tarot in daily life

Weekly Creativity Prompt – Falling Apart

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Prompt: Draw (at least) three cards. Use them to tell us about a (real or fictional) winter night in the city.

The Grand Elixir TarotWalking in this old, worn neighborhood at night takes a certain amount of projected authority (The Emperor) to keep from being accosted… and a certain amount of disregard for one’s safety (The Lovers Rx) because it might just happen anyway.

What was once a lush and thriving beauty is now a crumbling shell of what once was (imagery for The World) as corruption took over to eat away at its core as crimes are committed and remain unsolved either through disinterest… or willful ignorance (Justice).

Sadly, there is no coming back from what it has become. In this neighborhood, there is no recovery to be had, for it goes beyond the cracked sidewalks and grime… the poison has gone root deep. Too much blood, and violence, and too many deaths. (The Tower)

And yet even in this place I see beauty (The Magician), for it is in the strength of those that live here (Strength) if for no other reason than they can’t afford to live anywhere else. I see it in their eyes as I pass them on the street while they avoid the darker shadows and hurry home, their heads down but the inner spark that lives within them shining with a hope that they can lift themselves and their children up to rise to something better (The Star).

DECK USED: THE GRAND ELIXIR TAROT

It’s Not as Bad as It Looks

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

Yin-Yang Cat TarotToday’s draw is the Five of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of tests, trials, and hardships in the area of one’s finances, resources, health, home life, or manifestation abilities.

Today, I get to have a peek at just how much money I need to build the shelves in my living room.  I’ve been looking at a variety of different options, but regardless of the options, the price range looks like it’s going to be somewhere between $550 – $700 which… is painful.

Funny thing? I often fall back on Amazon for less expensive options, but they were pretty damned expensive in this case.   Tomorrow, I’ll take some measurements in order to get a better idea of the exact length of wall I’m working with and then I’ll be able to narrow things down further.

The thing is?  All this pricing has made me feel pretty damn poor yeah?  I know it’s not the case, but so many times scarcity is in the mind and not reality… and this is one of those times.  I need to remember it’s not as bad as it feels in the moment.

DECK USED:  YIN-YANG CAT TAROT

GroundedInMagic’s #Lovers2022TarotChallenge Challenge Prompt
Questions for January 17th and 18th

Yin-Yang Cat TarotWhat (from me) do others misunderstand as anger or self-righteousness when it is actually love?

Three of Cups – Your abstinence from drinking and drugs.

This one came full circle by the end of the day with a question posted on Discord asking about doing tarot readings while under the influence.

The thing is (and this is entirely my opinion), when you are reading for other people, those people are often extremely open to suggestion during their reading. I feel that when you hold that responsibility in your hands, you should be responsible with it.  That means being clear headed and mindful of the influence that you have over this other person, and careful to ensure you don’t damage them or their trust during those moments. Partaking of drugs and alcohol makes one… less responsible.  Not more.

That said?  If someone wants to partake and read for themselves?  I don’t see anything wrong with that as you’re not risking hurting anyone but yourself.  Not that self harm is okay, but its an entirely different level than carelessly hurting others that put their trust and well-being in your care when having a reading done.

Anyway… yep.  I see how this opinion can come off as self-righteous (or even as anger) to someone who doesn’t share my same viewpoints.

Nine of Pentacles – Using your own trials and successes as a way to try and encourage others. Although sometimes it can be inspiring? Other times it just comes off as “why the fuck are you being a whiner?”

This is, of course, not how it’s meant. But, that’s the whole point of this prompt. It’s about the things we say and do to express love (and in this case that love is in the form of encouragement) that can come off as something more negative.

What do I do that I believe is showing love to others, but is actually doing more harm and the good?

King of Wands – Providing opportunities for others, instead of letting them suss them out for themselves. You feel that you are helping, but it often boils down to the difference between teaching a man to fish or giving them the fish. Better to teach so that the man will never go hungry, than to hand it over and they learn nothing other than to depend on you.

Queen of Swords – Staying silent (usually to keep from hurting their feelings) instead of speaking up giving your opinion. Sometimes, even when you don’t mean to be, your words cut through the clutter and chaos, and can come off as sharp or harsh.  And sometimes?  That’s what they need in order to cut through all the bullshit and see things clearly.

DECK USED: YIN-YANG CAT TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I ate my yogurt?  OH!   I also downloaded a task manager to see if it might help me in keeping up on the day-to-day self-care type of stuff.  I don’t have it set up yet, but I figured I would give it a try.

