The End Is Nigh… Not Really

Today’s meditation was skipped.

Modern Love TarotToday’s draw is the Five of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of tests, trials, and conflict in the area of one’s passions, drive, inner spark, and values.

Look at that imagery. I’ve had that exact argument before.

The thing is? Sometimes values just don’t align, even with those you love. This card’s reminder is that these disagreements and moments of misalignment don’t mean that the end is nigh, or that you love them any less, or that they love you any less. It simply means that we are all unique individuals.

DECK USED:  MODERN LOVE TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsFeb2022 Challenge Prompt
Questions for February 3rd and 4th

Modern Love TarotMercury is in transition. What personal energy will best facilitate conversation with others today?

King of Swords, Seven of Swords atop Five of Wands – Take charge. Instead of clashing with those that simply refuse to see any perspective but their own, use you assertive nature to direct the conversation where you want it to go. You don’t suffer fools well, so simply don’t allow them hijack the conversation. Letting them do so will just end up with you irritated and/or frustrated.

How can I be a better friend to those closest to me at this time?

Ace of Pentacles, Queen of Wands atop King of Wands – A new project of theirs is in need of your influence to get off the ground. Lend your support and drive to their cause. This is not one of those times that they can do it on their own… at least not in the beginning.  They don’t need you to take over, but a bit of  guidance and support will go a long way.

DECK USED: MODERN LOVE TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I’m trying to make sure I get to bed at a semi decent hour today, so that my drive isn’t so difficult tomorrow.

The Unexpected Boon

Today’s meditation was skipped.

Tarot Eros: Garden of Love TarotToday’s draw is the Hanged Man, which is traditionally a representation of taking a pause, considering different viewpoints, the need for a change of perspective, and letting go of control to surrender to the moment.

Now this is a figure that doesn’t appear to mind the position they find them in at all.  The imagery here speaks to me not just of pausing to consider a different perspective, but to truly find the unexpected boon in that other perspective. Really relax into it, let go, and see where it might end up taking you.

DECK USED:  TAROT EROS GARDEN OF LOVE

Mr Lionharts’ #TheFebruaryTarot Kindred Spirits Challenge Prompt
Questions for February 1st thru 3rd

Romantic TarotWhat does my highest, most exalted self look like?

Ace of Cups and Ten of Wands – These cards are a representation of “honeymoon phase” on overdrive. It’s an indication of new emotions and good behavior, and not showing your flaws.

The fact is?  There is no such thing as a “highest, most exalted self.  We’re human.  We’re all human.  We all make mistakes and no one is perfect. Pretending otherwise helps no one.  Believing otherwise holds you back from your true potential.

What advice does this version of myself have for me?

The Magician – Everything you need is already a part of who you are.

Where or in what way would my life change if I became {more} open to stepping into the highest version of myself?

Two of Pentacles – More balance. It’s not about being perfect, it’s about becoming a better person.  Instead of focusing on the goal of becoming perfect, focus on the goal of being a better person, and better balance will come naturally into the equation.

How am I asked to step into this highest version of myself this month?

Eight of Cups and Queen of Cups – Leave behind what isn’t working, and own this better version of yourself… flaws and all.  Be kind to yourself. It takes more strength to be kind than to be cruel.

In what way or in what area am I asked to raise my vibration?

Eight of Wands Rx and The Devil Rx – Slow down and savor instead of indulging in your tendency to always be striving for more. Get to know yourself, learn to be kind to yourself, instead of constantly reaching for the temptation to punish yourself for being… you.

DECK USED: ROMANTIC TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsFeb2022 Challenge Prompt
Philosophical Question for February 2
: What is the difference between living and being alive?

Tarot Eros: Garden of Love TarotReading Summary: In one lives security, comfort, and connection (Two of Cups and Three of Pentacles). In the other lives chasing after fleeting passions with everything you have (Ace of Wands and The Devil).

Take Away: It’s the story of style vs substance.  This reading didn’t ask which is better, it asked what the difference between the two is. Ultimately?  Neither is wrong or right, but there is a distinct difference.  One builds roots, the other is quick and always moving.  One builds connections, the other is constantly changing.

DECK USED: TAROT EROS GARDEN OF LOVE

Daily Self Kindness

I took a nap because I was tired and I think it was a good move, even if I kind of feel like I woke up a bit lower emotionally than where I was at when I laid down.

Quality Takes Time

Today’s meditation was done in the car as a passenger.  I was having a bit of car sickness and used the meditation and breathing exercises to help in keeping everything settled and calm.

