tarot for growth

It’s Gonna Be Okay

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Today’s meditation was just over fifteen minutes long, and was an exploration on where your mind goes when it strays during meditation, and how to bring it back.

It was a little different than most of my meditations, because you actually focus on those thoughts a moment in order to label them and pull yourself outside of them before returning to your centering and focus again.   It was not particularly relaxing, but it was definitely educational.

Eight of Cups - Tarot of the Unknown Today’s draw is the Eight of Cups, which is a representation of letting go in the area of one’s emotions, relationships, creativity, and intuition.  This card often presents itself with themes that involve disappointment, as well as situations that involve abandonment or withdrawal.

When I look at this card today it is a reminder to me that sometimes you just have to let go.  It’s impossible to control every aspect of life, and impossible to please every person you come in contact with.   As much as we want to be perfect, no one and nothing ever is… and that is what “perfect” actually is, is the acceptance of flaws and imperfections.

As someone who focuses too intently on everything I do being “perfect”, this is a message that I really need to hear now and then.  Just as a reminder that it’s okay to let go of that ideal and just have some fun and breathe now and then.

Deck Used:  Tarot of the Unknown

Bonus Reading – #TarotForGrowthNovember

Question: How can I recognize when negativity is in my head rather than in reality?

Rust Belt Arcana Tarot Reading Summary:  When everything is feeling topsy turvy (Wheel of Fortune) or like it’s the end of the world (The Tower) and feeling defensive or as if I’m “not enough” to defend what’s mine (Seven of Wands).

Take Away: You know that saying about when it looks too good to be true then it probably is too good to be true? These cards relaying that message, but in the sense that if it looks too bad to be true, then it probably is too bad to be true.  The sassafras in the end card also relays that in order to overcome these moments, counting my blessing is a good way to calm down those internal negative thoughts.

Deck Used:  Rust Belt Arcana Tarot

Perspective On Change

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and was again done in the shower.  Mostly, I’ve just felt really drawn to needing a touch of quiet and the shower meditation allows me to find that space of quiet so much easier.

I know that you worry when I do my shower meditation that I’m sinking into that dark pit again, but sometimes…. it just feels good.   A balm of calm to ease the nerves for a bit.  That’s what it feels like.   And sometimes… I just need it.

Six of Swords - Slow TarotToday’s draw is the Six of Swords, which (among other things) is a representation of transitions and letting go in the areas of intellect and communication.  This often expresses itself in themes to do with moving on to greener pastures and leaving difficulties behind in the past.

The appearance of the Six of Swords today is a reminder that it is important to not always look at change with doom and gloom and dread, because sometimes change is a good thing and can lead to a better place.

Like most people, I have an aversion to change, as I expect it to always be a change for the worse, but the fact is that there is just as much positive transition going on in our lives as there is negative.  We simply do not acknowledge the positive change as change, because in the case of positive transitions there is a sense of seeking and welcome involved.  Imagine just how amazingly freeing would it feel if we could look at all change in that way.

Deck Used: Slow Tarot

Bonus Reading – #TarotForGrowthNovember

Question: How can I better release my anxieties?

Distant Past TarotReading Summary: When my anxieties are getting the best of me, sometimes it is best to step away (Eight of Cups) and seek out the high road (Queen of Coins).  This is especially true when I’m in the middle of making important decisions (Seven of Cups), in which case a step away (Eight of Cups) and some time to find that place of stability and strength (Queen of Coins) can assist me in getting a better view on all of the choices available and making the right decisions for me (Seven of Cups) as well as give me the space I need to plan the next steps forward (Three of Wands).

Take Away: I kind of talked myself in a loop up there, but yeah.  Essentially this is indicating that when I’m feeling anxiety, it can often mean I am just too close to the problem and it’s inhibiting my ability to make choices and create a stable plan. If I want to release that anxiety, I need to give it some space and approach from a place of inner stability and strength.

