Tarot of the Animal Lords

Self Care Saturday (On a Sunday)

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These Saturday 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 is not meant as a predictive reading… although that, too, happens on occasion.

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

Linescape Tarot, Animal Kin Oracle, Metaphoric Therapy Cards

Earth – Ten of Wands and Parrotfish (Authenticity) – Listen to what you truly need. Knowing yourself and touching in on your true self will help you avoid overburdening yourself with too much  as part of the reason this sometimes happens is you take on not just the stuff that resonates with you, but try to take on even more beyond that as well.

Air – Magician and Goat (Grounded) – You have all that you need to keep yourself from falling to the wayside or letting your negative inner dialogue take over.  You have what you need to pursue your ideas and aspirations unhindered this week…. IF you remember to stay grounded and on track. Do what needs done to make sure you don’t lose your footing.

Water – Hanged Man atop King of Wands, Owl (Intuition) – Before you try and reign things in, make sure you’re allowing for a different perspective than your immediate reaction.  That reaction is not intuition, but rather a defense mechanism that is getting in the way of your growth.

Fire – The World and Wombat (Exploration) – If you want to dive into new ideas, this week is the time time to do a little research and prepare to take that leap. Things are opening up and you have some room to explore and branch out, or start anew in some areas if that’s what you’re into doing.  Start gathering information so you’ll be prepared.

Waning – The Forest Path atop Flickering Candle – The time for letting the wind cast you as it may is at an end this week.  Whims and recreation, fun times and opportunity to do whatever you wish with your time is coming to a close as you buckle back down and get back to work.

Waxing – Family Quiet Time atop Comfort – Although getting back to work is all well and good, after all responsibility is a big part of this week’s theme, so too will be the connection that you have with those nearest and dearest to you.  Make sure to make some time and space to foster those relationships.

Take Away – Don’t allow clutter in your life, your mind, or your responsibilities to the point that you lose track of yourself or the truth of who you are and what you want. Getting back to work is not something that you’re enthusiastic about but you  just need to find a balance between work and self care that will actually work for you.  Instead of falling back into the same pattern as the last time, look for a new method that will fit better.

DECKS USED:  LINESCAPE TAROT, ANIMAL KIN ORACLE, METAPHORIC THERAPY CARDS

Self Care Saturday (On a Sunday)

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

These Saturday 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 is not meant as a predictive reading… although that, too, happens on occasion.

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

Rabbit Tarot, Carrot Cards, Nest of Light Oracle

Earth – Six of Daisies and The Double Carrot – Be generous, but only when it’s special and pulls to that mystical mysterious side within. This isn’t just about decks and money, but in all things.  This week the focus needs to be on where you’re being pulled and investing in those things that speak to the mystical and mysterious.  There will be time for more mundane pursuits later on.

Air – Ten of Daisies and Thick Fur –  You’ve spent a lot of time fostering your sense of stability and need to keep this in mind as you move about your week.  Stability is important to you, so make sure you don’t discount it as unimportant when the time comes that it should be taken under consideration in order to continue fostering its growth.

Water – Nine of Carrots atop The Fool and The Butterfly – Again we visit the theme of mystery and mystical, this time in the area of one’s emotions.  It’s important to not allow your worries and anxieties to overshadow your joy and enthusiasm for the small and beautiful mysteries in life. It’s okay to have fun.  It’s okay to enjoy having fun.

Fire – Justice and Babies – Working on balance will foster better results than pushing yourself too hard and then having to recover after.  Imbalance is not good for you, it’s unhealthy, you know this well.  That includes in the area of the things you are most passionate about.  Turn over a new leaf and try a different way.

Waning – Indigo Flame atop Yellow Flame – Plotting and planning and those things of the mundane need to be set on the back burner this week.  It’s okay to cut loose.  Let go of those weighted and heavy topics and let them slide away for a time.  They will be there waiting for you next week.

Waxing – Rainbow Ray – Healing and Awakening.  This week marks the awakening from that pit of depression and finding your footing once more.  The last tendrils of healing need time to stretch, grow, and flourish.  Make sure that you are being kind to yourself, and ensure that you are not weighing yourself down during this time when your healing is in its last delicate and tender moments.

