tarot for self care

Rallying the Troops

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Today’s meditation was skipped, although I did do a sort-of one while chilling at the hospital this morning.

Mio Im's Tarot - King of WandsToday’s draw is the King of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of a projective alpha energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s passions, drive, determination, principles, values, and willpower. The King of Wands often indicates themes that have to do with leadership figures or authority figures with the ability to rally others to their causes and draw them in to their own values, principles, and passions.

In my life, today is the day that I officially go back to work after taking a few days off.  The shops were open during my small vacation, and thus there are orders that need to be caught up on.   The card, therefore, is a reminder that I’m the conductor on this train… the general in this army.  It’s time to rally the troops and get them going on helping in getting things done, on getting orders set on track, and making sure everyone is on board with not just help in this moment… but in the weeks to come as the holiday rush rises up to greet us.

The card today asks us all… what do we need to “rally our troops” to help us with?  Where is it that you cannot accomplish your goals without others?  And in those areas, how can we best inspire others to our cause?

DECK USED:  MIO IM’S TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2022 Challenge Prompt
Topic for October 16th: Do Spread 3

Mio Im's Tarot

Smoky Quartz – How can I best purge negativity from my life and develop greater stability?

Six of Wands – Stop looking to those in your past for approval. They are long gone, and it is only the memory that you seek approval from. You can’t change the past, so look forward instead and, if you feel the need approval from others, seek it from those in your present and future… not your past.

Apple – What insight is needed to improve my physical health at this time?

Knight of Wands Rx – Take care in where you leap forward and act impulsively. A bit of restraint is needed to keep things moving in the right direction.  In other words? Just because your leg is feeling a bit better doesn’t mean the problem is solved.  Take things slow and make sure this issue isn’t something that’s going to reoccur later on.

Chrysanthemum – Where do my defenses and boundaries need some bolstering?

Three of Wands – You’re going to have to be more realistic about your plans and take things at a different pace than usual. A bit of extra care and a bit of extra time is going to be needed. Don’t allow your inner narrative to step in and make things ugly for you just because you have to take things a bit slower.  A slow burn is best, so you don’t set the bridge ablaze and the entire forest along with it.

Aquamarine – In what ways can meditation promote more calm and confidence in my life?

Queen of Swords – Meditation can provide you the balance to foster your own strengths. You don’t have to be ruthless, but sometimes you can feel that urge when you don’t have enough balance in your life.

Meditation gives you that balance that allows you to choose between being your own Queen of Swords… or being the kind of domineering and self-centered Queen that you’ve observed from others with similar qualities used in less kind or generous ways.

Mint – What factor in my relationships need some reevaluation and perhaps adjustment?

Ace of Swords – You have received a lot of advice from the cards lately about turning over a new leaf in your communication with others. Here we see this message again in your relationships. Use your voice to communicate what you need instead of staying silent.

Carnelian – In what ways can including more creativity in my life brighten my daily outlook?

Ten of Swords – Creativity helps you avoid feeling as if everything is lost and nothing is going your way. In participating in creative endeavors, you then shine a touch of light to the darker corners of your life and make everything a bit better.

Pomegranate – What wish of mine is ready to be manifested into reality at this time?

Knight of Hearts (Pentacles) – You want more time to explore a slower pace in your life.  This card indicates that there is boundless potential here, but you’re going to have be patient. The holiday rush is not a time of slowing down and a measured pace.  But, the holiday rush won’t last forever.

DECK USED: MIO IM’S TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I’m continuing to work on keeping my foot elevated, and treating things gingerly, even when my patience is stretched a bit thin.

❤️ 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?

Cute Ghost Tarot and Mystery's Halloween Lenormand

Earth – Queen of Sticks – Use your time at home and your resources to foster your passions this week.

Air – Ace of Blades – Communication will be key this week. Turn over a new leaf and work at being more open with others.

Water – Six of Sticks – It’s okay to need a little validation from others now and then s long as your emotions and stability don’t become dependent on this, let yourself feel good when others give you price instead of brushing it off.

Fire – Ten of Coins – Appreciate all you have accomplished and make sure the goals you are reaching for are realistic and attainable.

Waning – Tree and Lady – Step away of extra time with Z for a bit.  You are distracting both of you with it at a time when you both need to begin to be on the ball instead.

Waxing – Coffin and Cross – Watch out for the creeping in of depression.  Attend to those warning signs as they arise instead of brushing them off as not important.  They are important, and they need to be handled right away.

Take Away – Getting your “ducks in a row” is going to be an important theme this week in your life.  Don’t ignore problem areas, and make sure you’re tying up loose ends and other things that need your attention so that your focus can begin to pivot towards the holiday rush as it approaches.

