tarot for self care

Finding the Positive for April 3 – 5

/ Twist the Leaf / Leave a comment

Reigning Rouge Tarot Ace of Pentacles, Bad A** Unicorns Tarot Ace of Swords, Crybaby Tarot Wheel of Fortune

April 3 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and one of the #DailyCalm sessions in the @Calm app. Today’s session was about reconnecting to the artist that resides within us, born from the creativity and imagination of childhood.

Back then as a child, it didn’t matter if the end results of our creative play was good, it only mattered that it was fun. This disconnect from the end result created a joyous energy to creating that we often lack as adults, for as adults we’re too focused on avoiding feeling incompetent or foolish. This avoidance has us sticking to what we’re good at instead of exploring new things and creative exploration.

When we connect to creative play as if we are a child instead of an adult, we connect with the process of creating and the fun that it provides, and embrace a state of curiosity that allows our imagination freedom.

•    •    •    ◈    •    🐇    •    ◈    •    •    •

The @GlitterbyInk #AprilFinds25 Challenge
Lost and Found Prompt for April 3 : Identity

Today’s draw is the Ace of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of the seed of new beginnings and new opportunities in the areas of one’s finances, resources, health, labors, manifestations, and the physical world.

I love making things. I love the process of bringing an idea to life, and experimenting with what is possible to create something new and different. This is how I became a jewelry designer.  The problem is? Something changes when your creative passion becomes your job.  Instead of being able to dive in and just -play- with the tools and materials of the craft you’re working on?  You have to worry about production time and value of the completed piece, as well as the pressure of making every piece beautiful and perfect.

The card for today is a reminder that sometimes we have to let go of being an adult and that “adult identity” that we carry with us as we grow out of our childhood… and just explore and experiment with something new and different.  And remember that its something you’re new at. It doesn’t have to be good, just fun.

DECK USED: REIGNING ROUGE TAROT

April 4 – Mental Health Card of the Day

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

To be fair? I cannot remember what the session was about, and the little graphic and quote from the app is absolutely no help in figuring it out.  I was struggling not to doze off during the meditation today, and I honestly think I might have been better served by a nap instead.

•    •    •    ◈    •    🐇    •    ◈    •    •    •

The @GlitterbyInk #AprilFinds25 Challenge
Lost and Found Prompt for April 4 : Fairness

Today’s draw is the Ace of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of the seed of new beginnings in the area of one’s thoughts, intellect, education, logic and reason, ambition, or communication.

The little quote on today’s card is “use it or lose it” which immediately made me think of all those “great ideas” and other thoughts that we have… and lose… before we can do anything with them.  It drives me -nuts- sometimes, thinking of all the good ideas that I’ve somehow lost on my way to being able to write them down or get started on them.

The thing is, though? There’s only so many hours in a day, only so many days in a week, and only so many weeks in a year.  That means there’s only so much time to spare exploring new ideas. It might not seem fair, but we have to pick and choose. We can’t go after them all, even if we want to.

So maybe that flitting idea that escaped before you could write it down or do anything about it isn’t disappearing into the ether because life’s unfair, but rather just because life’s busy and you don’t have time right now to fit another thing onto your plate.

DECK USED: BAD A** UNICORNS TAROT

April 5 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and was one of the #DailyCalm sessions from the @CalmApp. The session for today was about the benefits of fostering a sense of calm in our lives so that we weather through difficult times more easily and with less disruption.

This is, in truth, the entire premise behind my meditation practice as a  whole. It’s the reason I meditate, for I need that extra bit of calm that it provides me.  Somehow, these ten minute sessions each day provide a touch of extra calm that is then carried on throughout the entire day.

That doesn’t mean that I don’t still experience anxiety or get worked up, but it means that it takes a little more to get me there, and it’s a little easier to come down from those moments.

•    •    •    ◈    •    🐇    •    ◈    •    •    •

The @GlitterbyInk #AprilFinds25 Challenge
Lost and Found Prompt for April 5 : Commitment

Today’s draw is the Wheel of Fortune, which is traditionally a representation of luck (both good and bad), changing circumstances, the ups and downs of life, and the cyclical nature of life and the world.

In my practice, I often see the Wheel of Fortune through the viewpoint of a merry-go-round toy on a playground.  When you are on it and it spins, you can stand in the center and get dizzy but stay on board, or you can stand outside the center and let the force of the spin throw you off.

