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?

Self Care Saturday Tarot Reading with the Figuratively Speaking Mermaid Tarot and White Owl Lenormand

Earth – Queen of Cups atop The Lovers Rx – Foster stability in your life by keeping your guard up when it comes to “the slut”. Make sure that there are no misunderstandings between you and your partner concerning just how bad an idea her proposal is. This is not a cursory discussion. Make sure you discuss it in depth so that he’s able to fully air his feelings on the matter as well.

Air – The Magician – Communication is your tool of the week. Make sure when you communicate with others that you do so in a clear manner. Although Mercury ☿️ going into retrograde doesn’t usually affect you personally, keep in mind the effect it has on others.

Water – Knight of Coins – When a call to action comes in? Consider slowing down instead of speeding up to dive in head first. Sometimes the act of doing nothing is doing something. Don’t discount willful inaction, for it is just as intentional an act as willful omission.

Fire – Five of Coins – Keep an eye on where your money is going this week. More mindfulness in this area now could stave off a moment of scarcity sneaking up to surprise you later.

Waning – Clouds and Garden – Don’t allow social uncertainties to eat at you this week. The fact others are out of sorts has nothing to do with you personally, so don’t take that weight on your shoulders just because things are feeling uncertain at the moment.

Waxing – Ship and Whip – This week’s path is going to be rocky. Focus on getting through it and save fixing things for later.

Take Away – Lean into choosing to do nothing instead of trying to jump in and fix things or resolve problems.  Cool your heels and wait. Watch, and see what happens.  You need to focus on clear communication this week so that others have little chance to misconstrue or misunderstand what you say.  Don’t forget to discuss “the slut” with Gid.

Other elements included in this reading:
Bind Rune on Cedar for a Protected Home
Ammonite for a Sense of Stability During Times of Change
Tree Agate for Fostering Peace and Patience
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECKS USED: FIGURATIVELY SPEAKING MERMAID TAROT AND WHITE OWL 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?

Self Care Saturday Tarot Reading with the Boadicea's Tarot of Earthly Delights and The Anatomy of Healing Oracle

Earth – The Empress – You take care of everyone else, but who takes care of you? You are no longer “maiden fresh” with energy that abounds, and you should not be putting out more than you are receiving. Abundance, like everything else, is a balance of give and take. Consider taking more this week in order to foster a better balance.

Air – Two of Combustion (Wands) – Continue with getting your ducks in a row this week. Make plans, but with the caveat that they might be for naught if something unforeseen enters the picture. Rough drafts are great, just don’t carve them into stone.

Water – Eight of Æther (Swords) – Don’t panic. You do more harm than good when you’re in a panicked state. No matter how much you want to fix things or help, the best thing you can do in these moments is to close your eyes, take a breath, and stay calm.  If you can’t manage that?  Step aside and wait, then try again.

Fire – King of Combustion (Wands) – No micromanaging this week allowed. Instead, work on delegating effectively and with authority. You aren’t alone in this, so don’t act like you are.

Waning – Lump In My Throat – Keep your mouth shut. When you feel that tension in your jaw and neck? Don’t speak up. There is nothing you can say in this moment that’s going to make things better.

Waxing – Digesting Life – Careful what you ingest this week. Let your gut guide you on when it’s worth speaking, and when it would be better to listen. Remember that just because you don’t speak your mind, and choose to listen instead of contribute, doesn’t mean you are agreeing with (or to) anything. You’re simply choosing not to engage.

Take Away – Keep your mouth shut and mind your own business this week.  It’s all about staying the course and making plans based on where you want things to go.  There’s nothing here about actually -acting- on anything.  Instead, use this week to focus on taking care of -you- and giving others the opportunity to help in that regard.

DECKS USED: BOADICEA’S TAROT OF EARTHLY DELIGHTS AND THE ANATOMY OF HEALING 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?

Self Care Saturday Tarot Reading with the Gourmet Tarot and A Kitchen Witch's Culinary Oracle

Earth – Three of Cups – Make sure you are not isolating yourself this week. At this time, there is greater stability to be found in the company of others than on your own, even if it might not feel that way at the time.

Air – Queen of Cups – Seek out comfort where you can find it, and most especially with those you know can provide it. It’s okay to need others to help you in your inner struggles. They want to be there for you and will welcome you with open arms.

