tarot reading

What Is a Shuffle Plate?

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This was asked recently in my Discord’s DMs, but I thought it might be helpful to show others. So… a shuffle plate is essentially a plate you use to shuffle on that protects the table underneath. I don’t like reading cloths for regular use because they shift and wrinkle. Instead, I prefer bare wood. But… well. This is what happens when you shuffle on bare wood over time:

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As you can see, shuffling creates a good deal of wear on wood over time. You can also see that when the wear got pretty extensive, I tried to turn the table around and use the other side for a bit. I clearly needed a better solution, though.  No matter how gentle I am with the cards, they begin to wear on the wood as time goes on.

So, while I was at a friend’s house, I noticed a sample piece of granite from the store sitting cast aside on the windowsill that they had considered doing their countertops in. They no longer needed it, and I asked if I could have it.

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I took it home, put little fuzzy feet on the underside, and began using it to shuffle my cards on in order to preserve the table top (which it has done spectacularly since acquiring it). Since then, I also found a similarly sized tile in selenite, which I did the same with.

Yes, selenite is soft and, at some point, it will have to be replaced. It does include a cleansing benefit that the granite doesn’t, though.

And, there you have it. A “shuffle plate” is a piece of tile/wood/stone used to shuffle on that protects your table from the wear and tear of shuffling. Soft, fuzzy feet on the bottom are recommended, or the plate will cause it’s own damage to the table’s surface.

Respecting Traditions and Inclusion

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

Broken Mirror Tarot 5th Edition Green BoxToday’s draw is the Hierophant card, which is traditionally a representation of tradition, spiritual guidance, long standing institutions, teachers and guides, and themes that deal with conformity and social norms.

This card makes me think of Christmas. It could be all the red and the pale blue hues that look like snow and ice.  It brings to mind social expectations.  For example… I am Pagan, and I celebrate the eight holidays on the “wheel of the year” rather than traditional Christian holidays. But– I also take part in a number of Christmas traditions.

I have family and friends that are Christian, and I enjoy taking part in their traditions, and being included in these traditions.  No… I don’t go to church, and none of them would expect me to. Yet they do expect me to be at Christmas dinner, to spend time with them over the Christmas season (or rather, just after it due to my holiday rush) and in the case of a few people in my life, do greeting card and/or gift exchanges.

I am fine with all of this, because it is all important to them, and because I enjoy being included.  Today’s card is a reminder that it’s okay to enjoy being included… and to enjoy others traditions! As long as it comes from a respectful place and you’re welcome by others to participate, that’s what matters.

DECK USED:  BROKEN MIRROR TAROT 5th EDITION GREEN BOX

@The.Journey.Well ‘s Friendship & Community Challenge Prompt
Questions for November 9th and 10th

Become An Oracle DeckWhat energy turns you off to friendships?

Toxic “high vibration” (Archangel Christiel) know-it-all bullshit (Archangel Jophiel), and proselytization (The Seraphims).

You are fine with others having their own beliefs and are an advocate for finding the spiritual path that’s the right fit for each individual… but you don’t appreciate when it turns someone into a toxic thinker, makes them act as if they feel they are better than others, or they begin trying to push their believes upon you and your path.

How can meeting new people help you?

It can introduce into your life more trust and unconditional love in your life (Hathor). To invite these things in, though, requires opening yourself up to vulnerability and possible disappointments (Open the Gates).

DECK USED: BECOME AN ORACLE DECK

#DiscordTarotholicsNov2022 Challenge Prompt
Question for November 10th: Think of a problem that needs solving and pull cards in relation to…
Problem: Sustaining healthy energy levels through the holiday rush.

Broken Mirror Tarot 5th Edition Green BoxWhere To Begin – The Fool – Enthusiasm is your friend! Jump out the gate with eagerness and try to have some fun.

What Half Way Looks Like – Queen of Swords – Get a little cut-throat to make sure everything moves forward as planned.

How to End Things – Wheel of Fortune atop Six of Swords Rx – There will be a lot of ups and downs along the path that gets you to this point. Just make sure you are sticking it out til the very end.

Long Term Ramifications – Page of Swords – More lessons learned to foster further future ambitions. Each year you learn new skills and methods that you then carry forward to make the next year go just a little bit smoother.

