self development through shadow work

📆 Transitioning from May to June

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Month End Tarot Reading with the Magical Hours Tarot

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

Two of Wands – There’s lots of planning going on, but not a lot of action. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, even if the tone of that voice in your head is being snarky about it. Plans, after all, are the beginning of what comes next.

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

Eight of Pentacles – Consider that maybe now is not the time to act.  Remember that it’s okay to take a break when you need it, and this time of year is the prime time to indulge in those breaks.

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

Ace of Cups – At this time, you are looking for a new understanding of your emotions. You want to be able to process emotions without them throwing a huge wrench into things. Finding the ability to feel stability and even peace during this process is something you hope is possible and might be able to achieve at some point.

Limitations – Negative influences, opposition, or ill will.

Four of Cups atop The Chariot – Your desire to hide away from the world is coming on stronger than normal lately. Make sure that you’re not allowing this seclusionary urge to control you and close you off from the world and those that care.

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

The Star – Those positivity and optimism exercises you do are needed right now. They help keep you afloat when things are feeling dark, so make sure you are continuing with them, and don’t allow your self-destructive tendencies cause you to avoid them.

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

Eight of Cups – Remember that those who walk away from you and reject your efforts of friendship are not worth your time and not meant to be a part of your life. It doesn’t mean that there’s something wrong with you, just that they’re not a good fit. Rejection can hurt, but it just helps you in finding those people that are more suited to you in the long run.

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

Ten of Wands – Always remember that you are stronger than you think you are. You are a survivor and will handle what life throws at you, even during those times when it seems like it’s far too much for you to deal with.

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

Eight of Swords – Don’t avoid looking at the hard truths or you may find yourself blinded by them when you most need to see clearly. This doesn’t mean you have to shout what you see from the roof tops, but just acknowledge that they’re there so that you don’t trip over them later and end up hurt in the process.

Empowerment – A future opportunity to work toward.

Queen of Swords atop The Hierophant Rx – Your shrink has some good advice, but make sure that you’re sharing candidly with her what the issues are. Actually listen to her “outside the box” ideas instead of discarding them as not for you. There’s some truth and help residing in those ideas that you’re missing at first glance because your preferences tend to lean toward traditional methods.

Message from the Spirit World – When you close your eyes to hope, you miss opportunities to try new things that, although unappealing, may be good for you in the long run.

Message from the Mind’s World – You spent far too much time thinking about the logistics of work, and not enough time seeking out ways to make it more satisfying and enjoyable for you. Take more time to focus on trying new things and exploring, instead of just doing the same old thing over and over.

Message from the Physical World – Removing yourself from your comfort zone may feel overwhelming, but it’ll help you take charge of some of your dips in mood and wellness struggles that you’ve been experiencing lately.

Take Away – Some of the breaks that you’ve taken lately have not been of the healthy variety. Use your time of rest to shift your focus to fun, exploration, and experimentation. Lazy days are all well and good once in a while, but too much turn to rest into stagnancy, which is unhealthy.

DECKS USED: MAGICAL HOURS 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?

Self Care Saturday Tarot Reading with The Seed Taroracle and Wednesday's Child Oracle

Earth – The World – Take some time this week to examine your goals and ensure they align with who you are now and who you want to become. Often, we strive toward goals from our past that no longer fit in with who we have grown into since those goals were made. This doesn’t mean that you failed, but rather that you’ve grown beyond them.

Air – Ace of Swords – Take care to communicate clearly and concisely with others this week to cut back on the potential for misunderstandings. If you see signs of confusion in others, stop and explore them instead of plowing on with the expectation they’ll “come around to” understanding.

Water – Three of Pentacles atop Eight of Pentacles – Don’t allow yourself to feel like you’re “in this alone”, whatever the situation may be. Reach out to others for help and support to maximize your potential for success, as well as to set your negative inner narrative straight that you truly aren’t alone after all.

Fire – Justice atop Seed of Pentacles – You can’t squeeze blood out of a stone. Remember that you get out of your endeavors what you put in. Just as it took effort to get the ball rolling, so will it take effort to keep it going. Especially during times when you’re stuck trying to roll it uphill.

Waning – Plasma Ball and Mice – Be proactive at shining a spotlight on dishonesty from others. Don’t just let it go when you see their lies so clearly. Now is the time to call them out on it when it occurs.