Deck Used: Distant Past Tarot

Gratitude, Not Attitude

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Today’s meditation was twelve minutes long and took place in the bath tub, submerged to just my nose and mouth (well, and knees).  It was not a guided meditation, but rather a time spent in that suspension state that I can often find when in water.  It was very refreshing, but left me feeling a bit sleepy by the end.

Three of Cups - Tarot of the Unknown Today’s draw is the Three of Cups, which is a representation of collaboration, small gains, and even smaller groups in the area of one’s emotions, intuition, relationships, and creativity.

The appearance of the Three of Cups today is a reminder to put a check on my resentment concerning having my helper in my space.  I don’t know why I can’t seem to get completely comfortable with her being here in my home when she comes to do her job, but it’s always an irritant that she’s here.   Always.

That said… I need the assistance with my business that she provides, especially at this time of year.   Today’s card is a reminder to look on the bright side of the relationship and collaboration that I have with her, rather than doing the internal “fuss and grump” that her presence seems to always inspire.

Deck Used:  Tarot of the Unknown

Bonus Reading – #TarotForGrowthNovember

Question: What can I do to quiet my inner critic?

Delos TarotReading Summary: Keep in mind how far I have come and all that I have (Ten of Pentacles), while emotionally focusing less on how much further I could have gone.  Instead, find that inner quiet needed to assure myself I am making the best decisions possible in the moment.

Take Away: My inner critic is something that I struggle with quite a lot.  It always has something to say, and what it has to say is usually not all that useful other than to push me harder (which, honestly, is something I do in spades already).  The cards indicate that to silence my inner critic, I need to focus more on gratitude for the now rather than focusing so intently on where I’m going and what I could do better. And that I need to remember that hindsight is 20/20, but that decisions I have made were the absolute best decisions accessible to me in the moment.

Deck Used:  Delos Tarot 2nd Edition

The Salamander and The Seeds

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Today’s meditation was just over ten minutes long and was not a part of the ‘how to’ series I’ve been working my way through. Instead I spent a bit of time in the bottom of the shower following the water drops as they made their way down the side of the tub.

As you know, this is a very soothing activity for me, and is hands-down my easiest meditation. There’s just something about the warm water raining down and the trailing of those drops that allows me to sink into that space in a way that meditating elsewhere does not.

Ace of Wands - Slow TarotToday’s draw is the Ace of Wands, which is a representation of the seed of new beginnings in the area of one’s inner spark including their ambitions, passions, and drive.

When I look at this card I see the seeds.  So many seeds.  All those dandelions are ready to scatter their seeds, and the salamander clings with apparent pleasure to a wand that’s on fire. This speaks to me of the need to sometimes go through the flames to obtain what you seek.

After yesterday’s occurrence concerning my business, this card is a message of hope and encouragement.  It speaks of having the resilience and strength to start anew if needed, and encourages looking into spreading my “eggs” out into more than one basket.  I already do this, but I think maybe I need to do some research on this again… just in case a new start ends up being needed.

Deck Used: Slow Tarot

Bonus Reading – #TarotForGrowthNovember

Question: How can I break free when I’m feeling trapped?

Tarot of Pagan CatsReading Summary:  Move quickly (Eight of Wands) to explore new opportunities (Ace of Pentacles) that allows me to find a sense of stability that fits me best (Four of Pentacles).

Take Away:  When I first read this question prior to doing the reading, I thought this was about emotions.  You know, you always hear those people that feel “trapped” in their relationships with either their significant other, or family, or friends.   But I don’t really feel that way emotionally so I didn’t really see how this question would apply to me.

I should have known, though, that the cards would dig out just exactly how this question does apply to me.  And, they’re right. When it comes to my work and my finances, I do occasionally feel trapped.  Usually I just ride it out until it passes, or make small adjustments to what I’m doing until I find that “sweet spot” of contentment again.

The cards in today’s reading suggest that sometimes to break free of that feeling, it’s better to allow new opportunities a chance, and move quickly to explore them when they present themselves.  That, by doing this, in the end although it might spur change (as new opportunities so often do) it can lead to an even better place of stability in the end.

