tarot reading

Morning Bonus Read – Challenging an Old Habit

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The prompt for this reading came from one of my Discord servers and is as follows:
“Continuing our theme for the month, some questions to ponder this week…”

Flonz Vintage Halloween Playing CardsWhat is something in your life that you are struggling to put to rest?
Ten of Clubs

My need to overburden myself with craploads of stuff to get done. Each week brings me that much closer to my six week nightmare of the holiday rush, and with each week that passes I feel more pressure (from myself) to put more and more on my plate and try to get more and more done.

What do you need to do to finally move forward with that goal, emotionally?
Seven of Hearts atop King of Clubs

It’s all about the choices we make and owning your actions and drive. If I want to move forward into keeping myself from being overburdened, I need to lean into leading rather than slaving.  Taking control rather than allowing the vast array of things I feel that I need to get done to control me. In other words?  if I want to move forward emotionally with this, I need to take control of my obligation oriented emotions that drive me to overwhelm myself with work.

What do you need to do to finally move forward with that goal, physically and mentally?
Nine of Hearts

Understand that I don’t need that overwhelm and strife  in my life in order to feel like I’m succeeding.  That means stepping back from all these things that are overwhelming me and allow myself time to re-evaluate.  The world is not going to fall apart if I don’t pile these things on my shoulders, so maybe I need to just… not do it.   It’s okay to not do it.

How can you best celebrate the steps you are taking to put to rest this thing in your life?
Eight of Spades

Putting to rest the tendency to overburden myself is really hard.  To celebrate this, I need to move forward with my eyes closed.  That is to say… allow yourself to be blind to the pile of work that needs to be done for once.  Allow yourself to move forward with your eyes closed and do only what is needed instead of looking at the whole picture and everything I could pile on my plate.  Find freedom in wearing the blindfold.  Sometimes ignorance really is bliss.  This is one of those times.

DECK USED: FLONZ VINTAGE HALLOWEEN PLAYING CARDS

Manifesting Abundance

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Today’s meditation was was a part of me soaking in the tub… of which I did for damned near three hours apparently.  I didn’t mean to soak in the tub for three hours, mind you.  But it turns out that I only want to get out of the tub while the water is hot.

Once it cools down?  I’m happy to lie around in there forever until the temperature gets to shiver-inducing temperature. Even then?  When the temperature has cooled I feel much more inclined to add a little more warm water to keep the temp going than actually get out.  It makes getting motivated to actually get out of the tub surprisingly difficult.

Madam Lydia Wilhelmina's Tarot - The MagicianToday’s draw is the Magician, which is traditionally a representation of being capable and skilled, and having all the tools at one’s disposal to deal with what needs done or dealt with.   It’s about being resourceful and having the motivation and expertise at your fingertips to manifest into reality what you want (or want to happen).

What stands out to me the strongest today in the imagery of this card is the abundant bounty sitting on the table behind the figure.

With the Magician card being about manifestation, what I see here is someone that has found the skills and expertise necessary to manifest abundance into their life. This shows capability to care for oneself and others, to manage life and provide the resources needed.

Today’s card is a reminder that I am capable.  That I am skilled.  That I am more than able to care for myself and for others.  More than able to deal with keep my business afloat.  More than able to handle the things that need done, and to manifest the abundance needed for myself and those that depend on me.

DECK USED:  MADAM LYDIA WILHELMINA’S TAROT

LionHart’s #TheOctoberTarot #SeasonOfTheWitchChallenge Prompt
Question: How am I asked to honor the Spirit World this Samhain?

Golden Age of Horror Comics Tarot

Reading Summary: Welcome home those that come to visit (Four of Wands) and spend time connecting with them (Two of Cups).  Allow the emotional connections to happen and take the support offered in their presence at this time (Queen of Cups).

Take Away:  Not all that come through from the spirit world do so to berate me.  That is solely my father’s schtick. The cards here are a reminder that the spirit world as a whole is not my enemy and I can connect with it and make bonds through the veil that have nothing to do with him or the influences that he has had upon me and my life.

