tarot and psychology

Emotions Are Not a Weakness

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s meditation was curtailed by a woman on the sidewalk outside singing to strangers about God.

Yes, yes… I know that when you meditate, you should be able to allow the sounds and distractions around you to flow through you and around you without disturbing you… but you know what?  Some crackpot chick telling people she’s the mouthpiece of God and that everything coming out of her mouth is directly from the Almighty then caterwauling to any that will listen and all that don’t wanna?  That was just impossible for me to meditate through.

Poor homeless Larry that decided to talk to her go the serenade of his life and I bet he’ll think twice about talking to strangers in the future.

Botan Tarot - King of CupsToday’s draw is the King of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of a projective alpha energy, personality, or person in the areas of one’s emotions, relationships, creativity, and intuition. This translates into an energy of authority or an authority figure that is in touch with the feelings and emotions of those around them and uses that knowledge to support and lead.

What stands out to me the strongest in the imagery of this card today is the dragon tattoo.   It is a reminder, yes?  Those that are in tuned to the emotions of others can often come off as wishy-washy or weak.  Empathy can often come off as weak.  But it is not weak, it is a strength all its own.

The message in today’s card is that being open to your emotions does not make you weak.   It allows you to be in tune with the world around you through understanding mercurial elements within yourself and others.  Those with a deep connection to their emotions and the empathy to relate to others on an emotional level are just as capable of being fierce and powerful as those that close themselves off.  Perhaps, they are even stronger.

DECK USED:  BOTAN TAROT

#Zentember #LovelyHealing Challenge Prompt
Question: What needs healing on my throat chakra?

Hardy Tarot

Reading Summary:  With a central theme of cause and effect (Justice) we see that too much rest and reflection (Four of Swords) leads to a situation where you do not want to move forward and end up not just procrastinating, but outright trying to ignore what’s going on around you (Eight of Swords).

Take Away:  I mentioned this the other day when speaking with Gideon. The fact that I feel that having taken time to rest and relax has made me feel like I’m lazy and made it hard for me to “dive into” my work in the way that I’m accustomed to.   But is this really laziness?  Is this really a refusal to deal?  Or is it an adjustment period where I’m learning how to do things in a different way?  The uncertainty here is something I struggle with.

DECK USED:  HARDY TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsSep2020 Challenge Prompt
Topic: Do Spread #1
Why am I doing so much procrastination when it comes to my holiday prep?

Tarot of Alexander Daniloff 2012Reading Summary: Because I really don’t wanna juggle more on my plate (Two of Pentacles). I would rather ignore that it’s coming than deal with it (Six of Swords). Not to mention I don’t want to give up time with Gideon (The Lovers Rx).

The first two cards are connected through color schemes, making the juggling of the Two of Pentacles and the “not wanting to deal with it and run away instead” of the Six of Swords connected to each other and intertwined.

The bright red of The Lovers card combined with the lack of cooler tones causes this card to be the outlier.  The design of the card itself in its reversed position looks like a double Hanged Man imagery creating the impression that both Gideon and myself (as lovers) will have to go through a time of delay and change of perception.   The red in this position feels like flames, which brings to mind the holiday rush… which relates to this card in that it is roasting the two hanged men.  Pressure… heat… strain.

Take Away:  Gideon and I will get through the holiday rush together, even if there will be a lot of pressure and struggle involved (as there is every year).  The procrastination stems more directly from the struggle I’m having with not allowing bad habits from the past to sneak in and hijack my efforts for doing things differently this year.

DECK USED:  TAROT BY ALEXANDER DANILOFF 2012 IV EDITION

Lionharts #AstroTarotChallenge
Question: What lesson does 2020 have for my soul’s journey?

Archeon Tarot

Reading Summary: You reap what you sow (Justice), so make sure that you are working towards fulfillment (Nine of Pentacles on fire) instead of just defending what you already have (Seven of Wands).

