self improvement

📆 Transitioning from February to March

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Shades of Magick Tarot and The Personal Space Oracle 2nd Edition

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

Six of Wands and The Fossil – You are finding yourself falling into old patterns of approval seeking. This has not worked for you in the past and you need to be aware you are leaning in that direction so that you can course correct your trajectory.

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

Knight of Wands and The Key – Set aside your expectations of what motivation looks like. You can’t unlock what it will truly feel like for you until you stop using other’s definitions and expectations to measure yourself against.

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

The Devil, The Boot atop The Pin – You are seeking a better way to keep your addictions in check that doesn’t require only identifying that things have become a problem when you’ve stepped on it (the pin, in this example) and feel the pain.

Limitations – Negative influences, opposition, or ill will.

Eight of Swords and Umbrella – Trying to protect yourself through willful ignorance doesn’t work.  Don’t hide from what is bothering you.  Don’t hide from what you fear. The anxiety of trying to hide from these things builds beneath the surface and you end up not protecting yourself from anything.  Better to deal with things head on.

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

The Chariot, The Arrow atop The Antler – Move your ass or lose something essential and intrinsically you. Use it or lose it is the theme here. Look into those skills and abilities you have been neglecting, and seek out ways to reawaken them and explore them more fully.

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

The Hermit and The Candle – It’s time to return to using alone time in more healthy ways instead of indulging in alone time that is not serving you well. There is a beacon that lies within optimism and positivity that you have ignored in the past and that can light your way to a safer, better use of your alone time than what you’re doing with it now.

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

Three of Swords, The Bloom atop The Anchor – Take time to reflect upon all the times others have helped ground you and lift you up. This isn’t about them, but about that sense of grounded uplifting and how it makes you feel. You can wallow in that feeling from the past by bringing the memory into your present.

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

King of Swords and The Finch – Remember that just because someone presents themselves as an authority doesn’t mean that they are dependable or can be trusted.

Empowerment – A future opportunity to work toward.

Seven of Pentacles and The Hand – At this time, the speed of your progress is in your hands. This will not always be the case, so find what works for you now and carry it forward from here.

Message from the Spirit World – Your growth in this area is directly under your control. It’s time to plot a “flight plan” and step on the path, awaken those things neglected that are at risk of falling to the wayside and take control.  It’s in your hands what you decide to do with this, but keep in mind the journey is a long one… not a sprint.

Message from the Mind’s World – You need to battle your demons for you, not for anyone else.  Pick those things you want to deal with and move forward with care. Take your time and don’t get impatient. There is no one else’s expectations to cater to other than your own, and you need to set those to be kinder to yourself so that you won’t rush forward headlong but will take time to truly do things right.

Message from the Physical World – Stop pretending that you’re okay and get your ass out in nature. You need to recharge, ground, and allow the earth to give you the nurturing you need.  It will do your mental health good, and your body too.

DECKS USED: SHADES OF MAGICK TAROT, THE PERSONAL SPACE ORACLE 2ND EDITION

❤️ 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?

Vintage Storybook Illustrations Tarot, POESIS Oracle, Storytale Lenormand

Central Theme – Page of Wands – This card is included because it demanded to jump out from the deck twice during the initial shuffling process when I was thinking about self-care for the week ahead, but had yet to begin shuffling for a specific element. It speaks of focusing on the things you want to be passionate about.  Letting your focus move to those things that you want to include in your path, those values that are important to you, and giving them the time and attention needed to help them grow in strength and purpose.

Earth – Three of Pentacles, Boundary atop Humility – Suck it up when it comes to your pride and ask for help. You don’t have to do everything yourself, and in fact, it’s not good for you to try.  Re-align your boundaries to allow yourself to ask for the help you need when you need it… and even sometimes when you don’t think you need it.

Air – The High Priestess and Nurture – Spend some time this week researching the mediumship you are interested in learning to expand your intuition. Feed your mind the information it needs in order to begin connecting the dots and allowing growth in that area to begin.

