tarot for self care

Where’s Your Peace

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Today’s meditation was just over twelve minutes long, and was the last installment of the introductory series offered by the Balance app. It was a review of the range of breathing focus and body scan techniques that were taught through the previous sessions and was comfortable and easy to follow.

Animism Tarot and How to Be a Wildflower DeckToday’s draw is the Ten of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of fulfillment, completion, and stability in the area of one’s finances, resources, health, home life, manifestations, and the physical world. This often translates into themes that have to do with having not just found your place of satiation and fulfillment, but then being in a place where you can then share that with others, like family and friends, to help them find stability as well. It is through this, that we can find a sense of completion that this card represents.

I am one of those people who unabashedly, absolutely needs this. I need that time outside. I need the time among the trees and nature with the bare earth under my feet and nature close in around me. Without it, nothing feels right in the world. The more time I get in nature, the better everything seems in life.

How about you?

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

#DiscordTarotholicsAug2021 Challenge Prompt
Questions for August 5th and 6th

Animaux Guides and Vintage Book Illustrations TarotWhere Are  You Content
Frog and Temperance

I’m very content with taking things slow where my emotions are concerned, and moderating things in this area so that I don’t get overwhelmed and out of balance. I understand that emotions play with my perception of reality and the world around me, and how important it is to go slow in this area.

Where Are You Frustrated
Black Panther and Heirophant

Learning how to let go of those things not working for me that I cling to out of familiarity. Although I’m starting to feel like I’m finding my way on this, I have spent a lot of time lately struggling with it and feeling frustrated.

The cards keep saying “let go, let go” and yet when I ask how, they simply repeat “accept, practice gratitude, and let go”. I accept and I understand the need for letting go of old habits and things that are not working in order to make room for new and better things, I practice gratitude daily, and yet I’m still struggling with letting go. 

The Black Panther here speaks of the fear of the unknown being what is holding me back.

What can I do to work through my frustrations at this time?
Fox and King of Wands

Remember that some of the greatest things that you want in life take time to earn and work towards. Not everything is about instant gratification. Pause and reflect on what you really want, and use that time to strategize the best way to get there. It’s through your logical mind and your inner drive that you will find the path forward through these frustrations.

DECK USED: LES ANIMAUX-GUIDES AND THE VINTAGE BOOK ILLUSTRATIONS TAROT

The #MysticStarChallenge at the Sacred Grounds Tarot Club
Questions for August 5th

Animism TarotWhat message does The Magician have for me?

Eight of Swords atop Two of Pentacles – Too much time focusing on stability in one’s life blinds you do everything else that is going on around you. If you want to be aware of the world, you have to look outward instead of focusing so much on your own life and your own goals.

What obstacles does The Magician want to warn me about?

Justice atop Seven of Cups Rx – Focusing too hard on your addictions is not going to find you the emotional satisfaction and satiation that you are craving. Sometimes we use our interests and addictions as a way to “self medicate” for other issues, especially emotional issues. This doesn’t solve anything, and it won’t get you where you want to go.

What guidance does The Magician have for me to overcome this obstacle?

The Devil and Nine of Cups – Focus on techniques to mitigate overwhelm. This is where your largest challenge lies and is what affects your life and emotional balance the most.

DECK USED: ANIMISM TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I made Jer go to Michael’s for me to pick up something I’d ordered. I’m glad I did too cuz they tried to hand me off the floor model that’s missing parts. He was pissed on my behalf and let them have it, and a new in-box version will be there for pick up tomorrow.

Morning Bonus Read – Self Growth

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Cat-Rot Tarot - Self Growth Tarot Spread

Your Past Self – Nine of Pentacles – Once upon a time?  I thought that I had all my ducks in a row and everything in hand.  Back when I was closing myself off to my emotions and working myself into the ground, I really thought I was in a good place.

Your Current Self – Seven of Pentacles – But I soon came to realize that there’s a lot more growth to come and it’s going to take a long ass time to work through. I began to realize that there was a lot more to life than work. I began to realize that I needed to slow down.