Take Away:  I know that I chose the topic for the Sunday spread for today as my procrastination, but… I really didn’t expect for all of my readings today to actually end up being on that subject.  *LOL*

The cards here indicate that the lesson 2020 has for me is that I need to do more than just defend what I have.  I need to make sure that I’m actively reaching for more. Does it have to be the “more” that I’ve always pushed for in the past?  No.  That level of push was too much. but I do need to continue to reach for something more.  Stagnancy is not healthy.

DECK USED:  ARCHEON TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: How can I best put myself first?

Tarot of the Secret Forest

Reading Summary:  Fucking around (The Fool) means lack of ingenuity (Three of Coins Rx). Gather up your friends (Three of Cups) and charge head first toward your goals (Knight of Pentacles). Don’t rush and accept that it might be slow going (Knight of Coins and Lovers Rx).

Take Away:  I can put myself first at this time by getting back on the path of progress. It’s okay to move slow, but just as another reading today has already stated… stagnancy is not healthy.  So make sure that I’m using the help and support available to me, and get moving.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE SECRET FOREST

Piece by Piece

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

mountainToday’s meditation was just under eleven minutes long.  The topic of today’s meditation was a grounding exercise, although they didn’t call it as much.

It started out with imagining a mountain, then adding in details like the snow top and jagged rocks, trees near the base, etc.   And then guided the listener to take that mountain within the self and feel the solid strength of it there inside.

That’s grounding.   What really stuck with me strongest, though, was the quote that was included with the meditation, which I have put into a graphic and can be seen to the right.  It’s about the constancy of a mountain’s presence, and is the epitome of what grounding meditations are about, finding that calmness and solid footing that allows the whirlwinds of the world to swirl around you while you remain calm and still at the center of it all.

Hush Tarot - Seven of CupsToday’s draw is the Seven of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of being confronted with a plethora of choices.  Sometimes this variety of many options can feel like boundless opportunities, and other times it feels chaotic and overwhelming.  The Seven of Cups encompasses both aspects of this experience.

What strikes me about the imagery of this card today is the chaos.  There’s so much going on in this card, and so little to focus on.  Or rather, there’s so much to focus on that is equally weighted that nothing specific stands out as a focal point.

What I see as the message in today’s card is not to allow the myriad of options open to you to overwhelm you and make a mess out of things.  Sometimes to make a decision? You have to  untangle the mess and examine each element separately, because when they are all together there’s no making heads or tails of any of it which means you sit there spinning your wheels in indecision.

DECK USED:  HUSH TAROT

#Zentember #LovelyHealing Challenge Prompt
Question: How to increase harmony around me?

Samiramay Tarot

Reading Summary: Be generous (Six of Coins) with your wisdom (The Hierophant), and both judicious and articulate in the sharing of it (Queen of Swords).

Take Away:  Too often I feel like a pain in the ass when when I share my knowledge with others, or like a know it all.  I try very hard not to come across in such a way, but it is a worry and a vulnerability that I can’t seem to shake.  The advice in these cards is that is not at all the case and as long as I continue to share my knowledge in a way that is open and helpful and judiciously chosen, it will continue to not be the case. 

DECK USED:  SAMIRAMAY TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsSep2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: What personal growth should I be directing my energy toward at this time?

The Painted TarotReading Summary:  Personal changes (Death Rx) and how I view and think about security and stability (Four of Pentacles). You don’t have to split yourself apart to make it happen (Page of Swords).

Take Away: This is about the crap Gideon and I have been talking about over the past few days. It’s about the changes that have been coming up with autumn now upon me and the holiday rush quickly approaching. The cards here are telling me that I need to focus on finding that balance between the security and centered self that I’ve found through my growth over the year, and the change that’s coming.

The solid blue of the Four of Pentacles splinters into the Page of Swords indicating that by focusing on that stable center, I can save myself from having to pick up the pieces and re-learn everything again later.

DECK USED:  THE PAINTED TAROT

Lionharts #AstroTarotChallenge
Question: What in my life has the potential to be most supportive of my best self when choosing a direction in my soul’s journey?

English Magic Tarot

Reading Summary: You’re fortunate enough to be given all of the tools you need (The Magician) in order to make the good choices (Justice) that will carry you forward instead of holding you back (The Chariot).