Combined with the “commitment” prompt for today, This card encourages us to stick with the things we feel are important, no matter what ups and downs my happen along the way.

It is up to us to brace at the center when things become chaotic so that those things we have committed ourselves to can ride out the storm instead of flying off into the ether to be discarded or forgotten.  Don’t let tough times cause you to give up on your dreams.  Those tough times might feel like they’ll last forever, but they’re only temporary. That’s just how life’s cycles work.

DECK USED: CRYBABY TAROT

The Things We Keep

/ Twist the Leaf / Leave a comment

Today’s meditation was about fifteen minutes long, and was a self guided meditation done in the dentist chair while the hygienist did the scaling on my teeth.

During today’s meditation, I focused on the information in the graphic about otters and their rocks.  I had no idea that otters had special rocks, or a pocket to carry one around in.  I think that’s incredibly sweet, though. I’m a big fan of otters and often watch them play in live zoo feeds, as well as in rescue/recovery videos and other social media.  They are very playful and community minded, and I i find the idea that they have this “one good thing” that they choose to carry with them wherever they go to be incredibly sweet.

•    •    •    ◈    •    🐇    •    ◈    •    •    •

Faeries and Magical Creatures Tarot - Four of CupsThe @GlitterbyInk #AprilFinds25 Challenge
Lost and Found Prompt for April 2 : Balance

Today’s draw is the Four of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of dejection, refusal of assistance, contemplative moments, meditation, and feelings of apathy.

In looking at this card, I don’t see a lot of apathy, but I do see displeasure on the face of the Fae as he looks into the mirror he holds in his hand.  Combined with the water he soaks in, which feels like stewing in one’s emotions, I find that the message in today’s card when combined with the meditation for today is to be careful what you take with you, because even the little things matter.

Whatever we choose to carry with us as we move through life influences our emotional perspective on everything else. We can carry our dissatisfaction with life or the things in it with us, or we can let them go and instead carry with us the things that bring us joy.  It’s a choice. It requires choosing to let go of the bad, and instead focus on the good.  In doing so, we stew ourselves in pleasure and happiness, instead of dissatisfaction and discontent. Which way would you rather tip the scales?

DECK USED:  FAERIES AND MAGICAL CREATURES TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsApr2025 Challenge
Prompts for April 3rd thru 5th

The Granny Squares Card DeckWhat is the most valuable thing you can do for yourself this month?

Heartfelt Square – Allow your heart to have a say instead of always leaning into logic and reason. You’ll feel happier and healthier if you give your heart a chance to speak as well rather than disregarding its input as irrational and thus irrelevant.

What is the most valuable thing you can do for yourself this month?

Rose Square – Get out and get your hands in the dirt. Play with the flowers. Plant some of the beauty into your life that will then grow into something joyous that will sustain you for the months to come.

What is the most valuable thing you can do for others this month?

Levantine Square – Stay calm and serene. Being reactionary hurts the situation and helps no one. Others need you to be levelheaded and not fly off the handle this spring.

What good is ready to come into bloom in your life with spring’s arrival?

Daisy Wheel Square – You are being given the opportunity to be the eye of the storm both for yourself, as well as for others. Focus on being that calm space were a break can be taken and a breath of fresh air pulled in. The moment of calm, and even happiness, in chaos.

What can you do to encourage this arrival?

April Square – Instead of looking forward to the future or back into the past. Your priority needs to be in the present for the time being. Stay focused on the here and now. Make sure that you are leaning into meditations that focus on current circumstances and awareness of what’s going on around you in the now.

Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Rhododendron Leaf for Fostering Confidence
Rose Quartz for Gentle Kindness to Self and Others
Aventurine Goddess for Harmony and Balance of the Heart
Citrine for Energy Lift (easing the weight of heavy energies)
Selenite Spoon for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: THE GRANNY SQUARES CARD DECK

Daily Self Kindness

I took a total of two naps today.  One in the morning after my dentist appointment, and a second one in the evening before supper.

Finding Fun in the Journey

/ Twist the Leaf / Leave a comment

Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and was one of the #DailyCalm sessions from the @CalmApp. The session was about the benefits of inviting humor into your life.