Half Full… and Half Empty

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long and was a quiet time spent focusing on breathing exercises while doing forearm and piriformis stretches.

Oceana ArcanaeToday’s draw is the Five of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of looking at things from a pessimistic mentality, missing the big picture, and loss of perspective.

It’s interesting that I seem to run into this card most often on order days.  The days when I have to work on orders no matter what… even when I don’t wanna.

On the one hand, having so many is a great sign (especially since I cut back on my advertising budget and things appear to still be going strong regardless… although you can bet I’m watching that like a hawk).   On the other hand? It means less time with Gideon. No nap.  And… sometimes?  A complete lack of motivation to get anything done.

Obviously, the boon outweighs the bad or I wouldn’t be running my own business and keep doing things as I do.  Today’s card is a reminder of those boons.  A reminder to look at the good stuff so that the less enjoyable parts aren’t so difficult to work through.

DECK USED:  OCEANUM ARCANAE

#DiscordTarotholicsJan2022 Challenge Prompt
Questions for January 17th

Oceana Arcanae

What do you need to focus on for self-care during this full moon?

Know when to (The High Priestess) move out of the way (imagery in the Eight of Pentacles) and let things develop on their own (The Tower).

Sometimes it’s better to let everything crash to the floor than to try and catch it and hurt yourself in the process. Knowing when to act and when to stand back and wait is intuitive, and a skill you have developed over time and need to utilize at the moment.

In Reference To – Four of Wands atop Ace of Pentacles – New developments at home and having that contented and stable atmosphere at home that you prefer. (This is either about Lins getting a job or the hanging of the tv.)

Full moon advice from the Minoan goat goddess Amalthea.

The Ace of Wands landed atop the Ace of Pentacles, speaking of enthusiasm connected to a new project.

The Queen of Pentacles landed atop the Four of Wands and managed to slide  under the High Priestess.

When it comes to your home, you know how you like things and how you want them to be. It’s okay to be motivated and enthusiastic about this new project, just make sure that you are choosing your moments wisely on when to approach it and work on it.

Well that clears that up (about what the first part of this reading was referring to).  This is about the rearranging I want to do at home and the changes I want to make.  Like most things that involve some sort of work or labor, I have a habit of shoving forward.  Not to rush, but because I like to single-mindedly focus.  Drawing things out instead of investing fully and burying myself in it, it’s difficult to stay invested.  That is the encouragement here, though.  Don’t let it take over  your life and all of your focus. Work on it in stages and let it develop over the next handful of months instead.

DECK USED: OCEANUM ARCANAE

Daily Self Kindness

Hot cocoa (with mint) during packaging time was a nice change from the norm.  And… I’m really happy with the new mug warmer that I bought for my packaging table, too.

Dark Clouds vs Paradise

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

Tarot of Mystical MomentsToday’s draw is the Six of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of leaving behind what isn’t working for you in order to find something better and healthier.  This is often along the themes of leaving behind discord and strife for “calmer waters”.

Here in this imagery we have a woman lounging among the clouds, seeking an anchor and dreamily looking down at an abandoned island. Her dark cloud is ominous as she looks at something brighter and warmer and far more peaceful below.

This card is a reminder that the rush is over. A reminder that without the chaos and distraction of the holiday rush to keep things going and keep you uplifted (or numb) it’s time to lean into optimism once more.  Don’t be lackadaisical about it… don’t allow yourself to sink into sedentary stagnation.  Reach for the energy, the light, the optimism and the positivity that is needed to keep you from ending up in that dark cloud instead of in paradise.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF MYSTICAL MOMENTS

#DiscordTarotholicsJan2022 Challenge Prompt
Topic: Do Spread #3

Tarot of Mystical MomentsSomething Important In Your Life

The Empress – Taking better care of myself.

The influence that the essence of Fire has on this important something.

Page of Wands – It can be difficult to find enthusiasm on this topic, especially as you get distracted so easily by different ideas and interests. So much of your life is ruled by these moments of enthusiasm that it can be hard to concentrate on the things that feel more “routine”.

The influence that the essence of Air has on this important something.

Two of Swords – It’s about choice… and remembering that you made the choice in the moment so that you will make it again and again. It’s about not following your emotions that say “blah, I don’t wanna” to the routine self-care that you need, and making the choice to do it anyway regardless of those feelings.

The influence that the essence of Water has on this important something.

Ace of Cups – Although this new journey toward building a better relationship with yourself is a good thing?  It can also be a bit overwhelming (based off the imagery specifically).

