tarot for self care

It’s Your Life

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and a self directed session based on a reminder note recently posted by @primaltrust_official (not an endorsement) that states “We heal not just when we ‘feel better,’ but when we learn how to hold space for what still hurts with love instead of fear.

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Wild Waters Edge Tarot - The Hermit@FatMumSlim August #FMSPAD Challenge
Prompt for August 1st : Under My Feet | #FMS_UNDERMYFEET25
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is the Hermit card, which is traditionally a representation of solitude, self reflection and introspection, alone time, and inner guidance.

At the end of the day? Your path through life is just that… yours. No one else can make decisions for you, instead it’s important to delve deep within yourself to figure out what is right for you.

Sure, others in our lives contribute influence, especially in our formative years as children, but at some point we have to take onus for our lives, what we do with them, and who we ultimately become. And, to connect with who we are and who we want to become takes self-a reflection and authenticity.

Today’s message is that as adults, the path under our feet belongs to us, and so do the choices we make, as well as those we refuse to make or allow others to make for us. This message encourages us to take moments of self reflection to tune into who we are, where we want our path to lead, and who we want to become.

DECK USED:  WILD WATERS EDGE TAROT OF THE NORTHWOODS

#DiscordTarotholicsAug2025 Challenge
Prompt for August 2nd : First Harvest Spread

Oracle of the Mystic Muse Oracle Reading

Calves – How can I better express my needs and vulnerabilities to welcome in nurturing assistance?

The Message – Accept that you can’t be good at everything. You can be better at being vulnerable, though, if you’re willing to communicate your way through it instead of retreating to hide yourself away in the dark.

Corn – How can I foster the gift of greater long-term prosperity in my life?

Free Spirit – Shift your perspective to view prosperity as more than a monetary thing. Seek out other ways in which you are fortunate, and how you can increase and sustain wealth in those areas.

Peridot – Where can greater focus and clarity draw out more joy in my life?

The Muse – The places and things that inspire you are where you excel at finding joy. Focus on those things that you really enjoy and that inspire you, rather than just trudging along with what had to be done and/or need doing.

Golden Topaz – How can more authentic self-exploration improve how I see the world?

Magic – One view transforms the other. Just like a rainy day can be refreshing when in a good mood, or miserably wet when in a bad mood; internal narratives shift external perceptions and perspectives. The more you understand authentic self, the more sense the world begins to make and the easier it is to deal with those parts of it that don’t.

Crow – What message from beyond have I been ignoring that it’s time to acknowledge?

Shadow – You still have plenty to sort through that’s buried in those deep, dark places within you, but don’t let digging through the dark make you miss out on the beauty that’s right in front of you day after day. You can balance both, and in doing so, the beauty will make those shadows easier to deal with.

Basil – What risk or danger in my life is it time to take seriously?

The Mission – Make sure if you’re going to gallop, that you’re galloping in the right direction. Are you running away from something? Is fear driving you? If not, why are you running? These are important questions you need to ask yourself, and seek sincere answers to.

Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Rhododendron Leaf for Fostering Confidence
Gneiss Wishing Stone for Patience in Moments of Discomfort
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: INNER CHILD HEALING ORACLE OF THE MYSTIC MUSE

Daily Self Kindness

Another day without news. I’m not sure if it’s helping, but I thought I’d give it another go.

First Harvest 2025 – Lammas/Lughnasadh

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Today is the First Harvest of the year. This day marks the transition into the harvest season of August, September, and October (of which there is a Second Harvest and Last Harvest that correspond to these months).

Wheat Field

This holiday is often called Lammas, Lughnasadh, or Lugh, although I usually just refer to it as the First Harvest. On my path, it celebrates the beginning of Summer’s decline and ramping up of the busy season where we begin to reap in the abundance that the bounty of summer’s energies has encouraged to grow and flourish.

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 Second Harvest (aka. Mabon, Autumnal Equinox) in September.

Lughnasadh / Last Harvest Reading with the Pagan Otherworlds Tarot, Compendium of Witches Oracle, and Healing Herbal Deck

Theme of the Season – Lughnasadh, First Quarter Moon, Grass Lily (Ornithogalum umbellatum)

Lughnasadh is a harvest festival of Celtic origins with a theme that has to do with competition, hard work, and bounty.  Lammas (aka. Loaf Mass Day) is a Christian festival that centered around gratitude and blessings.  The themes are different, but in my practice they are combined, which is why I prefer to call this holiday the “First Harvest”, as I feel it connects to both the gratitude and abundance, as wel as the hard work that this part of the season involves.

