tarot of the journey to the orient

Another Way

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s meditation was a bit longer than normal at fifteen minutes, as I added on a few extra stretches to my piriformis stretching.   It was just a quiet meditation, and I had a bit of trouble focusing, which is fine.  I’ve picked up my yoga practice a bit, so the piriformis stretches are a part of that .  I expect to be a bit sore over the next few days.

Cosmos Tarot and OracleToday’s draw is the Mercury card, which is a part of the oracle cards that are included in this deck. Although I am not really strong in astrology, I do know that Mercury rules over communication which is why when Mercury goes into retrograde so many people freak out and so much seems to go awry… once communication goes off the tracks? Everything else soon follows.

When I look at this card, I get very confused. Somehow skulls and face with one eye and a smile and a hand and snakes and ribbons and long tongues and…. it all gets messed up in my head when I look at the imagery on this card.  It’s a fucking clusterfuck mess, and i can’t seem to ever piece out the imagery to make sense of what I’m seeing.

In fact, what I see in this card’s imagery today is… not really there at all. Because when I look at this card, I see a nude figure curled into itself made out of the hand in the upper right hand corner, and the curvature of a bare spine from shoulders to hips out of the lower left skull.

What I see in these things that are not really there is vulnerability and a need to retreat from chaos.  Today’s card is a reminder of this.  Of the fact that when I feel vulnerable that I have a tendency to try and curl into myself and away from the chaos.  It is a reminder that that is the old way of doing things… and I’m learning another way.  A better and healthier way.

DECK USED:  COSMOS TAROT AND ORACLE

#TarotForGrowthJuly Challenge Prompt
Topic:  I’m so burnt out all the time.
Question:  How can I rest more effectively?

Tarot of the Journey to the Orient

Reading Summary: Learn from the new knowledge that you’re gaining emotionally to guide you (Knave of Chalices) instead of falling back on the fire that is sparked through conflict (Five of Wands) and charging ahead (The Chariot).

Take Away:  This is about managing my energy in a more resourceful way.  Instead of spilling my energy all over the place and using the flash fire of passions to drive me forward, I need to seek a gentler way of motivating myself so that it is easier to unwind from that motivation to rest more easily.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE JOURNEY TO THE ORIENT

#DiscordTarotholicsJul2020 Challenge Prompt
Question:  How can I become more sure of myself?

Karma TarotReading Summary: Move away (Eight of Cups) from the belief that you have to be the end-all be-all and be able to do everything all the time (The World). Take some self reflection and allow those things that really aren’t any of your responsibility to fall away (The Hermit).

Take Away:  This message has to do with more than just my actions and physically taking on too much, but also my sense of inner responsibility. I need to remember that I am ultimately only responsible for myself.  This is because when I take on more than I can handle, or responsibilities that are not mine to take on, when I then fail, stagger, or struggle… my inner critic uses this as fodder to tear myself down through it’s negative inner dialogue.  That inner dialogue is all about being a failure, and I shouldn’t be taking that on for things that aren’t my responsibility in the first place.

DECK USED:  KARMA TAROT

#OwlandBonesJuly Challenge by Owl and Bones Tarot
Topic:  hold your ground // step aside // share the path

Slavic Tarot

Hold Your Ground – Five of Cups – Against your depression and pessimism.

Step Aside – Ten of Coins – From the responsibility of balancing everything on your shoulders… sometimes they’ll flourish just fine on their own without your stressing over them.

Share The Road – Two of Swords – With the fact that sometimes you do have to make difficult decisions even when you don’t want to. That’s OK. Just be well informed first.

DECK USED:  SLAVIC TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question:  When am I least creatively confident?

Albano Waite Tarot

Reading Summary: When joyous fun (The Sun) is torn down by selfish words (Queen of Swords Rx) by someone that should be a nurturing figure in my life (The Empress).

Take Away:  When I’m having my fun and/or expectations crushed by my mother.

DECK USED:  ALBANO WAITE TAROT

Conservation Through Moderation

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s meditation was just over ten minutes long and ended in a short nap, as many of my meditations seem to do these days.  It was one of the harp string meditations and I must have dozed off during the last position of my piriform stretching as I was shifted over onto my left side with my legs still tangled up when I woke up a bit later.

Herbcrafter's TarotToday’s draw is the Seven of Earth (Seven of Pentacles) which is traditionally a representation of slow growth and gradual progress in the areas of one’s finances, resources, health, manifestations, and the physical world.