The influence that the essence of Earth has on this important something.

Two of Pentacles – That overwhelm is caused by imbalance and lack of stability. If you want to find a way to get on track with doing what you need for yourself on a regular basis, whether or not you “feel like it” in the moment?  You need to find a way to fit it in that works with everything else in your life instead of trying to wedge it in here and there.  Give these things a more permanent placement within your day, so that each cycle includes them automatically, instead of you trying to fit them in when and where you can.

DECK USED: TAROT OF MYSTICAL MOMENTS

Daily Self Kindness

I took a nap today.  I didn’t really want to, but I was giving Miss Luna a nuzzle and the sandman hit me on the head. Apparently I needed it as I felt much better when I woke up.

Pulling Out Thorns

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Today’s meditation was skipped… although I did make the effort today.  It just didn’t work out.

Abstract Futures Tarot by Hilma's GhostToday’s draw is the King of Cups, which is a representation of a projective alpha energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s emotions, relationships, creativity, and intuition. This often translates into themes that have to do with strong leaders with understanding and emotionally supportive qualities.

When doing readings for myself, the King of Cups often comes up as a representation of Gideon. He is very much one of those strong, dominant types with an emotionally supportive core.  He draws people in with that core of understanding and support, and leads them with an integral ease. In most cases, people don’t even realize they yield to his guidance, because it’s so natural to do so.

This card today is absolutely about him, and the sharp edges are a reminder that even when I am out of sorts, I still need to communicate this with him.

Today’s card says “Share your sharp edges with him and let him help you pull out life’s thorns”.

DECK USED:  ABSTRACT FUTURES TAROT

GroundedInMagic’s #Lovers2022TarotChallenge Challenge Prompt
Questions for January 14th and 15th

Abstract Futures Tarot by Hilma's GhostHow can I be more open to clearly communicating my needs to others?

Find common ground (Three of Pentacles) and take your time (Temperance) to use your tools most effectively (The Magician).

Don’t go overboard. You don’t need to wax poetic to get your point across and doing so often can feel like “too much”.  This isn’t saying that you’re asking too much, but more that you need to find ways to communicate your needs so that -they- understand them better.  Speak their language instead of your own.

How can saying no (setting boundaries) be an act of love to myself?
Queen of Wands and Two of Cups

Tough love is still love, and it opens you up to things more aligned with your personal vision and values by removing avoidable obstacles.

DECK USED: ABSTRACT FUTURES TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I had play time with Gid today.  I had been feeling a lot of tension in my gut, and the play time has helped untie those knots.  I feel better now.

Family and Friends

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

Meowholic TarotToday’s draw is the Three of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of togetherness, revelry, celebration, and the bonds of friendship.

A few days ago, I had a reading that focused on what I need to work on balancing in my life for a positive year.  In that reading, it indicated that I needed to balance a greater sense of motivation with more focus on enjoying quality family connections.

The Three of Cups in this deck reminds me of that reading, and of how the reading indicated that the motivation would take care of itself down the road as long as I started out with focusing on the family and friends aspect of my life first.

The thing is? Family and friends make life better. Sometimes? It can be hard to let ourselves make time for them or focus on them when there’s so much else going on in our lives. But, as that reading indicated, and as I’m reminded now? In giving them that time, we receive in return the energy and motivation to do more and be better.

DECK USED:  MEOWHOLIC TAROT

Mr Lionharts’ #TheJanuaryTarot Wheel of 22 Challenge Prompt
Questions for January 14th through 16th

Meowholic TarotSomething I should avoid or try to focus on less this year.

Judgement and Five of Cups – Don’t judge yourself so harshly for your down times and moments when you fall back into pessimism. It isn’t a failure, and it isn’t a setback. It’s just moving at your own pace. The pace you go at should be the one that is happy and healthy for you… not whatever expectations you set for yourself to set yourself up for failure.

How can I best move past problems as they arise in 2022?

Page of Pentacles and The Hanged Man – With a thorough and methodical effort to see things from a different perspective.  Patience is important.  There’s no rush to get through things or solve problems quickly, so don’t put that extra pressure on yourself.  Instead, take time to really explore the issue from all angles and find the best solution instead of the quickest one.

What am I to remind myself of when times get rough this year?

Page of Swords and The Chariot Rx – Slow down and look closer. Lean into logic and find a better way.

DECK USED: MEOWHOLIC TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I took a nap, which was amazing.