting you through those difficult times, though, giving you the strength to move forward even when your steps seem unsteady.

DECKS USED:  ROMANTIC TAROT AND IT’S GOING TO BE OKAY 2024 DAY-TO-DAY CALENDAR BY KATE ALLAN

The #mysticstartarot Challenge Prompt
Question for February 18th, 20th, and 21st

Romantic Tarot - The Hermit, Wheel of Fortune, Ten of Coins, Page of Wands, Three of CoinsWhat are my beliefs about myself?

Ten of Coins and Wheel of Fortune – That no matter what life throws out you, you will come out on top. You know that there will always be ups and downs in life, but you also know that you will survive, and in surviving have the opportunity to re-stabilize once more.

How will these beliefs support me in my relationships?

The Hermit – It allows you to take time apart from others when you need it without worrying you’ll be alone forever. You know that those that are close to you and value you will continue to stay, even when you are struggling, and even when you need time to yourself.

How can I amplify these beliefs about myself?

Page of Wands atop Three of Coins – Allow this security to let you to explore your passions with them instead of alone. Too much alone time is not good for you, no matter how much you would like to languish in it.  Enjoy their time and share with them.

DECK USED: ROMANTIC TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I didn’t go along on the grocery expedition today, but instead stayed at Ms B’s and took a nap.

Coming Back Out On Top

Today’s meditation was skipped because the girls would just NOT leave me the fuck ALONE today.  I don’t know what it is but there are just some days where they can’t seem to leave me be for even a few minutes. I’m not in the room with them which means I’m missing and alone and they just can’t help but come find me and bug me.  With Luna, this is accepted and she will find somewhere quiet to sit and wait.  The girls? Not so much.

Romantic Tarot and Thera-Pets CardsToday’s draw is the Page of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of slow but steady progress in finding ways to improve one’s financial situation, resources and home life, or health.

I really like this representation of the Page of Coins (Pentacles) as what I see here is someone that is down on their luck but proactively working towards bettering their situation.  This is not an aspect of the Page of Coins that you often see depicted in deck imagery.

When combined with the words on the Thera-Pets card, the message here has to do with resilency and in picking yourself up after you are knocked down.

Lately I’ve been dealing with a pretty deep depressive episode, and it’s been a real struggle.  I found the bottom of that deep, dark pit and I landed there and lingered for about two days.  Then, I have begun to climb once more.  The meaning in these cards is that I’ve survived this before, I know the way forward, and I will climb back out again.  I will heal and recover and move forward.  The climb might be hard, and take time, but I’m strong enough and capable enough to make the journey and come back out on top once more.

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

LionHart’s Mercury Retrograde Tarot Challenge Prompt
Question
:  What should I give closure to before February 27th (Full Moon)?

Fifth Spirit Tarot

 Reading Summary: The ups and downs in your life (Wheel of Fortune) are not something to feel victimized by (Justice Rx) so don’t give up the good fight (Seven of Wands Rx).

Take Away:  Again we see reference here to the struggle I am going through with my depression, but this also goes beyond that to my worries about my business and the Canadian side of things. It’s important to remember that the situations that we find ourselves in at this moment when the world is turned upside down are not situations against us personally.  They are situations we must deal with and survive, adapt to and work around… but they are not directed at us.

The cards here are a reminder that this is not a time to play victim, but rather a time to stand up and keep fighting for what you believe in, what you want, and what is right for (and important to) you.

DECK USED:  FIFTH SPIRIT TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsFeb2021 Challenge Prompt
Question
:   Where in my life do I need to set healthier boundaries?

Romantic TarotReading Summary: Know where your bread is buttered (Ten of Cups) and where it’s not (Eight of Cups).  Take that knowledge forward with you to discover (Page of Swords) what really makes life worth living (imagery in the Eight of Coins).

Okay so, I just have to say… the imagery in the Eight of Cups in this deck reminds me of that line in the Semisonic song “Closing Time” that says “you don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here”.

Take Away: This is about choosing wisely where you invest your energy and time.  Instead of pushing to do everything, set better boundaries for yourself that create the opportunity for you to be more discerning.  Invest that time, energy, and talent that you have in those things that bring you comfort and joy.

DECK USED:  ROMANTIC TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

Today is the first day of my week off of work.  Not that I’m not still working at the farm, mind you, but I’m not working for the home business for the next handful of days.  I tried to take time off in January, but I think that I was still “coming down” off all the adrenaline, endorphins, and dopamine of the whole holiday rush thing and the vacation time just didn’t do as much for me as it otherwise could have.  Not that I didn’t need it then, but… yeah.   So all of the shops are on a shipping delay for the week and I’m taking time off.  I also soaked in the bathtub today.

Sometimes Support Helps

Today’s meditation was skipped because I got home late and didn’t want to wait any longer than needed to get online and spend some time with Gideon.  I then ended up taking a nap while he went to town so I guess maybe I should’ve meditated before my nap, but I didn’t.

Modern Love Tarot - The ChariotToday’s draw is the Chariot card, which is traditionally a representation of willpower and movement forward driven by determination.

Not surprisingly, what stands out to me the strongest in the imagery of today’s card is the pup with the wheel apparatus.  Also posture of the woman walking the dogs and tilt of her head.

The message here is that sometimes to move forward we need a helping hand, no matter how determined we are.  Just as the dog is able to keep going by the grace of the wheels the pup wears.

The woman walks with pride and strength, and the tilt of her head and her posture remind me of my sister.  It’s a reminder that my sister is a part of my support system, and when I feel my drive or will faltering, she is someone I can turn to to alternately kick me in the ass, or help me find what I need to keep going.

DECK USED:  MODERN LOVE TAROT

The Radical Love Tarot Challenge Prompt
Topic
: Resistance 
Question
: What is the path forward to sharing my emotions more freely with others?

Romantic Tarot

Reading Summary: Judicious sharing is important (The Hanged Man). Take things slowly and do what you can a bit at a time (Page of Coins) so that you don’t end up paying for impulsive follies (Justice).

Take Away:  It is so ingrained within me to keep my emotions to myself and buried deep that sometimes it feels nearly impossible to express them clearly. It often feels like more than just restraint but an inner resistance that I have to fight against just to get out the words. That is, when I even have the words to get them out in a clear way.  The cards here indicate that the endeavor to be more open is not an unwise one, but is one in which a bit of care and precaution needs to be taken in order to ensure repercussions don’t come back to smack me in the face as a result of doing so.

DECK USED:  ROMANTIC TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsFeb2021 Challenge Prompt
Question
:  How can I best become more confident in the skill? (Built on yesterday’s prompt.)

Modern Love TarotReading Summary: Use that skill only when you need it (Four of Cups) and don’t hesitate (Knight of Pentacles Rx), your heart and intuition will lead the way (Ace of Cups).

Take Away: The skill in question is to make quick and decisive decisions on the fly when needed that turn out okay in the end and, in fact, often even end up benefiting me or my business.

The key to becoming more confident in this skill is in not overusing it.  When it’s needed, it will be there for you and is a part of my intuitive abilities.  Don’t worry about it and don’t depend on it when other tactics, such as preparation and planning, can accomplish things in a less stressful and/or reckless manner.

DECK USED:  MODERN LOVE TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I allowed myself to have today off.  I did not work on orders, nor did I even respond to customers today.  Instead I set the business aside and allowed myself to have a day away from it all.  So far, I am not feeling guilty about it.