tarot for self care

Single Minded Focus

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s meditation was skipped.

Cruel Thing TarotToday’s draw is the Chariot card, which is traditionally a representation of control, determination, direction, and autonomy.

What stands out to me the strongest today in the imagery of this card is the dust he leaves in his wake. The charioteer stands strong and in control, facing ever forward. He does not look back at what is in his wake, nor does he look left or right to the past or future, but always forward to what is right in front of him in order to take on the present challenges head on with strength and determination. The charioteer knows that to let these other things distract him would be to weaken his resolve, and thus it is with single minded focus he meets his challenges and moves forward.

This card begs the question… what distractions are tampering with your resolve? Where is it we need to buckle down with focus and determination? Where is it we feel there is a lack of control in our lives, and what is holding us back from taking these matters in hand more fully and firmly?

DECK USED:  CRUEL THING TAROT

HealingThruTarot’s October Shadow Work Challenge Prompt
Questions for October 22nd and 24th

Clash of the Yokai Game Cards and Veritas Magia TarotHow does my shadow block my joy?

Hōnengyo and Tearai-oni – Your shadow tells you that you need alone time when in truth, you are in need of people instead. Yes, you require a certain amount of alone time, especially in places wet and dark and filled with trees, but it has to be healthy alone time. Your shadow tries to pull you into withdrawing into alone time when it is unhealthy for you.

What can I do to ease this block?

Two of Wands and Seven of Swords – Don’t be impulsive about your alone time, but instead plan it in advance. This way, when you steal away into the wilds, you know it is with a healthy plan and healthy goals, instead of spurred on by the whispers of you shadow.

How do I demean myself?

Kappa and Baku – You beat yourself up and drown yourself in recriminations for not living a fuller life and completing goals you’ve chosen to move on from instead of continuing to strive to accomplish.

How can I turn this behavior around into something more healthy?

Eight of Cups and Ace of Swords – Recognize that yes, there is much you have abandoned, but that it was to start new and better things that you found suited you far better.

DECK USED: CLASH OF THE YOKAI GAME CARDS AND VERITAS MAGIA TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2022 Challenge Prompt
Question for October 24th: What do you need to focus on for self-care for this new moon?

Cruel Thing TarotReading Summary: Stop being so hard on yourself and worrying that you are straying from your path (Judgement Rx) whenever you find something that you enjoy (Nine of Cups). Share it with others instead (Queen of Wands).

Take Away: Fun, play, and enjoyment are supposed to be a part of life… the absolute best part of life, and one that that you should share openly with others. Work on remembering that making time for these things and taking pleasure in them is not something to feel guilty about, so stop shaming yourself concerning them.

DECK USED: CRUEL THING TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I had myself a late morning, even though I didn’t really have the time.   A little extra time in bed was nice.

🌑 New Moon & Solar Eclipse in Scorpio – October 2022

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Tomorrow is the new moon, and like all new moons and full moons, I did a spread aligned to the moon’s current themes as a part of my recognition of the moon’s cycle and influences upon us. Today’s spread is about the medicine within, and brought to you by Ethony‘s Tarot by the Moon series.

New Moon & Solar Eclipse in Scorpio Tarot Reading with the Bloody Tears Tarot

What have I been avoiding that I need to face?

Ace of Pentacles – It’s time to turn over a new leaf with your financial responsibilities. There’s things you need to prepare for and now is the time to start.

What secrets need to come into the light?

Ace of Swords – Take time to examine what secrets you are holding that, once aired, could provide you with a greater sense of clarity and direction. It’s time for those secrets to be openly shared.

What conversation needs to be had?

King of Cups – This isn’t a specific conversation, but rather that you need to seek out emotional support through conversation with Gideon and others that can provide you a sense of security.

Where do I need to take decisive action that I’ve been putting off?

Justice – It’s all cause and effect here. If you want to succeed, you have to put in the work in order to do so. Avoidance will have unpleasant consequences.

What shadow aspect requires integration?

Four of Swords – Stop judging yourself so harshly for needing rest and recuperation.

New Moon advice from the Minoan Goddess Amalthea.

King of Swords – “Watch your tongue.” Take care that your words inspire others instead of cutting them down.

DECK USED: BLOODY TEARS TAROT

The Comfort and Security of Home

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s meditation was skipped.

Sihr Tarot by Dark SynevyrToday’s draw is the Four of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of harmony, the celebration of homecoming, as well as the joy and comfort of home.

It is interesting to me that the Four of Wands in this deck depicts only one wand in its imagery. The Ace of Wands is about new interests and enthusiasm, and what I see here in using one single wand in this Four of Wands card I see as a message to turn your enthusiasm to your home and what you value about it.

