self help with tarot cards

Emotional Intelligence

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and was a self-directed session based off a comic-strip graphic by the talented @hollyhatamillustration (click on image for full illustration)

The issues of finding a way to sit with your emotions is something that I’ve long struggled with. For a good part of my past, I worked to close my emotions down, bury them, and avoid them. This has left me with a very low intelligence when it comes to identifying or understanding my emotions.

Now that I’m trying to unpack them and -feel- them instead of letting them fester in a deep hole inside of me, it can often be overwhelming and confusing.  This “comic” strip helped me to see this process in a different light, and gave me a bit of direction in how to “sit with” my emotions.

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Metanoia Marseille - Five of WandsToday’s draw is the Five of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of conflict, tests, trials, and struggle in the area of one’s passions, drive, determination, principles, values, and willpower.

Combined with the topic of today’s meditation, what I see here is a reminder that just because something is difficult doesn’t mean it’s not worth it.  It can be hard to see beyond what you’re feeling in the moment, and difficult to grasp sometimes what you’re fighting for when the emotions you are feeling are confused or difficult to understand.

That doesn’t mean it’s not worth it to keep trying.

DECK USED:  METANOIA MARSEILLE

#DiscordTarotholicsMar2025 Challenge
Prompt for March 23 : Do Spread 2
Topic: The current “trouble maker” situation.

Tarot Reading with the BirdQueen Tarot

Reading Summary: Reach out to an impartial party for advice (The Hierophant) that the group can act upon (Three of Wands).

The Hierophant‘s staff and crown connect through color to the Three of Wands, and the Three of Wands connects to the flowers growing out of the skull in the anchor card. This speaks of an authority figure with advice to be offered that resides outside the current group. The current group being all of the same mind, but struggling to find a path to action.

The seahorse in the Princess of Cups also connects through color to the Three of Wands, where the coral in the background behind the seahorse connects to those same three flowers in the anchor card again. The way the seahorse is tangled up in the coral speaks of us in the group as having a struggle with an emotional connection to the topic at hand. Here, too in the little fish in the Princess of Cups is advice to seek outside council for a fresh perspective.

This says that each of us currently involved is emotionally a bit tangled in the issue (Princess of Cups).

Take Away: Reach out to the one who is absent for advice, for that is where you’ll find the answer you are seeking. They have the outside perspective that is needed, and the ability to present things objectively in a way that the rest of the group can’t right now.

Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Rosehips for Releasing Stress and Negativity
Foraged Ponderosa Pine Needles for Resilience and Adaptability
Foraged Red-Stemmed Feather Moss for Attentive Understanding
Moonstone for Emotional Stability
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: THE GRATITUDE ORACLE AND THE BIRDQUEEN TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

This is a catch-up post, which means I have no idea what my self-kindness was on this day

Moments of Brilliance

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Today’s meditation was eleven minutes long, and was one of the #DailtTrip sessions from the @Calm app. The topic for today’s session was about how distracting our thoughts can be, and how sometimes this is a good thing and not something to be avoided.

So often when meditating, the focus is on keeping your mind a blank slate. Empty and without thought. At times, though, that doesn’t necessarily need to be the case. The session for today introduced the concept of letting thoughts drift through your mind without interacting with them. As if they are “dancing elves” just passing through.  Entertaining, but not of consequence.

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Sassy Dragons Tarot NSFW Edition - King of SwordsToday’s draw is the King of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of a projective “alpha” energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s thoughts, intellect, education, ambitions, and communication. This often translates into themes that have to do with someone that has a way with words and is able to use those skills to lead others to their way of thinking, as well as those that are in authority on intellectual topics such as professors, doctors, etc.

You know how sometimes our best ideas come when we’re in the shower… or on the can… or driving.  Somewhere that doesn’t allow us to write them down, but we’re instead trapped in a situation where we have to try to hold onto them until we can log them somehow? What if, in these moments, instead of trying to grasp onto thoughts like sand sliding through our fingers, we allowed those thoughts to live there and watched where they lead instead of trying to capture and restrain them?

