tarot and psychology

Work Hard Today, Rest Tomorrow

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IMG_8343Today’s meditation was just under eleven minutes long and was a guided meditation with interval timer for my piriformis and forearm stretching.

The topic of today’s meditation was about how unhealthy it is to let the myriad of stressors build up over time until the world can feel chaotic even when it really isn’t.

When there’s a lot to do and many responsibilities on your shoulders, that negative inner voice can easily slip in and make it feel like you’re not getting anywhere and suck the joy and pleasure out of your days.  The key discussed in the meditation is to make sure that you are aware of those things that are eating at you so that you can “put them in their place” instead of letting them run rampant in your head.

Madam Clara Sees All Fortune Tarot - Eight of PentaclesToday’s draw is the Eight of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of hard work and the expertise you can gain in having spent time developing a skill or ability.  In this card, this concept is very clearly expressed in the quote on the card itself, which says “Focus and determination leads you to master a new skill.”

There’s something about the colors in this deck that really appeals to me, and I’m not sure why as I’d normally consider them to clash and be a bit garish.

Today is a prep day before I ship out orders after having taken a few days off in the wake of the holiday rush, and the card’s message is to apply your skills to the task at hand and knock it out.

It’s a good message, as I have more orders to get through today than I’d anticipated, and it’s going to take a lot of time and hard work to get there.  I will get there, though.  And the reward on the other side is a longer bit of a break and breather.

DECK USED:  MADAM CLARA SEES ALL FORTUNE TAROT

LionHart’s 20/21 Tarot Challenge Prompt
Topic: A 2021 reminder for times when I struggle with myself or my dreams.

Witches' Tarot

Reading Summary: Sometimes when you’re feeling enthusiastic and in control (The Chariot) with new projects (Ace of Pentacles), make sure you take a pause to ground (Four of Pentacles) and get in touch with your inner voice (The High Priestess).

Take Away:  The thing with enthusiasm over something new is that even when you think you’re in total control?  You’re not.  You’re flying by the seat of your pants and winging it while feeling empowered… which is not the same as being fully in control. This can often cause you to steer off course if you’re not careful.

During those moments, which happen to me often when I become enthusiastic about a new project, I need to remember to take a moment to make sure my feet are on the ground and I’m being realistic, and get in touch with that inner self that always knows the next step that is good for me and my path forward.

DECK USED:  THE WITCHES TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsDec2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: Where in my life do I need to work on better boundaries in the year ahead?

Giotto TarotReading Summary:  It’s going to be important to make sure you are sticking to strong boundaries concerning your work/life balance (Two of Pentacles) and getting the grounding you need to stay healthy (Four of Pentacles).  Don’t allow self doubts and other insecurities and uncertainties (The Moon), nor impulsive distractions (Knave of Swords), to encroach from the shadows and lead you astray.

Take Away: When I am dealing with uncertainty, I have a habit of falling back on old bad habits.  It’s impulse due to habit and fear, and it upsets the balance I’m working so hard to foster and grow in my life, upsetting the apple cart, so to speak.

DECK USED:  GIOTTO TAROT

Morning Bonus Read – Cultivating Gratitude

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Cultivating Gratitude Tarot Reading - Tarot de Mona Lisa

How can I shift my energy signature to cultivate gratitude?
Ten of Pentacles

It’s not enough to acknowledge all that you have and all that you’ve done to get there. To cultivate gratitude, you also need to share it with others.  Spread the wealth (not just monetarily but also in your all around good fortune, good health, and stable home life) among loved ones and allow them in to help you in enjoying all the good that the present has to offer.

What in my life is a blessing in disguise?
The World

Everything cycles through and you get another chance to try again at the end.  As you reach the end of a trial, the end of a year, the end of a journey… you are given the opportunity to step forward into the future beyond that ending and try for doing better the next time around.  The things you worked towards and struggled with, you now have the opportunity to try again… and with the experience you carry from your past efforts, do better.

How can I express gratitude when I feel empty?
Death atop The Hermit Rx

You need to work at changing your natural inclination to retreat into yourself.  By reaching out and opening up during these times, you show those that you share yourself with that you trust them and are grateful for them in your life to help and support you. In opposition to that, when you close them out and close them off, they feel left out and taken for granted.

Who in my life needs to hear thank-you and be appreciated?
King of Pentacles

Mister R needs to hear these things and know them.  He needs to understand just how much he means to you, and L, and Z.  You may not have much longer to get this out and expressed to him, and it is something you need to do sooner rather than later.  It is also something that could help him by giving him strength and hope, and also lift his spirits.

How can creating a daily practice for gratitude change my life?
Queen of Wands

It will give you the opportunity to create a more stable foundation beneath that interminable drive of yours, allowing you to not just pursue your own desires and passions, but inspire others to do the same.

DECK USED: TAROT DE MONA LISA

Look Before You Leap

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IMG_8331Today’s meditation was just over ten minutes long, and was another of the guided meditations with interval timer for my piriformis and forearm stretches.

The topic of today’s meditation was about appreciating your connections with others.  Sometimes, we take those connections and interactions for granted, and it can be hard to remember that each moment we share with others is precious.