Water – The Empress – Care and understanding are needed right now, especially directed toward yourself and those delicate vulnerable parts. Be gentle with yourself and your emotions this week.

Fire – The Magician Rx – You’re going to be feeling “all thumbs” this week, and like you just can’t get anything right. Remember the guidance the other positions in this reading have given. Cut yourself a break and lean on others. Remember that this experience is temporary.

Waning – Cherries – You are still feeling the faint lingering effects of the subdrop. It can be tempting to try and hide from them by initiating more sexual intimacy, but although this will give a temporary relief, it will bring subdrop back with a vengeance when you’re still trying to shake off the last one.

Waxing – Pumpkin – “Count your chickens” and focus on building lasting stability instead of quick fixes.

Take Away – The lingering hints of subdrop are going to be niggled at by your sense of clumsiness and failure this week.  The struggle is real for you, and you need to seek out support rather than just plowing through on your own.  Not just with the tasks you want to get done, either, but also with your emotions and inner narratives. You need their stabilizing influence this week.

DECKS USED: GOURMET TAROT AND A KITCHEN WITCH’S CULINARY ORACLE

📆 Transitioning from June to July

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Month End Tarot Reading with the Twice Told Tarot

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

Six of Cups atop The Hanged Man – What are you really getting hung up on? You’re currently in a holding pattern. Stuck and trying to determine which lessons from the past ring true, and which can be set aside. This means there’s a lot of time spent reflecting upon the past and how you feel about the things that went on back then. There is advice here to let those thoughts and emotions come and observe them, rather than trying to hide from them or ignore their existence.

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

The Empress – Stop trying so hard to give everybody else what they need and to be what they need you to be. Wearing yourself down for the needs of others leaves no room for you to give yourself what you need to be fulfilled as well.

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

Temperance – You would like to find a happy medium between taking time to slow down and breathe, and staying on top of your responsibilities.  This balance requires careful moderation.

Limitations – Negative influences, opposition, or ill will.

Seven of Wands – Everybody wants a bit of your time and a piece of you, but there’s only so much to go around. Make sure that you’re standing your ground when others try to test your limits and boundaries. There’s a lot of that going on right now, even if you’re not really noticing it yet.

And for fucksake, stop allowing Ms B to pull you into talk on politics. It gets you nowhere, it’s aggravating as hell, and it has the potential to cause a rift.

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

The Sun – Your work on leaning into positivity and optimism is having a good influence. You really are succeeding in this area, even if you don’t notice it all the time. Keep it up.

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

The Star Rx – That sense of hopelessness that comes with depression is something you fear, but also something that sometimes feels a bit… tempting. Welcoming, even. This is due to your self-destructive tendencies, and you need to make sure that you’re watching yourself so that you don’t end up inviting in the depression you’re trying to avoid.

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

Two of Pentacles Rx – Remember that when shit falls apart, sometimes it makes things better in the long run. Go ahead and drop some of those balls you’re juggling when you need to. Past experience has proven that it’ll be okay even if you do.

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

Ten of Swords atop Death – Changes don’t have to hurt. If you invite it in instead of struggling against it, you can avoid injury and things will go more smoothly.

Empowerment – A future opportunity to work toward.

Six of Swords Rx – If you like where you are, sometimes it’s okay to stay and try to change things instead of moving on. Just make sure if you are staying put, that it’s done in a healthy way and provides an opportunity for growth.

Message from the Spirit World – Sometimes riding through change means you just stay put and let things move around you. When you are the stationary piece of the puzzle, you can watch the show without participating.

Message from the Mind’s World – Take care with how much of the past you lead into your present. Exploring the past a little bit can be beneficial, but when you go overboard, it causes you to get hung up and your moment of pause become stagnancy.

Message from the Physical World – All is not lost, so don’t give up the good fight. It might feel like you’re at the end of your rope, but in truth, this is only temporary just like everything else.

Take Away – This reading indicates that maybe it’s time to look at change differently.  Maybe, instead of looking at it as a “change of scenery”, what’s needed is a change of shoes.  Shift your perspective and look again.