What stood out to me in the imagery of this card today is the acorns.  Specifically the fact that half of the acorn caps are empty, and yet you see no nuts anywhere, just acorn caps and full acorns.   To me this speaks of consumption, and specifically about regulating consumption.

When you are looking at long-term sustainable growth, it’s more than about patience.  Yes, patience is a good part of it, but so is moderation and restraint, because long term goals need to take in an element of conservation.  Continuous sustained growth in any area requires this because if you consume more quickly than you can reproduce what’s being used… you end up breaking down the cycle and everything falls apart.

The message in today’s card is about having the strength and wisdom (and this is where the meaning of the Oak comes into play for me today) to give that need for conservation it’s due.  Moderation is not easy… but it is necessary.

DECK USED:  HERBCRAFTER’S TAROT

#TarotForGrowthJuly Challenge Prompt
Topic:  I’m so overwhelmed.
Question:  Why do I treat others as more entitled to my time than I am?

Tarot of the Journey to the Orient

Reading Summary: It’s a bad habit (The Devil) that I try to ignore instead of dealing with (Eight of Swords)… that is, making choices that I know are not good for me (The Lovers Rx), and that then lead to imbalance and uncertainty (The Moon).

Take Away:  Weighing other’s needs and wishes above my own is a part of a self-destructive pattern of behavior where I use bad choices in how I prioritize my time and energy to create within my life a situation of stress and uncertainty when things start to fall apart as a result.

Ooph… okay so that really hit home, and framed things in a way that I hadn’t really looked at or considered before.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE JOURNEY TO THE ORIENT

#DiscordTarotholicsJul2020 Challenge Prompt
Philosophical Question:  Does learning inherently imply improvement?

New Palladini TarotReading Summary: We all come into this world with the capacity to love and thus emotional fulfillment is obtainable on its own (Ten of Cups).  Everything else takes work and the honing of skills (Eight of Pentacles) to achieve (Nine of Cups), and patience and moderation to master (Temperance).

Take Away:  Yes. Everything in these speaks of progression and improvement through experience and knowledge. Only emotional fulfillment can be achieved without this process, as we are all born with the capacity to love from the start.

DECK USED:  NEW PALLADINI TAROT

#OwlandBonesJuly Challenge by Owl and Bones Tarot
Topic:  forgive // forget

Minchiate Etruria (Anima Antiqua)Temperance – Forgive yourself for your shortcomings and have patience with yourself. As long as you are moving forward, it’s okay to move forward slowly.  Take into consideration the physical hurdles and handicaps you have to work with, work around, and contend with in order to reach your goal and cut yourself a little slack.

Ten of Swords – Forget the damage done by others and life’s misfortunes. You have the physical scars you carry with you to remind you of the lessons learned along the way.  It’s okay to forget the pain and allow yourself to move on from it.

DECK USED:  MINCHIATE ETRURIA ANIMA ANTIQUA TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question:  Pick a card for creative inspiration.

The Fifth TarotNow is a time of “percolation and planning”. Allow your creative juices to flow beneath the surface and don’t worry about output or time right now. In yesterday’s read there was a point about not being able to force creativity, and that is the message repeated here today.  You can’t force it… you have to let it rise to the surface, and just prepare to be ready for its arrival so that you can take advantage of its presence when the time comes.

When it’s time to move forward, you will feel that spark of fire within your gut that tells you its time to leap.  Right now is not yet that time.

DECK USED:  THE FIFTH TAROT

Every Day is a New Day

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s meditation was about fifteen minutes long and very, very relaxing.  I’d just finished soaking in the tub and went from soaking to meditation and that was apparently just the prompting I needed for a nice nap as well.   All in all, it was just an all around relaxing morning, and that included the meditation if not necessarily the yoga part as I was just a bit stiff from having skipped yesterday.

Herbcrafter's TarotToday’s draw is the Ace of Earth (Ace of Pentacles) which is a representation of new beginnings in the area of one’s finances, health, resources, manifestations, or the physical world.  It is the beginning.. the very start.. and thus, the “seed” of the suit.

It’s interesting, but I noticed something today when pulling this card.  The graininess of the imagery in this deck really bothers me.  I know that it’s intentional, but it really bugs me a great deal lately.

