self care check in

📆 Transitioning from October to November

/ Twist the Leaf / Leave a comment

Month End Tarot Reading Check-In with the Tarot Noir

Here and Now I Exist – Who you are now, in your entirety.

Trois de Denier – You are part of a team. In these moments left before the holiday rush arrives, you are building stability through your connections with others, and inviting their skills and abilities to the table on your behalf.

The Slough – What is to be left in the past as you move forward.

Valet d’Epée – Release those things that are not yet manifested. There is a lot you’ve been considering working on or thinking about bringing into reality. Now is the time to set those ideas aside until later, after the holiday rush has passed.

What Lies Ahead – An ideal state or ideal self you are seeking at this time.

Sept de Coupe – You want options. There is a freedom in being flushed with opportunities and having an abundance of choices at your disposal. Being backed into a corner sucks. The more options that you have, the better chance you have of coming out on top.

Limitations – Negative influences, opposition, or ill will.

Six de Coupe – Do not allow nostalgia of good times to blind you to the dangers in the present. Shared history does not always equate to loyalty or steadfastness, regardless of how you feel that it should.

The Boon – Positive influences, higher guidance, or divine intervention.

Dix de B̢ton РOver the past few years you have learned how to identify when you are feeling overwhelmed, and how to ask for help when you need it. These lessons now allow you the tools needed to deal with overwhelm and head off burnout before it can take hold.

The Wound – An unpleasant past experience or event that is ripe for some support and healing.

Trois d’Epée – There are always going to be disappointments in life. The key is to remember how you have risen above them in the past and can do so again. There is no avoiding heartbreak completely, so don’t even try. Instead, focus on recovery and healing after the dust has settled.

Nostalgia – A positive past experience or event to acknowledge, reflect upon, and enjoy.

Six de Denier – It can be hard sometimes to accept the generosity of others, but make sure that you are paying attention to when they offer. Saying yes is difficult, but it is often the healthiest option.

A Warning – Something coming that can be prevented or overcome.

Deux de Coupe Rx – There is still time to circumvent that betrayal by someone you trust that is resting on the horizon, and has been predicted in the cards often over the past month. You are asking the wrong questions… or rather, it’s the fact that you are not asking any at all.

Empowerment – A future opportunity to work toward.

Neuf de Bâton – Your fear of change is unfounded, and you have an opportunity to move past it with grace if you are willing to release your need to “brace for impact”. Don’t worry so much about the “what if” scenarios.

Message from the Spirit World – The one you have been warned about is going to try to use your time of overwhelmed during the holiday rush to slip past your defenses.

Message from the Mind’s World – You’re a novice when it comes to asking for help and communicating your needs. Remember that diversifying is better than doing it all yourself or only using the minimum amount of help that you can get by with.

Message from the Physical World – Leaning to deeply into the past and how things used to be will create disappointment. Instead, keep your options open and be kind to yourself when you fuck up.

Take Away – There is potential for the person that you’ve been warned about for the past month to come to head over the holiday season. Keep an eye out for those that are trying to find a way in while you were at your most distracted.

Make sure that you are leaning into innovation in your business, instead of allowing yourself to just fall back into what has worked in the past. Make sure, as well, that you are asking for as much help as you can get instead of just as much as you think you need.

Roll with disappointments instead of letting them trip you up.

DECKS USED: TAROT NOIR

📆 Transitioning from September to October

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Month End Tarot Reading with the Ostara Tarot

Here and Now I Exist – Who you are now, in your entirety.

King of Swords – You are a good leader, cunning and clever, but you are holding yourself too far apart from others in an effort to protect yourself from getting hurt. Allowing yourself vulnerability won’t wrest your power from your grip, but will instead only make you stronger.

The Slough – What is to be left in the past as you move forward.

Page of Cups – This specific card has a tendency to come up for this question around this time of year. It is a reminder that with the holiday rush right around the corner, your time to explore emotions and work on your emotional intelligence is coming to an end for the year. Time flies, and soon it will be nose-to-the-grindstone with the holiday rush.

What Lies Ahead – An ideal state or ideal self you are seeking at this time.

Ten of Wands – This card indicates that “ideal states” are like perfection, they don’t really exist and are overrated. You -want- to take on everything, put it all on your shoulders, and deal with it with alacrity and grace. This card is a reminder that that vision in your head is a lie.