Take Away –  Serious mundane issues need to be set aside this week.  It’s your time off and you need to rest and heal, recover, and have fun.  Don’t bother investing in anything that isn’t speaking to that deep inner voice and allowing you rest and pleasure.  Serious things can wait… they’ll be there for you when you go back to work next week.

DECKS USED:  RABBIT TAROT, CARROT CARDS, NEST OF LIGHT ORACLE

Self Care Saturday (On a Sunday)

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

These Saturday 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 is not meant as a predictive reading… although that, too, happens on occasion.

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

Tarot of Mystical Moments, Oracle of Mystical Moments, Crystal Ball Oracle, Witch's Familiars Rune Oracle

Earth – Six of Swords, Get More Information, Jera – As yesterday’s personal readings have indicated, I need to be looking forward with an attitude of adjustment and change.  Falling back into old, unhealthy habits is easy.  Keeping your eye on the prize of moving forward into something better and healthier?  That takes more diligence, more work… and patience as well.  You’re doing better today than yesterday, you’re doing better this week than the last, and you’re doing better this year than last year.  Make sure to do your due diligence when it comes to educating yourself on what you need to know, and keep moving forward one small step at a time.

Air – King of Pentacles, Unlikely, Laguz – Make sure that you do not become so rooted that it becomes impossible to go with the flow.  Knowing what you know and being confident in that knowledge is one thing, but becoming stubborn and stagnant and unwilling to adapt and continue to grow is another all together.  It can, at times, be a fine line between the two and although it is not in your nature to lean into stagnancy, that stillness of rooting deeply is tempting and appears peaceful.  It’s not… it’s unhealthy.  Make sure you keep moving.

Water – Queen of Pentacles, Choose a New Direction, Berkano – As with the earth position in this reading, here we again see an encouragement to tread a new path, break old habits, and step forward into a better and healthier way of doing things.  Share more, allow yourself to be receptive and soft.  You don’t need all those shields and walls.  They are a carry over from a long time ago when you did need them, and you need to stop maintaining them and let them crumble to ruin.

Fire – Seven of Wands, Yes, Thurisaz – Well, okay then.  Here we have the cards openly saying “Grow a set”.  I mean… essentially.  What we have here is an encouragement to fight for what has meaning for you by bringing forth your aggressive protective “masculine” energy and pushing it forward into what needs dealt with and protected.  Don’t back down, don’t stand and wait.  Be proactive and use that aggression to protect what’s important to you.

Waning – Listen – You may not have that much time to connect with nature this week. Keep in mind that this situation is temporary and you will be able to do so again soon enough.  For now, it’s time to focus on other things besides the commensalistic relationship you share with the earth and fern, moss and trees.

Waxing – Under My Umbrella – Don’t be shy about allowing others to help you and they will get something out of it as well. More often than you realize, such help is a type of exchange where both parties get something out of the experience even though neither may be fully aware of what the other gets from it.

Secondary Notes – There is a color correlation between the King of Pentacles in Air, the Queen of Pentacles in Water, the Listen card in the Waning position, and the island in the Six of Wands for the Earth position.  What I see here in this connection is an encouragement to use the grounded strength and solid certainty in the King and Qeen to support yourself through the transition to a healthier place.  Allow grounding to play a significant role in this, even if this week doesn’t allow for much time outside in nature.  Touch base with that grounding energy in other ways, and refer back to it when making decisions based on your health and home.

There is also a color coordination between the Seven of Wands in the Fire position, the Thurisaz rune card in the Fire position, the Under My Umbrella card in the Waxing position, and a small hint of it in the Laguz card for the Air position.  Someone will be in need of your help this week and you will need to step up with some aggressive “masculine” energy to get things done and keep them safe. Now will not be the time to “go with the flow”.

Take Away – This reading is a reinforcement that I need to see this climb back out of the depression as an opportunity to “reboot” how I deal with responsibility and balancing my self care with my other interests, responsibilities, and needs.  I need to remember that it’s okay to ask for help, and stay vigilant in watching out for old habits that might try to sneak back in.

I need to remember, as well, that being rooted always feels safe and secure, but too much is not a healthy thing. Adaptability is an important part of life.

The Fire portion of this reading combined with my second secondary notes are self explanatory.  This is a heads up to let me know to be prepared.  By being prepared I may be able to circumvent this issue all together, or at least ensure that I’m ready for it when it arises.