DECKS USED: CUTE GHOST TAROT AND MYSTERY’S HALLOWEEN LENORMAND

Recuperation is Not Indolence

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

Tarot of the Poppet MasterToday’s draw is the Eight of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of withdrawal and abandonment, especially in times of frustration or in an emotional response.

What catches my attention in the imagery of today’s card is that the arms of the puppet are made from fabric depicting little skulls, and the head / hat is made out of a poinsettia. This fits well for me with the key word of “indolence” that is also on the card.

By the time I get to the end of the holiday rush (poinsettia), and it is time to slip back into a slower pace (the skulls for arms), I am at the point where I am ready to walk away from everything. The exhaustion is so great that a change to a quieter time is extremely welcome… and anxiety inducing.

At this time of change, I am plagued with fear that I am becoming lazy, and that I’m not doing enough to help my business thrive and grow. And so, for me today’s card becomes a reminder that the need for rest and recuperation is not indolence.

This card’s appearance asks… What are you viewing as lazy behavior that is really just needed rest? How are you judging yourself too harshly in these times when you need a break? And how can we all do better to see that the need for rest and recuperation is not laziness or indolence, but a basic human necessity?

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE POPPET MASTER

HealingThruTarot’s October Shadow Work Challenge Prompt
Questions for October 14th thru 16th

Santa Muerte Tarot and Konxari CardsWhat pain has been ignored?

Three of Dream Catchers and Window – You only hurt yourself when you refuse help from others. Don’t close the window in opportunities to involve others in the reaching of your goals. The rewards are richer when the journey is shared.

Which wound keeps me trapped in the past?

Eight of Candles – There is a repeating pattern from your past where you were always pushed to move with speed and precision, never allowed to take things slow and savor. You have carried this pattern forward into the present due to it never having acknowledged and dealt with it.

How can I heal my greatest wound to move forward?

The Empress and Honor atop Knight of Wands Rx and Fire – Forsake impulsive behavior driven by a desire to get ahead and those feelings of inadequacy inside you that cause you to always seek more. Instead, respect your need to be nurtured, and give yourself what you need rather than punishing yourself for needing it.

DECK USED: SANTA MUERTE TAROT AND KONXARI CARDS

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2022 Challenge Prompt
Topic for October 15th: Write something free form inspired by the card(s).

Tarot of the Poppet MasterThere was once a queen filled with rage that saw all of her subjects as pawns to be used and abused as she pleased (Queen of Wands). She took great joy in carrying out a vast array of different tortures and cruelty upon those within her reign (Seven of Cups atop Nine of Swords).

One day, the subjects of the queen’s realm had had enough. Believing that there had to be a healthier and better place for all of them to settle down and grow roots (The Lovers), they gathered up their things and moved away from the queen’s lands (Eight of Cups) in search of a better future and a better ruler (The Star). And thus, the queen was left all alone to rule her lands empty of any but herself (The Tower).

DECK USED: TAROT OF THE POPPET MASTER

Daily Self Kindness

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Finding Balance in Stillness

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

Ritual Abuse TarotToday’s draw is the Justice card, which is traditionally a representation of cause and effect, repercussions and consequences, fairness, truth, balance. and often the law and legal matters.

What comes around goes around. When I see the image on this card, that’s the phrase that comes to mind. It’s like the figure is leaning in to aggression. The head decapitated in the background, and blood still dropping from the sword.

The thing is? Scales can’t balance in chaos. Scales can’t balance with movement and aggression in the mix.

The message in today’s card is about how we find our balance in life, and how we find our footing on our life’s path.  It’s not through chaos and aggression.  It’s through taking a pause that you can allow for balance as the scales ease their sway.  In the quiet they can slow and still.  The more you fight and lean into the chaos, the more the scales will tip and sway.

DECK USED:  RITUAL ABUSE TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2022 Challenge Prompt
Question for October 14th: Poltergeist – What needs to be banished from your life?

To The End Love OracleReading Summary: You need to look at where in your life, either due to loving you (Love) or out of a sense of respect (Honor), your loved ones are enabling you in unhealthy ways (Temptation).

Take Away: It isn’t the love or respect that needs banishing, but rather what they are doing with it that is the problem. This boils down to a form of dishonesty, for they are withholding their true thoughts and feelings “out of respect” for your own choices, not fully realizing that your decision-maker can and is compromised at times by temptation, addictive tendencies, and self destructive urges.

DECK USED: TO THE END ORACLE

Mr Lionhart’s Seasons of the Witch Challenge Prompt
Questions for October 14th thru 17th – The Ritual

Ritual Abuse TarotThe blade it cuts what’s rooted deep, what am I to rod of, what am I to keep?

