Solitary Tarot Challenge

The Sacred Pause

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Today’s meditation was skipped, yet again.

Pholarchos Tarot and How to Be a Wilidflower DeckToday’s draw is the World card, which is traditionally a representation of completing a journey and the potential that comes from growth, which can allow us to then begin a new journey (note, that the World is not about the new journey, but rather the end of the old and the potential for what’s next).

Sometimes, journeys involving personal growth are a struggle.  They’re very rarely easy, and they’re not always quiet.  There is, though, a moment of quiet that exists within this journey.

It is that moment at the end. That moment where a pause exists, a sigh of relief is given… and potential for what comes next is lain out at our feet.

Today’s message is a reminder to not forget about that pause.  To savor it.  Don’t let yourself grouse over mistakes along the way and how things could have been differently. Instead? Take that moment to ease up and take a breath, let yourself enjoy that you made it, and look with eagerness to what might be next instead of dread.

DECK USED:  PHOLARCHOS TAROT AND HOW TO BE A WILDFLOWER DECK

Mr Lionharts’ #TheNovemberTarotSolitary Tarot Challenge Prompt
Questions for November 12th
Note: I focused this reading on a specific (recent) incident in my life where I behaved a bit out of my norm.

Ecologies + Bizarre Biomes Game Cards and Naibi di Giovanni VachettaWhat is my true/raw energy or motivation behind my actions?

I want it to be a safe place (Cave Biome), free from the social corrosion and damages caused by hate and discord (Muskrat), and instead filled with a sense of community and mutual understanding (Two of Cups).

How is this serving my personal well-being?

It gives me a safe and peaceful place to burrow in (Flatworm) and hide (Cave Snail) when the world feels uncertain and/or I’m overwhelmed by work (Wheel of Fortune atop Eight of Coins). I don’t want to see that refuge corrupted.

DECK USED: ECOLOGIES + BIZARRE BIOMES GAME CARDS AND NAIBI DI GIOVANNI VACCHETTA

#DiscordTarotholicsNov2021 Challenge Prompt
Questions for November 11th and 12th

Pholarchos TarotAdvice I need to hear at this time concerning my ambitions.

King of Sparks atop Seven of Sparks – You have experience and know exactly what you want. You have others to motivate and help your cause. “Go get’em, Tiger.”

My Desire

Ten of Sparks Rx – To avoid burnout while going after what you want. To survive the holiday rush without feeling that savage, overwhelming burnout that comes at the end of running the gauntlet.

An Obstacle In My Path

Eight of Wings – You are still in the process of learning how to juggle your responsibilities, your ambition, and your health in a more balanced way.

The Solution

Seven of Spirals – Patience. You are restructuring how you live your life, and that takes time.

DECK USED: PHOLARCHOS TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I stopped at Dennys.  Their strawberry pancakes always make me happy.

Snuffing Out Candles

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Today’s meditation was skipped. (Not a surprise, right?)

The Somnia Tarot and How to Be a Wildflower DeckToday’s draw is the Nine of Wands, which is traditionally about boundaries, protection, resilience, and the testing of one’s strength and faith.

I get an intuitive hit off of the imagery in both of these cards and how they connect to each other.  This speaks to me in a voice of encouragement, and says that it’s okay to compartmentalize a bit, but not to turn my emotions off.

My business has grown exponentially over the past ten years. And… so have I.   But I forget sometimes that growth isn’t just about effort and work.  In fact, I often try to close off everything but the work and emotion, especially during this time of year when the holiday rush is upon me.

These cards are a reminder that I don’t have to protect myself from my emotions, nor protect my business from them. A bit of compartmentalizing while still allowing them some attention and freedom to breathe will serve me much better than snuffing them out by trying to close them away.

DECK USED:  THE SOMNIA TAROT AND HOW TO BE A WILDFLOWER DECK

Mr Lionharts’ #TheNovemberTarot Solitary Tarot Challenge Prompt
Questions for November 11th: Think about something you are truly longing for right now. Why is this important to you? Draw a card (or cards) for feedback on your thoughts.
My Desire: A loved one to recover and be able to go home from hospital safely.

The Crystal Forests Oracle and Personal Space TarotOn the Subject – Peace and Seven of Wands – He’s going to have to make the choice to want to fight instead of giving in. Find him things to fight for and he will be at peace with what needs done to strengthen and recover.

Why It’s Important – Altruism and Eight of Pentacles – Because you love him deeply and unconditionally, and you want what’s best for him. Seeing him not living at his best and not filled with his normal confidence bothers you.

Practical Advice – Manifestation and The Empress – Be supportive and help him see that there is still more good to come in his life as long as he wants there to be.