DECKS USED:  TAROT OF MYSTICAL MOMENTS, ORACLE OF MYSTICAL MOMENTS, CRYSTAL BALL ORACLE, AND WITCH’S FAMILIARS RUNE ORACLE

Self Care Saturday (On a Sunday)

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

These Saturday 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 is not meant as a predictive reading… although that, too, happens on occasion.

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

Secret Tarot, Angelarium Year One and Year Two, Elemental Tarot

Earth – Six of Chalices atop Three of Wands, Zuriel – It is only through finding a balance between your experiences in the past and your plans for the future that you’ll find peace in the present.  It can often feel like the past and the future are opposing forces, one pulling away from you to the left, and one stretching out ahead into the future on the right. This perception leaves the present seemingly alone and as a result abandoned as we spend so much time touching one or the other on either side that we forget… it is mindfulness in the moment that can create the balance needed between the two. Get your ass back into meditating daily.  It is as essential as taking a leak first thing in the morning or taking your meds before you go to sleep at night, so stop skipping it.

Air – Ace of Swords atop Knave of Wands, Remiel – Pluck from the tangled pile of new ideas you have collected and find one that sparks your interest and allows you to learn something new to add to your repertoire of passions and skills. Note that this advice speaks of one… one idea.  One project.  One new thing.  Do not add many to your plate or it will be too much.  Just one.   Try exploring just this one thing for a while, allow it to flourish and have fun with it.  It has the potential to grow into something beautiful if you don’t smother by overcrowding it with too many  other things.

Water – Two of Wands, The Gate of Sahaqiel – It’s time to start focusing on connecting more strongly to your intuition.  Make sure that you are making space for spiritual pursuits and your connections therein.  Connecting to the divine is important, and sometimes that means you have to intentionally make plans for it in order to fit it in.  In the tail end of your recovery it’s especially important that you keep in mind that these things also need to be factored in or the end up left behind.

Fire – The Wheel, Knave of Chalices, Sandalphon – New beginnings are upon you right now as you find yourself in the last dregs of your depression’s recovery.  Acknowledge this new start for the opportunity it is to learn a new way of doing things moving forward and turning those things that have not worked for you around into something better. Sometimes your efforts may bite you on the ass, but we are given opportunities in order to take them and try… so don’t let this opportunity pass you by.  Use it to try something new and something better, resurrecting new life from the ashes of what you leave behind.

Waning – Cave (Protection) – Uncurl from your shell and stretch.  The time to hide yourself beneath the shell that protects you from the harm others can create when you are vulnerable is at an end.  You are close enough to the surface now to safely stretch your arms wide and greet the world on your own terms once more.

Waxing – North (Expansion) – Be true to yourself and the moral compass you know so well.  Be brave and be strong as you continue along your path and remember that it is not a single lesson we learn in life, but rather many over the course of our time.  Now is a time to explore and stretch your wings after so much time cramped in the dark.

Take Away – My recovery from depression is sliding into its last phase before solid ground is once more beneath my feet.  Now is a time to stretch and take in the sunlight and fresh air.  Pick a project that inspires and explore its potential, but be sure not to overwhelm myself with too much focus on the past or the future.  Put more focus into making sure I’m meditating each day and consciously taking the time and effort to stay connected to my spiritual path as I begin to “awaken” from the dark pit’s hold upon me.

DECKS USED:  SECRET TAROT, ANGELARIUM CARDS YEAR ONE AND YEAR TWO, ELEMENTAL ORACLE

Self Care Saturday (On a Sunday)

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

These Saturday 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 is not meant as a predictive reading… although that, too, happens on occasion.

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

Tarot of Many Doors, Earth Force Insight Cards, Morning Calm Oracle

Earth – Reader of Potions, Dance, Breath – This week needs to be about nurturing your health and finding balance through incorporation of your meditative practice and mindfulness. It’s easy to forget in the return to balance and seeking of the light, in the striving and struggle of everyday life, that your body needs love too.  Make sure that you fit in your meditation this week, get yourself out into the fresh air to enjoy the beauty and grounding comfort of nature, and give yourself the fuel and rest it craves rather than continuing bad habits.

Air – Ten of Dice, Hope, Seven Directions – Transformation and finding peace are strong motivators for you this week.  Allow yourself to stay at a slower pace, allow yourself to focus on  more than work.  In doing this you give your inner dialogue and mental health a chance to appreciate the light it’s moving towards, to savor your recovery, and enjoy more fully coming back into a place of comfort and security.

