tarot as a motivational tool

The You of Today

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Today’s meditation was skipped primarily because I’ve felt so much like I’m behind schedule or behind in what needs done that totally psyched myself out of doing it. The thing is?  It’s Tuesday. I don’t really have a crap load to do.  I mean, I really need to work on my taxes, but aside from that?  This is probably my most dependably least busy day of the week.

Quirky Creatives Tarot Deck and Thera-Pets Emotional Support Animal CardsToday’s draw is the Hanged Man, which is traditionally a representation of taking a pause to gain perspective, surrendering to the will of the fates/universe, and dealing with delays or stalling.

The imagery in this card depicts aerial yoga, and is very clearly about looking within, seeking peace, and finding a new perspective through those endeavors while the rising sun in the background is a clear indication of the positive outcome taking time to gain perspective can lead to.

When combined with the Thera-Pets card for today, what I see here is a message about looking at yourself differently.  Not as a “work in progress” or something to apologize for and “work on”, but instead as a valid and complete person in this moment.  This is about acceptance of self and the fact that in being human, we are all flawed.  Those flaws help us in being unique.

Is it okay to work on being a better person?  Of course!  But don’t discount who you are right now.

DECK USED:  QUIRKY CREATIVES TAROT AND THERA-PETS EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL CARDS

The Sacred Grounds Tarot Club Prompt
Question: How can I love myself more deeply?

Midori Tarot

Reading Summary:  Note that the figure in the coin as well as the Hermit are both not just facing the moon but seem enraptured by it, as do the lobster, the dog, and the wolf. Make sure that you’re not focusing too deeply (Ace of Pentacles) on your uncertainties (The Moon) during what is supposed to be healthy alone time (The Hermit).

Take Away:  Sometimes? It can be really hard not to focus on the things that make you feel inadequate or less than.  Hidden uncertainties and self doubt is often hard to combat. It’s important, though, to make sure you are paying attention to these tendencies, especially during times of rest, recovery, and self reflection. During these times you are more open and susceptible to negative inner dialogue sinking in deep and sticking. Being vigilant and careful not to let these doubts and uncertainties take center stage leaves room for more positivity and more self kindness.

DECK USED:  TAROT MIDORI

#DiscordTarotolicsApr2021 Challenge Prompt
Philosophical Question: Is personal growth required to live a good life?

Quirky Creatives Tarot DeckReading Summary:  Kindness (Nurturer of Records) and connections (Two of Mugs) are very important. Lack of growth can drag you down and thwart these things from flourishing (Eight of Pens).

Take Away: The cards here indicate that without growth, we stand still and stagnant, even in a state of discomfort caused by being held back. Life is about potential, and nurturing connections can clear these blockages and stagnation… allowing for forward movement.

So yes.  Growth is required to live a good life.  Without it comes stagnancy and boredom.

DECK USED:  QUIRKY CREATIVES TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I let Gideon help calm down my frenzy of anxiety earlier today instead of allowing it to keep on going throughout the evening.

Morning Bonus Read – Taurus Season

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Mirror Truth Lenormand - Taurus Season

Where I’m centered entering this season.

Rods (Broom) – Self flagellation.  Cruelty and negative inner dialogue.  Make sure that you are policing this area and tamping down on it when the urges rise.  You’re centered and strong here right now, but you want to make sure that this does not sneak in and take root.

How to ground into my deeper needs.

Tree – Pay attention to your health and work on making healthy choices over those that might be more comforting and of fugacious value.  Taking care of the body is the foundational strength of the rest of your health and your life.  Take some time to turn around on bad choices and look for better ones.

Where I’m called to push through my comfort zone.

Key – Keep your eye on the prize.  Sometimes you might feel a moment of hesitation, but if you push through and focus on the successes that you want to achieve, you will weather the storm just fine and come out the other side still on track and moving forward.

An invitation to prioritize pleasure.

Moon – It’s okay to wallow in good feelings and enjoy when someone say something nice or kind.  It’s okay to take pleasure in good moods and good events, things that make you smile or create a warm fuzzy feeling are not your enemy.  Dive into them and enjoy them.

DECK USED:  MIRROR TRUTH LENORMAND

Dropping The Ball

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Today’s meditation was skipped in preference for sleep and lolligagging a bit in a relaxation of quiet time alone.

Seventh Sphere Tarot de Marseille and Thera-Pets Emotional Support Animal CardsToday’s draw is the Six of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of moving forward into something better, but in doing so needing to also leave something behind.

Any type of growth requires release.  We have to make room for new and better things, and just like when you make room in your home for that new couch or coffee table by removing the old ones, so too must this be done when we grow and change.

