tarot and psychology

Self Gratitude Is Important

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Today’s meditation was skipped.  I was just too damned tired.

Spiritsong Tarot and Flower Fortune CardsToday’s draw is the Four of Shells (Cups), which is traditionally a representation of meditative contemplation, taking a pause in which you turn away from external help and look inward, soul-searching, meditation, and at times, apathy and discontent with what is being offered.

I find that the Flower Fortunes card for the day matches this theme in the way that we often forget to pause and appreciate ourselves in the day to day of our lives.

We see the good in others, we evaluate the world around us in the day to day much lie the watchful crane stands still among reeds and evaluates its environment.   But when do we take time to actually look at ourselves and truly appreciate ourselves?  Not all that often.  Instead we look with a critical eye, an apathetic eye, or the eye of someone seeking out their favorite whipping boy.

The message in today’s cards is to take a step back and look at yourself with kindness.  Look at yourself with appreciation.  Take time to be grateful for yourself.  For who you are and what you can do, for the decisions you’ve made and how far you’ve come.

DECK USED:  SPIRITSONG TAROT AND FLOWER FORTUNE CARDS

#DiscordTarotolicsJun2021 Challenge Prompt
Topic: Do Spread #1

Prairie Majesty Oracle How is the rise of summer energies manifesting in my life?

Dragonfly – You’re being given the opportunity to pivot direction into something stronger and happier.  Welcome the change and lean into the turn.  What you’re seeking is around that corner,  you just need to let go and enjoy the ride.

How can I Harness these summer energies for my purpose?

Earthworm – In order to let this change happen you’re going to need to let go. Take a breath, and let the chips fall as they may instead of fighting against it because you’re afraid or uncomfortable. The struggle isn’t needed and is rooted in judgements concerning the discomfort that comes with change.

Where would I be best served in directing these energies throughout the summer months?

Cottonwood – You need to direct this energy into a sense of curiosity and enthusiasm. Don’t let the dread of change and discomfort take away this opportunity. Stretch your self tall, explore… look at it as an adventure.  Something fun and interesting instead of something to fear.

DECK USED:  PRAIRIE MAJESTY ORACLE

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: How can I improve upon how I spend my time?

Spiritsong TarotReading Summary: More focus on what I’m doing, less distraction (Ace of Acorns). Increase your gratitude practices, for they help you feel more fulfilled as a whole (Nine of Shells). Seek out time with Gideon which allows for both emotional growth as well as a sense of emotional security (King of Shells).

Take Away:  Everything looks back to the Ace of Acorns, meaning that whatever I’m doing, no matter what it is, I need to make sure that I am leaning into focusing on that thing instead of allowing multiple different things to tap in and distract me, splintering my focus.

This is something that has been happening quite a lot lately, and only I can make the changes and choices that will allow me to get past this splintering of focus and back to somewhere more solid and productive.

DECK USED:  SPIRIT SONG TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I allowed myself not to give a fuck about my mother being pissed off that I fell asleep on her when she was on the phone.

Embracing Change

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IMG_2140Today’s meditation was just under fourteen minutes long, and was one of the guided meditations in the Calm app which I combined with an interval timer for my piriformis stretching.

The focus of today’s meditation was an activity that worked on disassociating with the thoughts that go on in the mind during meditation. We looked at both verbal thoughts that run through your mind, as well as visualization thoughts that run through your mind, and how to stay distant from them by labeling them (ie: talk, image, quiet) instead of sinking into them or letting them carry you away.

David's Tarot and Flower Fortune CardsToday’s draw is The Tower card, which is traditionally a representation of sudden and chaotic change, tearing down the old to make way for new, and destruction.

These kind of changes are often terrifying or painful.  They come out of the blue and are destructive, tearing down well known structures and comfortable norms.   Not only is this part of things scary, but sometimes the concept of rebuilding from the ashes can be just as frightening.

The reminder in the Flower Fortune cards for today is an apt one when paired with The Tower, as it reminds us to “welcome the change coming into your life”.

When change comes, especially when it comes on suddenly, it’s difficult not to flinch in response and shy away from it.  It’s hard not to fight against it.   The thing is?  The change is going to happen whether we want it to or not.  If we fight it?  It just drags things out and makes it last that much longer.  Better to embrace it when it comes, ride it out, and in the end you are better prepared to move on and rebuild things just how you want them.

DECK USED:  DAVID’S TAROT AND FLOWER FORTUNE CARDS

The Sacred Grounds Tarot Club Prompt
Questions for June 4 thru 6th

Luna Sol Tarot 2nd EditionWhen am I intuitively insecure?
Page of Disks Rx and The Hermit

When life goes stagnant, and I’m left to stew in my own shit, I end up struggling with self confidence. My intuition also has a way of going quiet when I try too hard to take everything on all alone.