DECK USED: BROKEN MIRROR TAROT 5th EDITION GREEN BOX

Daily Self Kindness

I called all hands on deck to help get the 102 orders that needed to be finished done and ready to go.  We even managed to finish earlier than expected as a result.

Path & Purpose Tarot Reading

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Path & Purpose Tarot Reading with the Lorenzi Tarot

What would benefit me to focus on at this time?

The Hermit Rx – Keep in mind that there is no amount of alone time that is going to be healthy or helpful to you at this time. You need to turn your focus to outside yourself for the time being, and you can return to focusing on your own growth and self development at a later time when the pursuit is better suited to where you are.

What would benefit me to remove my focus from?

Death – Don’t worry so much about the changes taking place. Just roll with it. If you focus on it too strongly, you’ll become too rigid and end up stumbling over your own feet due to rising anxiety.  Just let things flow and ride it out.

Where is my current path headed?

The Fool Rx – Towards responsibility and ambition that is both grounded and well planned out. That is what the holiday season has become for you over the years since you began your business.  It’s what you need to focus on through those oh-so-important last couple months of the year.

Where is my ideal path headed?

Justice – Towards a better balance between grounded responsibility and the fun of lighthearted frivolity. You need the lighter parts to help lift up the harder, darker moments.

What can I do to close the variance between the two?

Page of Pentacles – Practice makes perfect, just don’t judge yourself harshly for it taking longer than you expect. You’ll get there eventually as long as you stay focused on seeking out that balance you want to achieve.

A skill or attribute to assist me.

Nine of Wands – Boundaries are your friend. It is through the use of boundaries that you can make better choices that can foster this balance you seek.

DECK USED: LORENZI TAROT

Unconventional Strength

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

Jupiter's Eye TarotToday’s draw is the Eight of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of withdrawal, abandonment, or letting go of things, situations, or people in your life that are just not working out for you emotionally.

For me, this can often be the “fuck this shit, I quit” card that comes when I’ve reached the end of my rope with something or someone.

Today’s card is a reminder that sometimes the very best thing you can do for yourself is to walk away. There are times when it’s a show of more strength to walk away and let something go, than to stand and fight.

DECK USED:  JUPITER’S EYE TAROT

Mr Lionhart’s The Suits: Revisited #TheNovemberTarot Prompt
Questions for November 9th and 10th

So Long Marianne TarotMajor Arcana – What have I learned from the Suit of Wands through this month’s challenge?

The Lovers and The Fool – Sometimes the best and healthiest choices you can make for yourself are the ones that actually feel the least responsible. Things like fun and rest are both important to your well-being, as is asking for help.

Major Arcana – What can support me throughout the week ahead?

Death and The Hierophant – Take what you have learned from the past and from others, and use it to help you ride out the expected changes this week will bring. That “holiday rush transition” has arrived.

DECK USED: SO LONG MARIANNE TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsNov2022 Challenge Prompt
Question for November 9th: What harsh truths does humanity prefer to ignore?

Jupiter's Eye TarotTruth – Five of Cups Rx – Depression is an actual illness and not a choice, nor something that can just be “set aside” because you want to. It more often than not requires medical treatment and monitoring.

Truth – Ten of Swords – Pain is a form of growth, and necessary. People spend a huge amount of time avoiding pain. In doing so, they are simultaneously avoiding personal growth.

Truth – Seven of Swords – Bad things happen not just to good people, but also bad ones. Sometimes what is defined as “bad things” is all about perspective, and completely subjective.

DECK USED: JUPITER’S EYE TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I did periodic breathing exercises throughout the day today to help keep my anxiety and jitters under control so they wouldn’t grow out of proportion while I worked on catching up on orders.

Bigger Game, Fuller Bellies

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

Guardian of the Night TarotToday’s draw is the Three of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of teamwork, collaboration, and better results through combination of others skills added to a project.

What stands out to me in the imagery of this card, what stands out to me the strongest is the wolves. You see, wolves hunt in packs. They do their hunting as a community, and it is during a hunt where cooperation between wolves within a pack is most apparent. It is through this teamwork that they successfully hunt large game that feeds the entire pack.

