No Strength Without Rest

Today’s meditation was skipped (yet again).

•    •    •    ◈    •    🌱    •    ◈    •    •    •

Solace Oracle and It’s Going To Be Okay 2024 Day-to-day Calendar By Kate AllanToday’s draw is the Standing Strong card combined with the affirmation “You have coped through a lot; you deserve a nice long break.”

Today’s cards are a reminder that you don’t have to be strong all the time, and that times of rest are what help you to stay strong over the long haul.  Without rest, there is no strength.  So don’t be down on yourself about needing rest. It’s okay.

I personally needed to hear this message today. It’s supposed to be an orders day, but I spent a large portion of the day trying to fill orders only to have to re-do damned near every little thing over at least once because of stupid mistakes and dissatisfaction with the results of my efforts.

I finally gave up and set orders aside, giving myself permission to ship out everything on Tuesday instead of tomorrow. The guilt was significant, especially when others in my life sort of seemed disapproving of my choices. (Or, alternately? It’s possible that could have just been me projecting my own feelings and guilt.)  Either way, today’s message helped in easing some of those negative emotions.  I’m allowed to rest when I need to, even when it’s not particularly convenient.

DECK USED: SOLACE ORACLE

#DiscordTarotholicsAug2023 Challenge Prompt
Question for August 1st and 2nd

Oracle Reading with the Moon Woman OracleHow does my inner child feel right now?

Maiden – Your inner child is excited about the potential your steps in personal growth are opening up to you. No longer is your inner child shoved in a closet, neglected and ignored as they had been in the past, and they are beginning to enjoy the attention and exploration.

How can I better connect with my inner child?

The Cauldron – Remember that creativity isn’t just fun and games, but there is also a sacredness to it that makes each thing you create (whether it be physical, metaphysical, or just the space for future potential) contain an intrinsic part of you within it.

DECK USED: MOON WOMAN ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

I had myself some lazy time in bed today while I was alone at home.  As mentioned in the Card of the Day exercise above, I also allowed myself to not fill orders today, and rest instead… and am working on not feeling guilty about it.

First Harvest 2024 – Lammas/Lugh

Today is Lammas, which is known as the First Harvest of the year. This day marks the transition into the harvest season of August, September, and October (of which there is a Second Harvest and Last Harvest that correspond to these months).

Tarotholics Harvest Challenge Spreads

This holiday is often referred to as Lammas, Lughnasadh, or Lugh, although I usually just refer to it as the First Harvest. On my path, it celebrates the beginning of Summer’s decline and ramping up of the busy season where we begin to reap in the abundance that the bounty of summer’s energies has encouraged to grow and flourish. It is a time filled with a combination of abundance, hard work, and gratitude.

Like with new moons and full moons, I usually do a spread to check in with myself and give myself some direction for the next couple of months for each solstice, equinox, and other Sabbats. Unfortunately, I was unable to do my normal Sabbat reading this month, so I am combining the harvest spreads from this month’s Discord Tarot Challenge instead.

First Harvest Oracle Reading with the Seasons of the Witch Lammas Oracle

Seeds Sown – What seeds for my physical health & growth planted in the Spring have flourished and grown strong?

Welcoming the Harvest – You have gotten back on track with your eating schedule, ensuring no hypoglycemic episodes and helping in staying off the irrational scarcity feelings that start to crop up in all areas of life when you start trying to cut back on food intake.

The Chaff – What seeds for my physical health & growth have not flourished and need to be let go to encourage healthy growth in other areas?

Harvest Basket – You are still struggling to carry too much on your shoulders. In order to continue with healthy physical progress in areas where you are thriving, you need to work on letting go of taking on too much on your own.

The Harvest – How can I best prepare now to reap the benefits of a positive healthy harvest for my physical health & growth in the Fall?

Craftsmanship – Work on honing your craft and toughening up your hands and forearms for the overwork that will come as the holiday season comes into focus. Build up that strength and endurance now so you won’t be injured later.

Seeds Sown – What seeds for my mental health & growth planted in the Spring have flourished and grown strong?