How am I using my intuition in my life right now?
Ten of Swords Rx and The Sun atop The Empress Rx

I am using my intuition to avoid the painful endings that I feel that I’m not ready for.  Instead I’m seeking joy, even if it’s unhealthy for me, when what I really need to do is deal with those unpleasant endings.

How am I blocking my intuition?
Seven of Wands

There’s too much fight going on against the changes that needs to take place. Too much looking at that change as an opponent to fight against instead of something healthy that needs to take place. This resistance is creating a block.

How can I resolve this conflict and free my intuition from its bonds?
Seven of Wands and Two of Cups

Stop being so stubborn and allow others that have your best interest at heart to join in your journey and help you.  Stop struggling and fighting so damned hard.

DECK USED:  LUNA SOL TAROT 2ND EDITION

#DiscordTarotolicsJun2021 Challenge Prompt
Topic: About loneliness…
Question: What fears do I have surrounding the theme of loneliness? How can alleviate these fears?

David's TarotFears: That people will see something in me, that causes them to reject me. Even though I present myself honestly and openly to everyone, for some reason this fear remains. Even while not hiding anything, that fear is always there. That they’ll see some ugly truth in me that will turn them away.

This is the fear that took root during the “pissant” event, and like a pervasive weed, I’ve been unable to dig it out since then.

Alleviation: To alleviate these fears, I need to accept that I’m not for everyone… Just as not everyone is for me. Trying to please everyone is a nightmare, and an anxiety trap that I don’t want to fall into.

DECK USED:  DAVID’S TAROT

TheSphinxRevolution’sGothic Seance Divination Prompt
Today’s Muse: Emily Bronte
(Note: I’m using the writers in this challenge as a muse instead of as a mediumship/seance practice. So the questions are about me instead of about them.)

Inner Compass Kids CardsWhat kind of figure or personality you will never idolize? Why?

Mirror atop Funny Pants – The class clown. I just don’t have the ability to see myself in that way. I have a sense of humor, but I find myself far too serious for such behavior. Sometimes when I see other people act that way it seems so natural, cool, and easy… but when I look in the mirror at myself and try to imagine behaving that way?  It just looks childish and idiotic.

How does the theme of “abuse” play in your life?

Hero atop Leader – Abuse comes from authority, and only I can save myself from it. It is my issues with authority due to the abuses of my past that have caused me to become so diligent in my adulthood in not just being fair… but being independent.  I have gone to great lengths to create that independence, and demand it being respected by those I work for as well as others in my life.

What aspects of shadow work you need mastery on?

Home – I need to work on mastering allowing myself more freedom in the places that I feel safe. Relaxing and fully letting down my guard isn’t easy when there’s other people around, even though those around such as my sister and Z should allow me to feel completely safe.  It’s just… not the same as full on alone time.  This is something I need to work on.

What guidance Emily Brontë would give you on your spiritual journey.

Unlucky Duck – It’s okay to fuck up once in a while, and you don’t have to be hard on yourself about it when it happens. Learn from the experience and move on to the next.

DECK USED:  INNER COMPASS KIDS CARDS

Daily Self Kindness

I had a full evening of Gideon focused time and attention.

Morning Bonus Read – Connect With Your Spirit Guide(s)

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Teddy Bear Transformation Playing Cards - Spirit Guides Cartomancy Reading

Your deepest held belief about working with spirit guides.

Six of Spaces and Ace of Diamonds – That it’s something new you need to be dedicated to in order to learn. That it takes time and effort, and there’s a journey involved to improvement and building of skill.

How ready you are to start connecting with a spirit guide.

Six of Clubs – You’ve been doing it already for some time now. Not just doing it, but doing it well. This isn’t something you need to develop, but something you already have and are well and truly already connected to.

The spirit guide that’s most keen to work with you right now.

Three of Clubs – This spirit guide is all about helping you to move into your chosen direction.  You know where you want to go and what you want to do, and they’re the one that wants to help in getting me on that path and keeping me on task.

Have you worked together before?

Nine of Spades – Yes. During times of intense worry where breaking free of stagnation was needed, they have been there to help you in moving past these hurdles and momentary setbacks.

What is their main aim for working together?

Four of Hearts – To help you find your emotional center.  A big part of your journey of emotional growth and understanding is finding your balance in the constantly shifting sea of emotions that you’re allowing yourself to feel these days. Their main aim in working with you at this time is to help you learn to find your “sea legs” so that you can explore your emotions without feeling unsteady or losing your balance.

