tarot for self care

Nature Time is Self Care Time

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Today’s meditation was skipped again today. I need to figure out a way to get my ass back into the habit again instead of just thinking about it in the evenings as a “damn, I didn’t do it again”.

Gothic Tarot of Vampires and How to Be a Wildflower DeckToday’s draw is the Queen of Coins, which is traditionally a representation of a receptive alpha energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s finances, resources, health, hearth, manifestations, and the physical world. The energy of this card is down to earth, and that of a nurturer.

Combined with the affirmation card for today, what I see here is a call for me to get out into nature, to take in that healing balm that being among the moss and trees and rich damp earth provides me with.

Today is, unfortunately, not a day I’m going to be able to fulfill this need.  I can’t go out into nature, but the seed is planted and I will be going in the next couple of days.  I know that I need it.

DECK USED:  GOTHIC TAROT OF VAMPIRES AND HOW TO BE A WILDFLOWER DECK

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2021 Challenge Prompt
Topic: Do the the Thinning Veil Tarot Spread

Cruel Thing TarotWhat spirits have come to visit and walk with me while the veil is thin?

The Empress – Those spirits that have come to visit and walk with you this year while the veil is thin are those spirit guides and ancestors that only want what is best for you. No hidden agendas, just nurturing and strength.

How are these spirits assisting in keeping me safe?

Two of Pentacles – They are helping you in finding balance in your life. When there is no balance, things start to careen out of control and feel too heavy. You become overwhelmed and struggle unnecessarily. Their guidance helps you keep things in balance at times when you need that extra assistance.

What should I offer to these spirits that are watching over me?

Knight of Wands – More eagerness to connect, and more focus on following through on the advice that they give. Too many times they have to beat you over the head with their advice, repeating it over and over again.

What cycle from the past do my Ancestors hope that I will break?

Six of Cups – Allowing the echoes of your past to dictate your present is a cycle that your Ancestors hope you will break. You aren’t the first in your lineage to struggle with this issue. Due to the fact that you have no offspring, and that neither you or your sister can produce any, this is not something that’s going to carry on into the next generation, but it is something they want you to overcome.

What do I know deep within my bones.

Ten of Swords – Everything is temporary. All things come to an end. Nothing last forever, and sometimes that end is painful, but can also filled with a bittersweet pleasure of relief.

What do the Spirits and Ancestors need for me to learn?

Five of Coins – Your spirits and ancestors need for you to learn how to overcome the scarcity issues that influence and control so much of your life. This fear rules over too much.

A message for me from the Spirits and Ancestors.

Queen of Cups – Do what you need to do to make sure that you’re taking the time to be kind to yourself and stay grounded. Do the things you need to do to nurture yourself, even when things feel otherwise out of control. These actions help you to stay in control of what is before you, creating a sense of stability within the surrounding chaos.

Side Note: Over the past week I’ve been struggling really hard, dealing with a huge amount of upset in my mental health.  I understand that a portion of this is because of the approach of the holiday rush, but after having a similar experience last year, I wonder if a part of this is also because over the past two years I have been working on opening myself up to my mediumship abilities, and that the thinning of the veil when it approaches its thinnest point is causing an enhanced amount of restlessness and disruption as a result.  I’m writing this side note on November 2nd, and I’m noting that as the veil now begins to thicken once more, I’m starting to feel better.  The timing is the same as last year.

DECK USED: CRUEL THING TAROT

PatriciaWestonWitch’s #wwpwHalloweenLenormand Prompt
Questions for October 30th and 31st

Shadowmyth Preservation Story Cards and Gothic Tarot of VampiresWhat’s too dark in my life?
Queen of Wands atop The Star, Nuclear Fallout

If you push too hard with your ambition, it’s snuffs out the light, creeping into degrade your hope, and close off your connection to the world around you.

What is the waning crescent moon’s wisdom for me today?
Nine of Coins atop The Sun, Pour It Out

In order for there to be room for the good stuff, you have to let go of the bad stuff. Just as when you stir good intentions into your tea, you first have to stare out negativity to make a room, or when your body releases waste and uses that process to expel toxins from the body so that you can then fill it up with more healthy fuel again. Make room for more good in your life.

