tarot for self care

Protect Your Happiness

/ Twist the Leaf / Leave a comment

I took a break from… well, pretty much everything for a couple of days.  So I have nothing to say here other than I’m getting back on track now (Sunday September 27th).

Hush Tarot - Four of WandsToday’s draw is the Four of Wands, which is traditionally about homecoming, harmonious family connections, and joyous celebration of one’s blessings.

The bouquet in the imagery of this card reminds me of wedding decorations. Struck through this bouquet are the spears, which both support the flowers and protect these flowers from harm.

The thing is? You can’t have harmony and home without also having protection and stability (present in the four).  These things are very important to fostering a healthy and happy harmony in both home and family.  And that is the message in today’s card. Love requires protection, happiness requires safety, relationships require support.

DECK USED:  HUSH TAROT

#Zentember #LovelyHealing Challenge Prompt
Question: How to overcome my fears?

WilderWoven Tarot

Reading Summary: Take a beginners mind (The Fool) and an emperor’s heart (The Emperor), and allow this combination to carry you through with passion and joy for the discoveries and adventures ahead (Page of Wands).

Take Away:  Be responsible but joyful. Be curious but steadfast. Be optimistic but realistic. It is possible to balance all of these things.  It’s possible to take them forward with you into the world and allow them to kindle passion and inspiration within you, without falling over the deep end of addiction and losing focus on the world as a whole in the process. Finding balance can be a struggle, but it can be done.

DECK USED:  WILDERWOVEN TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsSep2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: As fall draws to a close next month, what needs to be let go of when moving forward?

Sasuraibito TarotReading Summary: Open your eyes (Eight of Swords) and allow change to happen (Death) surrounding your work (Eight of Pentacles).

Take Away: It’s going to be okay. Don’t continue to keep your eyes closed and ignore what’s going on around you or what’s coming. The changes that you’ve been gradually working on are ready to move forward into the busy season with you if you let them. So don’t cover your face and hide behind the work to come.  Stay open and allow yourself to see beyond what you would normally bury your nose in while ignoring the rest of the world.

DECK USED:  SASURAIBITO TAROT

Respecting Life’s Fragility

/ Twist the Leaf / Leave a comment

I took a break from… well, pretty much everything for a couple of days.  So I have nothing to say here other than I’m getting back on track now (Sunday September 27th).

Botan Tarot - Page of SwordsToday’s draw is the Page of Swords, which traditionally is a representation of a receptive omega energy, personality, or person in the areas of one’s thoughts, intellect, education, communication, and instinct.  This often translates into someone on a journey of learning in some way that has to do with education or communication.

You know how when you’re young, you have this sense of invincibility?  It’s like… when you’re young, life just hasn’t beat you down enough yet to make you realize just how vulnerable (and valuable) life is.  It’s something we learn over time and as your life tries to slip through your fingers and fly away, you come to appreciate it a bit more… and a bit more. 

This is lack of awareness of the value of one’s life is what I see in this card’s imagery today.  It’s in the tilt of the woman’s head and the expression on her face, as well as in the ready grip on a still sheathed sword. It is in the impression of feathers that are not really present in the imagery and yet my eyes insist are there.

Today’s card’s message is about the fleeting nature of life, and how important it is to value what we have.  It’s about impulsivity, and the a warning about what we can lose through naivety and lack of awareness of just how delicate and fragile the thread of one’s life truly is.

DECK USED:  BOTAN TAROT

Don’t Skip It

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

IMG_6641Today’s meditation was just under eleven minutes long, and was a guided meditation with interval timer.   The guided part of the meditation focused upon the challenges and benefits of doing nothing.  Some people feel like this is the easiest thing in the world, yes?  But I am definitely not one of those people.

It is a huge struggle for me to take days off, and even during that time?  I still work, just not at the regular stuff.  Instead I try to focus primarily on making sure stuff stays in stock online and that I answer customers in a timely manner.  This means it takes the pressure off and allows me time away from that pressure to recover from burnout… but that I’m not truly “doing nothing”.

