Tarot of the Secret Forest

Contingency Plans

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

Tarot of the Lantern Path - Two of WandsToday’s draw is the Two of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of planning, decision making, looking ahead, and themes to do with progress.

In the imagery, the woman seems very enamored with her plans as she looks at the globe in her hands.  This intense focus begs the question of what she might be missing by being so intently focused on one thing.

All plans go awry now and then.  Today’s card asks us what we are doing to make sure that we are not stymied by when things don’t go as planned.  Are we so focused on the desired outcome that we haven’t made any contingency plans?  Are we prepared to adapt and be flexible? Or is any small unexpected stumbling block going to cause a major hold up or cause everything to fall apart?

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE LANTERN PATH

OwlandBonesTarot’s #BothSidesOfTheTarot Prompt
Questions for September 7th and 8th

Black Cat Tarot and Tarot of the Secret ForestWhere could you splurge?

Nine of Coins – No need to splurge right now. You have all that you need.

Where could you save?

The Magician – Time, resources, energy, and effort. When you realize that you have all that you need , then there is no need to push yourself so hard for more.

Finding Balance Between the Two – All the new stuff in your life and foundation building your working on doesn’t have to be introduced immediately (Ace of Coins). It’s okay to have to work for it sometimes, save up for it, and take your time instead of always jumping on the “go” (The Magician atop Seven of Coins).

What brings joy?

King of Swords – Lots of knowledge.

What brings sadness?

The High Priestess Rx – Lack of knowing.

Finding Balance Between the Two – Get in close with those that possess the power/knowledge that you seek (Strength). This requires getting in touch with what you value, and what you don’t, so that you don’t go after knowledge that you don’t need or that would be useless to you (Six of Wands Rx atop Seven of Wands).

DECK USED: BLACK CAT TAROT AND TAROT OF THE SECRET FOREST (trimmed naked)

#DiscordTarotholicsSep2022 Challenge Prompt
Questions for September 8th thru 10th

Tarot of the Lantern Path and Haikyuu Fantasy TarotCreate – Two of Cups – Connections.

Evolve – Five of Swords – How you deal with confrontation.

Balance – The Star – Hope and optimism is needed for both of the above pursuits, and for your life in general as well, to create a sense of balance that you need. You lean too far into pessimism, and it is through consciously instilling optimism and hope that you are able to balance out those more negative tendencies.

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

King of Cups, Eight of Wands atop Judgement – Get your ass in gear and spend some time with Gideon this full moon. He is in need of your attention to keep his outlook good, and you are in need of his to help in taming your inner demons.

What personal growth should you be directing energy toward at this time?

Temperance Rx atop King of Swords, Three of Cups Rx – There is no moderation needed when it comes to working towards improving your communication skills. Not doing so creates isolation that can be avoided by mastering communication with others, even when you are in authority positions.

DECK USED: TAROT OF THE LANTERN PATH AND HAIKYUU FANTASY TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I’ve decided that I need to get myself one of those sleep number beds.  They are fucking spectacular.  Not that I can afford it right now, but I’m definitely going to be looking into it.

📆 Transitioning from August to September

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Month End Tarot Reading with the Tarot of the Secret Forest and Menagerie Playing Cards

Here and Now I Exist – Who you are now, in your entirety.

The Moon and Nine of Clubs – You are feeling a lot of uncertainty right now, which is understandable. These two weeks are the slowest part of the year for your business and you are currently in the lull that follows the completion of a large project. Don’t allow these feelings to push you to lax your boundaries with yourself. Healthy choices are needed, even when feelings of uncertainty are messing with you.

The Slough – What is to be left in the past as you move forward.

Death and Seven of Spades – Stop looking at changes as a disruption. Resisting creates problems and stress. Instead of looking at them as a destruction of harmony, try seeing changes as an opportunity.

What Lies Ahead – An ideal state or ideal self you are seeking at this time.

Ace of Swords and Three of Diamonds – Inspiration and an ease of communication with others as you work together to prepare for the holiday rush. There hasn’t been a need to really synchronize over the past few months, but that time is fast approaching.