DECK USED: SHADOWMYTHS PRESERVATION STORY DECK AND GOTHIC TAROT OF VAMPIRES

Daily Self Kindness

I’m trying my best not to beat myself up after having an unexpected nap earlier when what I really need is some Gideon time.

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?

Tarot de Marseille par Pole Ka, Garden of Lucid Daydreams Oracle, Mildred Payne's Oracle of Black Enchantment

Earth – Valet D’épée and The Demon – Work smarter, not harder.  See the angel coasting along in the back draft of the demon’s wake?  They’re both going to get where they’re going, but the angel will be far less tired. The Page of Swords combines with this card to indicate that I still have a lot to learn to get where I want to be, and I need to use my mind to discern easier ways to get there than the hard labor route I’m currently on.

Air – Eight of Cups and The Pruning – Work on moving away from damaging and unhealthy thought processes. Your negative inner dialogue has the ability to take over if you don’t keep it under control.  This has been the case over the past week, and it’s time to put your foot down and set it aside before it does some actual damage.

Water – Le Monde and Neglect – Your negative emotions are holding you back and tying you down. Untangle yourself to move forward. This is an echo back to the positron of Air in this reading, and speaks of the influences that that inner dialogue have had on you.  You’ve forgotten how beneficial leaning into optimism can be, and it’s time to bring that back into focus now.

Fire – Seven of Coins and Devour – Don’t get so fixated on things moving slow that that is what consumes you. There is a part of you that worries if you do not continually obsess over the things you want to accomplish, that they will fall away and you will forget about them before you can accomplish them.  This obsessive behavior, though, is not healthy and can bleed you dry if you let it.

Waning – Revenge – No drama allowed. You need to let go of the tension that getting all wound up has created.  There’s no need for the extra tension and drama, and it’s just getting in your way and making things uncomfortable.

Waxing – The Demon Ship – Bonding with your crew. Get in close with your friends and loved ones. Let them know what’s going on, and allow yourself to have some  fun times and relaxation with them instead of everything being about work.

Take Away – This week is providing me time to recover from the mess of nerves, tension, and restless discomfort that has been churning inside me throughout the past week.  I got myself all worked up and had nowhere to expend that energy. Instead it was trapped inside causing unnecessary chaos and struggle.  The advice here is to focus on releasing that struggle and tension, and go back to working on focusing on positivity and optimism.  It works… if I’m willing to do it instead of discount it.

DECKS USED: LE TAROT DE MARSEILLE PAR POLE KA, MILDRED PAYNE’S ORACLE OF BLACK ENCHANTMENT, GARDEN OF LUCID DAYDREAMS ORACLE

The Magic Within

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Today’s meditation was skipped again.  I keep telling myself that I’m going to get back on track… and yet? I still am skipping this.  Tomorrow is another day, yes?  Another try at doing better.  I do feel better today, though.

Tarot V and How to Be a Wildflower DeckToday’s draw is the Star card, which is traditionally a representation of hope, spiritual guidance, renewal, and the inter-connectivity of ourselves to the world around us and spiritual plane.

Today’s message reminds me of the saying “To the world you may be just one person, but one person, you may be the world.” Sometimes you are the Star in another persons life. You are their hope, their connection, their guiding light.

And you may not even realize it. It could be a coworker you’ve never spoken to, an employer, a friend, the barista at the coffee shop. To these people, you just being there lights up their lives, inspires them, or makes things better in some way that may seem small but makes a huge difference.

Don’t forget the magic you hold within you. Don’t forget how cherished you are by the world around you. You make a difference, whether you realize it or not.

DECK USED:  TAROT V AND HOW TO BE A WILDFLOWER DECK

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2021 Challenge Prompt
Question for October 30th: The last harvest is upon us. What needs to be discarded from my life?

Le Fantastique Tarot Hallucine du Dr ZarielReading Summary: Traditional (Le Pape) comforts and expectations (Ten of Diamonds) abandoned for what you really desire to push for and conquer (King of Clubs).

Take Away: This isn’t so much about giving up on the desire for stability and comfort, so much as setting thoughts of it on the back burner so that you can fully focus on the moment and what needs to be done now.

By allowing that focus to come to the forefront, you can focus deeper and accomplish more because the distraction isn’t there to pull your attention away from where it needs to be.

