Stolen Child Tarot

Rest Before Battle

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long and focused on monitoring your emotions to check in with yourself and how you are  doing throughout the day.  It spoke on how when you don’t keep in touch with your emotions, this is when the emotional upsets and outbursts start to get out of hand.

I’ve never had a problem with checking in with my emotions, primarily because I spent so much time walling them off throughout much of my life.

In order to cage your emotions like that, it requires a constant vigilance. Funny enough, the meditation’s title was “Gatekeeping”, and that’s a very apt name for the kind of constant policing I’ve done with my emotions throughout my life.

I can see how lack of awareness of your emotions and what stirs them up could be a problem, though.

Today’s draw is the Four of Zephyrs (Four of Swords) which traditionally is a representation of stability, rest, recuperation, and ease in the area of the mind, thoughts, communication, and instinct.

This is the exact impression I got of this card when I drew it this morning.  I saw the eggs, untouched and safe in their nest, and the spirits watching over the eggs to ensure they are cared for.

The egg is a time of gestation, which is something that happens naturally when you take some time to yourself to rest and recuperate.  As you turn inward, you grow, just like the embryo inside the shell grows.  And when it is time to break free, our soul stretches in the say way the baby chick stretches out from the shell for the first time.

I didn’t have a lot of opportunity to rest today, but I understand the message that is conveyed in having drawn this card.   With the trip so close upon me, now is not a time for freaking out and expending energy on stress and worry.  It’s a time to rest, restore, and in doing so prepare for what is coming.

Deck Used: Stolen Child Tarot

One Plus One Equals One

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and focused on the subjectivity of time.  That is to say, how in some situations time feels like it moves at a crawl or even stands still, while at other times it flies by in a blink.

It specifically dealt with times when these slows or accelerations in time are stressful or uncomfortable, and how we can help take ourselves out of that space by stepping back for a moment and focusing on the now.  This includes a moment of mindfulness, taking a few deep breaths, and centering yourself in the moment.

I have a habit of doing this thing throughout the day, but it was a good reminder, because there are times when I am feeling flustered or overwhelmed that I forget the practice is available to me.

Today’s draw is the Nine of Brine, with a jumper card of the Knight of Oak.  (That would be the Nine of Cups, and the Knight of Pentacles, in tarot-speak.)

The Nine of Brine is traditionally a culmination card in the area of emotions, creativity, and relationships.   But, what I see here in this card is not so much culmination as support through times of difficulty.   I see the young elephant and the young human giving each other comfort and support as they are surrounded by the remnants of the dead.   The water they wade in is a reinforcement of the emotional connection blended into the support between the two.   They are washed clean together, they emerge together, supportive of each other.

The Knight of Oak (pentacles), is a card of action within the tarot, which deals with themes to do with hard work and productivity.  Again, in this card I see something that lightly touches on that theme, but that again speaks of a coming together and supportive relationship.  The moose and the boy work together to gather what they need.  Yes, the key word here is that they are working, but what I see in this card is far more than that and speaks to me of a joining of spirit and interconnected relationship.  Support between two spirits that are very different, and yet the same.

Bringing the impressions I am pulling from both cards together, what I see is an encouragement to take stock of and appreciate those connections I have that serve to support myself and the other individual in the relationship.  These are my close relationships, like you, my sister, and J.  In each instance, there is support given and received on both sides, and together in these relationships everyone is different, but together create something far stronger and more useful than as individuals.

These cards also speak to me of the work involved in preserving and fostering these relationships being worth it.  Sometimes, these relationships are work, and that’s okay.  That you’re willing to put in the work is a part of knowing how much you value what you have.

Deck Used: Stolen Child Tarot

Fostering New Ideas

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Today’s meditation was not particularly successful, primarily because I had the helper coming and so I was trying to fit it in before she arrived.   I did… but the effort caused me to be distracted.   I’m going to try again before bed, I think.   Nothing wrong with two sessions in a day if needed.

Today’s draw is the Three of Zephyrs (Three of Swords), which has a variety of meanings depending on which system you use.  In reading with numerology, the the meaning of the Three of Air has to do with small gains and growth, groups and cooperation, communication, and the potential for “third wheel syndrome” in the area of the mind, logic, instinct, and intellect.

In the RWS system, this card is a representation of heartache and difficult times, sorrow and grief.  I’ve never really understood -why- the Three of Swords would be an emotion card in RWS, though.  It just always seemed odd to me.   It can also represent negative self talk and forgiveness, though, which I do see as of the mind.   Still…. heartache?  Grief?   As I see the Sword cards as Air, it seems like those themes would be better suited to the cups.  Just my opinion.

SO…. my take on today’s card isn’t about either traditional definition, but is about the imagery of the card itself.  What I see when I look at this card is a community working together to protect what they hold dear.  They protect the children.  They protect that new start, that new spark of life, the idea of something new and different that needs fostering and care.   The birds protect the vulnerable while still allowing for that sense of community.