Tarot de CarlotydesToday’s draw is the Seven of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of slow moving progress towards one’s goals, sustainability, success through hard work and patience, and reaping the rewards of your labors.

Here in today’s card, the imagery is very much about the reaping of one’s hard eared rewards.  A tree takes a long time to grow and begin to bear fruit.  Here, we see a figure harvesting the fruit of their labors and patience, a basket waiting to be filled. The tree, once fruit bearing, will bear fruit again and again, and with the water near by, has all that it needs to continue to offer bounty far into the future.

Today’s card is a reminder that just because patience is a part of the process doesn’t discount the hard work involved.  Instead, it adds power and energy to the cause, as patience is sometimes a form of labor all in itself. Don’t be  impatient to reap your rewards. Let them flourish into fruition and grow healthy and strong at their own pace and you will find that your patience pays off with a more bountiful reward and sweeter fruit.

DECK USED:  TAROT DE CARLOTYDES

#DiscordTarotholicsFeb2022 Challenge Prompt
Topic
: Do the Imbolc Spread

Tarot de CarlotydesWhat seeds need planted in my life right now?

Judgement – You  need to be less hard on yourself and look at things in a more positive light. Don’t allow negative outlooks to drag you down when there is so much to enjoy and celebrate in life.

What preparations do I need to begin making to prepare for their growth?

Three of Wands – Look at where you want to go and what you want to accomplish and remember that the only way to overcome obstacles (the thistle and the dragon) is to instill positivity into the situations that would otherwise drag you down.

What in my life is beginning a phase of reawakening and renewal?

Ten of Wands Rx – Letting go of the need to overburden yourself all of the time in order to feel useful or accomplished. There was an article in Lifehacker this week about Productivity Dysmorphia, and this is something that you struggle a lot with. Your awareness of this is a reawakening and the renewal comes with the awareness and ability to change this behavior for something healthier.

How can I best foster that awakening?

Nine of Swords – Remember that your internal narrative is not reality. Don’t chain yourself to those thoughts and allow them to take over.

DECK USED: TAROT DE CARLOTYDES

Daily Self Kindness

I relaxed in the passenger seat on the drive today.

Auto Pilot Wake-Up Call

Today’s meditation was skipped

Vicente Molina's Poker-TarotToday’s draw is the Nine of Clubs.  This deck is a hybrid between playing cards and tarot, and has some very unique aspects.  Normally, the Nine of Wands is a representation of boundaries and protecting what is important to you through boundaries and stalwart determination.

The Latin phrase “Knowledge and Hard Work” (Scientia Ac Labore) here shifts the meaning for me a little bit, as does the cup.  What I see here is more about putting in effort to gather what one strives for rather than protection.

Therefore, the message I see in today’s card is about work… about value.  It’s about what you choose to spend your time learning about and earning in life, and how much… is enough?  Are you working to be comfortable?  Or are you working to have your cup overflowing?  Is there a smarter way to go about the goals you’ve set for yourself?  It might be time to evaluate what you’ve been pouring so much time and effort into and decide if it’s really what you want to fill your cup with, or if you’re just acting out of obligation and the shadow of expectation.

DECK USED:  VICENTE MOLINA’S POKER-TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJan2022 Challenge Prompt
Topic
: Grab a spread of your choice that you’ve been curious about… and give it a go!

Vicente Molina's Poker-Tarot

What part of me needs replenishment?

Eight of Clubs – Your energy and motivation.  It’s been flagging just a bit and needs a boost.

What is standing in my way?

Ace of Clubs Rx – Your new passion is being discouraged. The furniture you need to buy is out of stock, and every time it has come in stock it goes out again before you have a chance to buy it. There’s plenty of other things that need done, but you are feeling discouraged.

Ways I can fill my cup.

Five of Diamonds Rx – Don’t look at these setbacks as “end of the road” problems. They aren’t.

Three of Clubs – Work on moving forward in other areas. There’s plenty of other things that need to be done in the interim.  No need to let it all pile up.  Chip away at those other things a little at a time.

Queen of Hearts Rx – Remember to be kind to yourself. This is a two-season project, not a short distance sprint. Beating yourself up is counterproductive.

DECK USED: VICENTE MOLINA’S POKER-TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

Well, I’m saying that the involuntary nap counts, even if it wasn’t actually a choice.