Your Higher Self – Three of Swords – I am my best and highest self when I’m able to look beyond my pain and negativity to see the growth and lessons these experiences are offering me. In the moment, this can be difficult, but I know that those lessons are there and I only need to find them and understand them.  It does not take the pain away, but it gives the pain worth.

What Blocks Your Potential – The Devil – Ego. Over confidence. And allowing myself to indulge too deeply in what would otherwise be harmless pursuits. I have an addictive personality, and even though I’m aware of it?  Sometimes it still manages to get its hooks in and take me for a ride I’m not ready for, causing blockages and detours, backsliding and often… recovery as well.

Family Patterns – Six of Pentacles – Being too generous and forgiving with my family.  My father’s abuse.  My mother’s narcissism. Their hurtful behavior is something that has left some serious scars, and yet I can’t manage to hold it against them.  At least not to the extent that would seem reasonable and healthy.

Personal Issues – Four of Pentacles – Overly focused on security and stability.  This is a need that grew from homelessness and severe scarcity. It comes from taking showers in the school locker rooms and sleeping under abandoned cars.  It comes from the instability of couch surfing, and an apartment furnished with car tires, milk crates, and cardboard boxes. It’s my past… and yet something I still struggle with.

Conscience – Ten of Wands – Feeling guilty about slowing down and taking things slower, not doing as much, and not progressing as fast as I’m used to doing. That hard, nose-to-the-grindstone pace that I’ve been pushing myself on for so long has taken its toll and I know it’s time to slow down, but somehow?  There are a lot of times when I feel so fucking guilty about that.  About not doing more and pushing harder.

Desire – Temperance – Less pushing and more time off. More time to connect with my spirituality and path. More time to connect with the world around me.  I have gotten a taste of the slower path and worked through some of my guilt concerning it, and I’ve come to a point where I actually crave more.  This from the man who, just a couple of years ago couldn’t take a couple hours off without going stir-crazy.

Lesson – Wheel of Fortune – Ups and downs happen. It’s part of life. Adapt, and keep moving.

Advice – Page of Swords – Slow down more. Now is the time to indulge in this behavior. Soon enough the holiday rush will start and you will have so much work on your  hands that you’ll be struggling just to keep up.  While things are slow, it’s okay to take time for yourself.  This is a new path, and there’s going to be struggles, but you’re aware of what’s come before and what needs to change.

DECK USED:  CAT-ROT TAROT

Finding Light In the Darkness

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Today’s meditation was skipped cuz I overslept this morning and it was one of those “go go go” days from the time I finally managed to get up.

The Feline Marseilles Tarot and How to Be a Wildflower DeckToday’s draw is the Five of Coins, which is traditionally a representation of hardships, tests, trials, and scarcity in the areas of one’s finances, resources, health, home life, and the physical world and manifestations.

There is a certain type of person that I really admire.  They are extremely rare, but you find them now and then.  Those people that are able to be filled with hope and cheer, no matter their circumstances. When I was in chemotherapy, there was a patient I saw now and then when I went in for my treatments that was like this.  She was battling breast cancer, and she always looked frail and fragile, and horribly ill.  And yet, even knowing that she had to be in so much pain and feeling miserably physically?  She always was cheerful and kind. Positive.  Sweet to the nurses and full of hope.

She was… amazing.  Breathtaking.  And the lesson that this woman taught me about leaning into the good and cherishing what you have is something that I think these cards are encouraging today.  The Five of Coins speaks of disparity, and yet even there are things to cherish during these times.  Things to enjoy.  Things to be grateful for.  When you’re feeling downtrodden and like life is at your worst, these cards are a reminder to seek out those things and cherish them.  Allow them to be a light in the darkness.

DECK USED:  THE FELINE MARSEIILES TAROT AND HOW TO BE A WILDFLOWER DECK

Mr Lionharts’ #TheAugustTarot #SOLTarot Prompt
Questions for August 4th thru 6th

Richie Rich TarotWhat loving energy is here to support me this month?