This message correlates with some of what my Self Care Saturday spread I’d posted earlier today is about this weekend.  It’s about the budding of new ideas, and the protection of them.   As you mentioned in your comments, the impression I got was that in sharing these new ideas before they are fully implemented, I can run the risk of them being stolen, dashed, or killed off. (And, there‘s the heartbreak.)

That is to say, sometimes you need to give new ideas time to reside within and be sheltered, and allow them time to grow, before you share them with the world.

Deck Used: Stolen Child Tarot

In the Shark Tank

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long and done in the bathtub without guided meditation involved.   I do what I often do when I need some soothing, which is lying in the bottom of the tub with the shower running and watching the water drops run down along the side of the side of the tub.

It was very soothing, but I think the coming to you after and talking with you helped more.

Today’s draw is the Knight of Brine, which is traditionally a representation of an active beta energy in the area of emotions, creativity, relationships, and intuition.

What I see when I look at this card is a fierce warrior in a moment of gentleness and communion.  The shark boy is clearly a creature of strength, and even the expression on his face speaks of a warrior’s spirit, and yet he holds one of the most delicate creatures of the sea in his hand, communing and communicating with it  (as shown by the seaweed that is surrounding them each.

This message is a reinforcement of what we’ve been speaking about today in working through what’s coming up with my trip.  It’s about finding that fierce “Katumi” spirit under smooth calm and quiet.  It’s about allowing room for vulnerability beneath the shell, present but protected.    It’s about not closing yourself off so harshly that you literally create a box that’s sealed and allows no air to breathe.

Deck Used: Stolen Child Tarot

Take It Slow

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long and focused on going with the flow and learning from what comes.

The story along with this guided meditation was about a man that lived in a hut with no door, and that one day while he was trying to meditate, a cat wandered in and laid down in his lap. He got up and picked the cat up and tossed it back outside, then returned to meditating, but the cat came back again. This went on for some time before he finally gives in and allows the cat to stay. The cat settles in his lap for a whole thirty seconds, and then wanders out on its own.

Sometimes? You just have to go with the flow. A lesson that this man learned from the random appearance of a cat.

Today’s draw is a double without a jumper, which is the Ace of Brine and the King of Oak.

What I see today when I look at these cards is when your heart speaks, sometimes it is a good idea to center yourself before you act and take your time with where it leads.

New ideas, new projects, creative inspirations, and budding feelings often cause us to run towards whatever has struck our interest rather than walk. The snail and the octopus in the Ace of Brine speak of a slower, more dexterous approach. Overlaying that is the King of Oak. He is regal and serene, grounded and steady. He speaks of an earthy abundance that, to me, represents an energy of strength and restraint. Not restraint as in saying “no”, but rather restraint as in taking your time and practicing moderation.

And again we come to moderation. Today’s cards are yet another perspective on moderation, which is an ongoing theme of late. This is not surprising, as it is something that I need to work on.

The traditional meanings for these cards include…

The Ace of Brine (which is the Ace of Cups) is a representation of beginnings, new starts, potential, and opportunities in the area of the emotions, relationships, creativity, and intuition.

The King of Oak (which is the King of Pentacles) is a representation of a projective alpha energy, personality, or person in the area of resources, finances, manifestation, and the physical world. This leads to themes that include authority, stability, wealth, and abundance.

Deck Used: Stolen Child Tarot

 

You Have What You Need

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Today’s meditation was twenty minutes long, and was not a guided meditation.   Instead, I settled in to focus solely on my breathing and a full body scan that started at the top of my head and worked its way down through my body, one part at a time, to the tips of my toes.  I then expanded that awareness back up through my entire body, and outward into my environment.

Today’s draw is the 17th card in the Major Arcana, the Star card. This card is a representation of hope and/or despair, faith and/or loss of faith, renewal, spirituality, and disconnection and/or interconnectedness.  Often, when I see this card, I read it as that interconnectedness and faith, especially in a one-card draw where there is no other cards to turn the meaning in a different direction.

The imagery for the star card in this deck has an otter with its belly exposed, eyes filled with alert interest while comfortable within his environment.   His environment supports him, all that he needs surrounding him and providing for him. What I see is a deep connection to environment and nature, while allowing openness and vulnerability.

This is an important message about trusting that life will provide for you.  Trusting your connection with what fills you with comfort.  It’s a message about not just trusting yourself, but in life itself and your environment, that it will assist you and support you.

Sometimes I feel like I have to do everything myself, and I push myself hard to make sure things are secure and I am provided for.   This card’s appearance is a reminder that I AM provided for.  I don’t have to be that towering push for strength all the time, nor do I always need to fight for every little thing I have.

It’s okay to let go and wallow in what you have, now and then, rather than always pushing for more.

Deck Used: Stolen Child Tarot