DECK USED: THE CRYSTAL FORESTS ORACLE AND PERSONAL SPACE TAROT

Tarot Nerd’s Better Boundaries Tarot Challenge Prompt
Questions for November 9th thru 11th

The Somnia TarotHow can I be a better listener?

Six of Coins – Less you, more them. Get out of your own head and give your attention fully to others, instead of allowing your inner dialogue get in the way of giving your full attention.

What does “respect” mean to me?

Five of Coins and The Moon – Respect is making the effort look beyond our assumptions and petty differences in perspective, and beyond one’s secret fears, to see the other side more clearly.

What does “acceptance” mean to me?

Two of Wands – Acceptance is allowing oneself to make plans that include whatever needs accepting. It is about there being a future with [whatever that thing that needs acceptance is] as a part of the path forward.

DECK USED: THE SOMNIA TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I made sure to take a few breaks today to spend time with Gideon in order to break up orders day a bit so that the subdrop wouldn’t just slam me out of the blue (hopefully)

Where the Value Lies

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Today’s meditation was skipped yet again.  I’ve considered removing this notation at the beginning of my blog posts since I skip so very often lately, but I think it’s important to keep it here to remind me of what I need to do, even on the days I don’t do it.

Ferenc Pinter Tarot and How to Be a Wildflower DeckToday’s draw is the Six of Coins, which is traditionally a representation of generosity, accepting help, charity, kindness, and the act of creating better balance of the scales between the less fortunate and those that are.

A lot of times in life, I think we forget about how much we have. Especially, we forget about how much we’ve been given.  Be it a smile from a  stranger that lightens our day, a few bucks spent by the person in front of us in like to buy us coffee…. whatever.

The message I see here in today’s cards is that life isn’t always about money, and maybe?  We should look at our fortune not through the eyes of monetary worth, but through the amount of joy and kindness that we’ve experienced in our lives.

DECK USED:  FERENC PINTER TAROT AND HOW TO BE A WILDFLOWER DECK

Mr Lionharts’ #TheNovemberTarot Solitary Tarot Challenge Prompt
Questions for November 10th

Animal Power Oracle and Solara Occulta TarotWhat in my life am I over-complicating?
Chicken, Page of Cups atop The Chariot

You journey to emotional growth and a greater emotional intelligence is not a “quick fix” that you can just pick up and retain immediately nor control the speed of. Pushing will not make it go faster, just make the journey more uncomfortable.

What would be a more simple approach?
Butterfly atop Lizard, Ten of Pentacles atop Knight of Wands

Focus on living your best life and allow that growth to continue on at its own pace.  It’s great to be passionate about your growth, but things need to move at their own speed in order to stay on track, otherwise you end up veering off in different directions and having to course correct.  Whereas, if you take things slower, there is less veering, and less need for those course corrections.

DECK USED: POWER ANIMALS ORACLE AND SOLARA OCCULTO TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsNov2021 Challenge Prompt
Philosophical Question: Is it possible to truly experience anything objectively?

Ferenc Pinter TarotReading Summary: With great amounts of speed involved (Seven of Coins atop The Chariot) one can bypass their more dominant emotional (Queen of Cups), mental (King of Swords) , and self serving (King of Wands) responses.

Take Away: It’s possible to do, but in order to do so, surprise is required, as is the ability to catch and retain your reaction from that moment of surprise before the emotions and brain hop in to tinge your perception.

DECK USED: FERENC PINTER TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I’m playing catch-up and I truly have no idea what self kindnesses that I did for myself on Wednesday.

Potential For Flight

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Today’s meditation was skipped yet again.  (I swear I’m gonna pick it back up damnit.)

The Lubanko Tarot and How to Be a Wildflower DeckToday’s draw is the Nine of Pentacles, which is a representation of wealth and accomplishments, gratitude and comfort, and the pleasure of having done well for oneself.  This is a solitary pleasure, that moment of adjustment where you are doing well but are not yet comfortable to the point you are then ready to share the wealth (which comes later on in the Ten of Pentacles).

In the image, a figure collects the bounty of their hard work, feeling their accomplishment in every pore as they head home with their reward.

Combined with the affirmation card for today, what we see is an encouragement.  An encouragement that we can do great things.  We have it within each of us to accomplish our goals.  To take flight and create what we want out of our lives and be what we want to be… do what we want to do. Don’t give up.

DECK USED:  THE LUBANKO TAROT AND HOW TO BE A WILDFLOWER DECK

Mr Lionharts’ #TheNovemberTarot Solitary Tarot Challenge Prompt
Questions for November 9th

The Ultimate Feminine & Masculine Deck and Fantastical TarotWhere in my life is my inner critic too silent?