📆 Transitioning from January to February

Darkness of Light Tarot and Yoru no Sumi-E Dark Edition

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

Two of Coins and Shadow – You have been making small efforts to do shadow work, but at a careful pace that balances with the rest of your life and responsibilities. It’s not meant to be intense at this time. Don’t forget that baby steps are needed right now.

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

Three of Cups and Growth Rx – Careless abandon has been stunting your growth. This is especially relevant to “going too fast”. You spend so much of your time over the last couple of months of the year fighting to go fast, and faster.  Fast as you can.  It’s time to leave that mentality behind now.

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

Ace of Cups and Change – You don’t want to go through the same old thing again this year with the return of another depressive episode. Instead you want to change this cycle and replace it with something healthier and new. This change, like most things that are new and different, will take a bit of effort.

Limitations – Negative influences, opposition, or ill will.

Knight of Cups – There has been a distinct lack of empathy for yourself as you push yourself too hard to advance in your emotional growth. Last year this was especially true and you need to ensure that you don’t repeat this negative behavior again this year.

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

Seven of Coins and Loss – Just because you are taking things slow doesn’t mean that you’re going to lose out on anything. Remember that some things take time to grow, and make sure that you are looking at this process in a more positive light.

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

Two of Cups and Strength – You need to talk with Gideon and ensure that he is feeling stable and strong in your relationship. Your recent discussion of past issues may have stirred up some insecurities.

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

Page of Wands and Tranquility – Not all learning needs to be a fight or struggle. Take time to remember how good it feels to slip into “the flow” when experimenting with something creative and new.

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

Queen of Cups and Bind – Watch out for feelings of stagnancy. This is something you struggled with a lot last year through the spring and summer… and even a bit in the fall. You have the opportunity to avoid going through it again this year. (This is something to explore further, perhaps with a more in depth reading in this area later on.)

Empowerment – A future opportunity to work toward.

Death and Now – Although change takes time, this doesn’t mean you sit on your ass and wait for it. Be proactive in going after the changes you want to happen. The sooner you start, the more room you have to figure out hurdles and roadblocks that might pop up along the way.

Message from the Spirit World – There are changes to be made that reach far beyond the physical realm. (Amalthea is waiting, but she is also patient.) Don’t get discouraged and feel as if you are stuck when things need to move at a slower pace than you anticipate. Just do what you can in the now and the rest will come in its own time.

Message from the Mind’s World – Revelry has its place, but too much stunts your growth.  Focus on finding balance in your life and in your inner narrative. You don’t have to be rainbows and butterflies all the time, but you do need to give as much optimism and positivity to build up your mental health as your inner narrative is giving to try and pick it apart.

Message from the Physical World – You’re avoiding getting out in nature and finding that connection you need because of stalker issues.  Contact J and convince him to start going out with you into the trees again.  It might take some convincing, but you know that he’ll come along if for no other reason that he might get the chance to kick someone’s ass… which incidentally is his happy place in much the same way that the forest is yours.

DECKS USED: DARKNESS OF LIGHT TAROT AND YORU NO SUMI-E

The Ebb and Flow

Today’s meditation was skipped.

Black Violet TarotToday’s draw is the Wheel of Fortune, which is traditionally a representation of the ups and downs in life, the good and bad luck that comes and goes, and the lack of predictability that life has for us.

Like the ebb and flow of the cycles of the moon, and the tides that these cycles control, luck comes and goes.  We have a little luck some days, like a gentle high tide, and a lot of luck others like the king tide.  Some days we have a little bad luck, like a low tide… and other days we have a lot of bad luck like a spring tide.

Today’s card is a reminder that everything comes in cycles.  There is an ebb and flow to life, a give and take… and that includes our luck.

DECK USED:  BLACK VIOLET TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJan2022 Challenge Prompt
Topic
: Do Spread #4

Black Violet TarotHow do you most commonly misinterpret reading the cards for yourself?

Nine of Pentacles – Too often you jump to what more you can do, or what needs fixed or changed, instead of reading from a place of contentment in the moment.

How do you most commonly misinterpret reading the cards for others?

Three of Cups Rx – Seeing the querent as an individual instead of as a community that includes not just them, but also friends and family.

How can you improve at reading the cards so that it doesn’t keep happening?

Wheel of Fortune atop Queen of Swords Rx– Step yet further outside of yourself during readings in order to connect with others energies on a deeper level and more deeply understand a wider array of interpersonal connections and dynamics.

DECK USED: BLACK VIOLET TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I asked for what I needed… what I craved.  And Gideon gave me… just that.