Tarot of the Unknown

Keep Your Head Down

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Today’s meditation was about fifteen minutes long, but to be honest I wasn’t really timing it.  It was a full body scan that went from head to toe and back again, and was incorporated into my morning yoga.   It was peaceful, but quiet and easy, and gave me a bit of variety in my yoga from the day to day that I do to keep myself limber and my joints cooperative.

Seven of Swords - Tarot of the Unknown Today’s draw is the Seven of Axes (Swords), which is a representation of leaps ahead and progress no matter the cost, strategic action, secret keeping, and getting away with shit.  Betrayal and deception are common themes under this card’s influence, and although this card can also indicate leaps of progress, those leaps are usually include the previously mentioned representations in some way.

When I see this card today, it created a spark of hope.  Hope that perhaps things really may work out okay with the whole Etsy debacle.  Because clearly, my shop getting the letter that I received is not the only shop to be running into this lately.  Maybe, just maybe, this means that it’s not as serious as it feels like?   Because the letter absolutely felt like a threat.  And I sort of felt singled out.   But perhaps that isn’t the case after all?

Anyway, the card gave me hope that regardless of what small infraction seemed to trigger the letter, maybe it won’t result in the catastrophic events that I’m so worried about coming to pass.  This doesn’t mean that I would be getting away with something deceptive or bad… but getting off scott free is still a lovely idea to entertain in this case.

The appearance of this card today is advice to keep my head down and hope for the best.

Deck Used:  Tarot of the Unknown

Bonus Reading – #TarotForGrowthNovember

Question: What would I benefit from releasing in my life?

WTNV Holloway TarotReading Summary:  Now is not a time for focusing on finance strategy (Page of Pentacles) or emotional juggling (Knight of Cups with the Two of Pentacles), nor  time for playing at learning new skills for fun new projects (Page of Swords)

Take Away:  I have so many ideas and things I want to try both in my business and my creative passions, and so much exploring I want to do with the new level of emotion I started to discover in the fall, as well as the shadow work that is to come in the new year.   But, as swamped as I am with work due to the holiday rush (that is now in full swing), I need to be mindful that a lot of other worries and projects I want to delve into both in my personal and business life need to be set aside for now so that I can pour the lion’s share of my focus on the current chaos sitting in my lap.

Deck Used:  WTNV Holloway Tarot

It’s Gonna Be Okay

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Today’s meditation was just over fifteen minutes long, and was an exploration on where your mind goes when it strays during meditation, and how to bring it back.

It was a little different than most of my meditations, because you actually focus on those thoughts a moment in order to label them and pull yourself outside of them before returning to your centering and focus again.   It was not particularly relaxing, but it was definitely educational.

Eight of Cups - Tarot of the Unknown Today’s draw is the Eight of Cups, which is a representation of letting go in the area of one’s emotions, relationships, creativity, and intuition.  This card often presents itself with themes that involve disappointment, as well as situations that involve abandonment or withdrawal.

When I look at this card today it is a reminder to me that sometimes you just have to let go.  It’s impossible to control every aspect of life, and impossible to please every person you come in contact with.   As much as we want to be perfect, no one and nothing ever is… and that is what “perfect” actually is, is the acceptance of flaws and imperfections.

As someone who focuses too intently on everything I do being “perfect”, this is a message that I really need to hear now and then.  Just as a reminder that it’s okay to let go of that ideal and just have some fun and breathe now and then.

Deck Used:  Tarot of the Unknown

Bonus Reading – #TarotForGrowthNovember

Question: How can I recognize when negativity is in my head rather than in reality?

Rust Belt Arcana Tarot Reading Summary:  When everything is feeling topsy turvy (Wheel of Fortune) or like it’s the end of the world (The Tower) and feeling defensive or as if I’m “not enough” to defend what’s mine (Seven of Wands).

Take Away: You know that saying about when it looks too good to be true then it probably is too good to be true? These cards relaying that message, but in the sense that if it looks too bad to be true, then it probably is too bad to be true.  The sassafras in the end card also relays that in order to overcome these moments, counting my blessing is a good way to calm down those internal negative thoughts.

Deck Used:  Rust Belt Arcana Tarot

Gratitude, Not Attitude

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Today’s meditation was twelve minutes long and took place in the bath tub, submerged to just my nose and mouth (well, and knees).  It was not a guided meditation, but rather a time spent in that suspension state that I can often find when in water.  It was very refreshing, but left me feeling a bit sleepy by the end.

