tarot for self care

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?

Черное Таро, Oracle of Nightmares, Halloween Oracle

Earth – The Emperor and Imagination – Use your imagination this week to stay on top of things that are your responsibility. A bit of predictive projection about what is to come is not a bad idea right now.

Air – Queen of Wands and Illumination – Be sure that you are staying aware of your inner narratives this week and bringing to light what’s going on inside your head. Make it a focus… even your main focus wouldn’t be a bad idea this week. You need this awareness right now for things to go smoothly later.

Water – Wheel of Fortune and The Shadow – Be aware that with Gid going away soon, you’re going to have a lot of doubts and worries that’ll be running rampant this week. Lots of ups and downs as concerns that are usually not an issue now arise to screw with you emotionally. Keep in mind that this is a reaction to that upcoming vacation and not based in reality.

Fire – Eight of Pentacles and Disquiet – Don’t let restlessness push you into working yourself to death this week. This is very likely your last few days off until the end of December.

Waning – Hearth atop Lady de los Muertos – Be sure that you don’t let the changes going on right now as the transition towards the holiday rush slides into full swing draw you from your sense of comfort and security this week.

Waxing – Jack-O’-Lantern – Shore up on your protections and check your wards. Make sure everything is in place and ready for the “time of inattention” that the holiday rush can cause.

Take Away – I need to take this week to get as much recuperation as I can while I have the chance, and not allow my restlessness for the holiday rush cause me to take for granted this time. There is also a reminder here about staying positive, and staying aware of what’s going on in my head so that I can course correct any negative inner narrative going on instead of allowing it to get out of hand and drag me down.

DECKS USED: ЧЕРНОЕ ТАРО, ORACLE OF NIGHTMARES, HALLOWEEN ORACLE

You’ll Get There

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Today’s meditation was just over ten minutes long and was the fifth installment of the Foundations III series on the Balance app. It was a continuation of the Yoga Nidra technique, which I’ve mentioned before is a favorite of mine.  I’m not noticing a lot of difference between the different installments in this particular technique, but I don’t really mind since I enjoy the body scans.

Tarocco dell'Orror? and Thera-Pets Emotional Support Animal CardsToday’s draw is the Four of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of dejection, refusal of assistance, contemplative moments, meditation, and feelings of apathy.

Sometimes feelings of apathy come from anxiety.  You stress and worry and over time you feel this sense of disconnect because you just feel like it’s too much.  This is how it happens with me sometimes.  It gets to be too much and I shut down as a defense mechanism.

The problem is, in this “shut down” space? It’s so easy to fall into negativity and pessimistic habits.  It’s so easy to say “this shit just isn’t going to work” and decide to give up and not even try.  This can be especially the case when you feel like the world is trying to beat you down or is picking on you.

Today’s cards are a reminder to not let those feelings win.  To remember that this is temporary, whatever “this” actually may be.  The feelings, the situation, the problem, the trials… it’s temporary.  And you -will- get through it.

DECK USED:  TAROCCO DELL’ORROR? AND THERA-PETS EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL CARDS

PatriciaWestonWitch’s #wwpwHalloweenLenormand Prompt
Questions for October 1st and 2nd

Night Visions Oracle and Halloween Postcards TarotWhat do I need to sweep out of my life?
Curiosity and Temperance

Now is a time to let your curiosity and eagerness for life to flourish. Sweep away the hesitation and moderation in this area of your life, and let in all the wonder around you to dazzle and spark interest and energy in your life.

What message have my spirit guides for me today?
Temptation atop Message, The Lovers atop The Hierophant

An opportunity to learn something new is coming, and you’ll be very tempted to take them up on the offer when it arrives.

Make sure that you remember not to fill your plate too full and make yourself unhealthy as a result. As tempting as the offer is, consider if it is worth a decline in health and happiness to take that opportunity offered, or if it wouldn’t be better to set it aside and see if it comes back around for you again at a better time in your life.

DECK USED: HALLOWEEN POSTCARDS TAROT

The #EmbraceYourAlterEgo2021 Challenge for Sacred Grounds Tarot Club
Questions for October 1st thru 4th

Tarocco dell'Orror?Who am I?

Four of Coins atop Five of Cups – A pessimist with a fixation on stability and security.

Who is My Alter Ego?

King of Wands atop Six of Wands – Someone constantly driven forward by their passions and willing to lead the way to new and innovative ideas, but requires feedback from others to feel complete.

How do I see myself?

The Hermit atop Queen of Coins atop Seven of Wands – A champion of my own principles and values, with a heavy focus that is based on earthly delights and getting out alone in nature for restoration and replenishment.

How does my Alter Ego see themselves?