What are they trying to warn you about?

Seven of Hearts – They are trying to warn you that there are too many conflicting views caused by emotional imbalance. This can cause disrupted emotional harmony, which if allowed to go on for too long, could cause a more serious emotional response (such as depression and/or anxiety).

What are they trying to help you succeed with?

Nine of Hearts – Finding true happiness and satisfaction. For these things to be accomplished, it means opening up and allowing emotions to have a place in your life.

What action they want you to take to be successful?

Ace of Hearts – It’s important to remember that you’re at the beginning of your emotional journey and growth. They want you to make sure that you keep looking at things with fresh eyes.  Sometimes it can be difficult to not fall back on old habits, but it’s only through keeping open to the new experiences being offered that you can move forward.  There is no looking back.

Something you can do to strengthen the connection with your guide.

Jack of Hearts – Stay open to learning and exploring. Don’t lose your enthusiasm for discovering more and expanding your horizons in the area of your emotional growth.

DECK USED:  TEDDY BEAR TRANSFORMATION PLAYING CARDS

Ever Expanding

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Today’s meditation was skipped because I ended up napping through it.  Not intentionally, but that’s what happened.  I still haven’t figured out how I go from on my back with my legs up the wall to sprawled out and comfortable to sleep.

Botanica Tarot and Flower Fortune CardsToday’s draw is the Queen of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of a receptive alpha energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s thoughts, intellect, education, instinct, and communication.   This is the energy of support and sharing through knowledge, experience, and advice.  It is where ideas are fostered and encouraged.

In this deck, on the Queen of Swords is depicted the Red Oleander (Nerium oleander) which is an extremely poisonous plant that is both ornamentally beautiful, but extremely dangerous. The use of this plant in the Queen of Swords speaks of the duality in nature of this card’s energy.  For, not only can the energy behind the Queen of Swords be strong and supportive, but that energy can also be cold, harsh, and unforgiving.

The Flower Fortunes card for today says “Don’t limit your challenges, challenge your limits,” and this theme fits well with the Queen of Swords with its Red Oleander companion. The message is one of tough love, and speaks of the need to push yourself beyond what you believe to be your limits.  Sometimes, that sucks.  That push can be painful or frustrating, uncomfortable or a huge struggle.  But, if we don’t test ourselves and push for more from ourselves, then we can never truly know just what potential we have within us that is yet to be fulfilled.

DECK USED:  BOTANICA TAROT AND FLOWER FORTUNE CARDS

CoffeexTarot’s Self Love For The Summer Prompt
Question: How can I best give myself love this summer?

She Whispers Her Truth Oracle Reading Summary: Self-care is extremely important, and this summer it needs to take priority over the business and earthly pursuits of money and gain (Self atop Intellect). This includes the meditation you’ve been avoiding (Hold), and making sure that you take the time off that you need (Acceptance).

Observation: All of the cards pulled in this reading are of the air and water variety.  This speaks of the theme being one combined between intellect, communication, and the emotions.

Take Away:  So much of the year is filled with stress, strain, and the needs of the business.  You push yourself beyond limits during the late fall and winter months, you spend the time following that in a pattern of recovery and anxiety, often resulting in months spent in an MDE that steals away the spring.  This time… the summer time, is where you need to focus on yourself.

Care for your needs.  Meditation is one of those needs.  Although it feels like it does very little, the fact that even your heart rate’s average bpm drops significantly when you are meditating regularly makes it clear that it’s doing more than you’re aware of.  Take time off, do your meditation, and enjoy the self care activities while you can.  All too soon it will be autumn again and you’ll have to force your needs aside for the business once more.

DECK USED:  SHE WHISPERS HER TRUTH ORACLE

#DiscordTarotolicsJun2021 Challenge Prompt
Topic: About friendship…
Question: How can I better hear my intuition and trust my judgment when it comes to making friends?

Botanica TarotIntuition – The Star (Jasmin) and Knight of Swords (Venus Fly Trap) – It’s okay to still have a hope in humanity and the goodness of people. It’s okay to be enthusiastic about wanting to have friends to share your ideas with, just don’t get it so enthusiastic that you become impulsive. When you’re in a hurry you make mistakes. So take your time.

Judgement – Seven of Wands (Datura) and Eight of Swords (Ice Plant) – Make sure that you’re looking outside yourself. For this particular endeavor don’t just trust what’s inside, because that hopeful nature that wants so badly to see good in everyone can blind you sometimes. Listen to others, pay attention to what they’re saying, and how they react to the people that you are trying to befriend. See if these reactions line up with your own perceptions.

