tarot for self care

Yule Lenormand Reading

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Yule Lenormand Reading with the Santa Claus Lenormand

What I need to complete.

The Ring and The Bed – You need to make sure that you are focusing energy on your commitment to getting back on track with your self care after the holiday rush. That commitment and determination needs to be resurrected and placed at the top of your priority list.

Where I need to protect.

The Chimney and The Bear – Protect and uphold your boundaries with yourself and others. Now is not the time to be lackadaisical about your boundaries or unobservant of those that might try to cross them.

What joy is coming.

The Garden and The Key – Remember that time with family and friends does not need to be a trial. It’s all in your perspective. If you are determined to have a bad time… you will.

DECK USED: SANTA CLAUS LENORMAND

Winter Solstice 2022 – Yule

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The Winter Solstice is tomorrow! This holiday is (in essence) the Pagan equivalent to Christmas. Fun fact… when Christmas was placed on December 25th, the church chose that day to coincide with the pagan holiday of Yule (because as most know, Christ was actually born in the spring, not in December).

Although many of us have been feeling like we’ve been in it for months, the Winter Solstice is the “official” first day of winter, and marks  its spot on the calendar not by its date, but by being one of only two days each year where the daylight and darkness are equal.  In my path, this holiday marks a day of hope for the future, and candles are lit to celebrate the return of the sun as it begins to now become more and more prominent with each day that passes and every day becomes longer as the nights decrease.

Yule

Like with new moons and full moons, I usually do a spread to check in with myself and give myself some direction for the next couple of months for each solstice, equinox, and other Sabbats. This spread is an adaptation of my Self Care Saturday spread, so there are some similarities in how it is read. The focus of this spread, though, is not about Self Care, but rather about progress and my path. The time period is also longer, reaching through the next handful of weeks until the celebration of upcoming Imbolc at the beginning of February.

Winter Solstice Tarot Reading with the Pagan Otherworlds Tarot, Compendium of Witches Oracle, Solstice Cards, and Healing Herbs Oracle

Theme of the Season – Winter Solstice, New Moon, Zea Mays

The Winter Solstice is a time of celebration that the light is to begin returning to us.  From now on until  mid-summer, each day will be longer and each night shorter.  With the longer days and the return of the sun, the earth will begin to warm.  It is the very first step towards warmer weather, spring, and rebirth.

This year, the Winter Solstice lands on the Waning Crescent Moon. This is a very auspicious time for the Winter Solstice, as the holiday itself is about the end of the cold winter and rebirth of light upon the world as the days begin to become longer. With the Waning Crescent Moon, we see themes that do with putting away and setting aside the old so that we can begin making room for the rebirth to come.

Corn (Zea mays) is associated with the sun and the elements of fire and earth, and are often associated with good luck, abundance, prosperity, and the balance between life and death.  Arriving as it does in this card on Winter Solstice, this card reminds us that the sun will soon come again.  It is a promise of what is to come, just as this holiday is as a whole.

When looking at these three cards together, the theme that I see here is all about looking forward to the thaw.  Yes, it is still a long way off, but there is good fortune and warmth coming, and the first and finest seeds of that are being planted in the present so that they can awaken as the sun becomes more and more present each day… and flourish as spring and summer eventually arrive.

Earth – Nine of Cups atop Three of Cups – It’s time to once again return to leaning into what makes you happy and celebrating those things you enjoy. Spoil yourself with the bounty of what lies all around you.

Air – Ace of Cups – Don’t sink into your head, but instead be open to the return of your emotions now that the holiday rush is coming to the end and let them flow freely.

Water – Wheel of Fortune – Not everything is going to go 100% smoothly all the time. Just make sure that you are flexible enough to land on your feet no matter the scenario before you. Becoming disheartened and giving up will help no one.

Fire – Nine of Coins – Appreciate and enjoy what you have accomplished throughout the holiday season. I look at where you are with clear eyes and a positive outlook in order to keep yourself from falling into negative patterns.

Waning – The Weaver and Offering – Throughout the holiday season you have created many beautiful things that you have sent out into the world at a rapid pace.  Now that things are slowing down, it’s time to turn all that energy in another direction.

Waxing – The Alchemist and Bee – Creativity abounds, and with the support of your community around you, you will have the time and energy to pour into your creative spark. Give it some priority moving forward.

Take Away – Plant the seeds for what you want to flourish later on next year.  Now is the beginning of these things, so reflect upon what you want to accomplish and start planting those seeds in your life now.