The thing is tho?  I am doing better at it.  I’m getting better at actually taking those low-pressure breaks, and making sure that I’m kinder to myself concerning the need for rest and down time.  It’s a work in progress, but I’m working at it.

Hush Tarot - Four of SwordsToday’s draw is the Four of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of the need for restorative rest and recuperation.  This can also come in the form of meditation, sleep, recovery from burnout, and many other themes along that thread.

I love the imagery in this card.  I think it’s absolutely beautiful.  That said, no one aspect of this card stood out to me today.  Instead?  This card ended up pulled just after the decision to skip my meditation had been made this morning.  It is a direct response to that decision.

The message in today’s card is that even though I am back to work today, I still need those moments of restorative rest… and that is especially relevant in reference to my meditation practice.  And thus, perhaps it is no surprise, but I re-evaluated my decision and ended up doing my meditation after all.

DECK USED:  HUSH TAROT

#Zentember #LovelyHealing Challenge Prompt
Question: How to show up more?

Haindl Tarot

Reading Summary:  Be less reactionary (King of Cups Rx) and more slow to react (Son of Stones). You are still in the learning stages of your emotional growth (Daughter of Cups).  Allow fostering that growth become a passion that burns brightly in your heart (Ace of Wands).

Take Away:  I didn’t really understand this question, but I went ahead and decided to pull for it anyway.  The advice given here is good, regardless of my lack of understanding of the question as a whole.  With so many new emotions and new levels of emotion going on with me these days, there are times when I feel myself having knee-jerk emotional reactions to things.  Giving a little forethought and taking time in reacting rather than just jumping in is a good idea, and the advice about accepting these changes and pursuing them from day to day?  Also good advice.

DECK USED:  HAINDL TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsSep2020 Challenge Prompt
Philosophical Question: What is humanity’s biggest mistake?

English Magic TarotReading Summary: Too much time focusing on what you want (Page of Swords) and ignoring (Hanged Man Rx) to the passage of time and what the past can teach us (Seven of Cups).

Take Away: Hubris. Lack of humility is humanity’s greatest mistake. When we choose to only focus on our own desires and turn a blind eye to the past and what we can learn from it, everyone loses.  And yet, humanity does this again and again, choosing to focus only upon their own selfish desires to the point that they forget to look to those lessons already learned… and thus are destined to repeat them over and over again.

DECK USED:  ENGLISH MAGIC TAROT

Lionharts #AstroTarotChallenge
Question: What is something about me that others really value, admire, or appreciate about me?

Sasuraibito Tarot

Reading Summary: Even with how much I have gone through in my life (Three of Swords), I continue to display gratitude and appreciation for all that I have (Nine of Pentacles) and possess the strength and clear-mindedness to lead by example (King of Swords).

Take Away: In order to survive and thrive in the wake of the things I have been through in life, I need to see these experiences as lessons.  I see them as learning experiences that have helped me to grow and become a better person in some way. They have taught me skills I wouldn’t otherwise have, honed my abilities both mentally and physically, and given me experiences that allow me to relate to others in very specific and important ways.

I am sure that there are those that find my approach to survival from the crap that has happened in my life to be obnoxious or annoying.  The cards here indicate that there are just as many that also find my approach to these experiences to be admirable and inspirational. 

DECK USED:  SASURAIBITO TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: How can I get closer to my dream life?

Tyldwick Tarot

Reading Summary: When you are generous with your financial wealth and resources (Six of Coins) instead of squandering it on yourself (The Devil)… you are will rewarded with the return of a wealth that has a value far greater than that of money (The Empress).

Take Away:  I think I need to do a reading and ask my cards about what my ‘dream life’ might entail. Because… what the cards say here as the reward for leaning into altruism over selfish pursuits?  Sounds pretty damned nice.  But it isn’t at all what I would have said was of an appeal to me a few years ago… nor does it reflect what I drive myself to the bone to work toward.