DECK USED: LE FANTASTIQUE TAROT HALLUCINE DU DR ZARIEL

The #EmbraceYourAlterEgo2021 Challenge for Sacred Grounds Tarot Club
Questions for October 30th and 31st

PVRGATORIVM and Tarot VWhat messages do my Ancestors have for me?
Eight of Swords, Knight of Clubs, Prayer

Open your eyes when charging forward instead of taking things on faith. Yes, you are more than capable of “winging it” blindly and there is a time and place for that.  Now is not that time and place, though.

How can I express my gratitude for the remainder of the year?
Three of Coins, The Moon, Bound

Remember that when you work together, there is less uncertainty, and less struggle. Their fate is also bound to your fate, so it is only right that they should bear part of the load.

The message here is that it’s important to be grateful for those that are there to help you and support you in your endeavors. Make sure you are expressing that gratitude to these people.

DECK USED: PVRGATORIVM AND TAROT V

Daily Self Kindness

I got Gideon time tonight.  Not enough, but it felt really good.

October Lessons Cartomancy Reading

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The prompt for this reading came from one of my Discord servers and is as follows:
“It’s about that time again! We are closing in on the end of October, a month full of festivities, harvests and rich culture. Let’s tone things down and enjoy that this week. 🎃”

Halloween Playing CardsWhat can I do for myself to celebrate this month?

King of Hearts atop Ace of Hearts – Spending time with Gideon is a must. You need his help to lift your spirits and breathe in some fresh air for you.

What aspect of my my life at this time can I obtain a useful skill from?

Two of Clubs – Looking where you’re going doesn’t have to be anxiety inducing. Planning a path forward doesn’t have to rip you off your stable foundation.

Are there any other current aspects of my life I could benefit from? How?

Four of Diamonds – Yes. You are supposed to be resting and caring for yourself right now, so stop beating yourself up about it. Without rest and recovery there is no stability.

What lesson(s) have I learned that can benefit me from October into November?

Eight of Diamonds – You are experienced in what lies ahead. The holiday rush is coming, but there’s no reason to be nervous about it.

How can I get the most out of these lessons?

Ace of Swords – Listen and accept. Open yourself to these lessons and absorb what they are teaching you. Let down that stubbornly hard, protective shell that is not needed.

DECK USED: HALLOWEEN PLAYING CARDS

People Need People

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Today’s meditation was skipped, although I did take a couple of “pause and breathe” breaks throughout the day today.

Tarot del Toro and How to Be a Wildflower DeckToday’s draw is the Queen of Goblets (Cups), which is traditionally a representation of a receptive alpha energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s emotions, relationships, creativity, and intuition. This often translates into themes that have to do with compassion and emotional support.

This sentiment is echoed in the How to Be a Wildflower card for today, which speaks of the shelter that we find in each other through their presence and support in our lives.

In turn, we also provide this support to others. Even introverts need people. They not need as much social contact as an extrovert, but they still need people. People to love, and people to love them in turn.  People to support, and people to support them in turn.

Sometimes I dream of going up into the forest and never returning.  A cabin by a river, a tree with a rope swing.  Solitude.   And yet I know that as introverted as I am?  Even I need people.

DECK USED:  TAROT DEL TORO AND HOW TO BE A WILDFLOWER DECK

Mr Lionharts’ #TheOctoberTarot #SeasonoftheWitchChallenge Prompt
Questions for October 29th thru 31st

Tarot de Marseille par Pole KaAncestors hear, come far, come all, I now call you forth, how do you answer my call?

L’Étoile – With eagerness and wisdom, the ancestors come forward to be heard. They wish to instill hope, to connect and communicate through that connection, to support and to guide you forward on your path from one day to the next.

Cards on the table, ancestors respond, show me your guidance from somewhere beyond…

Le Fou atop Le Pape – Be positive. Don’t lose hope. Begin piecing together your inner spirit. You don’t have to be so rigid in your expectations of yourself.  Loosen up and let yourself have a bit more fun.

Thank you for your guidance, through highs and through lows, before you depart, tell me, what should I know?

Deux de Denier – You need to focus on balance. Everything else will fall into place.

DECK USED: TAROT DE MARSEILLE PAR POLE KA

PatriciaWestonWitch’s #wwpwHalloweenLenormand Prompt
Questions for October 28th and 29th

Tarot del ToroWhat will I surrender today?
Six of Cups and Eight of Wands

It’s time to begin releasing the guilt.  You were raised to be a workhorse and you know that “training” from an early age is why you feel guilty now.  That guilt is preventing you from getting the rest you need.