Three of Cups - Tarot of the Unknown Today’s draw is the Three of Cups, which is a representation of collaboration, small gains, and even smaller groups in the area of one’s emotions, intuition, relationships, and creativity.

The appearance of the Three of Cups today is a reminder to put a check on my resentment concerning having my helper in my space.  I don’t know why I can’t seem to get completely comfortable with her being here in my home when she comes to do her job, but it’s always an irritant that she’s here.   Always.

That said… I need the assistance with my business that she provides, especially at this time of year.   Today’s card is a reminder to look on the bright side of the relationship and collaboration that I have with her, rather than doing the internal “fuss and grump” that her presence seems to always inspire.

Deck Used:  Tarot of the Unknown

Bonus Reading – #TarotForGrowthNovember

Question: What can I do to quiet my inner critic?

Delos TarotReading Summary: Keep in mind how far I have come and all that I have (Ten of Pentacles), while emotionally focusing less on how much further I could have gone.  Instead, find that inner quiet needed to assure myself I am making the best decisions possible in the moment.

Take Away: My inner critic is something that I struggle with quite a lot.  It always has something to say, and what it has to say is usually not all that useful other than to push me harder (which, honestly, is something I do in spades already).  The cards indicate that to silence my inner critic, I need to focus more on gratitude for the now rather than focusing so intently on where I’m going and what I could do better. And that I need to remember that hindsight is 20/20, but that decisions I have made were the absolute best decisions accessible to me in the moment.

Deck Used:  Delos Tarot 2nd Edition

Composure Among Chaos

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Today’s meditation was just over eleven minutes long, and a revisit of yesterday’s meditation on the “how to” series that I’ve been working my way through.  Since I was interrupted yesterday, I felt I should return to do it a second time, and I’m glad that I did.

There was a quote by J Krishnamurti used in the meditation’s narration that I really connected with. “The ability to observe without evaluating is the highest form of intelligence.”

That is what today’s meditation was all about, observing the self and how our mind works without evaluation or judgement.

Five of Wands - Tarot of the Unknown Today’s draw is the Five of Wands, which is a representation of tests, trials, and conflict in the area of one’s passions, drive, and ambitions.   This is a really apt card for today, and when I drew it this morning, I did not fully understand where it was coming from, but I knew that it was not just a “positive message” but an indication of something to come.

It turns out that this evening, I discovered exactly what that has to do with.   I have a shop on Etsy with well over 5000 sales and 1200 reviews.   I have never had an unresolved case filed against my shop, and have a five star rating.   BUT, for some reason because I got ONE negative review and ONE case (that was thrown out by Etsy incidentally) in the past 50 sales?  They sent me a letter threatening to shut me down.

I mean… wtf.   Anyway… there you go.

The fact is, though?   I will find a way through this too.  So the card was not just a warning of what was coming, but is also an encouragement. It is a message of strength, and perseverance, and acknowledging that even when things feel like they’re falling to shit, there IS something else on the horizon if you can first just get through the crowd of jackasses swinging their clubs at your balls.

Deck Used:  Tarot of the Unknown

Bonus Reading – #TarotForGrowthNovember

Question: Where would I benefit from gathering more information before reacting?

Pagan Otherworlds Tarot Reading Summary:  When I’m feeling uncertain of where to place my feet (The Moon) and the world feels like it’s falling apart around me (Five of Pentacles), remember to have faith in that inner spark of passion that drives me forward (King of Wands) as my real strength lies within the determination that lives there (the Lion in the King of Wands).

Take Away:  Fitting that this question and the answers provided today fit into the issue mentioned in my daily draw.   The cards indicate situations where I feel blindsided and uncertain of how to move forward, and like my financial security and stability is at risk.  That is a very accurate description of the emotions that are roiling around within after that email I received.   The encouragement in these cards has to do with keeping in mind my determination, my strengths, and where my passions lie… and using composure and that sense of strength to bolster myself as I move to gather more information about the situation and how to either resolve it or move past it.

Deck Used:  The Pagan Otherworlds Tarot

 

Recognizing Strength

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Today’s meditation was just over ten minutes long, and was a meditation that focused on a line of energy that runs along the spine.  It was the next installment of the ‘how to’ series I’ve been working through.

