tarot for self care

Bad Lighting

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and was one of the #DailyTrip sessions from the @Calm app.

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Earth Mother Magic Tarot's Five of CupsThe @GlitterbyInk #JuneSun25 Challenge
Summer Sunlight Prompt for June 1st : Beginning
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is the Five of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of pessimism, doomsday thinking, regrets, disappointments, and occasionally, failure (or at the very least, the perception of failure).

CS Lewis once said, “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”

The figure in this card trudges into the dark, lit only by a candle and tripping over cups. But if they would just change their perspective, by turning around they would find that the moon will light the way and that not all has been lost.

When you begin something with a negative mindset, it can feel like trudging through the dark with only a candle to light your way.  You struggle to see where you’re going, and trip over things along the way, creating unnecessary setbacks.

Yet, by just changing our own perspective on what we’re doing and how it’s going, we can lighten our load and turn things around.

Today’s prompt and card combo is a reminder that sometimes things aren’t as bad as you think. You just got off to a rough start with your mindset trained in the wrong direction. Take a moment to gather yourself. Take a breath. Look for the good and what’s going well.  Then? Move forward again with this new perspective to guide you.

DECK USED:  EARTH MOTHER MAGIC TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJun2025 Challenge
Prompt for June 1st : Do Spread 1

Summer Energies Oracle Reading with the Earth Magic Oracle

How is the rise of summer energies manifesting in my life?

Waterfall – Allow things to come as they will and flow with changes rather than trying to fight them. You don’t have to be calm and serene all the time. Instead, let the situation dictate how much or how little energy is needed from you, and expend just enough to suit those needs.

How can I harness these summer energies for my purposes?

Meadow – Remember that it’s okay to be vulnerable. No one is impervious to stress or outside influence. Be authentic and allow yourself to be open to others. You’ll know intuitively when this isn’t safe, so there’s no need to expend so much energy being on guard all the time.

Where would I be best served in directing these energies throughout the summer months?

Mountain – Greater stability can be gained by learning to allow yourself the vulnerability to let go of control and allow things to move at their own pace. Strength doesn’t always come from bracing for the worst, but also through allowing a mindset of allowance and openness to change.

Take Away: Use this summer’s energies to learn to let go and not try so hard to control every aspect of life. Open up to being vulnerable and letting things move at their own pace, and as a result you will reap the benefits of a greater sense of stability.

Other elements included in this reading:
Pressed Pansy Flowers for for Hearing the Heart More Clearly
Dried Rhododendron Leaf for Fostering Confidence
Orange Aventurine Leaves for Pause and Reflection
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: EARTH MAGIC ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

I took it easy today, and made sure to keep up on the journal entries that I’m doing to track daily accomplishments even though I really felt like just letting it go.

❤️ Self Care Saturday (On a Sunday)

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These Saturday readings are (not usually) bearing in on any one thing or event in my life, as the question used is asking for a more general outlook. This is a self care exercise, and is not meant as a predictive reading… although that, too, happens on occasion.

Self Care Saturday Tarot Reading with the New Earth Tarot and Everglow Divination System Cards

The question is… What do I need to focus for self-care through the week ahead?

Earth – Four of Wands – You are in need of a sense of comfort and security this week. Celebrate your time at home and focus on making it more welcoming so that each time you return home it feels like you’re being welcomed back.

Air – Nine of Mirrors (Pentacles) – Continue with your logging of your daily accomplishments. Your self destructive tendencies are trying to curtail what is working, and you need this lasting tangible proof that you are getting things done right now to silence your negative inner narrative’s claims that you’re accomplishing nothing.

Water – Woman (Queen) of Swords – Don’t go exclusively by what you feel this week. You need a little logical guidance to keep your head above water. That includes if you need an emergency session with your shrink? You do it. She can help you in getting your anxiety under control if the attacks you’ve experienced the last few days continue.

Fire – Six of Pentacles – Be generous with your time. There are people in your life that are going to need a little extra attention this week. Giving them this helps create a stronger, more long lasting bond, and can be healing to all involved. Just make sure you’re also resting when you need it.

Waning – Surrender/Resistance and Air – There is such a thing as being too stubborn for your own good. That said? Make sure when you’re going with the flow this week that you’re not letting that flow direct you into going against your nature. Balance and boundaries are still important.

Waxing – Discipline/Time and Upheaval/Awakening – Take care that you aren’t filling your plate to the point you can’t make room for surprises and the unexpected to pop up. You need that extra wiggle room this week, so make sure it gets baked into your plans.

