Tarot of a Moon Garden

Supportive Acts of Self-Care

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Today’s meditation was twelve minutes long, and was a #DailyCalm session from the @Calm app.

The session for today dealt with anxiety, and was a guided meditation concerning confronting and then releasing instances, people, and situations that make our anxiety spike, even if just for the few minutes of a meditation.

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Tarot of a Moon Garden - Ten of WandsThe @GlitterbyInk #MayTag25 Challenge
Celebrating Our Community Prompt for May 10 : Supportive

Today’s draw is the Ten of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of overwhelm, burnout, struggling under too much responsibility, and can indicate a need to do some prioritizing and delegation.

Anxiety creates overwhelm. You could have nothing pressing on your plate and minimal responsibilities, and anxiety would still create a sense of overwhelm so great that you feel unable to cope.

The thing is, anxiety is temporary. Depression is temporary. These things that influence our perception of what is “too much” for us are all temporary. That doesn’t mean that they should be ignored, though. It’s through supportive acts of self-care that we deal with these feelings and help to ease them.

So remember… just because we “tay the course” on your path doesn’t mean we ignore our discomfort or neglect our needs along the way. Instead, by giving ourselves moments of rest and the loving care we need at any given time, we support our journey and help ourselves in continuing on in healthier ways.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF A MOON GARDEN BORDERLESS EDITION

#DiscordTarotholicsMay2025 Challenge
Prompt for May 11 : Do Spread 2
Prompt for May 10: What do you need to focus on for self-care for the next month’s full moon?

Oracle Reading with the Oracolo dei Visi

Reading Summary: The curvature of the wreath in the anchor card (The World) connects with the horns of the goat in the Determination card. There is also a lack of laurel that is normally present in The World card, but shows up on the head of the figure in the Honor card. These connections speak of a need for determination to reach the finish line on a project that you’ve been working on, but remember not to sacrifice your honor to get there.

“Don’t let the goal distract you from who you are” is shown in the fact that the man in the Honor card faces towards the future, while the hawk beneath him and the woman in The World card both face toward the past.

The figure in the Dream card also faces toward the past, and almost in the exact same angle as the face of the figure in The World card. This speaks of a need to reevaluate your dreams from the past that you are working toward, and decide if they’re really what you want in the present, or if you’re pushing forward out of stubborn determination alone.

Take Away: Sometimes, the dreams we have and the goals that we create from them are a reflection of what we need in the moment, instead of what is good for us in the future.

These cards are encouraging you to look at these dreams and goals that you have held dear for so long, and ensure that they are still in alignment with who you are in the present and where you want to go. Make sure that you aren’t sacrificing yourself and who you are becoming to fulfilled dreams and goals that are no longer applicable to you.

Other elements included in this reading:
Bind Rune on Cedar for a Protected Home
Foraged English Oak Leaf for Strength and Determination
Clear Quartz Crescent for Amplification of Lunar Energies
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECKS USED: THE GRATITUDE ORACLE (SELF NADE) AND ORACOLO DEI VISION

Daily Self Kindness

This is a catch up post, and I’m not entirely sure what the self kindness was for this day.

Stability For All

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As I mentioned in the post for the 18th, I’m in the process of catching up, although I do remember what happened with today’s meditation.   It was skipped.  I wanted to get on the road to head north for my mail as early as possible, so instead of lying down and risking falling asleep in the middle of my meditation, I skipped it.  I then played with you when I got home until I was dead tired and dropped right to sleep at bed time. So… no meditation today.

Herbal TarotToday’s draw is the Ten of Pentacles, which is a representation of fulfillment and completion in the areas of finance, resources, manifestation, health, and the physical world.

What stood out to me the strongest in the imagery of today’s card was the root (fruit) of the Wild Yam plant on the card.  Dioscorea villosa is a spiritual representation of releasing fears and using one’s talents and skills to better better not just your own position but to help others as well.   What I see here, though, is more than that.  The fruit of this plant holds strength in the soil.  It is the foundation itself that is strong, and where its strength lies.

The message that I see in today’s card has to do with building your own foundation, and using it not just to provide stability and comfort for yourself… but for others as well.  It is a message about cherishing those that are closest to you, and supporting them the best that you are able using the strengths that are at your disposal.

I have worked hard to manifest this stability in my life for a long time, but I have not taken the opportunity until recently to really appreciate the fact that I also provide this stability for others.   Today’s card is a reminder that I’m doing a lot more than I realize.

DECK USED:  HERBAL TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJun2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: What can I do to help my inner adolescent feel heard and understood?

Tarot MoodReading Summary:  More fun (The Sun) combined with the assurance of slow and steady stability (Knight of Pentacles).  Don’t let uncertainty (The Moon) turn you harsh and your inner critic vicious (Queen of Swords Rx).

Take Away: As I’ve mentioned before, I don’t really have much of a connection with my inner adolescent, but I see the sense in the approach that the cards lay out here for me.  Who doesn’t want a little more fun, and who (when feeling vulnerable) doesn’t feel the need for a slow but steady hand?