Waxing – Poppet and Fly Agaric – Don’t let others control you with their judgments. Autonomy is important and you need to make sure you’re practicing it in spades right now instead of letting other people run you ragged.

Take Away – If you want something, go for it, and don’t let others tell you no or try to toss obstacles in your way. Their bullshit is not your problem, so call them out on it and keep moving. A little aggression is needed this week to get things back on track and done.

DECKS USED: THE SEED TARORACLE AND WEDNESDAY’S CHILD ORACLE

❤️ 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 Spirit Imprint Tarot and Rainy Oracles

Earth – The Emperor – Take time this week to make sure all is right in your “kingdom”. You have a lot of responsibility on your shoulders, and it’s time to check in to make sure that you are gearing your priorities towards the greater good, rather than your own selfish pursuits.

Air – Five of Pentacles Rx – Not all scarcity is “in your head”. Some of it is very real. Be sure to reflect this week upon which feelings of scarcity are based on reality, and which are simply the habitual message of your negative inner narratives. Only then will you know which need your attention and care.

Water – Nine of Swords – Allowing yourself to be overwhelmed by fear is not going to be at all productive. Like the advice in the Air position above, you need to take a realistic look at what you’re flinching away from, which fears are unfounded, and where they are driving you.

Fire – Queen of Cups – Now is not the time to shut down your emotions. When they rise up, instead of avoiding them, take time to examine them. In doing so, you nurture your ability to see them more clearly in the process. Not dealing with them will be harmful to you.

Waning – Sanctuary and Ascent – Your comfort zone is not the place to hide away in this week. No growth can take place when you’re stuck in stagnancy. Keep moving instead, even if it’s uncomfortable or a bit scary.

Waxing – Distill and Sage Spiral – Pare down to the bare roots of what is real and what is not, and cleanse away the illusions to give room for healthy themes to flourish.

Take Away – It’s time to deal with the unknown, and clear away any illusions that you are entertaining that may be stirring up fear and worry. Only deal with the truth this week, and reject assumptions and worries without substance.

DECKS USED: FOREST SPIRIT IMPRINT TAROT AND RAINY ORACLES

Transitioning from April to May

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Month End Tarot Reading with the Wild Reflections Tarot and The Light Seer's Tarot

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

Queen of Pentacles – You are working on not just finding, but also nurturing a better sense of balance and stability in your life in the areas where responsibility has been taking the lions share of your time, energy and attention of late.  You’ve realized that through this balance you can not just take better care of yourself, but in doing so you can create greater stability for others too.

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

Page of Swords atop Four of Swords – You can try as you might to put new ideas to rest, but you won’t be able to get far with this if you don’t at least write them down. Doing so will help you from being carried away by them, and keep them from disappearing into the ether of memories lost as well.

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

The Hanged Man – You feel the need to lean into the ability to pause and observe, rather than act. There have been a lot of readings lately that have been steering you in this direction, and you are doing your best to embody that message as best you can at this time.

Limitations – Negative influences, opposition, or ill will.

The Hierophant – Don’t let the way things have always been done hold you back from thinking outside the box and finding new paths forward. Tradition is all well and good, until it becomes a problem. There has to be a balance between traditional methods and innovation. Neither is ideal on their own.

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

Eight of Swords – There are some things you’re not meant to see or understand.  Just because you choose to accept this fact doesn’t mean being in the dark necessarily has to hold you back. Move forward regardless of what you can’t see, and trust that your steps will steer you true even when you’re unable to get a clear picture of what lies ahead.

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

Eight of Cups – Remember the reasons why you have chosen to walk away. You need some memory lane time with these events in your life where you’ve stepped away in the past, in order to refresh your memory on why letting go is an important step and touch upon guidance on how to do so with grace.

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

Temperance – This card always makes me think of a young Gideon. His casual seat seems to always be telling me that I’m wound up too tightly.  There is a reminder here that sometimes you have to “fake it until you make it” when it comes to casual ease and relaxation. You’ll never get there if you don’t try, so stop letting yourself get wound up tighter and tighter. Keep trying to untie those knots, even if you don’t feel like you’re getting anywhere with it.

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

Three of Pentacles atop King of Cups – Don’t allow yourself to get too emotionally invested in the projects of others right now. You have enough on your plate without trying to direct something that doesn’t have all that much to do with you and doesn’t really need to be in your hands anyway. Hold yourself apart instead and let the others sort it out.

