tarot for self care

New Moon in Pisces – March 2021

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Today is the new moon, and like all new moons and full moons, I did a spread aligned to the moon’s current themes as a part of my recognition of the moon’s cycle and influences upon us. Today’s spread is about the medicine within, and brought to you by Sharron Basanti of Seeds of Shakti.

Pisces New Moon Tarot Reading - Star Tarot

1. What do I need to surrender to the ebb and flow of the waves?

Five of Cups atop Judgement – With my depression came a great deal of self loathing and hatred directed inward. This is not unusual, but it’s time to allow the energy shift of the new moon to fully release these thoughts and feelings and let them flow away.  Sometimes spilled cups are not something to cry over, but a blessing.  Let go of the sickness and look up.

2. In what aspect of my life can I be more fluid?

King of Cups – Gideon is the King of Cups in this reading, as he is from time to time indicated as such for me.  The answer here is that I can be more open with him, more “free flowing” with my feelings.   Sometimes this is easier for me than others, but… I’m trying.

3. How can I trust my intuitive inklings without doubting myself?

Ten of Swords – Don’t fight but allow these ‘inklings’ to wash over me and speak to me. My intuition speaks to me through my body.  Sometimes it is painful and uncomfortable, and it is in that discomfort when my intuition is speaking to me most strongly.  The imagery in this card tells me that I need to make sure I’m paying closer attention to those physical sensations and allowing them to “light a fire under my ass” instead of just acknowledging them.

4. As I drift into dream time, what messages are seeping through the veil from the other side?

Seven of Pentacles atop The Chariot – Slow down and smell the roses.  There’s no need to move fast, you can still control your direction and get where you’re going while moving at a slower and more manageable pace.

5. How can I hold space for my creativity to flourish and thrive?

Ace of Pentacles atop The High Priestess – Allow your intuition to play and have some fun with creation and manifestation. Your best ideas and creations come from this deep inner knowledge that bubbles up from within. Sometimes the brain gets in the way of that process.  Try shutting the brain off and connecting to your gut instead and see where it leads you.

6. Message from the Ancestors.

Nine of Wands Rx atop Nine of Cups – Keep your defenses low and foster feelings of gratitude and positivity.  Look at all you have with an appreciative eye without allowing the need to hoard or defend stir up within you and pollute the water with their poison and conflict.

DECK USED:  THE STAR TAROT

Don’t Be A Doormat

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IMG_9871Today’s meditation was just over twenty two minutes long and was the last segment of the mantra meditation series in the Oak app.  I’ve discovered that while ten minutes is just a bit too short for me to really sink into my meditation, twenty two minutes is just a bit too long.  It isn’t that I get restless so much as just around the twenty minute mark my mind seems decide it’s time to wander into daydream type “dozing off” musings.  You know, the kind that you slide into just before falling asleep?  Yeah, those.

Tarot of the Old Path and Thera-Pets Emotional Support CardsToday’s draw is the Queen of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of a receptive alpha energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s home life, finances, resources, health, or manifestations.  This often translates into highly responsible individuals with a nurturing nature, themes to do with providing for others while listening to their needs, and being practical minded.

What stands out to me in the imagery of this card today is that the Queen looks tired. Wrung out. She’s put herself out there and done what she can for others and now she needs a minute to rest and take a breath, refortify before moving forward.

When combined with the Thera-Pets card for today, what I see here is a message about pacing yourself. The more you allow people to depend on you instead of doing for themselves? The more they will lean on you to give even more of yourself.  It’s important to “teach the man to fish” for himself rather than just doing everything yourself and wearing yourself out.  Self care is important, and a part of self care is making sure you are not being taken advantage of by those that are either too lazy,  or to convinced of their own inadequacies, to do for themselves.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE OLD PATH AND THERA-PETS EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL CARDS

LionHart’s Whispering Woods Tarot Challenge Prompt
Question: In what area am I asked to plant my seeds of growth this month?

Tattoed Tarot

Reading Summary: Work on connecting with your spirituality and feelings of hope (The Stars), allow them to strengthen you and lift you up (Strength), and don’t allow your enthusiasm for exploration distract you from this (Knave of Wands Rx).

Take Away:  Confession.  As I feel better and recover from the depression, and as my enthusiasm reawakens within me, I have a habit of overfilling “my plate” with too many projects and responsibilities.  A part of that is because I feel better and I want to dive in and explore new things, as well as rediscover old favorites that while I was depressed I had lost my enthusiasm for.

