tarot and psychology

I Harvest Experience

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The #DailyCalm from the Calm appToday’s meditation was ten minutes long, and was one of the #DailyCalm sessions from the Calm app.  The session began with a brief yoga nidra, which I always very much enjoy, then segued into the topic of criticism and how to deal with it in healthy and helpful ways.

The gist of the session is to not take criticism personally, but rather as suggestions and indications of how others are thinking or feeling. It reminded the listener that even criticism that is meant to be hurtful can provide insight if you seek out that insight with a lack of reaction and an analytical mindset.

@GlitterbyInk #AprilAffirmations24 Prompt
Affirmation Prompt for April 11th: I Harvest…

Animal Guides Tarot - Ten of SwordsTen of Swords – I harvest experience.

Learning experiences are important, and you have a habit of taking them in at every turn. Some of those experiences are pleasurable, and others not so much, but you gain knowledge and experience from each one that, in turn, then makes you better prepared moving forward on the path ahead.

You do not discount the lessons learned, and have a habit of using each experience to further your worth as well as your stability and dependability, which then fosters the trust and loyalty of others.

DECK USED:  ANIMAL GUIDES TAROT (TRIMMED)

@Lionharts #TheAprilTarot Mercury Musing Prompt
Question for April 11th: What self-care practices can I implement to nurture my resilience during this retrograde?

Petit Lenormand LoubellePractice 1 – Mountain and Clouds – Pay attention to your feelings of uncertainty, and do not allow them to become obstacles in your path.

Practice 2 – Garden and Fox – Keep an eye on those in social gatherings that think that they are clever… but are actually too clever for their own good.

Practice 3 – Scythe and Snake – Be aware of the snake in the grass and be ruthless in revealing their hiding places so that their true nature is out in the open.

Take Away – This is the third time in the past month that I have been warned about a “snake in the grass”.

This reading indicates I need to stay alert and aware of those around me, and not allow the said “snake in the grass” to use my insecurities as a manipulative tool. Instead, stay aware of what’s going on and expose them when the opportunity arises.

DECK USED: PETIT LENORMAND LOUBELLE

#DiscordTarotholicsApr2024 Challenge Prompt
Question for April 11th: Eight Track Tape Day – What blast from the past is ready for a revisit?

Animal Guides Tarot - Ten of Cups, Six of Wands, Two of Wands, Eight of WandsReading Summary: Leave people pleasing behind (Six of Wands) and move quickly (Eight of Wands) into planning for future (Two of Wands) happiness that includes your own happiness instead of just that of others (Ten of Cups).

Take Away: You have a tendency these days to put too much weight on what others want or need from you.

It’s time to return to that self-serving mentality you once worked so hard to strengthen and reinforce. It doesn’t mean you have to close others out, but that your happiness is just as valid and just as important as that of others… and you need to treat it that way instead of forsaking it at every turn.

DECK USED: ANIMAL GIUDES TAROT (TRIMMED)

Daily Self Kindness

I made sure to have some Gideon time today even though it was an orders day.

I Guide Myself

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

@GlitterbyInk #AprilAffirmations24 Prompt
Affirmation Prompt for April 10th: I Guide…

Cozy Witch Tarot - Seven of SwordsSeven of Swords – I guide myself in the direction that is right for me.

No one makes choices in life for you… you make them for yourself.

Not all actions need to be selfless. Sometimes you have to do what is right for you, and that can mean setting aside or leaving behind what everyone else needs, wants, or expects from you.

It’s a ruthless way to look at things, but for a happy and healthy life, there are times when doing for yourself has to take priority.  As long as you are following the whispers of your personal inner compass, don’t worry so much about what others may say or think or want you to do. Take care of yourself and your own wants and needs instead.

DECK USED:  COZY WITCH TAROT

@Lionharts #TheAprilTarot Mercury Musing Prompt
Question for April 10th: What boundaries do I need to set to protect my energy?

The Empathic TarotShielding atop Water – You have enough to deal with concerning your own emotions. Worry about yourself instead of trying to manage the emotions and reactions of others.

