self development through shadow work

❤️ 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?

Self Care Saturday Tarot Reading with the Enchanted Forest Felines Tarot and Minimalist Japanese Lenormand

Earth – Page of Saucers – Don’t let boredom create stagnancy this week while you’re off work. Dabble in creativity and have some fun instead. Not work… fun.  Imagination.  Play.  Bring back that enthusiasm for creativity that has a tendency to be smothered out when too much gets put on your shoulders at once.

Air – Three of Saucers – Invite others in not just to help you in creating balance in your life, but to have fun with as well. Focus on those that help in lifting your spirits and making life interesting.

Water – Seven of Branches –  Remember that whether or not others expect you to defend yourself and how you feel? There’s no need to actually do so.  They can’t reach you anyway, so why bother entertaining their pressure and threats?

Fire – Wheel of Fortune – Look for the boon in upcoming “spilled milk” situations. It’s not all bad, and you need to make sure that you are adapting easily to the whims of fate when they put shit like this in your way.

Waning – Man and Fox – Let go of that responsible leader who’s always on top of everything and always strategizing the best way forward. Sometimes you just have to step back and let things take their own course instead of trying to direct everything to the letter.

Waxing – Child and Letter – It’s okay to be irresponsible and “dial it in” this week instead of being on the ball and ready to roll. Play time is just as important to your well-being as times of work are.

Take Away – Don’t go back to work early because you are feeling pressure to do so.  Take your time and take it easy. Have some fun.  Make sure when unpleasant surprises arise that you deal with them through adaptation and humor instead of getting upset or frustrated.

Other elements in this reading:
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECKS USED: ENCHANTED FOREST FELINES TAROT AND MINIMALIST JAPANESE LENORMAND

❤️ 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?

Self Care Saturday Tarot Reading with the Forest Lore Tarot and Animal Spirit Oracle

Earth – Wheel of Fortune – Remember this week that if you wants stability, you need to stay centered. Stepping out towards the edge is only going to make things worse and threaten the stability that you’ve already accomplished, let alone future stability that you are working toward.

Air – Seven of Pentacles – Keep your impatience in check. Instant gratification is all well and good, and yes, your brain works a lot faster than some others in your life. That doesn’t mean they’re not going to come up with some good ideas if you give them time to think, so work on your patience and wait. There’s truth in that saying “good things come to those who wait”.

Water – Two of Swords – You are being given the opportunity to choose this week on which direction your emotions and emotional health are going to go. Keep your eyes open, your head straight, and make sure that you make wise choices.

Fire – Queen of Pentacles – Put your significant amount of passion and enthusiasm into fostering balance this week. Remember that by doing this for yourself, you also do it for others in your life, as their sense of stability and balance often relies on yours.

Waning – Donkey – Take care that you aren’t leaning so hard into feelings of safety and protection that you are allowing stagnancy a way to take root in your life.

Waxing – Robin – Be brave. New beginnings are afoot and, as they approach, communication is key this week. Make sure that you are communicating with others and helping out where you can.

Take Away – Don’t let your temptation toward those addictions that are nudging at you right now let you fall off track with what you’re trying to accomplish. That especially includes in the area of your emotions. Instead, stay focused on the goals that foster your future stability and be patient.

DECKS USED: FOREST LORE TAROT AND ANIMAL SPIRIT ORACLE

📆 Transitioning from February to March

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End of Month Check-In Tarot Reading with The Somnia Tarot

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

Queen of Swords – It’s time to rise. Leave behind what is needed to rise to your potential, and accept help from those in the know rather than doing all the work yourself. You can put on an unaffected front even if you are more deeply involved in the equation than it seems. The Queen is the power behind the crown (as opposed to beneath it), guiding the way, as each powerful and wise King has one whispering in their ear.

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

Knight of Pentacles – Practicality and slow movement can only get you so far. The time for movement and action is now upon you. Leave the drag of sluggishness behind and get moving.

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

Two of Wands – To move forward you have to have a plan. Don’t waist the time of stillness in inaction that you’re unable to get past or control, but instead use it wisely to plot your course forward.

Limitations – Negative influences, opposition, or ill will.

Seven of Cups Rx – Take care that you don’t become stymied by too many options. If you don’t stay laser focused on what you want and the opportunities that can get you there, you will become mired in indecision.  Lots of options isn’t always a good thing, so don’t let them become a distraction.

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

King of Swords – Decisiveness is the key to getting where you want to go. Listen to good sense, and don’t let those previously mentioned opportunities that have nothing to do with your end goals distract you and bog you down. Now’s not the time to become scattered, but rather to strategize and make strong, focused decisions.

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

The Chariot – Remember that even in times when you are forced into a corner, you still have choices and autonomy. In those moments, you may feel powerless, but just because your options are limited doesn’t mean there are none. It just may take some creative thinking to continue moving things forward in the direction you want to go.