Take Away:  This is about self empowerment.  The cards are saying that I am a strong, capable, knowledgeable, and talented individual with all of the tools I need to get where I need to go as long as I use those qualities wisely and well. It’s about depending on yourself, listening to your inner compass and strengths.   Depending on others and having those that support you is all well and good, but self empowerment and trusting your own strengths is even more so.

So often my cards remind me that there are others in my life to help me and support me when needed.  Here is the reminder that above all else, self reliance is of key importance.

DECK USED:  ENGLISH MAGIC TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: How do I choose hope over fear?

Telluric Tarot

Reading Summary: Lean on Gideon (King of Cups)… And take what you have been so passionately exploring over the past few months (Ace of Wands) and choose to carry those lessons forward and incorporate them into your life moving forward (The Lovers atop The Hierophant).

Usually when I read with this deck, I take time to break down all of the nuances in each of the stones and herbs used in the cards. They always completely reinforce the reading, but I’m just not feeling inspired to do that this time. Because of that, I almost skipped including this reading today… but since I did actually translate the cards, even if not fully breaking them down, I figured I’d include it anyway.

Take Away:  This is also about what we’ve been talking about lately.  It’s about carrying those lessons I’ve learned this year forward with me instead of putting them on a shelf and waiting until the holiday rush is over to take them back down.  I admit to feeling a little trepidation about this, but I’m willing to give it a try and see how it goes.

DECK USED:  TELLURIC TAROT

Morning Bonus Read – Boundaries Redux

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

The prompt for this reading came from one of my Discord servers and is as follows:

“The best boundaries are the ones you set that don’t *require* adherence from anyone else, but rather set up a simple line for your own actions, or a cause-effect line for someone else’s. For example: I will not check messages from my manipulative relative, I will instead have a trusted friend do that for me. Or, If you break my things, then I will not allow you to use them. Etc.
This isn’t always feasible, but when we can set these kinds of boundaries we can take control of and responsibility for those places in our lives.
So this week, chat with your divination tools about your boundaries.”

Ralph Steadman's Flying Dog Playing CardsWhich of my boundaries require someone else to respect them in order for them to work?

Boundary #1 – Queen of Hearts – Allowing others to come to me for support and not having the proper parameters in place.  So then they come to me about stupid shit or stuff I’m ill equipped to deal with and I find myself feeling all sorts of bitchy about it.

Boundary #2 – Ten of Spades – When I am at the end of my rope, on the ground and bleeding, this is not a time for others to come to me with their own shit.

Boundary #3 – Six of Spades – In a way, this boundary is related to the other two.  This boundary is about me, though, and not other people. It has to do with allowing myself the space I need to find a new path when the old one isn’t working for me.

Can I shift any of those to boundaries that do not require anything, but are simple cause and effect boundaries or boundaries on my own actions?

Boundary #1 – King of Diamonds – Take ownership of what I’m open to helping with and what I’m not. It’s okay to say no and send them on their way when someone comes to me with something that’s not in my wheelhouse. I’m not obligated to coddle anyone.

Boundary #2 – Eight of Clubs – Usually these times of bleeding and vulnerability are a time when I retreat from the world. This retreat sometimes encourages people to chase me rather than backing off. Being proactive and outright expressing “now is not the time” is  a better route to ensure these issues don’t happen.

Boundary #3 – Five of Spades –  The thing is?  I expect myself to be able to just move forward into a new path without conflict, but I need to remember that new things take time and debate and a little bit of struggle to work out where you’re going.  Instead of shutting this shit down, it’s a part of the process that needs to be accepted and allowed.

What boundaries can I not shift this way at this point?

Boundary #1 – Ace of Diamonds – This boundary is absolutely able to be shifted simply by changing the way I look at things and approaching the problem with a clear mind instead of just an open heart all on its own.

Boundary #2 – Ace of Hearts – Make sure when you deliver the “this is not the time” news, that you do so with love and kindness. Don’t turn this into a defense mechanism, but rather a way to define that there is a boundary in place so that you’re not overburdening yourself.