Fennel – You have been working on fretting less and trusting that you will get through obstacles instead of decimated by them. With your emotions in play (as you try not to bury them and ignore them), it’s difficult to not be affected more intensely by setbacks and hurdles. You are doing well at learning how to not let your anxiety spiral in these instances, and instead focusing on solution based thoughts and plans.

The Chaff – What seeds for my mental health & growth  have not flourished and need to be let go to encourage healthy growth in other areas?

Coneflower – You don’t need any more independence than you already have. Quit trying to scrape up more. You need to instead focus on allowing others in and asking for help, even in times when you feel you don’t need to.

The Harvest – How can I best prepare now to reap the benefits of a positive healthy harvest for my mental health & growth in the Fall?

Rooster and Hens – Get out in nature and enjoy time outside among the trees, exploring new trails and old alike. Revisit the joy that noticing natures little changes from one day to the next gives you. These excursions help create clarity of mind, and revitalize you both in mind and body.

Seeds Sown – What seeds for my emotional health & growth planted in the Spring have flourished and grown strong?

Citrine – The confidence you have gained over the past few months is of the gentle and uplifting sort. You are discovering that confidence in others and your connection to them is just as important as independence and having confidence in yourself.

The Chaff – What seeds for my emotional health & growth  have not flourished and need to be let go to encourage healthy growth in other areas?

Garden Tools – You are not on your own and (yet again in this reading) you are being reminded that independence doesn’t mean you have to cut yourself off from others. That right there is the line where independence becomes unhealthy.

The Harvest – How can I best prepare now to reap the benefits of a positive healthy harvest for my emotional health & growth in the Fall?

Vegetable Garden – Touch base with yourself and your progress. Make sure that those seeds that need to flourish are doing so and thriving, and that the weeds of unhealthy thoughts and old habits that could choke them out are being pulled and discarded.

DECKS USED: SEASONS OF THE WITCH LAMMAS ORACLE

Perfectionism Clogs the Gears

Today’s meditation was skipped.

•    •    •    ◈    •    🌱    •    ◈    •    •    •

Cryptid Creatures Tarot and It’s Going To Be Okay 2024 Day-to-day Calendar By Kate AllanToday’s card is the Wheel of Fortune (Tailypo) combined with the affirmation “You can do the thing!”

Let go of the need for perfection . You have have better things to do with your time.

When you focus too hard on perfection, it slows you down and keeps you from completing tasks that could easily be done much quicker with a little more tolerance for everything not being “just right”.  Why waste your time with these tiny details when no one will care one way or another, or even notice for that matter… including -you- if it wasn’t you doing the work!

Just do it and get it done with out the obsessing, and then instead of wasting time on something you’re not really enjoying, you can move on to something that you will.

DECK USED: CRYPTID CREATURES TAROT AND IT’S GOING TO BE OKAY 2024 DAY-TO-DAY CALENDAR BY KATE ALLAN

#DiscordTarotholicsJul2024 Challenge Prompt
Prompt for July 31
: Grab a spread of your choice that you’ve been curious about… and give it a go!

Summer Oracle Reading with the Wing Hoof and Paw Oracle

Flowers – What is flourishing in your life right now?

Muskrat – Thanks to the end of month reading that you did earlier in the week, you are paying far more attention to the world around you. You are alert and aware, and working at preserving clarity of sight and mind. Vigilance and awareness of what’s going on around you is extremely important at the moment, and you’re doing well with it.

Sun – Where you’re shining your brightest this summer.

Prairie Dog – You are doing better at showing your emotions and sharing them with those that you love than you have done in quite some time. Last year, due to circumstances beyond your control, you had to shut yourself down and everyone suffered. You are beginning to open back up now.

Stars – What needs released to shine even brighter?

Deer – It’s hard to believe that you’re not going to have a repeat experience of what happened last year. You need to set down your distrust in the universe and it’s whims, and allow things to flow smoothly once more. Stop bracing for the next blow to come raining down on you.

Bees – Where to focus your energy to get things done?

Springbok – Revisit those things that you really enjoy, and allow them to help spark your creativity and enthusiasm. You have the extra time at the moment to spend some time having fun. Make sure you take advantage of that time instead of wasting it.

Bonfires – Embers to stir up for a brighter future.

