tarot and psychology

The Release

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Today’s meditation was skipped, although I did soak in the tub this morning… so there’s that. I’m sure my downstairs neighbors were absolutely thrilled to hear me filling up the tub around 3:30am then draining it and taking a shower around 4:30am.

Japanese Traditional Tarot - Ten of SwordsToday’s draw is the Ten of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of “coming to the end of the line” on a journey of hardships and struggle. This card is about endings, but of the painful variety.

I am personally a fan of the Ten of Swords, and in most cases consider it’s appearance a good thing.  It means something I’ve been struggling through or hurting over is drawing to a close.  It’s going to hurt, but it’s also going to be the end.  Sometimes? All that pain is worth it if you finally get to the end.

What really stands out to me today in the imagery of this card is the fact that a number of those blades have not yet pierced the flesh.   This feels like it reverses the meaning of the card backward by just a slight half step.  They are also symmetrical, with matching swords on either side of the spine/body like some sort of ultra dangerous set of wings.  In fact, the only blades actually piercing through flesh are where wings would be anchored to the body.

It feels like a display of that one breathless moment just before you can break free.  That one fraction of a second where you know the end is near… right there… filled with both hope and pain, anticipation and fear.  These blades look like an unlikely and unwieldy set of wings, and yet they represent a release that has the potential to let the figure obtain the freedom to fly, even if not physically.

The message here in today’s card is to focus on the release to come. Don’t focus on your current misery and don’t fear what comes after, just focus on the release from your current chains, and foster the hope and the eagerness for that release.  The holiday rush is more than half over now.  I’ll be released soon enough.

DECK USED:  JAPANESE TRADITIONAL TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsDec2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: What is it that I’m burying that needs to be set free?

The Simplicity TarotReading Summary:  This is about finding a happy medium (Ten of Cups). I am trying to suppressing my inner drive (Ace of Wands) with moderation… and unintentionally suppressing a fuller view of perspectives and the world (The Hanged Man) with personal spirituality (Spiritual Cleansing).

Take Away: Neither moderation or spirituality is a bad thing.  Neither that inner drive, nor the seeking of diverse perspectives and opinions is a bad thing either.  But in order to find emotional completion and contentment, you have to make room for all of them, not allowing some to overshadow the others but rather allowing them all to work both independently… and together without stepping on each other’s toes.

DECK USED:  THE SIMPLICITY TAROT

Healing the Past

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IMG_8005Today’s meditation was just over ten minutes long and was accompanied by my regular interval timer for my piriformis stretches.

To be honest, I barely remember what the guided part of the meditation was about.  I wasn’t paying enough attention apparently, but then… that’s okay I think as long as I was meditating.

I vaguely remember it had something to do with self-competition.  But… I just don’t remember.  I liked the quote, though, so I included the graphic anyway.

Witches Tarot by Ellen Dugan - Six of CupsToday’s draw is the Six of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of nostalgia and memories that lighten the heart and stir up fondness and emotion.

There’s a sweetness to this card’s traditional meaning that always makes my heart melt just a little bit.   Not that it always appears to hearken back to good memories, but just that the imagery is so often just… sweet.  And, this card is no different.

It’s probably not surprising that what stands out to me the strongest in the imagery of this card today is the flowers.  The flowers in the cups look like Dianthus barbatus, which is a type of carnation.  One of the major meanings associated with carnations is healing, and in fact, tea made from carnations can be used to treat nervousness and anxiety, as well as fever, stomach aches, skin ailments when applied topically as well as an anti-inflammatory.

Right so I’m waxing poetic on carnations.  The thing is, it has many, many uses besides what I listed above, all of which are gentle healing uses.   And it is in that gentle healing that I find my message today.

The message of today’s card is about my past, and it’s about the harshness I’ve experienced in my past.  It’s a reminder that it’s okay to let go of these things and focus on the good instead.  It’s okay to find the good and let it help in healing the wounds that harshness inflicted on my inner self.  It’s time to take a breath and let go of these harsher experiences.

DECK USED:  WITCHES TAROT BY ELLEN DUGAN

#DiscordTarotolicsDec2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: What aspects of my life could benefit from some grounding and centering?

