tarot for self care

The Little Pleasures

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Today’s meditation was skipped again. I’m working on the not just not doing something because of emotional “meh” feelings, but I didn’t manage it today where meditation was concerned.

Beauty of Horror Tarot and How to Be a Wildflower DeckToday’s draw is the Nine of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of anxiety, worries, insomnia, nightmares, and depression.

I think sometimes we forget just how amazing some of the most simple and small things can be. Take a flower, for example.  In the theme of today’s draw, someone can be filled with worry and anxiety, stressed out and restless and absolutely miserable.

But, in taking just five minutes (that’s 1/288th of a day) to focus on said flower mentioned above, to linger and admire the shape of the petals and shades of color, the sparkle of iridescence on the petals and delicate bits and parts.  Just in taking that five minutes to look at something so simply, ordinary, and every day… we can lower blood pressure, ease anxiety, and give our minds a moment’s rest and a bit of “fresh air”.

That is the basis behind the phrase “stopping to smell the roses”.  Sometimes, we need to look at the little things just to give ourselves a breather and a moment of peace in times when there is no peace to be had anywhere else.

DECK USED:  BEAUTY OF HORROR TAROT AND HOW TO BE A WILDFLOWER DECK

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2021 Challenge Prompt
Topic: Do Spread #3

Dominic Murphy's Secret TarotSmoky Quartz: How can I best purge negativity from my life to develop greater stability?

Guerra – Battle the negativity by arming yourself with truth, faith, and hope as you move forward. Allow these qualities to lift you up and strengthen your foundation as you resist the negative inner narratives trying to take hold.

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

Radix – Dig into the roots of what is causing you to feel restless and out of sorts. Where are you struggling and why?  What is creating that “going nowhere fast” struggle in your soul right now.  Don’t ignore it or try to bury it.  Ask Gideon for help in digging it out if you are struggling to focus on it on your own.

Chrysanthemum: Where do my defenses need bolstering to foster my growth?

Somnium – You need to find a way to get some useful rest. You’ve been doing a lot of “trying to rest” without actually managing to really rest at all.  You need true rest, not the rest of the restless. Your balance and equilibrium can’t recover without it.

Aquamarine: Where can meditation bolster my confidence by promoting more calm in my life?

Saturn – Meditation allows the ego to ease and quiet within the brain, providing a different perspective and distance from the inner whispers that try to take up the whole of your mental narrative the rest of the time you are awake, and even at times when you are asleep.

Mint: What factors in my relationships need reevaluation and (possibly) adjustment?

Unitate – Take some time to consider if you are getting what you need, or if a shift in power might help you feel more settled. “A balanced diet creates a balanced mind and body.” – Dominic Murphy

I am not feeling the need to top, nor to express aggression in a physical way.  At all. I think this is what the cards are hinting at, and perhaps the encouragement here isn’t so much about changing anything, but taking a bit of time to consider where that more aggressive side of my nature has gone and why it hasn’t raised it’s head in so long.

Carnelian: In what ways can including more creativity in my life lighten my daily outlook?

Devil – Tease that addictive quality of your nature to lean into the more creative side of your business. Feed that creative spark and set it ablaze.  It will peter out eventually, but during the busy season it will bring a greater amount of joy and pleasure in your work, and a feeling of accomplishment you wouldn’t have otherwise.

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

Wheel of Fortune – Dependability is all about adaptability.  You have the ability, the skill, the experience, and the strength to shift gears at the drop of a hat.  The problem is, this transition period is moving slower than you are comfortable with.  As always, there is a liminal moment of limbo here in the time between prep and the beginning of the holiday rush. Don’t worry so much about if it’s going to be a success, just focus on keeping your feet steady and being ready for when the wheel turns and things start moving so fast you have to rush to keep up.

DECK USED: DOMINIC MURPHY’S SECRET TAROT

PatriciaWestonWitch’s #wwpwHalloweenLenormand Prompt
Questions for October 24th and 25th

Mildred Payne's Oracle of Black Enchantment and Beauty of Horror TarotWhat wisdom does the owl have for me today?
The Angry Mob atop The Black Cat, The Star atop Two of Swords

At the moment, you are sitting at a crossroads, struggling and unable to move one way or another.

It is with the help of others that you can begin to move forward.  Allow those around you to lift you up and set you in the direction you need to go.  You have the ability to write your own future in this moment.  Don’t let it pass you by, but instead turn this moment to your advantage.

