self improvement

❤️ 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?

Abstract Art Tarot, Yoru No Sumi-E, Shadowlands Lenormand

Earth – Ace of Buckets and Trust – Stay positive and trust everything is going to be okay.

Air – World atop Five of Brushes, Hope – Be gentle with your negative internal narrative and inner critic. The way forward isn’t with viciousness and cruelty, but by tapping into positivity and optimism.

Water – Temperance atop Chariot, Void – Do not pretend that the pit isn’t there. It is. At this time, ignoring where you’re going and what’s ahead of you instead of dealing with it is going to end in falling into the void.

Fire – Three of Brushes atop Eight of Buckets Rx, Death – Don’t discount what others can do for you right now as you go through these changes outlined in this reading. They’re able to add brightness and color to days that are looking increasingly drab of late.

Waning – Mice and Snake – Don’t ignore the corrosion or it’s going to bite you in the ass.

Waxing – Sun and Mountain – Use proactive methods and optimism to battle this hurdle before you.

Take Away – Okay. As the week has gone on I have gotten more and more warnings from the cards about depression slipping up on me, and that I’ve been ignoring its approach. This reading is the most blatant warning of them all so far.

I’ve decided that I’m going to up my meds like I did before, starting tomorrow. Two weeks wasn’t enough time last time, so this time I’m going to do it for a month and hope that it can help me bypass, or at least mitigate, the depressive episode that I can feel coming but didn’t want to acknowledge.

DECKS USED: ABSTRACT ART TAROT, YORU NO SUMI-E, SHADOWLAND LENORMAND

❤️ 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?

Animals Divine Tarot, Tailors Storytelling Game Cards, Mythical Folklore Lenormand

Earth – Queen of Pentacles and Discover the Treasure – This week is a time to look for the boon.  You’ve done well with getting finances in order and you’re strategizing your way to a more organized home.  But there’s more to be found and more to be had.  Take time to explore and discover what these boons you’ve not yet found might be, and use your practical nature to put them to use for your benefit.

Air – Three of Cups, Soldier atop Find True Home – Make sure you are reflecting on what makes home… home.  Reflect on the truth in the fact that it’s about those you surround yourself in. Home is not a place… it’s a feeling.  It’s a feeling that you only get in the company of certain people.  Now is a good time to connect with who those people are and appreciate that comfort and camaraderie that they provide.

Water – Eight of Cups and Choose the Path – If it’s not working?  Let it go. Just do it.  It’s okay to decide that what once held sentimental meaning has faded over time and that something is now just a dust collector instead of something of emotional value.   As you go through the things you are donating over the week ahead, keep this in mind.

Fire – Six of Swords atop The Tower, Tyrant – Again we see an encouragement to choose a direction and move away from what isn’t working, although in this case it is very clear what isn’t working is people treating you like shit.  Don’t let anyone tear your confidence or compass down.  It’s not okay.  You can turn and walk away from that shit at any time, so do it sooner rather than later.  No reason to stick around and listen.

Waning – Letter and Whip – These cards echo upon the Fire position above, and they are about walking away from crappy news that turns into self flagellation. Do not allow how others deliver their opinions to drag you down and make you harder on yourself.

Waxing – Ship and Mountains – Delays and more delays.  You’re going to struggle with the path forward to getting to where you want to go this week.  Instead of allowing the hurdles and delays to feel like obstacles, use them to direct your attention to other things that you can do in the meanwhile.

Take Away – Purging the bad and letting go, combined with seeking out the comfort and familiarity of those that you love and are familiar with are the theme of this week.  Whether it’s things that aren’t doing it for you anymore or people’s words that could be hurtful, leave them behind instead of letting them stick around and be in the way.  Instead, turn your focus towards family and friends, support and comfort.

DECKS USED: DIVINE ANIMALS TAROT, TAILORS STORYTELLING GAME CARDS, MYTHICAL FOLKLORE LENORMAND

❤️ 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?

Transparent Owl Tarot, The Outdoors Oracle, Yoru no Sumi-E Dark Edition

Earth – The Tower, Hiking Cat atop Elk – Time to get Lin on board with getting a new job. It’s going to cause a bit of conflict and she’s not going to be thrilled, but you have the reasoning and motivation she needs ready to help get her on board.

This is something that I was thinking about back in the fall before the holiday rush started and had meant to bring up after it was over. Somehow it slipped my mind, but the cards here indicate that this week is a good time to get the ball rolling where this is concerned.

Air – Seven of Swords and Lodge – Don’t let unpleasantness from outside sources spoil your comfortable and contented mindset.

Water – Nine of Wands and Poisoned – These cards are a carry over from the Air position above. They are a reminder not to allow yourself to become overburdened, as it will poison your emotional well-being in the same way that the outside influences have the potential to spoil your mental well-being.

Fire – Six of Pentacles, Duck Hunter atop Kingfisher – Give yourself time to make solid plans for a more long lasting success. This isn’t so much about look before you leap, but it’s time to write down the things you want to accomplish so that you can plot them out more firmly and get moving on them in a more orderly fashion.

Waning – Betrayal – Entering last week in the Water position, here we see potential for feelings of betrayal in departure. No need to keep standing guard for this, you’ve managed to circumvent the potential problems and the potential for it to happen is now on the way out.

Waxing – Shinrin-yoku – Get your ass outside. Forest bathing is not just a pleasurable experience for you, but a part of your spiritual path and gives you a refresh on your overall well-being and energy. It’s something you haven’t done much of since coming home from your holiday visit and it’s time to return to spending time among the trees again.