DECK USED:  BOTANICA TAROT

TheSphinxRevolution’sGothic Seance Divination Prompt
Today’s Muse: H.P. Lovecraft
(Note: I’m using the writers in this challenge as a muse instead of as a mediumship/seance practice. So the questions are about me instead of about them.)

Meet the Self Oracle

What ambitions are dying inside of me? Why?
Fixe tes objectifs. Mets en lumière. / Transmutation Transcendance

The ambition that is dying inside of me at this time is that drive to do every little thing I’m inspired to do. At one time, every inspiration I had was explored with enthusiasm or set aside with only the intention that I will pick it up and explore it soon.  What I’ve come to realize, though, is that just because it’s a good idea doesn’t mean I have to dive into it. It’s okay to let some of them go and instead focus on only a few. This shift appears to be happening because as I grow, I’m becoming more centered.

What aspect of my life do I keep separate from others?
Crée, tu es le monde

My inner voice. My magical workings.

Although I guide others and how to hear their intuition and follow it more closely, and although I share with the world my talents… I don’t always share what is going on “behind the curtain”. Although I teach people about magic and witchcraft, and I am willing to share my knowledge in these areas, neither do I share with them my own personal spells or the details of what I am doing in my own life. The reason for this is because it opens these things up to being tampered with by others.  Thus, I protect my creative spark (both interior and exterior) through holding these things apart and protected.

In what ways do I feel a lack of influence in my life?
Confiance Courage

I feel like the majority of my confidence and courage comes from within instead of from others. Although I know that people are there beside me and willing to stand at my back, I find that I shy away from leaning into that knowledge the majority of the time. This doesn’t mean that I don’t appreciate it, or that it doesn’t give me a hint of pleasure to know that they are there.  It means that my path is my path, my moral compass is my moral compass, and I feel strong enough in these things to stand confident within them.

Guidance that HP Lovecraft might give me about my spiritual journey.
Un message, Sois a l’écoute / Prends le temps… Reflexion

Open up and listen more closely to your intuition and your guides. Get back into your meditation practice, as it was a help you in listening to both more closely.

DECK USED:  MEET THE SELF ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

CHOCOLATE CAKE!!  And sexy time with Gideon.  I mean, with those two things as a part of my day, I think I’ve hit my self-kindness limit.  (j/k)

Expertise Takes Time

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Today’s meditation was skipped because it’s an orders day, although I really feel like I could have used it. I’ve been a bit out of sorts all day long.

Hexen 2.0 Tarot and Flower Fortune CardsToday’s draw is the Eight of Pentacles, which is about learning a trade, building upon a skill, or developing an expertise.  It is about hard work and longevity combining to create a refined skill set, and can also indicate a mindset of perfectionism.

The representation here on the card with its theme based around the Setun, and highlighting both the computer scientist Nikolay Brusentsov as well as the mathematician Sergei Sobolev, is a clear demonstration of the type of expertise that can be gained through hard work and patience.

Combined with the Flower Fortune card for today, which states “patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet”, what I see here is about the length of time that it can take to perfect a skill or, for that matter, what the outcome of those skills may be.

The message in these cards pulled for today is that sometimes it can be extremely difficult to be patient, especially with ourselves. In this day and age of immediate gratification, the idea that something we want to accomplish taking ten years, twenty years, thirty years…. it can be almost unimaginable to some.  And yet, that is how expertise is developed. Not in the sprint, but in the long cross-country run.

DECK USED:  HEXEN 2.0 TAROT AND FLOWER FORTUNE CARDS

TheSphinxRevolution’s Gothic Seance Divination Prompt
Today’s Muse: Bram Stoker
(Note: I’m using the writers in this challenge as a muse instead of as a mediumship/seance practice. So the questions are about me instead of about them.)

Mykologia: Fungi Themed Oracle How do you see yourself in the spectrum of saint or sinner?

Artist’s Conk (Ganoderma applanatum) – I am neither, and I am both.  I have my own personal moral compass and ethics.  Sometimes theses align with society’s majority… and sometimes they don’t. This allows me a versatility that many in a more rigid stance don’t really have an opportunity to experience, allowing me to explore and expand, use my imagination, and see what comes up. For it isn’t societal expectations that dictate what I can and cannot do, but that inner compass within myself that tells me what is right and wrong for me.

What kind of negative emotions are you feeding on? How do they frighten you?