Two of Pentacles – You have the support you need in order to help you find balance and keep it in check. Allow them to help you avoid diving into anything that will take away your attention from this time when you’re supposed to be resting and enjoying yourself.

What can I do to manifest a good month?

The Hermit – Make sure you’re going out and doing those alone time things that you love so much. Get out in nature and enjoy it. You need this time in order to stay happy and balanced.

What can keep in mind to manifest a good month?

Page of Pentacles – Remember that now is a time of discovery, and you’re learning new things. Sometimes these things take time, and it’s okay to go slow instead of just plowing in headlong.

Something I should try to enjoy or appreciate today.

Ten of Pentacles – Set aside worries and stressors when you go out to dinner with Z and L tonight. Instead, savor the togetherness and enjoy that you’re able to do this with each other.

DECK USED: RICHIE RICH TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsAug2021 Challenge Prompt
Philosophical Question: Are you more of a dreamer or a believer?

The Feline Marseilles TarotReading Summary: There is a dreamer in the fish that is present in the Six of Cups, a solid believer in the groundedness of the Ten of Pentacles, whereas the Four of Swords speaks of rest and a balance between both.

Take Away: There is no choice to be made here, and no imbalance… I am both. Evenly and easily both. 

DECK USED: THE FELINE MARSEIILES TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

L and I took Z out to dinner at the Olive Garden today.  I ate SO MUCH food.  It was so good.  Hands down the best meal I’ve ever had at Olive Garden. I had the Asiago Stuffed Tortellini Alfredo with Grilled Chicken.  It was… so good.

Distractions Can Help

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Today’s meditation was just over twelve minutes long, and was the 9th installment of the Balance app’s introductory course. It focused on combining the skills of breath focus and body scanning into meditation together.

Sacred Bridges Tarot and How to Be a Wildflower DeckToday’s draw is the Nine of Stakes (Swords), which is traditionally a representation of nightmares, worry, negative inner dialogue, and the things that these things result in such as insomnia and anxiety.

The chaos in the Nine of Stakes (Swords) card pulled today is filled with chaos.  It’s about how the world looks when your mind is not at ease, how everything seems out of control.

The Affirmation card for today (front and back are both displayed in the mage), encourages you to take some time to step out of that chaos when it starts to encroach.  Find your joy and follow it, allow it to take your mind off your troubles for a while.

Sometimes, problems don’t get solved through obsessively worrying about them, fussing over them, and struggling with them.  Sometimes? The easiest way to solve our problems is to step away from them and allow our minds to settle.  Then, when you come back to them, it’s with a cool and calm mind that is far more prepared to deal with the issues your mind was so obsessively struggling with.

DECK USED:  SACRED BRIDGES TAROT AND HOW TO BE A WILDFLOWER DECK

#DiscordTarotholicsAug2021 Challenge Prompt
Topic:  Hold Tight / Let Breathe / Set Free

Insect Tarot and The New Arcana OracleHold Tight – King of Cups and The Maze – Hold tight to Gideon, no matter the ups and downs or where life might take you. There are so many things in life that can change and so many unexpected turns to go through, but he’s the one to be by your side through it all. Don’t loosen your grip, and for fucks sake don’t let go.

Let Breathe – Six of Wands and The Giant – The expectations of others will crush you if you let them. You can’t please everyone all the time, but you can make sure that everything is up to your own personal standards. That is enough.

Set Free – Ten of Cups atop Six of Swords, The Lucky Cat – Set free the idea that everything has to be perfect. Life is not perfect. Nature is not perfect. So why would anything that you do have to be perfect? It’s okay for it to be good enough… and not perfect.

Remember that it is only through the flaws that true perfection is actually found.

DECK USED: THE NEW ARCANA ORACLE AND THE INSECT TAROT

The #MysticStarChallenge at the Sacred Grounds Tarot Club
Questions for August 1st thru 3rd

Sacred Bridges TarotRight now my Major Arcana card is:

Temperance – Speaking to themes that deal with moderation, and taking time to connect with and savor the world around me.