DECK USED:  TAROT MOOD

#TheJuneTarot Challenge by Lionhart
Question: What should I take to heart right now?

Tarot of Metamorphosis

Reading Summary:  Being bossy and commandeering (Chariot) is not going to get me to a place of stability and security (King of Pentacles).  Resist reacting to instability (The Wheel) and follow your intuitive voice instead (High Priestess).

Side note:  I get a good chuckle out of the Chariot card in this deck every time I see it.  The blond is like “Pull my hair again and I’ll eat your face off!!” while the brunette is like “OOhhh, I wish he’d pull my hair like that”.

Take Away:  I need to let up on myself for a bit.   I need to let myself coast for a bit and ease back on the grip on those reigns.   It’s a good time to do it, being that I’m sliding into my slow season with the business. The Wheel card in this reading refers that the ups and downs of my business and how I sometimes freak out when things slip into a lull, but the cards indicate that a lull is just what is needed at this time.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF METAMORPHOSIS

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What is my hardest lesson?

Tarot of a Moon Garden

Reading Summary: Self-love (Ace of Cups Rx), and not deceiving myself into thinking things are bad (Three of Swords) when they’re not (Nine of Cups).

Take Away: I often use my fear of instability and inadequacy as a drive to push myself forward and prod myself into doing more and working harder, especially in times when I really need to take a break but don’t want to let go enough to allow it.  The cards here indicate that my hardest lesson is loving myself enough to recognize I don’t need to use these methods, and I can ease up and be kinder to myself.  I am aware of the lesson I am being asked to learn… it’s just the act of actually learning it, taking i to heart, and putting it into action that I’m struggling with.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF A MOON GARDEN

 

How Long Is Your Reach?

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Today’s meditation was again postponed to take place at bed time.  I know.  And I agree with you that I need to get on track and more dedicated to doing my meditation practice in the morning again.  But it did not happen today.   I will put more of a push behind doing better about this, though. Because you’re right… morning meditation works a lot better for my self care than evening ones do.

Herbal Tarot - Seven of Cups - Juniper BerriesToday’s draw is the Seven of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of being presented with a variety of opportunities, and using one’s heart assist in making choices.  It can also represent feeling overwhelmed by the choices set out before you.

A lot of times when I get this card in my personal readings, it means that I am leaning too heavily on making decisions in my head, and that my heart needs to have its voice included in making whatever decisions are going on at the moment.

What stood out the strongest to me today in the imagery of this card was the sprig of Juniper at the top of the card, and the image of the little blue dragon that looks like its trying to get a nibble off that sprig.

Juniperus communis is used spiritually as a way to protect oneself from negative thoughts and influences, which fits in well with what I see in that little dragon, actually.   As what I see here in the imagery of today’s card and the relationship between the dragon and the Juniper sprig… is empowerment.

When you reach for the things you want, sometimes? Negative thoughts have a way of shortening your reach and influencing you to fall short of your goals.   The message in today’s card is to not allow those negative self dialog to have that kind of power.  It’s not about a specific thing or event, instead this card is about how to build my confidence and become stronger.

DECK USED:  HERBAL TAROT

#TarotForGrowthJune Challenge Prompt
Question: How can I align more with the wildness within me?

Tarot of a Moon Garden

Reading Summary: It is self defeating (Five of Swords) to intellectualize (Nine of Swords) your emotions so much (Queen of Cups). Set them free and allow them to find their own way (Six of Cups).

Take Away:  Funny that we just talked about this a bit ago.  Although, this question refers specifically to connecting more to the wildness within me.   So of course intellectualizing would be self defeating in that goal.  I’m not really sure that connecting to my wildness is what I need right now though.  So perhaps the intellectualizing is a good thing, yeah?

DECK USED:  TAROT OF A MOON GARDEN

#DiscordTarotholicsJun2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: Philosophical Question: Are beliefs and superstitions the same?

Japaridze TarotReading Summary: When driven by our convictions and passions (Queen of Fire), belief and superstition can both provide a sense of emotional fulfillment (Ten of Tides) when we feel that we are being guided and protected by them.

When we connect with others that share the same beliefs or superstitions (Three of Gardens), the experience has the ability to create a sense of intellectual superiority over others that do not share the same views (King of Winds).

By the same turn, both beliefs and superstitions can create a sense of being overburdened if we become too focused upon them and too dependent upon them and their parameters (Ten of Fire).

Take Away:  What is being shown in these cards is about how both belief and superstition are related.  In these ways, they are absolutely the same.  I do think, though, that there are as many differences between belief and superstition as there are similarities.

DECK USED:  JAPARIDZE TAROT

#TheJuneTarot Challenge by Lionhart
Question: What more can I do to ready myself for the next mercury rx?

Simply Deep Tarot

Reading Summary: Have a plan in place (Three of Wands), depend upon your intuition to guide you forward (High Priestess), and keep plowing forward (Chariot).

Take Away:  I’m not usually particularly affected by mercury rx, but the people around me are and as a result what I notice most is a bit of a breakdown in communication between others… and sometimes between others and myself.  Essentially what the cards are telling me is to keep my head down and keep moving.  Don’t allow things to stagnate, and follow my intuition when I need a little boost or a bit of extra direction.

