self help with tarot cards

Self Care Saturday (On a Sunday)

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

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?

SCS

Earth – Temperance, Knight of Swords, Fox – Don’t get to cocky in bounding forward after my goals this week. Not all of the obstacles will be of my own making and I might need some cunning and careful planning to make things come out in my favor.

Air – The Tower, Page of Swords, Seed – Bright ideas will abound this week, but make sure you do your homework and spend the week preparing, rather than jumping on board right away, in order to ensure these ideas don’t fall apart before they can even get started.

Water – Two of Cups and Ship – You need to take this week to connect with and communicate with Gideon, and allow him to participate in finding balance for you.  It’s time to open up. Stop hiding.  You (and both, as well) can’t move forward until you do.

Fire – Ace of Cups and Bridge – Communication (as outlined in the previous cards in this spread) will assist in creating a reconciliation and foundation for new and better things to rise up in the weeks ahead.

Waning – Trust – You need to move away from a position of blind faith for the week ahead.  Things are not going to fix themselves, and nothing is going to get resolved unless you are willing to do more than remaining inactive and waiting. 

Waxing – The Three Poisons – You need to lean into self awareness this week.  Accept that you have faults and take steps to mitigate their effects on not just other’s lives but also your own. This does not mean being down on yourself and your faults and beating them into submission.  Instead, to defeat one’s faults requires killing them with kindness and understanding.

Take Away – Communication and allowing Gideon to dig is the theme of the week.  It’s time to excavate the issues still lingering and get them out into the open, whatever those issues may be.

DECKS USED: HIDE TAROT, RETRORACLE, BUDDHISH ORACLE

 

Finding the Path Forward

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

IMG_2723Today’s meditation was just over ten minutes long and focused upon not allowing yourself to get so caught up in “following the herd” that you lose track of your own autonomy.

This is not something that I have a problem with, but it is a trap that I see people fall into all the time.  Peer pressure is a real thing, and just because it’s not something I personally find myself swayed by doesn’t mean that it’s not permeated in those around me.  I see people all the time do things that they readily admit are not right for them… but yet do them anyway because it is expected of them or they have been pressured into it.

Perhaps I am simply too stubborn?  It is not as if I haven’t experienced such pressures.  My father pushed them on me on a daily basis…. I just chose not to let them influence my choices.   Then again, I am the one that constantly thinks nothing I do is quite good enough, yes?  So maybe he managed to wriggle his way in there after all.

Three of Clouds - Majestic Earth TarotToday’s draw is the Three of Clouds, which is the equivalent of the Three of Swords in the regular RWS tarot.

Although in this imagery I see the jagged rocks like ragged teeth chomping at the sky, a dangerous and deadly peril to all that try to pass through them… what I also see is the ripple of light upon the water.

The message in today’s draw is that even in the roughest of times, even when things look their darkest and the struggle is at its greatest, there is still hope.   There is still a light that will guide you forward, even in those hardest of times.  Like the rippling light on the water’s surface shows the way to shore, there is a path to freedom from these difficult times, sometimes you just have to be willing to take your time to get there.

DECK USED:  MAJESTIC EARTH TAROT

#TarotForGrowthFebruary Challenge Prompt
Question: How can I improve my relationship with my work?

Stretch Tarot

Reading Summary:  I need to spend more time looking at my work as fun (Knight of Wands) and allow the spark of joy creating can give (Knight of Cups) carry me away (The Chariot).

Take Away:  When I went through the month of January saturated in the effects of my buried fear tucked down deep within my gut?  I lost a lot of the joy that comes with my work and the creative process.  To have a better relationship with my work, I need to focus on rediscovering that joyful spark that creativity and manifestation of beautiful things can give me.

DECK USED:  STRETCH TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsFeb2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: Do Spread #2
How can I ease my recent increase in anxiety?’

Hush Tarot

Reading Summary: Let it out (colors flow from dark to light to red, speaking of a transition from mellow and murky to a chaos of… outburst.  This impression is further reinforced by the Owl that seems to protect and shelter, and then the one crow in freedom before the trio that are in chaos.   These patterns follow what it feels like to me to go from holding something inside, to deciding I need to let it out, to the chaos of actually allowing whatever it is out into the open to speak about it with others.

There is also the element within the first card that speaks not just of shelter but danger.  The mouse clings for dear life.  The skull is buried and embedded within the clock.  You can only box things up for so long.    In the second card the bird is among the weeds looking out at freedom.  In the third, freedom has been found, but in order to find it, there is a need to accept chaos and allow it to run its course.

Take Away:  If I want the anxiety I’ve been experiencing lately (especially in the morning when waking up) to ease, I need to stop suppressing the things that are bothering me and get them out in the open. It will feel uncomfortable and chaotic, but sometimes the calm of suppression is far worse for you.

DECK USED:  HUSH TAROT

Owl and Bones February Two Card Challenge
Question: When am I a fish out of water? / When am I in my element?

WWI Propaganda Posters TarotWhen am I a fish out of water? :  Rivalry and competition cause me to retreat in exhaustion.  Although I am able to hold my own just fine, it brings me no joy or sense of accomplishment.

