self help

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?

The Gentle Tarot, Dear Heart Oracle v.II, Nature & Soul Yoga Wisdom Oracle

Earth – Temperance and Letting Go – You need to make sure that you’re letting go of your responsibilities this week and just being in the now. Get in contact with your spirituality and use this time to find your center. Don’t allow stress concerning your responsibilities set you off-balance.

Air – Ten of Wands, Inspired, Balance – There’s going to be lots of brilliant ideas this week, and lots of ideas on what you should be doing with this time, but you need to remember that this week is meant to be a time of rest in order to restore balance. Write down your ideas and set them aside so that they don’t overwhelm you.

Water – The World and Awakening – Focus your emotional energy upon what makes you feel complete. This means spending time with Gideon, but it also means making sure that you’re doing the things that nurture your soul in other ways as well. Allow this week off, combined with letting go of responsibility, to give your emotions room to stretch and grow.

Fire – Nine of Thunder atop Flower of Stones, Secrets – This week your passions should be focused upon self-care and making sure that you’re getting the recovery time and relaxation that you need, not on work on the business. Don’t sneak around doing business shit when you shouldn’t be doing any of it at all right now.

Waning – Camel (Fortitude) – Now is not the time to push through and force yourself to go the extra mile.  Take your time off for what it is, time off.  Not time to catch up on other shit or get things done you have put off for “when it’s more convenient”.

Waxing – Dove (Open Heart) – Be open and receptive this week.  You don’t have to guard yourself so harshly or keep everyone at arms length.  Relax your guard a bit and trust Gideon and others to take up the slack in this area while you are giving yourself a bit of a break.

Take Away – Rest and recovery is the theme of the week this week. This includes not sneaking about doing work when no one is looking.  You need to allow this week to be about you and taking care of yourself.  Give your body, mind, and emotions the rest that they need.

DECKS USED:  THE GENTLE TAROT, DEAR HEART ORACLE v.II, NATURE & SOUL YOGA WISDOM 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?

Spirit Speak Tarot, Untamed Truth Oracle, Small Spirits Oracle

Earth – Ace of Cups atop Eight of Pentacles, Passion – There’s nothing wrong with taking joy in the process of manifestation and you can be both responsible and sink into that pleasure and allow it a place in your heart.  Try connecting more to that pleasure as you work, and the peace and spark of passion that it can bring with each beautiful thing you create for the people that order from your shop.  It doesn’t have to feel so much like work.

Air – The Hermit and The Unknown – Don’t go out alone right now. Being alone now may be tempting, but you need to remember that at the moment that urge could be more about self destruction than it is about healthy solitude. Having someone along on your excursions for the time being isn’t a bad thing, even if it’s not what you really want. That solitude you crave isn’t exactly healthy at the moment, so let your escorts keep you safe… both from yourself as well as from the potential stalker that decided to let itself be known.

Water – Page of Wands and Imagination – Here, like in the Earth position, we have an encouragement to bring your emotions into the creative process.  You love learning new techniques and different creative pursuits.  Allow there to be an emotional element to your imaginative endeavors and creative process.  There’s much to explore and there’s no reason to leave your emotions out of the equation when they can add another colorful element to the cause.

Fire – Death and Fuck It – The Selaginella lepidophylla is what is depicted in the Death card’s imagery, and is a reminder that changes aren’t always bad. Sometimes they’re just a part of life and we need to set back and enjoy the ride, wait for the water that will regenerate and renew, fill up the space of what was once dry and thought dead.  The “Fuck It” card is also a reminder of this…. but rather instead of a reminder of the changes, it’s a reminder that you have to “set back and enjoy the ride”. Sometimes letting go is the only thing you can do.  So take a breath and a step back, and let shit ride for now… see where it goes from here without trying to control every step along the way.

Waning – Thorn Bug – Defensive adaptation towards greater protection may be needed, but you need to make sure that you don’t go overboard.  This theme is carried forward from the Air position above and speaks of a need for judiciousness and care for your safety without going overboard.  Do what is necessary to stay safe, but not to the point that you end up feeling as if you are in a cage.

Waxing – Gnat – Inspiration is thick in the air this week and it may feel a little overwhelming with it all coming at you at once.  Make sure that you are writing down ideas as they come, break them apart into pieces that are easier to pursue and process.  Do a little at a time.

Take Away – There are two themes to the upcoming week.  One is to not take for granted the danger that is present and make sure you are protecting yourself without going overboard at it.  The other is about your imagination and inspiration, and beginning the research and exploration process towards your ideas. Write everything down, and you’ll be able to explore at a slower pace and enjoy the process more.  That enjoyment is extremely important right now, so don’t discount the need for it or take it for granted.