Empowerment – A future opportunity to work toward.

The Fool – More fun. Make sure that you are taking care not to let too much responsibility weigh you down. You can only put so much on your plate, and the more you put on there? The harder it becomes to take time  just to find a little joy in life to savor.

Message from the Spirit World – It would be folly to allow others to deceive you into believing you can emotionally handle being a part of their projects right now. You will sacrifice too much of your own personal freedom and happiness by going down that path.

Message from the Mind’s World – There is much you can learn from moments of stillness by remaining quiet, maintaining your peace, and watching closely from an objective distance.

Message from the Physical World – Make sure when you decide it’s time to turn over new leaves that you aren’t carrying forward with you too much of the past and its baggage.  Lessons learned in the past are all well and good, but you need to let go of the pain, resentment, and other weights associated so that only the lesson itself comes forward with you into the future.

Take Away – Wait and watch is the theme at this time. Lots of observation, little action. Maintain what needs maintained and learn what you can by watching others sort out their own problems for once. Work on accepting that in order to have a little fun, you just can’t be on top of things 100% of the time… and that that’s a perfectly alright sacrifice to give for the joy of those moments of fun and enjoyment you get in return.

DECKS USED: THE LIGHT SEER’S TAROT AND WILD REFLECTIONS TAROT (MIX DECK)

❤️ 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 Mystic Meg Tarot and Sweet Blossom Lenormand

Earth – Ten of Fire – Take special notice of your energy levels this week and make sure that you’re not overdoing it. You have a tendency to push in the area of work and finance, which ends up being a negative trade-off with your health and well-being when you become overwhelmed and burn out.

Air – Tower – Just because something isn’t going the way that you think it should or planned for doesn’t mean it’s the end of the world. Stop catastrophizing and use that energy toward strategizing instead.

Water – Air King atop Star – Again, stop catastrophizing and start strategizing. This reiteration is a heavy stress on the need for this tactic right now. Falling into hopelessness and rumination just drags you down. If you put your sizeable focus and energy toward strategizing a way forward instead, you will avoid those messy pessimistic pitfalls.

Fire – Wheel of Fortune – Nothing lasts forever. Be ready for the shift that’s coming by not sticking your head in the sand. You are better able to ride things out with feet planted and your eyes on the horizon.

Waning – Rider and Snake – Movement is not your friend right now. Instead make sure you stand still, observe, and plan. Taking action at this time will only end up biting you in the ass.

Waxing – Key and Heart – Follow your heart and listen closely to what it has to say. Your heart and moral compass are the answer to this upcoming challenge.

Take Away – Clearly something you might perceive as disastrous is on the horizon this week, for this reading is all about schooling you in how to react when it arrives. The advice?  Stay calm and don’t let your negative inner narrative cause your emotions to go off kilter. Instead, analytically look for an acceptable path forward that feels right.

DECKS USED: MYSTIC MEG TAROT AND SWEET BLOSSOM 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 Song of Cloud Tarot and Petit Lenormand Valrand

Earth – The Devil – The temptation to spend is great right now. Retail therapy is a thing, but remember that at the moment it will only make things worse in the long run. Better to foster solutions than feed into the problem.

Air – Six of Swords atop Five of Wands – Remember that you aren’t supposed to be allowing the political talk that has become so divisive between you and others you care about. Step away rather than engaging, for they are too entrenched in their own opinions to hear what you have to say.

Water – Eight of Wands Rx – Don’t allow the speed at which your emotions come at you to push you into reactionary responses. Make sure that you are taking time to process instead.

Fire – Ace of Pentacles Rx – Now is not the time to explore new projects. Focus instead on those things that need to be done to further already established passions and goals.

Waning – Sun and Birds – Don’t worry too much about what rumors may be flying around or what people are saying about you behind your back. Focusing on this solves nothing and only steals away your happiness.

Waxing – Dog and Child – Lean into long-term trusted allies this week. Surround yourself with their support and allow them to help you find a lighter and happier perspective.

Take Away – Stay the path on keeping yourself in check this week, whether it’s with money or words, now’s not the time to be free-wheeling it. Slow down instead and work on the things you have on your “need to get done” list, then spend time with loved ones for a bit of balancing out those scales between responsibility and fun.

DECKS USED: SONG OF CLOUDS TAROT AND PETIT LENORMAND VALRAND