When am I in my element? :  When helping others.  I feel a deep sense of peace and accomplishment when I am able to help others and find ways to assist them on their path.

DECK USED:  WWI PROPAGANDA POSTERS TAROT

 

Ride It Out Instead of Fighting

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

IMG_2713Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and was focused upon worrying and how it can so often be a useless endeavor.   I see worry spiral out of control all the time.  Somehow, I seem to attract people that have a worrier’s mind.  They pick up a worry like it’s a tiny little seed, and in their mind it takes root and grows like an invasive species until it fills up every nook and cranny of their minds.

This type of worry isn’t helpful, although some of those “what ifs” can come in helpful in preparing for the unknown.   But what it really does is raise anxiety and work the person up to the point that they can’t sleep and can’t get their mind onto anything else.

I have to admit, though… my own habit of ignoring issues is also not good.  The key is to find a happy medium.

Five of Wands and Six of Wands - Tarot of the Hidden RealmToday’s draw is a double without a jumper, which means that both cards came out together as one.  The cards in today’s draw are the Five of Wands and the Six of Wands (and, yes, this deck is very, very thoroughly shuffled).

What I see here in the cards is that sometimes you have to surrender to the chaos.   I don’t really do “chaos” all that well.  Change?  Sure… it’s difficult but I’m okay with riding it out.  Chaos, on the other hand…. I do not ride out very well.  It causes a lot of stress and anxiety and is just all around unpleasant.

BUT… it happens.  It may actually even be necessary for human development and progress.  I just need to remember that when it comes calling, not to fight so hard against it.  It’s natural… it’s temporary… and it’ll be okay.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE HIDDEN REALM

#TarotForGrowthFebruary Challenge Prompt
Question: What is my relationship with my work?

Oriens Tarot

Reading Summary: When I look at this spread, I see an undercurrent of the depths of the sea within the cards on either side, and the lifting up and surfacing of the center cards as being on a layer above.    Lower layer is cold, hard sea…. upper layer (center cards) is the rising to the surface and the light.

In juggling responsibilities (Two of Pentacles) and that inner spark of new inspirations (Ace of Wands),  I am working on rising above and letting go (Eight of Cups) of  what isn’t working and is holding me back from my aspirations (Ten of Pentacles Rx).

DECK USED:  ORIENS TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsFeb2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: What is one of my least positive qualities?

Britt's Third Eye Tarot

Reading Summary: I’m a bastard about telling myself that I’m not doing well enough and or not contributing enough.  These cards are in reference to my self-judgement (Judgement) of my performance and abilities (Knight of Swords), and my inability to ever accept that I’m doing enough (Four of Pentacles).

Take Away: Accurate.  I’m actively working on being more accepting of myself and the products of my skills and abilities, and yet.. I am very much my own worst critic.  The cards are calling me out on this specifically in relation to my work and the product of my work.

DECK USED:  BRITT’S THIRD EYE TAROT

Owl and Bones February Two Card Challenge
Question: Elevate this / Calm the fuck down here

The Hide TarotElevate This :  This card speaks of playing to my strengths concerning helping others.  This is something that brings me a lot of enjoyment and a great deal of pleasure.  I like helping others find what’s right for them, and helping them find their path.   This card speaks to that ability, and my enjoyment of it.

Calm the fuck down here :  Ease up on myself concerning my accomplishments.  The cards have told me this a lot lately, but I need to accept that I don’t have to do everything at once, and nothing requires being done right this instant.  It’s okay to take my time and take things slow.

DECK USED:  HIDE TAROT

Perseverance

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s meditation has yet again been non-existent.  I just didn’t sleep well last night and lying down to do it was a bad idea considering everything I needed to get home today.  Clearly that was the best choice, as when I took a “short nap” after getting home?  I overslept by a whole two hours.   I’ll try to meditate before sleep tonight when I crawl into bed, but I really need to get back on top of doing this first thing in the morning.

Nine of Trees - Majestic Earth TarotToday’s draw is the Nine of Trees.  I have a hard time remembering the suits in this deck, but the elemental symbol indicates that this is the fire suit (wands).  That said, I did my read off of the card before my brain kicked in to work that out.

What I see in today’s card is a build off of yesterday’s message about keeping i mind the long term view and goals and not getting too caught up “in the moment”.   When I see that tree standing strong and tall on the cliff, it also makes me think of taking the long view.

It’s about the strength that is built over time and perseverance.  Struggles and strain happens, but by working through them you build strength.  Stress is not necessarily good for you… neither are car accidents, violent attacks, etc.   BUT, they do benefit you in building upon your strength and giving you a chance to grow and develop from these hardships.   That is true for communities as well.

DECK USED:  MAJESTIC EARTH TAROT

#TarotForGrowthFebruary Challenge Prompt
Question: How can I improve my relationship with the present?

Button Soup Tarot

Reading Summary:  Don’t allow moments of self doubt and lack of faith (The Star Rx) cause so much stress and strain (Nine of Wands) that I retreat into myself (Hermit) or you will end up feeling overwhelmed and burnt out (Seven of Wands Rx).