Today’s card is a reminder that it takes teamwork to succeed, especially when you’re up against uneven odds. Through the participation of others, we can overcome those things that we would struggle with on our own.  It is a reminder to welcome others in, and allow them to help.

DECK USED:  GUARDIAN OF THE NIGHT TAROT

@The.Journey.Well ‘s Friendship & Community Challenge Prompt
Question for November 7th and 8th

Chronicles of Destiny Fortune CardsWhat area of your life gives you a sense of significance?

Conflict and Waterfall – Learning to flow within the discordance created by the struggle, strife, and woe in life.

It was once predicted through the cards that I would live a life filled with struggle, strife, and woe… and that the point of life was not these tests and trials that would come, but rather what I did with them, and what I learned from them.

I find significance in learning to grow with the lessons rather than fighting against them.

What things do you love to talk about?

The Dragon and The Dreamcatcher – My collections. My ambitions. My dreams… and sometimes even my fears.

DECK USED: CHRONICLES OF DESTINY FORTUNE CARDS

#DiscordTarotholicsNov2022 Challenge Prompt
Question for November 8th: Advice I need to hear at this time concerning my personal happiness.

Guardian of the Night TarotReading Summary: Following your intuition (The High Priestess) and giving yourself the space to grow emotionally (Queen of Cups) can provide you a path toward happiness that doesn’t have to hurt (Ten of Swords Rx).

Take Away: Not everything has to be so damn difficult to hold value. Sometimes going with the flow is better.  Stop punishing yourself and foster your happiness instead.

DECK USED: GUARDIAN OF THE) NIGHT TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I brought my cane with me today even though I wasn’t really wanting to and almost chose to leave it behind. Turns out, bringing it along was a good idea.

Trust vs Naivety

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

Omegaland TarotToday’s draw is the Five of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of tests, trials, and conflict in the area of one’s thoughts, intellect, ambitions, and communication. This can often translate into themes that have to do with winning at any cost, disagreements, and occasionally defeat if you end up on the wrong side of the conflict.

The imagery in this card speaks to me of a need to make sure everyone has surrendered their weapons before you lower your own.

There is a difference between trust… and naivety.  It is naive, for example, to trust strangers that seek to do you harm.  Thus why they must surrender all their weapons first in the image, in order to ensure the safety of the one currently in control.

Today’s card asks us to examine the trust we put in others… and who those others are.  Have they truly earned your trust?  Or are you being naive in trusting someone you should continue to be wary of?

DECK USED:  OMEGALAND TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsNov2022 Challenge Prompt
Question for November 7th: What do I need to focus on for self-care for this full moon?

The Audacity DeckReading Summary: It’s time to pull up your reserves (Perseverance), take charge (The Mom Boss), and plunge in balls deep (The Two of Deez).

Take Away: Part of self care has to do with dealing with one’s responsibilities instead of ignoring them. Only by staying on top of things can you create space for other types of self-care that might be needed.   If your responsibilities pile up?  It becomes a huge ordeal and a massive amount of stress.

So, for this full moon?  Dive into the holiday rush and stay on top of things from the beginning, that way nothing falls behind and creates problems down the road.

DECK USED: THE AUDACITY DECK

Mr Lionhart’s The Suits: Revisited #TheNovemberTarot Prompt
Questions for November 7th and 8th

Omegaland TarotSuit of Wands – What steps can I take (today) towards manifesting my plans?

Page of Wands and King of Cups Rx – Forsake more time with Gideon in order to lean into the orders and your business.

Yeah, okay. Just saying? But that’s not happening. It might make things go more smoothly with the beginning of the holiday rush, but I need that time with him to help smooth out the rough edges of my emotions.

Suit of Wands – In what way/area can this creative process help me grow?

Eight of Wands and Temperance Rx – It would speed things along toward my goals, but require setting aside the moderation boundaries you have tried to instill in yourself over the past few years.

Take Away:  Yes, this advice would be good for my business and my drive. Sometimes, though… you have to let that stuff take a back seat for just a little more of what you need on a soul deep level.  Tonight’s time with Gideon is just that… a soul deep need that I have no intention of giving up… even to get a jump on the rush about to crash down over me.

DECK USED: OMEGALAND TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I got my flu shot and Covid booster done today. And, of course, also the stuff about Gideon that’s mentioned above.