Today’s meditation was just over ten minutes long, and focused upon dealing with difficult people with patience and kindness.  The meditation started out with a full body scan and slow breathing exercise, before there was a length of quiet in the center to sink into one’s mindfulness and relaxation.

At the end, there was then a short discussion on how when people are behaving badly and in a difficult manner, it’s important to remember that the majority of the time this happens is because of the inner wounds these people are dealing with, or the fears that they are hiding away behind that mask of distasteful behavior.

Sometimes we forget that a lot of times?  The face that people present to the world is not their true selves.  Sometimes that dick at grocery store that gets aggressive about wearing a mask is really a scared little boy that was powerless and squashed under the boots of others fighting back against being told what to do once again.

Sometimes that craggy old woman that lives on the third floor and glares at you in the elevator every day is really just so tired of giving all of her time and energy to others that she can’t handle even one more straw on her back… and is worried you may be that straw if she allows you to speak to her.

Today’s draw is the King of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of a projective alpha energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s relationships, emotions, intuition, and creativity.  This often communicates as themes to do with diplomacy and empathetic leadership, as well being an indication of emotional balance and/or having a strong but compassionate nature.

When drawing this card today, what stood out most strongly to me in the imagery of this card is the full moon in the background and the heron.

The full moon holds significance in the power that it holds.  When the moon is full, it’s at its peak power and it is a draw to the eye and energies of all.  It possesses a gravitational pull over the waters of our planet that is the influence behind our ocean’s tides.

The blue heron in this card also stood out strongly to me.  The symbology of the heron is one of watchful peace.  They are a creature that can stand in stillness for hours on end, aware of every little ripple and movement around them as they linger in their chosen spot.

What I see in today’s card is you.  You are my moon. You are my blue heron.   You are that for so many, actually, and you don’t even realize it.   Your magnetism is like the full moon.  You naturally draw people to you, not with your mind but with the blend of your heart and your strength.  They are drawn to that inner quality that puts others at ease while making it safe to stand in your shadow, out of the too bright rays of the sun.

The message in today’s card is a reminder of you… a reminder of the safety you provide, as well as the balm upon the emotions you are just by being you.

DECK USED:  FORAGER’S DAUGHTER TAROT

#TarotForGrowthMay Challenge Prompt
Question: How can I better embrace and love the shadow parts of myself?

Reading Summary: Here, again, I’ve gotten all birds in what is very much not an all-bird deck.  This represents that the answer in these cards has to do with my spiritual path through the emotions (both shell cards) and encouraging a lack of judgements (Awakening Rx).

Take Away:  Shadow work.  This is about taking the time to reach out to that shadow side and do some soul searching concerning what makes that side feel as it does and helping it to see all that there is to feel grateful about.  It’s about the emotional aspects of my shadow self and allowing room for those emotions to be expressed and set free.

DECK USED:  SPIRITSONG TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsMay2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: Where do I need to ‘step up’ in my life and do better?

Reading Summary: You haven’t been doing your best (Eight of Feathers Rx) to balance your emotional side (King of Shells) with your responsibilities (Two of Rocks) lately.

Take Away:  In this case, not doing my best refers to turning a blind eye to the ongoing effort needed to keep these two elements in balance and not let my responsibilities overtake the emotional side of things and force it all back into a box. 

If I don’t make a concentrated effort to create that balance and prioritize the emotional part of myself, I will fall into old habits and let that side end up “buried in the back yard” again.  This past week has made that very clear, as I sort of lost my grip on that balance, as a result my responsibilities and my tendency to lean into that side of things took control and upset the very carefully balanced apple cart I’d had going on.

DECK USED:  TAROT FAUNA

#MysticStarChallenge
Question: How can I use this time more effectively and for my greatest good?

Reading Summary: Everyone in each of these cards is facing left (thus the reason I did not turn the Knight upright) and is looking down into their what they value most.  The imagery here speaks of taking time to linger (Knight Rx) in these things that I value most and examine how I have dealt with these things in the past (everyone facing left)… and evaluate how to deal with them moving forward (Page and Ace).

Take Away:  Like yesterday, this is a reading that is echoing and expanding on the reading before it.   This is about shadow work and examining my past in order to find the weeds in my emotional well-being that need pulled out to make room for more healthy behaviors, both concerning my emotional side as well as how I relate to money and my constant need for stability in the physical world.

DECK USED:  STAR SPINNER TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: When do I give more to a relationship than I should?

Reading Summary:  This reading refers to the “stuck” dynamic I have with my mother (EIght of Cups Rx), and how every time I try to start over with her anew (Ace of Pentacles) I end up with her trampling on my heart (Knight of Cups) and bleeding for the effort (Ten of Swords).

Take Away:  The Eight of Cups in this reading was Rx, and I am the dragonfly held in place by the hands that should be loving but are instead restrictive and demanding. The cards in this relationship are pointing out a pattern where I try again and again to find that mother figure I desire from a source incapable of providing that for me due to their own selfish pursuits.

DECK USED:  MYSTIC FAERIE TAROT