Goetia Tarot in Darkness

Reading Summary:   Finding those aspects of joy in the journey (The Sun) as you explore new ways to look at money and stability (Page of Pentacles). Remember that this shit takes time (Seven of Pentacles) and you need to hold fast instead of becoming impatient searching for another way (Six of Swords Rx).

Take Away: Impatience is definitely an issue for me, and one that I struggle with.  Not that I’m impatient with others, but with myself?  Absolutely.  The thing is, I keep seeing these glimmers of a new way to look at things and a new way to handle things…. glimmers that flicker in and out of the peripheral of my understanding.  I want them to come into focus NOW, even as I understand that this growth is going to take time.  The centering is in that understanding.  The grounding is in staying the course instead of giving up.

DECK USED:  GOETIA TAROT IN DARKNESS

Healthy Alone Time

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IMG_8001Today’s meditation was just under twelve minutes long, and was a guided meditation with interval timer for my stretches.

The topic of today’s guided meditation was about being kind to yourself and others, even when you are struggling yourself, and how sometimes in the middle of our own struggles, we forget that there are others struggling must as much or even more so than we ourselves are.

The guided meditation was an encouragement to look upon others with compassion and understanding, and upon ourselves with the same.

Naked Heart Tarot - The HermitToday’s draw is the Hermit card, which is traditionally a representation of withdrawing from society and having some alone time.  In its upright position it is not about unhealthy alone time, though, but rather about healthy growth through self exploration and diving deep into your personal well-being, thoughts, and beliefs.

What stands out to me the strongest in this card today is (of course) the box turtle at the bottom of the card, but also the key that they owl is carrying.

The feeling I get from this key in relation to the turtle is that sometimes you have to spend time alone in order to really know yourself.  There’s just some parts of your psyche and self that cannot be unlocked when surrounded by others.

From my observation, a lot of the time when people struggle with being alone and having alone time, they are avoiding themselves and the things about themselves that they don’t want to explore, confront, or delve into. The message here today is to remember that alone time is meant to be healthy and for the purpose of unwinding tensions, self exploration, and growth.  If the alone time isn’t healthy… don’t do it.

DECK USED:  NAKED HEART TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsDec2020 Challenge Prompt
Philosophical Question: Is it worse to fail at something or never attempt it in the first place?

Lumos x Nox Tarot

Reading Summary: By failing (Ten of Swords), you are allowed to then move on (Eight of Cups), grow and evolve (The World).

Take Away: It is worse to have never tried, than to try and fail.  When you never try, you remain stagnant and there is no progress and no growth.   By failing, it means you have tried, and it means you have learned something from the experience.  This new knowledge you have gained can then be taken forward with you into the future.  That then facilitates growth and whether you try again, or move on to something else, that growth and the lessons learned from failure remain with you to help guide you forward on to better things.

DECK USED:  LUMOS X NOX TAROT

The World Spins On, Regardless

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IMG_7984Today’s meditation was just over ten minutes long, and was a guided meditation with interval timer for my piriformis stretching.

The topic of today’s meditation was actually an activity in love and compassion where you first build an energy of love and compassion that you direct toward yourself, and then towards a loved one, and finally towards the world as a whole.

I had an interesting experience in the middle of this meditation.  I was wide awake, so it was not a dream, but it felt as if my consciousness… slipped into something.  A dark place of flickering lights like stars in a midnight sky with a flowing swirl of navy and blue similar to those photos you see of traffic where the shutter has been left open and all of the lights are streaked swirls instead of points of light.  There was a moment when I seemed to move within that swirl of blue streaks like a leaf in a stream.  It was only for a brief moment, and then I was back within my meditation.

I think I might have astral traveled… which would be a first.  But I’m not 100% certain, as that is not something I’ve ever done before.  In fact, it’s something I’ve been told I will be unable to do unless I ease up on my grounding and rooting.  As I haven’t eased up on these things… this brings into doubt that that was what I experienced.

Winter Waite Tarot 2019 Edition - Four of SwordsToday’s draw is the Four of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of rest and restoration.  It’s about taking a break and allowing yourself time to heal and recover.

