spirituality

Your Own Pace

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Tarot of the Little Prince's Page of Pentacles and It’s Going To Be Okay 2024 Day-to-day Calendar By Kate AllanToday’s draw is the Page of Pentacles combined with the affirmation “It’s okay to grow at your own pace.”

Not only is it okay to grow at your own pace, it’s okay to look like an idiot or a chump while you’re doing so. Starting something new often comes with a period that feels even more lost and stupid then the “novice” stage. A lot of times people avoid beginning something new or returning to something that they failed at in the past to try again specifically because they fear making a fool of themselves or looking the fool to others.

The message in today’s cards is that everyone has these same fears and experiences with trying new things. That doesn’t mean you give up or turn away from something you want to try. It means that you do it anyway, and pay attention to your own progress and do things at your own pace, instead of worrying about what others think.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE LITTLE PRINCE AND IT’S GOING TO BE OKAY 2024 DAY-TO-DAY CALENDAR BY KATE ALLAN

@mercurytarot #SensualSeptemberTarot Challenge
Prompts for September 24th, 25th, 29th, and 30th

Tarot of the Little Prince and Thistledown OracleWhat are my sexual fears?

King of Cups and Ferocity – Disappointing your partner. His need for you, sexually and otherwise, is so fierce. When your fears get the best of you, you worry that if you can’t keep up that he will first feel neglected and then begin to stray. Not necessarily stray physically, but in his heart and mind.

What are my sexual fantasies?

Page of Cups and Intrigue – Although you have not been a virgin for a long time, you love bringing that aspect of things into your sexual encounters with your partner. He loves the feeling of being “first”, and you love giving that to him while revisiting that experience of anticipation and newness for yourself under his hands.  Sometimes it feels almost like rewriting history.

What new habit can I commit to?

Three of Wands and Release – Let go of your need to plan out every little aspect before moving forward. In the nature of this challenge’s focus on the sexual side of life, this means that it’s okay to be impulsive. It’s okay to jump in with both feet. You don’t have to worry about the crash and burn, because he’s there for you as a safety net.

What’s next for me sexually?

Page of Pentacles and Re-energize – Keep going with the new experiences and trying new things. It keeps the spark alive for both of you.

DECK USED: TAROT OF THE LITTLE PRINCE AND THISTLEDOWN ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

I took time to get next month’s templates all set up for these blog posts. It makes things easier in the long run if all the formatting is already ready to go and I can just pull the cards and write up my impressions rather than worrying about the formatting and everything else at the same time.

Wonderment and Awe

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Ace of Wands from Tarot Minchiate al Leone di Girolamo and It’s Going To Be Okay 2024 Day-to-day Calendar By Kate AllanToday’s draw is the Ace of Wands combined with the affirmation “Time for yourself is not selfish. It’s self-care.”

Enthusiasm is an important part of life. It helps add spark to one’s spirit and allows us to see the world through the lens of eager discovery and exploration.

The cards for today are a reminder that we need to make sure that we are directing that sense of discovery and exploration to more than just the world around us, but also to delving into knowing ourselves and our needs better… and finding ways to sate them.

There was an article in the HuffingtonPost about seeking out awe in our lives and how that can improve our lives as a whole. It reminded me of how I used to feel when I would take my camera (the big heavy pain in the ass one) out into the world to capture the things I found miraculous and fascinating.  This reading is a reminder that maybe it’s time to pick up the camera again instead of letting my phone “be enough”.  That conscious act of carrying the camera around? It was like a treasure hunt… a treasure hunt that’s just not the same when you have your phone camera there so easy and simple to forget about or dismiss.

DECK USED:  TAROT MINCHIATE AL LEONE DI GIROLAMO AND IT’S GOING TO BE OKAY 2024 DAY-TO-DAY CALENDAR BY KATE ALLAN

@tarot_juf Een Uitnodiging voor de herfst #SeptemberTarotChallenge
Prompts for September 26th, 29th, and 30th

Lunar Eclipse Tarot and The Ripple DeckWhat can I put aside for the coming winter, to pick up again in the spring?