Water – Nine of Dice, Compassion, Transition – The theme of transition continues in the emotional waters of your life with a reminder to be compassionate to yourself and allow the changes that are developing to continue to flourish.  Practicing gratitude during this time can help this along, as it will bring what is positive in your life and your accomplishments along the way into focus, creating feel-good feelings that can help you in continuing in a forward trajectory.

Fire – Four of Dice, Gentle, Cycles – Slow and steady.  Make sure as you’re feeling better that you’re not piling too much on your plate at once.  Feeling better after feeling horrible for so long can make it feel like you can take in the world, but instead you need to take things slow and easy, and give yourself lots of security and stability with each step back toward “normal” you take.  Everything has it’s own time to shine and you don’t have to rush.  In fact, it’s better if you don’t.

Waning – Divine Love – Don’t dip too deeply into the spiritual connection stuff this week.  Getting to know your guides and that slow progress you’ve been making in this direction is great, but now isn’t the week to set your focus in that direction.  Avoid readings that will cast your gaze in that direction and instead just focus what’s right before you.

Waxing – Balance – Seek out where you feel imbalances taking root and work on setting them into balance this week. Finding that balance will allow you to retain your peace and obtain greater clarity.  Don’t allow yourself to sway too far one way or another, even when it feels that imbalance may be useful to you in the moment.

Take Away – The cards make it clear that this week needs to focus on the now.  Mindfulness and balance need to take priority over willfulness or other distractions.  You’re not out of the woods yet, but you’re approaching the edge of the pit.  Allow yourself time to feel good, to appreciate and enjoy feeling better.  That first kiss of sunlight is always the best.

DECKS USED:  TAROT OF MANY DOORS, EARTH FORCE INSIGHT CARDS, MORNING CALM ORACLE

Self Care Saturday (On a Sunday)

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

These Saturday 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 is not meant as a predictive reading… although that, too, happens on occasion.

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

Mesquite Tarot, Elucidation Deck, Lantern Oracle

Earth – Seven of Pentacles and The Closed Book – Rome wasn’t built in a day and a lot of planning and learning went into the process long before the first brick was laid. You know what you want out of your money, your hard work, and your health.  All three have a long term element and you need to make sure you don’t get out of touch with the elements that make up the progress.  Take a look this week and make sure you know what’s going on in these areas, dig in and learn what you need to know, find what’s hidden that you don’t know yet.

Air – Eight of Wands and The Sword – Do your due diligence and do it now.  Do not be aggressive this week in the pursuit of the knowledge you need, but the time to sit back and wait is now at an end and it’s time to be proactive and get gather up that knowledge so that you can use it to your advantage moving forward.

Water – The Fool, The Bridge atop The Knight – You may be feeling all kinds of vulnerable and not at all steady of foot this week, but that’s okay.  It’s natural to feel that way when starting anew after a time trapped in the dark.  Just make sure you have your armor in place should stray arrows come your way while trying to work out your path forward. Don’t take those unintended jabs personally. It’s not about you.

Fire – Six of Wands atop The Tower, The Dove In Mourning – You’re going to ACE this restructuring. Don’t worry about the chaos so much, because it’s just the chaos of change.  Adaptation is your strong suit and you’re going to come through the changes going on with flying colors.

Waning – Radical Self-Love – You have spent the past week relaxing and giving yourself time away from the business.  This was time you needed to heal and find your center.  Now as you move into the week ahead, it’s time to find your footing and get back into the swing of things once more.

Waxing – Circles – As much of this reading has already indicated, there’s some chaos going on in relation to the business and you’re going to need to focus this week to make sure you gather all the information you need to make educated decisions on how to move forward.

Take Away – It’s time to get back in the swing of things.  There’s a lot of changes going on right now that you need to catch up on this week.  Make the calls that need to be made, and work out a plan, but make sure that you gather as much information as you can so that you’re well informed and prepared to adapt appropriately.  During this process there may be a few “emotional hiccups” due to feeling a bit vulnerable (possibly due to either depression or the drop?).  Keep in mind that these hiccups are you taking things personally that are not about you at all.  Let them go instead of letting them in.

DECKS USED:  MESQUITE TAROT, ELUCIDATION DECK, LANTERN ORACLE