Take Away – Even though there’s encouragement to give your time to others this week, make sure that your boundaries stay in place and aren’t being compromised on.  Be true to yourself, and make sure that you have a comfortable place to retreat when you need to, and that you reach out for help when its needed. Take care that your self destructive tendencies don’t slip in and start pissing in the soup, because the things you’re doing for yourself right now are working and you need to continue with them.

Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Rhododendron Leaf for Fostering Confidence
Conch Shell Knot for Concentration, Clarity, and Determination
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECKS USED: NEW EARTH TAROT AND THE EVERGLOW DIVINATION SYSTEM

📆 Transitioning from May to June

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Month End Tarot Reading with the Magical Hours Tarot

Here and Now I Exist – Who you are now, in your entirety.

Two of Wands – There’s lots of planning going on, but not a lot of action. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, even if the tone of that voice in your head is being snarky about it. Plans, after all, are the beginning of what comes next.

The Slough – What is to be left in the past as you move forward.

Eight of Pentacles – Consider that maybe now is not the time to act.  Remember that it’s okay to take a break when you need it, and this time of year is the prime time to indulge in those breaks.

What Lies Ahead – An ideal state or ideal self you are seeking at this time.

Ace of Cups – At this time, you are looking for a new understanding of your emotions. You want to be able to process emotions without them throwing a huge wrench into things. Finding the ability to feel stability and even peace during this process is something you hope is possible and might be able to achieve at some point.

Limitations – Negative influences, opposition, or ill will.

Four of Cups atop The Chariot – Your desire to hide away from the world is coming on stronger than normal lately. Make sure that you’re not allowing this seclusionary urge to control you and close you off from the world and those that care.

The Boon – Positive influences, higher guidance, or divine intervention.

The Star – Those positivity and optimism exercises you do are needed right now. They help keep you afloat when things are feeling dark, so make sure you are continuing with them, and don’t allow your self-destructive tendencies cause you to avoid them.

The Wound – An unpleasant past experience or event that is ripe for some support and healing.

Eight of Cups – Remember that those who walk away from you and reject your efforts of friendship are not worth your time and not meant to be a part of your life. It doesn’t mean that there’s something wrong with you, just that they’re not a good fit. Rejection can hurt, but it just helps you in finding those people that are more suited to you in the long run.

Nostalgia – A positive past experience or event to acknowledge, reflect upon, and enjoy.

Ten of Wands – Always remember that you are stronger than you think you are. You are a survivor and will handle what life throws at you, even during those times when it seems like it’s far too much for you to deal with.

A Warning – Something coming that can be prevented or overcome.

Eight of Swords – Don’t avoid looking at the hard truths or you may find yourself blinded by them when you most need to see clearly. This doesn’t mean you have to shout what you see from the roof tops, but just acknowledge that they’re there so that you don’t trip over them later and end up hurt in the process.

Empowerment – A future opportunity to work toward.

Queen of Swords atop The Hierophant Rx – Your shrink has some good advice, but make sure that you’re sharing candidly with her what the issues are. Actually listen to her “outside the box” ideas instead of discarding them as not for you. There’s some truth and help residing in those ideas that you’re missing at first glance because your preferences tend to lean toward traditional methods.

Message from the Spirit World – When you close your eyes to hope, you miss opportunities to try new things that, although unappealing, may be good for you in the long run.

Message from the Mind’s World – You spent far too much time thinking about the logistics of work, and not enough time seeking out ways to make it more satisfying and enjoyable for you. Take more time to focus on trying new things and exploring, instead of just doing the same old thing over and over.

Message from the Physical World – Removing yourself from your comfort zone may feel overwhelming, but it’ll help you take charge of some of your dips in mood and wellness struggles that you’ve been experiencing lately.

Take Away – Some of the breaks that you’ve taken lately have not been of the healthy variety. Use your time of rest to shift your focus to fun, exploration, and experimentation. Lazy days are all well and good once in a while, but too much turn to rest into stagnancy, which is unhealthy.

DECKS USED: MAGICAL HOURS TAROT

The Overburdened Donkey

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Eli Yamashita Animal Oracle's Ten of Wands and Little Otter's Mindful Kids Emotion CardsToday’s draw is the Ten of Wands, which is which is traditionally a representation of overwhelm, burnout, struggling under too much responsibility, and can indicate a need to do some prioritizing and delegation.

There’s merit to the proverb “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”, and I’m totally guilty of this.

I often pile too much onto my plate when it comes to tasks and responsibilities, believing that I’m not just capable but *more* than capable of taking it all on, “No problem!”

Yes. Problem.

Just because we may be capable of taking it all on doesn’t mean that we should. This is how overwhelm and burnout slip in, and eventually become a problem. [Interesting side note: Studies show that it takes more than times longer to recover from burnout than we usually expect it to take.]