Boundary #3 – Three of Clubs – There is no inability to shift this boundary to a way of better handling things, I just need to keep in mind that the goal at these times is to find the direction that is going to align with my values and goals.

What I can do to move toward being able to take control of those boundaries at some point as well?

No cards were pulled on this question, as the previous question indicated that all three boundaries discussed in this reading are able to be shifted at this point.

DECK USED: RALPH STEADMAN’S FLYING DOG PLAYING CARDS

Reaping and Direction

/ Twist the Leaf / 2 Comments

IMG_6550Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and was a guided meditation with interval timer again.  My stretches today were a bit stiff, which I suppose shouldn’t be a surprise since I missed my medication yesterday, which means the pirifomis stretches didn’t get done.

The topic of today’s guided meditation was about how meditation does not necessarily mean sitting in complete physical stillness.  It is about being still on the inside.  It’s about finding a quiet inner peace for those ten or fifteen or thirty minutes of our meditation practice, so that when we need it elsewhere in our day we have experience with it so that we can reach inside and find it again more easily.

Botan Tarot - Nine of CoinsToday’s draw is the Nine of Coins, which is traditionally a representation of fulfillment on an independent level in the area of one’s finances, resources, home, health, and manifestations.

What really stands out to me in the imagery of today’s card are a couple of different elements.  First, the scythe and beside it? The compass that hangs there as one of the coins on the right hand side.

These elements speak to me of the reaping that is a part of how one reaches the level of satisfaction and fulfillment that this card is about, and about the security of knowing that you have a direction that you’re moving in, and that you’re comfortable with.

Both of these elements are very important (at least to me) in finding a level of true fulfillment concerning my home life, work life, and my accomplishments. The scythe represents work and is about the feeling of accomplishment that comes with a job well done.  It’s the difference between having something of value handed to you… or actually earning it with sweat and tears.   It holds so much more value in the end when you earn it.

The message in today’s cards is to take stock of those things you’ve earned, and value them as well as the direction that they have lent to your path that allows you to feel the security of solid ground under your feet with each new step you take along the way.

DECK USED:  BOTAN TAROT

#Zentember #LovelyHealing Challenge Prompt
Question: Where is my heart heavy?

Dragon Age Inquisition Tarot

Reading Summary: Dependable hardworking sensibilities (Queen of Coins) directed towards my new focus and goals (Ace of Staves). It’s coming up fast (The Chariot) and I have to bite the bullet and bear down on a direction (Two of Swords).

Take Away:  I don’t feel ready to set aside the growth and inner work that has been my focus so far throughout this year in order to move into the holiday preparations and holiday rush that’s coming. The thing is, though, that I have no choice in the matter if I want the holiday rush to go smoothly and turn out well.  I need to do the responsible thing and be prepared, whether I really want to change gears or not. 

DECK USED:  DRAGON AGE INQUISITION TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsSep2020 Challenge Prompt
Topic: Your Personal Pain / A Healing Action To Take / Possible Positive Outcome

Wiener Secession TarotYour Personal Pain – The Fool and Eight/Three of Spades -Weighing responsibility over the joy of playing the fool. This was touched upon in my reading for the Zentember challenge today as well. It has to do with feeling an inner reluctance to move away from the growth and exploration I’ve been doing over the year so far, and moving into the hard and fast responsibilities involved in preparing for the holiday rush and then riding it out when it arrives. I’m trying to not allow myself to think that having been kind to myself and going easy on myself over the spring and summer hasn’t made me lazy… but honestly?  It kinda feels like it has. And those thoughts bring with it a strong sense of disappointment in myself.

A Healing Action To Take – Queen of Spades – Instead of burying these worries or hiding from them, I need to actually listen to them with understanding and offer myself solutions that can incorporate both the responsibilities of my work along with the needs of that softer inner self. At first thought, there doesn’t feel like a lot of options here, but I think that might be my pessimism rearing it’s ugly head. 