So the question here is… over the past year as I have worked on my emotional growth and work / life balance, what has this done to influence what my ideal ‘dream life’ might look like?  Because The Empress is so much more appealing these days than she has been in my past.

DECK USED:  TYLDWICK TAROT

Value Through Time

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s meditation was the site of an impromptu nap today.  Which is to say that I did intend to meditate but I only  made it in a few minutes before I ended up dozing off into a nap.

What I wanna know?  Is how in the hell I can go from being all the way down to the wall with my legs propped up on the wall, fall asleep, and somehow wake up stretched full length on the bed.  How did I manage to move all the way down the bed in order to stretch out without waking up?

Botan Tarot - Ten of CoinsToday’s draw is bunnies!!  No, just kidding. I mean not kidding because it is bunnies, but that’s… right, okay.  Anyway.   Today’s draw is the Ten of Coins, which is traditionally a representation of satisfactory outcomes, contentment, and sharing the wealth you have worked so hard for with your loved ones to create fulfillment for all. It’s about wealth that goes beyond money and can include one’s health, home, stability, security, as well as their resources and manifestations.

This card is so damned cute, but what really stands out to me in this card today is the moon phases that run up along the left side of the card from the new moon at the bottom left all the way up to the full moon at the upper right corner.

The appearance of this cycle portrayed in this card speaks to me of manifestation over time.  The new moon is the seed of new things, the beginning energy that grows and matures over the length of the moon’s cycle until it is at full power upon the full moon’s appearance, just as when you are building security and comfort, you have to start at the beginning and work over time to accrue what you need to get to where you want to be in life.

The message in this card today is about how the things worth having take time to accomplish.  Nothing easy is as valued as those things you work for, strive for, build over time, and accomplish through hard work and patience.

DECK USED:  BOTAN TAROT

#Zentember #LovelyHealing Challenge Prompt
Question: What needs to be expressed?

20th Century Tarot

Reading Summary: Passionate pursuit (Page of Wands) of my man (King of Cups) is providing me needed respite (Four of Swords) over new opportunities (Ace of Pentacles).

Take Away:  In other words, enjoy this time with Gideon while you can. When I pulled these cards I thought that it would be an answer on what I need to express… but it turns out it’s something that needed to be expressed to me. These cards were meant to remind me that today is our last day to enjoy any decently large bulk of time together before he goes on vacation.  I missed this message first thing when I drew these cards, although I did catch the part about valuing and enjoying the time I have.

The thing is? I’m extremely good at creating opportunities for myself, especially when it comes to creative pursuits and making money. So it can be hard for me to step back and rest, recover, and truly enjoy that respite instead of struggling against it and my nature to move forward and do more.   What I needed to hear was that I need to step back, take a breath, and enjoy this last day of freedom.

DECK USED:  20TH CENTURY TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsSep2020 Challenge Prompt
Topic: Your Addiction / How to introduce Moderation

Samiramay TarotMy Addiction – Allowing myself to get so wrapped up in my passions (Queen of Wands) that the rest of the world (and the rest of myself) falls away (King of Cups Rx).

How to Introduce Moderation – Focus on the positive things you’ve done (Six of Wands) and stay vigilant against letting old habits resurface (Seven of Wands).

Take Away – I was actually expecting a different addiction to come up in these cards today. *LOL* This one works, tho. Anyway, it’s absolutely true. When I become involved in a project, I close myself off from the world and even from myself. During this time, I exist in this quiet grey area where the only thing that exists is the endeavor I’m working on, and the passage of time in block like increments.  This allows me to work very quickly for huge chunks of time without feeling much in the way of negative effects physically or emotionally. 

And… it’s not healthy. At all. This year has been all about trying to shift me into a place where I can get through the holiday season without doing that, so it makes sense that it would come up now in this reading.

The cards here indicate that the key to making sure that I don’t fall back into this unhealthy habit is to keep in mind just how good I have done this year at changing my work process and how I deal with not just stress but pressure… and stay vigilant against the appearance of warning signs that this old habit has started to try and sneak back in.