Page of Wands – Innovative and imaginative, with tons of great ideas to explore and new things to learn.

DECK USED: TAROCCO DELL’ORROR?

Daily Self Kindness

I let myself skip catching up on blog posts and played with Gideon and a friend in interactive storytelling RP instead.

Morning Bonus Read – Paying Attention

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The prompt for this reading came from one of my Discord servers and is as follows:
“Sometimes we become so busy that we may miss something, and that’s okay. It happens to us all. To help ourselves out, we could always use a moment to double check or give attention to detail.”

Voodoo Playing CardsWhat is something that has been on my mind lately that I have not given enough attention to?

King of Spades atop Queen of Clubs – The constantly cycling thoughts of needing to buckle down with my business and push forward for more growth.

This isn’t about considering doing what these thoughts are nagging me about, but the thoughts themselves and how they effect my outlook and life. By allowing them to constantly cycle through my mind as an inner narrative, they are not inspiring me, but rather they are raising my stress levels and causing anxiety.

Is this something I should tackle now?

Four of Diamonds – Hell yes. You need stability in your life right now, and these thoughts are highly destabilizing.

How could I tackle this now, if I need to?

Nine of Clubs atop Queen of Hearts – Set boundaries for yourself that address these thoughts, and ensure self kindness is being protected and prioritized.

How can I accommodate paying more attention to detail into my day today?

Ten of Hearts – Look at all you have and connect with what (and who) makes you happy. Practice gratitude for all of the love you have in your life.

Bonus: What is your favorite warm drink that brings comfort?

Hot chocolate with mini marshmallows. Not the kind made with water, but warm milk heated in a pan with Nesquik powder.

DECK USED: VOODOO PLAYING CARDS

Lowering Expectations

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Today’s meditation was skipped again cuz I overslept just a bit so I didn’t get on the road as early as I wanted to. I probably could have benefited from a bit of meditation tho before driving. I’ll remember that for next time.  That extra fifteen minutes in the house might be worth it if it helps my stress levels on the road.

Tarot Noir and Thera-Pets Emotional Support Animal CardsToday’s draw is the Five of Coins, which is traditionally a representation of financial disparity, scarcity issues, and other struggles, strife, trials, and tests in the area of one’s finances, resources, health, home, and manifestations.

The Thera-Pets card combined with the Five of Coins is all about doing what you can… and not pushing for more.  This is something that I had to learn financially last year, when the pandemic first hit and I lost all of my jobs except one.  I went from five part-time jobs and a thriving home business… to one part-time job and a home business that was doing well, but not growing as it had previously.  (Hard to grow a business selling pretty things when people don’t have money to buy pretty things, yeah?)

I had to make adjustments.  I had to lower my mortgage payment, and I had to lower my expectations of how long it would be before I could pay off my place.  I had to make spending adjustments, and shift the priorities concerning where money went, where I spent my money, and what got paid.

This was hugely stressful, and something that a lot of people went through when the pandemic hit. Unlike many people, I didn’t qualify for financial assistance.  I had to accept that… I’m not going to be able to do everything I wanted to do in the time table that I wanted to get it done in.   And that I could only do… what I can do.

Lowering expectations, especially expectations we place on ourselves is hard.  But no harder than the beating we give ourselves by keeping those expectations high and missing the mark.  So the message in today’s cards?  Make sure that your expectations that you set for yourself are realistic, then knock them back just a notch more, because they aren’t realistic and they aren’t reasonable, even if you think they are.

DECK USED:  TAROT NOIR AND THERA-PETS EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL CARDS

Mr Lionharts’ #TheOctoberTarot #SeasonoftheWitchChallenge Prompt
Questions for October 1st and 2nd

Creepy TarotAs above, so below, what will Samhain reap…

The closer you get to Samhain, the faster things are going to move, and the more control you’re going to be exerting (The Chariot) on making sure the things that you want to get done to be carried forward are getting done (Seven of Wands).

With a holiday rush right around the corner at this time, what we see here is a pick up in speed and the tenacity to plow through obstacles that might be in the way.

or sow?

Togetherness and teamwork with a jovial tone (Three of Cups) towards the goals we’ve set out as the three of us prepare and adjust for (Page of Wands) what will come in the days after Samhain.

Not more than a week after Samhain, the holiday rush will begin. As L, Z, and I slip in to the last minute preparation for the holiday rush, togetherness will be a key element in those preparations.

From today until Samhain, show me how it will begin.

Controlled chaos (King of Wands and Wheel of Fortune), and confidence (The Magician).

Over the month, these are the elements in life that will begin to pick up speed and strength. As more energy is poured into them, they will grow in strength and purpose.