I think that this is an excellent message, and perhaps even more important now (to myself and others) than normal when so many of us are living lives far more isolated than we ever have before. In my own life, this message really hit home considering Mister R’s current situation and the risk he is in of passing.  As much as he’s always been a hard ass, he’s also been a substitute grandparent to me since my youth.  I look down at the time I spent with him and I worry there won’t be anymore, or that I didn’t appreciate all that time that I had with him enough.

Inkromancy Tarot - Knight of WandsToday’s draw is the Knight of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of taking action to go after those things that spark your drive and passions, feeling that spark of inspiration burning bright and driving you onward, and diving into adventurous pursuits.

This card can also represent impulsivity, and that’s what I see here as what stands out the strongest to me in the imagery of this card is the skull that is formed in the rippling sands that the snail is moving into.   Snails need moisture and a desert in Egypt (see the pyramids in the background) so no place for a snail to be diving into.  Yet the rider drives the snail on, either uncaring or ignorant of the certain death about to become of his steed.

The message here is about making good choices, and how important it is to pause and use your brain instead of diving forward mindless and focused on your goal without any planning or thought for strategy or consequences.

The message here reflects back to my own life in the feelings that both Z and myself have been feeling all day concerning Mister R.   We want to go.  To just hop in the car and GO and be a support to her mother and be closer to help and comfort and lend our strength.  But doing so would be a folly.  A dangerous folly for he is very weak and when he comes home from the hospital he is going to be at extremely high risk.  Her mom is also a high risk person.  Going just to go?  Is not safe for either of them and could very well be disastrous, no matter how badly we both want to be there.

DECK USED:  INKROMANCY TAROT

LionHart’s 20/21 Tarot Challenge Prompt
Topic: How can I keep nurturing my dreams and desires throughout 2021?

Tarot of the Holy Spectrum

Reading Summary:  Work at avoiding episodes of debilitating burnout (Ten of Wands Rx) by taking control of yourself and your environment (The Emperor) so that you can get the rest you need when it’s needed (Four of Swords).

Take Away:  In the summer of this year, I had started scheduling myself a handful of days off now and then.  This is something I’ve never done before, but in the early part of the year I’d found myself hitting a brick wall of burn out over and over again in fast rotation.  It turned out that having these days off helped with that, and I didn’t have any more burnouts the rest of the year (although I was very close with the holiday rush, but that’s another beast all together).

The answer to how I can facilitate my dreams and desires throughout the year ahead is to continue with that practice.  Make time to step away for a few days each month.  I need to turn away from the business for a bit and take a breath, and in doing so, give myself the fresh eyes and fresh energy I need to dive back in again without the sharp claws of burnout raking at my shoulders.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE HOLY SPECTRUM

#DiscordTarotolicsDec2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: Do Spread #3

Shadow TarotThistle: How can I ward off the blues that are trying to encroach now that the holidays are ending?

Three of Cups – Sink into enjoying time with loved ones and let them to uplift your spirits.  Z and L are not just comforting, but they’re both pretty damned silly and fun as well.  Allow them to sweep you up in that fun now and then.

Garnet: How can I purify myself to help find a better balance for the new year ahead?

The Devil – It’s time to seek control over your addictions instead of allowing them to have free reign. You did a lot of spending over the past year, but it’s time to slow down a bit and let other things take priority.  This doesn’t mean cutting yourself off entirely, so don’t create a situation where you will feel the need to binge later… just slow down and pay more attention to where your focus lies and what you’re doing.

Yew: What practices need resurrected in my life to protect my personal well-being?

Four of Swords – More rest.  This was mentioned as well in my Lionhart’s Challenge reading for today.  Now that the holiday rush is over I need to turn back to giving myself a few days off each month, allowing for time and focus to shift away from the business and giving myself the reprieve and rest I need to stave off overwhelm and burnout.

Diamond: How can my imagination foster more fearlessness in my life?

The Hermit – The words that flickered through my mind when I saw this card land on the table are “shine a light on it”.  Imagination and creativity often go hand in hand, and in order to foster more fearlessness in my life, I need to shine a light on those imaginings and possibilities, and encourage their growth rather than tucking them away in the shadows and ignoring them.

Holly: How can I create longevity in the fertile soil of my new endeavors?

King of Wands – Use all that inspiration, drive, and experience to claim what is rightfully yours.  You are fierce in your entrepreneurial spark, let that spark glimmer and glow, and use it not just to drive your own endeavors forward, but to inspire others to your cause.

Emerald: How can a closer connection to hearth & home affect my sense of loyalty?

King of Pentacles – You are the king of your own castle, and in this position as leading at the helm, others naturally fall into line in your footsteps, respecting your opinion and authority while trusting you to care for those things that need dealt with, and delegate as needed.  This sense of stability and security fosters trust and loyalty, strengthening that connection to those nearest and dearest (and under your roof).

Peppermint: What methods can I use to best stimulate my mind when I need a boost?

Nine of Cups – Wallow in the good stuff. Sometimes you just need to focus on the present and take some time to ignore the crap and enjoy the good stuff that makes you happy.  They’re nothing wrong with a little “good stuff” focused “vacation” now and then.

