Stunning Tarot

A Sense of Community

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s meditation was just under ten minutes long and was very restless and uncomfortable.  It wasn’t pain that was causing it, but the fact that I knew I had a lot of work to get done and just could not manage to put it out of my mind long enough to get in a peaceful ten minutes.  Hopefully I won’t be pulling an all nighter tonight, and will have a chance to do a do-over before bed.

Next World TarotToday’s draw is the Three of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of collaborative efforts in the areas of finances, resources, home life, health, and  manifestations.

This card’s imagery takes this from the scope of small groups collaborating with each other as is often where the mind first goes when seeing the traditional imagery for the Three of Pentacles, and opens it up into a community scope, which I really like.  It allows for a larger perspective, and encourages one to look beyond more minimal interpretations that you usually see come from the Three of Pentacles.

What I feel is the message of this card today is that it takes a community to create a community.  It takes people willing to come together to support a singular goal.  And, I think that this is something I want to discuss with L, because I feel like I want to encourage her to volunteer to be a part of our building’s council.

There’s been a lot of distance and lack of communication lately where the building is concerned, and I have a feeling she’d be a good addition and terrific at helping in getting the building back to feeling like a community again.

DECK USED:  NEXT WORLD TAROT

#TarotForGrowthAugust Challenge Prompt
Topic: I’m struggling with boundaries in my relationships.
Question: What pressing need of mine am I overlooking?

Stunning Tarot

Reading Summary:  Both slow growth (Seven of Pentacles) and eventual success (Nine of Pentacles both require A certain amount of controlled finesse.

The yellow combined in the second and third card creates a connection there that indicates we often need to look back at the past in order to build towards the future, and once success is obtained you need to continue to have an awareness of the past, but juggle it with future vision.

Take Away:  This is a direct response to my rant yesterday about the influence of parents on your foundation. The cards here are indicating that no matter how much you grow or how far you move forward in life towards something better, those things that made you bleed from your past are still going to be an influence and continue to be relevant.

DECK USED:  STUNNING TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsAug2020 Challenge Prompt
Topic: Retreat / Hold Ground / Advance

Encore TarotRetreat – Three of Swords – Retreat from the pessimism and negativity that have the ability to draw me down into the pit of despair and depression.

Hold Ground – Page of Cups – Hold my ground with my creative endeavors. Explore and have fun with it and don’t allow it to become too staid and serious.

Advance – Knight of Cups – Advance in my emotional growth. Pay attention to those things that make me feel good and create a positive emotional response… and go after them instead of disregarding them as frivolous.

DECK USED:  ENCORE TAROT

Lionharts #TheAugustTarot#ElementalChallenge
Question: How can the element of Fire boost my (creative) energy?

Tarot del Fuego

Reading Summary: Allows me to identify my hearts desires (King of Cups), and use both my heart and gut (imagery in the Nine of Pentacles), to go after what I want and achieve my goals (Ten of Pentacles).

Take Away: Fire allows me to identify what my heart and soul wants. Rather than getting wrapped up in the mind and logic, the fire in my soul gives me the spark to go after those things and manifest them into reality.

DECK USED:  TAROT DEL FUEGO

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What drains my energy?

Alan Tarot

Reading Summary: Impatience (Eight of Clubs) concerning my creative endeavors and explorations (Page of Hearts). I’m not giving myself enough nurturing rest (The Empress).

Take Away:  What is currently draining my energies is twofold.  First and foremost, is the lack of rest and nurturing care directed toward myself.  Added to this is the fact I’m pushing too hard.  I need to spread out my efforts over a longer period of time instead of cramming them into a single day twice a week and pushing myself on those days until they turn into an all-day-and-all-nighter.

DECK USED:  ALAN TAROT

Paws Off The Mixing Bowl and Whisk

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s meditation was… extended into an impromptu bathtub nap.  I hadn’t meant to fall asleep, but it happened and I woke up in cold water, so I was asleep for at least a half an hour or more.   Fortunately I did not end up snorting water, and I clearly also did not drown. Both very good news.   I also realized part of the reason that I don’t soak in the tub more often.  It’s because I hate getting out.  I absolutely love being in the water and seriously?  My skin is super soft afterward… but I hate getting out.

Tarot of the SidheToday’s draw is the Maker Ten (Ten of Pentacles) which is traditionally a representation of completion, fulfillment, and “spreading the wealth” of your accomplishments among others close to you in the areas of finance, resources, home and health, and manifestations.

