tarot and psychology

Weathering the Storm

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and a repeat of the human being not human doing meditation from the Fitbit app. As I’ve mentioned before, I like this one, and it deals with something that I struggle with on a daily basis, which is that “not enough” mentality. I continue to plan on returning to it often on in my meditation practice.

Blue Earth Tarot's Ten of Wands and Cat Comfort CardsToday’s draw is the Ten of Wands combined with the affirmation “Stay balanced. Ride out the storm.” from the Cat Comfort Cards (and boy are they vibrant).

It’s harder to function without shattering when you pile on too much at once. Trees have the same problem in sub-zero conditions, which is why there is so much danger of falling branches when it gets too cold outside.

Make sure that you are not putting too much on your shoulders, or you will become too top heavy and not be able to keep your balance in the storm.

DECK USED:  BLUE EARTH TAROT AND CAT COMFORT CARDS

#DiscordTarotholicsJan2024 Challenge Prompt
Prompt for January 28th : Do Spread 4

Blue Earth Tarot - The Lovers, Four of Wands, The ChariotHow do you most commonly misinterpret reading the cards for yourself?

The Lovers – You tend to lean into the Marseille interpretation of the Lovers pretty regularly, often bypassing other meanings that could possibly fit for the “choices that are right for you” Marseille meaning.

How do you most commonly misinterpret reading the cards for someone else?

Four of Wands Rx – You sometimes forget that the word “home” is not equal to stability for everyone.

How can you improve at reading the cards so that these things don’t keep happening?

The Chariot Rx – More listening and less willfulness. Pause and allow yourself to sink into deeper interpretations and possibilities for the cards instead of going from the gut and your first impressions.

DECK USED: BLUE EARTH TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I didn’t drink alcohol… even though I really, really wanted to.

Work Through It

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and was a free session from the Fitbit app. I wasn’t a big fan of this one, as although the man’s voice was soothing, there was long, silent, pauses between when he spoke. I would settle into these silences, and then he would speak again and startle me.  I’ve had meditations that do this before, and it has something to do with how they re-introduced their voice into the meditation. It’s just not a smooth enough transition, and causes a jerk of response as a result.

Katrin Blackwater Tarot's Eight of Pentacles and It's Going to Be Okay 2024 Day-to-Day Calendar by Kate AllanToday’s draw is the Eight of Pentacles combined with the affirmation “You’re not a failure for struggling; it IS difficult. Please be careful not to gaslight yourself.”

These cards are an encouragement to just keep working towards your goals. Yes, things are hard right now. The business is slow, and it freaks you out a bit.

The reminder here is that the current slowness is not a disparagement of your skills and abilities, but something to work through, and in doing so gain more knowledge and skill for the future.

DECK USED:  KATRIN BLACKWATER TAROT AND IT’S GOING TO BE OKAY 2024 DAY-TO-DAY CALENDAR BY KATE ALLAN

#DiscordTarotholicsJan2024 Challenge Prompt
Questions for January 27th

My Feelings Metaphoric Cards and Katrin Blackwater Tarot - Nine of Cups, Ace of Swords, Page of Cups, Sister of CupsWhat do you take too seriously?

Nine of Cups Rx and Apathy atop Pride – You take too seriously your moments of apathy and disenchantment, and how they might influence your overall happiness.

My Reaction: I disagree. I feel that a sense of apathy holds me back from enjoyment that I might otherwise be able to be open to. I feel this apathy is often a part of my depression, and that my depression is not just a detriment, but dangerous to my overall sense of happiness and satisfaction in life.

When I am feeling depressed and apathetic, I have a greater tendency to give into self-destructive tendencies, and begin unraveling all that I’ve worked for.

Why am I being told I take these things too seriously?

Ace of Swords atop Sister (Page) of Cups, Faith – Faith will always lift you up and carry you forward into new possibilities. You will never be powerless, even if you destruct your entire world, for there will be always be new opportunities with which to map out a new path forward.

My Reaction: Okay… true. This doesn’t mean I want to start over, though, regardless of my capacity to do so if needed.

DECK USED: KATRIN BLACKWATER TAROT AND MY FEELINGS METAPHORIC CARDS

Daily Self Kindness

Yesterday, I brought home deviled eggs from Ms B’s house.  Today? I ate them and they were amazing.  SO good.

One Small Thing at a Time

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and one of the free meditations from the FitBit app.  It was uneventful and I struggled to stay settled and comfortable for the duration of the meditation. I did continue to practice bringing my focus back to my breath, though… so the “practice” part is still on point.