Release the guilt.  Do it now.  It’s much easier to find balance without that static playing loudly in your head and heart.

What wisdom does bat have for me today?
Nine of Wands and The Magician

You’re going to end up going into the customs office today.  Stay friendly, but distant.  You have everything you need to get through the checkpoint as needed, so just relax and do the process.  It takes time, but it doesn’t have to be stressful.

DECK USED: TAROT DEL TORO

Daily Self Kindness

I stopped to eat at Denny’s instead of trying to hold out until I made it home.

Last Harvest 2021 – Samhain

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Coming up on October 31st is the third and Last Harvest of the 2021 autumn season.  Although this holiday (which is also known by most as Halloween and by many as Samhain) is celebrated around the world by those that embrace the rich history of many traditions that originated in Paganism, most don’t realize that is what they are doing… or that this holiday carries special significance as the eve of the Day of the Dead when the veil is at its thinnest between our world and those that have passed.

Solstice Art Card, Pagan Underworlds Tarot, Compendium of Witches Oracle, Healing Herbal Cards Vol 1 & 2

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 sure to be  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 the upcoming Winter Solstice (aka. Yule) in December.

Theme of the Season – Samhain, Waning Crescent Moon, Berberis vulgaris (Barberry) – In my path, Samhain is not just a time to remember and pay our respects to our loved ones that have passed on, as well as reach out to them more easily… it is also a day that marks the end of the harvest season as well as the year’s cycle of seasons as a whole. The earth has gifted us with her abundance throughout the spring, summer, and fall and now settles in to rest throughout the colder months ahead.

Magically speaking, the moon’s waning crescent phase is a time of purging, severing, or otherwise cutting free things that need released and let go. This theme carries over into farming and gardening, where the waning crescent is a time of pruning and trimming, weeding, cutting timber, and other purging practices. This is the phase that the moon will be on during the night of Samhain, and as children reap in candies and treats, the magical and spiritual worlds will be in a phase of letting go and saying goodbye to those things that are no longer serving us.

Barberry (Berberis vulgaris) is primarily a digestive herb that is used to treat a wide variety of ailments that have to do with purging waste and toxins from the body.  This includes not just treatments of the gastrointestinal tract, but also the liver and kidneys. In magic, it is used in spellwork that has to do with release, creating barriers, protection, and atonement.

When looking at these three cards together, the overarching theme that I see here is that this Samhain’s theme is all about releasing what isn’t working and letting go of the things that are holding you back.

Earth – Queen of Pentacles – The queen is a nurturing soul at heart, and is here as a reminder that you don’t need to beat yourself up over your mistakes.  Just fix them.  So you slipped on your self care.  It happens. Now it is time to get back on track. Self flagellation will only exacerbate the problem.

Air – Knight of Wands – A breath of revitalizing fresh air is needed.  Take some time before you leap forward into the fray, to ascertain what you want out of the next few months.  Sit with it and work it out in your head before charge into action. Things pan out better when there’s strategy involved.

Water – King of Cups atop Seven of Pentacles – Seek out help from Gideon to help you better deal with slow growth as you move forward. Your patience sucks, but with his encouragement, you are better able to weather the “long game” a great deal better than you do on your own.  Whether it’s his encouragement, or his providing you with a bit of distraction, in either both cases, it makes the slower growth of… well damned near all of your goals and desires… far more tolerable.

Fire – Seven of Wands – Once you’ve taken the time to figure out where you want to go and how you’re going to get there, stand strong on those goals. It’s hard to not get distracted, especially when there’s mental health issues involved like what you’ve been dealing with recently.  Push back against obstacles instead of letting them trip you up.

Waning – Familiar – Stop ignoring the advice coming your way from your loved ones and spirit guides.

Waxing – Rest – You are going to have to take some time to get some true rest. Not the restless rest that you’ve been getting, but actual guiltless rest that will help recharge and recover before the holiday rush really swings into gear.

Take Away – It’s time to let go of self abuse and self sabotage.  It’s time to allow yourself true rest, as well as the recuperation  you need.  Stewing and spinning  your wheels is getting you nowhere and will tank everything you have been working for and want to happen. Use the tools and help that you have at your disposal to get you back on track.

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