DECK USED:  GOLDEN AGE OF HORROR COMICS TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: A Problem / What Action to Take / What to Wait On

Dark Grimoire TarotA Problem – The Empress – Neglect. Lately I have been neglecting myself.  Not eating as well as I should, not doing my meditations.  Sort of retreating into myself and feeling off kilter in a general malaise sort of way. This isn’t just the drop, but rather an over all lack of enthusiasm for life and what it has to offer as a whole.  It’s not healthy.

What Action To Take – Ace of Swords atop Two of Swords – I need to find a better way to communicate how I’m feeling.  This isn’t my strong suit at all and will take a conscious effort, but finding the words is important.

What To Wait On – The Tower – Don’t catastrophize things just yet.  It’s not the end of the world, just a bit of an uphill struggle of the moment.  I need to remember that this isn’t some huge issue.  It’s also not forever.

DECK USED:  DARK GRIMOIRE TAROT

#MysticStarChallenge October Challenge Prompt
Question: How can I strengthen my relationship with my Guides?

Twisted Tarot Tales

Reading Summary: Reach for them to help me make good choices (The Lovers) when I am feeling combative (Five of Wands) or down on my luck (Five of Pentacles).

Take Away:  Sometimes, making the choices that are for my best interest, are not entirely an easy thing to do. Conflict and disillusionment can make impulses hard to resist, and there are times when hardships can pollute one’s view and make other perspectives difficult to see.  This is the time when reaching for my spirit guides can help in strengthening our relationship, as it creates a conscious bond of trust instead of an unconscious one followed through intuition.

DECK USED:  TWISTED TAROT TALES

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: How can I keep my spiritualism focused?

Anne Stokes Gothic Tarot

Reading Summary:  Stick with it and work at it (Three of Pentacles) through the ups and downs of life (Wheel of Fortune).  Practice patience in your progress (Temperance), and kind understanding of yourself along the way (The Empress).

Take Away:  Tenacity.  The key to keeping my spiritualism focused is accepting that it’s going to have its ups and downs along the way and that you just need to stick with it regardless of that.  The cards also note that providing myself with patience and understanding is more than just for work and the business, and needs to be applied to this area of my life as well.

DECK USED:  ANNE STOKES GOTHIC TAROT

It’s Just Dirt

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At the moment, I’m playing catch up after having not kept up on my blog posts for a few days, so I don’t remember what the meditation was like today… or if I did it, to be honest. I will return to updating about my meditation each day once I’m caught up with my posts again.

Tarot of Haunted House - Five of PentaclesToday’s draw is is the Five of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of tests, trials, and hardship in the area of one’s finances, resources, health, hearth and home, and manifestations.

What really stands out to me in this card are the crab creatures. I mean goddamn… at least they’re not spiders, right?  Still.  Creepy as fuck.

The creep factor aside, though, we have a depiction of a creature that is clearly not suited to the cold outside reaching for the warmth beyond the walls of the church.  Caught in the cold, they look to the warmth of the light shining through the window and see salvation.  Would they be welcomed in should they go knock on the door? Who’s to say?  What world are we in?  Perhaps they would be… or perhaps they would be turned away in fear.

The message here is not to be afraid of those in need.  It’s easy to look at the homeless as something to fear… but the truth is?  They’re people too.  People that are down on their luck. People that are struggling. People that may not be on their medication because they can’t get their medication.  Sometimes these situations make them dangerous, but more often than not? They’re just people struggling to stay alive.

It’s a reminder not to ignore these people or their plight… and to treat them with kindness.  Take a moment to be grateful, perhaps, as well… that it is not you in that position.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF HAUNTED HOUSE

LionHart’s #TheOctoberTarot #SeasonOfTheWitchChallenge Prompt
Question: How/where can the Spirit World aid my current path?

Zombie Tarot

Reading Summary: Providing me with quick direction (Eight of Wands) that will allow me to make good choices out of the options before me when I’m feeling overwhelmed (Seven of Cups), leading to a far more grounded and satisfactory emotional well-being (Queen of Cups).