New Moon Tarot - The Moon Card and It's Going to Be Okay 2024 Day-to-Day Calendar by Kate AllanToday’s draw is The Moon card combined with the affirmation “Just one day at a time.”

When life feels uncertain, we can begin to feel overwhelmed. Everything begins to feel like a threat to what we hold dear and we either shut down and hide or that uncertainty can cause anxiety to run out of control.

The encouragement in today’s cards is that when we are feeling this way, we don’t shut down… but downsize.  Instead of allowing all of the future possibilities and troubles that could come, focus only on the present. On today and only today.  Tomorrow will take care of itself.

DECK USED:  NEW MOON TAROT AND IT’S GOING TO BE OKAY 2024 DAY-TO-DAY CALENDAR BY KATE ALLAN

@Lionharts #TheJanuaryTarot 2024 January Initiation Prompt
Questions for January 26th thru 28th

New Moon Tarot - The Tower, Queen of Cups, Seven of Pentacles, Three of CupsSelect a Court card/suit that represents qualities you wish to embody at this moment.

Queen of Cups – I am so tired of being overwhelmed by my emotions and confused by them. I sit within the Page of Cups, striving to learn more emotional intelligence and to understand my emotions better, when what I really want is just a little bit more stability in those emotions and to see them as a good thing instead of as a challenge.

How can I deepen my understanding of these qualities and integrate them into my daily life for personal mastery?

Seven of Pentacles – Be patient. It’s only through experience that you can grow into a greater emotional intelligence. It can’t be rushed.

What intentional practices can support my personal mastery journey?

Three of Cups – Share with friends and have more fun. It’s hard for you to share your feelings with others, but if you can cut loose from the rigid standards you hold yourself to and share more, you will in turn better support your efforts in this area.

How can I empower my daily actions to reflect the qualities embodied by this chosen card?

The Tower Rx – Avoid catastrophizing troubles and trials. It helps nothing and keeps you ramped up and shut down.

DECK USED: NEW MOON TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I laid down when I was hurting instead of pushing myself harder.

Don’t Let Them Rust

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#DailyCalm with the Calm app - Charles Dickens quoteToday’s meditation was twelve minutes long and was one of the #DailyCalm sessions with the Calm app.  The session today was a “loving kindness” practice that had to do with directing loving kindness first toward yourself, then towards loved ones, and then towards those that have wronged you or irritate you in some way.

Interestingly, they said that the directing feelings of loving kindness towards those that wronged you would be the hardest part of the practice, but for me?  It was directing that energy and sentiment towards myself.

Remembering the Sweet Fool Tarot, Eight of Pentacles, Eight of Hills, and It's Going to Be Okay 2024 Day-to-Day Calendar by Kate AllanToday’s draw is the Eight of Hills (Pentacles) combined with the affirmation “As tempting as it may be, you can’t hate yourself into health.”

There is truth to the saying that depression is a form of self hatred. Over the years you have been in therapy you have developed a great many skills to help you with your depression.

These cards are a reminder that those skills are always available to you, and always improving with each use. Don’t let them get rusty. Use them, and use them often, even during times when you’re not in the grip of a depressive episode.

DECK USED:  REMEMBERING THE SWEET FOOL TAROT AND IT’S GOING TO BE OKAY 2024 DAY-TO-DAY CALENDAR BY KATE ALLAN

#DiscordTarotholicsJan2024 Challenge Prompt
Questions for January 25th and 26th

Remembering the Sweet Fool Tarot and Reflections Mindful Ritual CardsWhat is your greatest vice you’re not consciously aware of?

Nine of Cups and “What if you embraced it for what it is instead of dwelling on how you think it should be.” – Slugabedery. Procrastination. Dallying in stagnancy because of an enjoyment that comes from the contentment involved in those moments.

What is a positive thing in your life that you are overlooking?

Four of Hills (Pentacles) and “Let go of the urge to understand or control. There is peace in surrender and trust that all is in alignment.” – You don’t have to work so hard for the stability you seek. It will come to you naturally, if you let it.

DECK USED: REMEMBERING THE SWEET FOOL TAROT AND REFLECTION MINDFUL RITUAL CARDS

Daily Self Kindness

I took a much needed nap today even though it’s an orders day. I also  had the most magnificent turkey sandwich for lunch. Like, really amazing.

Shifting the Path

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#DailyCalm with the Calm App - Dan Millman quoteToday’s meditation was ten minutes long, and was one of the #dailycalm sessions from the Calm app. The topic of the session was about intrusive thoughts during meditation, and how instead of trying to push them away or squelch them, it is better to tell them “thank you, but not now”. In doing so, we give them room to resurface later instead of trying to kill them off and ending up with them fighting back in response. It also removes the self judgement of telling yourself that you’re not “good at” meditation, allowing you to practice without harsh judgements and less frustration.