Swan – Make sure that you were giving yourself credit where credit is due. You are enough, even when those negative whispers in your head make it seem like you’re not. This is something you need to work on reminding yourself of on the regular.

DECK USED: WING HOOF AND PAW ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

I mixed the rest of the Froot Loops in with the Trix cereal. It’s a really good combo that I enjoy.

Finding the Positive for July 28 – 30

The Soulscape Tarot, Messages from the Woods Oracle, Starline Tarot, Forest Friends Cards, and It’s Going To Be Okay 2024 Day-to-day Calendar By Kate Allan

July 28 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

•    •    •    ◈    •    🌱    •    ◈    •    •    •

Today’s card is the Wheel of Fortune combined with the affirmation “You are out here trying, and that is absolutely good enough.”

Confession.  I am a control freak.  Yes.  I am.  And the absolute frustration that comes with -not- being able to control some aspects of my life that I want to is one of the hardest things in life for me to accept.  Emotions. Triggers. Flashbacks. Unexpected roadblocks and obstacles. Unpleasant surprises.

These things drive me absolutely crazy because I cannot control them even in instances when they may not involve -anyone- other than myself. I don’t want to control others, I just want to control myself and my life to a degree that is (in rational moments, I admit) not just unreasonable to expect but actually impossible to accomplish.

Today’s affirmation and card combo is a reminder that you can’t control the world around you, only yourself and your reactions to it. You can’t control your emotions, only how you react to them and what you -do- with them. Do you let it set you off kilter? Or do you go along for the ride with grace? It’s a choice.

I’m personally not very good at gracefully going along with the flow in these instances. But… I’m trying, and that has to be enough.

DECK USED: THE SOULSCAPE TAROT AND IT’S GOING TO BE OKAY 2024 DAY-TO-DAY CALENDAR BY KATE ALLAN

July 29 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was

•    •    •    ◈    •    🌱    •    ◈    •    •    •

Today’s cards are the Deer card combined with the Bear Hugs hugs card.

The message in today’s cards is that life cannot be work work work all the time. Everyone needs rest to function… even you. Don’t feel guilty for taking time to yourself when you need it. When you do so, you show that you are giving yourself the same kind of love and understanding, balance and stability that you provide so easily for others.

DECK USED: MESSAGES FROM THE WOODS CARDS AND IT’S FOREST FRIENDS CARDS BY TIJANA LUKOVIC

July 30 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

•    •    •    ◈    •    🌱    •    ◈    •    •    •

Today’s card is the Ace of Wands combined with the affirmation “You’re still a good  you, even while you’re not feeling like yourself.”

Honestly? I’ve been dead tired today. I only managed to get about two hours sleep last night, and it clearly wasn’t enough.  Between that and the drive north, it’s been a rough one for me.

Today’s cards are a reminder that even on rough days, your passions and inspirations remain the same. You like the same foods, you’re interested in the same things, and you have the same passions. The cards encourage tapping into those enthusiasms during these times when you aren’t at your best, and allowing them to help ground you in yourself so that you don’t feel as much adrift from yourself and who you are as such days can cause you to feel.

DECK USED: STARLINE TAROT AND IT’S GOING TO BE OKAY 2024 DAY-TO-DAY CALENDAR BY KATE ALLAN

🌕 Full Moon in Capricorn – July 2024

Tomorrow is the full moon, and like all new moons and full moons, I did a spread aligned to the moon’s current themes as a part of my recognition of the moon’s cycle and influences upon us. Today’s spread is courtesy of @lightningwildflower.

Full Moon in Capricorn Tarot Reading with the Good Fortune Tarot

What long-term goal can you begin to work toward now?

Three of Cups – Wringing more fun and enjoyment out of life with others. Life doesn’t have to be so serious all the time, but should also be a celebration. It’s time to start working towards and stealing more fun into your life instead of always putting it off for later.

What is the first step in reaching this goal?

King of Pentacles – Own your time and your achievements, and signal to others that you are ready to save your life instead of just striving through it. Appreciate the stability you have earned, and stop worrying so much about it being ripped out from under you.

How can you take greater responsibility for your actions?

Eight of Cups – Instead of sticking around to own the responsibilities that are dragging you down or frustrating you, take a greater responsibility for your actions by walking away from those that don’t work instead of holding onto them.