Limitations – Negative influences, opposition, or ill will.

The Tower – Chaos is not your friend right now. Work on staying organized, and when things don’t go exactly as planned, relax into the fall instead of tensing up.

(Note: “Relaxing into the fall” is a term used in tight rope walking and areal gymnastics to encourage going boneless when falling in order to minimize injury. Much in the way drunks often have serious mishaps without injury.)

The Boon – Positive influences, higher guidance, or divine intervention.

The Magician – You are independent, strong willed, and well rounded. You have all that you need to not just “make it through” but to accomplish whatever you set your mind to. Make sure that you are tapping into these qualities when they are needed.  You are far from helpless.

The Wound – An unpleasant past experience or event that is ripe for some support and healing.

Page of Swords – Sometimes, like a kid running with scissors and someone gets hurt, people say things without thinking and carve a piece out of you in the process. Just like that kid with the scissors, it’s not intentional and not meant to be malicious. Make sure that you are looking beyond the injury to see the motivations of others clearly. Remember… accidents happen.

Nostalgia – A positive past experience or event to acknowledge, reflect upon, and enjoy.

Knight of Pentacles – Sometimes the hard work isn’t worth it… but not often. When you continue to stubbornly push forward even when conditions are horrible, the rewards are nearly always worth the effort put in and then some. And, in the glow of accomplishment afterward, it’s easy to forget just how horrible the journey was now that it’s behind you.

A Warning – Something coming that can be prevented or overcome.

Three of Wands – Watch out for the feeling of moving forward when you’re really just circling the drain hole. Keep your eves open for opportunities for real progress instead of just the illusion of it.

Empowerment – A future opportunity to work toward.

King of Cups – Look to Gideon for support when you need it. He can help you in finding emotional stability if you let him guide you and follow his lead.

Message from the Spirit World – We take pride in your efforts to learn more about and understand your emotions instead of continuing your ignore them. It may feel sometimes like your running in circles, but you are in fact developing lifelong skills that will help you with future goals.

Message from the Mind’s World – Make sure that you don’t let your inner dialogue’s sharp tongue push you into taking on so much that you buckle under the weight. Loved ones are there to help. Use your freshly learned interpersonal skills to diversify the load.

Message from the Physical World – You’ll make things far harder on yourself than they need to be by not taking care to acknowledge where you are still learning and in need of help or guidance. Lean into those that can give you guidance when you need it instead of stubbornly insisting on going it alone.

Take Away – You are not abandoning your emotional intelligence journey by focusing on the holiday rush that approaches. That journey will still be there for you when you return to it after the rush is over.

Make sure you are delegating your work load instead of taking it all on yourself.

DECKS USED: OSTARA TAROT

📆 Transitioning from August to September

/ Twist the Leaf / Leave a comment

Month End Tarot Reading with The Spore Tarot

Here and Now I Exist – Who you are now, in your entirety.

Eight of Swords / Rosehips (Rosa canina) – Just like those in the world that don’t know the medicinal properties of rosehips or the joyous flavor of rosehip tea… you are missing something important. It’s not being hidden from you, but rather you are hiding from it through willful ignorance. No one can tell you what it is. Rather, you are going to have to figure it out for yourself, preferably before it’s too late to act.

The Slough – What is to be left in the past as you move forward.

Five of Pentacles / Thyme (Thymus vulgarus) – In order to get things around you and energies moving freely again, you need to let go of your feelings of scarcity. They aren’t helping you, but instead these feelings are gumming up the works.

What Lies Ahead – An ideal state or ideal self you are seeking at this time.

Knight of Wands / Ginseng (Panax ginseng) – Energetic focus on your passions and goals. You have felt less that your best over the past bit of time, and the zing of energy and clarity you have felt over the last few days is something you hope to carry forward with you into the future.

Limitations – Negative influences, opposition, or ill will.

Judgement / Giant Puffball (Calvatia gigantea) – Grudges get you nowhere and hold back your personal growth. Instead of holding onto past slights, it’s okay to let the emotions involved go. It doesn’t mean forgetting or being doomed to repeat the lesson again, just that you release the experience’s ability to control your emotions.

The Boon – Positive influences, higher guidance, or divine intervention.