Half way between the New Moon and upcoming Full moon, the First Quarter Moon is a time to look at the intentions we set and began working toward with the New Moon’s cycle, and reassess how things are going. This is a time of action and adaptation as we apply determination to our goal and move forward, pouring our energies into those things we are working to accomplish during this moon’s cycle. Energy is building as we move toward the Full Moon, and at this time utilizing that energy is the name of the game.

Metaphysically speaking, Grass Lily (Ornithogalum umbellatum) symbolizes innocence, purity, honesty, hope, and forgiveness; and can be used to help in dealing with the shock of loss.  In medical circles, it has been researched for use in heart medication to lower blood pressure, strengthen the pulse, and discharge excess fluid in those that struggle to tolerate digitoxin based treatments.

When looking at these three cards together…

Earth – Temperance atop Eight of Wands Rx – Times of rushing and pushing need moderation, but so too do times when things are moving slow. Otherwise, these slow times turn from slow but healthy movement into stagnancy and decay. Don’t jump the gun, and don’t freeze in place. You need to breathe through the uncertainty, and “thread the needle” between the two extremes one step at a time.

Air – Queen of Wands – Direct your focus to the things that you were passionate about, and you have influence over. There’s no point in worrying about the things that you have no ability to change or influence, instead work on those things that you can and do.

Water – Five of Swords Rx – It really isn’t surprising that you’re feeling a sense of defeat at this time. With everything that’s going on in the world right now and how much of it affects you personally, it can be a struggle to keep your head above water and not just give up. This is understandable and these emotions absolutely influence your spiritual well-being. Take time to reflect back upon the Earth position (above) in this reading and keep going anyway. There is grounding to be had by reaching for the shore.

Fire – Ace of Swords – It may take some clever thinking (and possibly some clever doing) to keep things on track right now. This can be helped by communicating what you want to happen to others and listening to their ideas as well. All ideas are good ideas when it feeds your brain, and can possibly give you a new perspective and shake something loose that could be useful.

Waning – The Seer and Moon – Ungrounded divination is not the way to go right now.  Make sure you are getting the grounding and centering you need before flirting with the veil.  Natural affinities need strong foundations too.

Waxing – The Veil Walker and Distaff – It is time to claim your power by beginning the process of establishing boundaries in your mediumship practice. Moving further along this path, you will need protections in place in order to help in bolstering your strength.

Take Away – Much of what’s said in this reading are an an echo of my month’s end reading, which isn’t surprising since they are overlapping a bit in the issues I’m running into in life right now. The advice here is to make sure you are staying on top of balancing your need to fix things and your need to retreat from the unknown. The anxiety in this tug of war is causing you to be vulnerable in your spiritual practice in ways that you usually aren’t.  Make sure you are taking care to uphold your boundaries, and let yourself get lost in the things you enjoy for a bit of relief from the stress.

DECKS USED: SABBAT THEMED ART CARD, PAGAN UNDERWORLDS TAROT, COMPENDIUM OF WITCHES ORACLE, HEALING HERBAL CARDS VOL 1 & 2

📆 Transitioning from July to August

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Month End Tarot Reading with the Folkloric Forest Tarot

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

Knight of Earth atop Eight of Earth – You are in the process of moving slowly towards flawed perfection. Your sights are trained forward as you seek to improve that which is already long earned excellence. It’s slow going, but you’ll get there if you can keep yourself on task.

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

King of Air Rx – You are not in control. It’s time to look to adaptation for answers, rather than trying to constantly tighten your grip and force things to go how you want them to. Sometimes you have to accept it’s out of your hands, and all you can do is wait, watch, and adapt when given the opportunity to do so.

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

The Magician – You seek the strength and capability needed to weather the storm of obstacles that life throws at you with composure and skill. You want to make it look easy… or at least easier than it actually is.

Limitations – Negative influences, opposition, or ill will.

The Wheel Rx – The unexpected sucks, but it will suck even more if you let it have free rein over your life. Only adaptation will allow you to stay on top of things when the unexpected happens. If you aren’t willing to bend, you will break… and so will those things you have worked so hard for.

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

Ace of Cups – Don’t allow yourself to close yourself off to your emotions, even when they feel uncertain or brand new. Yes, emotions are unpredictable, but they allow you to get through difficult times and can bolster you when needed.