That aside, what stood out to me the strongest in the imagery for today’s card was not the nettles or any other specific subject matter in the picture.  It was the green.  All that lush and vibrant green.

I also want to touch upon the representation of Nettle in this card.  Urtica dioica is a nutrient rich plant that is well known and widely used around the world for its anti-inflammatory properties and is also a mild diuretic used to flush out toxins.  In metaphysical circles it is often used in protection spells, but I have found it far more useful in spellcraft that is focused on aspects of nurturing, self worth, and respect.

The blending of the lush green that catches my eye combined with Nettle’s unique qualities send me a message concerning self care.  The message here is that it’s important to respect your body, and important to do the things that allow you to care and nurture yourself, no matter how busy you are… or how tempting it is to skip.  Each day is a new day, with a new opportunity to start over and begin again.  Take this opportunity to begin again and do better at keeping up on the self care that keeps you healthy both physically and mentally.

DECK USED:  HERBCRAFTER’S TAROT

#TarotForGrowthJuly Challenge Prompt
Topic:  I’m so overwhelmed.
Question:  How can I become more intentional about which commitments I choose to undertake?

Star Seeker Tarot

Reading Summary: Do the things that bring you pleasure (Four of Wands). Make sure you regulate (Temperance) how much time you spend on others and their path (The Hierophant). Choose your battles wisely (Five of Wands) and make sure you tap in to your emotions when making your choices on what to take on (Knight of Cups).

Take Away:  This is all about moderation and regulation, which makes sense why Temperance ended up in the center of these cards.   Being more intentional about what commitments I undertake means being more selective.  It means picking those things that bring you joy and letting go of the ones that feel even a little bit “too much” for the moment, or have the potential to create unneeded conflict or stress. 

DECK USED:  STAR SEEKER TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJul2020 Challenge Prompt
Topic:  In My Head / In My Heart

Wild Unknown TarotIn My Head – Ace of Wands – In my head there is lots and lots of inspiration going on right now for my business. Most of them are in the “half baked” stage of being thought through and not yet ready to be started or discarded.

In My Heart – Seven of Swords – In my heart there is a worry of being betrayed by someone I might share these inspirations with.  I struggle with this often, that concern that my new ideas will prompt someone else to run off with them and claim them as their own. Note that the weight here isn’t on a sense of betrayal, but rather is on the worry over the possibility.

DECK USED:  WILD UNKNOWN TAROT

#OwlandBonesJuly Challenge by Owl and Bones Tarot
Topic:  mourn // celebrate

Tarot of the Journey to the OrientMourn – Ace of Swords Rx – The times when I have no new ideas.  It happens, no matter how much creative spark I have.  Sometimes?  Everything just feels “meh”. And it’s definitely a time to mourn.

Celebrate – King of Wands – Those inspirational sparks that I’ve already gotten and have followed through on, developed into fruition, and which continue to serve me well. Celebrating these things is especially important when in one of those inspiration slumps already mentioned above.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE JOURNEY TO THE ORIENT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question:  What does creative inspiration feel like?

Tarot Maddonni

Reading Summary:  Direction (Three of Wands) and fulfillment (Ten of Pentacles)… as long as I don’t let it get me so wrapped up (Temperance) that I close myself off to the world and others (The Hermit).

Take Away:  Creative inspiration feels like I have the world at my fingertips.  With a direction set out before me and a sense of fulfillment within, at these times there is no doubt or worry, only curiosity and discovery.  It can become a problem, though, if I close myself off to others too much during this time.  I need a touch of encouragement and feedback, no matter how much I don’t want to admit it.

DECK USED:  TAROT MADDONNI

Healthy Boundaries

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

IMG_5185Today’s meditation was a repeat of the method I used yesterday combining the harp strings and intermediate chimes with the guided meditation.  It was really nice.  I think that the interval chimes help me to relax more, as I’m not worrying about how long to hold my stretch or how long I’ve been in the meditation.   Instead, the chimes help increment it out so that I know exactly when to switch positions without worrying if I’ve held it too long or not long enough.

The topic of today’s guided meditation was about not getting ahead of yourself.   It discussed how it’s all well and good to have plans and goals, but when you’re working towards those goals?  Make sure you aren’t so focused on the future that you’re missing out on the present.  It’s what you do in the now that nurtures  the roots and foundation of what will grow and  eventually bloom in the future.