DECK USED:  SIMPLY DEEP TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What are my 3 goals for the next quarter of the year?

Grimalkin Tarot

Reading Summary: More understanding and nurturing of the self concerning stability goals (Queen of Pentacles. More stable and grounded self talk (King of Swords). Inner growth and maturity (Grimalkin).

Take Away:  I hadn’t really set out to make goals for the next three months, but these sound like really good ones.

The first goal is about allowing myself a bit of wiggle room concerning my usual obsession with stability and security.  This is a topic I’ve been hyper focused on for the majority of my adult life, and I’ve had a lot of readings indicating lately that I need to loosen those barbwire bindings I use to keep everything in control.  I have a feeling that this loosening is necessary if I want to do the restructuring I’ve been working on and have it be a success.

The second goal is about my inner narrative and being more kind to myself.  Or… not so much more kind as less unstable.  Less lashing out, more stability and strength.  There are good kings that make spectacular leaders, and bad kings that are tyrants.  Don’t be a tyrant.

The third goal is about learning from your mistakes and the growth and maturity you develop through experience.  This is a long standing goal, and I feel it’s also a healthy one to continue.

DECK USED:  GRIMALKIN TAROT

You Are Not Alone

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long and was another of the harp strings meditations.  It was relaxing and comfortable, and time flowed quickly as if it had no meaning at all.  The shift in time during those ten minutes is really remarkable, and I have been tempted to bump the meditation up to twelve or fifteen.

Japaridze Tarot - Five of Tides - Five of CupsToday’s draw is the Five of Tides (Five of Cups) which is traditionally a representation of stress, struggles, tests, and trials in the areas of one’s relationships, emotions, or intuition.  This often communicates itself through themes involving grief (depicted very eloquently in this card’s image), as well as themes to do with one’s failures and regrets or pessimistic views.

Two elements stand out strongest to me in the imagery of this card today.  The first is the baby bump the woman is sporting. This speaks to me of temporary grief.  The emotions represented here are deep, as communicated by the deep cobalt color of the woman’s dress, but life will move on past this moment and moments of joy still exist in the future.

The second element is about the emblems on the three caskets closest to the bottom of the card.  To me, the moon represents pagan/esoteric religions, while the Star of David is a representation of Judaic religions, and the cross a representation of Christian religions.  The three of these speak to me of diversity.  They indicate that the emotions and experiences depicted in this card are universal.  They are something everyone experiences in their life at one point or another… and when in these experiences, you are not alone.

The message in today’s card is about weathering emotional storms with grace by looking forward beyond the moment for hope, and remembering that you are not alone.  Some of my readings this month have warned of some emotional turmoil over the next month, this reminder is one of hope and comfort.

DECK USED:  JAPARIDZE TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJun2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: What do I need to focus on for self-care for this full moon?

Tarot of the Animal LordsReading Summary: There is a clear depiction of movement in these cards based on the colors.  On the left there is a darkness that as you progress to the right becomes brighter and more vibrant, speaking of moving away from the left and heading to the right.

Use your inner strength (Strength) to take control and move away from (The Chariot) inner turmoil (Three of Swords). Take comfort in your loved ones and those that you love and trust (Two of Cups).

Take Away:  The cards here indicate that my self care this month is going to require that I take steps to turn away from those things and situations that cause me inner turmoil.   This “turning away” from is going to require strength to accomplish, as well as a strong hand and careful control to keep myself on track on this other path.

This is about that “all work and no play” issue that I constantly have going on and the slip up into that mentality that I slid into over the past two weeks.  It’s time to get that back under control and my commitment to leaving room on my plate for the good things in life back on track.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE ANIMAL LORDS

#TheJuneTarot Challenge by Lionhart
Question: How am I asked to honor myself during this full moon?

Tarot of a Moon Garden

Reading Summary: Enjoy what you have (Nine of Cups) and take a rest (Four of Swords)  It’s okay to disconnect for a bit as long as you don’t linger there too long (The Star Rx).

Take Away:  This advice isn’t so much about self care as it is about honoring myself, and the ways I am being asked (by the universe) to honor myself at this time. By taking some time to focus on my gratitude for all that I have and all that I’ve earned, combined with a bit of time disconnecting from my responsibilities while I rest and recover, I honor not just myself but all that I have accomplished up to this point.

I need to remember that life isn’t always about pushing forward constantly, but about enjoying what you have in the present.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF A MOON GARDEN

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What is my favorite memory?

Everyday Witch Tarot

Soon after I emancipated my from my parents, my mother took me out for a ride in her little red Corvette one day. She told me that if I ever needed anything that I should call her, and when I told her that father wouldn’t like that, her response was “what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him”.

At the time it made me feel very supported and loved and cared for.  Even though I would never have taken her up on the offer, just the fact that she offered made me feel as if I could take on the world.

I know now that that’s not how it was meant, and that she was just looking for an “in” so she could get her hooks into me and use me later. But, that doesn’t change the warm and supported feeling that lives within that memory even now.

DECK USED:  EVERYDAY WITCH TAROT