self development through shadow work

❤️ Self Care Saturday (On a Sunday)

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Self Care Saturday Tarot Reading with The Magic of Tarot Deck and Happy Houseplants Oracle

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?

Earth – Six of Coins – Be generous with yourself this week. There is no reason to not be, and you need a little more of that self-kindness without the guilt of allowing it dragging on you.

Air – The Star – Make sure you are focusing on training your brain towards positivity and optimism instead of letting the stillness of quiet time drag you under. Balancing out those natural tendencies towards pessimism and negative inner self-talk is important.

Water – Ten of Coins – Take time to revel in your accomplishments and acknowledge the ways in which you support yourself and those close to you. You’ve created far more stability in your life and those around you than you give yourself credit for.

Fire – Temperance – Remember that it’s not time to dive back into the fray yet. This is your week off.

Waning – Calathea – Enjoy this time off while you have it. It won’t last forever and you need to remember that you are allowed periods of rest. Now is a perfect opportunity for that to happen.

Waxing – Dracaena – Focus on finishing your healing journey this week. You are getting over pneumonia, and it’s going to take time. More time than you think it should. You are still on the mend, so give yourself the space to do so fully.

Take Away – This reading is all about enjoying my days off instead of feeling guilty that I’m not working, and making sure that I stay on track with my efforts at leaning into positivity.  It is a reminder that my days off are meant to be a time of rest, recovery, and enjoyment. Not guilt and beating myself up for what I’m not getting done.

DECKS USED: THE MAGIC OF TAROT DECK AND HAPPY HOUSEPLANT CARDS

📆 Transitioning from June to July

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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

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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

📆 Transitioning from April to May

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Month End Check-In with the Tarot of the Absurd

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

Three of Blades – Disappointed. Yeah. Unfortunately there’s been some conflict with friends recently and disappointment pretty much covers it. Your brain keeps poking at your emotions, trying to wring out logic from them, and have managed to sort through things, but it’s left you feeling disappointed and sad.

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

Strength – Let go of the need to manipulate and “fix” the situation. It’s not going to work and you’re going to end up hurt if you keep trying.

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

Two of Sticks – New direction cleansed of imbalance.

Limitations – Negative influences, opposition, or ill will.

Ten of Swords – Seeing this as “the end” is not healthy or constructive. Although you don’t need to fix things, you do need to let them lie rather than playing “clean up on aisle 3”.

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

Knight of Blades – Ambition and drive are on your side. Don’t allow the current setbacks to bank those fires.

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

The Sun – Losing something that you perceive as happiness hurts. The winds of change can take these things away and leave you bereft. Look to past experiences and see if this one can help heal some of those that might be along a similar vein in the past.

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

Six of Cups – Not all of it was bad. Make sure you are remembering and connecting with the good memories too. It helps even out the imbalances.

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

The Star – Don’t blindly put all your eggs (or faith in others) in one basket. Closing your eves and running ahead while ignoring what’s going on in front of you is a bad idea.

Empowerment – A future opportunity to work toward.

The High Priestess atop Nine of Sticks – Better understanding of threats and challenges to what matters to you through a combination of intuition and experience.

[Messages from Spirit World, Mind’s World, and Physical World have been skipped this time around.]

Side Note – Although this was supposed to be a personal check in with myself, it turned into a reading about a specific, ongoing situation due to the fact I was trying to pull my cards while talking to my partner about that situation.

DECKS USED: TAROT OF THE ABSURD

📆 Transitioning from March to April

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Month End Tarot Reading with the Tarot Landscapes Tarot

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

Eight of Pentacles atop The Hermit – You have been forced to be around a lot of people lately, and been away from your work now long enough to begin missing it. You are craving some alone time to work on your craft.

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

Two of Cups Rx atop Queen of Swords – Don’t let cold receptions and calculated words from others hurt you or distance you from those you have a close connection with.

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

Six of Pentacles – You seek to be more accepting of kindness from others without so much of your own pessimistic suspicion getting in the way.

Limitations – Negative influences, opposition, or ill will.

Six of Wands Rx – Don’t allow others opinions or expectations to hold you back. People pleasing is not the path to happiness or balance.

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

The Sun Rx – Remember that you can’t win them all. There’s always going to be a snake in the grass (or a rabbit in the garden) there to cause trouble or hardship. You don’t have to ignore them, but you shouldn’t allow them to take away the positives that you can get from any situation either.

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

Nine of Wands Rx – Sometimes shit happens that you just can’t guard against or be prepared for. Carrying that baggage and being anxious about a repeat is not productive. Take a deep breath and let it go.

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

Temperance – Temperance can be used to your advantage rather than something you strive for. Wolves don’t always go for the sheep. If you distract them with something they want more than your own hide, you can often circumvent disaster and find peace in the strangest of places.

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

King of Swords – Too much time alone to think is not going to do anyone any good. If you’re going to lead, make sure you are connecting with those you are leading instead of holding yourself apart.

Empowerment – A future opportunity to work toward.

Judgement Rx – Grounding is needed. Think less about the future and more about the present. You don’t have to keep your eye on the horizon all the time to still move in the direction you want to go in. Instead, spend some time looking around you and enjoying the moment.

Message from the Spirit World – Being too harsh in your judgments of others will steal your happiness just as quickly as turning that judgmental eye on yourself.

Message from the Mind’s World – Spend your alone time working on seeing the positive in people rather than judging them (or yourself) harshly.

Message from the Physical World – Stop putting so much of yourself out there for others. Take a more moderate pace and live for yourself instead.

DECKS USED: TAROT LANDSCAPES

❤️ 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?

Nicoletta Ceccoli Tarot and Petit Lenormand Aquarella

Earth – Knight of Wands Rx – Cool your jets. Just because you’re feeling better this week doesn’t mean it’s time for you run around doing whatever the hell you want and chasing whatever fantasies or ideas come up to inspire you. Your body and immune system is not ready yet.

Air – Six of Cups – Continue to consider and commune with what you were doing differently before that was working that you have accidentally left behind in the dust. This isn’t just in relation to your business, but also concerning your emotional well-being.

Water – Page of Wands Rx – Don’t worry about starting new projects this week. It will just make you feel overwhelmed in the end if you do.

Fire – King of Cups – Play time with Gideon and using your imagination is essential to kindling your inner spark this week.

Waning – Fox and Man – There is a man in your life that has been trying to pull the wool over your eyes, and it’s time to confront them about it. Get the issue out in the open so that it can be dealt with and moved on from before it develops into something toxic.

Waxing – Moon and Ship – It’s okay to move forward lead by your intuition alone. Don’t let feelings of uncertainty cause you to hesitate this week when your intuition tells you to jump.

DECKS USED: NICOLETTA CECCOLI TAROT AND PETIT LENORMAND AQUARELLA