The line of energy is essentially a thin line, like a string, that runs along the spine (think spinal cord) and in this meditation, the goal was to focus upon that line and allow the glow of energy from it to expand and flow, filling you up through nerve endings and providing a sensation of calm and light within.

It was extremely relaxing without making me sleepy, and is definitely a technique I will be revisiting in the future.

Five of Axes - Tarot of the Unknown Today’s draw is the Five of Axes (Swords) which we just saw two days ago but has come to visit again.   This card is a representation of challenges, tests, and trials in the area of one’s thought processes, intellect, and communication.  This theme often presents itself as conflict and/or competition, and sometimes as a drive to win no matter the costs.

I do not feel that this is a recurrent theme from this card’s previous recent appearance.   Instead, it is a commentary upon the distress I was dealing with yesterday concerning my memory and its gaps.

In the moments where I realize just how much of my memory has fallen through the cracks, I have moments when I feel extremely helpless.  The appearance of this card is a reminder that there are many different faces to “winning”.  Some of them are obvious, others, not so much.

Although there is much in my life that has happened and left damage and scars in their wake, they also have made me stronger, and taught me how much value there is in my life, and how to appreciate the little things that make life worth living.   I learned my mortality very early, and although I work very hard in my day to day, I also make sure to pause and appreciate all that I have.   All that I have survived.   And all that I have won the right to having in my life through that survival.  Sometimes?  You have to lose something of value in order to gain something even better.

Deck Used:  Tarot of the Unknown

Bonus Reading – #TarotForGrowthNovember

Question: Where may I benefit from moving on / moving forward?

Herbal Healing Tarot Reading Summary:  There is strength (Strength) in knowing when to set aside (Seven of Cups) the struggle of juggling too much (Two of Pentacles) in order to focus on gripping the reigns on chaos (The Chariot).

Take Away: I spend a huge amount of my life juggling responsibilities and my creative drive, which often boils down to a balance between my outside work and my entrepreneurial endeavors.  At this time of year, my business  begins to “blow up”, and it becomes time to set aside my other outside jobs for a time so that I can focus all of my energy on the chaos of the holiday rush.   The message here is saying that the time for that shift is now.

Deck Used:  The Herbal Healing Tarot

 

The Victor’s Responsibilities

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Today’s meditation was (probably?) about fifteen minutes long, and was another self directed meditation, this time in the shower.  It was one of those in the bottom of shower watching the drops of water drip down the wall meditations, and was very soothing and a balm to my senses and my insides all at the same time.

It didn’t last until the water got cold, but I was there for a bit of time, so I’m guessing at the amount of time I actually spent in meditation.

Five of Axes - Tarot of the Unknown Today’s draw is the Five of Axes (Swords) which is a representation of tests, trials, and challenges in the area of one’s intellect, communication, and thought processes.  This often presents itself as conflict and/or competition, as well as a drive to win no matter the cost.

What stands out to me in this card today is the rope, which speaks to me of a connection between the victor and those he has defeated.  The message here is a reminder that even when you’re the winner, you need to ensure you keep in mind the fate and well being of those you have won against.   Sometimes, you need to do more than just stand tall as the victor and leave others in your wake.   Those you defeat are still people too, and as such, at the end of the battle they deserve more than just sand kicked in their eyes.

Today’s card relates really well to what is going on with one of my jobs at the moment.  I finally did talk to the owner about the shortcomings of his newest manager.  He wasn’t thrilled to hear the news, but after investigating for himself where she’s been dropping the ball and slacking off,  she ended up fired on Friday… and I ended up with a raise.  I don’t particularly feel bad for her, as she was abusive to the employees and not doing her job, but I did speak to her briefly today and offer her some leads on a couple jobs she might be better suited for.

Deck Used:  Tarot of the Unknown

Bonus Reading – #TarotForGrowthNovember

Question: How can I improve my relationship with confrontation?

Badger’s Forest TarotReading Summary:  Turn the other cheek (Four of Cups) rather than piling on and engaging in the conflict (Three of Pentacles), because sometimes you just have to take the high road (King of Swords) and walk away (Eight of Cups).

Take Away: Sometimes when coming in contact with confrontation, you really feel the need to defend your position and stand up against the opposing force.  But the fact is?  There are always going to be people that just refuse to listen to any view but their own, and there are going to be times when the conflict and confrontation just are not going to serve you well, even if you’re in the right.  Choose your battles wisely and remember that sometimes walking away is the best option.

Deck Used:  The Badger’s Forest Tarot