Tarot guidance

Making Better Choices

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Today’s meditation was combined into my yoga practice, which involved deep breathing and a good deal of work on my right shoulder, elbow, and wrist.  I’ve been having a bit of a problem with it over the past few days and the focus from the meditation is very helpful in working through the pain involved in maintaining my mobility in painful joints through my yoga practice.

Lovers - Tarot of the Unknown Today’s card is the Lovers card, which contrary to novice perceptions has very little to do with romance and a whole lot to do with choices the choices we make and have made (in my experience). More specifically, because this is a Major Arcana card, to deal with life-path choices.

The message in today’s card is that there is never “a rut”.  People often speak of being “stuck in a rut” but, in truth, this isn’t a rut at all.  It is a moment of indecision.  There are always choices to be made in life, but when we refuse to make them it can lead to a time of imbalance and stagnation.  Sometimes, that’s okay, because we need the break.  But eventually, you’re always going to have to step back into the game and make a choice.

The Lovers card in this draw is a reminder that those choices aren’t going to go away if you ignore them, and that it’s okay to trod the path less traveled on occasion, if it’s the right path for you.

Deck Used:  Tarot of the Unknown

Bonus Reading – #TarotForGrowthNovember

Question: How can I better recognize when I’m being overly impulsive?

Tarot of Pagan CatsReading Summary:  Focus on what you have and what’s good in your life (Four of Wands and Ten of Pentacles).  When you do this there will be less need to delve for more (Knave of Swords) while pretending you are still in control (The Chariot) and in charge (The Emperor).

Take Away: When I get to a point where I’m starting to overwhelm myself through my impulsivity, I have a tendency to hold on harder to the reins of my life in other areas and tell myself that I’m in full control and in charge even when, in those moments, I’m not.   A better way to deal with this is to approach these times when I’m feeling impulsive with a reminder of all the good that is already a part of my life and all that I have to be grateful for.

There is also advice to be found here in these cards concerning reaching out to friends and family for their help in identifying when my impulsive behavior is “going too far”, rather than closing off and keeping things to myself.

Deck Used:  Tarot of Pagan Cats

 

Down Time is a Good Thing

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Today’s meditation was just over eleven minutes long, which is Day 4 in the ‘how to’ series, and focused on what the narrator called inner smoothness.  I’ve never really seen it that way, and I view “smooth” as being something solid with a surface that does not contain irregularities.    What he was speaking of in his narration is, to me, not smoothness, but rather transparency… like a window screen.  There, but transparent.

Essentially what this meditation was about was concerning how we react to the world around us.  Do we react and cringe from everything?  Or do we practice acceptance and allow the sensations (such as sound, for example) to flow around us and through us as we become part of the environment rather than separated from it?

In meditation, this sense of being “at one” is a key part of the practice.  Instead of being reactionary, you focus on being calm and at ease, no matter the distractions that may be present at the time.

Two of Cups - Tarot of the Unknown Today’s draw is the Two of Cups, which is in direct relation to me scolding myself for loafing off yesterday.  I just plain didn’t work at all once I got home yesterday, which means that I didn’t work in my home business for two days in a row.   Instead, I spent them playing with you.

This is really unheard of for me, as even when we play I often multitask and work on the side.  Today’s card is a reminder that it’s OKAY to need to spend time with you.  It’s OKAY to want to direct all of my energy and time and focus on you now and then.  There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, and it builds good energy and good relationship by doing so.   It’s good for me, and it’s good for us as a couple.

So I need to take a breath and just relax and stop being so hard on myself for not being as productive as I absolutely, positively could be.

Deck Used:  Tarot of the Unknown

Bonus Reading – #TarotForGrowthNovember

Question: How can I be more decisive?

The Distant Past Tarot

Reading Summary:  Use a more stable energy (Queen of Cups) in reaction to my struggles (Five of Pentacles), and keep in mind when I’m dealing with uncertainty (The Moon), that turning inward isn’t always the answer (The Hermit).  Sometimes you have to remember to ask for help (back to the Five of Pentacles) and let other people’s input influence your decision (Four of Cups).

Take Away:  If I want to be more decisive, it helps to look outward rather than always depending upon the self alone. These cards are a reminder that there are an infinite amount of other perspectives out there to consider when making a decision, and the more information you have, the easier it is to make the right choices for yourself and the situation.

Deck Used:  The Distant Past Tarot

Self Care Saturday (on Sunday)

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As I’ve mentioned before, these 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 are not meant as a predictive reading.

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

SCS

Earth – Five of Cups and Snake – The fear and temptation to feel that failure is afoot. This is not surprising to come up at this time of year, as it is the “lull” before the busy season and I am always super worried right before the busy season comes into being. Focusing on self care in this environment means doing my best to enjoy the free time I have while I have it, and doing my best not to “predict” what hasn’t yet come to pass. Don’t let my worries run away with me.

Air – The Magician and Dragon – On the intellectual side of the project I’m planning on working on this week, I have all the tools and knowledge I need to get it done. Now is a fortuitous time to do the work, so get going and do the work while the timing is good.

Water – Six of Cups and Moon – Sometimes taking trips down memory lane is a bad idea. I’ve received this message in some other readings over the past week or two. This is a reminder to stay in the present and let the dead and dying lie in my wake. Don’t stir the waters right now, as I may not like what surfaces if I do.

Fire – The Lovers, Ribbon, and Spider – Plan carefully and lean heavily toward receptive “feminine” energies with my choices this week in relation to my passions and interests.

Moving Away From – Ghost – Stop brewing over regrets and past mistakes. It’s time to look forward rather than over your shoulder. Find the new path instead of ruminating on the one left behind.

Heading Toward – Owl – Thought before action. Make sure you are strategizing instead of just acting on instinct or what seems most appealing in the moment.

Moral of the Story – I have been sort of hesitating and holding back on finishing a project that I started earlier in the fall. I haven’t really understood why I’ve been holding back on it, but I know that part of it had to do with worries about my worth and abilities. This week’s spread indicates that the time is now upon me and I have everything I need to get the project done. I just need to remember to focus on a plan of action with solid strategy behind it and stick to it… and lean to the left.

Decks Used: Deviant Moon Tarot, Mildred Payne’s Pocket Oracle, Halloween Oracle