Autumn – Make sure when fall comes that you are giving yourself enough time to both prep for the approaching holiday rush, and also getting outside in nature to rustle fallen leaves with your boots.

Give yourself this time by not allowing distractions to horn in on it as with what happened last year.

Throat Chakra – Stop allowing your worries over the opinions of others to silence you. You may be mute, but you have a lot to say. Staying silent isn’t always the best choice, and builds unnecessary walls of separation between you and others.

DECK USED: THE EMPATHIC ORACLE

#DiscordTarotholicsApr2024 Challenge Prompt
Philosophical Question for April 10th: What is Divinity?

Cozy Witch Tarot - Ace of Swords, Ten of Wands, Five of WandsReading Summary: Divinity is the spark from which new ideas are born (Ace of Swords), before humanity gets their hands on it (Ten of Wands) and musses it all up with their egos (Five of Wands).

Take Away: In these cards, divinity is the life force of creation that lives before and beyond man and their machinations. It is a spark of life, the spark of creation that is the beginning of everything, while being bigger than life itself.

These cards also speak of a bit of that spark living within us all, but that what we do with it varies from creature to creature and from person to person.

DECK USED: COZY WITCH TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I took a nap today. It ended up being a much longer nap than I intended, but it’s pretty clear that I needed the extra sleep because I slept deeply through the entire thing.

I Speak of My Fears

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

@GlitterbyInk #AprilAffirmations24 Prompt
Affirmation Prompt for April 9th: I Speak…

Paw of Light Tarot - Eight of SwordsEight of Swords – I speak of my fears.

You speak up about your fears, acknowledging them instead of trying to bury them so that they surface in destructive behavior.

Or… at least you strive to.

It can be hard to confront fears head on, but you are aware that by not doing so, you allow your fears and worries to grow, to thrive, and to control you.

By speaking about them, they become smaller and more manageable, and in doing so you head off other negative and destructive behaviors that those fears often bring up within you.

DECK USED:  PAW OF LIGHT TAROT

@Lionharts #TheAprilTarot Mercury Musing Prompt
Question for April 9th: What aspects or interactions are draining my energy?

Onsen Neko Playing CardsEight of Diamonds atop Seven of Spades – The idea that you have to work all the time without instilling joy into the work you do.

It’s true what they say about if you are doing what you love, that you never work a day in your life. What they don’t tell you is that like all kinds of love, it takes effort to keep it alive. You have to foster it to thrive or it will fade away.

Four of Clubs – Your home is not “in order” which makes it feel far less welcoming and stable. In fact, it’s a mess right now. Start getting things back in order, and you will feel a much stronger sense of peace and welcoming each time you walk through the front door.

Seven of Clubs – Life doesn’t always have to be a battle. It’s time to remove yourself from the mindset that it is. You don’t have to lean into every challenge as if it is life or death, and doing so is becoming exhausting.

DECK USED: ONSEN NEKO PLAYING CARDS

#DiscordTarotholicsApr2024 Challenge Prompt
Question for April 9th: Name Yourself Day – What opportunity is before you now to become a better person?

Paw of Light Tarot - The Hermit, King of Swords, Nine of CupsReading Summary: Giving yourself a little of the healthy alone time that you crave (The Hermit) will help you in being less of a dick to yourself and others (King of Swords), and lead to a greater sense of emotional contentment (Nine of Cups).

Take Away: When you find that inner peace that only nature can give you, it’s far easier to ease up on yourself, and that lets you be less terse with others.

You really need to get some time out in nature among the trees to ground and center yourself. It’s been so long that it’s beginning to show in your words and outward behavior, not to mention that inner dialogue that has a habit of being so cruel to you as well.

DECK USED: PAW OF LIGHT TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

It wasn’t time among the trees, but I did get to spend some time outside today digging in the dirt and planting rose bushes.

I Connect With Success

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

@GlitterbyInk #AprilAffirmations24 Prompt
Affirmation Prompt for April 8th: I Connect…

Fenestra Tarot - The SunThe Sun – I connect with the energies of success.