Nine of Wands atop Nine of Swords Rx – Put aside your worries over if you are doing enough to fulfill your responsibilities and protect what is important to you. You’re sliding into a period each year where you give so much of yourself that there’s absolutely nothing left for anything else. Don’t second guess yourself in this, for you’re doing more than enough.

I may take this lesson with me from the calming nature this month.

The Lovers and Self-Discipline – This month has continued to encourage you to make health choices that are right for you, stressing that this is imperative to your well-being.  These cards are also a reminder that part of making healthy choices for yourself includes not just acknowledging but utilizing the fact that there are others in your life willing to help you stay on track if you let them.

A card to close the month; what do I take with me?

Eight of Wands Rx and Awe – This answer is an echo of the card-of-the-day pull that you did earlier. Slow down and smell the roses. Tap into the energies of discovery, wonderment, and awe. Pull your camera out and go for a walk.

DECK USED: LUNAR ECLIPSE TAROT AND THE RIPPLE DECK

Daily Self Kindness

I can’t say that I was particularly kind to my body today, as I overdid it by not just a small amount.  My self kindness for today is in making sure I took ibuprofen to help in handling how pissed off my body is for pushing it so hard.

Repercussions of Discouragement

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Katarungan (Justice) from the Terra Forma Tarot and It’s Going To Be Okay 2024 Day-to-day Calendar By Kate AllanToday’s draw is the Justice card combined with the affirmation “Just because the path is obscured or difficult does not mean you should give up on the destination.”

Cause and effect are a part of how the universe seeks balance, and this is the same even when it comes to our own actions and motivations.  When we get discouraged, if we let that affect our effort and interest in moving forward on what we find discouraging?  Then we don’t reach those goals. They fade off into the ether as we either trudge along without motivation on the same path but with no spark… or move on to other things.

The message in today’s cards is about that shift that happens when something gets difficult or discouraging.  it’s a reminder that if you really -want- what you’re after or where you’re going, you have to keep trying and keep pushing… even when things get tough.  Don’t let a little extra difficulty set you back or turn you away from what you know in your heart is right for you.  Keep going instead, with enthusiasm and determination.  Show the universe that whatever that thing is? It’s meant to be yours, and the effort you put into going in that direction will be rewarded in the end.

DECK USED:  TERRA FORMA TAROT AND IT’S GOING TO BE OKAY 2024 DAY-TO-DAY CALENDAR BY KATE ALLAN

#DiscordTarotholicsSep2024 Challenge
Philosophical Question for September 25th : What are the 3 major weaknesses of humanity?

Terra Forma Tarot - Ang Magsing-Irog (The Lovers), Siyam Tungkod (Nine of Wands, Walo Tungkod (Eight of Swords)Ang Magsing-Irog – The Lovers is often about making choices about what’s best for us. It’s about unions and give and take, about connection and promises.  As a weakness of humanity, it is about being selfish, and being motivated by selfishness and self-centered interests.

Siyam Tungkod – The Nine of Wands is about defensive positions, and ensuring that what matters to you is protected, even when things are tough.  Here again when put into a position of a weakness, there is an element of selfishness there.  It speaks of not standing strong for -should- be important to you out of laziness or disinterest.

Walo Tungkod – The Eight of Wands is about speed and determination toward one’s goals and interests. It speaks of moving faster, and often is in reference to instant gratification. As a weakness of humanity, it speaks of impatience and the unwillingness to take things slow and let them come naturally. The entitled belief that everything should be done/accomplished/obtained now.

These cards indicate that the three greatest weaknesses of humanity are selfishness (The Lovers), apathy (Nine of Wands), and impatience (Eight of Wands).

Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Red Maple Leaf for Adaptability and Connection
Foraged Silver Maple Key for Bouncing Back to Thrive
Aragonite for Truth and Understanding
Yellow Aventurine for Confidence
Kambaba Jasper as an Aid for Inward Focus

DECK USED: TERRA FORMA TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I made myself a healthy second supper instead of just snacking on unhealthy stuff.