What if the power of our thoughts to bring us these things in our most inconvenient moments isn’t a weakness, but a superpower that allows us to see things from different perspectives and strategize using their wisdom instead?

When combined with the meditation for today, today’s card proposes that we use these moments of inconvenience to our advantage by building upon these thoughts, rather than trying to capture them and hold them still.

DECK USED:  SASSY DRAGONS TAROT NSFW EDITION

@Lionharts #TheMarchTarot The Power of Now Challenge
The Art of Surrender Prompts for March 16 – 22

Oracle Reading with the Cosmic Cats Oracle and Mythic Cats OracleI surrender to the wisdom of the present. What clarity can arise for me when i let go of expectations?

Faye the Faith – By letting go of expectations you put trust in yourself and the universe. This allows you to see that you do not have to control of every minute detail and every faucet of life. When you let go of your expectations, then you allow positive results to feel more like a gift rather than something you had to struggle for (and often a fluke when your inner narrative is whispering to you about not being enough). This allows you to embrace those good things more easily.

I embrace the unfolding of my journey. How can I lean into what is unfolding instead of trying to shape it?

Bastet the Protective Mother – Remember that a lot of the reasons that you try to force your will on the results is because you are trying to be protective over what you hold dear. Part of letting go means accepting that those things can either take care of themselves, nor are going to be snatched away just because you’re not being vigilant

I welcome the unknown with an open heart. What possibility will emerge when I release the need for certainty?

Oclelotl the Warrior – you are better able to adapt and pivot as needed when you’re not locked into the stagnancy of certainty. The allows you to react more calmly and creatively to obstacles and issues.

I release control and embrace presence. Where in my life can I soften my grip and just let things take their natural course?

Miktecathual de los Muertos – Mediumship requires a light touch, and sometimes no touch at all from you. Don’t worry about trying or advancement. Instead, just let things flow at their own pace and observe.

I trust in life’s unfolding. What shifts when I align with the flow?

Sagittarius the Archer – When you align with the flow of the world around you and life’s patterns, you feel less alone, even at times when you’re on your own. Instead of worrying about what’s going to happen, you are then more able to focus on the joy of the journey.

I let go of the weight of expectation. Where can I find freedom in surrender?

Libra the Scales – Those who know you know that you require balance and fairness in your life. They can be trusted to help further this goal and provide for this need without you needing to be the arbitrator of every moment.

I surrender to my highest path. What am I opening myself up to when i trust that everything is unfolding for my highest good?

Catankhmun the Mummy – When you trust that everything is unfolding for your highest good, you open yourself up to the ability to better deal with the unpleasantries of your past, as well as prepare for the future.

Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Japanese Maple Leaves for Balance and Practicality
Smoky Quartz Crescent Moon for Introspection and Emotional Balance
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: COSMIC CATS ORACLE AND MYTHIC CATS ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

This is a catch-up post, which means I have no idea what my self-kindness was on this day

The Confines of Fear

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and was one of the #DailyCalm sessions from the Calm app. I can’t remember what the topic of today’s meditation was about, but am distracted by the image in the graphic for today’s session and the pods or crud or… whatever it is in between the “petals” of the plant’s bloom in the upper left quadrant. I’m squicked out by poppy seed pods, and this?  This triggers that same squick factor for me.

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The Healing Tarot - The Moon CardToday’s draw is the Moon card, which is traditionally a representation of uncertainty, illusion, anxiety, fear, the unknown, and the subconscious.

What really stood out to me in this card when I drew it this morning is the “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” that is a part of the hermit crab shell in the foreground.

Sometimes, when we’re afraid? We hide. This is a natural human reaction, but if we do that too often, what ends up happening is we end up hiding from everything.

The Moon card today is a reminder that sometimes we have to come out of our shell, even when we don’t want to because we’re scared.  Fear of the unknown can be restrictive to the point of our detriment if we let it, and if we don’t allow ourselves to confront our fears, those restrictions will become tighter and tighter around us until we can no longer move at all.

DECK USED:  THE HEALING TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsMar2025 Challenge
Philosophical Questions for March

Philosophical Questions Oracle Reading with the Tea Time OracleIs patience an inherent virtue, or is it learned behavior?