DECKS USED: SABBAT THEMED ART CARD, PAGAN UNDERWORLDS TAROT, COMPENDIUM OF WITCHES ORACLE, HEALING HERBAL CARDS VOL 1 & 2

The Good and The Bad

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

A Christmas TarotToday’s draw is the Hanged (The Hanged Man), which is traditionally a representation of a moment of pause and reflection, seeing things from a different perspective, surrendering and/or letting go in order to accept things as they are, and occasionally can indicate delays in one’s progress.

The imagery in today’s card brings to mind the phrase “stop to smell the roses”.   At this time  of year, there are no roses, but if we look beyond the literal?  There is a lot to stop and appreciate this time of year.  Beautiful decorations, cheerful music, a spirit of giving and generosity… all of these things are present if we are willing to acknowledge them.

Today’s card is a reminder to take a moment to see beyond the inconveniences and irritations, and appreciate the beauty this time of year offers to us all.

DECK USED:  A CHRISTMAS TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I managed to take a nap today, and I scheduled my time off for the next year.

Making Customers Happy

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

Christmas Storybook TarotToday’s draw is the Six of Candy Canes (Wands), which is traditionally a representation of public accolades, people pleasing, progress and/or success, and confidence built through public recognition.

Tomorrow begins an entire week based on public recognition and accolades for me.  It’s the only week of the entire year where I ship out every single day, and my orders are processed to ship out next day, no matter what those orders may be.

The Six of Candy Canes is a reminder to take pride in the fact that you can do this for people that are desperate for their orders to arrive before Christmas.  You get more than money out of this process.

DECK USED:  CHRISTMAS STORYBOOK TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I’m still eating on a timer.

❤️ Self Care Saturday (On a Sunday)

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These Saturday readings are (not usually) bearing in on any one thing or event in my life, as the question used is asking for a more general outlook. This is a self care exercise, and is not meant as a predictive reading… although that, too, happens on occasion.

The question is… What do I need to focus for self-care through the week ahead?

Vintage Christmas Tarot and Season of the Witch Yule Oracle

Earth – Judgement – Don’t lose sight of the fact that this journey through the holiday rush may be short, but we’re looking at a longer picture as a whole.

Air – Six of Swords atop Two of Cups – This week is the transition out of the holiday rush into the lull that comes after. Make sure that you are leaning into those closest to you that you care about to help you through the change, and it will help you keep your head on straight.

Water – Page of Pentacles – Do what you can to make sure that the slow down at the end of the week doesn’t mess with your emotions. Remember that slow progress is still progress, and look to the Two of Cups above for advice on how to handle the disruption this shift in gears may cause.

Fire – Five of Pentacles Rx – Don’t panic and remember you are not destitute. When income slows down, scarcity issues, become a problem. Be aware of this, and work to mitigate your anxiety in this area.

Waning – Offerings – As the week goes on there will be less going out. Don’t strive to keep pushing out more than you’re able… Instead, take this time to rest and find your balance.

Waxing – Remembering – Towards the end of the week he will be visiting with family and then going to stay with Miss B for a few days. There are people lost in this household that will be remembered and mourned while you are there. Be sure to partake in these memories, as well as support others during this time.

Take Away – These cards are announcing the end of the holiday rush, and then transition that comes with that end. Things are going to slow down drastically over the next few days and by the end of the week it will be time to take some time off to spend with family and loved ones. Make sure that you are making efforts to cherish this time, instead of distracted and struggling under the shift of pace.

DECKS USED: VINTAGE CHRISTMAS TAROT AND SEASONS OF THE WITCH YULE ORACLE

Unconditional Love

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

Vintage Yuletide LenormandToday’s draw is the Moon and Dog cards from the Vintage Yuletide Lenormand.

For the past handful of years, the Dog card in Lenormand has often made me think of Gideon.  It’s a card that is about steadfast loyalty and unconditional love (not of the romantic time, mind you, but the unconditional part fits).

He is my cheerleader, my confidante, my emotional support, and often my strength.  Here in the Moon card’s connection to emotions, and the Dog’s card connection to loyalty, there is a reminder of what is important… and how much you miss him.

You managed to miss him last night and are feeling sulky about that today.  Don’t forget that the holiday rush is almost over, and he’s still going to be there at the end of it.  He’s waiting for you… missing you… and it’s okay to miss him too.

DECK USED:  VINTAGE YULETIDE LENORMAND

Daily Self Kindness

I tried to take a couple of breaks today between working on orders.