Side Note: I don’t usually read reversals, but with this deck… it just felt right.   So I left them in.  It’s something about how the imagery changed in the upside-down position.

Take Away:  The pattern mentioned in the cards is something that is very common for me and I need to watch out for it and make sure I don’t end up tripping over that pitfall.

DECK USED:  BUTTON SOUP TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsFeb2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: What in my life makes me feel the most thankful at this time?

Sola Busca Revisited Tarot

Reading Summary:  The opportunities presented to me to improve my way of life (Knight of Coins), and the help of my friends to assist me in that and uplift me (Three of Cups) when I am feeling overtaken and overwhelmed (Five of Wands).

Take Away:  I really do have an amazing support system of people who care about and love me to help me in times of need, whether those times are when I am pushing towards my goals, or in times when I am feeling things have gotten out of control.

DECK USED:  SOLA BUSCA TAROT REVISITED BY TAROTBYSEVEN

Owl and Bones February Two Card Challenge
Question: Where can I be more creative? / Where am I being deluded?

Golden Klimt TarotWhere can I be more creative? :  I need to remember what the shrink said when I went to visit her. Maybe now isn’t the best time to restructure how I am doing the business.  With the fear thing and feeling overwhelmed, adding that other aspect and smothering out my creative spark is probably not the best course of action.

Where am I being deluded? :  This pretty much carries over from the previous card.  I’ve taken off a bigger bite than I’m able to chew and I need to step back and look at taking smaller steps… smaller bites… and not expecting everything to be done immediately.   Allow myself a longer time-frame for getting things done.

DECK USED:  GOLDEN TAROT OF KLIMT

 

The Long View

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s been kind of a clusterfuck of a day, and I haven’t managed to meditate yet, although I did give it a couple of tries throughout the day.   I will try for it again when I go to bed here in a bit.

Seven of Pentacles - Tarot of the Hidden RealmToday’s draw is the Seven of Pentacles, which I felt was pretty fitting for today considering the drama that went on (and has been going on over the last few days) on the Discord server.

The appearance of the Seven of Pentacles is to remember to take the “long view” of the situation and the community as a whole.   Yes, there’s drama right now… but it’s temporary.   The building and maintaining of a community is more than just a moment or a few days.  It’s built over time and adaptation and it’s a learning process.   Over time, that community grows and evolves, develops and strengthens.  Part of that process is the times of drama and difficulty.

The card is a reminder that the drama is temporary, and the focus needs to lie on what’s ahead and what is being built, instead of getting too wrapped up in the moment.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE HIDDEN REALM

#TarotForGrowthFebruary Challenge Prompt
Question: What is my relationship with the present?

Hush Tarot

Reading Summary: There is a resistance to change going on (Six of Swords), and although I’m longing inner happiness and trying to find the path to seeking it (Nine of Cups, I’m having trouble letting go and it’s making moving on a struggle (Five of Cups). I might need to look at balancing the negatives and positives of the moment, rather than trying to overcome the negatives involved (Two of Pentacles).

Take Away:  The reading is about roadblocks and hurdles.  It’s about struggling to find a way forward and having trouble with moving forward. I’m still feeling quite stuck, even after identifying the fear issue.  That struggle is reflected in the cards, along with the suggestion of a different perspective concerning it (ie: balance as opposed to trying to overcome).

DECK USED:  HUSH TAROT

Self Care Saturday (On a Sunday)

/ Twist the Leaf / Leave a comment

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?

SCS

Earth – Queen of Pentacles and 8 of Clubs / Moss Woman (Tread Carefully) – You have somewhere to be and some fierce energy to get you there, but you need to remember to take it slow and careful.  Your steps toward stability and a place of comfort and ease are going to take some time.  Don’t rush it.

Air – Seven of Spears and 4 of Clubs / Faerie Collector (Luck) – You might feel like you need to play defense this week, but remember that luck is on your side and as long as you keep your stable footing, everything is going to be okay.

Water – The Hermit and 3 of Hearts / Beauty in the Bark (Dangerous Emotions) – Don’t allow yourself to sink into feelings of being the “odd man out” in group situations this week. That feeling creeps up at the most unexpected times, but it’s a lying whisper in your ear and not based in reality.

Fire – Two of Spears and 5 of Clubs / Faerie Magic (Energy Power) – There’s going to be some opposition during the week, but just stay on task and keep your goals in mind as you go forward into the week. Plow forward and you’ll leave the struggles in your dust.

Waning – Ginkgo – Work on letting go of the past and letting go of the issues that were spurred from past trauma.  Holding onto these memories and emotions isn’t doing you (or anyone else) any good.

Waxing – Baobab – Take refuge in the present and don’t push too hard towards the future this week.  It’s okay to take some time and savor the now.

Take Away –  This week is a time of transition.  The fear from the letter, the issues with father that were raised in the fall, all of these things need to be set aside.  Not buried, but set aside.  It’s not as easy as it sounds, but something’s gotta give, and it’s better to release than have bones shatter by holding on too tightly.

DECKS USED: HUSH TAROT, FAERIES OF THE FOREST CARDS, WISDOM OF THE TREES ORACLE