What structures in your life will support your growth?

Ten of Cups – Remember that you already have happiness in your life and people around you that make you happy. You’re not reinventing the wheel here, but learning how to saver fun and happiness more.

Full Moon advice from the Minoan Goddess Amalthea.

The Lovers – The only way to make healthier choices for yourself is to remember to think through your actions rather than just falling into what’s easiest or most familiar.

DECK USED: GOOD FORTUNE TAROT

Finding the Positive for July 10 – 12

Mimit Tarot, Oracle of 11, Journey to Oz & Wonderland Tarot, and It’s Going To Be Okay 2024 Day-to-day Calendar By Kate Allan

July 10 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

•    •    •    ◈    •    🌱    •    ◈    •    •    •

Today’s card is The Hanged Man combined with the affirmation “Small steps still count.”

Holy cuteness overload. 😂 These cards are a reminder that even though you’ve chosen to come up north and spend the night at Ms B’s so you can take her to her appointment today doesn’t mean you’re not still in the process of healing up from being sick.  Pneumonia takes time to recover from, and even though you have more energy and are getting better doesn’t mean you’re full on able to pick things up as if you’re completely healed.

Pause.  Take time.  Go slow.  Take breaks when you need them, naps when there’s opportunity, and give yourself a break whenever you get the chance.  Don’t push.

DECK USED: MIMIT TAROT AND IT’S GOING TO BE OKAY 2024 DAY-TO-DAY CALENDAR BY KATE ALLAN

July 11 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

•    •    •    ◈    •    🌱    •    ◈    •    •    •

Today’s card is The Golden Island of Brunei combined with the affirmation “You’re not failing at being happy– you’re recovering from overwhelming stress. Please be patient and allow your mind some recovery time; this won’t last forever.”

From the Guide: “The Golden Island roamed the seas, seeking worthy communities to bless. Yet when those it granted boons forgot their kindness and became consumed with greed, it vanished, leaving them to decline.”

This story reminds me of the Fae, and the importance of consistency where building a relationship with them is concerned.  If you put out cream on your windowsill for the Fae, and do so consistently, they may come to bless you with their company and boons. But, if you forget or become inconsistent with your offerings, those boons may be taken away and the Fae you have been courting may become resentful.

Today’s cards are about gratitude, and most especially, consistency in one’s gratitude. Staying power is important when it comes to drawing in one’s blessings, as well as weathering the hard parts of life that come your way.  If you stop being grateful, the world looks darker, even though it’s not.  If you recognize your blessings for what they are and stay consistent in gratitude and positivity practices, the world looks brighter and lighter, even though it’s not.  It’s our perspective that changes when we put in consistent effort to be kind and grateful.  Which perspective would you rather live in?

DECK USED: ORACLE OF 11 AND IT’S GOING TO BE OKAY 2024 DAY-TO-DAY CALENDAR BY KATE ALLAN

July 12 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and was one of the #DailyTrip sessions on the Calm app.  The session spoke about how there are two different “main” methods of meditation.  The “focused on a goal” meditation style, and the “doing nothing” meditation style.  This particular session focused on the “doing nothing” style and was about simply relaxing into the experience of the moment.

•    •    •    ◈    •    🌱    •    ◈    •    •    •

Today’s card is the Chariot card combined with the affirmation “Yes, the storm is back again, and it sucks. But, you aren’t alone out there, my friend.”

You know that phrase “team work makes the dream work”?  That’s what today’s cards bring to mind. Flying monkeys are an effective army not because they’re flying monkeys (although, that surely has something to do with it), but because they are an –army– of flying monkeys.

By the same turn?  You are not a survivor all alone and on your own.  You’re a member of a community, whether that community is a family,  part of a group of friends, or some other gathering of members that help and support each other.  And, it is through this connection with others that you are better able to weather the storms that life throws at you.

Could you do it alone?  Sure. Probably.  You don’t have to, though, and life’s that much easier when you accept help from others during the rough times than if you tried to handle it all on your own.

DECK USED: JOURNEY TO OZ & WONDERLAND TAROT AND IT’S GOING TO BE OKAY 2024 DAY-TO-DAY CALENDAR BY KATE ALLAN