Rose Tea – Patience is one of those things that we have to learn, usually through a desire for a certain outcome or results. After we have experienced the rewards of patience and grace, it allows us to more easily embrace the concept. [Learned]

Is happiness an inherent desire, or is it a desire that’s learned?

Apple Crisp Tea – Once we have experienced happiness in one form or another, it becomes a focus of our desires from that day forth. Happiness feels good, and it’s natural for us to then gravitate towards those things that feel good and lift our spirits. (Inherent and Learned)

Is generosity an inherent quality, or is it learned behavior?

Sun Tea – Through experience we come to understand the importance of supporting each other, and how through that system of support people (ourselves included) don’t just make do or survive, but thrive. (Learned)

Is courage an inherent trait, or is it learned behavior

Sweet Tea – Courage is in acting not due to what is expected of you, but what comes naturally. It isn’t the absence of fear, but rather that there is “stronger stuff” within you that spurs you to act despite that fear. (Inherent)

Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Hiba Tips for Grounding and Revitalization
Rose Quartz for Gentle Kindness to Self and Others
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: TEA TIME ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

This is a catch-up post, which means I have no idea what my self-kindness was on this day.

Unseen Machinations

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

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The Unveiled Tarot - Eight of SwordsToday’s draw is the Eight of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of willful ignorance, self imposed struggle or restraint, self limiting beliefs, negative inner narratives, self pity, and victimized mentality.

I am a big fan of this card. It reminds me of the whole operation room thing where they keep you awake (if numbed out of your gourd) while they work on you.

This card is a reminder that there are things going on that you can’t see.  That doesn’t mean you need to worry about them, but rather to let go and -not- worry about them.  It means that sometimes you have to let go and let things develop on their own without your meddling fingers in the mix, trusting that there are other fingers taking up the slack and guiding things to their rightful end even without you’re help. The surgeon during the operation doesn’t need your assistance, and sometimes? Neither does the universe.

This can be really difficult, especially for anyone with control issues like myself. That’s why we need these reminders, right?

DECK USED:  THE UNVEILED TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsMar2025 Challenge
Prompt for March 20 : Do the Spring Equinox Spread

Spring Equinox Oracle Reading with the Ceccoli Oracle

Tulips: Where do I need to practice forgiveness to foster stronger loyalty?

Motivation – Sometimes when things fall apart, you need to look at the motivation behind what’s going on rather than just paying attention to the easily observed actions of others. When you see their motivation, it can be at times easier to forgive those things that you would otherwise hold a grudge on.

Robin: How can I give myself more compassion and patience?

Plenty – A mentality of scarcity makes you punish yourself too much and far too hard. Take stock of what you have and be happy with it, rather than always pushing for more. Remember how fortunate you truly are and how much you actually have.

Rose Quartz: How can I be more open to offering unconditional love to others?

Passivity – Remember that you need other people in your life. You can’t do everything yourself and shouldn’t have to. Your discomfort with other people and your own vulnerabilities makes you want to put up shields and distance yourself, but when you’re feeling that urge you need to focus on softening and allow them in instead.

Aquamarine: What do I need to help me to stay calm and courageous in the face of adversity?

Vigilance – Stay aware and watchful of what’s going on around you. When you close your eyes and try to ignore your surroundings, it doesn’t just allow you to ignore the thing that’s bugging you, but also disorients you to everything else around you as well.

Butterfly: What sort of transformation is waiting for me this spring?

Retreat – When things go unexpectedly, you will be given the opportunity to learn how to retreat gracefully, rather than in the grips of panic mode. Allow yourself to retreat instead of trying to stand strong or reacting without thought.

Clover: Where in life will luck play into protecting me from potential harm?

Lamentation – Don’t let your worries over what might happen make you regret holding back. The “what ifs” are a product of your imagination, not reality, and holding back only leaves room for regrets later on.

Rabbit: How can I encourage more abundance in my life this spring?

Advice – Take uninvited advice from others into consideration this spring. You may not have welcomed them or their words into your life, but they may just have a point that you’re otherwise missing if you don’t listen.