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

The Tower – Remember with every “shit happens” that you have survived, you have become stronger. It may feel like the world around you is crumbling, but it’s only adding to the ground beneath your feet, lifting you up so that you will sit higher, and thus have higher ground for the next round.

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

The Hanged Man – Delay in stagnancy is all well and good when you have something to contemplate, but sometimes it’s just a delay for the sake of a delay. You have the opportunity to mitigate the effects of that if you stay focused on your goals.

Empowerment – A future opportunity to work toward.

The World – Finding the finish line isn’t always easy, and sometimes even when you reach it you think you have a long way yet to go. Make sure you are paying attention so that you don’t miss your moment to finish things.

Message from the Spirit World – Use your times of stillness to strategize towards finishing things.

Message from the Mind’s World – Times of slowness can allow you to seek council in plotting your course.

Message from the Physical World – Seize control of your moments of indecision in order to avoid chaos and possible tragedy.

Take Away – After a very long time that felt like stagnant inactivity where life and the cards both seemed to be saying to “wait” and let things move at their own pace, here is a call to action. It’s time to begin moving again, and the first step to that is planning and strategy. Time to get your ducks in a row.

DECKS USED: THE SOMNIA TAROT

❤️ 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?

Loputyn's I Tarocchi Tarot Deck and The Primitive Lenormand

Earth – The Hermit – Do what you need to do to get some healthy alone time this week. You have time off, and there aren’t a lot of obligations going on to get in your way.

Air – Justice – Remember that you get what you give. If you’re going to doomscroll, then you’re going to be feeling anxious and down. Work on focusing your mind and attention on things that have the result of lifting you up and making you feel empowered instead.

Water – The High Priestess – Listen to the inner tides of your emotions as they ebb and flow, rather than trying to lock them away and ignore them. You need to look within this week and get in touch with what you have been avoiding by touching base with your innermost ken and dealing with it head-on.

Fire – The Chariot – Take care, even if you take time off , that you don’t relax your grip on the reigns. Keep a watchful eye on the direction things are going so that even during times of rest, you are able to steer your passions and objectives in the direction you want to go.

Waning – Stork and Rider – Magical thinking. Remember that things have to move at their own pace. There’s no way to usher everything to move faster, or hurry along the changes currently taking place.

Waxing – Bouquet and Scythe – Remember that sometimes gifts given come at a heavy cost. Not everyone is honest in their intentions when they’re being nice to you.  Keep a close eye on other’s motivations.

Take Away – Alone time is important during your time off this week. Make sure that you are giving yourself the rest you need and keeping things healthy in your choices of activities and practices. Let go of the rush and just allow things to move at their own pace.  Holding onto the reigns doesn’t mean slapping the horse’s ass with them, it just means you don’t run off the road.

DECKS USED: LOPUTYN’S I TAROCCHI TAROT DECK AND THE PRIMITIVE LENORMAND

📆 Transitioning from January to February

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Month End Oracle Reading with the Land of Giants Oracle and Spirit Cycle Oracle

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

Building and New Look – Well, we can’t get more on the nose than that. Tomorrow, the first payment of the levy for my condo building’s repairs come out and things are put in motion to begin the work. There’s been a lot of stress involved in getting the money for the levy together. These cards indicate that with papers signed and payments lined up, everything is now on its way to moving in the right direction.

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

Force and Barriers – You don’t have to keep pushing in this area.  You’ve fought your hardest through the month of January, and are battle scarred as a result. There’s no force needed now, though. Any pushing you do at this point will only make things more difficult.  Now that you’ve managed to get done what needed done, and the ball is now beginning to roll? Settle in and let things move at their own pace instead.

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

Dead and Dawn – Your need for vengeance is riding you hard right now. The clusterfx of January has someone to blame, and you want your pound of flesh for making such a mess of things. It’s okay to let it go now, though. You’ve already done enough. Like the boots left behind by the dragon after his meal, there is no need to choke down the boot leather as well as the traveler who wore them.

Limitations – Negative influences, opposition, or ill will.

Past and Yearning – There’s no point in looking back on what was and wishing you could return to it.  There’s going to be a few hurdles still to go before things calm down for you again, and you need to keep your eye on the prize and optimistic about getting there, rather than looking behind you and wishing for what’s been left behind in the past.

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

Frugality and Dream Tree – Having to refinance your mortgage has really helped you in getting all your ducks in a row financially, and this new level of organization is allowing you to not just see where your funds are going, but the possibilities of what you can do with them moving forward as well.

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

Indolent and Self-Awareness – Stop looking at the times you need a little rest or are enjoy a bit of relaxation as laziness. That word… “laziness” is an echo from the past. It’s not your word, but a viewpoint you have been conditioned to see through past treatment from others.  It’s time to work on re-framing these moments into a healthier perspective.

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

Absolution and Nurturing – When you seek forgiveness from within, it helps everything feel a little healthier and a little better.  Sometimes you just have to accept things as they are rather than always judging yourself harshly. No one else holds a grudge against you like those you hold against yourself. Cut yourself some slack and give yourself a little kindness, and you will thrive far better than starving yourself of these things would ever manage.