These changes are for the best, but they can become difficult when you find yourself clinging to the comfort of the past.  This can stunt growth and create unnecessary baggage that is carried around with you like that storage unit full of old furniture you’re never actually going to use again but can’t seem to let go of.

Combined with today’s Thera-Pets card, we are reminded that setbacks and that baggage created by the comfort we take in the old in familiar is normal.  Sometimes it’s going to happen, and it’s important at those  times that you don’t look at yourself or the situation as a failure.  It’s okay to stumble, and it’s okay to drop the ball now and then.  There will be time to pick up the pieces and try again.

DECK USED:  SEVENTH SPHERE TAROT DE MARSEILLE AND THERA-PETS EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL CARDS

LionHart’s Sacred Self Divination Challenge Prompt
Question: What am I asked to have {more} faith in right now?

Inspirational Tarot

 Reading Summary: That my journey (Page of Cups) of emotional growth (Ace of Cups) won’t be destabilizing to other areas of my life (Four of Pentacles).

Take Away:  Emotions often feel to me like standing on sand in the rush of oncoming waves.  The sand is constantly shifting under your feet as the water swirls around your ankles, and there’s no stability on which to form a solid foundation.  You don’t build houses on shifting sand… you can’t even stand for long upon it without moving your feet to stay atop instead of sinking.  Sometimes, that means that this journey of emotional growth makes me feel vulnerable and destabilized.  The cards here are reminding me that this is a perception, and not reality.  That it is indeed possible to be in touch with your emotions and also have solid footing.

DECK USED:  INSPIRATIONAL TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsApr2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: What illusion is clouding your perception?

Seventh Sphere Tarot de MarseilleReading Summary: That I need to pounce on new ideas right away (Ace of Swords atop Page of Swords) in order to carry them to fruition (Chariot) and suss the most out of them as possible (Strength).

Take Away:  I often fall into the mentality that an idea not acted upon becomes a lost idea. A lost idea that could be brilliant.  A lost idea that could be amazing.  Lost.

This is not the case, and I’m supposed to be writing my ideas down in order to help mitigate this feeling.  But I fall into times now and then where I stop writing them down.

The cards here are telling me that this does not mean they are lost.  If they are of true value and are meant to be?  They’ll come around again.

DECK USED:  SEVENTH SPHERE TAROT DE MARSEILLE TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I slept in even though it’s an orders day.  I’ll pay for it later tonight, but it was really nice to just relax for a bit while the girls were out and the apartment was (relatively) quiet. [That “relatively” is in there because… construction.]

Shedding Uncertainty

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Today’s meditation was skipped due to an overwhelming urge to get out of bed and find my pain pills.  GOD FUCK I hurt today.  Just sayin’ but damn.  So yeah… I didn’t meditate.  I did extra physio instead in an effort to ease some of the tension in my muscles.

Friends Tarot and Thera-Pets Emotional Support Animal CardsToday’s draw is the King of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of a projective alpha energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s emotions, relationships, imagination, and intuition.

There’s really no one aspect in particular in the imagery of today’s card that stands out to me today except when I look closer.  Then, what stands out is kind blue eyes and a self-assured smirk.

Before meeting Gideon (my very own King of Cups), I had a but of an odd relationships with the court cards in the Cups suit.  Perhaps I still do.   But what I see here in this card is kindness and confidence.  Strength through knowing oneself and knowing others, and being able to see the inner urges and drive that causes people to react as they do. The maturity to understand these things, and react to them in a way that is both strong and yet gentle.

Combined with the Thera-Pets card for today, what I see here is a gentle reminder to be kind and not allow uncertainty to get in the way and drag you down.

DECK USED:  FRIENDS TAROT AND THERA-PETS EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL CARDS

LionHart’s Sacred Self Divination Challenge Prompt
Question: What more can I personally do in support of my best self?

Tarot of Baseball

Reading Summary: Keep working on your emotional growth (Ace of Gloves atop Eight of Balls). There isn’t an “end goal” or a battle to be won (Five of Caps) and looking at your growth in this manner will only make a mess of things (Justice).

Take Away:  I often have a habit of looking at things at a challenge with an end goal.  Even things that I shouldn’t…. like my emotional growth and delving into fostering my own emotional intelligence.  I’m still at the very beginning of this journey, and yet there are time when I fall into this mentality and have to check myself, remind myself that this is not a destination… it’s a journey.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF BASEBALL

#DiscordTarotolicsApr2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: Do Spread #3

Friends TarotYou – Ace of Cups – A carry over from the previous reading, here we see myself represented as the newly hatched egg of emotional growth.