Bad Starts Don’t Mean Bad Days

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and was one of the #DailyCalm sessions in the Calm App. And… I fell asleep.  I know I made it at least half way through the session, but I didn’t make it to the whole “moral of the story for today” end part. It was primarily just a relaxation and breathing exercise, to which I relaxed into just a little too deeply.

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Enchanted Mushroom Tarot and It’s Going To Be Okay 2024 Day-to-day Calendar By Kate AllanToday’s draw is the Page of Pentacles combined with the affirmation “Today kind of sucks, but you don’t. Hope your day gets better.”

So, when I drew this card this morning, I figured it would just be a rhetorical topic to keep in mind, but it actually turned out to be something that I really needed to hear.

That is because I managed to receive the fluke injury of all fucking time this morning. Driving with the window down, while passing a semi-truck on the highway, the truck’s tire threw a stone (you know, like the ones that crack your windshield). This particular stone comes IN the open window and hits me in the shoulder, and holy CRAP did it hurt. (I’m okay. Just bruised and sore.)

So, as you can imagine, my day really didn’t start off all that great, although I DID manage to not swerve or jerk the steering wheel, so that’s good.

Today message in the cards are to not let one bad experience screw the rest of your day.  That may mean that you have to adjust how you do things in order to accommodate and/or work within the parameters of the unexpected when it jumps in.  That’s why humans are adaptable, though. So when shit happens? Do your best to work at lightening your mood, give yourself a little comfort, and keep going.

DECK USED:  ENCHANTED MUSHROOM TAROT AND IT’S GOING TO BE OKAY 2024 DAY-TO-DAY CALENDAR BY KATE ALLAN

@tarot_juf Een Uitnodiging voor de herfst #SeptemberTarotChallenge
Prompts for September 22nd, 23rd, and 28th

Enchanted Mushroom Tarot and Divine Nature OracleHow can I hold on to the warmth in the coming period?

Page of Swords and Garden the Heart – Use your intellect and curiosity to find ways to nurture that softer side within you. Explore things that interest you and allow yourself to learn through experimentation.

This is soft and tender.

Four of Pentacles and Burn Sacred Fire – Your tendency to hunker down and hide in order to obtain a sense of stability is keeping you from the connection to nature that you need. Do not let this habit born out of vulnerability thwart you from fulfilling you needs. Even that vulnerable place inside you needs time out among the trees.

This is becoming more intense.

Nine of Swords and Submerge – Worries, fears, and anxieties are rising as the holiday rush gets closer. Remember to pull yourself up for a breath of fresh air once in a while.  Wallowing in those anxieties and fears are not going to help you, but will drag you down into a pattern that is unhelpful and unhealthy.

DECK USED: ENCHANTED MUSHROOM TAROT AND DIVINE NATURE ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

I used ice packs and ibuprofen today.

Instant Gratification

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Oracle of Wong Tai Sin and Soul Creatures OracleToday’s draw is the Patience card combined with the affirmation “I ignite the flames of creativity and inspiration, and inspire and uplift those around me.”

The message in today’s cards is that just because you feel inspired and that creative spark is kindled within you, doesn’t mean that you have to charge ahead full speed.

Remember that every cool and interesting idea doesn’t have to immediately come into fruition. Take your time. Share your ideas with others and invite them in to help you, brainstorm with you, and let them get their hands dirty too.

DECK USED:  THE ORACLE OF WONG TAI SIN AND SOUL CREATURES ORACLE

@tarot_juf Een Uitnodiging voor de herfst #SeptemberTarotChallenge
Prompt for September 24th and 25th

Kumacchi Oracle ExpressThis is how I can hold on to myself during the autumn storms in my life.

The Fool and Luggage Car – Let go of that heavy baggage from your past that you’re carrying around. It’s too heavy and you will feel much freer and more at ease without it weighing you down.