The cards here are a reminder that over this month while I am in recovery and finding my balance, I need to focus on setting to right my balance itself and my connections with my spirituality and inner strength instead of letting that awakening enthusiasm distract me in another direction.

DECK USED:  TATTOED TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsMar2021 Challenge Prompt
Philosophical Question: Are there limits to human creativity?

Tarot of the Old PathReading Summary: Creating boundaries is important (Seven of Rods) in finding the right life path (The Wise One) and our opportunities for growth (Ace of Pentacles).

Take Away: The only limits are those that we put upon ourselves.  That is not to say that we should not put limits upon ourselves, though, but rather that each individual needs to wisely make the best choices for their own self-actualization and growth.

These boundaries and choices we make may limit us in certain ways, but this is so that we can direct that energy into other areas we deem to be more important.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE OLD PATH

Daily Self Kindness

I went for a waterfall hike and had a great time enjoying myself among the mossy branches and nurse logs.

A New Day… Starting Now

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IMG_9836Today’s meditation was just over twenty minutes long and was the ninth installment of the Mantra Meditation course that is being offered on the Oak app.

The meditation included the longest silent time so far and it was really nice right up until the last three minutes when L decided she HAD to interrupt, didn’t like my answer on where the thing was she was looking for, and immediately snarked at me in a very bitchy manner which immediately turned my own calm into an inner snarl of irritation.

So yeah.  That sucked.

Bumbleberry Hollows Tarot and Thera-Pets Emotional Support Animal CardaToday’s draw is the Knight of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of an active beta energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s intellect, aspirations, thoughts, and communication.

I really like these two cards together and the message was so clear that it felt like there was no missing it, especially considering my experience with my sister this morning at the end of my meditation.

What these two cards today say to me is, “Go hack the shit out of this fish and get it all out, then take a deep breath and step forward into the next moment, where you can start anew.”

Why, after all, does it have to be that each day is a new day?  Why wait until tomorrow.  Why not start now, or in a few minutes, or in an hour?

Get out what’s frustrating you, get out those emotions that are dragging you down or irritating you or frustrating you.  Work them out, through exercise or some other way. Expel them through blood or sweat or tears… or all three.

Then take a breath, and move on.  Start again, and make the next time better than than the last.

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

The Marching Into Darkness Tarot Challenge Prompt
Question: Thinking back to a time when I passed judgement on someone else, how was that really about me?

Baby Tarot

Reading Summary: I’ve known a few people in life that have sticky fingers and seemed to see stealing not as a crime or something wrong, but justified in one way or another (Seven of Swords).  I’ve watched them as they have done things like steal from others or shoplift, then just move on if everything is perfect and they’ve done nothing wrong (facial expression in The World). In my case, such an act would cause worries, anxieties, and nightmares (Nine of Swords) and I’ve always wondered how others were able to do this type of behavior and not suffer the same.

Take Away:  My moral compass and ethics are very uniquely my own and no one else’s.   I understand this just as well as I understand that there are things I see no wrong in that others might consider morally corrupt, and things others see nothing wrong in that I personally view as morally corrupt. Sometimes it can be difficult to keep this in mind, though, when you see someone do something that is so far outside the realm of “okay” in your own moral compass and ethics that it seems like something that ‘should’ be universal… but isn’t.

DECK USED:  BABY TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsMar2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: How can I best improve in the area of my greatest weakness?

Bumbleberry Hollows TarotReading Summary: Walk away from (Eight of Cups) impulsivity and distraction (Knight of Wands) and focus on your emotional growth (Ace of Cups).

Take Away: I need to focus upon  my emotional growth and developing my emotional intelligence instead of allowing this, that, and the other to distract me away from this pursuit.

My business, in particular, offers me a great many distractions that speak to my interests and passions, but if I allow myself to get too wrapped up in too many of them, then everything else goes out the window including my self care and seeking that growth that I’ve been working on getting in touch with and fostering for more than a year now.

DECK USED:  BUMBLEBERRY HOLLOWS TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I’ve prepped my day pack to head out for a hike tomorrow.

Morning Bonus Read – Mental Health Check In

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Mental Health Tarot Spread - Minute Lenormand

1. Card to represent my current mental health

Key – Empowered. I am feeling better and better with each day that passes, the dark shadows lifting their cloying grip from my climbing form, and I am starting to feel the light dappling over my skin. The climb has been slow, but each day I feel that I’m making it a bit higher up, and it is in my control to make it the rest of the way.