What message does the card have for me?

Plowing forward (Artisan of Stakes) can upset the apple cart (Chief of Wheels Rx). Pause to really think about your choices (Two of Stakes) and learn from your mistakes (Apprentice of Stakes).

This is about making sure I’m not just doing what I know, but rather making sure I take my time and align with my new path choices.

Diving into work, ignoring my needs, constantly obsessing over what needs to be done, and focusing only on work and my need to build more and more stability. These things are not working for me anymore, and like a stone struck with a hammer too many times, I was beginning to crumble under the abuse.

What challenges does this card wish to warn me about?

Don’t just jump on those new creative pursuits and opportunities when they come your way (Ace of Waters), you have a tendency to go too fast and think on the go instead of before you leap (Eight of Staves).

When I see something that interests me that I’d like to try, I have a habit of diving in and doing things on the fly instead of pausing to think it all through first. I trust my intuition, creativity, and adaptable nature to help it turn out in the end.

Although this works for me as a process, it allows me to take on too much, as I don’t fully realize beforehand just how much time and work will be involved.

At this time, how can I embrace and incorporate this card best into my life?

Create good boundaries for yourself and toe the line on them (Nine of Staves). Let others help you with the responsibilities and obligations that you already shoulder (Three of Waters).

DECK USED: SACRED BRIDGES TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

So much good time with Gideon today.  I love you so much.

Morning Bonus Read – Monthly Key Spread

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The Prince Lenormand - Monthly Key Spread

Key to Your Heart: What will Guide you to make decisions that are aligned with your heart and your truths this month?

Ship – You know that whole proverb that says “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket“?   Yeah… that.  A lot of times, the Ship card is about travel and business, but in this case? It’s about making sure that you’re not screwing yourself (and your business) over by focusing too much in one area.  Even if you’re not diversifying now?  Make sure you have an escape plan for if you need to. In order to adapt and come out on top, this is important.

Anchor: What will ground you in the face of anxiety, stress, overwhelm, and existential dread in general?

Letter – Write.  Write down your thoughts and your feelings, write down your anxieties and worries.  Share them with Gideon.  Fill your blog with them.  Have a big idea that you can’t explore right now? Write those down too.  List making is a good thing this month, expressing yourself through the written word is very much in your forte.  Use these skills to help ground yourself and find balance when things feel out of control.

Star Wand: What accelerates your magic, creativity, and manifestation powers?

Sun – Optimism and positivity. Sometimes I feel corny when I get this response from the cards. But the thing is? It really does work. Does it entirely take away the depression? No. It doesn’t. But it makes the time spent in them not as severe, and it makes the visits into a depression not as long. It provides more energy, and just… makes the days better. What is “it” that I’m talking about? Optimism and positivity. Making the -effort- to try and see the good side of things, including the Card of the Day activity that I do where I ask each day for the cards to provide me with a positive message to carry with me throughout the day and foster perspective. It helps, no matter how corny my inner pessimist says it sounds.

Blessings from the Stars: The Universe has got your back – how will you be supported this month?

Man – Gideon will be a huge influence in your life this month, in supporting you and helping you in working through what comes up. Don’t forget that he’s there for you and don’t shy away from leaning on him when you need to, sharing with him whatever and whenever you want, and trusting him to always have your best interests at heart.

One Trick Up Your Sleeve: A life saving idea or inspiration for any unexpected challenge or difficult moments?

Lily – Take a pause to think things through, and don’t be shy about asking for advice from those with more experience that have time tested wisdom to offer up to you. Crones are called wise women for good reason.

Emergence Pt 1: What is emerging within you / within your reality right now?

Moon – You’re finally starting to come out of the mind fog that you’ve been struggling with through this season. As you do, your curiosity and creativity are beginning to thrive once more, and you’re starting to experience more enjoyment in your artistic endeavors.