The nights are getting longer; this is how I can deal with that.

The Magician and Passenger – Remember that you have the power and independent streak needed to not just be “along for the ride” Either in life or with others. Use the tools at your disposal to adjust your direction in the way you want to go. Others will fall in line with you if you don’t fall in line with them.

DECK USED: KUMACCHI ORACLE EXPRESS

@mercurytarot #SensualSeptemberTarot Challenge
Prompts for September 22nd and 23rd

Floral Enchantments Tarot and Oracle of Wong Tai SinHow can I honour my needs?

Six of Pentacles and Avoid Extremes – Although generosity and fairness are important, even in difficult times, it is not the end-all-be-all of a satisfying sexual experience.

Instead of focusing on fairness to the point of it feeling like you are straining yourself, work instead to find a balance that works for both you and your partner. That balance will not look so much like an even weighing of scales, but rather will be more like fitting two very different puzzle pieces together into what works for both.

In other words, you don’t have to try so hard to do the things there are not a part of your nature as long as you both are happy.

What tempts me?

Ace of Swords and Letting Go – Inspiration that distracts you from your responsibilities. Sometimes it’s difficult to stay focused on the things you “should do” when you are inspired by something new and exciting. Okay… more than sometimes. These new ideas are always tempting, and make the balance between what needs to be done and what you -want- to do difficult at times.

Note: With the theme of this challenge, this is talking about my desire to spend time exploring new characters in play with Gid and being creative with him online rather than doing the work that I need to get done for my business. Although I usually manage to lean into my responsibilities? The temptation to say “fuck it” and go be with him instead is always there.

DECK USED: FLORAL ENCHANTMENTS TAROT AND THE ORACLE OF WONG TAI SIN

Daily Self Kindness

I made sure not to push myself too hard on orders, even if it meant that it took me a bit longer to get things done.

#31DaysofWitchcraft Prompt 20 (non)VR to Heather Carter

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Heather Carter on YouTube put together a series of prompts titled #31DaysofWitchcraft that she’s been working her way through since the beginning of May. I really like this idea, but I can’t handle the responsibility of any more daily posts, so I thought that for the next few weeks, I would do one (or a few at a time) for the end of week “My Pagan Perspective” posts and work through them a bit at a time.

witchyfunk

20. What do you do when you are in a witchy funk?

“Witchy Funk”.  That is such a weird term to me when I read it and I’m not sure why.  Maybe it is because my spirituality and my witchcraft are so wrapped up into one?

The thing is, witchcraft is an act.  It is an activity.  You do not have to be Wiccan or Pagan to practice it.  There are Christian witches, Hindu witches, Atheist witches… there’s all kinds.  It is not a spirituality, it is an act… a tool.

Paganism, is not an activity.  It is a faith.  A religion.  A spiritual path.  It is a path of belief.   How someone walks this path may vary from person to person.  Some Wiccans, for example, do not practice witchcraft.  Some Pagans don’t either.   And others do.

For me, these two things were interlaced and so very woven together that they grew together like gemeis, two trees that grow together into one. The inosculation in this natural phenomenon between trees is a good comparison how witchcraft and my spiritual path have grown together over time until there is no clear separation between them any longer.

So when I see the words “witchy funk” it feels strange.  How does one have a “funk” from their belief?  From their faith?  From how they believe the world works and how we interact with it?   I’m… not sure that’s possible. I mean, maybe during major depressive episodes and I essentially retreat from every little single thing in the world?  But I definitely wouldn’t call that a “funk”.

Are there times when I am more active and engaged than others?  Absolutely, but we can say that about anything in life, can’t we?  Everyone goes through phases and cycles.  Sometimes our attention gets drawn away to this or that, and then we slip back to center again when the newness wears off or we accomplish what we’d been distracted by.   I also don’t consider these a “funk”, but more of a natural cycle of interest and curiosity balancing out with just how much time there is in each day.

So I’m left wondering… do I even have witchy funks? What exactly -is- a witchy funk anyway?   I’m not sure.