You are a survivor, and you succeed at what you set out to do through determination and perseverance.

Even when you fail at something that you’ve tried, you continue to succeed because you don’t just give up, but instead use that experience as knowledge you carry with you to either try again or readjust your plans and ideas.

There is no true failures, only success, when you continue to thrive despite those times when things don’t work out as planned.

DECK USED:  FENESTRA TAROT

@Lionharts #TheAprilTarot Mercury Musing Prompt
Prompt for April 8th: Do the Closure Clarity Tarot Spread

Cottage Witch OracleWhat cycles or patterns in my life are coming to completion or closure?

Chicken and Hickory – If you haven’t figured out how to “let go” by now, the time to learn it this time around is beginning to come to an end.

That doesn’t mean it won’t come around again in the future, though. So hold on to what you have learned about yourself, about letting go, and about the feeling and mindset that goes along with it. You’ll be able to resurrect those experiences later to hone the skill again down the road.

How can I personally create a sense of closure for past experiences?

Tea and Woodpecker – Just keep on plugging away at it the closure that you’re looking to create. You are on the right path, but need to let go of the expectation that closure is either fast or easy. It’s neither, so patience and perseverance are essential.

How can I embrace a fresh start and move forward with clarity and confidence?

Fern and Pine – You need to look for ways to renew your inner spark while giving yourself more “staying power” through the long haul. For you, this means getting yourself out into the forest to take a few deep breaths. You can’t hike yet, but you will benefit from the time in nature all the same.

DECK USED: COTTAGE WITCH ORACLE

#DiscordTarotholicsApr2024 Challenge Prompt
Question for April 8th: What do you need to focus on for self-care for this new moon?

Fenestra Tarot - Ten of Cups, Ten of Wands, The StarReading Summary: Positivity and shared happiness (Ten of Cups and The Star) makes labor and toil (Ten of Wands) easier to get through.

Take Away: Make sure that you are being positive, even when the road is hard and it feels like too much. It will make your burden feel lighter, and helps you to focus on the light at the end of the tunnel instead of your personal miseries. It also helps in keeping others with you uplifted as well.

DECK USED: FENESTRA TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I got in some play time with Gideon tonight even though it was an orders night.  I also backed out of nine of my KS pledges to help provide a little more wiggle room in my finances that’ve become a bit tight with the whole new car issue.

I Nourish Stability

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

@GlitterbyInk #AprilAffirmations24 Prompt
Affirmation Prompt for April 7th: I Nourish…

Squid Cake Marseille Tarot - King of CoinsKing of Coins – I nourish stability.

You nourish stability in your own life, as well as the lives of those around you.

You need a certain amount of stability in your life. You need to fee that you are secure and stable enough to look into the future feeling steady and sure of your place.

Others find this sense of stability (that in all honesty, you generate and nurture for yourself) appealing and safe. In turn, they too feel stable and your presence in their lives helps nurture that sense of stability for them as well.

DECK USED:  SQUID CAKE MARSEILLE TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsApr2024 Challenge Prompt
Prompt for April 7th: Do Spread 1
With everything going on in the world these days, our friends, family, and loved ones are holding a great deal more significance in present days than perhaps they have been in the past.

Focus on a relationship that is important to you, whether that relationship be a friendship, a family member, or a loved one. Then, use the spread below to explore how you can improve upon that relationship.

1999 Bizarre Summer LenormandWhat does this person need less of from you?

Tower and Ring – They need less of you withdrawing from your commitments to them. You feel you are doing this to protect yourself, as these defense mechanisms are deeply ingrained within you. But, in truth, it just makes you more alone… and does the same to them as well.

What does this person need more of from you?

Lily and Ship – Sensual trips. They need more time with you on an intimate level. Time spent together in close contact. Time spent “traveling” together, instead of apart. Time creating worlds and a future together, one step forward at a time.

What in this relationship is being entirely neglected?