DECK USED:  SAMIRAMAY TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: Do I feel I deserve love, compassion, and empathy?

Telluric Tarot

Do I Feel I Deserve Love?
Queen of Swords – Lepidolite & Gentian

Lepidolite is a stone that contains high levels of lithium… an element that is used as a medication to stabilize moods. Gentian root is used to help in an array of digestion problems. Together, what I see in this combination is the need to take what creates your torment and turmoil and work through it.  Consider what has happened and come to peace with it.

Examine the past to find strength in the present is the theme of this card. When I examine my past, I see that those in my past had made love something that is conditional. In the present, through Gideon, my sister, and Z I have discovered that true and abiding love is anything but.  It’s not something to be earned, but is something that we all deserve, no matter who we are or how worthy we feel of it.

Do I Feel I Deserve Empathy?
Nine of Cups – Emerald & Rose

Both emeralds and roses are highly valued for their beauty throughout history, and are both strongly associated with themes to do with romantic love and domestic bliss.

Like love, empathy is something that everyone deserves but very few receive.  The card here and blend of emerald and rose upon it indicate that I am very happy with where I am in the scheme of empathy. I am receiving what I need to in order to work through my trauma, and those that support me do so in the ways I need… including providing empathy when I need it.

Do I Feel I Deserve Compassion?
Eight of Pentacles – Garnet & Cherry

Garnet and cherry wood have something in common that most perhaps do not realize, but actually is the basis of their combination on this card.  They are both excellent foundational building blocks to create something of great quality and beauty.

These “strong bones” (as they would say of a house) are a reflection of the foundation and strength that I have within me that allows me to weather one storm after another.

That said… Do I deserve compassion?  Absolutely.  But I am strong enough to continue on regardless of if others choose to bestow it upon me or not.

Being mute, this is something that you notice often is either present in your interactions with others or is not. In those that give it, there is an underlying strength that runs deep within.  Being able to express compassion without pity is a beautiful thing, and something that is very, very rare.

In this way, this card reflects not just my own strong foundation, but also the strength of others that possess this rare quality.

DECK USED:  TELLURIC TAROT

Don’t Forget Your Pants

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

IMG_6611Today’s meditation was just under eleven minutes long and was one of the guided meditations with interval timer that focuses on fostering love and light, first toward yourself, then towards your loved ones, and eventually expanding that energy outward to the world at large and all that are within it.

It’s funny, because I always do pretty well when it comes to the first two, but at the last one I stumble a bit.  It’s not that I don’t understand the concept of spreading love and light around the world… it’s that I dislike the feeling of expelling free-flowing energy without a boundary or tether to myself.  So, I feel that this preference ends up limiting my “reach” when it comes to trying to do this sort of exercise.

This isn’t so much a “can’t” as a preference.  I feel that I touch other’s lives in  a wide variety of different positive ways.  Through my interactions both in person and online, through my work and the jewelry I make that I then send out into the world, and through all of the different small things I do each day for others.  I just don’t feel that that fully open and free flowing energy is one of those ways that suits me best.

Hush Tarot - Knight of SwordsToday’s draw is 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, thoughts, communication, and instincts.  This often translates into impulsivity, ambition, and all-or-nothing thinking.

What stands out in the imagery of this card today is the figure in the foreground with his staff and helmet. Impulsivity is one of the key themes of the Knight of Swords, and look at that… this guy in the imagery is so raring to go that he forgot to put his pants on.

I’m pretty sure that pants are of key importance when going into battle.  In fact, I’d venture to guess that there are very few battles out there that you’d be keen to be without them.

The message in today’s card is to make sure you’re prepared.  Take the time and the forethought to prepare properly and have yourself in full gear before you step out the door into the fray.  In other words?  Don’t forget your pants.

DECK USED:  HUSH TAROT

#Zentember #LovelyHealing Challenge Prompt
Question: How to improve my communication?

Science Tarot

Reading Summary: Forced departure from a simpler perception (Three of Swords). Unpredictable and uncontrollable outcomes overlapping the application of thoughtful experimentation. Trust your gut to make the right choices (Seven of Cups).

