Slow Tarot

Perspective On Change

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and was again done in the shower.  Mostly, I’ve just felt really drawn to needing a touch of quiet and the shower meditation allows me to find that space of quiet so much easier.

I know that you worry when I do my shower meditation that I’m sinking into that dark pit again, but sometimes…. it just feels good.   A balm of calm to ease the nerves for a bit.  That’s what it feels like.   And sometimes… I just need it.

Six of Swords - Slow TarotToday’s draw is the Six of Swords, which (among other things) is a representation of transitions and letting go in the areas of intellect and communication.  This often expresses itself in themes to do with moving on to greener pastures and leaving difficulties behind in the past.

The appearance of the Six of Swords today is a reminder that it is important to not always look at change with doom and gloom and dread, because sometimes change is a good thing and can lead to a better place.

Like most people, I have an aversion to change, as I expect it to always be a change for the worse, but the fact is that there is just as much positive transition going on in our lives as there is negative.  We simply do not acknowledge the positive change as change, because in the case of positive transitions there is a sense of seeking and welcome involved.  Imagine just how amazingly freeing would it feel if we could look at all change in that way.

Deck Used: Slow Tarot

Bonus Reading – #TarotForGrowthNovember

Question: How can I better release my anxieties?

Distant Past TarotReading Summary: When my anxieties are getting the best of me, sometimes it is best to step away (Eight of Cups) and seek out the high road (Queen of Coins).  This is especially true when I’m in the middle of making important decisions (Seven of Cups), in which case a step away (Eight of Cups) and some time to find that place of stability and strength (Queen of Coins) can assist me in getting a better view on all of the choices available and making the right decisions for me (Seven of Cups) as well as give me the space I need to plan the next steps forward (Three of Wands).

Take Away: I kind of talked myself in a loop up there, but yeah.  Essentially this is indicating that when I’m feeling anxiety, it can often mean I am just too close to the problem and it’s inhibiting my ability to make choices and create a stable plan. If I want to release that anxiety, I need to give it some space and approach from a place of inner stability and strength.

Deck Used: Distant Past Tarot

The Salamander and The Seeds

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Today’s meditation was just over ten minutes long and was not a part of the ‘how to’ series I’ve been working my way through. Instead I spent a bit of time in the bottom of the shower following the water drops as they made their way down the side of the tub.

As you know, this is a very soothing activity for me, and is hands-down my easiest meditation. There’s just something about the warm water raining down and the trailing of those drops that allows me to sink into that space in a way that meditating elsewhere does not.

Ace of Wands - Slow TarotToday’s draw is the Ace of Wands, which is a representation of the seed of new beginnings in the area of one’s inner spark including their ambitions, passions, and drive.

When I look at this card I see the seeds.  So many seeds.  All those dandelions are ready to scatter their seeds, and the salamander clings with apparent pleasure to a wand that’s on fire. This speaks to me of the need to sometimes go through the flames to obtain what you seek.

After yesterday’s occurrence concerning my business, this card is a message of hope and encouragement.  It speaks of having the resilience and strength to start anew if needed, and encourages looking into spreading my “eggs” out into more than one basket.  I already do this, but I think maybe I need to do some research on this again… just in case a new start ends up being needed.

Deck Used: Slow Tarot

Bonus Reading – #TarotForGrowthNovember

Question: How can I break free when I’m feeling trapped?

Tarot of Pagan CatsReading Summary:  Move quickly (Eight of Wands) to explore new opportunities (Ace of Pentacles) that allows me to find a sense of stability that fits me best (Four of Pentacles).

Take Away:  When I first read this question prior to doing the reading, I thought this was about emotions.  You know, you always hear those people that feel “trapped” in their relationships with either their significant other, or family, or friends.   But I don’t really feel that way emotionally so I didn’t really see how this question would apply to me.

I should have known, though, that the cards would dig out just exactly how this question does apply to me.  And, they’re right. When it comes to my work and my finances, I do occasionally feel trapped.  Usually I just ride it out until it passes, or make small adjustments to what I’m doing until I find that “sweet spot” of contentment again.

The cards in today’s reading suggest that sometimes to break free of that feeling, it’s better to allow new opportunities a chance, and move quickly to explore them when they present themselves.  That, by doing this, in the end although it might spur change (as new opportunities so often do) it can lead to an even better place of stability in the end.

Deck Used: Tarot of Pagan Cats

 

Growth Spurts Through Enthusiasm

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Today’s meditation was just over seven minutes long, because I got interrupted part way through by the arrival of the housekeeper showing up early.    The focus of the meditation for today was the “strength training” of focus and concentration that is done when you are meditating.

This theme is a build off the mention in a previous meditation in the series where the guide likens the straying of the mind during meditation and becoming conscious of this straying to bring it back to focus again as a “bench press” for the mind.