Clover and Mice – These cards are about the corrosive power of putting all of your faith in luck. You can’t get more time with this person just by thinking it’s going to fall into your lap. Instead, you need to plan and strategize so that you can fit it in more consistently, and then use that structured approach to reinforce stability in the relationship.

DECK USED: 1999 BIZARRE SUMMER LENORMAND

@Lionharts #TheAprilTarot Mercury Musing Prompt
Question for April 7th: What can I establish with giving myself this month to reflect in solitude?

Squid Cake Marseille Tarot - Six of Batons, Five of Batons, Eight of Cups, The DevilReading Summary: Giving yourself this month to “reflect in solitude” will allow you to step back (Eight of Cups) from the inner turmoil (Five of Batons) that you feel when you are tempted (The Devil) to people please (Six of Batons).

Take Away: As tempting as it sometimes is, people pleasing, is not your strong suit.

Having some time to reflect on yourself in your journey this month can allow you to better identify when you were falling into these bad habits, and give you the opportunity to step back before it becomes an inner struggle of should you or shouldn’t you.

DECK USED: SQUID CAKE MARSEILLE TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I went through all of my past pledges in Kickstarter and updated my spreadsheet to help me in keeping track of fulfillment of those that are still outstanding.

I Radiate Confidence

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Today’s meditation was skipped (again).

@GlitterbyInk #AprilAffirmations24 Prompt
Affirmation Prompt for April 6th: I Radiate…

Lepus Tarot - Five of WandsFive of Wands – I radiate confidence.

You are able to not just stand up for what you believe in, but express it in ways that allow others to hear what you have to say, even as they try to shout their own perspectives. You are not a wallflower, but a warrior guided by what you feel is right and able to stand up for that when needed.

Sometimes this causes conflict with others, but you are confident enough to not shy away from that conflict, and instead step into the fray and try to be heard in the chaos.   This means that you are not intimidated by conflict, which gives you an upper hand in being heard among others that may not be quite so comfortable stepping into such situations.

DECK USED:  LEPUS TAROT

@Lionharts #TheAprilTarot Mercury Musing Prompt
Question for April 6th: What area of my life needs honest evaluation and reflection?

Growing Oracle CardsSilence atop Your Feelings – Take a look at the things that you’re doing in your life that are contributing to feelings of loneliness. Being alone has never been a problem for you before, so what is changing that makes you want to hide from it? Why is alone time feeling unpleasant instead of comfortable and happy?

Compassion – Are you giving yourself the kindness and understanding that you need? Or are you treating yourself far worse than you would treat others in the same situation? Are you punishing yourself… and if so, what for?

Abstract atop Differences – You have the opportunity to heal yourself, if you’re willing to look at things from a different perspective than the one you’ve always taken.

Take Away – You are using feelings of loneliness to punish yourself, rather than giving yourself the compassion you need to heal and feel better. Stop isolating yourself emotionally and allow others to be involved in the ways that matter so that you’re alone time can have value again, instead of feel like an echo chamber of self-punishment.

DECK USED: GROWING ORACLE CARDS

#DiscordTarotholicsApr2024 Challenge Prompt
Question for April 6th: Plan Your Epitaph Day – What future plans do you need to spend some time sorting out now?

Lepus Tarot - Ace of Pentacles, Nine of Cups, King of CupsReading Summary: The key to happiness (Nine of Cups) with new opportunities (Ace of Pentacles) is to make sure that you leave room for Gideon to have space in your life and don’t ignore the emotional growth you’re aiming to achieve (King of Cups).

Take Away: Your happiness needs to take center stage, and you need to work harder on trying to figure out what things will create that sense of satisfaction and emotional satiation.

These cards indicate that you need to chase new opportunities as a part of your personal happiness, but at the same time need to make sure that you don’t get so wrapped up in those new opportunities that you lose track of what your heart needs as well. It can’t all be about work and achieving financial stability.

DECK USED: LEPUS TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

Although I didn’t manage a nap today, I did lie down for a bit to rest while Gid was out and about getting things done.