Open and Honest

Today’s meditation was skipped because I ended up dozing off in the middle of it and taking a brief nap.  Although it was just a short nap, I was worried that if I tried again I’d end up taking yet another longer nap.  Granted, I did end up doing that later in the afternoon, but I also managed to get some stuff done today so I didn’t sleep the whole day away as I was worried that I would if I’d tried to meditate a second time.

Broken Mirror Tarot 4th EditionToday’s draw is the Empress card, which is traditionally a representation of the Divine Feminine’s qualities of strength and grounded, nurturing energy.  It’s about power, but also a connection to the earth and the nurturing energy of motherhood.

What stands out to me today in the imagery of this card is the heart on the Empress’ sleeve.  The energy of the Empress is both giving and forgiving, nurturing through warmth, support, and generosity.  The heart on her sleeve speaks eloquently of these qualities.

The message in today’s card is about embodying that openness in oneself, just as how the Empress wears her heart on her sleeve.  Don’t bottle up your emotions or hide them from others.  This hinders people from knowing the real you and holds you apart from those you might otherwise connect with.

Instead, try to stay open and honest about your emotions.  Allow them to show and to shine through… even the bad ones but especially those loving ones that will foster connection with others.

DECK USED:  BROKEN MIRROR TAROT 4TH EDITION

The Radical Love Tarot Challenge Prompt
Topic
:  Moments where I find myself

Elemental Power Tarot

The Hermit – In the woods. Society out of sight and out of mind. Just me and the trees.  I find myself within this alone time, by connecting with nature and with my need for nature. Healthy alone time in the embrace of the forests is my most favorite type of alone time, and helps me find the steady, grounding energy I need in order to survive and thrive in the busy world we all deal with on the day to day. My time alone in the woods is a time of centering and grounding, of drawing in the earth’s energy and blending it with my own to find the quiet core whisper of the self that can sometimes become muffled in the chaos.

Queen of Coins – When I consult with my mentor for a better path and she helps me find the rooted steps I need. Z has been mentoring my sister and I since we were nine years old.  She has always helped me in finding my way back to myself, and how to find what is my personal truth, when I am feeling lost or uncertain on my spiritual path. She has taught me over the years what it means to know thyself, and to know what is right for you, as well as how to stand up for what is right for you and claim it as yours rather than allowing others to distort it into what they think is right.

Ace of Coins – When I am creating new things. One of my greatest joys is taking an idea and tapping into my creative spark to manifest that idea into reality. I create new designs of jewelry and have new ideas for fresh and new designs all the time.  I have designed and created furniture, trinkets, graphics, artwork, and crafts.  I plant seeds and grow from those seeds flowers, vegetables, and crops. I write reams and reams of stories as imagination is put down into text and storylines. The manifestation power in the Ace of Coins is with me every day in one small way or another.

DECK USED:  ELEMENTAL POWER TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsFeb2021 Challenge Prompt
Question
:  What is a hidden talent I possess that needs encouragement?

Broken Mirror Tarot 4th EditionReading Summary:  I have the ability to move fast (Seven of Coins Rx) and take decisive action (Knight of Swords) when needed and have it turn out positive in the end (The Star).

Take Away: This is about adaptability and course correction.  It’s about how things have felt so uncertain in the world (and thus in my home business) over the past year and how I am able to make momentary decisions that turn out to “work out” in the end to keep things with the business moving in a positive and successful direction. I’ve felt a little bit of uncertainty lately because of the Canadian side of my business model (my Canadian half of the business is down here and living with my sister and I for almost a year now), and some restrictions and changes they’ve been saying they are going to put in to effect up there. It’s starting to sound like my house guest might be here for another year, that I might have some problems getting that part of my taxes done, etc.

The message here in these cards is to remember that I’m capable and adept at making quick decisions that allow things to keep moving.  I’m good at adapting.  I’ll find a way to make things work and keep things going no matter what, so stop allowing worries to take control and eat away at my confidence in myself.

DECK USED:  BROKEN MIRROR TAROT 4TH EDITION

Daily Self Kindness

I got all of my medical bills submitted to the insurance company today. I’ve been putting this off for months because it’s such a pain in the ass. Today I made sure I got all of the different receipts collected together and submitted.  23 of them in all. It’s a little thing, but it feels huge.

Reactionary Sensitivities

IMG_9254Today’s meditation was just over twelve minutes long and was a guided meditation from the Calm app with added interval timer for my piriformis stretching.

The focus of today’s meditation was a loving kindness exercise that I, surprisingly, didn’t feel all that uncomfortable with. Usually?  I do, but for some reason, today it went really smoothly.

It is, in a nutshell, an exercise where you first do a body scan and build up loving kindness energy for yourself, then seek to direct that energy to someone you care about, and then someone you aren’t particularly fond of… and then expand it outward to encompass everyone and everything.