DECK USED: CREEPY TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2021 Challenge Prompt
Questions for October 1st and 2nd

Tarot NoirWhat is my relationship with my ancestors / ancestry at this time?

Nine of Coins atop Seven of Coins – You haven’t been given any real opportunity to explore your ancestry and ancestors. You’ve not really found this to be a hardship thus far, although there have been times your curiosity has been piqued.

That said, you have a good deal of skill in divination techniques that you’ve developed over a long period of time. Although there are many different avenues of exploration available, you’re happy to contact your ancestors through divination work, and be content with this method.

How can I improve my relationship with my ancestors?

Nine of Wands atop Le Diable – Use your addiction to your advantage in this area, but make sure that you’re setting up good boundaries in order to protect yourself and what you hold dear.

This is an encouragement to keep going with your efforts to contact and communicate with your ancestors through divination, and most specifically, the cards. But they are also a reminder that you need to make sure you have protections in place while doing so.

DECK USED: TAROT NOIR

Daily Self Kindness

I gave myself credit for doing a good job on my paperwork perfectly today when I went over the border and came back. Some of the paperwork is quite complicated and can be hard to get right, but I nailed it on the first try!

Don’t Skip It

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Today’s meditation was skipped today as it was an orders day.

Cult of Weimer Tarot and Thera-Pets Emotional Support Animal CardsToday’s draw is the Lovers card, which is traditionally a representation of love, marriage, successful unions, and (as is often the case for me in readings) making healthy choices aligned with what you want in life.

I have a hard time with self care sometimes.  I just do.  It’s linked into my self destructive tendencies, I’m pretty sure.  There are just times when anything that is self care oriented sounds absolutely horribly miserable.  This includes exercise, meditation, morning smoothies, going outside for fresh air, physiotherapy for my mobility, working with my plants on the balcony… even eating or showering.

These are all things that are necessary to a healthy me, and yet… things I sometimes struggle with them regardless of that fact. Making healthy choices for myself (which means doing these things that are simple and easy and yet feel so horribly unpleasant during those times) is extremely important and yet can become monumentally difficult at times due to this.

And, today is one of those days.  Today’s cards are a reminder that need to do these things even when I don’t wanna.  That I can do it, that it’s not as horrible or monumental as it feels like it is… and that I need need to not let that dark cloud of “meh” convince me to skip it.

DECK USED:  CULT OF WEIMAR TAROT AND THERA-PETS EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL CARDS

#DiscordTarotholicsSep2021 Challenge Prompt
Topic: Grab a spread that you’ve been curious about and give it a go!

Noisy Museum Tarot

1 What part of me has been yearning to “get messy”?

Seven of Swords – The strategist is tired.

You know, I never really thought much about this before, but there’s some validity to that phrase. I plan and plot, I scheme and strategize… it is a constant cycle of weights and measures in my mind as I seek how to get the most out of every situation. How to make the most out of my time and energy.

What would it look like to not be constantly conniving and strategizing my life like this?

2 Why have I been censoring or editing myself?

Page of Swords Rx – I want to be kinder. I want to be a better person than the narrative in my head. This requires making sure I don’t spout off with answers or commentary without examining what I am going to say first in order to avoid being insensitive or worse. I don’t really consider this to be a bad thing.

3 Where/how did I learn that it’s not ok to be imperfect?

Two of Pentacles atop Nine of Cups – When I learned that not meeting the expectations of authority figures have consequences that imbalance myself and my life, turning everything on its ear.  Namely, this is a lesson that my parents taught me. I was such a disappointment to them in so many different ways that I didn’t have any control  over (sexuality, interests, etc), that I tried really hard to satisfy them in other ways in which I did have control over (perfectionism).

4 How can I release the tendency to self-censor?

Six of Cups – I am not my father. I need to leave those dark clouds from my past where they belong… in the past.  It’s possible to have learned the lessons needed from these experiences and carry those lessons forward with you into the present without carrying those dark clouds with you as well.

5 How would creating more of a joyful “mess” benefit me?

The Architect (The Magician) – It would provide me with a new set of skills and tools to navigate life with. By being overly rigid, I am cutting myself off from these additional skills.

6 How can I get messy (i.e., let my hair down, color outside the lines, play like a child, etc) today?

The Moon Rx atop Five of Cups – Don’t allow uncertainty to steal away your enthusiasm.

DECK USED: NOISY MUSEUM TAROT

BekahMurphysMagic’s #IntuitiveHealingTarotChallenge Prompt
Questions for September 29th and 30th

Cult of Weimer TarotHow can I become more confident in my intuitive abilities?

Lean into optimism (The Sun), and ensure that you are making choices that keep your emotions (Seven of Cups) in balance with everything else going on in your life (Two of Pentacles).