Limitations – Negative influences, opposition, or ill will.

Eight of Cups and Four of Spades – Watch out for the ones that have gone silent or walked away. There are potential problems brewing in that direction.

The Boon – Positive influences, higher guidance, or divine intervention.

Five of Wands and Ace of Hearts – When others have good intentions at heart, make sure to remember that just because you may not agree with what they say or their methods, it doesn’t mean that they’re not trying to help and don’t care about you.

The Wound – An unpleasant past experience or event that is ripe for some support and healing.

Nine of Pentacles Rx and Two of Hearts – This is in reference to trusting people that turn around and let you down. Sometimes you find a connection with someone, and it feels like it’s just right, and then something happens that feels like it tears down everything that you’ve worked for all in one blow. Now is a good time to focus on healing from these experiences. Look at those times when this has happened in your life, and see if you can let go of some of the hurt and residual pain that resides there.

Nostalgia – A positive past experience or event to acknowledge, reflect upon, and enjoy.

Six of Wands and Four of Diamonds – It’s not always a bad thing to feel good when people praise you. That positive feeling that the praise from others provides can be nice, as long as it’s not something that you become dependent on for feelings of stability to thrive.

A Warning – Something coming that can be prevented or overcome.

Five of Pentacles and Nine of Hearts – Feelings of scarcity, whether real or imagined, have a habit of rising up at this time of year. Be sure that you are leaning into appreciating those things that are making you happy and seeing the value in them, instead of allowing yourself to fall prey to the rise of scarcity’s theme trying to inject itself back into your life and your mind.

Empowerment – A future opportunity to work toward.

Wheel of Fortune and Queen of Spades – Make sure you are paying attention to your reactions to stress and change. You are going to be given an opportunity to turn this around into something better, but you need awareness in this area to do so.

Message from the Spirit World – Sometimes when you’re unhappy with how things are and you want to make them better, you have to actually fight for the changes that you want to see and stand strong against the resistance that may rise up in others as a result. Complacency is not always something that makes life easier.

Message from the Mind’s World – Change can breed uncertainty and steal your confidence. Make sure at these times that you lean into keeping your boundaries in place and communicate with others on what you need to help keep things invigorated and moving forward smoothly.

Message from the Physical World – Those that care about you are working hard to convince you to take a rest and do what you need to do to create stability in your body. Physically, you’re not at your best right now, and you need to take their advice and do those things you know are needed to rectify the situation. Stop being a stubborn ass.

DECKS USED: TAROT OF THE SECRET FOREST AND MENAGERIE PLAYING CARDS

Distraction Techniques

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Today’s meditation was skipped (again).

Gipsy Tarot Tsigane Zigeuner Tarot - Nine of SwordsToday’s draw is the Nine of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of themes surrounding worry, anxiety, nightmares, and insomnia.

Don’t let your worries get the best of you, or distract you from the real threat.  Look at all the little swords, and then see the one in the center that’s long and far larger.  The smaller swords conceal it, making its size and danger less noticeable, just how small worries can actually sometimes conceal larger problems.

Today’s message is a reminder not to let the little worries blind you to the bigger problems at hand.

DECK USED:  ZIGEUNER TAROT (1990 REPRINT)

The #MysticStarChallenge for May Prompt
Questions for May 3rd thru 8th

Tarot of the Secret Forest (trimmed naked)What challenges should I be aware of for the month of May?

Calla Lily, Lily Magnolia, Faery Dance – Make sure that you are standing back and listening closely to get the full picture before jumping into the fray, and it will help in making interactions with others smoother, easier, and far more enjoyable.

What aspects are going to start to emerge for me this month?

Thorny Bramble and Porcupine’s Treasure – Protecting the things and people that are important to you and that you value can be very prickly business. Make sure your thorns are not so sharpened that you draw blood too soon.

How will these emerging aspects bring forward for me?