King of Swords / Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus) – There is stability in knowledge and experience. This stability is your friend, whether it’s your own that you are sharing with others, or that of an elder that they are sharing with you. In the latter case, take in all that they have to share, even if it may not be something you agree with at the time. That information will become useful to you later on.

The Wound – An unpleasant past experience or event that is ripe for some support and healing.

The Hermit / Agaricus (Agaricus blazei) – Healthy alone time is a wonderful thing, but keep in mind the damage that can be done by indulging in the unhealthy alone time that isolates you and lets you wallow in stagnancy. It’s time to explore healthy alone time again. Get out in the forest among the trees and revel in the solitude of quiet places under the canopy.

Nostalgia – A positive past experience or event to acknowledge, reflect upon, and enjoy.

Four of Swords / Moringa (Moringa oleifera) – Tying into the previous card, you are encouraged to focus on the healing energy that being in nature provides for you. Breathe it in. Stretch out in the moss and listen to the crunch of the pine needle and cedar carpet under your feet. Immerse yourself in the healing energy of nature.

A Warning – Something coming that can be prevented or overcome.

Four of Wands / Suma (Hebanthe eriantha) – Take care not to delve too deeply inward right now. You need to connect to the outside world and let its energy revitalize you, not linger in the energies of stagnation and stillness. Get out of the house and move your body.

Empowerment – A future opportunity to work toward.

The World / Fairy Ring (Marasmius oreades) – You currently have the opportunity to connect to a healthier cycle, leaving the unhealthy one you have been struggling with behind in the process. Seize this opportunity to step through to the other side.

Message from the Spirit World – Turn over a new leaf with your loved ones at home by embracing this energy of transition and stepping into it instead of retreating.

Message from the Mind’s World – A mindset of scarcity is keep you blinded to the exciting potential currently before you. Make sure you are looking beyond it instead of allowing it to put blinders on you.

Message from the Physical World – Get your ass outside and spend some alone time in nature without prying the eyes that tend to make you feel “off” about it all.

Take Away – The uplift of energy and clarity you have been feeling lately is an opportunity to move into a better place both emotionally and physically. Don’t let the chance to revel and enjoy life pass you by. Connect with others when needed, let go of grudges weighing you down, and get out in nature to really celebrate that connection and recharge.

DECKS USED: THE SPORE TAROT

📆 Transitioning from July to August

/ Twist the Leaf / Leave a comment

Month End Oracle Reading with the Wild Spirit Animal Oracle

Here and Now I Exist – Who you are now, in your entirety.

Penguin – Remember not to close yourself off to the emotional support of others. There’s a video out there of a waddle of penguins shuffling together over ice. One of them falls and they all seem to go “daaaamn” together while the other then makes a sound that sounds an awful lot like “FUCK!” Take a lesson from this penguin, and accept others efforts to show empathy with grace.

The Slough – What is to be left in the past as you move forward.

Crow – Now is not the time for new projects. If you are feeling inspired? Write it down for posterity. For right now, go with what you know instead of chasing potential.

What Lies Ahead – An ideal state or ideal self you are seeking at this time.

Frog – That opportunity to pursue the potential of your inspiration and ideas is coming. Although now is not the time, remember that that won’t always be the case.

Limitations – Negative influences, opposition, or ill will.

Cow – Don’t trust others to know what you need and provide it for you. It’s far more important to tend to your own needs. No one has better insight to what you need than you yourself, so stop ignoring these things and expecting others to catch you before the self-neglect goes too far.

The Boon – Positive influences, higher guidance, or divine intervention.

Bat – Taking a step back to look over situations fully is going to be important in the weeks ahead. Don’t react impulsively, but instead take a breath and a pause first. Sort out what’s really going on, then act.

The Wound – An unpleasant past experience or event that is ripe for some support and healing.

Beetle – It’s time to examine the desperate grasping reactions you’ve had to change in the past, and begin exploring different ways you can let go and go with the flow, trusting that you won’t be crushed in the process.

Nostalgia – A positive past experience or event to acknowledge, reflect upon, and enjoy.

Dove – Take some time this month to reflect upon how freeing it feels to let go of blame and guilt.

A Warning – Something coming that can be prevented or overcome.