Take Away:   You need to accept that sometimes?  There’s just no way to avoid pissing people off or tripping over someone’s triggers.  It happens and it’s not always your fault… sometimes it’s no one’s fault at all.  It’s just how the chips fall.  As long as you’re making the best decisions you can with the info you have available, and trusting your gut when it demands to override logic?  Then you’re doing just fine.

DECK USED:  SCIENCE TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsSep2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: What lessons can Libra season (which begins on the 23rd) teach me this year?

Tarot of ReincarnationReading Summary: Sometimes when things feel out of control or off kilter (Wheel of Fortune) you spend too much time spinning your wheels (Knight of Spades) which, if allowed to go on for too long (Seven of Diamonds), can result in stressful situations rising up to smack you in the face (Dog in the Seven of Diamonds).

Take Away:  So my lesson for Libra season is that it’s okay to procrastinate, but only so long as you don’t procrastinate for so long that it creates problems.  I’ve been really struggling with the whole procrastination thing over the past couple of weeks, and the cards keep reassuring me that it’s okay.  Here, I’m given a reminder that it’s only okay for a while… not forever.  I need to learn where that line is.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF REINCARNATION

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: How can I better accept myself, including my faults?

The Painted Tarot

Reading Summary: Judge yourself as you would others (Judgement), take your time because it takes time to get there (Knight of Coins), and don’t be so defensive (Nine of Wands).

Take Away:  The cards here outline three separate keys that work together in helping me accept myself and my faults better.  

Key 1) Judge yourself as you would others.  I am so much nicer to others in my judgements than I am on myself.  I know this, and I have been trying to be more forgiving, but I understand I still have a long way to go.

Key 2) Take your time because it takes time to get there.   Everything work having is worth working for, and a lot of those things also require patience in order to earn them. I’m often far too impatient with myself, and this is why I push myself so hard.  The Knight of Wands is all about forward motion and patience.

Key 3) Don’t be so defensive. This isn’t something that I necessarily show all that often externally.  But there are times when my faults show through and are called out on… that I feel very defensive and hurt on the inside about it.  I need to remember that everyone has faults and that’s not just allowed but okay.

DECK USED:  THE PAINTED TAROT

Second Harvest 2020 – Autumn Equinox

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Tomorrow is the Autumn Equinox.  This is considered by many to be the first day of Autumn, and is one of only two moments in the year when the sun is exactly above the Equator and day and night are of equal length.  Like Halloween is a time when the veil between the land of the living and the realm of the dead is thin, this holiday (as well as its cross-point in the spring) are times when the veil between our world and that of the Fae is at is thinnest… and it is when I personally experience more interactions with them than any other time of year.

In my path, the Autumn Equinox is also known as the Second Harvest (also called Mabon), and is a day that marks the transition of the growing season into full harvest.  After this day, the darkness of night begins to overtake the sun’s reign in the sky as the days continue to grow shorter and shorter, and the nights longer and longer.  The earth is winding down its abundant generosity and beginning to close up shop for the year.

Autumn Equinox Tarot Reading - Mabon

Like with new moons and full moons, I usually do a spread to check in with myself and give myself some direction for the next couple of months for each solstice, equinox, and other Sabbats. This spread is an adaptation of my Self Care Saturday spread, so there are sure to be  some similarities in how it is read. The focus of this spread, though, is not about Self Care, but rather about progress and my path. The time period is also longer, reaching through the next handful of weeks until the celebration of the upcoming third and Last Harvest of the year (aka. Samhain, Halloween) in October.

Theme of the Season – Mabon, Harvest Moon, Wood Mouse, Pony – The second harvest of the year is a time of preparation for winter’s call. There is still much work to be done, but as cold weather creeps in, the last of the crops are now beginning to be gathered up for the year.  The theme of the imagery on the Mabon card is the Forest Lord, who stands for truth, integrity, compassion, and death.