Today’s card asks us what are we taking for granted at home?  Do we take for granted the comfort?  The safety?  Do we celebrate the pleasure of having a space all our own in which to settle and enjoy when we come home each day? If not?  Why not?  The appearance of this Four of Wands encourages us to treasure and enjoy, to cherish and savor.

DECK USED:  SIHR TAROT

HealingThruTarot’s October Shadow Work Challenge Prompt
Question for October 23rd: Which mistakes do I hold against myself?

Mythical Creatures Deck and Black Water TarotMistake – Dire Wolf – Ruthlessness.

How to let it go.

The Devil – Holding these times of necessary ruthlessness against yourself is a form of your self-destructive tendencies. To let it go, you need to accept that it needs to be let go, for your health and well-being, and will require confronting those self-destructive tendencies head on and dealing with them.

Mistake – Harpy – Theft.

How to let it go.

The Fool – Accept that at the time of your life when this happened, you were young and dumb, and you did dumb things as a result. You’re a better (and different) person now than you were then. There is no point in carrying around this guilt from something that was a part of your past during desperate times.

Mistake – Eight-Forked Serpent – Deception

How to let it go.

King of Wands – In order to have what you desire in life, sometimes you have to do a little deception on the side. The question is, has this minor (or even major) deception helped in building what you want in life as a result? If so, then it had a higher purpose. It served its purpose and hurt no one.

DECK USED: MYTHICAL CREATURES DECK AND BLACK WATER TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2022 Challenge Prompt
Topic for August 23rd: Do Spread 2
Question: Where can I safely “drop the ball” for right now in order to give myself a little wiggle room?

Sihr Tarot by Dark Synevyr and Halloween Postcard SetReading Summary: The background in all three of the tarot cards pulled have a color connection with the light that glows within the windows, the lantern in the anchor card, and in the the moon. This connects these cards to indicate a path towards light and warmth… a positive change.

In the Eight of Cups, the shape of the antlers connects with the brambles and the legs of the spider, both located on the left-hand side of the anchor card. This speaks of the old patterns of getting frustrated and walking away not being the answer (both of these corresponding symbols are outside the house instead of within), representing that there is no warmth in that path. Instead, the shape of the cup in the Eight of Cups corresponds to the lower right hand window of the house in the anchor card, and indicates a need to look inward instead of walking away, even if it feels a bit backwards to do so at this time ( as per the inverted curtains).

In the Heirophant, something in the shape of the face and the eyes in the figure connects to the symbol above the door on the house in the anchor card. The door is dark, though, as is the majority of the Hierophant card. These symbols are centered, speaking of the present. They encourage stepping away from teaching for the time being. This is where you can drop the ball at this time, as for the moment those activities are only a burden for you and not a joy.

The skull in the window in the anchor card and the skull in the Page of Pentacles are a reminder to take things slow as you move forward into the future (skull is located on the right side of anchor card and skeleton faces to the right in the Page of Pentacles). The holiday rush can allow for a certain amount of slowness and measured pace, and this will give you the time and space moving forward that you need to add a little bit more light into your days.

Take Away: You can eek out more wiggle room and a bit more time by letting go of your feelings of obligation to those you teach, and the processes you use to educate. All of that will still be there when the holiday rush is at an end.

DECKS USED: HALLOWEEN POSTCARD SET AND SIHR TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I made sure to make time to spend time with Gideon tonight.  Something that we both were sorely in need of.

❤️ Self Care Saturday (On a Sunday)

/ Twist the Leaf / Leave a comment

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?

Uncaged Tarot and Haunted Wonderland Lenormand

Earth – Five of Wands – Make sure when you are in debate or disagreement with others at home and work this week that you’re not both arguing the same point, and just approaching it from different angles.

Air – Five of Pentacles – Do not allow returning scarcity issues that try to invade your mind this week cause you to make poor choices. Remember that the scarcity you feel is an illusion, not reality.

Water – Ace of Swords – Put more effort into communication with loved ones, and making sure that you are communicating clearly with them. This echoes back to the position of Earth in this reading, and encourages insuring that you are both on the same page even if you are approaching from different angles.

Fire – Two of Swords – It’s crunch time before the holiday rush begins. Make sure that you are clear sighted in what you want to do and where you want to go as you step forward. The choices you make this week will be pivotal to your future success.

Waning – Clouds and Rider – Foggy headed and lack of clarity, this past week has been a struggle on many counts due to these issues. It’s time to leave that behind and move towards clarity of thought and mind.

Waxing – Whip and Tree – Be a demanding taskmaster where your health is concerned. I don’t slack off on taking care of yourself this week.