Make sure you are prioritizing your own needs above that of others. Although this isn’t -always- possible, there’s a lot more opportunity for doing this than you’re allowing yourself to do. That includes doing what you need to do to back away from the edge of depression’s pit instead of flirting with it.

DECK USED: TWICE TOLD TAROT

❤️ 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?

Self Care Saturday Reading with The Somnia Tarot 1st Edition and Materia Medica Oracle 1st Edition

Earth – Two of Cups – Finances, good health, and stability in life is not something that is yours alone to deal with. It’s a team effort between those who share the same values and resources as you, and have committed to making things work with you. Don’t take all of it on your shoulders alone.

Air – The Chariot – Be proactive in your mental health, as well as in areas that need a bit of strategizing to go how you want them to. Now is the time to show your intent and steer things in the right direction. Make plans, strategize, and take hold of the reigns. Take note, though… this is not a solo job.   In the Chariot, one person holds the reigns to steer while others pull.  Take the Earth’s advice above to heart.

Water – Page of Swords Rx – Not all emotions can be reasoned with. It sucks, but it’s true. It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner, or advanced in your emotional intelligence, sometimes you just have to let it go, and let it flow. Face in the direction you want to move in, then try letting things write themselves this week instead of trying to find a way to force it.

Fire – Strength atop Ten of Swords Rx – Hiding from your problems will only allow them to linger even longer. This week is a good time to play to your strengths, and convince yourself to get up and do the things that need to be done.

Waning – Bloodroot and Elderberry – “Be the bigger man,” and resist the urge to respond to toxicity and unpleasantness with childish impulses.

Waxing – Marshmallow and Oak – Your integrity and strength is bolstered by those moments when you are able to detach and to be objective. Make sure that you are allowing room for moments of non-biased perspective this week.

Take Away – The subdrop is easing up but you’re still going to experience a few moments of irrationality.  Take care to give yourself a step back and time to think things through before you react. If you keep your focus on where you -want- to go, you’ll get there.  The movements may not be at the speed you’d like, but you’ll still be moving in the right direction.

Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Rhododendron Leaf for Fostering Confidence
Conch Shell Knot for Concentration and Clarity
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECKS USED: THE SOMNIA TAROT AND THE MATERIA MEDICA 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?

Self Care Saturday Tarot Reading with the Slow Holler Tarot and The Pocket Herbal

Earth – Student of Knives – Don’t shoot your self in the foot. A bit of caution is needed right now. Take care when speaking up and communicating with others that you don’t put your foot in your mouth, especially in relation to things you know nothing about or are not fully informed on. It won’t just cause embarrassment, but could create destabilization of the status quo as well.

Air – The Sun – Work on keeping both your internal and external narratives positive. You may have a stronger tendency to slip into negative thoughts this week, which can then easily bleed outward into your communication with others. So make sure to take extra care to stay positive in order to keep everything moving smoothly in the direction you desire.

Water – Four of Vessels Rx atop Architect of Stones – Keep in mind that feelings and reality don’t really function in the same sphere. Just because things feel uneven and screwed up doesn’t mean they are. You will gain a greater sense of stability this week by meditating more regularly. Do your best not to skip this essential part of each day.

Fire – The Star Rx – Your subdrop is going to be a bit more tenacious than normal this week. Let those people in your life that can help you see that this is happening, and they will focus on helping to lift you up and get you through to the other side.

Waning – Licorice – Training your focus on your misery this week will get you nowhere. Take care that you aren’t falling into cycles that involve self-pity or wallowing in your misery.

Waxing – Echinacae – Again (as mentioned above in the Air position), focus on the positive. Both in the present, as well as through some walks down memory lane with others that can help you resurrect some good memories that have started to fade.

Take Away – Your subdrop is going to cling this week, and it’s going to make you a bit irrational and sensitive. Take care with h ow you react to others and the words that come out of your mouth, and lean on those that support you when you’re feeling vulnerable.  Make sure that you pick up on your meditation, as it will help in supporting your sense of stability, and keep up the work you’ve been doing on leaning into positivity and optimism as you’ll need the extra boost from it this week.

Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Rhododendron Leaf for Fostering Confidence
Conch Shell Knot for Concentration and Clarity
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECKS USED: SLOW HOLLER TAROT AND THE POCKET HERBAL