Surprise Visitor and Prideful Prince – Abruptly and abrasively. This is why you need to hold back and take time to get the full picture. Don’t forget that first impressions are not always all there is to see, and that you need to dig beneath the surface.

What should I release to support my emerging aspects to come forth more fully?

The Worm Between Us and Centipede’s Prize – Pride. Pride and hubris make communication more difficult. In order for better aspects of yourself to come forward and shine, pride and hubris must be set aside.

How can I nurture these aspects so that I can gain the most from them?

Scorpio’s Stinger and Bee Battles – Pay attention and be aware. Don’t get so wrapped up in the emotions and the hubris of the moment (yours and others) that you aren’t speaking from a place of calm and looking for the entire picture (including what’s being intentionally hidden).

How can I cultivate more emerging aspects to support my journey throughout the upcoming year?

Quiet Queen – As mentioned previously, make sure that you’re standing back and listening. Paying attention, and being supportive once you have the full picture instead of going on the attack.

Personal Garden – Remember that your own personal responsibilities are more important than anything going on outside of those responsibilities, and that each responsibility has to be prioritized from most to least important.

Meditative Solitude – Make sure that you are taking time for yourself and doing your meditation practice regularly. Get out in nature and connect there with the energies of the earth and trees. Doing these things makes you more grounded, and that allows you to see and deal with things more clearly from a more stable foundation.

DECK USED: TAROT OF THE SECRET FOREST (TRIMMED NAKED)

#DiscordTarotholicsMay2022 Challenge Prompt
Philosophical Question for May 4th: Is mankind going in the right or wrong direction?

Gipsy Tarot Tsigane Zigeuner TarotReading Summary: When we charge ahead without restraint or forethought (Knight of Wands) we do not learn from the lessons of the past (The Hierophant Rx), and we must then pay the price in the end (Judgement).

Take Away: These cards indicate that humanity is on the wrong path. These cards are a warning about enthusiasm and ambition overtaking those things that truly matter, and sacrificing them on the altar of progress.

This is a theme that we see again and again these days in nearly every aspect of life from the environment to the economy and everything in between.

DECK USED: ZIGEUNER TAROT (1990 REPRINT)

Daily Self Kindness

After the talk on the server earlier, instead of jumping immediately into play, I took a little extra time with Gid outside of play to talk things out and sort out my thoughts, feelings, and observations.

Emotions Are Not a Weakness

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Today’s meditation was curtailed by a woman on the sidewalk outside singing to strangers about God.

Yes, yes… I know that when you meditate, you should be able to allow the sounds and distractions around you to flow through you and around you without disturbing you… but you know what?  Some crackpot chick telling people she’s the mouthpiece of God and that everything coming out of her mouth is directly from the Almighty then caterwauling to any that will listen and all that don’t wanna?  That was just impossible for me to meditate through.

Poor homeless Larry that decided to talk to her go the serenade of his life and I bet he’ll think twice about talking to strangers in the future.

Botan Tarot - King of CupsToday’s draw is the King of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of a projective alpha energy, personality, or person in the areas of one’s emotions, relationships, creativity, and intuition. This translates into an energy of authority or an authority figure that is in touch with the feelings and emotions of those around them and uses that knowledge to support and lead.

What stands out to me the strongest in the imagery of this card today is the dragon tattoo.   It is a reminder, yes?  Those that are in tuned to the emotions of others can often come off as wishy-washy or weak.  Empathy can often come off as weak.  But it is not weak, it is a strength all its own.

The message in today’s card is that being open to your emotions does not make you weak.   It allows you to be in tune with the world around you through understanding mercurial elements within yourself and others.  Those with a deep connection to their emotions and the empathy to relate to others on an emotional level are just as capable of being fierce and powerful as those that close themselves off.  Perhaps, they are even stronger.

DECK USED:  BOTAN TAROT

#Zentember #LovelyHealing Challenge Prompt
Question: What needs healing on my throat chakra?

Hardy Tarot

Reading Summary:  With a central theme of cause and effect (Justice) we see that too much rest and reflection (Four of Swords) leads to a situation where you do not want to move forward and end up not just procrastinating, but outright trying to ignore what’s going on around you (Eight of Swords).