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

Imploring and Rough & Ready – Don’t ignore the danger hidden among the weeds.  Don’t give second chances to those that don’t deserve it. Keeping your eye on the prize is one thing, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still be looking around and acknowledging the risks and dangers that are far closer than you think.

Empowerment – A future opportunity to work toward.

Famous and That’s All – I can’t say that fame has ever been one of those things that I’ve ever been interested in, but I do enjoy being admired.  These cards indicate that the opportunity is there. That when you remain close to those that matters and watch over them, you earn the most valuable kind of admiration of all.  What more recognition does one really need?

Message from the Spirit World – Working hard towards something doesn’t have to mean it’s all about immediacy and force. Sometimes it’s important to take things a little at a time instead, and in the end you achieve what you really value most instead of the less important goals you’d set your sights on in the first place.

Message from the Mind’s World – Sometimes the negative inner narratives in your head that hold you back can’t be overcome by force.  Instead, a chance of scenery is needed to put them in their place and show them just how inconsequential they are.  Get out in nature and breathe deep.

Message from the Physical World – You are in need of rest and self-care.  You’ve been through a lot of stress lately, and it’s time to give yourself the TLC you deserve (not to mention have more than earned in the past month of struggle, strife, and tribulation).

Take Away – It’s time to step back and let things move at their own pace.  Not just with the mortgage and the bank, but with the levy, with your work worries, and with everything else too.  Don’t push right now. Not yourself, not anything else either.  Just take it easy and let things roll along. Whatever pushing you do is only going to get in the way and slow things down right now.

DECKS USED: LAND OF GIANTS ORACLE AND SPIRIT CYCLE ORACLE

📆 Transitioning from December to January

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Month End Lenormand reading with the Petit Lenormand Noëldine

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

Anchor and Fox – You are finding yourself with the urge to avoid risk and take things slow with others. Although you are feeling stable and comfortable in who you are, you are currently feeling cautious about moving out of your shell, and feel the need to take things at a slow and careful pace.

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

Woman and Ship – The absent woman needs to remain absent. Although they are on their way, they are still at a distance and have been missing for some time. Now is not the time to welcome a return with open arms.

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

Star and Man – A hopeful, positive, and optimistic outlook with a sense of self-possession and stability. Your dominant temperament is rising. Make sure you take these urges to a good place, and don’t let your negative tendencies smother them or turn them toward somewhere dark.

Limitations – Negative influences, opposition, or ill will.

Fish and Book – Financial tomfoolery is afoot, and there are important lessons to be learned from an incoming experience that you are not going to enjoy. This makes perfect sense considering the building levy quickly approaching that you need to make time to see a financial advisor about this month.

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

Key and Path – New avenues are about to land in your lap that you need to open yourself up to. Just because they aren’t the plan you had in mind doesn’t mean it’s not the right path for you. Don’t be stubborn. Be open minded and don’t allow yourself to get stymied by indecision or bullheadedness.

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

Tree and Bear – There are those in your past that were meant to create a sense of stability in your life, but did not. This lack of stability from others when it was so sorely needed may have made you the fiercely independent person you are today, but has also had long reaching negative effects on your health.

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

Sun and Moon – Take time to reflect upon those in your life that have helped you to sort through your emotions. They are the light that shines upon your moments of uncertainty, and help everything make sense. Be mindful to turn toward them instead of away.

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

Letter and Mountain – Do not allow communication to stagnate between you and others. The longer you hold back and more you avoid dealing with communication issues, the more insurmountable those issues will begin to feel.

Empowerment – A future opportunity to work toward.

Mice and Birds – People talk and the assholes are restless. Make sure that you are paying attention to what’s going on around you, and any hint of whispers on the wind. You are not being paranoid, but instead need to be prepared to act quickly and decisively as soon as any issues arise.

Message from the Spirit World – In times when struggles approach and you feel held back or cornered in, be true to yourself and listen to what your gut is saying instead of the murmurs and whispers of those that seek to break your self-confidence.

Message from the Mind’s World – It’s okay for the softness within you to be on the retreat for a time. Know thyself. Know your needs and own them. Embrace the dominant side and have fun with it while it’s on the rise.

Message from the Physical World – Protect your health with time proven methods you’ve researched and developed over time. When you feel better physically, you feel better emotionally as well.

Take Away – There are warnings here about harmful rumors approaching and troublemakers trying to skirt along the edges. Be proactive and stay on top of these issues instead of putting them off until later.  Being decisive is needed in this area.

Take care of your physical health, and make sure that you are communicating openly with others about how you are feeling emotionally.  These two aspects of  your well-being are connected and work together.

Deal with the levy issue as soon as possible and don’t plant your feet in whatever plans you’ve been making in the back of your head.  That financial advisor has good advice to give and a  possible better route through the financial struggles to come than the ideas and worries that you’ve been percolating on.

DECKS USED: PETIT LENORMAND NOËLDINE