The message of the Proud Parrot and the overburdened donkey in the Ten of Wands is a reminder not to let pride convince you to pile on too much for you to comfortably carry. Not “more than you can handle”, but too much for you to comfortably carry. There’s miles and miles of separation between the two.

DECK USED:  ELI YAMASHITA’S ANIMAL TAROT AND LITTLE OTTER’S MINDFUL KIDS EMOTION CARDS

#DiscordTarotholicsMay2025 Challenge
Prompt for May 31 : Grab a spread of your choice you’re curious about… and give it a go!

Eli Yamashita Animal Oracle's Ten of Wands and Little Otter's Mindful Kids Emotion Cards

In what ways am I ready to grow and change?

Statue – It’s time to accept that stagnancy may be well known and comfortable, but it is not your friend. Look at the person you wish to become, and in times when you are tempted to languish, return to this visage. Feed yourself what you need to grow towards that person, instead of languishing in moments of stagnancy that delay your growth and development.

What resistance do I feel toward making these changes?

Peuple de Samar – You are retreating instead of adapting, primarily because you are unable to protect yourself from outside influences while within your home. The erection of the building behind yours has created this issue, and that issue is becoming more clear and prevalent over time. This inability is making you sick, which in turn is making it harder to do the things that are healthy for yourself and those around you.

What will sustain me through this time of growth?

Bol Chantant en Cristal – Make sure that you are engaging with the world around you and those within it in a spirit of the positivity and optimism. This is a focus that you have been working to instill into your life over the past couple of years, and you need to lean into it a bit harder. Love and peace are the answer, not all that discordant crap your negative inner narrative keeps spouting at you.

What new possibilities await me?

Gardien – Introspection can increase your ability to better hone your limits and boundaries so that they can better fit who you are, who you want to be, and your needs. Don’t forget to look within, and to be honest with yourself not just about your flaws, but about your needs as well.

Other elements included in this reading:
Pressed Pansy Flowers for for Hearing the Heart More Clearly
Rose Quartz for Gentle Kindness to Self and Others
Desert Rose for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: L’ORACLE DES ESPRITS DE LA NATURE

Daily Self Kindness

I wore a face mask outside today while working outside so that my allergies wouldn’t trigger full blown.   I still had a little bit of itchy eyes, but on the whole it was much better than it otherwise would have been.

Finding the Positive for May 28 – 30

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Le Tarot Villeneuve's Magician, Animal Tarot's Ten of Swords, Linestrider Tarot's Seven of Swords, and Little Otter's Mindful Kids Emotion Cards

May 28 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and one of the #DailyCalm sessions in the @Calm app.

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Today’s draw is the Magician (le Bateleur) card, which is traditionally a representation of capability, potential, resourcefulness, action, and manifestation. This often translates into themes having to do with being in possession of all of the skills, abilities, and tools necessary to reach one’s goals and accomplish one’s ends. It’s about being capable and skilled, resourceful and gifted with what is needed to get the job done.

Shower thoughts this morning had me thinking about a magazine article I read recently that proposed that our perception of time speeds up when we lack novel and/or memorable experiences used to differentiate our hours and days. I thought this was a really strange theory, as in my observation  time actually seems to pass more quickly as we become more aware of our mortality and how little time we actually have left. I feel this might be why time feels like it gets faster as we get older.  We see our mortality more clearly and it causes us to value our time left more, and thus the perception becomes that it is flitting away too quickly.  Instead, in my experience, depression, pain, and/or misery  cause time to crawl by, while “time flies” when we’re having fun.

These thoughts (which are currently written all over the walls of my shower in shower crayon) make me think that, at least in part, it’s up to us how we perceive time.  The Magician, then encourages us to experiment by using the tools we’ve learned over years of experience to find what works best for us to create a sense of time we’ll be happy with, and fill that time with memorable moments.

DECK USED: LE TAROT VILLENEUVE

May 29 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Today’s draw is the Ten of Swords, which is traditionally a representation long journeys coming to an end, painful endings, lessons learned the hard way, deep wounds, and sometimes can indicate loss or betrayal.

Right, so… I am becoming/have become more susceptible to guilt. The thing is? I’m not entirely sure how this happened. I didn’t used to be susceptible to guilt, but somewhere along the line in the past decade or so it’s begun to actually have an influence.

Once upon a time, guilt trips by others just made me mad. They triggered my anger, probably as a defense mechanism, and that in turn turned off my ability to give a damn.

Maybe it’s because, as I search for understanding of my emotions and make progress on my healing past wounds, I’m more open and vulnerable now. That defense mechanism just doesn’t trigger like it used to, though, and i find myself becoming susceptible to guilt trips by those I care for where I wasn’t before.