Take Away:  I mentioned this the other day when speaking with Gideon. The fact that I feel that having taken time to rest and relax has made me feel like I’m lazy and made it hard for me to “dive into” my work in the way that I’m accustomed to.   But is this really laziness?  Is this really a refusal to deal?  Or is it an adjustment period where I’m learning how to do things in a different way?  The uncertainty here is something I struggle with.

DECK USED:  HARDY TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsSep2020 Challenge Prompt
Topic: Do Spread #1
Why am I doing so much procrastination when it comes to my holiday prep?

Tarot of Alexander Daniloff 2012Reading Summary: Because I really don’t wanna juggle more on my plate (Two of Pentacles). I would rather ignore that it’s coming than deal with it (Six of Swords). Not to mention I don’t want to give up time with Gideon (The Lovers Rx).

The first two cards are connected through color schemes, making the juggling of the Two of Pentacles and the “not wanting to deal with it and run away instead” of the Six of Swords connected to each other and intertwined.

The bright red of The Lovers card combined with the lack of cooler tones causes this card to be the outlier.  The design of the card itself in its reversed position looks like a double Hanged Man imagery creating the impression that both Gideon and myself (as lovers) will have to go through a time of delay and change of perception.   The red in this position feels like flames, which brings to mind the holiday rush… which relates to this card in that it is roasting the two hanged men.  Pressure… heat… strain.

Take Away:  Gideon and I will get through the holiday rush together, even if there will be a lot of pressure and struggle involved (as there is every year).  The procrastination stems more directly from the struggle I’m having with not allowing bad habits from the past to sneak in and hijack my efforts for doing things differently this year.

DECK USED:  TAROT BY ALEXANDER DANILOFF 2012 IV EDITION

Lionharts #AstroTarotChallenge
Question: What lesson does 2020 have for my soul’s journey?

Archeon Tarot

Reading Summary: You reap what you sow (Justice), so make sure that you are working towards fulfillment (Nine of Pentacles on fire) instead of just defending what you already have (Seven of Wands).

Take Away:  I know that I chose the topic for the Sunday spread for today as my procrastination, but… I really didn’t expect for all of my readings today to actually end up being on that subject.  *LOL*

The cards here indicate that the lesson 2020 has for me is that I need to do more than just defend what I have.  I need to make sure that I’m actively reaching for more. Does it have to be the “more” that I’ve always pushed for in the past?  No.  That level of push was too much. but I do need to continue to reach for something more.  Stagnancy is not healthy.

DECK USED:  ARCHEON TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: How can I best put myself first?

Tarot of the Secret Forest

Reading Summary:  Fucking around (The Fool) means lack of ingenuity (Three of Coins Rx). Gather up your friends (Three of Cups) and charge head first toward your goals (Knight of Pentacles). Don’t rush and accept that it might be slow going (Knight of Coins and Lovers Rx).

Take Away:  I can put myself first at this time by getting back on the path of progress. It’s okay to move slow, but just as another reading today has already stated… stagnancy is not healthy.  So make sure that I’m using the help and support available to me, and get moving.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE SECRET FOREST

Self Care for Sustainability

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IMG_6456Today’s meditation was just under twelve minutes long and was another of the guided meditations with interval timer.   This guided meditations was one of my favorite types.  That is to say, it was one of the yoga nidra full body scans that starts at the top of the head and slowly moves through each of the body’s parts from head to toe, focusing on sensation and relaxation one body part at a time.

These meditations are very relaxing for me, and they also have the added benefit of allowing me to find problem areas in my body that need a little extra stretching or care.

There was also a small speech at the end about how to increase one’s focus so that you can tune out distractions, but… to be fair?  I wasn’t really listening to what she was saying, because I was enjoying the music that was playing in the background.

Hush Tarot - Queen of PentaclesToday’s draw is the Queen of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of a receptive alpha energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s finances, resources, home, health, and manifestations.  This often translates into themes of nurturing energy that holds the weight of responsibility for others.