Tarocco Sopraffino Anima Antiqua - Nine of CupsToday’s draw is the Nine of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of emotional satiation and contentment. Like the Nine of Pentacles, this card is a bit about wallowing in one’s good fortune and getting in touch with their gratitude, although in this case it is an emotional good fortune instead of a physical one.

Okay so to be honest what really stands out to me today in this card is the fact there’s a little black spot on the bottom right of the card.  A SPOT!   I’m going to have to go through the deck and figure out what the fuck happened.  Maybe it’s just a bit of debris from my plant specimen box.
We’ll see.

And… yeah.   So here’s the message.  Don’t let the small stuff screw up what would otherwise be a perfectly good mood.

DECK USED:  TAROCCO SOPRAFFINO ANIMA ANTIQUA

LionHart’s Mercury Retrograde Tarot Challenge Prompt
Question
:  How can I use this New Moon cycle to help me move forward?

Fournier's Tarot Cats by Ana Juan

 Reading Summary: Remember that you have the strength to get through this (Strength). Up and downs happen in life (Wheel of Fortune), but you are more than strong enough to weather the storm (Nine of Swords).

Just sayin’… but I love this deck.

Take Away: The new moon is all about new energy and the build of that energy over the next two weeks.  It is about having come to the end and starting over, the last full moon’s energy has wanned and is now gone, the energy for the next full moon now builds.

As I ride that energy forward over the next two weeks, these cards are reminding me that my Nine of Swords experience with my depression isn’t going to last forever.  Life has lots of ups and downs, and now I’m in a down, but I have the inner strength needed to tame the lion as I begin using the mounting energy to help me in beginning my climb towards the light.

DECK USED:  FOURNIER’S TAROT CATS BY ANA JUAN

#DiscordTarotolicsFeb2021 Challenge Prompt
Question
:  What do I need to focus on for self-care for this new moon?

Tarocco Sopraffino Anima AntiquaReading Summary: Focus upon finding a sense of pleasure and accomplishment (Nine of Cups) instead of looking to others to provide validation (Six of Wands Rx). You already have everything you need emotionally (Ten of Cups) so don’t sabotage yourself by pushing too hard right now (Five of Wands).

Take Away: I need to set aside that whole “working your ass off to succeed” mindset and instead spend some time focusing on what makes me happy and makes me feel good.

It’s hard to find those things right now when the depression has me feeling so vulnerable, but it’s better to focus on all the good that I have and the support they offer rather than looking for outside sources for validation that I can receive from those that already make up my emotional support system.

DECK USED: TAROCCO SOPRAFFINO ANIMA ANTIQUA

Daily Self Kindness

I listened to the current audio book that I’ve been enjoying during my packaging today.  This isn’t something I normally do as it slows me down a bit (same with if I listen to audio books while driving). But, I’ve been really enjoying this story so I went ahead and listened to it anyway.  Currently listening to:  The Whispering Room, which is Book 2 of Dean Koontz’s Jane Hawk Series

New Moon in Aquarius – February 2021

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 rising of altruism, and brought to you by Sharron Basanti of Seeds of Shakti.

Aquarius New Moon - The Uncommon Tarot

1. What visions is my mind awakening to?

Ten of Swords – The pain of what I’m currently going through, the mental illness that I’m struggling with.  The beat down that it is giving me, and the potential to rise from it in the end.  There is a need to ride out the process in order to find that potential, though.  First you must hit the ground, bleed out upon the grass… only then can you then rise from the ashes and start over.

2. How can I be more open to ideas that are outside of the box?

Four of Swords – Ease up on yourself.  It’s okay to need rest and recovery is a part of the process. Do not shame yourself into trying to avoid or outright reject this process. Part of last year was about accepting this and making allowances for rest and recovery.  Don’t backslide into shunning the need for this rest and restoration.

3. What false perceptions do I need to release in order to create space for sacred truths to rise up?

Eight of Wands – Not everything has to be done right this moment. You always push for everything to be done right now. Right away.  You don’t expect this from others, and yet you demand it from yourself.  it’s time to release this expectation and allow yourself the room to breathe through the process of getting things done.

4. In what aspect of my life do I need to be innovative?

The Magician – Don’t allow yourself to sink into feelings of helplessness and powerlessness.  You are a skilled and strong individual, knowledgeable and capable. The depression can cause you to lose track of your awareness concerning these things, but in keeping them in mind you empower yourself to stay strong and keep going.