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

DECK USED: CECCOLI ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

This is a catch up post, and I’m not entirely sure what the self kindness was for this day.

Finding the Positive for March 17 – 19

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Card of the Day Tarot Readings with the Faerie Tarot (Eight of Swords and Judgement card), Green Trace Tarot (Page of Swords), and The Cloud Tower Tarot (Knight of Swords)

March 17 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was eleven minutes long, and was one of the #DailyTrip sessions from the @Calm app. The topic of today’s session was about the benefits of stillness.  That is to say, the benefits that can be garnered by taking a moment when things feel loud or chaotic to just take a step back and breathe for a minute.  To feel the stillness within yourself in that moment, and then return to the world refreshed from visiting that momentary  sense of inner stillness.

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Today’s draw is the Eight of Swords atop the Judgement card.

  • The Eight of Swords card is traditionally a representation of self-imposed limitations and beliefs, closed mindedness, inflexibility, self pity, and restrictive thinking.
  • The Judgement card is traditionally a representation of looking back on one’s history and reflecting upon if they are happy with all that they have done and become in life, as well as getting in touch with one’s true calling, and themes to do with forgiveness and absolution.

When these cards are combined with the topic of today’s meditation,  there is a reminder here that although we are not always at our best?  We can be better by taking a moment to check in with ourselves and making sure we are still moving in the direction of our chosen path.

It’s easy sometimes to get sidetracked by thoughts of defeat or lack of confidence. Listening to our negative inner narratives can tear us down and make us blind to anything but the hard stuff and struggles.  In these cards is the reminder that when we realize we are struggling, it’s time to step back, pause, and re-orient ourselves.  Remember where we are wanting to go in life and the person we want to become, and make sure that our moment of struggle doesn’t draw us off that path and into the weeds.

DECK USED: FAERIE TAROT

March 18 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and was one of the #DailyCalm sessions in the @Calm app. The topic for today’s session was about the boon of being wrong.

I am a fan of this session, and I’ve meditated to it before in the past.  The idea here is that it’s when we’re wrong that we learn and grow, as long as we’re willing to be open to being wrong and learning from the experience.

I know a lot of people who struggle to admit when they’re wrong, but this has never really been a problem for me personally.  I like learning new things, and if that means someone proves me wrong in order for me to learn them?  That’s fine with me. It means in being wrong I’ve now gained more knowledge and experience than I would have in not trying at all.

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Today’s draw is the Page of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of a receptive omega energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s thoughts, intellect, logic, ambitions, and communication. This often translates into themes that have to do with learning new ways to communicate with others, beginning new educational pursuits, exploring new ideas. and seeking to sate one’s curiosity.

Combined with the topic of today’s meditation, the message I see in this card today is about the learner’s mind. The Pages, when you really boil down to it, are students.  You can’t be open to learning new things and experimentation with concepts and ideas if you’re mind is closed to being wrong. It just doesn’t work.

The card for today, therefore, is a reminder that it’s okay to be wrong. It’s part and parcel of the process of exploration and experimentation.  It’s nothing to be ashamed of or resistant to, just open up and absorb the new knowledge it provides… and keep going!

DECK USED: GREEN TRACE TAROT

March 19 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and was one of the #DailyCalm sessions in the @Calm app.

The session for today explored a technique for dealing with difficult or intense emotions created by a man named Michael Stone, who used the French word “sain” (meaning healthy or wholesome) as an acronym for the practice.

S – Stop – Taking a moment to stop and identify that you are experiencing an emotion.

A – Allow – Allowing yourself to feel that emotion rather than trying to push it away or bury it.

I – Investigate – Explore how this emotion affect you physically? Where do you feel it in your body?

N – Non-Identification – “I am feeling frustration” rather than “I am frustrated” in order to keep yourself from becoming more deeply entrenched what you are feeling. This keeps us from being swept up in the emotion.

In using this method, the session indicates that we can better identify our emotions and deal with them rather than using unhealthy coping mechanisms, or getting so wrapped up in our emotions that they control us.