Where should I be flying higher?
The Seance atop The Healing Witch, Eight of Swords

There is encouragement here to allow the spirit guides a stronger voice and more open hand in your life. Although you’ve been working on becoming more in contact with them and having a more open relationship with them, there is still a great deal more to be done.  Reach deeper, seek more.  Allow them to help you and heal you.

And…. I just realized that in the first part of this reading the “others that can help me begin to move forward) wasn’t talking about L or Z or Gid. (Having one of those hand-to-forehead-slapping moments.)

DECK USED: MILDRED PAYNE’S ORACLE OF BLACK ENCHANTMENT AND BEAUTY OF HORROR TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I had my smoothie today.  I also made sure that I got some actual quantifiable work done today instead of continuing to put it off and avoid it.

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?

Pazzol Deck, Flowers from the Dead Oracle, The Fantod Pack

Earth – King of Wands and Bee – Get your ass in gear with your business. You have a lot to do and you are dawdling. It’s time to seize up your motivational “oomph” and toss it into the fire to burn brightly and light the way.

Air – Knight of Cups and Rabbit – What you desire is right there for the taking. Use those quick reflexes of yours to snag it up.

Water – Six of Wands and Hawk -You may need a little extra praise and admiration from others this week to help lift you up. There’s nothing wrong with that, just make sure what you take to heart is given in honesty and sincerity.

Fire – Ten of Cups and Possum – Don’t forget that work can make you happy. You are in the fortunate position of being able to do what you love, which has allowed your business to grow and thrive over time. Work at getting back in touch with that joy that doing what you do so well provides.

Waning – The Limb atop The Bundle – Don’t allow yourself to be tied down by fear of failure.

Waxing – The Blue Dog atop The Ancestor – Accidents can just as easily be fortuitous as a misfortune. Stay open to the potential for happy accidents.

Take Away – Like so many of my readings over the past week, this is about the holiday rush, but it also reaches beyond that to the general “malaise” I’ve been experiencing this week and how it has been dragging me down.  The advice here is to get moving and once started, things will begin to roll along easier. Sitting back and not doing anything isn’t helping anything.  There is also a reminder that I received the other day… that accepting praise and allowing it to lift you up is not necessarily a bad thing as long as you are selective with who it comes from.

DECKS USED: PAZZOL DECK, FLOWERS FROM THE DEAD ORACLE, THE FANTOD PACK BY EDWARD GOREY

Motivation Comes In All Forms

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Today’s meditation was skipped.  I just didn’t do it.

Tarot of Haunted House and the How to Be a Wildflower DeckToday’s draw is the Knight of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of an active beta energy, personality, or person in the area of ones passions, drive, principles, and willpower. As with all wands, this isn’t about a physical thing, but rather about that inner spark of energy that “lights a fire under your ass” and “makes you tick”.

Sometimes?  That fire that’s lit under our ass actually comes from someone else. Today’s cards are a reminder that it’s okay to take inspiration from other’s kind words.  When someone says something that they admire about you, or speaks encouraging words to you, don’t allow them to roll off your back like rain off of a slicker.

Instead, take a moment to enjoy them and let them sink in.  Allow them to lift you up and inspire you. It’s okay to feel good about yourself, and those good feelings, no matter their origins, are a healthy way to spark your inspiration.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF HAUNTED HOUSE AND HOW TO BE A WILDFLOWER DECK

Mr Lionharts’ #TheOctoberTarot #SeasonoftheWitchChallenge Prompt
Questions for October 23rd and 24th

The Hollow Wood Game Cards and Old Whispers TarotI know without knowing, I feel in my bones, that this could be one thing, that I am to hone:
Retreating Shadow, Raging Dragon, The Chariot

You need to work on how to better discern when it is time to walk away when things get too hot. There is a great deal of power in a strategic retreat.

Gentle and easy, or passionate thrills, what is a desire, that I should fulfill?
Hearth, Home, Three of Pentacles

Now is the time for you and L to work together and find your groove. Get things ironed out now for the harmony of your home over the busy season ahead.

A message from my spirit guides for me today.

Ten of Pentacles – More gratitude is needed for all that you have accomplished and all that you have.

DECK USED: THE HOLLOW WOODS GAME CARDS AND OLD WHISPERS TAROT

The #EmbraceYourAlterEgo2021 Challenge for Sacred Grounds Tarot Club
Questions for October 23rd thru 25th

Southern Gothic Oracle and Tarot of Haunted HouseWhat can I expect ahead of a merge between myself and my Alter Ego?
Bottle Tree, Justice atop Two of Cups

A time of kicking myself for my priorities as things feel out of balance, followed by a merging entanglement of two contrasting sides of the same coin that will most easily be sorted out through pause and reflection.