Take Away: This is something that I am pretty much already aware of.  My spirit guide are there to help me in making good decisions that are to my benefit.  They are on my side and want to help, and all I need to do to take advantage of that help is listen and follow the guidance provided.

DECK USED:  ZOMBIE TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: How can I safely explore echos from the past that are trying to get my attention?

Halloween Magick TarotReading Summary: The Seven of Wands is about defense, while the Queen of Wands is about “soft” control. In the Page of Cups we have the encouragement of an open heart, but there’s zippered lips and a snake heading towards her face in the imagery that indicates a need to take care just what you are opening yourself up to.

Take Away: The advice here is the need to stay on the defensive, and yet open to emotions even while being selective. Remember what you’ve learned so far about your emotions and your emotional intelligence, and when exploring the echoes of the past, it’s important to stay in control even while being receptive.

This is about balancing caution and receptivity, as well as about staying alert and aware so that you can go on the defensive when needed for safety’s sake.

DECK USED:  HALLOWEEN MAGICK TAROT

#MysticStarChallenge October Challenge Prompt
Question: How can I honor my relationship with my Guides?

Halloween Spirit Tarot

Reading Summary: Take the time to listen (Temperance), focus on moving forward into someone better (The World), and treat yourself with understanding, while continuing to explore your emotional intelligence (King of Cups).

Note: The King of Cups in this spread is about how Gideon treats me, and using him as an example of how I should treat myself.

Take Away: In order to honor my relationship with my guides, I need to honor my relationship with myself and which includes being kind to myself and accepting of myself.  I also need to stay focused on becoming a better me as I move along my path. In each moment of growth, they offer guidance that I need only to be receptive to in order to honor them.  In being receptive to their messages, I then move forward, cycling from a lesser me to an even better me than the me that I was before. 

DECK USED:  HALLOWEEN SPIRIT TAROT

Morning Bonus Read – Thinning Veil Spread

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Because I am trying to show a bit more of my decks this month, as I have a whole LOT of October/Halloween/Samhain decks, I’m doing a few extra bonus reads over the month.  This is one of those extra readings.

Thinning Veil Tarot Spread - SkeleTarot

Your Higher Purpose
Page of Pentacles

Learning how to connect to the earth and to develop my manifestation abilities no matter what life throws at me along the way.  It’s about adaptability and staying grounded while still moving forward.  There is also an indication here about the speed of that movement.  This is not fast movement, but rather slow and steady with the focus more on what you learn along the way than where you are going to end up.

Advice From Beyond the Veil
The Lovers

So many of my readings that have included this question end up throwing this same answer to me again and again.  Make good choices.  This isn’t about making choices that advance some agenda but rather about listening to my moral compass and allowing deeper needs and motivations to lead rather than surface wants and desires.

A Lesson From This Side of the Veil
Strength

The events of my life thus far have been about survival. It’s about taking your licks and keeping moving, no matter how much it hurts or how debilitating the experience should be. This is a lesson in inner strength.  Most of my “misfortunes” along the way were not about making good or bad choices, but about the strength gained along the way as I move through and beyond the ramifications of what has happened, continually adapting as I go.

Your Shadow’s Influence
Ace of Wands

As the shadows within work to whisper in your ear, it can be hard to keep your inspiration and enthusiasm going.  The influence of my Shadow upon this lifetime is to teach me how to sustain that enthusiasm, even as those whispers try to distract me and drag me into backslide after backslide.

DECK USED:  SKELE-TAROT

Examining Motivations

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At the moment, I’m playing catch up after having not kept up on my blog posts for a few days, so I don’t remember what the meditation was like today… or if I did it, to be honest. I will return to updating about my meditation each day once I’m caught up with my posts again.

Madam Lydia Wilhelmina's Tarot - Ace of WandsToday’s draw is is the Ace of Wands, which is traditionally an interpretation of new inspiration and enthusiasm toward new passion projects.  It’s not so much about the idea or the act of participating in a project, but about the spark of fire and drive that kindles in your soul when you are inspired.