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

Four of Earth – Don’t get too comfortable or you will be taken by surprise when changes come. Remember that stability doesn’t involve stagnancy. Stagnancy causes rot and decay.

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

Ace of Earth atop Nine of Water – New opportunities come from indulging in those things that you enjoy. You can begin again if you need to. You’ve done it before.

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

Two of Water atop Seven of Water Rx – When you feel like you’re out of options, it’s time to think outside the box and start seeking the opinions and ideas of others close to you. Share with them how you feel and let them help you navigate these moments.

Empowerment – A future opportunity to work toward.

Ace of Fire – Start doing the stuff needed to support your passions. Do it now. It’ll be worth it in the end.

Message from the Spirit World – You can follow your emotions or your passions, but you can’t choose both. Make sure you weigh the options carefully because they will determine your future path.

Message from the Mind’s World – Less thinking and more doing is needed right now. You have the tools to make it happen, so make it happen. Focus on those things that -are- under your control, instead of those that aren’t.

Message from the Physical World – When stability is disrupted by uncertainty, stay grounded in what you know through experience is going to make you happy. Keep in mind that you may need to start over in some areas to accomplish this.

Take Away – Something disruptive is coming. Instead of bracing for impact, start moving on preparations now, with your eye on new beginnings involving a blend of what you are passionate about combined with what makes you happy. They aren’t always the same thing, but they can be if you combine them together.

DECK USED: FOLKLORIC FOREST TAROT

It’s All Temporary

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

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We'Moon Tarot's Ace of CupsDaily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is the Ace of Cups (1 of Water), which is traditionally a representation of the seed of new beginnings in the area of one’s emotions, relationships, creativity, and intuition.

I am currently on a journey of self discovery, where my emotions take center stage as I try to become adept at identifying them, experiencing them, understanding them, and incorporating them into my life. It’s slow going and often frustrating; always confusing. But, that’s today’s challenge, and yesterday’s challenge, and probably tomorrow’s as well.

We cannot predict what is coming. 10 or 20 years down the line. Our lives could be completely different, our struggles could be entirely changed, and those things that we are just now trying to learn could be things we have become experts on, or have been abandoned for something else entirely.

The message in today’s cards is to not give up when things get hard. Our challenges today are for today. The future will hold others, and today’s will fade into the past. Stay present in the moment and experience the pleasures along with the struggles, and when tomorrow struggles come? Adapt and keep going.

DECK USED:  WE’MOON TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJul2025 Challenge
Prompt for July 31 : Grab a spread of your choice you’re curious about… and give it a go!
Spread: Folklore Tarot Spread by @newagehipster333

Folklore Tarot Reading with The Fox & Crow Tarot

Feelings that need to be felt.

The High Priestess – What are you hiding? You aren’t allowing yourself to connect with what’s hidden within. You hid it, and you’re the only one that can drag it up into your view. Take some quiet time and meditation, and seek out those emotions that you have been avoiding. They’re right there under the surface, waiting to be acknowledged.

How you can heal, express, and navigate these feelings.

Ten of Pentacles – Remember that these feelings aren’t the end of the world, no matter how much it feels like they are. Nothing you unearth in this exploration is going to destroy all your hard work, nor the stability you’ve built.

Stories that need to be told.

The Sun – Revisit the good times and successes of your past. They will help bolster you through the struggle as you deal with these uncovered emotions that you’ve been hiding from.

How to set boundaries and look after your own energy.

Strength – Do not allow others to take your help for granted. If they can’t be respectful of you and what matters to you, then they don’t deserve your time or attention. These boundaries on your time, energy, and efforts are important, for if you don’t uphold them, others will tap into all you’re willing to give them and more… how much more will depend on how much they can get rather than how much you’re willing to give.

How to trust yourself and your dreams.

The Magician – Be open to accepting and internalizing the fact that you have the capability of dealing with anything that life throws your way. You’ll work it out. You always do.

Other elements included in this reading:
Pressed Pansy Flowers for Hearing the Heart More Clearly
Foraged Wood Fern for Exorcising Negative Influences
Foraged Purple Heather Sprigs for Independence and Luck
Dried Cedar (in Bundle) for Cleansing and Protection
Dried Lavender (in Bundle) for Warmth and Comfort
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: THE FOX & CROW TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I stayed away from the news today, both online as well as on the tv.  My anxiety is a bit too high, and the news, especially on the political front, just wasn’t helping.