How will this merge help me heal?
Conch Shell and King of Wands

It will help you find your groove in both your passions and responsibilities, as well as in your need for self care activities and adequate rest.

How will this merge help me connect with my intuition?
The Mockingbird and Queen of Cups

As finding your balance always does, it will open up your intuition for easier communication, and allow a more fluid and comfortable connection with the different voices your intuition has to offer in its communication with you. Everything flows better when there’s not a bunch of crap in the way… that includes conflict and opposition between the alter ego and self.

DECK USED: THE SOUTHERN GOTHIC ORACLE AND TAROT OF HAUNTED HOUSE

Daily Self Kindness

I forced myself to have my smoothie even though I really wasn’t into putting in the work.  I’m trying to not allow my emotions to dictate so much of what I do…. or, more accurately, don’t do.

Cartomancy Reading – Experiences

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The prompt for this reading came from one of my Discord servers and is as follows: “Experiences are a part of life, big or small, but what we do next will help us even more.I hope you all have a wonderful week, write this one down! You may need it later. ❤️”

Cartomancy with the Haunted Playing CardsWhat experience(s) am I not allowing myself to have right now?

Seven of Diamonds – Slow moving growth.

Eight of Clubs – Getting anywhere fast.

Four of Spades – Recuperative rest.

Take Away: You are spinning your wheels, neither moving quickly in the things you need to do, nor allowing yourself the slow progress of growth. You are also not getting the rest you need to bounce back stronger. All in all, these cards are saying you are stuck in a moment of stagnancy.

How could I use the answer above to shape my next journey?
Five of Diamonds atop Three of Clubs atop Four of Diamonds atop Ace of Spades

There is a need for stability that is lacking right now, and it has wedged itself between your ambitions and your ability to move forward and take action. This need for stability is bred by your scarcity issues, and the only way you are going to break through it is to force yourself to get moving even though you don’t feel like it.  Put away “what you feel like” and just move your ass anyway.

How might this be beneficial to me? Why?
Ace of Clubs atop Ten of Clubs

You need motivation to push you forward, or the scarcity issues you deal with overtake and make you stall out. Once you get moving and get the ball rolling on what needs to be done, it will get easier.

DECK USED: HAUNTED 8s PLAYING CARDS

To-and-Fro… Balance to Come

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Today’s meditation was sort of skipped?  I did some breathing exercises in the car as a passenger, but I didn’t do a full fledged meditation.

Skeleternity Tarot and Thera-Pets Emotional Support Animal CardsToday’s draw is the Two of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of the duality of balancing health and home with one’s ambitions and work responsibilities, struggling with multiple priorities, time management, and the ability to adapt as needed to juggle one’s commitments.

I have been working at creating a more healthy balance between my personal care and my work life over the past couple of years. It’s been slow going, and I still struggle with it.  It seems the closer I get to a healthy balance, the more I struggle not to fall in the other direction now… that is to say, I no longer feel the same motivation to work that I once did.

And yet, I still find ways to neglect myself and self sabotage.

Today’s cards are a reminder that self care and finding that balance is not a waste of time. It’s needed.  And things -will- balance out eventually. Imbalance can never last forever, so… even though I’ve swung perhaps a bit too far in the opposite side of the coin?  Sooner or later I’ll find that balance that allows for both enthusiasm and motivation… as well as self care and recuperation.

DECK USED:  SKELETERNITY TAROT AND LESS ANXIETY AFFIRMATION CARDS

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2021 Challenge Prompt
Questions for October 21st and 22nd

Bird ov Prey Oracle and Flux Arcana TarotWhat echos from the past are trying to resurface for me right now?
Indestructible/Enlightenment and Page of Pentacles

This is a reminder of the importance of my meds and the gratitude of finding meds that work.

Once, a long time ago, I was put on a med called Paxil, which turned me into a danger to myself and others. I truly felt indestructible and did a lot of risk-taking behavior. Only once I stopped taking this medication did I come to discover the mess I’d made, and the potential for it to have been much, much worse.

This was a learning experience for me about respect for my body, the things I put into it, and how I might react to those things. I’ve since found a medication that works well for me, but that lesson sticks with me all the same.

How can I safely explore echos from the past that are trying to get my attention?
Miss You Already and Judgement

Take the lessons learned and carry them forward so that you do not repeat them.

