tarot for self care

You’re Worth Fighting For

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Today’s meditation was skipped because I had my days messed up.  I thought I had a shrink appointment today and I waited around for her to call only to realize it was tomorrow.  I would have structured my day completely different if I’d realized.

E D Jasbeck's Non-Binary Tarot and Thera-Pets Emotional Support Animal CardsToday’s draw is the Seven of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of standing up for one’s convictions and principles, protecting your values, and doing feel is right even against opposition to the contrary.

Sometimes being a fighter isn’t about our goals or a physical struggle. Sometimes it isn’t even about conflict at all, other than our own inner conflict. Because there are times when being a fighter is about standing strong with your own idea of what’s right and wrong, holding your principles, values, and mores sacred for your life instead of allowing them to be corrupted, warped, or torn apart by others.

When we come up against people that try to warp our values, it can sometimes create a huge struggle. Not giving in or compromising your values and principles can sometimes feel like a never ending battle, but these values are what guide who you are… and you are worth fighting for.

DECK USED:  E D JASBECK’S NON-BINARY TAROT TAROT AND THERA-PETS EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL CARDS

The #ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge Prompt for the Sacred Grounds Tarot Club
Questions for September 13th thru 15th

Universal Folklore Oracle and Illuminated Playing CardsWhen do I trust myself?
Expansion, Seven of Clubs atop Eight of Clubs

You trust myself the most when you are in a time of growth, and your focus and passions are set upon exploring that growth and finding how it fits in with your own personal set of values and mores.  This allows you to expand your perspectives and awareness, even when what you’re learning about doesn’t fit in with your own personal path.

What can I do about the fear of being wrong?
Duality, Ace of Hearts atop Two of Hearts

Being wrong isn’t really a fear that you have, as you are self-aware enough to be able to let go of incorrect perceptions and absorb new ones easily. This allows you to see other people and their perceptions far more easily and say “I was wrong” without any real fear.

What is my favorite mantra?
Uncover, Eight of Hearts atop Four of Clubs Rx

When something isn’t working, it’s time to move on and try something else, and you will be guided to tread the path that’s right for you if you openly listen to your intuition.

DECK USED: UNIVERSAL FOLKLORE ORACLE AND ILLUMINATED PLAYING CARDS

#DiscordTarotholicsSep2021 Challenge Prompt
Topic: My struggle to look at the holiday rush in a healthier way.

Forest Fae Cards and E D Jasbeck's Non-Binary TarotThe Problem – The Green Man and Eight of Pentacles – You are looking at it from the angle of the holiday rush being all work and no play. There is no aspect of joy or adventure because you are too focused on the grueling work involved.

The Lesson to Learn – Keep Going and Five of Pentacles – Persistence can overcome perception with time. This lack-of-joy perspective creates a sense of scarcity, but if you keep trying to add joy and enjoyment into the experience, eventually you’ll be able to transform this perspective into something you’ll be more happy with.

Advice to Help You Through – Spiny Sister and Ace of Pentacles – Look at everything you do and everything you make with fresh eyes and an appreciative gaze. Every one of your creations are gorgeous, and you need to work on not losing sight of that fact.

DECK USED: FOREST FAE CARDS AND E D JASBECK’S NON-BINARY TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I made sure that I got back home and online with enough time to have some time with Gid today.  Even after the interruption of the graffiti on the outside of the building, I still feel like we got more time tonight than we have for most of the nights in this last time off.  It was nice and relaxing and… it felt really good.

Finding the Fire Within Part II

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Finding the Fame Within Part 2 - Lenormand Reflet di Lune

How can I release my fears and insecurities?

Anchor and Crossroads – Make sure that you are grounding yourself, so that when difficult choices arise you’ll be on solid footing. It’s always more difficult to make good decisions when your life feels chaotic and your energy is out of balance.  This process becomes even more difficult when that imbalance allows fears and insecurities to slip in and pollute the decision making process.  By having a steadily grounded foundation under your feet during these times, there’s less chance of those emotions screwing with your decisions.

What steps can I take to more deeply embrace my true self?

Lady, Moon, Cross – You need to return to doing regular lunar rituals with L. Not only do they provide a deeper connection with your path, your spirituality, and the energies surrounding you, but they connect you more deeply with L as well. As your other half, she is a part of you and you a part of her.

How can I protect myself from external factors?

Ship and Lily – Visit your mother.  You may not entirely understand how this can protect you from external factors, but the cards here indicate that visiting your mother will do so.  Perhaps it will douse the fire of her outrage and future machinations or something.