Possible Positive Outcome – King of Spades – If I can find a way to both find as well as sustain a balance between the work I need to do and giving myself that freedom I’ve become used to and now don’t want to lose, there’s a good chance I will be able to develop a stronger interconnection allowing for clearer site that is unclouded by these issues.

Take Away – I’m not seeing the whole picture and because of it I’m feeling a sense of loss that isn’t necessary. I need to find a way to take off the blindfold that is keeping me from seeing possible solutions open to me. Finding and enacting these solutions will bring a stronger foundation to both my work, my emotional growth, and my self care along with a greater clarity on how to juggle these things in a healthy and successful way.

DECK USED:  WIENER SECESSION TAROT

Lionharts #AstroTarotChallenge
Question: Something that I’m stubbornly holding onto that I need to let go of?

Science Tarot

Reading Summary: Fear of the unknown (Wheel of Fortune).  Let go of that fear and see it as an adventure (Knight of Wands), and a whole new world of possibilities will open up to you (The World).

Take Away:  Meh… yeah.  I completely agree with this.  I do struggle with the unknown quite a bit. I feel so certain and strong on my spiritual path and life path, that when elements of the unknown crop up it makes me feel like there’s a big inky black sink hole in the middle of my path.

I know that seeing these moments as an adventure is a terrific way to get through this fear, and that in doing so it opens up a vast world of opportunities and possibilities… but sometimes it’s really hard to take those moments as an adventure, no matter how hard I try.

Side note:  The Schrodinger’s Cat card in this deck is one of my favorite cards in this deck.

DECK USED:  SCIENCE TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: How can I love myself more?

Haindl Tarot

Reading Summary: When you actually do your work (Three of Stones) instead of fucking around, and get it done (The Chariot), you feel a sense of accomplishment (Six of Wands) and inspiration to do more (Ace of Wands).

Take Away:  Oooph.  Okay so today’s readings are all about my work, my business, and about gearing up for the holiday rush. This makes sense, but it’s definitely a noticeable thread through my personal readings today.

Okay, anyway.  The answer to one of the ways that I can love myself more is to actually do my work instead of procrastinating or putting it off.   When I actually do my work, I lay the groundwork for self-esteem and a sense of accomplishment to bolster my self image as well as my mood, which in turn lights my inner spark for new inspirations to take fire.

DECK USED:  HAINDL TAROT

Abstinence is a Strength

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s meditation was… well… it kinda turned into nap time.  I actually took a grand total of two naps today. So although I didn’t really get in a decent meditation, I did manage to get well rested.  It was actually really nice, to be honest. Although, I have to say…  satin pillowcases are way too comfortable and make it so tempting to just nuzzle in and go back to sleep. Dangerous stuff right there.

Hush Tarot - Five of WandsToday’s draw is the Five of Wands is traditionally about trials, tests, and conflict in the area of one’s passions and drive.  The word “passions” in this instance is not about sex, but rather about the interests that light that spark within you and create an inferno of interest that needs to be followed and/or obtained in order to be sated.

I really like the imagery on this card.  I mean at first it just looks like a tangled mess with some spears added in, but when you really sit down and look at it, what you find is three snakes, two of which are in conflict concerning something they are both passionate about, while the third is caught in the crossfire.

That is how conflict goes sometimes, right?  It’s not always clear cut.  Sometimes people get caught in the crossfire and are forced to either choose sides or end up tangled up and embroiled in a mess not of their own making. That third snake in the imagery clearly just wants to get out.  It wants no part of this quarrel, and yet it is stuck in the middle and unable to get free.

The message in today’s card is to take care not to become tangled up in conflicts that you really don’t want to be in.  Sometimes? It’s okay to take a step back and abstain.

DECK USED:  HUSH TAROT

#Zentember #LovelyHealing Challenge Prompt
Question: Where to love more?

WilderWoven Tarot

Reading Summary: It’s OK to take things slow (Tree of Life and Knight of Pentacles both depicting long, slow journeys), just don’t give up (Eight of Cups).