Deck Used: Tarot of Pagan Cats

 

Recognizing Strength

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Today’s meditation was just over ten minutes long, and was a meditation that focused on a line of energy that runs along the spine.  It was the next installment of the ‘how to’ series I’ve been working through.

The line of energy is essentially a thin line, like a string, that runs along the spine (think spinal cord) and in this meditation, the goal was to focus upon that line and allow the glow of energy from it to expand and flow, filling you up through nerve endings and providing a sensation of calm and light within.

It was extremely relaxing without making me sleepy, and is definitely a technique I will be revisiting in the future.

Five of Axes - Tarot of the Unknown Today’s draw is the Five of Axes (Swords) which we just saw two days ago but has come to visit again.   This card is a representation of challenges, tests, and trials in the area of one’s thought processes, intellect, and communication.  This theme often presents itself as conflict and/or competition, and sometimes as a drive to win no matter the costs.

I do not feel that this is a recurrent theme from this card’s previous recent appearance.   Instead, it is a commentary upon the distress I was dealing with yesterday concerning my memory and its gaps.

In the moments where I realize just how much of my memory has fallen through the cracks, I have moments when I feel extremely helpless.  The appearance of this card is a reminder that there are many different faces to “winning”.  Some of them are obvious, others, not so much.

Although there is much in my life that has happened and left damage and scars in their wake, they also have made me stronger, and taught me how much value there is in my life, and how to appreciate the little things that make life worth living.   I learned my mortality very early, and although I work very hard in my day to day, I also make sure to pause and appreciate all that I have.   All that I have survived.   And all that I have won the right to having in my life through that survival.  Sometimes?  You have to lose something of value in order to gain something even better.

Deck Used:  Tarot of the Unknown

Bonus Reading – #TarotForGrowthNovember

Question: Where may I benefit from moving on / moving forward?

Herbal Healing Tarot Reading Summary:  There is strength (Strength) in knowing when to set aside (Seven of Cups) the struggle of juggling too much (Two of Pentacles) in order to focus on gripping the reigns on chaos (The Chariot).

Take Away: I spend a huge amount of my life juggling responsibilities and my creative drive, which often boils down to a balance between my outside work and my entrepreneurial endeavors.  At this time of year, my business  begins to “blow up”, and it becomes time to set aside my other outside jobs for a time so that I can focus all of my energy on the chaos of the holiday rush.   The message here is saying that the time for that shift is now.

Deck Used:  The Herbal Healing Tarot

 

Control Within the Chaos

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Today’s meditation was a little over eleven minutes, and was the next segment in the ‘how to’ series that I have been working through.  The focus on today’s meditation was

King of Wands - Slow TarotToday’s draw is the King of Wands, which is a representation of a projective alpha energy, personality or person in the area of one’s ambitions, passions, and drive.  This manifests in a push of energy toward leadership which displays itself with a commanding presence that possesses high expectations both of the self and of others.

With my feet resting upon the cusp of the busiest time of the year for me, this card’s arrival today is a reminder to project authority in what I do and confidence in my work, which is also my passion and my ambition.

This card is a reminder of the energy needed to ensure that the cacophony of the holiday rush does not overwhelm me.  I am capable of taking control, and I will do so, and move forward with strength and confidence into the chaos of the busy season.

Deck Used:  Slow Tarot

Bonus Reading – #TarotForGrowthNovember

Question: Where would I benefit from slowing down?

Gravity Tattoo Tarot Reading Summary: Letting money slide through my fingers (Six of Pentacles) while feeling confident I can indulge in my passions without repercussion (Queen of Wands).  It’s only through staying strong and practicing restraint (Strength) that I will find true stability that I can celebrate (Four of Wands).

Take Away:  As a previous reading has suggested already, as the money flows in from the holiday rush, I have responsibilities to focus on.  Where usually extra money would go into different interests and pursuits, for the time being (as is the same every year) the influx over the next seven weeks needs to funnel into those responsibilities instead.

Deck Used:  Gravity Tattoo Tarot