First of all, I took this card as a demand to do exactly that.  Although my phone has been going off with orders all day, I have made a concerted effort to ignore work for the majority of the day and do a little self care instead.  I even took a nap.   The only thing I’ve kept up on was responding to customers.

Beyond that… what stands out to me the strongest in the imagery of this card today is the little bird.  That bird looking over the resting man feels a lot like the stained glass window with the figures in it that is in the traditional RWS cards.

In both cases, what I see is a loving, caring watchfulness.  A quiet wait and gentle protection that is less about brute strength and more about love and kindness.   Perhaps the bird is in fact the soul of the man, watching over the body while it recovers.

The message in today’s card is that there’s more to kindness to self than just going through the motions. You have to mean it, and you have to trust that when you are taking care of yourself that your responsibilities and the world around you can take care of themselves for a while.

DECK USED:  WINTER WAITE TAROT 2019 EDITION

#DiscordTarotolicsDec2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: Where should I direct my focus this week to foster my relationship with myself?

Fantastic Menagerie Tarot by Baba StudiosReading Summary: Make sure you’re practicing a bit of moderation (Temperance) when planning your direction (Two of Wands) and forward motion into the future (Six of Swords) concerning the things you want to pick up and explore (Page of Wands).

Take Away: These cards are a reminder that I can’t take on every single little thing that strikes my interest or pulls at my attention. There are so many things that I want to do and explore, and it always feels like there’s not enough time to do them all.  So I always try to pile on more and more of them onto my plate so that I can make sure I get to explore them all. 

But the thing is?  When I pile on so much, suddenly none of it is any fun and it all feels like a chore. Moderation is important.  Extremely difficult for me, but important.  Which means prioritizing is important as well. If I can’t get to everything I want to do and try, that means I need to make sure I prioritize the ones that feel the most important ahead of the rest.

DECK USED:  FANTASTIC MENAGERIE TAROT

Skip the Verdigris

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IMG_7975Today’s meditation was ten minutes long and was another guided meditation with interval timer for my piriformis stretches.

The topic of today’s meditation was about dealing with anxiety during stressful times.  In truth, it was about the calming benefits of taking a breath.  I’ve often helped others find that particular benefit, coaching them in taking a moment to sit tall and seek to put distance between your straight shoulders and your ears before then slowly taking a breath that starts down in the pit of your belly and slowly fills your stomach, then solar plexus, then chest.  The beat of pause, then slow exhale that comes after as you release that air.

One slow, deep breath with your spine straight and your neck not in hyper extended position.  Just one.  And sometimes that one breath is all that is needed to turn the tide on panic, anxiety, frustration, anger, or fear.

Traditional Manga Tarot - The WorldToday’s draw is the World card, which is traditionally a representation of reaching the end of a long journey of growth and development, and stepping through that closure to move on to the next.  In coming to the end of this journey, there is both accomplishment and an anticipation for what new journey lies beyond.  Many consider this card a representation of reincarnation.

What stands out to me the strongest in the imagery of this card today is the embrace that these two figures have upon the earth.  Specifically, though, the figure in the background that appears to curl around the curvature of the earth and rest upon it in a loving embrace.

The message here is that when you come to the end of a journey of growth, it’s not a time to look back and judge harshly what you have done and/or not done along the way.

It’s instead a time to celebrate your accomplishments and look forward with anticipation.  You’ve done good.  You’ve accomplished something.  You’ve found yourself at a place where there has been clear growth and you’re now better in some way than you were before.  Don’t tarnish that or diminish it with negative judgements.

DECK USED:  TRADITIONAL MANGA TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsNov2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: What do I need to focus on for self care this full moon?

Elemental TarotReading Summary: As I’m working my fingers to the bone to bring in the cash (King of Pentacles atop Justice), don’t forget to enjoy yourself (The Sun) and keep optimism alive (The Star).

Take Away: There have been a lot of these reminders lately, and the truth is? I need them. The thing is, there are consequences to our actions, and the Justice card here is very much all about consequences. When you work hard, the money rolls in. When you work hard, you risk burnout and overwhelm. You forget to look at the bright side.  You forget to smile and have fun. All work, no play is a very unhealthy thing.