The imagery in this card reminds me far more of a King of Pentacles than the Ten of Pentacles, primarily because what stands out to me in this card is that everyone appears to be bringing offerings to the Fae on the throne in the process of being crowned.

When I think of the Ten of Pentacles, I think of a more “share and share alike” atmosphere, although I see the message clearly in having changed the imagery up like this.   At least the message that is there for me today, at any rate.

The message here is that I’ve made it to a good place and it’s okay to feel comfortable and fulfilled.  It’s also okay to be in that place and let people do for me now and then.  I don’t have to have my fingers in every pot.  I’m so uncomfortable with letting other people do things for me that sometimes I forget I don’t need to take it all upon myself.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE SIDHE

#TarotForGrowthAugust Challenge Prompt
Topic: I’m struggling with boundaries in my relationships.
Question: How does devaluing my needs harm those around me?

Odd Hand Tarot

Reading Summary: If I’m spending so much time focusing on the distraction tactics (The Devil), then I’m not moving forward with my goals (Knight of Wands)… not even at a slow pace (Knight of Pentacles).

Take Away:  Yesterday’s reading established that my method of devaluing my needs is by misdirection through use of addictions and bad habits.  By doing this, I don’t just slow down my progress, but halt it entirely.   When this happens it hurts more than just me, but those that depend on me to lead the charge as well as keep things stable and moving.

DECK USED:  ODD HAND TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsAug2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: Do Spread #2
 Why is it so hard for me to not procrastinate on even the simplest of self-care activities?

El Gran Tarot EsotericoReading Summary: Emotional cracks in the bedrock stemming from childhood experiences create an opening for roots that dig deep (Ace of Cups Rx and Six of Pentacles).  These roots give life to an apathetic lack of enthusiasm (roots in the Six of Pentacles giving life to the flowers in the Five of Cups) and a self destructive desire to turn away from those self care activities (The Hermit Rx).

Take Away:  So essentially… self destructive apathy stemming from daddy issue related self loathing.  I have a bit of an issue with how so much shit seems to fall back to childhood trauma and parental crap.  I get it.  I understand it.  I fully grasp the concept that what happens in your formative years becomes a big part of your personal foundation, therefore affecting everything from personality to reactionary responses, to how we act, etc.

The thing is though?  I want to feel I have more autonomy than that.  I want to feel I have more control than that.   I understand that the control I want in these areas can only be won through self reflection and inner healing… I guess I just wish… I dunno.  I appear to be trundling my way into a round of shadow work that I just do not have the capacity to deal with right now nor in the near future. 

DECK USED:  EL GRAN TAROT ESOTERICO

Lionharts #TheAugustTarot#ElementalChallenge
Question: Where can I unburden myself to support my inner fire?

Pride Tarot

Reading Summary: You’re allowed to have some time to yourself (The Hermit). Don’t worry so much (Nine of Swords) about having to babysit every move everyone makes (The Emperor). You’re fooling yourself (Eight of Swords) if you think that they can’t do it themselves without your supervision.

Take Away:  I have a huge “mother hen” complex when it comes to the business and delegating work to others.  Even when others are doing the work, I worry and stress and feel the need to check on the progress and the quality again and again.  The cards are making it clear that this hyper-diligence is not necessary and I can let it go in preference for giving myself a bit more alone time and self care.

DECK USED:  PRIDE TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What makes me happy?

The Stunning Tarot

Reading Summary: When I’m feeling self-assured in my creativity (Queen of Wands). When I take charge of collaborations with others and they run smoothly (The Chariot and Three of Pentacles). When I get new perspectives that allow for an expanded view (The Hanged Man).

There is a connection (via color) between The Hanged Man and The Chariot indicating that although I like to take charge, I find it essential for others to contribute their opinions and ideas to the task at hand.

There is also a color connection between The Chariot and the Queen of Wands indicating that I like a good deal of control and a bit of smooth sailing in my creative endeavors… not to mention success (Queen).

There’s a third color connection present between the roots of the tree in The Hanged Man and the Queen of Wands alongside The Chariot, which indicates that in my driven endeavors, I require a bit of stability.

Take Away:  Success, taking charge, and true collaboration between myself and others.   Both control and stability are extremely important in these matters, which extend beyond my business and into a variety of different endeavors that kindle my inner spark to flare up brightly.