Take Away – Self care this week requires confronting problems and taking some time for doing some planning and getting your ducks in a row.  At the same time, there’s an important external factor that you need to consider.  Make sure you aren’t allowing other’s moods and actions to affect your own, and don’t overwhelm yourself with work… or anything else either.

DECKS USED: TRANSPARENT OWL TAROT, THE OUTDOORS ORACLE, YORU NO SUMI-E 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?

Tharbon I Tarocchi, Yoru No Sumi-e Dark Edition, The Citadel Deck

Earth – Quattro di Bastoni and Surprise – Find the secret pleasures that reside in house and home. Also, be ready for unexpected visitors in your personal space this week.

Air – Sette di Coppe atop Re di Denari, Victory – Putting away the past isn’t as difficult as you think if you are properly grounded and determined to make it happen.

Water – Fante di Denari, Betrayal atop Choice – You may find someone you perceive as dependable doing the unexpected this week. You have a choice on if you see this aberrant behavior as a betrayal or not tho.

Fire – Re di Spade and Patience – Everything takes time, and that includes your well-established goals. Don’t let your passion and ambition turn you to impatience.

Waning – The Witch and The Waker – Step away from the new and different when it comes to your self care. Tried and true methods are what you need right now.

Waxing – The Scholar and The Hier – Stay open. Seize control of your path and allow yourself to be open to all possible potential and outcomes this week.

Take Away – Most of this feels like it’s about finding balance again, although there are a few warnings in here about visitors and the unexpected that encourage taking a pause instead of reacting immediately.  Look for the boon hiding in these unexpected moments instead of allowing your pessimism to reign.

DECKS USED: THARBON I TAROCCHI, YORU NO SUMI-E DARK EDITION, THE CITADEL DECK

❤️ 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?

Black Violet Tarot, The Visionary Oracle, Shadowspeak Oracle

Earth – Nine of Cups and Joy – You need to focus on how good it is to be home.  Don’t worry so much about what needs to be done and spend your time finding pleasure in where you are.

Air – The Lovers and Magic – Lots of time with Gideon.  Communication and play intersect when it comes to the two of you, and it’s in the magic of that connection that you find a greater sense of well-being.  Time with him is good for you, and even more so this week.

Water – Queen of Pentacles and Intuition – Be generous with yourself.  You’re just stepping back into your intuitive process.  Give yourself time to ground and become centered in it again. Don’t jump in too quickly and overtax yourself in the process.

Fire – Knight of Wands and Finding Connections – You are looking for the flow that connects the holiday rush to this now, slower pace.  There’s a lot of adjustments going on right now and you’ve yet to find that easy transition.  It’s there, just keep looking for it.  The sudden slow down doesn’t have to feel negative if you can find things to tap into for that energy to flow during this time.

Waning – Trust atop Joy – Back home you take with you the knowledge of trust and joy, love and togetherness that you discovered over your Christmas visit.  It might be gone for now, but that doesn’t mean you have to lose the memory of it as well.

Waxing – Pressure – That Knight of Wands is really pushing, your adrenaline still flowing from the rush of December.  If you don’t find an outlet, it’s going to burst.

Take Away – Focus on the stuff that makes you happy this week and work at putting your energy into different ideas and venues.  Allow it to connect and flow, rather than letting this energy build and stew into a messy storm with no outlet.

DECKS USED: BLACK VIOLET TAROT, THE VISIONARY ORACLE, SHADOWSPEAK ORACLE

Transitioning from December to January

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Fungjai Tarot

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

The High Priestess – You are in the process of reconnecting with your intuition and hidden knowledge.  For the past month, you’ve had to shut everything out and close everything down.  Now, as the month shifts from the holidays into the new year, those closed off parts of you are being welcomed back and opened up once more.

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

Princess of Cups atop Seven of Pentacles – This time around, don’t focus so much on the emotional growth itself. It will continue to develop on its own in the background as you focus on other peripheral tasks and issues.

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

Five of Cups – Less disappointment in yourself and your life is what you are seeking at this time. There was a great deal of that going on prior to the holiday rush, and it isn’t something you want to return to now that you are surfacing again into the world once more.

Limitations – Negative influences, opposition, or ill will.

The Star – Watch out for false hope. Pretending everything is fine when it’s not helps no one and can be detrimental.

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

The Magician – There’s a lot to be said for being prepared and having a few tricks up your sleeve to turn things in the direction you want them to go.  Don’t discount these factors, as they are a boon that is useful and can help you in finding a greater sense of satisfaction in life.

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

Two of Cups atop Nothing – The pain of losing the belief in your mother’s love. This wound has been festering quietly (and sometimes not so quietly) in the background for some time.  This month you discovered just what that motherly love is like and that you are deserving of it, and it’s given you the ability to begin the healing process of these past wounds.

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

The Moon – Being in the dark isn’t always a bad thing. Night hikes are amazing, even when you can’t see where you’re going.  Sometimes not knowing really is the better option and can allow you to move forward when otherwise, with all the information before you, you would be frozen and unable to move.

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

Queen of Swords – Backlash for the recent visit is coming.

Empowerment – A future opportunity to work toward.

The Hierophant – It’s time to reach out to ancestors, spirit guides, and (yes, even) Amalthea. Reach out, connect, listen, and learn.

Message from the Spirit World – You have all of the knowledge and tools needed to connect with the spirit world, and to benefit from the skills and knowledge being offered to you.

Message from the Mind’s World – Your growth is about more than just emotional intelligence. As that expands, so too does your intuition. Don’t place one over the other.

Message from the Physical World – Do not allow insecurities to keep you from connecting with others. That is how people end up old and alone.

DECKS USED: FUNGJAI TAROT