2. An emotion that’s clouding my perception of reality.

Man – Speaking of control… what is clouding my perception of reality at this time is the fact that I am too focused upon that control.  I need to remember that it’s important to let things go and allow them to move at their own pace.  Don’t push.

3a. How to improve my perception of reality.

Dog – Allow others that I love and trust to step in and help me, and make sure when I speak to my therapist next week that I am entirely honest both about what’s happened and where I am now.  I’m not upset about not having been able to get an appointment when I was in the deep darkness at the bottom of the pit, but that doesn’t mean I can just put this experience behind me and pretend it didn’t happen.  I still need to talk to her about it, even if it’s nearly at the end of that particular journey.

3b. How to gain clarity.

Mountain – Depression and the climb out of that deep dark pit is a challenge that takes time, effort, and a great deal of focus to accomplish. The depression clouds  judgement and shifts perceptions, which is a hurdle that will only lift as I get closer to the surface.  Keep climbing this particular mountain, be patient, and I’ll eventually find myself back on level ground again… and in a place of greater clarity as a result.

4. How to change circumstances around me to elevate my mood.

Child – I need to remember to savor the newness of finding the light again and the joy that comes with each new sensation as I emerge a little at a time out of the pit I’ve been lost in for so long. Take this newness as a new beginning and embrace that budding energy like a rebirth.

5. How I can be happier day-to-day.

Woman – Be kinder and more compassionate to myself and my needs.  Allow that softer side of myself more room to grow and flourish instead of muffling it and pushing it aside for the hard willed determination  to always push forward harder and harder.  Allow myself to walk a little slower and pause to smell the roses along the way.

6. How I can deepen my connection with myself.

Anchor – I need to make sure that I am grounding myself well and often. One of the key themes of the Anchor card is “mellowing out” or “settling down”, and the card in response to this question is telling me to stop worrying so damn much about where I’m going and pay more attention to where I am now.

DECK USED:  MINUTE LENORMAND

Emotional Balance

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Today’s meditation was skipped.  Yes… I know that last weekend’s Self Care Saturday specifically encouraged me to pick things up in this area, but there was just so much annoying shit going on and I couldn’t settle and do it.  I might do a short one before bed, though.

Otto Schmidt Tarot and Thera-Pets Emotional Support Animal CardsToday’s draw is the Queen of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of a receptive alpha energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s emotions, creativity, intuition, and relationships. Among other things, this often translates into themes that have to do with compassion and emotional support.

What stands out to me the strongest in the imagery of this card is equally the swan, and that the look on the queens face looks very… clever.

These aspects remind me of the literary roleplay that Gideon and I used to do based on the Anita Blake series where we played were-swans and had a cove.  There was a particular player in the realm that wanted to come in as the queen of the swans, but we were concerned because she had a tendency to become overly emotional and allow it to screw with her roleplay as well as bleed over into screwing with other’s play and emotions.

The message here is that sometimes even those in charge have moments where their emotions are in control.  At times, this can be good and create a calm and comfortable, almost serene environment.  But only if there are checks and balances in place to make sure when emotions run  high things don’t get out of control.

When my own emotions run high?  I struggle a lot.  Today’s card, combined with the Thera-Pets card for the day, is a reminder that having an emotional moment (or hour… or day… or week) is not the end of the world.  At these times, find what anchors you (that foot the queen in the card still has on the ground) and use it to find your balance once more.

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

The Marching Into Darkness Tarot Challenge Prompt
Question: When do I make others feel guilty, manipulated, or pressured into doing what I want them to?

Harmony Tarot

Guilty: When I am feeling discontentment in a relationship and the need is arising to re-establish or re-evaluate boundaries.  This card indicates that during these moments, I may feel tempted to use guilt to snap the other person to attention and  get things moving and the restructuring started. (Four of Summer)

Manipulated:  Times when I feel the temptation to use manipulation on others or make them feel as if I am are when I am trying to motivate people out of their moments of stagnancy and into a place of inspired movement, often by speaking to them and using what is important to them to drag them out of that stall and into action. (Dusk atop Knight of Spring)

Pressured:  When I am feeling pressure and the strain of upheaval, there are times when I can unintentionally spread that pressure and strain to others either through the projection of my energy, or through how I interact with them or the things I say. (Two of Winter)

DECK USED:  HARMONY TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsMar2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: What is my greatest weakness?