DECK USED:  THE STUNNING TAROT

A Sharp Mind Is A Horrible Thing To Waste

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s meditation was just over ten minutes long, which included the extended piriformis stretching that I’ve been including with my changed up routine for my yoga/physiotherapy practice.   The every other day schedule is definitely helping quite a lot, and my meditation today was both relaxing and refreshing.   Although I didn’t fall asleep during the meditation this time?  I did decide to take a nap directly afterward.  I just felt so relaxed that it seemed… perfect.

Tarot of the SidheToday’s draw is the Dreamer Queen (Queen of Swords) which is traditionally a representation of a receptive alpha energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s education, intellect, logic, and communications. As indicated by the word “alpha” mentioned in the previous sentence, this card is an indication of strength and authority in these areas, without the projective qualities that the King of the suit would possess.

There are two things in the imagery of this card that stood out the strongest to me today when the card was first flipped over.  The first was the harsh edges and sharp angles of the queen’s visage.  This is often the case when depicting the Queen of Swords and is indicative of the Queen’s sharp mind and potentially sharp tongue.   The second thing that stood out in this imagery was the little feathered creature sitting in her hand who she appears to be conversing with.  The small creature is soft and delicate, and comes to her for her strength and those sharp edges that it does not have naturally itself.

This card’s appearance today and the imagery upon it is here as a reminder that there is another aspect to the Queen of Swords beside the one that my mother so often represents. There is also the confidant and counselor the listener… The person you go to when you need help to sort out your mind and your thoughts. I want to focus on embodying this aspect… and not the one that my mother presents on a daily basis.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE SIDHE

#TarotForGrowthAugust Challenge Prompt

Topic: I feel like I’m struggling to see clearly.
Question: Why do I struggle to trust my own perception of reality?

Stunning Tarot

Reading Summary: Because I know I can be biased (imagery in the Seven of Wands) by my accomplishments and my goals (Ten of Pentacles) as well as by my desires (Ace of Wands).

Take Away:  I work very hard to keep myself as unbiased as much as I possibly can in nearly all things, and I work hard to take in as many perspectives as I can in order to accomplish this.  But I’m still human… and I can’t be entirely unbiased no matter how much I wish to be.  My awareness of this makes me always doubt if my personal perception is the truth… or simply one perspective of an array of many.

DECK USED:  STUNNING TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsAug2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: What do I need to prepare to harvest in my life during the month ahead?

Luminous Void TarotInitial Reading Summary: Letting go of some of my defenses (Nine of Wands Rx) and some of my personal investment of time and attention to  monetary matters (King of Discs Rx). Instead, spend some time focusing on turning that investment of time and thought towards Gideon, my relationships, and finding a steady seat for my emotions (King of Cups).

Secondary Reading Summary: The Tower flipped out and slid under the King of Cups as I was setting the deck down. Instead of adding to the reading above, it created a second reading attached to the first which involved the King of Cups and the Tower by themselves. This second reading feels like a possible upcoming event (The Tower) in Gideon’s life (King of Cups), which will require directing extra focus in that area during the upcoming harvest season (relating back to the first reading).

Take Away: I need to set aside some of the things I normally am so focused on to free up some time and attention that will need to be directed toward emotional support of others.

I’ve discussed this secondary reading with you in IMs already, and I will pull cards tomorrow to see if I can suss out more details concerning what the Tower portends, and what actions might be able to be taken to avert and/or cushion it’s arrival.

DECK USED:  LUMINOUS VOID TAROT

Lionharts #TheAugustTarot #ElementalChallenge
Question: What is the general energy available to me this month?

El Gran Tarot Esoterico

Reading Summary: Lack of inner wisdom and insufficient esoteric knowledge (High Priestess Rx) leading to self defeat (Five of Swords Rx) because I’m too busy charging after my passions (Knight of Wands).

Take Away:  OK… I’m going to have to work on adjusting my trajectory on this one, because this is definitely not a direction that I want to go in right now. I need to make sure I’m paying close attention to what the cards have to say this month and listening for the inner whispers of intuition that will assist in guiding me in a better direction.

DECK USED:  EL GRAN TAROT ESOTERICO

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: How can I slow down in life?

Gypsy Palace Tarot

Reading Summary: Continue to focus on your emotional growth (Page of Cups) instead of attacking yourself with negative judgments (Judgement) about what you’re not doing (Knight of Swords Rx).

Take Away:  Emotional growth is not a waste of time.  Focusing on that growth is not  wasting time.  Improving yourself and allowing yourself the freedom to explore this new experience is not a waste of time.   Stop telling yourself these things are wasting time.

DECK USED:  GYPSY PALACE TAROT