Steampunk Tarot

Don’t Dig In Your Heels

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IMG_8447Today’s meditation was just over ten minutes long and was another of the guided meditations from the Calm app with added interval timer for my piriformis and forearm stretches.

Today’s guided meditation was focused upon gratitude, not just for the good stuff in life, but through the struggles we go through as well.  It’s the struggles that build our character and make us into the people we are. They show the true us, and show us what we’re made of.  It’s important to acknowledge the struggles and problems we go through instead of trying to forget them because of that, and to be grateful for the growth that these times foster within us as well as within our relationships and those around us as well.

The Keymaster Tarot - Death, Queen of SpadesToday’s draw is Death atop the Queen of Spades.  Death is traditionally a representation of natural change that develops organically over time.
The Queen of Spades is traditionally a representation of a receptive alpha energy, personality, or person in the areas of intellect and thought, reason and logic, as well as communication in all its forms.

What stands out to me the strongest in these cards today is the bull-like horns that the queen wears on her head.  These horns speak to me of stubbornness, and the death card atop this card that contains these horns indicates a need to slow down and think long and hard before digging in your heels on something.

I’m a notoriously stubborn person.  Not that I fight with others or use conflict to get my way.  I simply do what I want and continue on through obstacles that get in my way with dogged persistence. The thing is, though, sometimes this stubbornness can cause me to miss things… such as better ways to go about doing things, or different ways to get where I want to go…. or that there’s something better to aim for entirely.  This is where the death card comes in to remind me to pay attention and allow change to happen along the way.  Don’t stay so doggedly on a single point or path that I shut change out or try to push it away.

DECK USED:  KEYMASTER TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsDec2020 Challenge Prompt
Topic: Grab a spread of your choice that you’ve been curious about.. and give it a go!
Spread:  Pull four cards and lay them out in two teams. The two in the first team are the enemies, they represent two obstacles you’re currently battling. The second team is the two heroes, they represent two ways you can overcome these obstacles. Time to fight!

Faerie's Oracle by Brian FroudTwo Obstacles You’re Currently Battling

The Singer of Connection – Isolation and a feeling of being bereft and alone. I have been struggling with this lately without realizing it, closing myself off to get through the orders that needed to be done on the 28th, the errands done on the 29th, the sorting and chores done on the 30th, the work and exhaustion of the 30th. All of these have conspired to leave me feeling disconnected and alone.

The Singer of Healing – When I am cut off from those that support me and allow that sense of well-being to flourish, my healing of the self begins to slow to a halt. In the wake of that halt, negative feelings of betrayal, distrust, and abandonment rise up to the surface and begin to pick apart not just my mind and spirit, but also my body as a slippery slope of negative thoughts and emotions take hold.

Two Ways You Can Overcome These Obstacles

The Bodacious Bodach – Get yourself organized and stop allowing chaos to reign. When you allow the days to just take on a life of their own and do their own thing, you find that your time gets stolen away and given to a crapload of shit you don’t really need to do and won’t help you in feeling better.  You need structure, even during your time off.

Geeeeeooo the Slooow – While Bodach might help you in getting organized and creating some loose structure during your time off, make sure that you don’t allow that organization to make you feel cocky enough that you put more on your plate than is healthy at a time when you should be resting.  Take your time and relax. Nothing is pressing at this time.  Chill.

The Potential Results of This Battle

Ffeff the Ffooter – A slowing down.  A grounding.  A time of self care and re-centering. Respect yourself and your needs, respect the earth and your connection with the earth.  Take this time to find your balance and get your feet well rooted and your energy stable. Taking a pause to do these things is the best result possible you can get out of this conflict between these opposing forces.

DECK USED:  THE FAERIES’ ORACLE BY BRIAN FROUD

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: How has the Tarot/Oracle increased my insight over the past year?

Steampunk Tarot

Reading Summary: Over the past year tarot/oracle has taught me how to be more generous with myself (Six of Pentacles) so that I spend less time hiding from myself and those things that could hurt me (Eight of Swords) and stealing away my power (Seven of Swords).

Take Away: There’s a lot of shit that I wandered around ignoring for a long time.  Internal wounds and issues that I didn’t want to deal with and shoved aside, pretending they didn’t exist or didn’t influence my life.  The truth is, though, that the only person I hurt with this attitude was myself.  Instead of dealing with these things, they crept around under the surface out of sight, stealing away my strength and my power while I was busy trying to pretend that they didn’t exist. 

Over the past year, I’ve begin pulling those things out of their dark corners and shining a light on them, and in doing so I’ve discovered that a lot of the negative ways in which I treat myself stem from these things. And, that by being kind to myself, I’m able to help reverse some of the damage, and take some of my power back as a result.

DECK USED:  THE STEAMPUNK TAROT

Time To Get Moving

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IMG_8321Today’s meditation was just about twelve minutes long and was another guided meditation with interval timer, because even though I talked yesterday about mixing things up, this morning was too chaotic and stressful to deal with the change up so I did the same meditation I’ve been doing for the past month instead.

Today’s meditation was about taking a break when you need one and not putting yourself down about it when you do.  And honestly?  As many times as I hear this message and as many ways as it comes across to me through thoughts, the cards, and other outside sources?  I still struggle with it… which is perhaps why it continues to come up so often.