I like this analogy and it has really put the straying of the mind during meditation in a different light for me.

Page of Wands - Slow Tarot Today’s draw is the Page of Wands, which is a representation of a receptive omega energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s ambitions, drive, and passions.

The imagery in this card really speaks to me, as it reminds me of a time when L and I used to go out camping on the weekends with Z and T.  These camping trips were always super educational, but so much fun.  They are the beginning of my education on plants and the forests in the area I live in, as it was those two that taught me the joys of the deep forest and started me on my journey of learning about plants and botany.     I’m almost certain that Z did self-taught crash courses in the subject just to keep up with my thirst for knowledge during these trips.

These trips also taught my sister and I about survival skills and about the strength in independence.  We learned about the elements in a hands-on natural environment, and about reverent respect for the earth and her gifts.  Each weekend we went out into the forest with Z and T was a growth spurt of the mind and expansion of the spirit.

As I move into this busy time of year for me, the holiday rush now a reality, the cards are giving me a reminder that I need to take that spirit of strength, independence, and adventure with me into the chaos of the holiday rush.  Do not let the chaos weigh me down, but instead choose to look at it as a challenging adventure.

Deck Used:  Slow Tarot

Bonus Reading – #TarotForGrowthNovember

Question: How can I better recognize the signs of manipulation?

Bottanical TarotReading Summary:  The beginnings of feeling as if I am floundering around in the dark (The Unknown).  This card overshadows all of the others in the reading.

Sesame is a symbol of good luck and immortality through resilience and adaptability.  When combined with the Three of Spices (Wands) and the other cards in this spread, it evokes for me that feeling of when you are in a group project in school that is supposed to be a collaborative effort, but the others are leaving you to do all the work.

The Lemon is a symbol of longevity and friendship, and when combined with the Ace of Crops (Pentacles) and the other cards in this spread, what comes across is a message of false promises and a “drumming up” of enthusiasm through promises of new exciting opportunities and potential wealth.

The ginkgo is also a symbol of longevity, as well as hope, and the attraction of opposites.  When combined with the Strength card and the other cards in this reading,  there is an feeling of needing to tap into inner foundations in order to examine if the “opposites attract” thing is really a fortuitous happenstance, or a recipe for failure.

I also am getting an intuitive hit off of the Lemon in its position in the forefront that speaks of “drumming up” enthusiasm and excitement, and an effort to distract you from seeing the weaker points by keeping your attention trained on the new and shiny.

Take Away:  Pay attention to when I feel as if I’m floundering in the dark, and look for excess enthusiasm and slight of hand concerning an effort to control where my attention is focused. Listen to that calm inner voice rather than getting wrapped up in the hype.

Deck Used:  The Bottanical Tarot

Comfort and Strength

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Today’s meditation was just over eleven minutes, and the next installment of the ‘how to’ series that I’ve been working my way through.  The focus in today’s meditation was how to take your focus deeper into that “quiet place” of calm that can be found when you focus so strongly and so closely that everything else in the world fades away.

I have had this experience in our play, and in my work.  But I’ve never tried to accomplish it in my meditation before.   Although I could just lightly touch upon that mental space for a few fractions of a second at a time, I couldn’t sustain it, but I have a feeling that with practice I could.

Strength - Slow Tarot Today’s draw is the Strength card of the Major Arcana, which means that it is a “big picture” theme rather than any one specific aspect of the human condition.

When I saw this card this morning, I wasn’t sure how it would relate to my day, and a variety of possibilities for the positive message it could convey were running through my head.   As the evening has progressed, though, I have found where the inner strength that is represented in this card is needed, and with it the comforting that really struck me in the imagery itself.

It was really hard to come to the realization that I am still losing memories from the head injury I sustained fourteen years ago.  Over the past few years, there have been some really encouraging signs that indicate a recovery of some of the memories I’d lost, and I had not really noticed having lost anything important other than during my depressive episodes.

I discovered this evening that that is not so much the case, and that some of the memories that I have lost and not worried overly about are joined by memories that I don’t -want- to lose… but have.  These losses bring up within me a deep and somewhat terrifying sense of helplessness, and that is where the message in today’s card steps forward.  It is a reminder of my strength and that I am a survivor.  It is also a reminder that in times of distress, there are those that I love and that love me that I can reach out to for comfort and support.

Deck Used:  Slow Tarot

Bonus Reading – #TarotForGrowthNovember

Question: What can I do to better embrace change?

Manga TarotReading Summary:  Approach with an open mind and outlook of open curiosity and imagination (Page of Cups), accepting that cycles are a part of life and change is simply a part of our movement through these cycles (The World), and take time to plan and prepare for when the dust settles (Three of Wands).