Six of Cups in the Tarot of Sacred Feminine and It's Going to Be Okay 2024 Day-to-Day Calendar by Kate AllanToday’s draw is the Six of Cups combined with the affirmation “Life is hard. You are coping. In the only ways you know how, and you’re doing fine.”

Expectations from youth were handed down to you with a heavy fist. They meant well. They meant well. They were hard in order to make you tough. They were rough in order to teach you strength. They were trying to protect you. It was simply too much, too soon.

Finding your own path that carries with you the lessons of the past is difficult. Sometimes you stumble and other times you struggle. Paving your own path opposed to that handed down to you is hard.  You’re doing it, though.  Don’t give up.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF SACRED FEMININE

#DiscordTarotholicsJan2024 Challenge Prompt
Philosophical Question for January 24th : Are all emotions irrational?

Tarot of Sacred Feminine - The Star, The Moon, Eight of CupsReading Summary: Generation after generation (Eight  of Cups) we work to build a foundation of hope (The Star) to guide us through times of uncertainty (The Moon).

Take Away: Emotions are unpredictable at times, but we can assist ourselves in making them more predictable and handling them better through preparation over time.

If you prepare yourself to have hope, then when things become tough, you are able to stand strong in uncertainty.  Our emotions follow suit.

The thing is? We cannot prepare for everything or every emotion… there’s always going to be some irrationality in the mix.

DECK USED: TAROT OF SACRED FEMININE

Daily Self Kindness

I started watching Gyeongseong Creature today.  I’ve been curious about it for a bit now, but I’ve been holding up on watching it because even if I watch while working, it slows me down.

Be Encouraging

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Today’s meditation was eleven minutes long, and was the “human being, not human doing” session from the FitBit app that I’ve done once before. It’s a repeat I did of the one the other day that dealt with one of my personal issues (about the whole feeling like I’m enough) that included the surprise yoga nidra at the end.  It’s one of the free ones in the FitBit app, and if it sticks around, I feel like it’s one I’ll return to again and again.

Wizard's Tarot Queen of Swords and It's Going to Be Okay 2024 Day-to-Day Calendar by Kate AllanToday’s draw is the Queen of Swords combined with the affirmation “Just because you feel gross about your body doesn’t mean your body is gross.”

Your mind has a cutting tongue, especially when you -allow- it to speak to you that way.

Your body is not your enemy. It’s been through a lot and carries a lot of damage and, because of that, a lot of pain. That doesn’t make it your enemy, but rather something that requires your care, acceptance, and understanding.   Don’t let harsher judgements slip through and turn your mind and emotions against your body.  Life is better when you encourage yourself through difficulties instead of berating yourself for your shortcomings during these times.  Be encouraging.

DECK USED:  WIZARD’S TAROT AND IT’S GOING TO BE OKAY 2024 DAY-TO-DAY CALENDAR BY KATE ALLAN

@Lionharts #TheJanuaryTarot 2024 January Initiation Prompt
Questions for January 23rd thru 25th:

Wizard's Tarot - Eight of Wands, Two of Swords, Eight of Cups, Page of Swords, Death, Three of Pentacles, Four of SwordsDraw a card that embodies a significant insight uncovered during this initiation phase.

Three of Pentacles – Working together instead of alone provides better results and has the added benefit of being a bonding experience.

How can I seamlessly incorporate this into my journey throughout 2024?

Four of Swords – Allow yourself to rest more by spreading the work load between yourself and others.

Draw a card to symbolize a pivotal insight discovered in this exploration phase.

Page of Swords atop Eight of Wands Rx – You don’t have to move fast to make valuable progress.

How can I weave this understanding into the fabric of my 2024 journey?

Two of Swords – Spend more time researching, and less time acting on impulse.

Draw a card reflecting a key insight obtained in this integration.

Transfiguration (Death) beneath Page of Swords but atop Eight of Wands Rx and Two of Swords – Slow or fast, change happens. It’s sometimes important to step back, observe, and study that change instead of immediately reacting to it.

(Note: this card fell into this exact positioning when it jumped from the deck.)

How can I integrate this wisdom into the tapestry of my journey in 2024?

Eight of Cups Rx – Remember not to immediately look to fix things the moment something goes wrong. Pause you emotional reaction and observe instead.

DECK USED: WIZARD’S TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I wasn’t feeling the greatest earlier today, and instead of trying to eat a full meal at once, I broke it up into four and ate a quarter of the meal an hour, stretching it out until I felt better.