Take Away – Clarity and focus are extremely important this week, as is making sure to communicate clearly with those around you.  Don’t let yourself fall into unnecessary arguments. You can avoid this by keeping an open mind and seeking out different viewpoints beyond your own.   Take care of your health this week.

DECKS USED: UNCAGED TAROT AND HAUNTED WONDERLAND LENORMAND

Upholding Healthy Boundaries

/ Twist the Leaf / Leave a comment

Today’s meditation was skipped.

Yokai Yochi Tarot by buboplagueToday’s draw is the Nine of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of boundaries, defensive maneuvers, and protection of what you hold dear.

Often, the Nine of Wands is displayed as a passive card instead of an active one in its illustration. Here in this imagery we see the active participation of defense and holding up one’s boundaries. This displays the boundaries are not always stagnant, neither are they  something that you stand behind without a care. Boundaries are something that actually needs defended in order to be upheld.

This card asks us where are we being too lax in our boundaries? Where is it that we are allowing other people to cross our boundaries because we are not actively defending them as they need to be defended?

The message today is an encouragement to look at our boundaries and those that cross them, and examine why we allow them to cross those boundaries and what we can do to make sure they don’t continue to do so in the future.

DECK USED:  YOCHI YOKAI TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2022 Challenge Prompt
Question for October 22nd: Seance – What guidance do your ancestors offer at this time?

The Oracles by Libby BoveReading Summary: Make up with (The Lonely Heart) those that you’ve shut out of your life (The Feud) before it’s too late (The Blasted Bell).

Take Away: I understand and hear what the advice and guidance is here… I’m just not sure I can make up with those I’ve shut out.  If that means that when I’m finally ready, that it’s too late, then that’s something I’ll have to live with.  But for me?  It’s not time yet.

I’m not ready, and I may not be for some time to come.  That doesn’t mean that I’ll never be ready, but I’m not at the moment.

DECK USED: THE ORACLES

Mr Lionhart’s Seasons of the Witch Challenge Prompt
Questions for October 21st thru 23rd – The Wheel

Yokai Yochi Tarot by buboplagueThe wheel it spins, around, again, what should I begin?

Eight of Coins – Lean into your work, for now is the time when things begin to pick up and you need to be at the top of your game.

How will it end?

Nine of Swords – There will be, as always, push back from your anxiety and mental health issues.

And as the serpent bites its tail, what will recur?

Seven of Cups atop The Empress – When all is said and done and the holidays have drawn to a close, you will have to make the choice to go back to nurturing yourself and taking good care of yourself once more.

What must I prevail?

Temperance Rx – Leaning into dealing with your lack of moderation is the next step in your personal growth. Make sure you are working on not letting it get out of control.

Sage wisdom comes with seasoned days, what can I learn and use today?

The Devil atop Nine of Wands – Take care today and throughout the season ahead to make sure that you do not allow your addictions and temptations to override the boundaries you’ve set in place for yourself.

DECK USED: YOCHI YOKAI TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I grabbed a handful of protein bars and trail mix bars on the way out of the house in an emergency instead of just saying “fuck it” and depending on there to be somewhere to get food along the way.

Cozy and Comfortable Cartomancy Reading

/ Twist the Leaf / 2 Comments

Bicycle Monster Premium Playing CardsThe prompt for this reading came from one of my Discord servers and is as follows: “For this week, let’s talk to our divination method of choice about what we can do to help ourselves feel more cozy and comfortable, either internally or externally! There’s never a limit on comfort!”

What can I do to help myself feel more cozy and comfortable spiritually?

King of Spades and Nine of Hearts – Communicate with more authority with your guides and ancestors in order to develop a greater sense of satiation and comfort in your spiritual practice. You do not always have to follow blindly, as this relationship is one of give and take.

What can I do to help myself feel more cozy and comfortable emotionally?

Queen of Spades and Six of Diamonds – You will feel emotionally more comfortable and secure if you lean into generosity with yourself and others. Holding onto things too tightly only breeds vulnerability and fear of loss.

What can I do to help myself feel more cozy and comfortable mentally?

Jack of Diamonds and Three of Hearts – Work on accepting that learning to take things at a slower pace takes time. It’s not an immediate transformation, but can be assisted through leaning into time with those you love.

What can I do to help myself feel more cozy and comfortable physically?

Nine of Clubs and Five of Hearts – Don’t let your boundaries begin to feel like limitations. They aren’t a cage, nor are they unfair or in excess, but rather they are there to protect you.

DECK USED: BICYCLE MONSTER PREMIUM PLAYING CARDS