Take Away: So often when change approaches, there is a tendency to close off and either ignore  what is happening as long as we can, or resist the change entirely.  Embracing change, though, requires a receptivity and acceptance to both the current change as well as the fact that change is an eventuality in life.  Instead of wasting energy on fighting against something that is going to happen whether you like it or not, take that energy and use it to plan for your next moves forward on your path so you are somewhat prepared for where your feet will land when the storm is over.

Deck Used:  Manga Tarot

Cycles and Transitions

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Today’s meditation was a bit over sixteen minutes long, and I took a break from the ‘how to’ series that I’ve been working through to instead do a body scan where I moved from head to foot concentrating on the skin, then toes to head concentrating beneath the skin.

It was very thorough and very relaxing.  The only thing missing was some nice soothing music, but I had to charge my phone, so I couldn’t hook it up to the speaker at the same time or I wouldn’t have gotten a quick charge.   I may do this meditation again with music in the future to see how it feels.

Ten of Swords - Slow Tarot Today’s draw is the Ten of Swords, which is a card we spent some time on just last night in your lesson.   As you know from our discussion last night, I see more than just endings in the representation of the Ten of Swords, but also a time of healing (represented in this card by the birds).

The message in this card today is about looking for the silver lining.  Sometimes things come to an end, that’s just a natural progression, but in those endings there is an opportunity for growth and for moving on to something better.  It’s important to look for these opportunities and use them to pull yourself up off the floor and give yourself wings so that you can move on to the next thing.

Post Script Addition:  I was having a hard time finding a way to relate this pull to my life at the moment, and had decided to publish this post without that part added, as I figured that maybe it was just a positive message to keep in mind for the future.  But, I think you are right and that this message has to do with the extra time we’ve been able to have together lately.   With the holiday rush coming, that’ll come to an end very soon.   But fortunately, it’ll only be for temporary, and once the rush eases, everything can return to a far more happy and healthy balance.

Deck Used:  Slow Tarot

Bonus Reading – #TarotForGrowthNovember

Question: What can I do to better handle conflict?

The Herbcrafter’s TarotReading Summary:  Slippery Elm is used in the soothing of mucus membranes and in magic is often used in halting gossip. When combined with the Five of Pentacles, it indicates situations where struggles with resources and finances are present, and although you are possibly close with others, you are refusing to seek assistance because of a fear of your situation “getting out” into the awareness of others.

Wild Cherry is an auspicious tree that indicates good fortune and abundance of beneficial gifts available for the whole.  When combined with the Nine of Wands, there is a message not just of abundance but also of accessibility.  This message holds a message about needing to temper one’s desire to defend and block everything/everyone from gaining access to the abundance there for all.

Apple is a symbol of fertility and, like the Wild Cherry mentioned above, of bounty.  When combined with the Nine of Pentacles it is a message of long term preparations towards self-sufficiency, abundance, and being in a place where you have enough that you can comfortably share with others without the fear of “shooting yourself in the foot” as a result of doing so.   This is a card that says “rest easy, as there is plenty to go around”.

Take Away:  This reading refers to inner conflict.  It indicates that I should not allow what other’s might think or say behind my back influence how I feel about how well I am doing, nor whether or not I reach out for help when I need it. Take time to appreciate where there is bounty in my life, instead of struggling under the weight of perceived scarcity.

Deck Used:  The Herbcrafter’s Tarot

Control Within the Chaos

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Today’s meditation was a little over eleven minutes, and was the next segment in the ‘how to’ series that I have been working through.  The focus on today’s meditation was

King of Wands - Slow TarotToday’s draw is the King of Wands, which is a representation of a projective alpha energy, personality or person in the area of one’s ambitions, passions, and drive.  This manifests in a push of energy toward leadership which displays itself with a commanding presence that possesses high expectations both of the self and of others.

With my feet resting upon the cusp of the busiest time of the year for me, this card’s arrival today is a reminder to project authority in what I do and confidence in my work, which is also my passion and my ambition.

This card is a reminder of the energy needed to ensure that the cacophony of the holiday rush does not overwhelm me.  I am capable of taking control, and I will do so, and move forward with strength and confidence into the chaos of the busy season.

Deck Used:  Slow Tarot

Bonus Reading – #TarotForGrowthNovember

Question: Where would I benefit from slowing down?

Gravity Tattoo Tarot Reading Summary: Letting money slide through my fingers (Six of Pentacles) while feeling confident I can indulge in my passions without repercussion (Queen of Wands).  It’s only through staying strong and practicing restraint (Strength) that I will find true stability that I can celebrate (Four of Wands).

Take Away:  As a previous reading has suggested already, as the money flows in from the holiday rush, I have responsibilities to focus on.  Where usually extra money would go into different interests and pursuits, for the time being (as is the same every year) the influx over the next seven weeks needs to funnel into those responsibilities instead.

Deck Used:  Gravity Tattoo Tarot