•    •    •    ◈    •    🐇    •    ◈    •    •    •

The @GlitterbyInk #AprilFinds25 Challenge
Lost and Found Prompt for April 1 : Curiosity

Black Seed Tarot - Three of WandsToday’s draw is the Three of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of the first active step in a journey, progress towards a goal, and the seizing of opportunities.

Combined with the Lost and Found prompt for today, the message in today’s card is about how we choose the journeys that we decide to explore, and an encouragement to allow curiosity to take the wheel once in a while.

Remember that life is more interesting when your curiosity is engaged. Not all choices and paths can be chosen by reason and responsibility. Sometimes, you have to go with what sparks your interest and draws you in, even if… or maybe especially when you don’t know where it’s going to lead you.  In these cases?  The mystery can be half the fun.

DECK USED:  BLACK SEED TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsApr2025 Challenge
Prompt for April 1 : Do the 2nd Quarter Spread

2nd Quarter Tarot Reading with the Black Seed Tarot, A Little Rain Oracle, and Dream Affirmation Cards

Year Ahead Theme : Temperance

Moderation is the name of the game this year.  Take care not to move too fast or go overboard in the grand scheme of things. Remember that even things that are healthy and good for you can turn bad if taken in excess.

Theme for April : Eight of Wands

Look at how the cattails bend in the breeze, always adapting to move teeth the flow. The stalks do not break, and the roots stay anchored deep as wild energies toss them to and fro. Take the lesson of the cattails to heart and make sure you bend when you need to  in order to adapt instead of breaking.

Focus / Advice for April : Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis)

Movement and change are needed. Take these lessons to heart and foster faith within yourself that all will work out in the end. Efforts to stay positive will help you adapt more easily when needed.

Ray of Hope for April : I have the power to make my all dreams come true.

Don’t let difficulty discourage you. Adapt to the changes that come in the present, but stay on track for your long-term goals. In the long run, adaptation doesn’t have to steer you off course.

Theme for May : Judgement

Consider if the things you are doing in the present are in alignment with furthering the goal of who you want to become in the future. Are those that you surround yourself in helping you to meet those goals? Or are they holding you back from the growth you seek to achieve?

Focus / Advice for May : Rumduol (Sphaerocoryne lefevrei)

Trust that your judgment concerning others and their character is not as bad as it sometimes feels like it is. Work on stepping out of your shell a bit more in order to connect more meaningfully with others this month.

Ray of Hope for May : I am a creative thinker and I find great solutions.

There is power in brainstorming with others.  You offer perspectives others might not consider, and they do the same for you. Remember that together, your ability to problem solve and dip into thinking outside the box is far more powerful than on your own.

Theme for June : Ten of Pentacles

You have a lot going for you this month, and it’s a perfect time to spend some time really acknowledging and appreciating how far you’ve come and how comfortable you have become in sharing the stability that you’ve developed for yourself with your loved ones.

Focus / Advice for June : Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis)

Count your blessings and trust that you’re on the right track.  Wallow in the good stuff a little bit while there’s time and opportunity to do so, and it will help to give you a fresh, happy glow that not only reflects in your countenance, but also in  your view of the world around you.

Ray of Hope for June : I am grateful for all the wonderful things in my life, big and small.

Make sure that you are looking at things in a positive light, enjoying your accomplishments rather than disregarding them as insignificant. Even small accomplishments have value.

Other elements included in this reading:
Brass Compass Rose for Finding Direction
Dried Rhododendron Leaf for Fostering Confidence
Foraged Norway Maple Key for Bouncing Back to Thrive
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECKS USED: BLACK SEED TAROT, A LITTLE RAIN ORACLE, DREAM AFFIRMATION CARDS

Daily Self Kindness

Once I got home today, I spent some much needed quiet time creative writing with Gid.

📆 Transitioning from March to April

/ Twist the Leaf / Leave a comment

Month End Check-In Oracle Reading with the Botanical Dreams Oracle

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

Observe – You are focusing the lion’s share of your energy on taking a step back at the moment. Observation is an important tool in understanding others actions and motives. You recognize this fact and are trying to distance yourself emotionally in order to get a better view of what’s going on around you.

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

Abundance Rx – It’s time to let go of the scarcity mentality that makes you feel as if you’re never able to do enough or “catch up”. Instead, spend time appreciating just how far you’ve come.

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

Soulmates – That special connection you have with those that truly “get you” needs recognition and celebration. It’s time to make sure you aren’t taking them for granted.