5. Who do I need to collaborate with in my kindred circle for my health and well-being?

The Empress atop The Hermit Rx – This is about Z and the kindness and nurturing she offers during times when you need her support. Whenever the Empress appears, it often reflects back to the same energy that Z carries upon her and within her, and she is the person that you need to collaborate with now in order to assure that you don’t use alone time activities to retreat into yourself.  By speaking with her about your concerns to do with alone time and not using your alone time in healthy ways, she can be there for you real-time and on-point to make sure that it doesn’t happen and you use that time in healthy ways.

6. Message from my Guides and Ancestors.

Four of Cups – Rest does not turn into stagnancy as long as you make the choice to stay engaged instead of turning away from your feelings and interests.  Rest is healthy, and can help foster your gradual improvement as you begin to find yourself on the road to recovery.  Stagnancy is unhealthy and will hold you back.  They are not the same thing, so make sure you are aware and paying attention to which “wolf you feed” in this matter.

DECK USED:  THE UNCOMMON TAROT

Roots and Gratitude

Today’s meditation was skipped.  I fell asleep and I haven’t tried again since.  I will give it a go again before bed so that if I fall asleep that time it will be okay and won’t be losing more time in my day.

Mesquite Tarot - Nine of PentaclesToday’s draw is the Nine of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of taking stock of one’s wealth and good fortune in the area of their finances, resources, successes, and manifestations. This is a card that deals with independence, well earned success, and gratitude for all that one has of value in their life.

Roots.  The roots are what stand out to me the strongest in the imagery of this card.   They make me think of actual trees, and the root systems beneath those of great height such as the sequoias and redwoods.  These trees are giants and they depend upon their roots to keep them upright and stable.  The roots beneath the ground spread wide, and tangle with other roots, gripping each other and expanding their surface area for even greater stability.

In height, root systems are not about depth.  It’s about spread.  The more spread you can make beneath the soil, the more stability you have above the soil, and when it comes to finances and stability at home?  It is much the same.

People bond and create those roots, their roots tangle and the spread grows.  The more you have in the bank, hidden under the mattress, or just there to help in filling your needs… the more stable and secure you feel.  This isn’t just about money, but it’s about people too.  Even when you stand strong and alone, you need those connections “under the soil” to give you that added support and stability.

I am lucky to have many stable individuals with whom my  own roots are tangled, creating a great deal of stability and support in my life.  The message, today in this card, is a reminder to be grateful for the fertile soil and the tangled roots that help support me along the way.

DECK USED:  MESQUITE TAROT

LionHart’s Mercury Retrograde Tarot Challenge Prompt
Topic
:  What guidance does this New Moon offer for my current situation?

True Heart Intuitive Tarot

 Reading Summary: Move forward (Eight of Cups) with your new ideas (Ace of Swords). Your intuition is right on track (High Priestess) and there’s stuff you need to learn (Princess of Wands).

Take Away:  This is about some paperwork and forms I need to figure out concerning the Canada side of my business. I was wavering on dealing with it today, as it felt like a lot of stress and a pain in the ass… but clearly now is the time. And honestly?  It was a pain in the ass, and I spent a great deal of my time today on the phone with people that were not particularly cooperative. I took the advice of the cards, and I got it done though.

DECK USED:  TRUE HEART INTUITIVE TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsFeb2021 Challenge Prompt
Philosophical Question
:  Why do I fear failure when I know I can learn from my mistakes?

Mesquite TarotReading Summary: I worry that by wandering around like a fool without a clue as to what I’m doing (The Fool atop Novice), I will be judged harshly by myself or others (Judgement Rx), and end up making a habit out of being the fool in a not good way (The Devil Rx).

Take Away: There’s a lot of things that don’t bother me and in most cases that includes public perception.  But there are always going to be instances where it matters to me, and as harsh as I am on myself, it would matter to me a lot if I was perceived publicly as some kind of bumbling idiot.  Giving that kind of impression once would be bad enough… but to have it become a habit and a reputation would be… extremely difficult to handle. 

In most areas of my life, I rarely fear failing at something, as I use those experiences to try again and do it better the next time.  For this reason, when I do end up being influenced by a fear of failure, it is usually this concern of somehow earning a reputation of a bumbling idiot that most often causes that fear to rise.

DECK USED:  MESQUITE TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I made myself a serious pain in the ass to both the CRA (like the IRS, but for Canada) in order to make sure I got all of the information that I needed, no matter how many times the guy on the line tried to brush me off or suggested trying to transfer me to some other department.  I’m not sure if he just didn’t like talking to me because I have to speak through a text-to-speech app or if it was because my requests for information were a bit more detailed and labor extensive than he’s used to… but I didn’t give up until I got everything I needed. This gave me a little fissure of pleasure and sense of accomplishment once it was all done.

Rest Is Allowed

IMG_9226Today’s meditation was just over eleven minutes long and was a guided meditation from the Calm app with added interval timer for my piriformis stretches.