The Harvest Moon is all about liminal spaces and one’s intuitive voice.  It speaks of the importance of paying attention to one’s perceptions and what our senses are whispering to us. With awareness, this moon welcomes an expanded view of not just the unknown that surrounds us and the bridges offered to us through liminal spaces, but also the world at large.

The appearance of the wood mouse in the cards drawn today is a carry over from the reading done during the previous Sabbat.  In my Lammas reading, the story of the wood mouse card was interpreted as a story about thankless work done behind the scenes and the unsung hero. This card is a representation of that energy and purpose that comes with doing the work that is mostly unseen so that the larger work that needs done can be done.

In relation to my life, during Lammas the Wood Mouse card was thought to be in reference to those small ripples of happiness and positivity that I create with each piece of jewelry I make for others.  At this time, however, I see this card as more of a representation of the preparation work that needs done prior to the onset of the holiday rush.

The Pony card emerged with the Wood Mouse card in this instance, and is about the wildness within us all.   It is an indication that I need to look more closely at these things that feel like restrictions in my life.  Combined with the Wood Mouse card, there is a suggestion that I need to take my work and make an effort to delve into it with an open heart and adventurous spirit.

When looking at these four cards together, the theme that stands out to me here is about finding pleasure in my work again and seeking it through the spark of adventure that I find in my creative process, which includes a good dose of intuition when I’m in “the zone” of bringing my creations from ideas into reality.   It’s about connecting to that inner self, that inner voice that whispers encouragement and exciting ideas, and following it’s lead into an enjoyment of the process.

Earth – Ten of Cups – Seek satisfaction.  My self care reading for this week was also about satisfaction, although ran more to the lines of feeling dissatisfied and the methods to help in finding that satisfaction that is lacking.  Here in the longer term reading of progress and my path, the encouragement is to make sure I keep my eye on the prize.  Namely the prize of finding satisfaction in my home life and resources.  There’s no reason for feelings of scarcity, so make sure you’re focusing on furthering those positive emotions and satisfaction over these things.

Air – The Devil – Temptation is in the air… literally. This is a carry over from the Earth position of this reading in that it indicates that there is an element of mental influences involved in my dissatisfaction.  These elements drive my addictions, which are used to self medicate the feelings of dissatisfaction and scarcity that whisper in my ear.  The Devil card in this position warns that this cycle is a hurdle that will need dealing with over the next handful of weeks.

Water – Ace of Wands – There is so much potential right now to allow your emotional growth to remain strong and steady.  Don’t allow all that’s going on swerve you from your dedication to this purpose.  Keep that spark of intention and inspiration bright and alive concerning keeping all that you’ve accomplished so far this year thriving and healthy.

Fire – The Fool – This card and it’s position relates back to the Pony card above and the theme of this Mabon reading as a whole. It is about finding that youthful enthusiasm for my work and through that process, sparking up your enthusiasm for your work to instill into your work, your business, and the preparations to come.

Waning – Turkey Spirit – Again we find that this reading echos the Self Care Saturday reading that was done a couple of days ago.  The Turkey Spirit card in the waning position indicates that now is a time to pull inward. Now is not the best time to let your generosity of spirit fly free.  If you want to get on track with your life and goals this season, it’s time to think of yourself for a while.

Waxing – Porcupine Spirit – Foster or playfulness and curiosity and allow them time to stretch and grow.  Dive in and have some fun with not just your work and business, but seek the spark of excitement in the “beginner’s mind” in all that you do and let it spread throughout your life in order to find joy and enjoyment in all the different elements of your life.

Take Away –  This Mabon reading is all about instilling joy and enthusiasm into the process of work and life.  It’s high time I begin looking at life and my work with fun loving pleasure rather than through the weight of responsibilities. Use this sense of enthusiasm to feelings of scarcity and discontent at bay, and instead focus upon what you have and where you want to go from here.

DECKS USED:  LIGHT SEER’S TAROT, THE GREEN WHEEL ORACLE, THE SPIRIT ANIMAL ORACLE