Water – Justice, Create atop Body – When the body feels good, the mind feels good. Let yourself find the healthy balance you need in your body… go hiking and commune with nature, create a space for the time you need to allow yourself to feel healthy and hale… and as a consequence, your emotions will follow and feel better as well.

Fire – The Empress and Transform – It’s time to look at your business in a healthier light.  Let go of the workaholic mindset that is fostered by the holiday rush.  Let go of the guilt and the unreasonable expectations. Be kind to yourself instead.

Waning – Man and Scythe – Stop being so damned ruthless and demanding with yourself. You’re allowed to be kind to yourself and you need it. That narrative in your head demanding more and more from you, then shaming you when you need to rest or fall short on those demands, isn’t healthy and you need to shut it down.

Waxing – Ship and Child – Work at looking at your journey with a more innocent and youthful gaze.  You’ve lost track of the efforts to take on a more positive and optimistic perspective.  It’s time to return to looking at each day as a new adventure instead of as just another day.

Take Away – The encouragement here is to remember that this week is still a part of my time off.  It’s a reminder to enjoy the week instead of ducking my head and diving into work.  The reading indicates that there’s more than enough time to do both and have a healthy happy week were I also manage to get things done, rather than just focusing on work.

DECKS USED: VINTAGE STORYBOOK ILLUSTRATIONS TAROT, POESIS ORACLE, STORYTALE LENORMAND

❤️ 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?

Witch Folk Tarot, L'Oracle d'Eros, The Chealsea Lenormand Red Edition

Earth – Knave of Cups, La Gourmande atop L’effarouchée – Push aside your fear in order to dive into the lessons that need learned. You are leaning towards shut-in behaviors, and this is not healthy for you. It’s time to work on re-training yourself and your reactions to take you out more, instead of indulging in the fears and habits that encourage distance from others and hibernation behavior.

Air – The Tower and L’Ethérée – More grounding is needed. Seek out those things that will allow your roots to dig deep and your sense of balance and solidity to flourish. A well rooted tree weathers the storm far better than a sapling. This last storm tore up some strong, well established roots.  It’s time to dig them deep into the soil once more.

Water – Wheel of Fortune and L’Idéaliste – You need to work on accepting that you’re not going to be able to put out your absolute best into every single day, and that that’s okay. Demanding for perfection from yourself all the time it’s not healthy, and it puts you on an emotional roller coaster that you don’t need to ride.

Fire – The Magician and L’Impudique – Throw caution to the wind and be more adventurous. You have it in you, you just need to tap into those tools and skills that will allow you to explore more thoroughly and get out of each experience exactly what you want.

Waning – Mice and Tower – Ease up on those walls. You don’t have to be so on guard all the time in preparation of things going wrong.

Waxing – Tree and Dog – Connect and do healthy things with those that love you and want to spend time with you.

Take Away – Self care this week is all about making sure you don’t fall into the habits that isolate you from others and the world at large.  Get out in nature and get the energy boost and grounding you need from your time among the trees. Be gentle with yourself this week and make it something you enjoy instead of just a week of hiding in a hole away from everyone and everything.

DECKS USED: WITCH FOLK TAROT, L’ORACLE D’EROS, THE CHELSEA LENORMAND RED EDITION

❤️ 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?

Luna's Light Angel Tarot, Love Story Oracle Cards, Cute Little Lenormand

Earth – Eight of Wands and Regret – Go Now or you’ll regret it.  This reading was done just before J dragged you out to a walk in nature, and these cards are an encouragement to get that nature time.  You need it. You need more of it, so make sure that Saturday isn’t the only day you go out and spend some time among the trees.

Air – Ace of Cups and Patience – Be kind and patient with yourself and these emotions that have risen up. Remember that what you’re feeling is temporary, and will pass.  It’s not the end of the world, even if it might feel like it right now, and in the end the good feelings will come back… you just need to have a little patience.

Water – Five of Coins and Mystery – Make sure you’re not allowing the unknown to feel like it’s the end of the world. You’ve been doing a lot of that lately. Your issues with uncertainty and instability are creating an overreaction and dooms day thinking.