Emergence Pt 2: What are you expanding towards?

Tree – Evolution from past to present. Growth that comes from finding connections to the past that will help you flourish rather than wither your roots. It is time to transform those issues that still drive your inner destructive tendencies, and turn them around into something healthy.

DECK USED:  PRINCE LENORMAND ORACLE

The Benefits of Curiosity

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Today’s meditation was just over fourteen minutes and was a repeat of yesterday’s meditation.  I enjoyed it enough that I wanted to repeat it, and I felt the need to meditate today.  Instead of subversively punishing myself by pushing away that feeling, I gave myself what I was craving.

Mystic Faerie Tarot and How to Be a Wildflower DeckToday’s draw is the Knave (Page) of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of a receptive omega energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s finances, resources, home life, health, manifestations, and the physical world.  This often translates into learning new skills that can be used to create or manifest ideas into reality.

Like all the pages, the Page of Pentacles is filled with curiosity, and is open and ready to learn and explore.  That pairs amazingly with the imagery on the back of today’s affirmation card, which depicts an octopus.  The octopus is one of the most intelligent and curious of our worlds known sea creatures.

The thing is?  The more curious you are?  The more intelligent you have potential to become.  Through every moment of curiosity a learnable moment is born. This is why children ask so many questions. They’re learning. It is through our curiosity that we (all of us) discover the world around us and all the wondrous things it has to offer, and in the combination of the affirmation card for today and the Knave of Pentacles, we see an encouragement to stay curious and eager, interested and engaged.

DECK USED:  MYSTIC FAERIE TAROT AND HOW TO BE A WILDFLOWER DECK

CoffeexTarot’s Who’s Your Spirit Guides? Prompt
Questions for August 1st thru 5th

A card to represent the guide(s) communicating with me.
Journey of the Sacred Bee TarotStrength / California Poppy

This particular guide is all about personal strength in the things that matter to me personally, as well as helping me to navigate the world as I move along my path. Manipulation and persuasion through their messages to help keep me on track, and out of more trouble than I can handle. Their influence is positive and uplifting, but not overtly so.

What type of guide(s) are you?
King of Wands / Dragonfly

Strong willed and determined. Authoritative, but able to relate to the creative drive I harbor inside. Focused on changes, and ensuring that I weather those changes well.

What is your personality?
Alchemy / Sunflower

Patient. Adaptive. Focused on turning negatives into positives. Spiritual interconnectedness. It’s not about them, but about me.  They’re here for a purpose.

What is your connection to me?
The Wheel / Clockworks

I was “picked up” (much like a stray pup) for the purpose of being guided through the ups and downs of life. They see themselves as the protector of my balance as life shifts like sand beneath my feet.

Message you have for me?
Five of Swords atop Two of Disks

“With each failure and defeat, make sure you are looking forward to adapt instead of allowing these times to beat you down and send your world out of balance.”

DECK USED: JOUNEY OF THE SACRED BEE TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsAug2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: What do I need to prepare to harvest in my life during the month ahead?

Mystic Faerie TarotReading Summary: Nurturing yourself and others (The Empress) will lead to closer/tighter bonds between you and others (Three of Cups), leading to a greater strength (Strength) for what is to come throughout the harvest season (wheat in Empress’ arms).

Take Away: Strength, especially the quiet strength that lies beneath the surface, comes in many shapes and forms. It isn’t always just about us, but sometimes is bolstered and supported by others.

As I prepare for the harvests coming through the month a head, I need to keep in mind just how much benefit… just how much strength I get from those around me.

Don’t take this for granted, but instead appreciate it and return it with your own brand of support and nurturing as a way of showing gratitude for all that they offer you.

DECK USED: MYSTIC FAERIE TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

It set me back in my work, but I let myself take a nap today even though it was an orders day.  Oddly?  I managed just a short nap instead of my body’s normal demand for at least two hours, but it was enough to help me keep going and finish up what I needed to get done today.