Steampunk Tarot - Three of WandsToday’s draw is the Three of Wands, which has been coming up for me quite a lot recently.  The Three of Wands is traditionally a representation of direction and putting plan into action.

As tomorrow and Monday are going to be order processing days and packaging days, it makes sense that this came up today, as it was an encouragement to at least look at my work and get an idea of what I need to do so that I can start on that path forward.

Included in this is of course what has been on all our minds here in this house all day long, which is Mr R’s visit to the hospital this morning. He is like a grandfather for me, and I believe that this card holds a double meaning for today in its message.

The secondary side of the message for the Three of Wands today is that there are certain things that we need to mobilize into action.  Not that today is the day, but more of a warning that we need to be ready to act, and act fast, when the time comes… and that time very well could be very soon.

DECK USED:  STEAMPUNK TAROT

LionHart’s 20/21 Tarot Challenge Prompt
Topic: What can I do right now to set the stage for my dreams and desires?

The Keymaster Tarot

Reading Summary: Stop ignoring the stuff that is good for you (Five of Hearts) and take time to acknowledge those things you’ve done that were difficult (Six of Clubs). Accept that sometimes getting where you want to go takes time, and you’re going to have to just keep plugging at it and getting there one small step at a time over time (Seven of Diamonds).

Take Away:  To set the stage for my dreams and desires I need to make sure I’m taking care of myself and appreciating my accomplishments rather that discounting them as never enough.  Physically, mentally, and emotionally I need the boost that both of these things can provide. 

At the same time, I need to make sure I’m keeping my impatience and demanding need to “push” myself always harder at bay.  Working in a sustainable way that will allow myself to continue over long term is better than a short sprint that leads to burnout and exhaustion, the need for recovery, and then another short sprint.

DECK USED: KEYMASTER TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsDec2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: What last minute preparations for the new year need my focus?

Tarot of Light and ShadowReading Summary: At first glance this looks like I need to prepare for another lock down… But surely that can’t be right?  In this interpretation, the cards indicate a time of seclusion in my home (Four of Wands) that is not necessarily healthy (The Hermit Rx), and the need to find things to do to keep me engaged during that time (Ace of Wands).

Although this is my intuitive read on the cards, I’d prefer to believe this is NOT the correct interpretation (mostly… because I don’t wanna go into another lockdown and think the government is far to fractured and fragmented to make one actually happen).

Take Away: So…. lockdown or no lockdown… cards here are indicating that the opportunity for unhealthy alone time at home is possible in the near future, and in order to make sure I get through that time in a healthy way I need to ensure I have engaging new activities to keep me focused and in a positive and healthy place.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF LIGHT AND SHADOW

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?

Steampunk Tarot, Oracolarium, Викканский Оракул Теней

Earth – Knight of Pentacles and Water – Things are slowing down. You don’t really need the cards to tell you that as it’s very obvious, but of course here you see it plain as day.  Business is slowing from the holiday rush, and with it the money that comes in will slow as well.  Do not look at this as a shot in the foot and mourn the loss, but rather pace yourself to match the slow and be kind to yourself both in the stepping up of your self-care as well as in how you relate to yourself emotionally during this time of slowing down.

Air – King of Swords and Bear – You have done all that you set out to do and exceeded your expectations.  Now is a time to retreat into the solid footing you have created and feel a sense of  peace in the fact that you have done well.  Don’t allow doubts to set you off balance but own  your success with inner strength and confidence.

Water – Nine of Pentacles and Crystals – Turn your focus to how secure you feel now with the success you have under your belt.   Changing gears during this time of year can be a struggle, but to keep yourself emotionally balanced you need to switch quickly to the good that has happened and the good that has been earned. Cast your eye to the positive and keep it there.  Don’t hesitate… do it now.

Fire – Four of Wands and Samhain – Again we see a sign of completion and endings.   This too, is an indication of the holiday rush coming to the end.  The chaos and wild whirlwind is closing out this week, and things settle once more into a more sedate pace.  This week is a time of rest and you need to do just that.  Even though there are things that need preparing for the new year, set them aside this week and worry about them after you have taken a few days to rest and recover.

Waning – Wisdom – Take some time for yourself this week. The Wisdom card is about collecting wisdom and passing it on to others, but this week you need to just cherish your quiet time and not worry about the rest of the world all that much. Some healthy seclusion is needed… share later.

Waxing – Evocation – The theme of the evocation card is “to manifest change in the world, begin within”.  This card brings into focus that now is the time to shift back into what changes you want to make in your own life and in yourself.  Over the past few weeks you have closed yourself off, shut down your needs and ignored the demands of your body, mind, and emotions.  This week it’s time to turn that around and return your focus to a more balanced care for yourself.

Take Away – This week’s reading is all about the changing gears that come from shifting out of the holiday rush and back to the slower pace of everyday life.  Although this transition is not easy, there are things you can do to help yourself make this transition go smoothly.  Focusing on the positive you have accomplished, and the positive you want to achieve in yourself and your self care, making sure you give yourself the rest you need to adjust and be kind to yourself rather than harsh and judgemental.

DECKS USED:  STEAMPUNK TAROT, ORACOLARIUM, Викканский Оракул Теней (WICCAN ORACLE OF SHADOWS)