Otto Schmidt TarotReading Summary:  The Tower and the Two of Wands are connected through color scheme and through the contrast of the Empress between them.  This speaks to me of bypassing the energy and themes of the Empress in times of chaos and trouble (The Tower).  Instead of focusing on self care and nurturing energy (The Empress), I focus on finding a way to move past the chaos as soon as possible (Two of Wands) even if it is at my own detriment to do so.

Take Away:  Distancing myself from chaos is a habit that has worked for me in many ways.  The problem comes when you have to run over hot coals just to add that distance and get away from that chaos.  Then, is it better to linger in the chaos and destruction?  Or is it better to run over the hot coals?

The cards here indicate that there are times when it’s better to linger in the chaos, allow the destruction to happen around you, and focus instead upon your own self care and nurturing yourself and those around you rather than seeking out the fastest escape plan.

DECK USED:  OTTO SCHMIDT TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I specifically and consciously chose to not reach out to someone in need of mental health support because I knew that I was personally not in a place in my own mental health where it would be healthy for me to do so.  Putting myself first in this manner is extremely difficult for me.

It Will Pass

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IMG_9804Today’s meditation was a bit different than normal because I felt like a change.  Instead of doing the next installment of the mantra meditation from the Oak app, I did an eighteen minute meditation using the water drops music that I enjoy and just allowing myself to drift.

While doing the meditation, I used the writing on the graphic to the right to give myself a bit of focus, allowing each drop of water to be a punctuation point on the saying and draw the words a bit deeper and deeper.

Not So Mystical Tarot and Thera-Pets Emotional Support Animal CardsToday’s draw is the Five of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of dissatisfaction, pessimism, and the tendency to only see failure and discouragement instead of looking at the positive side of things.

What I see in the image here goes along those lines, in that what I see here is frustration caused by seeing only the struggle and trials of a situation instead of what within that situation is still salvageable.

I’ve had a long few days trying to get myself together after confronting my anxiety over the border thing and playing catch up.  The whole stress and distraction sort of took over my life for a couple of days and now I feel like I’ve fallen behind on so much. Not just blog posts, but eating healthy and taking my vitamins, a large variety of things sort of “fell off the rails” for a few days.

Combined with the Thera-Pets card for today, the message in today’s card is that even when things feel like they’re falling apart, there’s still some good in the situation somewhere.  Take a breath and remember that this moment isn’t the end of the world, it’s just a moment of frustration and struggle.  It will pass, and you’ll still be standing at the end of it all.

DECK USED:  NOT SO MYSTICAL TAROT AND THERA-PETS EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL CARDS

LionHart’s Whispering Woods Tarot Challenge Prompt
Question: What does The Universe want me to create for myself right now?

Cat-Rot Tarot 2020 Edition

 Reading Summary: Stop forcing yourself to work so damned hard (Eight of Pentacles) and create balance (Justice) by creating more happy memories with L and Z (Six of Cups).

Take Away:  Introducing balance through being kind to myself is so hard for me, but that is essentially what is being requested of me here. I need to spend more time with Z and L.  Time that isn’t saturated in work and the business, but is about just enjoying each other’s company.  The cards here indicating that by neglecting these opportunities by focusing too much on work, I am missing out on something healing and balancing.

DECK USED:  CAT-ROT TAROT 2020 EDITION

#DiscordTarotolicsMar2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: Do Spread #1

Not So Mystical TarotWhat do I need to let go of to ease my mind?

Seven of Pentacles – Stop worrying so much about how long things are going to take and just allow them to develop at their own pace.  Impatience is not going to work at making things move any faster.

What do I need to let go of to lighten my heart?

Six of Wands – Remember not to concern yourself too much about other’s expectations.  It’s not their judgements that matter, it’s your own.  If you focus on making yourself happy, they’ll be happy, because you’re your harshest judge and will exceed other’s expectations just to meet those you hold for yourself anyway.

What do I need to let go of to free my creative spark?

The Empress – Ground more and be kinder to yourself. Stop putting off the self care needs that you should be focusing on and doing.  Ignoring your needs and self care will hold you back from a full recovery as you climb, slowing you down and causing you to spend less time without the enthusiasm that feeds your creative spark.

DECK USED:  NOT SO MYSTICAL TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I spent nearly the whole day playing with Gideon today and it was… so fucking amazing.