Take Away:  This is about self-love.  It’s about the impatience I feel towards myself when I feel that I am not moving fast enough or progressing quickly enough.  It’s about that “Not Enough” shadow deep inside that is always nitpicking at everything I do and telling me it’s not enough.  The love that is needed is a love of self, and the understanding that it’s okay to take my time and not to let that inner voice cause me to say “fuck it” and walk away.

DECK USED:  WILDERWOVEN TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsSep2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: What do I need to focus on for self-care for this new moon?

Joe Sparrow TarotReading Summary:  Preparation (Page of Wands). Self Care (The Empress). Streamlining (Ace of Swords).  Note: Color combinations between the Page of Wands and Ace of Swords connect these two cards into a singular theme.

Take Away:  As this week is my week off and lands right smack dab upon the new moon, this is the ideal time to give myself a little rest and nurturing recuperation that is suggested in the Empress card, the placement of which in the center of this spread indicates its priority and how its theme should permeate through the rest of the reading.

My self care this new moon needs to be a combination of taking care of my need for rest and nurturing activities, joined with the needed preparations necessary for the holiday rush that is right around the corner.  Part of that preparation requires the streamlining of certain processes, as well as the progress of actually stocking up on supplies for my business and it’s needs.

DECK USED:  JOE SPARROW TAROT

Lionharts #AstroTarotChallenge
Question: What could further support my partnerships?

Brady Tarot

Father of Feathers atop The Empress Rx – Although being kind to yourself and others is all well and good?  It isn’t always the answer and sometimes tough love is needed. Lighting a fire under someone’s ass to get them motivated is sometimes the only way you’ll be able to get them motivated.

Five of Horns atop The Hierophant Rx – Don’t allow times when you’re feeling down to influence how you interact with those that come for your help. This isn’t about having eased up on the teaching schedule to give yourself space for your own personal growth, but rather it’s about your current influences on others.

Five of Feathers atop Death Rx – Being competitive has its place… be sure to keep it there. Being competitive is not really in my nature, but like everyone else… sometimes it sparks up when I’m least expecting it. This is another “choose your battles wisely” message like so many I have received from the cards lately.

DECK USED:  BRADY TAROT 2ND EDITION

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What needs to be different in my life?

El Goliath Tarot 2nd EditionReading Summary:  Too much juggling (Two of Pentacles) leading to burnout and a resulting apathy (Five of Cups) that then smothers out my natural creative spark (Ace of Wands).

Take Away:  This is what I have been working on so intently over the year thus far. I’ve come a long way toward giving myself more space and allowing myself more rest along the way.  As a result, I experience less burn out.   The cards here are a warning that these tendencies are very likely to try and rise up and repeat as I get closer to the holiday rush.  It’s something I need to watch out for and work at being conscious concerning so that I can catch these bad habits and course correct along the way.

DECK USED:  EL GOLIATH TAROT 2ND EDITION

Don’t Forget to Anchor

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

IMG_6518Today’s meditation was fifteen minutes long and was a guided meditation with interval timer again.  The topic of today’s meditation was an introduction to the act of shinrin-yoku (forest bathing), which is in its essence, a form of nature therapy.

This is something that I do quite often.  In fact, the majority of the time when I say that I’m “going for a hike”?  You can bet that there is a bit of shinrin-yoku going on in there at least part of the time.

Forest bathing is different than hiking, though, as instead of moving at a steady pace that exercises the body, you move at a slower, meandering pace and your focus is upon the surroundings and “smelling the roses” as you move through the forest. The Pacific rainforests where I live have always enchanted me, and I have done this sort of activity since I was a very young child.

Botan Tarot - Eight of WandsToday’s draw is the Eight of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of movement, action, speed, and rapid changes.  Many people have trouble seeing this card as a stand-alone card and feel that it is more of a support card to others, much like an adverb or adjective would be added to a sentence.

I see a lot of things in this card that indicate speed.  A shooting star streaks across the sky while bamboo grows at a fast pace below, stretching upward and flourishing.   But I also see constancy in the sky itself.  Stars sparkle in inky darkness, moving at a much slower pace that sailors and explorers alike have used for centuries as tools of navigation and inspiration.