I definitely am not a fan of this development, even if the defense mechanism is still there, just latent and only kicking in when I’ve reached the end of my tolerance and had enough.

The combination of the Guilty Dog and the Ten of Swords makes me wonder… is there a way to fine tune this defense mechanism so that I’m saying “stick a fork in me; I’m done” sooner? I would like to detach from guilt sooner… or is it just one of those things that goes part and parcel with allowing yourself to care about people?

DECK USED: ANIMAL TAROT

May 30 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was thirteen minutes long, and was self guided meditation based off a #DailyCalm session I did recently titled “Anxiety” in the @Calm app. (Because I had a severe anxiety attack, and I needed a little help to reign things in.)

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Today’s draw is the Seven of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of strategic thinking, “sneaky shit”, or getting away with something. It can also often be about taking only what one can carry.

Disappointment seems to come far too easily these days. Whether it’s witnessing the truth in Harvey Danger’s “only stupid people are breeding” lyrics, or the decline of work ethic that took a sharper than normal dip during the pandemic (ref: the WPA in the 1930s and how it was preferred by the majority of society at the time over public assistance because it “maintained self-respect, reinforced the work ethic, and kept skills sharp”), and all around wide spread choices to act without consideration of consequences.

Do I sound like an old curmudgeon yet?

The other day I watched someone walk out of a store with a cart full of junk without paying, and yet when I reported this to security? I was the one looked at as an inconvenience.

I could see a policy of letting it go if it was say… food, or children’s clothes. But electronics and other clearly unnecessary luxury crap? C’mon.

The cards for today reflect this event I witnessed and the feelings expressed above that arose from it. These cards are a reminder to not let the morons, the entitled, and the corrupted get you down. Yes, they’re out there and they’re breeding. That just means it’s that much more important to seek out and connect with those that share your own values. They’re out there too, and can help in putting a little faith back in your perceptions of humanity as a whole.

DECK USED: THE LINESTRIDER TAROT

Seeking Inspiration

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

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The BirdQueen Tarot's Princess of Wands, Page of Wands, and Little Otter's Mindful Kids Emotion CardsToday’s draw is the Princess (Page) of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of a receptive omega energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s drive, willpower, determination, passions, values and principles, motivations, and inner spark.

This often translates into themes concerning starting over, as the journey through the suit of Wands brings you to a conclusion in the Ten of Wands with being overly burdened, and then the Page comes after with his burden set down and ready to begin again and do things better the second time around.

Did you know that octopi are extremely intelligent? They have the capacity to learn, remember faces, problem solve, process complex information, play, hold grudges, and have even definitively displayed vindictive behavior. They explore the world with an open and curious mind, showing us that even invertebrates of the sea can contain within them great cognitive potential.

The combination of the Page of Wands  and the Shy Octopus card is a reminder to make sure that you are approaching the world with openness and curiosity. Even those of us who are shy or reclusive need stimulation in our lives. Spread your wings. Seek out those things that trigger your interest and bring rise to your curiosity. So let yourself dive into these rabbit holes, and see where they lead. This is where the spice of life resides, and how we find those things that truly inspire us.

DECK USED:  BIRDQUEEN TAROT AND LITTLE OTTER’S MINDFUL KIDS EMOTION CARDS

#detarotjufmeitarotchallenge Tea With the Queens Challenge by @de_tarotjuf
Tea with the Queen of Pentacles : Grounding and Materials
Prompts for May 29 – 31

Oracle Reading with the Sisters of the Sea OracleWhat practical step can I take to realize my dreams?

The Next Part – Don’t allow yourself to get bogged down in stagnancy. There is a difference between the mindfulness of being in the present, or wallowing in unhealthy stillness. Make sure it is the former that you are partaking in, and let the latter go.

What do I value most in my life right now?

Destiny – One of the things that you value most in life at the moment is the fact that you don’t always have to be at the helm to get where you’re going. Some things are going to work out a certain way no matter what and you don’t have to fight to get them there, just keep moving.

How can I use my talents to help others?

The Storm – You are often a moment of stability in others’ storms. Your words and sometimes just your presence gives them the footing needed to keep going on their path in times when they might otherwise linger in the storm or its aftermath instead of moving onward.

Other elements included in this reading:
Aventurine Leaf Medallion for Harmony and Balance of the Heart
Shiva Shell Heart for Wisdom and Discernment
Seashells for a Greater Connection to the Sea’s Wisdom
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: SISTERS OF THE SEA ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

I got both the air conditioners cleaned, set up, and running today.