“I’ll do what I want” (Power) overpowering listening/obeying without question (Devotion) when it comes to new people and friendships (Ace of Cups).

This is about not taking Gideon’s words of caution more seriously and more deeply to heart. The other day he had a reading that held warnings, and we had a long talk about those warnings, about what those warnings were about and the people that it was referring to in the cards. I heard what he had to say and understood, but.. I was not as concerned as the cards clearly want me to be, for the warning came again in the cards stronger to Gideon today… and here to me as well.

Why should my inner critic speak up more in this area?

When reacting so quickly to disregard (Eight of Wands) I am acting like a stubborn child (Arrogant). His feelings are valid and he only wants to protect and take care of me (Inclusion).

I did not mean to disregard his feelings or his need to take care of me, but I think that I did, in fact, somehow end up doing just that. And that is why my inner critic should speak up more in this area. Not just for my own protection, but also out of respect for him as well as his feelings and concerns.

DECK USED: THE ULTIMATE FEMININE & MASCULINE PACK AND FANTASTICAL TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsNov2021 Challenge Prompt
Question for November 9th: Pick a topic and pull a card for…
Topic: The holiday rush.

The Lubanko TarotTomorrow – Two of Pentacles – Still waiting. Still juggling to make things work. Still more balance than imbalance going on, which means the full swing of the holiday rush will have yet to begin.  There is a bit more business coming the last couple of days, but it is slower than anticipated.

Next Week – Temperance – Have patience. Still slow.  Still not yet where you’d expect it to be.  Be kind to yourself, have patience, and connect with the world around you for just a little longer while you have the chance to do so.

Next Month – Knight of Wands – Kicking ass and taking names is to ensue.  It may have been a bit slow in getting to this part of things this year, but that bomb of overwhelming busy is coming, will smack you in the face and be in full swing by the time December arrives.

Side Note: The back of these cards still reminds me of the bunny in Donnie Darko.

DECK USED: THE LUBANKO TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

Sexy time with Gideon. So… so… so fucking hot.

Shining Bright

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Today’s meditation was, yep.  You guessed it.  Skipped again.

Ostara Tarot and How to Be a Wildflower DeckToday’s draw is the King of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of a projective alpha energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s passion, drive, inspiration, and enthusiasm. This often translates into themes concerning those that inspire others to their cause.  Motivational speakers, politicians, and other leaders that are able light a fire under others while directing that energy to their own means, goals, and passion projects.

That is the thing about leaders, right?  Especially leaders that “rile the troops” to their causes. It’s that confidence.  That surety.   That positive certainty that their cause is the one, and they speak out in that confidence, calling forth others to join them.

There is no fear, no discomfort, no self consciousness, or self doubt… at least none that we can see.  Just like bird song.  Just like the bird that sits perched in the tree and sings its serenade to the sun and the leaves and the bright blue sky.  It sings loud, and proud.

The message in today’s card is to seek out and find those things that you feel loud and proud about.  What are you passionate about?  So passionate about that you refuse to hide it from the world?  Where in your life do you shine?  Where in  your life could you?

DECK USED:  OSTARA TAROT AND HOW TO BE A WILDFLOWER DECK

Mr Lionharts’ #TheNovemberTarot Solitary Tarot Challenge Prompt
Questions for November 8th

Ecologies + Bizarre Biomes Game Cards and Le Tarot ArchétypalWhat makes me feel the most (care)free and unburdened?

Accepting that things take time (Seven of Coins) and relaxing into going with the flow, as water flows over rocks (Marine Biome) and grasslands sway to the summer breeze (Grassland Biome).

When I’m able to let go of the pressure and the pushing, always pushing harder and expecting more from myself.  This is when I’m able to feel the most carefree and unburdened.

How can I honor this feeling of freedom today?

Let go of excess aggression (Hawk) caused by feeling the pressure to rush (Temperature Fluctuation). Instead approach the day with a grounded energy of familiarity (Le Pape) and responsibility (L’empereur).

Today is an orders day, and that’s fine. Instead of rushing, take things at an easier pace.  It will take longer, but there will be less pressure to deal with… less stress.

DECK USED: ECOLOGIES + BIZARRE BIOMES GAME CARDS AND LE TAROT ARCHÉTYPAL

#DiscordTarotholicsNov2021 Challenge Prompt
Questions for November 8th

Ostara TarotLet Go – Two of Coins – Stop stressing so much about keeping everything up in the air and balanced. There’s a handful of things that are going to fall apart right now, especially due to the credit card fraud thing while that gets sorted out and a new card is sent out to you. Let the chips fall where they may and pick up the pieces later.