In the imagery of this card today, what I see is the “bride of dandelions”.  A beautiful and earthy queen that does not have time to dawdle but will make the time to care for and support those that are important to her.

The dandelions are a reminder that when you take care of others, you must also care for yourself, and that is the message in today’s card.  Without caring for yourself, you are unable to care for others.  Don’t forget that.  Self care sustains us and helps us in everything we do and everything we want to do… not just for ourselves, but for others as well.

DECK USED:  HUSH TAROT

#Zentember #LovelyHealing Challenge Prompt
Question: How to strengthen my personal power?

Tyldwick Tarot

Reading Summary:  Connect to the optimism you have been fostering (The Star) and bring it into your work and expertise (Eight of Coins) in order to kindle the strength of your passions (Ace of Wands)

Take Away:  In order to strengthen my personal power I need to make sure I’m not allowing myself to fall into old pessimistic habits.  Optimism is not easy for me, but it is healthy for me and opens me up to opportunities  because begins to filter into my work.   As this positivity slips into my work, it lightens and brightens the end products I produce, all the while inspiring me to create new beautiful things.

DECK USED:  TYLDWICK TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsSep2020 Challenge Prompt
Topic: Write something free form inspired by the cards.

Hardy TarotThere was once a young woman that was fed up with her husband’s behavior and decided she’d had enough. He no longer brought her flowers or wrote her love letters, and all he seemed to do these days was work and sleep.  With her heart on her sleeve and her emotions driving her, she gathered up their two children and left him behind, striking out on her own to find something better. (Eight of Cups)

For a while, the freedom of her new life on her own with her children was glorious.  She wallowed in the new life that independence brought into her life and busily went about making a new home for herself and her children. (Page of Cups)

Soon, though, the newness of it all wore off and she found herself constantly overbooked and overburdened.  She came to realize that her husband provided her with more than just love, but also support.  Support that she had not realized he provided until she was left without it and had to carry all of the responsibility on her own shoulders. (Ten of Wands)

DECK USED:  HARDY TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What is my favourite mantra?

Tarot of the Secret Forest

Reading Summary:  Don’t allow outer conflict to crush your inner spirit, instead take comfort in those that love you and the security and stability of home.

Take Away:  This was an interesting question and although I’m not sure this translated directly into a mantra?  I think what the cards did here was just as clear.   The thing is, when I feel like I need to crawl into a corner and “lick my wounds” after conflict?  It can be hard to deal with reality… because all I really want to do is go find a rock to hide under.

This isn’t unusual, and is pretty common with a lot of people.  But it’s important to remember that too much alone time is a bad thing, especially when feeling down.   So instead, I need to make sure I’m reaching out to others to get their support, not just in making the world feel okay again… but in emotional support to help soothe my suffering.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE SECRET FOREST

Enjoying Collaboration

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IMG_6310Today’s meditation was just under eleven minutes long, and like yesterday’s meditation, it was a guided meditation with interval timer element added for the sake of my piriformis stretches.

The focus of the guided meditation today was about compassion, and it reminded me of someone that I watch on YouTube from time to time.  Dustin often closes  his videos with “Remember that everyone is fighting a battle that you know nothing about.  So be kind. Always.”  It is a phrase that has really stuck with me over time, and it is a prime example of the topic of today’s guided meditation.

The guide brought up how sometimes we are impatient or frustrated with others.  Whether it’s because they’re slower than we’d like in a store or on the road, or they’re paying with pennies in the grocery store and we’re stuck behind them, etc.  And the thing is?  Sometimes?  These things that irritate us only do so because we don’t understand what’s going on  and why they’re happening.

The thing is though?  It’s none of our business.  But what is our business is treating these situations and people with patience and understanding, regardless of whether we personally are in the know as to why whatever is happening is happening.

Hush Tarot - Three of PentaclesToday’s draw is is the Three of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of collaboration towards a shared goal or endeavor, usually in the area s of finances, resources, or projects focused on the process of manifestation.