Limitations – Negative influences, opposition, or ill will.

Blessings – Watch out for those that go overboard in stressing how valuable they are to you, or how valuable you are to them. Look for the hidden motivations for why they are so dead set on pointing out and drilling home the silver linings of this relationship.

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

Summer Dreaming – In a reinforcement of this week’s Self Care Saturday reading, the advice here is to give yourself permission to loaf off and be a bit irresponsible right now.

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

Confidence Rx – Reflect back on experiences where you have lost your confidence due to feeling exposed and vulnerable. It’s in these experiences that you can find healing at this time.

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

The Warrior – Take time to acknowledge and celebrate your wins. They aren’t a fluke, but instead are truly a reflection of your skills and abilities.

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

Pearls of Wisdom – The “pearls of wisdom” soon to be offered to you aren’t truly to your best interest. Instead, they have the potential to entangle you in a mess of restraints you don’t need and that will be far too heavy for you.

Empowerment – A future opportunity to work toward.

Spider Woman – Balance is coming. You have the opportunity to be skilled and dexterous on the web of others traps and snares if you are wise enough to stay aware and not ignore warning signs as they arise.

Message from the Spirit World – Take care that even while you are loafing off and being irresponsible that you stay vigilant in protecting yourself from the potentially negative influences of others disguised as help or advice.

Message from the Mind’s World – Combat that negative inner narrative of scarcity in your head through enjoying a bit of extra time with your “tribe” of like-minded souls.

Message from the Physical World – You are a fighter and a survivor. This mantra needs to be remembered and repeated when you are not feeling at your strongest.

Take Away – This month ahead is going to bring a lot of trip lines set by those trying to ensnare you deeper in responsibilities you don’t need and can’t healthily take on. Embrace “irresponsibility” instead of being drawn in, and remember to “stand back and watch” instead of engaging.

Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Rhododendron Leaf for Fostering Confidence
Foraged Silver Maple Key for Bouncing Back to Thrive
Saucer Magnolia Painted on Bamboo for Perseverance

DECKS USED: BOTANICAL DREAMS ORACLE

What Are You Growing?

/ Twist the Leaf / Leave a comment

Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and was one of the #DailyCalm sessions from the @CalmApp. I don’t really remember what the session for today was about, only that it had something to do with being kinder to yourself and not listening to that inner voice that tries to tear you down.

•    •    •    ◈    •    🌱    •    ◈    •    •    •

Fantastical Creatures Tarot - the Justice cardToday’s draw is the Justice card, which is traditionally a representation of balance, cause and effect, repercussions and consequences, give and take,  and can often indicate the law or legal system.

Combined with what I can remember of today’s meditation session, the encouragement here today is to remember that “you get what you give”.

That means that if you allow negative thoughts and recriminations to have free reign in your head?  Then what you get out of that is negativity  and a tearing down of self confidence.

A better option is to counter balance that negativity going on upstairs with a bit of positivity by taking time to appreciate the good stuff in life.  Even if it’s just taking a moment to enjoy a spot of sunlight or appreciate the shade of green in the leaves of a plant. Gather up the pleasurable things, the things you’ve enjoyed, and the things you’ve accomplished. Enjoy them, and let that enjoyment help in beating back the negative thoughts trying to take over.

DECK USED:  FANTASTICAL CREATURES TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsMar2025 Challenge
Prompt for March 31 : Pick a spread of your choice that you’ve been curious about… and give it a go!
@Lionharts #TheMarchTarot The Power of Now Challenge
Spread : I Am Where I Need To Be Tarot Spread

"I Am Where I Need To Be" Oracle Reading with the Dragon Path oracle

How have I deepened my connection to the present?

Transformation – You have been working on shifting your focus from a future driven push to always be advancing to a focus on the present. This shift then opens up space to let in more recognition, appreciation, and gratitude.

What have I uncovered that will continue to guide me?

Crystal – Clarity in how you view yourself and your actions has become easier to access and will continue to guide you if you let it. Among other things, this clarity allows you to see the stagnancy you’ve been stuck in as a time of retreat and healing rather than failure.

How can I  honor the power of now as I move forward?

Harmony – Keep the lessons mentioned above in mind as you plan for the future. Don’t just acknowledge, but put into action the understanding that there needs to be a balance between your drive towards future goals and your appreciation of the present.