It feels like there’s a message here in the clouded, deformed figures down in the lower right corner, and yet even now it doesn’t want to rise to the surface and speak to me. It’s about motivation behind why things spark your interest, and the hidden secrets we keep sometimes.

Oh… there it is. 

The thing is?  Sometimes when we feel that spark of inspiration? It’s important to take a pause and look at our motivations. Why are you so keen on this new idea or project, where is the interest and enthusiasm coming from?  Is it pure?  Or is it something being used to conceal or run away from something else you don’t want to deal with. 

For example.  Mopping the floor and cleaning the windows sucks.  But it might look really appealing if you’re trying to avoid cleaning the toilets instead.  

The best projects and creative endeavors are bred not from avoidance, but from pure inspirational spark.  Make sure that when you feel a spark in your soul that you are eager to explore, that that exploration is pure curiosity and interest…. and not motivated by procrastination or avoidance.

DECK USED:  MADAM LYDIA WILHELMINA’S TAROT

LionHart’s #TheOctoberTarot #SeasonOfTheWitchChallenge Prompt
Question: In what way am I suggested to protect my personal energy?

The Vampire Tarot

Reading Summary:  Grounded advance (Knight of Pentacles) and overcoming lack of joy in your entrepreneurial spark (Four of Wands Rx) through the sharing of that passion with others (Queen of Wands). It’s okay to feel, but don’t allow those feelings to mellow and stagnate (Queen of Cups… it’s about her face and how she’s holding the cup).

There is growth and advancement here in the inclusion of greenery both in the Queen of Wands and Queen of Cups.   Emotional influences blending with inspirational drive will allow for a breaking free of the cage you feel like you’re trapped in.  As long as you stay grounded, it’s okay to move slow.

Take Away:  Whether these cards are read left to right, or right to left, the key here in moving forward and continuing to grow in both my emotional wealth as well as my business requires some grounding, as well as slow but steady progress.  Don’t remain stagnant. It’s not healthy, no matter how appealing it might seem.

DECK USED:  THE VAMPIRE TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2020 Challenge Prompt
Philosophical Question: How important is play in living a healthy and fulfilling life?

Dead Waite TarotReading Summary: Play is the music of life. Whether you’re on your own and singing to the sky (imagery of Queen of Swords), or with those you love and serenading them from the heart (imagery on Ten of Pentacles)… either way that joy of play is what clears away the smog (imagery in Death).

Take Away:  Clearly, it’s very important.  It’s the fresh air that clears away the stagnancy and cobwebs in our lives and allows us to look at ourselves and the world around us with fresh eyes.  Lack of play encourages stagnancy and lack of growth. 

DECK USED:  DEAD WAITE TAROT

#MysticStarChallenge October Challenge Prompt
Question: How does the message from the 19th help me with my greater purpose?

The Gothic Tarot

Reading Summary:  It helps me open my eyes (Eight of Swords) to the fact that I’m not allow and am receiving strength from others (Strength) that are near and dear to me and have my best interests at heart (Four of Wands).

Take Away:  My spirit guides are represented here by the Four of Wands, as they are with me all the time… from birth to death they will be there to help and provide a stable “home base” of guidance along the way.

The message on the 19th was that they are behind me 100% and are my cheerleading squad, there to cheer me on and give me strength. The message opened my eyes to this face, and that knowledge provides me with an undercurrent of strength that I didn’t have previously.

DECK USED:  THE GOTHIC TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What has most influenced my spiritual path?

Luis Royo's Labyrinth Tarot

Reading Summary: Learning about different traditions and adopting what has felt right for me (Seven of Swords).  Hardships along the way that have taught me strength (Five of Pentacles).  Following my gut concerning what is right for me… and what isn’t (Eight of Cups).

Take Away:  This is about the development of my independence and finding the path that is mine alone.  It’s about accepting that I have my own path, and that that path is directed by my intuition and moral compass rather than by what others think or feel is right for me.