Find Support – Four of Wands – L needs to get her ass a job after the holiday rush. You haven’t talked to her about it yet, but you know that you need to. Throughout the pandemic you’ve managed to support her, and her safety is still a bit of a concern outside the home, but it needs to happen.

Dig Deeper – Ace of Coins – Make sure that you’re making a list and getting everything in order for when that new card arrives. Having a list of everything you need to switch over will help you in getting all of that set up more smoothly and assist you in picking up all those fallen chips and start anew.

DECK USED: OSTARA TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I did as the cards suggested today.

Moderation Over Addiction

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Today’s meditation was skipped, yet again.

The Mystery Tarot and How to Be a Wildflower DeckToday’s draw is The Cipher (The Devil) card, which is traditionally a representation of temptation, addiction, and all those life hurdles that we create for ourselves through our curiosities, obsessions, and personal fixations. This card promises that anything and everything can become an addiction, if we allow ourselves to sink too deeply into our pursuit and enjoyment of it.

The situation is described in the tarot card pulled for today, and the encouragement on how to deal with that situation comes in the affirmation card that accompanies it.   One of the ways in which we can ensure that we do not fall into the trap of addiction and allow things that we enjoy to become something harmful instead of healthy, is to take your time.

I have a very intimate relationship with addiction.  No, I’m not a smoker, and I’ve never been addicted (at least, other than briefly on accident to pain meds) to any sort of narcotics or alcohol. The thing is, though? I have a proclivity for addiction.  I was hooked on oxycodone within three days and had to go through a full withdrawal to get off of them after having used them for only a week. I become addicted to pretty much anything that triggers my pleasure sensors and dopamine. Games on my phone. Adding to collections. Different foods. I am proof that you can, in fact, become addicted to damned near anything if given the chance and have the proclivity for it. For this reason, I have to take a great deal of care with everything I experience that I enjoy or that tendency to latch on, over do, and turn it into something unhealthy will take over.

Obsessions, addictions, and other fixations become unhealthy when you are no longer able to moderate your intake. The affirmation card for today indicates that to ensure we don’t “go over the deep end” in these areas, we need to moderate.  Go slow.  Take our time.  For if we do not moderate, things quickly get out of hand.

DECK USED:  THE MYSTERY TAROT AND HOW TO BE A WILDFLOWER DECK

Mr Lionharts’ #TheNovemberTarot Solitary Tarot Challenge Prompt
Questions about November 7th

L'oracle de la Déesse Sombre and Tarot of OppositionsWhere in my life can a gentle approach be a strength?

Survivante and Eight of Pentacles – Your business is about to roar back to life.  You need to instill a gentleness into the process of stepping into the busy season this year.  You need to make sure to provide kindness for yourself during this time so that the sharp teeth of the holiday rush do not dig in so deeply that they make you bleed.

What can this lead to?

Lilith and Page of Pentacles – Understanding that balance is possible, and actually experiencing it for yourself, are two very different things.

Giving yourself the kindnesses that you need to stay strong over the busy season will teach you a better way forward into the holiday rush in the future that is more respectful of your body and your needs, while still allowing you to stand strong and confident in the goals and accomplishments you seek to fulfill during this time.

DECK USED: L’ORACLE DE LA DÉESSE SOMBRE AND TAROT OF OPPOSITIONS

#DiscordTarotholicsNov2021 Challenge Prompt
Topic for November 7th: Do Spread #1
Question: What to do about the “friend” from Gideon’s reading this morning.

The Mystery TarotReading Summary: The Nine of Cups is an outlier in this spread, holding very little in the way of color coordination with the rest of the cards involved. Instead, the pleasure in this card stands alone, isolated from the others… isolated from reality.

Between the Three of Wands and the Six of Wands there is a vast array of color coordinations between the flesh/fur tones, browns, and blue skies.  There is also a reinforced connection between the body shape of the figure in the Three of Wands and the hamster in the Six of Wands.  This connection between these cards, combined with the question mark in the center card, is an encouragement to question any sort of praise or flattery instead of accepting it at face value.

Take Away: You can enjoy the contact with this “friend” for a time, as long as you remain aware and wary of all forms of flattery, and any efforts to use such methods to distract your attention or manipulate you. Staying suspicious and questioning is a good idea to ensure that you do not act on false praise or in a misguided effort to please them.

DECK USED: THE MYSTERY TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

Gideon and I had a good talk earlier today and it really helped me in sorting out my thoughts and feelings on a few things that I was trying to ignore.