Other elements included in this reading:
Northern Red Oak Leaf Impression for Inner Strength
Conch Shell Knot for Concentration, Clarity, and Determination
Picture Jasper for Sense of Proportion and Grounding

DECK USED: DRAGON PATH ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

I made sure to get my rush orders done and out the door so that I can take a couple extra days off without worrying about them. The trip was trying and I feel like I need a little extra recovery time.

All the Hidden Things

/ Twist the Leaf / Leave a comment

Today’s meditation was ten minutes long and a self-directed session based on a graphic by @FredwardFall

This graphic really touched me in a deep and pretty pervasive way. It made me spend time considering what in life directs my actions, reactions, thoughts, and perceptions that perhaps I’m not even aware of.  This train of thought then wandered into thoughts of inner child work and shadow work, both of which explore parts of your inner paradigm that are not clearly seen through the lens of everyday life, but function beneath the surface, usually suppressed and ignored.

And yet even as we ignore them?  They continue to hold influence over us that we often don’t even realize or acknowledge.

•    •    •    ◈    •    🌱    •    ◈    •    •    •

Fox Fairy Goddess Tarot - The High PriestessToday’s draw is the High Priestess card, which is traditionally a representation of intuition, secrets, sacred knowledge, mystery, the subconscious mind.

The message in today’s card is an encouragement to listen to that secret inner knowledge that only you are privy to, because it’s in dipping into the unknown within ourselves that we learn and grow.

Combined with the meditation done today, we carry this theme further in understanding that means not just listening to our intuition, but also to the other suppressed voices within us as well, like our inner child and our shadow.

This is how we deepen our understanding of self, and at the same time of others.  This is how we learn to become whole and connected to the deepest parts of ourselves, and through that connection then can deepen our connection to our spirituality, our path, and the world around us as a whole.

DECK USED:  FOX FAIRY GODDESS TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsMar2025 Challenge
Prompt for March 30 : Do Interrobang Tarot’s Spring Spread

Spring Tarot Reading with the Bad Ideas Lead to Better Ones Cards and Amethyst Oracle

This spread goes from bottom to top. We begin with the underground, with death and decay.

Death/Passage: What died for me in the past season?

Pack All the Things and Passivity – You have successfully managed to pull yourself out of the cycle of stagnancy you’ve been experiencing over the past few months without overloading your plate with too many extra responsibilities.

Decay/Fertilizer: How does that passage fertilize what comes next?

Feeling Overwhelmed and Collection – The passage of this time of stagnancy allows you to more easily identify and acknowledge where you are still feeling overwhelmed or weighed down, and then begin working on finding a better balance in these areas.

Next, we consider the perennial, and turn our attention to any old growth due to renew.

The Perennial (Rebirth): What renews or rekindles for me now?

Eat While They’re Busy and Fear – It’s time to allow yourself the space you need to care for yourself properly, without allowing the fear of something going wrong to keep pulling you back into unhealthy caretaker habits.

Tending & Cultivation: How can I best greet and tend to this?

Clean the Body and Poison – Identify and reflect on what is perpetuating “sickness” within your life and it’s flow. Spend some time familiarizing yourself with those unhealthy patterns and cleansing them from your life.

Finally, we look above ground to consider the annuals, the unplanted seeds, and our garden plans.

The Annual (New Life/Seed): What do I plant next or start afresh?

Competitive Online Gaming, Spring, and Precarious – Work on establishing a better balance between those non-productive activities that you enjoy and the productive ones you need to get done. Now that you have broken free of that cycle of stagnancy, it’s the ideal time to establish better balance between these two areas.

Planning & Plotting: How can I best prepare to make sure that it thrives?

Uses a Wheelchair and Perspective – Use your ability to “put yourself in others shoes” to foster greater patience for yourself and others.

Other elements included in this reading:
Sigil: Sustainable Healthy Energy
Dried Rhododendron Leaf for Fostering Confidence
Foraged Norway Maple Key for Bouncing Back to Thrive
Kambaba Jasper for a sense of Peace and Tranquility
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: BAD IDEAS LEAD TO BETTER ONES CARDS AND THE AMETHYST ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

When Gid asked me to take a moment to really consider if I was okay with drowning today, I actually did it instead of just jumping in right away because it’s what I want and was craving.