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Today’s draw is the Knight of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of a projective and active “beta” energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s thoughts, intellect, education, ambitions, and communication. This often translates into themes that have to do with pursuing one’s goals related to their education, actively seeking one’s goals, action and decisiveness, and at times can indicate impulsivity without thinking things through.

The combination of today’s meditation session with this card speaks of a need to stop and think rather than act.  It speaks of the dangers of being impulsive, when what we want to do is learn and understand ourselves better.  This is something that can’t be done in a hurry.  Learning about ourselves, familiarizing ourselves with our difficult emotions? It’s not something that can be rushed.

Introducing logic and an intellectual side to this learning process allows to slow down and examine rather than allowing our emotions to overtake us and take logic away.  It’s not like intuition, where logic gets in the way. Instead, logic helps us shift out of the grip of our emotions, and thus examine thing and process them with a calmer perspective.

DECK USED: THE CLOUD TOWER TAROT

Start Now

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and was one of the #DailyCalm sessions from the @Calm app. The topic of today’s session was about self-care. Specifically, how when we connect more strongly with our own needs, taking good care of our physical bodies, this in turn allows us to connect more strongly with others as well.

This is because in order to connect with others, and specially to do so in a supportive role, we first have to support our own health and well being.  If we do not keep up our own health and strength, we are far less effected as a support for others. We break down easier and faster, we struggle more.

Only when we respect our own body’s needs does our body then allow us to extend ourselves in a strong and healthy way to also help or support others.

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Westwood Tarot - Eight of WandsToday’s draw is the Eight of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of action, speed, alacrity, fast paced events or change, or having a target goal in your sights that you are charging towards.

This card today, when taken in relation to the meditation session done this morning, is essentially saying “hey! put your focus here because this is for you! get on it!”

In other words, today I am being called out on not taking as good care of myself as I should… and the card is asking us to reflect on how we can care for ourselves better. What can we do now that can support our health and well-being?

Not only is this card asking us to reflect on this topic, though.  It is telling us to get moving on it.  Act, rather than simply think about it.  Touch grass if you need to touch grass. Go cloud watching if you need to cloud watch.  Stretch and move if you need to stretch and move.  Give yourself what you need to be healthy and strong. Stop procrastinating about it.

DECK USED:  THE WESTWOOD TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsMar2025 Challenge
Prompt for March 16 : Do Spread 3

Oracle Reading with the Dragon Crystal Channeling Cards by Shingo and Yayoi

What to leave behind along with the winter’s chill.

Garnet – It’s time to set aside your feelings of aloneness. The garnet dragons are the dragons of co-creation. They speak of going after your dreams because when your dreams are accomplished, even though they may seem like selfish goals, make the world a better place as a whole. That means that the universe is on your side in accomplishing your dreams and so is the world around you.  You are never alone and on your own, so stop allowing your inner voice to tell you that you are.

What to take with you into the spring.

Azetulite – Clarity, purpose, and trust are the themes that you need to focus on bringing with you into spring. The Azetulite dragon asks you to trust both that you will get through struggles and come out the other side better for it, as well as in yourself and your path. Within you a better sense of clarity is awakening. Run with it, and don’t let the growing pains involved turn you off course.

What needs exposed to the light and the world this spring.

Sunstone – From the sunstone dragon you are being given a reminder that your strength and passion will get you through obstacles both large and small. Lean into your passions and let them help you burn your way through those things that stand in your way.  That passion within you is powerful. Let it shine.

What needs kept close for further contemplation and meditation.

Azrite – Your mediumship practice is still relatively new. The azrite dragon urges you to be open to listening closely to not just the cards as your familiar and trusted way to communicate, but all of your senses and sensations as well. There is a myriad of ways to communicate that you could be missing by focusing too hard on just one or two. Study and contemplate. No further action is needed at this time.

Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Wood Fern for Exorcising Negative Influences
Pressed Pansy Flowers for for Hearing the Heart More Clearly
Rose Quartz for Gentle Kindness to Self and Others
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: DRAGON CRYSTAL CHANNELING CARDS

Daily Self Kindness

I went back to bed for a bit after my morning work was done.