DECKS USED:  SPIRIT SPEAK TAROT, UNTAMED TRUTH ORACLE, SMALL SPIRITS ORACLE

Transitioning from April to May

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Linescape Tarot and Metaphoric Therapy Cards

Individuality – Seven of Pentacles – It can often be difficult to remember that others do not judge you as harshly as you judge yourself.  You’ve come a long way in your growth and in grounding yourself in this knowledge, but you also still have a long way to go.  No one is staring at you.  Promise.  They want to accept you and love you, just as you are.

Dependence – High Priestess – Let go of the chaos and your intuition will become better grounded. All that anxiety is like a tornado turning your world upside down and making it hard to find the balance and stability needed for your intuitive self to grow and thrive.

Creativity – Ace of Swords atop Five of Cups – Overcoming hopelessness with new ideas is something you excel at and need to lean into moving forward.  Don’t linger in the disappointments, sadness, and negativity.  Instead pull yourself free with the “fresh air breeze” of new ideas and allow them to lift you up into a new path when needed.

Limitation – Emperor – It can be hard to relate to people in power sometimes. Sometimes they display behavior that has been trained into them, like police or border agents being overly aggressive without provocation. Keep in mind that these types of behavior are not a reflection on you or anything that you are doing, but rather a tactic meant to put you on edge.  Stay calm and rise above.

Change – Two of Swords – Pay attention and listen closely.  Opportunities to allow your passions to thrive are coming, and it may feel like their out of reach but they’re not.  It will simply take some careful listening, creative thinking, and a bit of discernment and decisive decision making to get you where you want to go.

Sympathy – Seven of Swords – Family betrayals. Broken promises and broken trusts have created in you a feeling of distrust and entanglement that is primed to rise to the surface and needs some attention to get under control. You’ve made a good deal of progress in making peace with your father and your past in this area, but it doesn’t really cover the whole “family” aspect of the thing, does it?

Luck – The Fool – Use the joy and bolstering sense of elation that comes with your accomplishments to lift you up and give you fresh eyes and fresh energy.  You have a lot to be grateful for and a lot to be proud of.  Don’t discount these things just because it’s you that has earned them and not someone else.

Power – Four of Pentacles – Having your wings clipped is painful and it can ground you when you’d be far happier taking flight.  Be careful that you don’t create a situation where you are left feeling alone and hurt because you clipped your own wings and grounded yourself to the point that grounding is no longer a boon, but instead becomes a trap.

Responsibility – Empress – Don’t leave anyone behind.  Sometimes we get so distracted in one thing that we end up losing focus on other things.  This is true about people, about projects, interests, and even physical items. You’re being given an opportunity to find a balance that spreads your nurturing in an even and healthy way. Make sure that you continue to keep this goal in mind moving forward.

Message from Spirit World – From gray days of suppression, discomfort, and what seems like insurmountable barriers, you’ve done well at trusting your instincts and seeking out what suits you best in life. Make sure that you do not lose sight of these things moving forward.  There is a place for the things you feel are important in the balance you seek.  Just don’t forget what those things are along the way.

Message from Mind’s World – Being pulled between chaos and calm is something you’ve struggled with throughout your entire life in a number of different aspects of your life. Take care not to let these struggles and imbalances drag you down. Instead, continue to seek new ways to deal with them and mitigate their negative influences.

Message from Known World – The entanglement of betrayals and disappointments with your family are in the past. Although the past influences the present, make sure that you don’t allow it to overtake your sense of accomplishment and destroy the spark of fun in life.

DECKS USED:  LINESCAPE TAROT, METAPHORIC THERAPY CARDS

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?

White Numen Tarot, Materia Medica Oracle, Spirit Messages Oracle

Earth – Page of Wands atop The Fool Rx, Lemon Balm – It’s okay to move forward and explore those things that strike your interest this week, but cool your jets and take it slow.  No bounding forward, sight unseen.  Much better to move at a more sedate pace and really enjoy each step of the journey.

Air – Death and Chamomile – Another message of calm, here the reminder is to not get ahead of yourself. Sometimes waiting sucks and we get restless when we know that changes are coming that are not quite yet at fruition.  Don’t allow yourself to push or be cranky about things moving along slower than you anticipate.  Just take a breath and enjoy the ride.

Water – The Lovers and Dandelion – You need to pay attention to what’s not feeling on track this week emotionally and make the changes needed to keep things afloat and balanced.  In the watery landscape of emotions, the flow is ever changing, and it’s important to stay on top of things in order to stay healthy and happy.  Don’t sink.

Fire – King of Wands and Uva Ursi – As you seek to find a balance that allows you to enjoy your work once more, keep in mind that you are not alone.  The King of Wands loves his job and therefore, that job is no longer work. Sometimes in order to find that joy, it’s not only about what we’re doing though… it can also be about who we’re doing it with, as well as the influence that others are having upon us and our enthusiasm.

Waning – Have Fun – This week is not a time for reckless abandon. You excel at logic and analytical thinking and this week is a time to pull back and make sure you’re paying attention to every step.  This doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy yourself, but you need to move at a pace that allows you to make your choices slowly and move at a sedate pace.