How can I boost my confidence to express myself?

Book and Key – Knowledge is power. Do your research so that whatever you are expressing yourself about can be resourced if needed. Having a strong foundation of sources to back up your knowledge will provide you with more confidence in what you are saying. Consider, on certain topics, noting down a list of resources for future reference.

What guidance do I need through this process?

House and Mountain – Retreat to the comfort of home when things feel insurmountable. Allow that comfort that both your physical home, as well as Gid and L, can provide to soothe you and shore up your strength to try again.

Self Care – Fish – For now? Just go with the flow. You can worry about the more challenging stuff later on.

DECK USED: LENORMAND REFLET DE LUNE

Think First, Before Acting

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Today’s meditation was skipped because the housekeeper came early, and after she left I blacked out due to low blood sugar and ended up in the hospital.  Crap ass day, obviously.

Journey of the Bearded Tarot and Thera-Pets Emotional Support Animal CardsToday’s draw is the Five of Fire (Wands) which is traditionally a representation of conflict, butting heads, and abstinence bred out of a certainty that you are in the right.

I got a real kick out of this card today, as what really stood out to me was the look on the bird’s face. The man below blows a dart and hits the bird, and the bird looks down at him with a very clear “You fucker!!” expression in return.  It cracked me up.

I feel like my perception of this card, combined with the Thera-Pets card has more to do with taking the easy way out instead of taking your time. The hunter kills the bird because it’s the easy meal.  Maybe if he’d had some patience, something better would have come along.  He feels entitled to take the birds life, just as the bird feels entitled to living its life freely.

The message here is about taking the first thing that comes along… or waiting for something more suited.  There are times, like when searching for a job or considering new opportunities, that it can be tempting to snatch up the first thing that comes along.  But that’s not always the best choice, even if it feels like you are getting somewhere faster by taking it.  Instead, these cards remind us to pause and consider if what we’re being offered really connects with what we truly feel is right and good, and with what we want out of life. If the offer does not align with these things, sometimes it is better to pass on an opportunity, even if it means things move a bit slower than you want them to while you find the options that are truly right for you.

DECK USED:  JOURNEY OF THE BEARDED TAROT AND THERA-PETS EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL CARDS

Mr Lionharts’ #TheSeptemberTarot Rise and Fall Prompt
Questions for September 13th thru 15th

Oracle of Echoes and The Pulp of TarotSomething I have grown in since the beginning of 2021.
Boundaries atop Home, Cinque di Bacchette

Setting clearer boundaries and expectations at home, so that there is less conflict and butting of heads. When boundaries aren’t clearly defined and people don’t know what you want from them, it causes unnecessary conflict that can be easily avoided.

Is there room for (more) personal growth this year in any area?
Gift and King of Wands

Yes. It’s time to turn your attention to your goals and passions. You need to begin working at looking at the busy time to come as a blessing and a gift, instead of a dreaded trial to be suffered through.

Envision where you want to be or what you want to have achieved by the end of 2021 and draw a card.
Let Go and The Devil

[Goal to Achieve: By the end of 2021 I would like to be closer to paying off my line of credit. Potentially a good deal closer than I am now. It is unrealistic it will be paid off, but I want to get things moving in that direction using the added income that the holiday season brings in.]

To achieve this goal, you are going to have to ease up on your addictions, and let go of your obsessions. You can’t both spend money on whatever you want and pay off the line of credit.

DECK USED: ORACLE OF ECHOES AND THE PULP OF TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsSep2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: What makes you feel…

Marcel's Oracle and Journey of the Bearded TarotExcited – Baptism and Two of Fire – New passion pursuits. The beginning of that journey when everything is shiny and new, and there’s lots to experiment with and discover.

Happy – Vivid Dreams and Nine of Air – When my medication is working well and keeping both my depress and anxiety in check.

Note: Vivid Dreams is a direct connection to the extremely vivid dreams that I have that are caused by my medication when I shift from an old bottle to a fresh one.

Calm – Lovers and Queen of Earth – Gideon and the calming energy that he provides for me when I am worked up. He is my comfort and my anchor, a touchstone for my soul and provides me a counterbalance for when I am struggling.

DECK USED: MARCEL’S ORACLE AND JOURNEY OF THE BEARDED TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I refused to stay overnight at the hospital.  They wanted to keep me for observation, but I felt extremely uncomfortable with all the covid shit going on and the fact that I was taking up a bed that someone else could be desperately in need of.  I felt much better coming home and allowing L to help me in keeping things well in hand during the 24 hours following the visit.