Unseen Guidance

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Matronua Tarot's Two of Swords and Chakra Mandalas DeckDaily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is the Two of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of crossroads, difficult decisions, needing more information, seeking inward for answers, weighing one’s options, and sometimes avoidance.

As someone that works in mediumship and is sensitive to energies, I can (at least for myself) definitively say that we are not alone.

Nor, as we move along our path, are our decisions uninfluenced by those that linger.

It’s not that they make choices for us (note: your definition of “they” may vary. ex: ancestors and spirits of the dead, angels, spirit, guides, deity, etc), but they do try to help us and guide us; if we are willing to open up to listening to them.

The message in today’s cards is a reminder that our journey on life’s path is not something we do alone, nor are we rudderless in the sea of life. Yes, we make the decisions on where we go and what we do, but guidance is available if you’re willing to open up and listen.

DECK USED:  MATRONUA TAROT (aka. TAROCCHI ITALIANI DIPINTI A MANO DA VALENTINA DE LUCA) AND CHAKRA MANDALAS DECK

@LightningWildflower‘s July Tarot Challenge
Integrate Prompts for July 28 – 31

The Chef Oracle ReadingWhat lessons from my past are ready to be integrated into the present?

Salt atop Mushroom – It’s through observation that you are best able to protect yourself. Before acting in the same old patterns as the past, stand back and watch first. When you react without this pause, you leave yourself wide open to negative influences.

How can I  honor past lessons without clinging to old narratives?

Thyme – Have the courage to break free of old patterns instead of repeating them. The unknown can be scary, but you need to remember that what you’ve known before isn’t all wine and roses either. There is value and benefit in thinking outside the box and stepping outside your comfort zone.

What positive experiences have had the biggest impact on me?

Butcher – Look at how you learn and develop your skills. Those things you have developed expertise in took a lot of work, but your learning process is unique and can be applied to life in a myriad of different ways.

What have I learned about myself over the last month?

Beef – Over the past month you have gotten a better grasp on where you fit in other people’s lives, and what roles you play not just in their lives but also your own. This boils down to a greater sense of self-acceptance of all that you are.

Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Rhododendron Leaf for Fostering Confidence
Aragonite for Truth and Understanding
Septarian Stone for Physical and Mental Healing
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: THE CHEF ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

I took time to relax and take a nap at Ms B’s today while I was there.

Honey vs Vinegar

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Inner Child Deck's Knight of Clouds/Knight of Swords and Inner Joy OracleDaily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is the Queen of Swords (Clouds), which is traditionally a representation of a receptive alpha energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s knowledge, education, logic, ambitions, or communication. This often translates into themes that have to do with the people that foster you through tough love and sharp-tongued advice.

Keep those narratives (inner and outer) positive.

Yes, tough love is a thing. Remember, though, that it’s usually not necessary.

Instead of letting your sharp tongue and sharper mind step in and start cutting right out of the gate, take a slow breath and try a softer, kinder, and more compassionate approach first. You can always resort to that sharper edge if needed, but these cards are a reminder that you’ll “draw more flies with honey than vinegar”.

Today’s message is to not be an ass until you actually have to be. It might be more expedient, but it puts people on edge and pushes them away. Take the time to try kindness first. Those hard, sharp edges can come out later if needed.

DECK USED:  THE INNER CHILD DECK AND INNER JOY ORACLE

#DiscordTarotholicsJul2025 Challenge
Philosophical Question for July 30 : What distinguishes knowledge from belief?

The Card of Changes Oracle ReadingReading Summary: Knowledge is the beginning of something solid (Qián). Belief has the ability to not just be wrong (Gǔ), but fool us with deceptions and mistaken impressions if we aren’t careful (Xiǎo Guò).

Take Away: These cards indicate that knowledge is based in truth, which is based in proof.  Belief, on the other hand, is based in one’s feelings and personal understanding, which is not as solid a foundation as truth and proof.

I’d like to add that this doesn’t necessarily mean that belief cannot be knowledge as well, but it requires proof positive to bridge the gap between one and the other.

Other elements included in this reading:
Black Spruce needles to Boost Self-Confidence and Positive Thinking
Dried Purple Heather Flowers for Independence and Luck
Amethyst Buddha for Serenity in Spiritual Connections
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: THE CARD OF CHANGES ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

I finally gave in and ordered myself a new sleeper earring (I lost the old one) for my unhappy helix piercing. It’s been bugging me for a while, and I need to get something in there that won’t agitate it instead of just hoping it’ll stop on its own.