Waxing – Synchronicity – When you slow down (as all of this entire reading indicates this week is all about) it becomes easier to pick up on the details around you and hear the nuances of the messages coming through. Clarity doesn’t come at a clipped pace.  Pay attention to the little things.

Take Away – Slow and steady, calm and sedate.  These are the themes of the week across the board.  Even in the areas where you’re moving forward, the idea is to take things a bit slower and savor what you’re doing rather than plowing through and disregarding the pleasure that can be had.

DECKS USED:  WHITE NUMEN TAROT, MATERIA MEDICA ORACLE, SPIRIT MESSAGES 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?

Botanical Grace Tarot, White Rabbit Oracle I & II, Divine Heart In Flight Oracle

Earth – King of Earth and Desire – Owning what brings you pleasure and stirs your sense of desire is the theme of the day to day for you this week. This isn’t about buying or spending, but rather ownership without shame or self recriminations or worry over what others may think.  What you like is what you like, and that’s that.  Stand tall with pride and allow your authentic self, as well as what makes you tick, to be seen.

Air – Queen of Water atop Four of Air, Direction – Make sure that you are spending down time getting in touch with your emotions and finding ways to bring them forward to others in a way that creates connection and worth instead of imbalance and discord. This may require a pause before speaking up in order to move things in the right direction.

Water – The Lovers atop Temperance, Wonder – It’s okay to wander around with rose colored glasses on sometimes, as long as it’s done with a bit of moderation and caution. Seeing things from this perspective can create a sense of balance on an emotional level that’s currently missing in your life.  Give it a try.

Fire – Eight of Earth atop Seven of Fire, Playfulness atop Adventure – When it comes to what you know is right, you’ll fight to the ends of the earth to stand your ground against those that might try to sway you off your path.  You’ve had a lifetime of practice with this from a young age and are very adept in the ability to stand by your own principles and ideals.  Just remember it doesn’t always have to be so serious. It’s okay to approach such confrontations with humor and a sense of fun and adventure, instead of with outright aggression or dispassionate disregard.

Waning – Serene Soul Connection – Okay so maybe things might not go as smoothly this week on the romantic side of the coin as they have just recently.  Just remember that even when that connection isn’t at its most relaxed and serene?  It’s still there and holding strong.

Waxing – Tear Down Your Walls – Want to restore that serenity?  Suss out those hidden walls that you’re ignoring and pretending don’t exist and give them a hard poke or two.  And make sure that you avoid building on those preexisting walls or building new ones.

Take Away – Tapping into the heart of your wants, desires, ideals, and values is going to be a core part of this week’s theme and you need to make sure that you are being honest with yourself as well as others.   That doesn’t mean just dropping word bombs everywhere and sweeping the debris up later.  Pause and think, and take a moment to consider if this is really a time for aggression, before you speak and things will go a lot smoother all the way around.

DECKS USED:  BOTANICAL GRACE TAROT, WHITE RABBIT ORACLE I & II, DIVINE HEART IN FLIGHT ORACLE

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?

Future Ancestor Tarot, Warwick Oracle, Oracle of the Dragonfae

Earth – Student of Needles and Choice – Make the choice to learn new skills. Make the choice to yield to authority.  For god sake, make the choice to DO YOUR FUCKING TAXES already.  This is always a very “in your head” activity that makes you feel like an idiot and a novice every single year.  But you need to get your ass in gear and get it done.  Now.

Air – The Alchemist and Fear –  You have all the tools and knowledge you need in order to get “the thing” done.  Stop avoiding and sidestepping out of the discomfort of fear and just do it already.

Water – Three of Seeds and Discover – You can help alleviate some of the emotional issues putting this off for so long is creating by bringing in help. You’ll be surprised just how much they can help in making task that you need to get done this week less painful for you. It’s okay to ask for help, even in this.

Fire – Ten of Needles and Nobility – You feel overwhelmed, and that is entirely due to this issue of trying to take on this task all on your own and keeping the stress and work of the process from others.  You think you’re protecting them in the process, but you’re really just hurting yourself and your business.

Waning – The Blue Lady (Nothing is Impossible) – Come down to earth and put away unrealistic expectations. There really are indeed impossible things in life and you need to get in touch with that side of things and look at things realistically right now.  Be practical.

Waxing – The Lady Grian (Open Your Heart) – When you open your heart, you let people in.  You also allow them to know the secret things you try to hide like worries and fears, burden and struggle.  Now is a time to open up.  Let others close to you know what’s going on.   ASK for help instead of shutting them out.

Take Away – This reading is about my taxes and the need to get them done.  I can file an extension, but if I do I’m not really helping myself at all, just prolonging the agony and dread of having to get them done.  The cards here indicate NOW is the time, and I need to do it.  I have to get it done, and I need to get help from the girls to get everything together and finished.

DECKS USED:  FUTURE ANCESTOR TAROT, WARWICK ORACLE, ORACLE OF THE DRAGONFAE