This card feels a lot like the Three of Cups to me.  Three birds enjoying a treat, perched around the rim of a cup together.

And yet, being the Three of Pentacles has it’s own relevance here.  It makes this card about more than successful endeavors and collaboration, but also about enjoying the process.  It’s important to enjoy the time you put towards your projects and endeavors, and when you involve others in on these projects?  Then it’s important that it’s enjoyable for them as well.

The other day a reading suggested I figure out what it is that others who help me during the holiday season enjoy, so that I can shift those jobs to them rather than waiting until I’m desperate for help and handing them whatever jobs need done at the time.   In both instances, they are helping, and getting things done that need done.  But in the former instance they get to really enjoy the process… whereas in the latter scenario they could end up stuck with jobs that suck.

Here in this card I see the results of finding out what people enjoy and giving them those tasks rather than just tossing whatever needs done their way.

DECK USED:  HUSH TAROT

#Zentember #LovelyHealing Challenge Prompt
Question: Where am I emotionally?

Sasuraibito Tarot

Reading Summary: Feeling secure and grounded (Ten of Pentacles) and supportedly (new word) inspired (Queen of Wands) as at the moment I am both receiving and giving equally (Six of Pentacles).

Take Away: Emotionally I’m feeling pretty good right now. Having a sense of balance and security is really helpful in keeping me on an even keel and making life tolerable as a whole.  I also feel pretty good about my work.  Although I’ve fallen behind a bit, I’m getting help from both L and Z, which is helping a lot in keeping that “fallen behind” from becoming something that feels insurmountable.

DECK USED:  SASURAIBITO TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsSep2020 Challenge Prompt
Philosophical Question: What is Humanity’s biggest accomplishment?

Tarot of the Secret ForestReading Summary: The ability to rise above (Hanged Man and The Sun) experiences of betrayal and deception (Seven of Swords), allowing those experiences to inspire us to be better and become more than before (King of Wands).

Take Away: This is about more than just “learning from our mistakes” but rather about taking the bad things that happen to us that aren’t our mistakes at all, and learning how to not just move past them, but turn them into a positive growth experience.  

I know that not everyone has this ability, but I do agree that the ability to “rise above” really could be one of humanity’s biggest accomplishments, if not one we’ve quite managed to master yet.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE SECRET FOREST

Lionharts #AstroTarotChallenge
Question: How has my family or foundation positively shaped, influenced or impacted the way I move or carry myself today?

Hardy Tarot

Reading Summary: I learned to fend for myself (Page of Swords) instead of depending upon external praise (Six of Wands), and to be secure in laying claim what’s mine (Queen of Disks).

Take Away: I can’t say that my family foundation has been all that positive, but it has taught me self sufficiency.  Although I do enjoy praise and admiration, I don’t require it.  I’m more than capable of motivating myself without that carrot dangling before me.

By the same turn, it has taught me to feel a good deal of protective ownership over what belongs to me.  This goes beyond personal possessions and includes thoughts, ideas, values, and those things that I work so hard to obtain such as a home, stability, and security.

DECK USED:  HARDY TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: How can I make life choices more consciously?

Wiener Secession Tarot

Reading Summary: I need to make it a conscious choice (Two of Spades) to worry less about my fears and anxieties (Nine of Spades) and focus instead on embodying the strength and purpose of my endeavors (King of Clubs) while practicing the moderation needed to keep things balanced (Temperance).

Take Away:  To make life’s choices more consciously (and more confidently, for that matter), the cards indicate that I need to spend less time worrying and more time finding a balance between my drive and my need for self care.  Moderation is not my strong suit, and I have a habit of dropping myself into an endeavor and allowing it to overtake every facet of my life until it is all that I eat, sleep, or breathe.  This is a tendency that I am trying to break myself free of. 

The thing is, when I focus on my anxieties?  It only pushes me more towards the need to delve deep, and pulls me away from the self care I need to sustain in my life.

DECK USED:  WIENER SECESSION TAROT