Neglecting your emotional balance in deference to other goals and endeavors will damage your confidence on many levels, including how you interpret messages from your intuition. So, too, will allowing yourself to sink into a negative mindset.

What have I learned from healing and connecting with my intuition this month?

To stand back and take a breath (Five of Wands Rx). Success (Ace of Pentacles) doesn’t always necessarily require a forward leap (Ten of Cups).

This challenge was a reminder of how developed my intuition already is, and that sometimes it can be harmful to continually push to advance without taking time to sink into the growth I’ve already accomplished.

DECK USED: CULT OF WEIMAR TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I forgot to type in what I did for myself today but considering my struggles with self care today, I think the fact that I had a smoothie with spinach added in is pretty damned good.

Transitioning from September to October

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Tyldwick Tarot 2nd Edition and Brian Froud's Faeries' Oracle

Here and Now I Exist – Who you are here and now, in your entirety.

Page of Cups, Solus atop O! That Gnome – These cards encourage faith in your emotional growth. You have worked hard to get where you are on this path, but with every shift towards the busy season, there is moments of nagging doubts and worries. Believe in this new perspective to strengthen you and help you in doing things in a better and healthier way.

The Slough – What is to be left in the past as you move forward.

Two of Cups, The Singer if Initiation atop Honesty – Your time to explore shadow work and look within yourself for what needs to be exposed to the world (and especially those that love you) is coming to an end. Although self-development may percolate internally over the months ahead, the time of focus and pursuit of this endeavor is drawing to a close for the year.

What Lies Ahead – An ideal state or ideal self you are seeking at this time.

Seven of Coins, The Fairy Who Was Kissed by the Pixies atop The Oak Men – Open your heart, but do so slowly. Haste is not your friend. Remember that friendships and relationships happen slowly over time. There’s no rush. Keep your eyes open. It’s prudent to take some caution.

Limitations – Negative influences, opposition, or ill will.

Wheel of Fortune atop The Empress, The Laume – Take pause and caution when faced with unexpected kindnesses. Not everything is as altruistic as it may at first appear.

The Boon – Positive influences, higher guidance, or divine intervention.

Five of Staves and The Fee Lion – Your passions and principles aren’t a bad thing, even when they put others up in arms. Make sure that you are aligned with your moral compass, and that you have your ducks in a row… then? Don’t worry about what others think. Make sure you are listening to that “need to do” whisper on your shoulder, even if it means making a list to work on -after- you take that needed nap.

The Wound – An unpleasant past experience or event that is ripe for some support and healing.

The Magician atop Four of Swords, She of the Cruach – Don’t look for that nurturing energy you long for from your mother. There are people in your life willing to give that energy to you, but she’s not one of them.

Nostalgia – A positive past experience or event to acknowledge, reflect upon, and enjoy.

Two of Swords and Iris of the Rainbows – Make sure you are looking back on the times when you’ve leaned into optimism and hope instead of allowing yourself to indulge in your natural pessimism. Take a look at how these times have influenced you and your growth, and the lessons that having used this type of positive thinking in the past have taught you.

A Warning – Something coming that can be prevented or overcome.

Five of Swords, Gloominous Doom atop The Guardian at the Gate – If you allow a negative thoughts and negative emotions to take over this month, it’s going to cause conflict and barriers in your way that don’t need to be there. Don’t let the pessimism you’re used to sink in and hold you back from the potential that the next few months have to offer.

Empowerment – A future opportunity to work toward.

Two of Staves and The Singer of the Chalice – Stop trying to force it. Pushing isn’t the answer. If you treat yourself with more kindness as you move along your path and make plans for the future, you will still get where you want to go, but will be much happier and healthier along the way.

Message from the Spirit World – There is a huge amount of warning here about the unpleasant effects on your path forward if you lean into pessimism and negativity in the month ahead.  The cost will be significant, causing many setbacks and conflicts. Better to make sure you are focusing on the positive, and leaning into hope and optimism.

Message from the Mind’s World – You may feel like you are moving far too slow this month to get everything done, but remember that this is an emotional perception and not reality. Hold back from scrambling and racing against the clock, and work to keep your emotions and inner narrative kind and seek an honest perspective instead of leaning into how much more you “should be” doing.

Message from the Physical World – Be kind and nurturing to your body.  It needs a bit of care to recover from the battle it just fought (and won) against the cold that tried to sneak in, not to mention the ankle needs more time healing.  Give yourself, and your body especially, what it needs. Make healthy choices that foster a healthier outcome.

DECKS USED: TYLDWICK TAROT 2ND EDITION AND FROUD’S FAERIES’ ORACLE