Your Goal – Seven of Swords – Sneaky shit.  I’m not going to spell it out here because it’s just a wee bit on the side of illegal, but suffice to say the contemplation of this sneaky shit has been ongoing.

What’s holding you back? – Three of Wands – Lack of a definitive direction.  These goals go against the path I’ve chosen for myself and the moral compass that has directed my life from a young age.

Advice to overcome what’s holding you back – Three of Swords Rx – Don’t do it.  Find another way.  Nothing good can come from moving forward with “the thing”.  Instead, find a better way that is more in line with my path and my moral compass. Turn things around so that the blades slide out instead of sinking in deeper.

DECK USED:  FRIENDS TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I hung curtains today for my peace of mind.  It didn’t bother me much with the construction going on next door, until one of the drivers of the dump trucks waved at L through the window.   I then realized that shit was not quite as private as I thought it was, and with first construction workers and eventually apartments going up just across the alley from our windows, I feel it’s time.   So I hung curtains.  It was an ordeal and a huge pain in the ass (and back), but I’m happy with the results.

Morning Bonus Read – Self Value

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The prompt for this reading came from one of my Discord servers and is as follows:
“This week, let’s take the time to value ourselves through our craft. Do a reading about why you are wonderful and worthy.”

Atlantis Playing Cards Sink EditionWhat positive traits have I built up in myself?
Three of Diamonds atop Seven of Clubs

The ability to draw others into my cause when it’s something I really believe in. I may struggle with asking for help, but when I do finally ask?  It’s there.  Unquestioned and ready to go.  Every time.

What am I doing right to support myself?
Five of Diamonds

Keeping a close eye on my finances and making sure things are on track.  Sometimes, you can put such concerns on auto-pilot for a bit and let them take care of themselves. Right now, though, I’m feeling my scarcity issues and I’m being extra vigilant.

What am I doing right to support my loved ones?
Queen of Diamonds

Being supportive.  (Seriously.  That’s the answer.  *LOL*) I’m stepping up to provide an ear and a shoulder, to give my loved ones someone to come to that understands where they’re coming from, and supporting them (namely by welcoming them to live in my home)… even if it’s a bit inconvenient and uncomfortable for me.

Where have I made progress recently that deserves to be acknowledged?
King of Hearts

I’ve been able to spend more time with Gideon lately.  I’ve gone out of my way to make time to make sure I get some time with him, whether that’s just chatting or in play.

What good things do others see in me?
Ten of Clubs atop Nine of Clubs

That I’m willing to work myself to the bone for what I believe is important, and to protect what’s mine.  Although I’ve gone through a number of hard and painful experiences in life, I don’t give up, even when I’m feeling overwhelmed and about to buckle under the weight of it all.

DECK USED:  ATLANTIS PLAYING CARDS SINK EDITION

Morning Bonus Read – Solar Plexus Energy

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Wild Wolf Tarot - Solar Plexus Chakra Tarot Spread

My solar plexus center’s energy right now.
Alpha of Leaders (Honor)

Now that you am completely out of your depressive episode, you can feel the leadership role sliding back into place and the control is both comforting and familiar.  You are no longer overwhelmed, but self assured in your role in your home and in the business, and are sure-footed in moving forward once more.

Tension I’m currently holding in this area.
The Lone Wolf (Inner Guidance)

You’re not getting out into the woods enough.  You’re not getting enough alone time.  It’s causing some tension that a bit of time alone exerting yourself among the trees could help you to release.

How I can release this tension.
Two of Hunters (Adaptability)

Listen to what your body, mind, and intuition are telling you.  Don’t plow through and ignore your needs, but instead work at making time for them and finding a balance between responsibility and self care.  Only with planning and adaptability will you be able to find a way to balance your life’s different aspects.

How I can improve my mental clarity.
Alpha of Watchers (Intellectual)

Pay attention and take responsibility for claiming that mental clarity. Actions speak volumes, and if you want to improve your mental clarity you need to actually take control and make it happen instead of allowing yourself to sink into the comfortable “slumber” of brain fog and indulging in habits that encourage a sluggish mentality.

 How I can improve my self-confidence.
Three of Hunters (Collaboration)

Allow those around you that are a part of your endeavors to have more say and more responsibility in the endeavors in question.  In doing this, you hand a piece of your trust to them, and gain a bit of time for yourself.

 What will change when I improve my self-confidence.
Seven of Caretakers (Illusion)

What you truly desire will come into clearer focus as your self-confidence improves.  Steady footing leads to clearer vision, and that vision will allow you to better identify and go after those things that really matter.

DECK USED:  WILD WOLF TAROT