The focus of today’s meditation was about Shamatha, which is a form of Buddhist meditation where you focus your mind upon a single point and use that focus to clear and calm one’s conscious thoughts.

This is the sort of meditation that I am most familiar with and the talk concerning it’s practice and benefits really didn’t say anything new or anything I wasn’t already aware of.  I found myself instead tuning out the woman’s voice and listening, instead, to the water drop like background music as I often do.

Cosmic Slumber Tarot - Four of CupsToday’s draw is the Four of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of creating distance due to apathy or disinterest, meditation, or taking time to reevaluate one’s situation or emotions.

The thing is?  This card was far more literal in its imagery than normal today.  I very much just napped my day away, just like the person lying on the beach, toes tickled by waves as they doze in the sand.  So too did I sleep… and sleep… and sleep.

It’s not surprising, since I pulled an all-nighter last night and didn’t get to bed until 5:30 in the morning. The message here, though, has to do with allowing yourself that rest more than the rest itself.  Everyone needs a break now and then.  Today’s card points out that my sleeping all day had far less to do with hiding from my depression and retreating from the world… and everything to do with the need for some sleep.

Therefore, the message in today’s card is about sometimes rest being about self care, and not retreat at all.  And that’s not something to feel guilty about, but a natural biological need.

DECK USED:  COSMIC SLUMBER TAROT

LionHart’s Mercury Retrograde Tarot Challenge Prompt
Topic
:  A reminder of why I deserve the good (I want) in my life.

Lonely Ice Tarot

Eight of Coins – You are a good and dedicated worker. Over time you have used your time and focus to hone your skills into an expertise (or three) that can be used to help in ushering in those good things you want out of life like stability and security.

Six of Coins atop The Moon – You reach out to help others through their times of uncertainty, providing an ear or a shoulder for their worries, and help in finding ways to overcome their uncertainty and fear and turn these things around into a direction that is authentic to them and their own path.

Page of Swords – You are always seeking a better way to understand and communicate with others. Better strategies to try to reach your aspirations. This constant openness to learning how to find a better way allows for good things to come to you more easily as you are erecting less hurdles and blocks to get in the way.

DECK USED:  LONELY ICE TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsFeb2021 Challenge Prompt
Question
:  Over what part of my life do I need to release some control?

Cosmic Slumber TarotReading Summary: Responsibilities and strategy toward my aspirations (King of Swords) need to be set aside. You don’t get to control this (Strength Rx). Just let I the crappy shit happen for right now (Ten of Swords).

Take Away: This is called being given a talking to by the cards.  I softened the message above, but it is pretty clear and blunt that at the moment I need to just let myself be in the depression. I have no control here and scrabbling for it isn’t helping anything.  Pretending you are in control is also not helping anything.  

It doesn’t mean wallow, but it does mean letting go and accepting that things will begin to get better at their own pace, not at whatever pace I want them to or try to set for them to move at.

DECK USED:  COSMIC SLUMBER TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

As mentioned in the COTD section of this post, I consciously made the choice to not beat myself up after spending a good deal of my day asleep rather than up and being productive. Normally, regardless of not getting to bed by 5:30am, I would have made myself get up and stay up through the day instead of accepting that I needed the sleep and allowing it to happen guilt-free.

Morning Bonus Read – Mercury Retrograde

Under the Roses Lenormand - Mercury Rx Tarot Spread

What is the main theme of this Mercury Retrograde for me?

Clouds – This was actually the card I expected to hop out, as it is very clear that the theme of this Mercury Rx for me is all about the current major depressive episode I am going through from its descent to (we can hope) the beginning of climbing back out again.  I don’t have the expectation that I will be able to pull out of it so quickly, but this card gives me hope that my ascent might begin around the same time as the Mercury Rx comes to an end (around February 21st or there about, if I’m not mistaken).

How am I asked to honor my feelings and current Rx vibes?

Whip – It is important to remember that the self flagellation and dark inner narratives in your head are dangerous.  Respect their power and work on coming out on top by acknowledging their existence.  It is only through awareness that you can overcome their influences.  Stay focused on where you want to go and determined to make your way there as you move through the mire of your depression and you will eventually come out the victor over these challenges.

What am I asked to reflect on throughout Mercury Retrograde?

Crossroads – Now is the time to reflect on your choices.  Where do you want to go from here and how do you want to get there?  You have choices, even now in the middle of your depression.  Are you going to focus on doing the healthy things that will help you to climb out of the pit more quickly? Or sink into the mire and allow it to cradle you and eat away at your insides while it pretends to be comforting you?  You need to keep these things in mind as you go through this struggle so that you can recover as smoothly and easily as possible once the clouded darkness begins to ease its grip.

DECK USED:  UNDER THE ROSES LENORMAND