Seven of Swords – Any thoughts of escaping what is to come need be let go of now. You are too close to the holiday rush for escapism fantasies, and need to instead pivot and fight.

Four of Swords – Make sure you are getting enough rest. You are no longer “of an age” where you have the boundless energy of your youth, and you need to make sure you are refilling your tank in order to make it through the weeks ahead without crashing.

The wand it swings, it works for me, how can I conjure what I may need?

King of Wands – Own your passion and drive, and control it with a tight fist. Delegate and direct so that you are not doing everything yourself.

I let the chalice guide my heart, I drink from it, I embrace this part:

Two of Cups – Those who love you are there to help. Don’t forsake their help and exclude them due to pride or a desire to not burden them. Instead, let them add their strength to yours.

From south, to north, from east to west, what am I to plant or to manifest?

King of Pentacles – Authority and stability need to be your main focus this season. Not independence.

DECK USED: RITUAL ABUSE TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I rested a lot today.  Lots of sleep and elevated leg time.

It’s In the Reach

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

VooDoo Dolly TarotToday’s draw is the Ace of Coins, which is traditionally a representation of the seed of new beginnings in the area of one’s finances, resources, health, hearth and home, labors, and manifestations.

What stands out to me in the imagery of this card is there’s a crown free-floating out there in the ether. It speaks to me of opportunity and potential. It says you can do much better, reach for the gold and you will achieve your best result.

Today’s card is an encouragement that tells us that it is in reaching for better that we succeed. It’s how we build a life worth living, how we grow and succeed, and how we become our best selves. Life isn’t about failures and misfortunes, but about what we reach for and where that reach can help us grow.

DECK USED:  VOODOO DOLLY TAROT

HealingThruTarot’s October Shadow Work Challenge Prompt
Questions for October 11th and 13th

VooDoo Dolly Tarot and Heart Forward DeckHow are my insecurities projected onto others?

The Stars and Death – You worry too much about what might happen and when, instead of looking to the present ant towards hope and positivity. This creates a more apathetic outlook towards others as your pessimism creates a lackadaisical “everyone dies sometime” attitude that is neither healthy or helpful.

How can I overcome my perceived flaws?

Knight of Swords and Loving – Be proactive about keeping your negative inner narrative in check through loving and caring thoughts, rather than an uncaring attitude. It is in leaning into self-kindness and positivity that you keep your inner critic from eating you alive.

DECK USED: VOODOO DOLLY TAROT AND HEART FORWARD DECK

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2022 Challenge Prompt
Question for October 13th: Spirits: How can you improve your relationship with your ancestors?

VooDoo Dolly TarotReading Summary: Make peace with your ancestors (Queen of Swords) by turning over a new emotional leaf where she is concerned (Page of Cups) and letting her back in and allowed to have an opinion in your life (Seven of Wands).

Take Away: Let go of the history and step into a new beginning concerning those that should have loved you but perhaps did so too harshly.  Listen to these ancestors, even if the history that you have with them is unpleasant.  Regardless of that history, in the present they only have your best interests at heart.

DECK USED: VOODOO DOLLY TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I didn’t get fed up with the hospital and leave like I wanted to, but stuck around and waited it out.

Stop Procrastinating Tarot Reading

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Stop Procrastinating Tarot Reading wit hthe Gustave Doré Tarot

Why am I feeling unmotivated?

Seven of Pentacles – You struggle with staying motivated when something takes a good deal of time to accomplish. Especially when it feels like there are no rewards along the way, only an end goal far off in the future and feeling out of reach.

What fear is keeping me from moving forward?

Nine of Cups Rx – The unpleasantness of it all. You have a hard time getting motivated for things that you don’t enjoy or feel lackluster about.  It holds you back when you should be pushing through.

What do I need to release so I can start taking action?

Ace of Pentacles – The expectation that everything has to be done perfectly. Perfectionism can hold you back if you let it.  Let go of the need for absolutely everything to be perfect.  You don’t have to be perfect all the time for every little thing.

What is the first step I can take?

Four of Wands – Celebrate what you already have, the stability you have built, and the security you value. These things are a great motivator, and will carry you forward.

What beneficial energy/attitude can I embrace?

Judgement – Take care not to judge yourself too harshly. You are a work in progress, and you are your greatest critic.  Be kind and accepting of yourself, and ease up on the self cruelty.

What is my motivation?

Four of Pentacles – Stability and a sense of security will always be an excellent motivator for you.

DECK USED: GUSTAVE DORÉ TAROT