The message here in this card is about the whirlwind of moving fast, but it is also about the steady purity of having an anchor in the storm.  Unleashing energy into the wild maelstrom of inspiration and intent is  empowering and can feel wild and freeing, but make sure that you don’t follow that wild feeling so deeply into the storm that you lose your grip on the safety and security of those things that give your life stability.

DECK USED:  BOTAN TAROT

#Zentember #LovelyHealing Challenge Prompt
Question: What needs healing on my heart chakra?

Tarot of Alexander Daniloff 2012

Reading Summary: No matter how much you give (Six of Coins) or how hard you work and how skilled you become (Eight of Coins), you never feel like it’s enough (Seven of Swords).

Take Away:  It’s that “Never Enough” shadow eh?  It lives right there in my heart chakra, whispering insidiously in my ear from time to time, making sure I’m not going easy on myself or slacking off.  I knew that it would probably come up eventually as we went through the chakras on this month’s challenge, and it doesn’t surprise me that it shows up in this one.

I had planned on doing shadow work this year concerning this particular shadow, but it turned out the shadow work I did instead was about allowing myself to feel my feelings and finding a new balance for my self care and work methods.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF ALEXANDER DANILOFF 2012

#DiscordTarotholicsSep2020 Challenge Prompt
Philosophical Question: What are the 3 major weaknesses of humanity?

Archeon TarotSeven of Swords – Envy / Covetousness – So many fights, battles, wars, and horrible acts stem from this weakness. Coveting what others have and giving into the envy we feel moves our inner conflict from these feelings to spill out into violence against others, whether that violence be emotional, verbal, physical, economical, or otherwise.

Herald of Pentacles – Intolerance for Differences – This is less about the “Herald of Pentacles” and more about the imagery. It’s from the clash of colors in the image as well as the expression on the herald’s face.  The thing is that intolerance of differences is a huge failing for the human race. On the average, when humans are confronted with differences they react with fear, disgust, and/or morbid curiosity.  Although this is an evolutionary reaction developed over centuries of survival instincts, it is also hurtful and, in today’s society, so very closed minded and wrong on so many levels.  Although understandable, it is also a weakness that is time to begin overcoming.

The High Priestess – Disregarding Intuition – So many in the world consider intuition to be “a bunch of woo” instead of a real quality of humanity meant that all people possess.  This quality is a skill that we all have and has been developed over millennia of evolution to help us navigate life. It is given many names from “gut feelings” to “inner compass”, but whatever we call it, the fact is that it is there to help us make good decisions.  Ignoring it is misguided and self-defeating behavior that helps no one.

DECK USED:  ARCHEON TAROT

Lionharts #AstroTarotChallenge
Question:  Am I currently in the right romantic partnership to fully flourish?

Tarot of Reincarnation

Reading Summary: When I’m a mess (Nine of Spades) he provides me what I need (Ten of Hearts) to continue on and improve (Eight of Diamonds).

Take Away:  Yes.  He is the counterweight that keeps me balanced.  When my inner dialog turns into a slaughter house of cruelty, he is there to make sure that my emotional fulfillment with him is able to heal what my mind is trying to tear apart.  He supports me and my ambitions to be the best I can at all that I do, giving me his unconditional love each and every day.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF REINCARNATION

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: How can I silence my inner critic?

Sasuraibito Tarot

Reading Summary: Focus on your growth beyond what has tried to hold you back in the past (Page of Pentacles), accept you are strong enough to overcome that voice (Strength), and be kind and accepting to yourself (Nine of Cups).

Take Away:  My inner critic’s voice is one of pessimism and beratement.  In order to overcome it, the cards here indicate I need to take stock of all that I have done and accomplished in growing beyond what my past tried to lay upon me, and to allow those experiences and my triumph over them to foster my feelings of strength so that I can then use that strength to fight back against my inner critic’s voice and what it whispers in my ear.

DECK USED:  SASURAIBITO TAROT