DECK USED: BIRD OV PREY ORACLE AND FLUX ARCANA TAROT

PatriciaWestonWitch’s #wwpwHalloweenLenormand Prompt
Questions for October 21st thru 23rd

D'oracle du Clothilde and Skeleternity TarotWhere in my life do I need to ghost out?

Travail and King of Cups – Gid is on vacation, which allows you more time to do holiday prep. Don’t waste this time.

What area of my life am I at a crossroads?

Surprise and Ten of Pentacles – You are feeling out of sorts financially at the moment. Take a deep breath and a beat to let that jolt of “well fuck” ease off, and reflect on what is most important.

Who is the werewolf in my life?

Passion and Ten of Cups – The werewolf in my life (otherwise known as the catalyst for change) is Gideon. He has helped make me into the man that I am today, and I will continue to grow and change through his influence.

DECK USED: L’ORACLE DE CLOTHILDE AND SKELETERNITY TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

Still playing catch up, but I know for a fact that I took a nap after I got home from doing my errands.

Don’t Be Discouraged

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Today’s meditation was just over twelve minutes long, and was the sixth installment of the Foundations III series on the Balance app. This meditation dealt with the labeling of thoughts and sensations, and introduced special awareness through sound and (towards the end) sight.

Pazzol Tarot and Thera-Pets Emotional Support Animal CardsToday’s draw is the Knight of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of  an active beta energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s finances, resources, manifestations, home, health, and the physical world.  This often translates into an active pursuit of these particular themes, alibi… usually a slow moving pursuit, as the Pentacles suit as a whole has a tendency to take its time.

Today is an orders day, and I am…. so not interested.  I say that a lot recently, don’t I?  But it’s true.  I’m not experiencing the joy I once did in my work and that in turn means that I’m not getting the same amount of enthusiasm.   I keep trying to get back in touch with that enthusiasm, but… It’s not happening.  At least not quickly.

These cards are a reminder to keep trying. Keep going.  Things might be going slow and they may not feel like they’re moving fast enough, but they -are- moving.  Just keep going… it’ll be fine.   This message is about keeping the faith, and keeping your eye on the prize, no matter how discouraged you might feel in the moment.

DECK USED:  PAZZOL DECK AND THERA-PETS EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL CARDS

Mr Lionharts’ #TheOctoberTarot #SeasonoftheWitchChallenge Prompt
Questions for October 21st and 22nd

Seasons of the Witch Samhain Oracle and Ritual Abuse TarotFor each full cycle, each moon to come, what am I to conjure before the end of ’21?
Transformation and Page of Swords

Focus on improving your communication with those around you.  It’s not always easy to get yourself across the way you want.  Remember this struggle is something we all deal with, and you can foster better communication by making sure that you are being open about your struggles instead of trying to pretend you’re not struggling and everything’s fine… which comes off a bit heartless when you are fumbling the message.

I embrace all that makes me, and all that I do, what path am I crafting for ’22?
Creativity and Four of Pentacles

As I move towards 2022, you are building a path that includes a deeper sense of rooted security, comfort, and dependency upon your creative spark, and a greater appreciation for what that spark does for you.

DECK USED: SEASONS OF THE WITCH SAMHAIN ORACLE AND RITUAL ABUSE TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2021 Challenge Prompt
Questions for October 21st

Patrick Valenza's Abandoned Oracle and the Pazzol TarotYou – Dismemberment and Ten of Wands – Feeling discombobulated and overwhelmed. The thing is? This isn’t lighting a fire under my ass the way that it would normally.  Instead I seem to be feeling a bit like I’m spinning my wheels and not going anywhere.

Your Current Path – The Crematorium and Five of Cups – Nothing is going to be good enough this holiday season, and you are going to be burning the candle at both ends. This is not unusual for the six weeks or so of the holiday rush, and is a path you have tread upon again and again.

Potential Outcome – The Madwoman and The Lovers – The outcome of this path is a time of forced recuperation as your body and mind revolt from the abuse, and it begins to feel like the world is falling apart around you when really it is you falling apart. As you arrive at the end of the holiday rush, you are at the end of your rope and exhausted, struggling with sleep deprivation, and in need of some healthy choices to help bring yourself onto a track of recovery.

DECK USED: PATRICK VALENZA’S ABANDONED ORACLE AND THE PAZZOL DECK

Daily Self Kindness

I’m playing catch up on posts at the moment and I have no idea what self kindnesses I might have done on this day. I know that I had my smoothie, though, and that I added a large pinch of spring mix added in.