Fox – There is deception afoot. Make sure that you are paying attention and not being manipulated into situations you don’t need to be a part of. Such distractions, if allowed to go unchecked, may lead to them taking from you those things you value.

Empowerment – A future opportunity to work toward.

Owl – If you take care to pay attention (Fox) and take a step back to more closely examine the situation and those involved (Bat), you can move though this month’s difficulties with wisdom and grace, and with your own priorities in the fore.

Message from the Spirit World – Tread with caution moving forward into the month ahead. You need to work observing the world around you with clarity and making sure to pay close attention to other’s motivations and perspectives. It’s only when you take the time to see the whole picture that you’ll be happy with your choices.

Message from the Mind’s World – Lots of inspiration is coming your way. Although the reading above indicates that now might not be the best time to -act- on these new ideas and inspiration, that doesn’t mean they’re not of value.  Make sure to jot them down so that you can explore then more in depth when the time is right.

Message from the Physical World – Pay attention to your body’s needs. Emotions can cause you to shut down and that inner narrative often leads to self-neglect and punishment.  Instead of falling into these bad habits from the past, look at how those emotions are affecting you and make a conscious choice to take care of yourself regardless of the urges they bring to the surface.

Other elements included in this reading:
Pansy flowers for Self-Kindness and Tender Emotions
Cedar cleansing stick for Protection and Cleansing
Green Aventurine for Releasing Old Patterns
Gneiss Wishing Stone for Patience in Unpleasant Situations
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECKS USED: WILD SPIRIT ANIMAL ORACLE

📆 Transitioning from June to July

/ Twist the Leaf / Leave a comment

Month End Tarot Reading with the Tarot Moodie Deck

Here and Now I Exist – Who you are now, in your entirety.

Nine of Pentacles Rx atop Page of Pentacles – Look at that little red nose on the Page of Pentacles. You’re currently feeling sick and bewildered by how it happened. You’re not at all happy with your rate of recovery either. It’s going to be slow and disappointing, but you’ll get there.

The Slough – What is to be left in the past as you move forward.

Page of Wands – It’s okay to step away from your passions during this time when you’re not feeling at your best. They’ll still be there burning bright when you are feeling better, and at the moment you need to focus on resting and feeling better instead of trying to plow forward without consideration for being sick.

What Lies Ahead – An ideal state or ideal self you are seeking at this time.

Knight of Pentacles – You will slowly get back up to speed as you feel better, and be able to take up the tasks you set aside to allow yourself to heal. It’s slow going, though, so don’t rush it.  Focus on getting better first, then take things one step at a time once you’re back to feeling better.

Limitations – Negative influences, opposition, or ill will.

The World – Just because you want to blast past this and be better already doesn’t mean that’s how it works. Lower your expectations for yourself to a more reasonable level.

The Boon – Positive influences, higher guidance, or divine intervention.

The Tower – Anything that might “fall apart” during this time is catalyst to something better coming in its wake. Just as the immune system bulks up by being exposed to germs, your life levels up through the moments when things unravel and fall apart.

The Wound – An unpleasant past experience or event that is ripe for some support and healing.

Three of Cups Rx atop Eight of Wands – Being excluded sucks. Take time to examine those moments in your past where you have felt excluded or ostracized. A rehash is needed to help these lingering wounds heal.

Nostalgia – A positive past experience or event to acknowledge, reflect upon, and enjoy.

Two of Wands atop Nine of Cups – Planning things out always makes things go smoother in the long run… even when veering off the track of the plan is needed sometimes. As has been proven again and again in the past, having that plan gives you confidence and helps you feel more secure.

A Warning – Something coming that can be prevented or overcome.

The Magician – Feeling weak and powerless can be combated by ensuring you have a plan, and are feeling confident and knowledgeable in your personal abilities.  Have confidence in yourself that you can overcome the “consequences” of having to step away and heal before dealing with your responsibilities.

Empowerment – A future opportunity to work toward.

Page of Swords – You will have the opportunity this month to revisit some of the knowledge that you had pursued in the past, and advance in the direction of your goals using that knowledge combined with a new perspective on what you’ve learned.

Message from the Spirit World – Be ready for when it’s time to rebuild. Don’t just reinvent the wheel, but instead step outside your comfort zone to plan a rebuild with true innovation in its foundation.