Herbcrafter's Tarot - Four of Air - LavenderToday’s draw is the Four of Air (Four of Swords) which is traditionally interpreted as a time of rest and restoration.

In the  Swords suit, there are a lot of struggles and trials represented, and in this card you are given the chance to take a step back and a deep breath, to reflect upon how things are going and make decisions that could change your future path.

Lavender is not just a plant of relaxation and ease, but is also a plant used to dissuade other plants and animals from encroaching upon gardens due to its woody stems and fragrant scent.  This allows the plants in the garden to grow in peace.

The message that I see in this card today is that boundaries are a good thing.  They allow you to be comfortable and relax.   By having good boundaries, you are able to carve out time for the rest and relaxation that you need, including the reevaluation that might come with it.

I had not thought of using boundaries as a way to carve out that time, and I think it’s something I need to spend some time reflecting on.

DECK USED:  HERBCRAFTER’S TAROT

#TarotForGrowthJuly Challenge Prompt
Topic:  I’m struggling to find my purpose.
Question:  How am I allowing what others see as realistic keep me from my dreams?

Minchiate Etruria Anima Antiqua Tarot

Reading Summary: It’s my own realism (Seven of Coins) that stops me dead in my tracks (Ten of Swords), not others opinions. I’m not used to allowing my emotions to lead (King of Cups) and following my more frivolous impulses (Sagittarius).

Take Away: Emotions and logic so very often do not mix.  It’s like oil and water.  It’s something that I struggle with, as I am so used to ruling my life through logic and thought… and disregarding emotions and the nonsensical as without worth.  It’s a bit of a kick in the pants to realize that there is value in these things… and that I’m now left figuring out how to change how I handle them.  

DECK USED:  MINCHIATE ETRURIA ANIMA ANTIQUA TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJul2020 Challenge Prompt
Topic:  Do Spread #1

Tarot of the Journey to the OrientWhat needs to be left behind as I focus on future growth? – King of Swords – Critical thinking and too much realism.  As mentioned in a previous reading, I’ve spent most of my life using logic as my foundation for how I deal with the world.  In furthering my growth, these habits need to be set aside in order to give that growth I have going on a chance to flourish.

What is in full bloom for me right now? – Six of Swords – A transition to something better.  This transition is moving away from swords and into water, as indicated in the imagery of the card.  I am at a high point in this transition into inviting more emotion into my life as a whole instead of locking it away and ignoring it.  Growth often takes steps from discovery, to exploration, and finally incorporation.  I have been in the exploration phase for some time now, and things are now moving towards the incorporation aspects of my growth.

Where do I need to direct my focus for future growth? – King of Cups – Allowing my emotions to take the lead more.  As stated above, it’s time to start focusing on incorporating the things I have learned into my life, and allowing my emotions to take the lead more often is one of the ways in which to do this.  It means being open about how I feel instead of hiding those feelings away, and following where those emotions lead rather than ignoring them.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE JOURNEY TO THE ORIENT

#OwlandBonesJuly Challenge by Owl and Bones Tarot
Topic:  Full Moon in Capricorn:  contribute // trust this voice // outward focus

Tarot Maddonni

Contribute – King of Swords and Seven of Coins – Consider wise ways in which your long-term successes can be shared with others.  These successes that have been built over time are stable and have the ability to be shared without being put at risk.  Make sure you choose wisely, and don’t act in impulse.

Trust This Voice – Five of Cups – Listen to yourself when you are feeling shorted… sometimes it’s true. This goes for when you are receiving from others, but it also (and even more importantly) is valid when considering how you are treating yourself.  Don’t punish yourself for

Go – Eight of Coins – Skill development is a key factor in most of your life’s pursuits.  This is no different whether you are in a time of growth and transition, or standing on stable ground.   Don’t forsake your skills and turn away from them during this time, instead find ways to enjoy them and expand upon your talents.

Take Away: 

DECK USED:  TAROT MADDONNI

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What are my creative dreams?

Star Seeker Tarot

Reading Summary: Clever strategizing (Knight of Swords) to take my creative passions forward (Six of Wands) and make money off of them in order to further home and financial stability in my life (Ten of Pentacles).

Take Away:  My creative dreams right now are focused on taking my creative business to a level where I can be self-sustaining without needing to work myself to the bone in the process. I don’t dream of retirement or relaxation and aimless creativity, instead the dream is about sustainability.

DECK USED:  STAR SEEKER’S TAROT