Fire – Two of Hearts and Effort – Allow your loved ones to connect with you and help lift you up. Let yourself lean on them. It’s okay to need help when it gets too much for you alone, and right now? It’s too much.  It doesn’t matter that it’s not physical work that’s overburdening you… they can still help.

Waning – Child and Mountain – There’s a lot of new things going on in your life right now that are blocked in one way or another. IKEA not having the shelves you need in stock, and Etsy’s security issues causing business problems while you’re trying to get things back on an even keel, being at the top of the list. These cards indicate that those obstacles are going to start easing up during this week, allowing for movement once more to resume.

Waxing – Ship and Anchor – The energy and feelings of finding “safe harbor” are coming. You need to focus on the things that will help further these feelings instead of allowing yourself ton continue to dwell on the “unanchored” uncertainty of feeling adrift.

Take Away – Subdrop and an approaching MDE… this situational depression overlapping these other issues is more of a struggle than I’m used to, even in the deepest of MDEs. I find myself struggling to function at all, when all I want to do is hide away, sleep, and cry.

Today’s reading is a road map to finding myself a better “place” to “stand” emotionally.

DECKS USED: LUNA’S LIGHT ANGEL TAROT, LOVE STORY ORACLE CARDS, CUTE LITTLE LENORMAND

❤️ 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?

Eros Tarot, Yoru no Sumi-E Light Edition, Lighthearted Lenormand

Earth – Page of Wands and Kintsugi – Breaking is a part of growing. In order to become more whole and a more beautiful soul, you must break and then mend the cracks. At the moment? Your cracks are showing.

This is a reminder that I need to take a break. Everyone needs rest once in a while in their passions and on their journeys. I have time scheduled in two weeks to have some time off, but these cards indicate if I want to make it to that point two weeks from now, I’m going to need to let myself have some time now.

There is also a reminder in here that I need to call and get my appointments made with my shrink for 2022.  I usually get them made in November, but with the whole death thing last November combined with the holiday rush, I just forgot.

Air – King of Swords and Communication – Level up. Communicate. Be assertive. Lead. These cards are a reminder of who you are, where your strengths lie, and that you need to stand strong in that and not allow others to tear you down.

Water – Nine of Cups and Harmony – This week be sure to spend some time sinking into the things that make you feel good and content and happy. Acknowledging and indulging in them a bit in the week ahead will help instill harmony where things are currently feeling chaotic.

Fire – The Chariot and Healing – Lean into healing this week and adopt it as your main priority. If this means speaking out (an echo to the Air position in this reading), do so.  If it means wallowing in those things that make you feel good?  Do it.  Take charge of your healing and what needs done for it to not just thrive, but flourish.

Eros TarotFound on the Floor – The Sun – Make sure that you are not abandoning your efforts towards positivity and optimism during this time.

Waning – Scythe and Snake – Set your feelings of being attacked and the rise of emotions that came from it aside.

You’ve had a bit of time to examine why you reacted as you did, and to continue to hold onto these feelings and dwell over the experiences will only drag you down or cause you to make poor decisions in the future. Don’t allow these things to influence bad future decisions, but instead set them aside and leave them behind.

Waxing – Dog and Lady – Look toward those you trust and know are loyal to you, especially of the female persuasion.

Take Away – In the waxing position, it doesn’t say why I should be looking in this direction, only that I should pay closer attention.  Whatever is coming, I will need their help or they will help mitigate the effects of.  Or it is possible they will bring something into my life this week that is needed.

The rest of this is about finding balance in my life this week, where I’ve been feeling unbalanced.  The cards here are all guidance on “finding myself” as I try to pull myself out of my current funk.  As this trend spreads through the entire reading, that it is where the “loyal woman” comes into the picture as well.

DECKS USED: EROS TAROT, YORU NO KUMI-E LIGHT EDITION, LIGHTHEARTED LENORMAND

📆 Transitioning from January to February

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

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