And thus the reminder to keep the fun and enjoyment up, and the positivity flowing.  These things are not in my nature and are not easy, but they help keep everything in balance.

DECK USED:  ELEMENTAL TAROT

Love and Kindness

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IMG_7967Today’s meditation was just over ten minutes long and was combined with interval timer for my stretches.  The topic of this guided meditation was about the small choices we make… in other words, the butterfly effect.

It was about how with each small good choice we make for ourselves in our lives, we foster and encourage goodness and positivity and healthy habits to develop and take root.  And how it’s important to encourage this positive growth, as opposed to feeding the bad habits and making bad choices that hold us back.

Tarot of the Little Prince - Ten of SwordsToday’s draw is the Ten of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of painful endings, the dying off of hard times, and the end of cycles of difficulty and trials.  The swords suit is, after all, a story about tragedy and the Ten of Swords is the end of said tragedy before the hero of the story picks themselves back up and brushes themselves off to try again.

I find the imagery in this card to be extremely disorienting today.  I’m not sure if it has always made me feel this way, but today? When I look at this card it feels as if the entire world has been turned upside down.  And in this chaotic, confusing world the boy curls close the fox that is his companion to protect the fox from being hurt or lost.

The message here is about making sure that you are caring for your heart… your soft squishy insides.  When the world falls into chaos, make sure you’re taking care of what’s important to you… including yourself.  Kindness and love is needed.  It might not conquer all… but it makes everything just a little bit better.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE LITTLE PRINCE

#DiscordTarotolicsNov2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: Do Spread #4

Tarots Egyptiens Anima AntiquaWhat have I been taking for granted?

Nine of Coins – I spend so much time focusing on where I’m going and what I need to do that I’ve forgotten to take time to enjoy the present and what I have in the now.  Gideon reminded me earlier today of this. I was sad about having lost my “easy”… that easy going nature I’d had when I was younger siphoned away over time as I started my own businesses and responsibilities piled on my shoulders.

He reminded me that yes, that “easy” was nice, but it was also a time in my life where I was struggling just to feed myself.  In the same way as looking back on what I miss, I often train my focus forward on where I want to go… but in truth?  I need to spend more of my focus on the now, and just how good I have it these days.

What’s been holding me back from seeing my blessings clearly?

Six of Swords Rx – My determination to move forward and claim more of what I want out of life, to achieve more and succeed.  To stake my claim on the future. This determination has made it difficult to ease up and enjoy the present to its fullest.

How can I better express my gratitude in the future?

Knight of Cups – Instead of focusing so hard on responsibilities and goals, seek out the things that bring me joy and satisfaction and go after them instead.  Seek the things that foster a bit of pleasure in the present instead of constantly striving for more out of the future.

What do I need to acknowledge gratitude for in my relationships?

Four of Swords – I am so grateful that those in my life understand my need for alone time and encourage that.  It’s something that I don’t express a lot of gratitude for, but having had some experience in the past few years with some truly extroverted people that need a good deal of social contact?  I have come to realize that the friends and loved ones I have are very unique in that they are supportive of my need for alone time.  I didn’t realize how rare this was until… well, just now when thinking about it.

What do I need to acknowledge gratitude for in my finances?

Five of Cups – This is an echo of the response in my first question of this spread.  It’s about realizing how good I have it now, and feeling gratitude for the present and all that I have in this present moment. I need to stop telling myself that I’m not doing enough… that it’s not enough… that I’m not enough.

What do I need to acknowledge gratitude for in my work life?

King of Cups – I am able to do what truly nourishes my soul.  Sometimes I might feel worn down and tired, and I might not enjoy it as much as I could… or should.  But, the fact remains, I’m doing what I love. I’m doing what I enjoy. And, through my work, I share my pleasure and enjoyment, my emotions and my hopes and the energy of my positive emotions with others with every single piece that I ship out.

DECK USED:  TAROTS EGYPTIENS ANIMA ANTIQUA