Message from the Mind’s World – Remember that just because you’re passionate about something doesn’t mean you have to charge forward into it. Take your time. There’s no rush.

Message from the Physical World – Sometimes you have to separate yourself from the fun and games in order to find a direction that’s right for you and will make you happy in the end. If you want to move on from this cold (or whatever it is), you need to be a bit of a recluse and take this time to make plans on what you’re going to do later when you feel better, rather than trying to do it now.

DECKS USED: TAROT MOODIE

📆 Transitioning from May to June

/ Twist the Leaf / Leave a comment

Month End Oracle Reading with the Earth Angels Oracle

Here and Now I Exist – Who you are now, in your entirety.

Mercy – You are in a cross roads between providing care and mercy for others, and providing compassion, forgiveness, and kindness for yourself. You can’t do both, and there are times right now where there is a definitely conflict when trying to choose.  Don’t forget that sometimes? You need to come first.  You always have more than enough compassion for everyone else, but never give yourself remotely enough.

The Slough – What is to be left in the past as you move forward.

Bringer of Light – Let go of the dishonesty that you have been given, and let go of the resentment that those lies have caused.  You know the truth, and can see clearly the nature of those that you thought were above reproach.  You know now… which is better than not knowing at all.  Take that knowledge and clarity of sight with you moving forward, but leave behind the resentment and lies you were fed.

What Lies Ahead – An ideal state or ideal self you are seeking at this time.

Solitude – Be sure that you are giving yourself the alone time that you need.  In order to process, you often need time alone, and forsaking your need for it will only create chaos in your life.  Give yourself that peace and solitude that you need to work through your thoughts and feelings at your own pace.

Limitations – Negative influences, opposition, or ill will.

Grounding – Make sure when you do grounding exercises that you aren’t going too far into it.  If you’re not careful, it can drag you down into the dark.  Even the most healthiest of things can become unhealthy when taken to excess.

The Boon – Positive influences, higher guidance, or divine intervention.

The Herbalist – Lean into and listen to those recommendations that have a holistic bent. Between the new therapy treatment you’re in, the chronic pain, and other medical conditions… sometimes it’s the simplest answers that are the right ones, especially with how sensitive you are to certain medications and treatments.  Holistic approaches can often provide you with a more gentle option.

The Wound – An unpleasant past experience or event that is ripe for some support and healing.

Harmony – The betrayals of those that you thought were your friends and gave your trust to stain the friendships you have now with a fear of a repeat experience.  It causes distance in your friendships with others, as you struggle to relax and go with the flow.  Its time to revisit those betrayals and work on easing those fears that are always there holding you back. (This is about the “pissant” incident.)

Nostalgia – A positive past experience or event to acknowledge, reflect upon, and enjoy.

Summer Solstice – Instead of focusing upon those above mentioned betrayals, take time to focus on the good times and good experiences you’ve had instead.  Not everyone you’ve come across was like those you were hurt by in that incident.  The pain sticks more easily, but the good times are there too and need to be remembered in order to combat the lingering of bad memories.

A Warning – Something coming that can be prevented or overcome.

Beltane – Spring and early summer is a time of high spirits and high energy. Make sure that as you revel in this energy peak that you don’t over-commit yourself to responsibilities that will later feel too heavy.

Empowerment – A future opportunity to work toward.

Romance – Seize the opportunity while it’s there for the taking to spend extra time with Gideon and give him extra attention. It’s not always possible have that extra time, and right now? You do.  Use it to make him feel cherished and strengthen the bond between you.

Message from the Spirit World – Love is all you need.  This spring has been a time to reconnect with Gideon.  That connection is one of the most naturally healing things in your life, and getting a chance for both of you to wallow in it is healing for you both right now.

Message from the Mind’s World – Sometimes when the truth of something is revealed, you need to take time to yourself to fully process.  This time isn’t selfish, but a kindness of compassion that allows you to “absorb the blow” of surprise and process it in your own way and at your own pace.

Message from the Physical World – This summer has the potential to allow you to find a connection with your body that is more copacetic and in harmony than it has been for a while.  Make sure you are using this time to practice healthy grounding exercises such as meditation and shinrin-yoku.

DECKS USED: EARTH ANGELS ORACLE