Don’t Close Your Eyes

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Today’s meditation was skipped because I  napped instead… with a little bit of dawdling on my phone on the side.

IMG_4512Today’s draw is the Eight of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of turning a blind eye to important information, ignorance, the closed minded set of having a victim mentality, and allowing negative thoughts and inner narratives to take your power and dictate what you can’t do.

There are times that when we fuck up, it’s because we didn’t get enough information first, or even turned our eyes away from what we needed to know. This lack of knowledge then hinders us and can cause us to stumble or fall as a result.

Instead of being down on ourselves because we missed something, and having missed it we end up cutting ourselves on the swords of life… Remember that these moments and mistakes allow you to come back better and stronger the next time you were confronted with a similar problem.

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

#DiscordTarotholicsSep2021 Challenge Prompt
Topic: Do Spread 2

Children of Litha TarotWolf – How can I encourage my strength and bravery for hurdles yet to come?

Seven of Swords – Stand strong in what you stand for and where you’re values lie. Check in with your moral compass often, and pay attention when it speaks up instead of pushing the concerns aside or trying to mitigate them.

Owl – How can I learn to better trust my perception of the world and others?

Queen of Swords – You carry with you the lessons you’ve learned in the past, and in those lessons you possess knowledge that has been tried and tested. Don’t forsake that knowledge just because you want it to be wrong.

Stag – Where in my life can greater dignity create a stronger sense of integrity?

Ace of Swords – New ambitions can turn us all into fools at heart. When you approach new ideas and ambitions with dignity, you allow a measure of of balance and added integrity to that fool that resides within your heart.

Eagle – Why does good and successful leadership also require a modicum of grace?

Knight of Pentacles – Because anything worth doing is worth doing right, and takes time and attention to accomplish anything of great worth and do well at it. Grace gives you that added time and space to ensure those you lead are cared for along the way.

Salmon – In what direction have I been moving by instinct without realizing it?

Nine of Swords – Anxiety is high right now and a big part of that is habitual. In the past, you have used the adrenaline that your anxiety produces to light a fire under your ass for the approaching busy season.

Wild Goose – How have my past relationships and friendships taught me to be a better person?

Strength – They have taught me to see, better understand, and respect my personal strengths and how they can be used to connect with and help others.

DECK USED: CHILDREN OF LITHA TAROT

BekahMurphysMagic’s #IntuitiveHealingTarotChallenge Prompt
Questions for September 9th thru 14th

Retrospective TarotWhere am I facing blocks in my healing?

Knight of Cups – What we want doesn’t always align with what we need. Keep in mind that you just can’t always have everything you want, and that wouldn’t be healthy for you even if you could.

How do I address this blockage in my healing?

Three of Cups – Celebrate what you have and who you have it with. Put people first on your priority list, with joy as a close second.

Where am I facing blocks in abundance?

Five of Coins – You have no blocks in your abundance, but you do have scarcity issues. This is a perception of always never having enough and needing more. Keep in mind that self-fulfilling prophecies are a thing.

How do I address this blockage in abundance?

Four of Cups – Do what needs done to set it aside. This perception of scarcity is not helping you and can cause a great deal of harm. Better to set it aside than to let it disrupt all that you’ve built.

What is the current area in which my family needs healing?

King of Swords – We are all adrift due to the fact no one has taken the helm and set down the “law of the land” where family is concerned.

How do I heal my family in this area?

Four of Coins – Provide that stable base needed for everyone to balance upon. Be the raft in the ocean of uncertainty.

DECK USED: RETROSPECTIVE TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I’ve started making sure that I have my probiotic smoothie every day again, even on days like today where I’m unenthusiastic about it.  It’s weird how even the stuff I enjoy and brings me pleasure can at times be things that I feel so “meh” about. But only those things that are -good- for me, not all things.

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?

Alice in Tarotland, Zombie Diaries Oracle, Illustrated Bestiary Cards, Illustrated Herbiary Cards, Illustrated Crystallary Cards

Earth – Death and Beach Morning Glory – Things are beginning to shift. Have faith in yourself and your resiliency. And remember, not all change is bad. Look for the boon.

Air – Three of Swords and Canal – Community effort is needed for survival. Make sure you aren’t keeping your inner narratives to yourself. Tripping over tongues aside, people that you depend on (and that depend on you) need to know what is going on.

Water – The Star and Glowworms – Stay in touch with your emotions and don’t shut them out. It’s okay to allow yourself this time and let your emotions take the wheel for a while. Just make sure they stay on a path of positivity, hope, and optimism. You need that spark of light in your life right now.