Veiled Lady (Phallus Indusiatus) – I have been struggling a bit lately with what I see in the mirror.  I know the scars are a badge of strength and survival. I know that the damage is uglier in my mind than it is truth. I thought I had gotten over the whole “loss of a pretty face” aspect, and I think that for the most part I have.  But sometimes I look in the mirror and I see the scar on my cheek and on my throat and… I feel ugly.  So fucking ugly.  I’m not even sure why this bothers me, as I’ve adjusted to the looks and to the changes in interacting with others that losing that beauty wrought.  I’m not even sure it’s about how others see the scars… but about how I sometimes see them.  I know that they are not some hideous disfigurement, but sometimes they feel that way.

What is laying deep down inside you that you are afraid to unleash?

Giant Puffball (Calvatia gigantea) – It’s funny that “boldness” specifically came up for this question.  When I look at myself, I think… I’m pretty bold.  I’m open, I’m expressive.  I’m “out there” in my preferences.   But then I look around at others and see those that seem so free and filled with vigor for life, like splashes of color on the canvas of life.   And I think… am I a shadow of who I could be? Am I repressed?  Or is it just my nature to be more reserved?  There’s no “boldness” bursting at the seams to come out, but sometimes I wonder what adding a bit more to my life would look like.

Guidance that Bram Stoker would offer you on your spiritual journey?

Bleeding Tooth (Hydnellum peckii) atop Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria) – Pain is gasoline on the fire of life and growth.  When you bleed, whether physically or emotionally, you are giving of yourself to the man you are to become. Don’t be shy about allowing your wounds to bleed and breathe, for they are a part of what makes you who you are and who you will grow into both in this life and those that follow.

DECK USED:  MYKOLOGIA: FUNGI THEMED ORACLE

#DiscordTarotolicsJun2021 Prompt w/ #ConnectWithYourDeck Question
Topic: About life…
Question: What is my biggest challenge in this lifetime?

Hexen 2.0 TarotReading Summary: Extracting the good from my past (Six of Chalices), while learning to turn away from the rest (Four of Chalices), learning to move forward and do better than what was done to me a little at a time (Knave of Pentacles).

Take Away: It is extremely hard to turn away from the things that my father and family said to me, and the way that they treated me, during my youth. Although I was very steadfast in what I knew to be right (and right for me), there were lasting repercussions of that long standing string of abuses. 

As I work to move forward with my life and make of it something I am happy with and am proud of, the challenge in this endeavor is in leaving behind the bad and taking the good forward with me on my journey.

DECK USED:  HEXEN 2.0 TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I just had a chocolate muffin with chocolate chips and chocolate sauce.

Morning Bonus Read – Checking In With Self

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Vintage Flower Faeries Tarot - Checking In With Self Tarot Reading

How I’m Feeling Right Now

Knight of Cups (Bellflower) – You feel lik there’s a lot that you need to get done and want to get done, and not enough time to get it all done in.  This is a common problem for you and one that comes over you again and again because you have too much responsibility, too much inspiration, too much enthusiasm… and you try to fit too much into each day instead of pacing yourself.

What Can Soothe My Soul

Eight of Wands (Pine) – Move your ass.  Although trying to go after everything you want every moment of every day isn’t healthy, that doesn’t mean there’s not plenty you can do and get done of you focus on one thing at a time and push through each thing til the end.  Your focus is the key to making this happen, though.  When your focus is split in too many different directions, the arrow can’t fly true.

How I Can Honor Myself Today

King of Pentacles (Honeysuckle) atop Queen of Pentacles (Guelder Rose) – Practicality over the gentle approach. It’s an orders day and if you really want to honor yourself you need to honor your responsibilities and obligations… without going too far with it.  That means do what needs done, and balance it with a bit of self care.  One project at a time is the ladder to success.

Something I’m Ignoring

The Moon (Lily of the Valley) – Your fears aren’t always unfounded… just unresolved. Instead of letting them hold you back or drag you down, suck on your energy and keep you dragging your feet… maybe you need to start looking at them and dealing with them.  It wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world to do a bit of exploration in this area.

Something I’m Procrastinating

Ten of Wands (Oak) – Changing your mindset to one where you’re not over whelming yourself all the time. This is where this entire reading’s theme seems to lie.  To take better care of yourself, you need to deal with these habits.  Hiding from them isn’t the answer, because they’ll just resurface again and again.  You need to find what is creating this constant urge to push yourself to burn out and start dealing with it so that you can move on to something healthier without the shadow of the old habit continuing to lurk in the wings.

Something To Be Grateful For

Ten of Cups (Crocus) – You’re not alone in your emotional journey. There are others there that are along for the ride, willing to help in lifting you up and supporting you not just in your endeavors but also in your emotions. Don’t forget to practice gratitude, and show your gratitude to those around you.

DECK USED:  VINTAGE FLOWER FAERIES TAROT