DECK USED:  SHADOW 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

Morning Bonus Read – Extreme Points Closure

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The prompt for this reading came from one of my Discord servers and is as follows:
“Blessed Solstice!!!! It’s here! That thing we’ve been talking about? Time to wrap up our meditation on it.“

Christmas Playing Cards by Natalia SilvaWhat do I need to do now in order to facilitate this change?
Eight of Hearts

In the first week of this trio of readings, the Eight of Hearts came up to represent the change that needs to take place, and here we find the card come up again in representation of what I need to do now in order to facilitate that change.

The change taking place is moving away from the chaos of the holiday rush and allowing myself to find balance again.  The Eight of Hearts here indicates that in order to facilitate a smooth transition to this healthier way of doing things, I need to be open to the change instead of closing off. 

This is a message that has been repeated a couple of times over the past few days, with multiple warnings not to close down or close off, and make sure that I’m open to the changes coming and not fighting them or resisting.   It’s a good reminder, as it’s something I struggle with often… even when I know that the change is a healthy one.

What resistance to this change do I need to watch out for in myself?
King of Clubs

The seat of the resistance to change in this matter resides in my drive to move forward, to do more, and to expand my “empire” to it’s greatest potential. The problem being that I sink so deeply into that drive, and allow the voice of my father in my head to push me on past what is healthy and into a place of sacrificing myself to the cause.

What is the biggest effect that this change will enact in my life?
Three of Hearts

Emotional harmony both within myself and with others that I connect with in an emotional way.  When I spend too much time focusing on work and the business, it leaves far too little time to connect with others and spend time with them in quality ways.  Not to mention too much work and not enough play makes me a cranky boy.  By allowing that time with others and time for my own needs, it lightens my heart and opens me up to those bonds and connections I’d normally keep at a distance or shut down.

DECK USED:  CHRISTMAS PLAYING CARDS BY NATALIA SILVA

The Control Is Yours

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IMG_8306Today’s meditation was  just over ten minutes long, and was another guided meditation with interval timer for my stretching.   I almost skipped today, to be honest, but forced myself to lie down and do it anyway.  Might be time to change things up on the style of meditation to keep things interesting.

The topic of today’s meditation was about how each and every one of us view life subjectively through our own perspective. It’s natural to forget this, and to forget that everyone else is in the same boat, viewing life through that same window of perspective.  Their window.

The meditation encouraged looking beyond that and exploring the concept of sonder.  Sonder is the realization that everybody around you, even strangers, are living a life just as rich and complex as yours. That their experiences are unique, and that they have different things going on in their lives that create different experiences and perspectives completely apart from your own perceptions.

Bonestone & EarthFlesh Tarot - Ace of PentaclesToday’s draw is the Ace of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of the seed of new opportunities in one’s work, finances, resources, home, health, or manifestations.

What stands out to me the strongest of the imagery in this card today (and I really want to work with this deck more so I think I’m going to carry it over into January), is the roots of the plant that grows through the skull.

Those roots look so much like Mandragora officinarum (mandrake) roots that it’s uncanny, although it is not a mandrake plant from the trailing stems of the plant’s growth above ground.  Still, the sight of the roots brought to mind the use of mandrake root as poppets and that in turn brought to mind the use of poppets in directing one’s will and intent.

The message that I see here in today’s card is about molding one’s new opportunities to your will.  You drive the bus on these new opportunities.  Not fate.  Not luck.  Not any other person.  It’s on you to steer the bus in the direction you want it to go, and the best place to start with that… is at the beginning.

DECK USED:  BONESTONE & EARTHFLESH TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsDec2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: How can I better foster my relationship with friends and loved ones?

Yule OracleReading Summary:  Grace is repeated within the first two cards, and reinforced by the red and white color scheme that they also share.   In order to bond more closely (Holiday Cookies) with my friends and loved ones, it is important to take a measured and balanced approach (Ice Skates) while encouraging them to seek out their best life and best selves along the way (Evergreen).

Take Away: The cards here are about being supportive, but in a “hands off” sort of way that allows people to make their own choices and choose their own path.  Advice and perspective is warranted and welcome, but don’t push.  Allow them to weigh things for themselves and make the choices they feel are best for them as they take new steps along their personal life paths.

DECK USED:  YULE ORACLE

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What do I need to hold onto through the transition from this year into the next?

A Charlie Brown Christmas Playing Cards

Reading Summary:   My ability to find balance and harmony within my passions (Six of Clubs) needs to be weighed against the drive to push too far too fast (Nine of Clubs).  Remember to look at what I’ve done and the accomplishments I’ve made in a positive light (Nine of Diamonds).

Take Away:  If I take the time and ingenuity to keep myself in a positive mindset and see my deeds in an optimistic and positive perspective, it will allow me to foster my passions instead of becoming disappointed in them.  Remember to take that step back and slow down, and I won’t get so choked up in unhealthy deadlines and responsibilities to the point that I lose sight of everything else and fall back into that turtle shelled “go go go” zone where nothing else but more progress and getting more done matters.

DECK USED:  A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS PLAYING CARDS