Fire – The Hermit, Dragon atop Petrified Tree – Now is not the time to jump on “the holiday rush is coming” express train. There is power and strength in holding back right now, and taking this time for yourself.

Waning – Sea Eagle and Mugwort – Although small, slow changes are beginning to slip in here and there, it’s not time to jump just yet. Hold back and rest for a bit longer.

Waxing – Blue Topaz atop Ammolite – Patience is not always easy, but it’s “rocker on the porch” time in your life right now. Sit back and observe the world around you with a calm and peaceful eye.

Take Away – This reading is all about making sure I’m not getting too far into the holiday prep yet. I have a bit longer to take time for myself. Don’t rush.

DECKS USED: ALICE IN TAROTLAND TAROT, ZOMBIE DIARIES ORACLE, ILLUSTRATED BESTIARY CARDS, ILLUSTRATED HERBIARY CARDS, ILLUSTRATED CRYSTALLARY CARDS

Don’t Give Up

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Today’s meditation was just over sixteen minutes long, and was the first installment of the Foundations III series on the Balance app.  The meditation today was focused upon body scanning, and although I usually enjoy body scan meditations, I was having a really hard time staying on task today for some reason.

Alice in Tarotland and Thera-Pets Emotional Support Animal CardsToday’s draw is the Tower card, which is traditionally a representation of chaotic restructuring, sudden catastrophic changes, and tearing down the old to make room for something new and different.

Remember all those moments in your life where you were certain that it was the end of the world, and that the world as you know it would never be the same again? Those are “Tower” moments, and they happen to everyone. It is a part of how we grow.

We become stronger by making it through these moments.  By surviving them and adapting to them, moving through them, and then beyond them. The  message in today’s cards is that when these moments happen, we need to remember that we’ve gotten through hard times before, and will again… and you will this time, too.

DECK USED:  ALICE IN TAROTLAND TAROT AND THERA-PETS EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL CARDS

The #ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge Prompt for the Sacred Grounds Tarot Club
Questions for September 9th thru 12th

Dream Symbol Oracle and Osho Zen TarotHow can I make life choices more consciously?

Teeth and Innocence – Don’t worry so much about what other people are thinking. Better to ask outright than guess, for when you guess (even in those times you are sure you know your right) your thoughts are not unbiased and will pollute the truth. Communicate openly and honestly, and make it clear you expect the same in return.

How can I take action for myself at this time?

Mushroom and Guidance – Lean into the advice and guidance of your spirit guides. They are there to help keep you healthy and happy, to ease you through difficulties and encourage your growth. To do this, you need to stay open to their messages.

How can I better grow from my mistakes?

Bee and Success – This message has been coming up quite a bit lately. Remember that mistakes are learning experiences that help you grow and do better moving forward. Take those lessons and carry them forward to improve upon future endeavors.

When i feel hesitant about refusing, how can I build the courage to say no?

Altar and Sharing – Take a moment to connect with why you are saying no, and explain your side of things. Open communication and allowing people to see things from where you stand is important in making uncomfortable refusals easier to deliver.

DECK USED: DREAM SYMBOL ORACLE AND OSHO ZEN TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsSep2021 Challenge Prompt
Questions for September 11th

Zombie Diaries Oracle and Alice in TarotlandHow will your courage be tested this autumn season?

Hibiscus and Queen of Pentacles – It may be a struggle to tame your anxiety issues this Autumn. Make sure that you are making healthy choices concerning what you are eating and in the ways that you ground yourself. Anything less will only make things worse right now. Hiding behind unhealthy habits is not going to make things better.

How will your strength be tested this autumn season?

Petrified Tree and The Emperor – Impatience is not your friend. Make sure to keep in mind that things move at their own pace for a reason. With your life currently in transition between the relative quiet of the spring and summer months and the chaos of the late fall and the winter season, you need to ensure that you aren’t holding the reigns too tightly. The strength here is in patience and easing of your grip, instead of becoming too much the controlling dictator.

How will your faith be tested this autumn season?

Canal and The Tower – Shit happens. It’s a part of life. Do not allow the chaos and sharp sting of betrayal that sudden change can cause to make you lose faith in either yourself or your path. Stay afloat and ride out the shifting of the earth beneath your feet as bedrock moves and your world trembles. Keep faith that you can make it through, adapt, and turn whatever comes to your advantage.

DECK USED: ZOMBIE DIARIES ORACLE AND ALICE IN TAROTLAND TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

More naps. No cooking today either.  Just a day full of leftovers.  So pretty much a lazy day all the way around.