DECK USED:  LUIS ROYO’S LABYRINTH TAROT

The Power of Manifestation

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At the moment, I’m playing catch up after having not kept up on my blog posts for a few days, so I don’t remember what the meditation was like today… or if I did it, to be honest.   I will return to updating about my meditation each day once I’m caught up with my posts again.

Tarot of Haunted House - Eight of PentaclesToday’s draw is the Eight of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of harmony and expertise built over time through hard work and the honing of one’s skills.  It’s about manifestation through these skills, and work with one’s hands to create one’s masterpiece.

What really stands out to me in the imagery of this card today is the pentacles themselves and their positioning within the air above where the woman kneels in her circle.   She has honed her skills of manifestation and is in the middle of doing a boon spell. She has worked on this craft, done all of the physical labor, and with the skills she has honed she has become strong enough to manifest abundance in a very physical way.

Today’s card is a reminder of what I can do… of the fact I have this ability.  Not to create coins out of mid-air, but rather to take an idea and make it into a reality.  To spin an idea into physical reality is a skill of creativity and creation, and a blessing to cherish and enjoy instead of simply exploit.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF HAUNTED HOUSE

LionHart’s #TheOctoberTarot #SeasonOfTheWitchChallenge Prompt
Question: What should I keep in my mind when working with the other side?

Ghosts & Spirits Tarot

Reading Summary: Stay grounded (Four of Pentacles) and don’t linger (The Chariot) or things can start to fall apart fast (The Tower).

Take Away:  This is an echo of the reading I did yesterday that was a very similar question.  It’s a warning that when I am working with the other side I need to be in a grounded place of control.  In order to avoid chaos and disaster, it’s important to make sure I’m in the right place to be working with the other side, and able to get “in and out” quickly and smoothly while maintaining control.

DECK USED:  GHOSTS & SPIRITS TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: What echos from the past are trying to resurface for me right now?

Nightmare Before Christmas TarotReading Summary: Dad (The Devil and Six of Potions) trying to come back and tell me (Six of Candles under Six of Potions) what living my life should look like (Ten of Pentacles).

Take Away: This is the “cheer up and be a man” message that my father always had ready and waiting for me.  “A man” being a provider and the strong foundation of a fruitful family.  My father loves to try and rise up at this time of year and bring with him his whispers from the past, although I am grateful that these aren’t the worst whispers he’s ever shouted at me back when he was alive.

Still, with the fact that I feel like I’m lacking motivation this year, I really don’t feel like his input is productive, but more of a thorn in my already sore side.

DECK USED:  NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS TAROT

#MysticStarChallenge October Challenge Prompt
Question: How do I embrace my message?

Nicoletta Ciccoli Tarot

Reading Summary: Look at all the blue in these cards.  It spreads through the entire reading, and is only missing from the second card where pink shades tie in that card to the rest instead. Pink is independence.  Blue is calm and poise.

Card 1 – Hiding behind one’s independence in an effort to seize control and use it to create a solitary graceful strength away from the fear of other’s judgements.

Card 2 – Here is the solitary graceful strength.  Independence without censure.

Card 3 – Insidious whispers from outside sources.  Sitting atop one’s independence and begin resentful of those whispers, which creates negative feelings.

Card 4 – Very little independence.  That resentment from Card 3 has stolen the ability to fight back and the independence you seek.

Card 5 – Trying to seize control of a situation involving conflict. This situation feels out of control as you try to reign back in the independence lost.

Card 6 – Wearing your independence once more and at rest and ease now that it is once again back in your possession.

Take Away: The cards here indicate that to embrace this message of support I need to set myself free (second card) of the fear and worries (first card) of insidious whispers and influences (third card) sneaking up and taking me by surprise ambush (fourth card).

Whether I am calm and collected (last card), or fully aware and trying to seize control (fifth card)… what is coming is inevitable (water represented in both cards) and it is best to try and move forward into it with calm and poise (all the blue throughout the spread).

DECK USED:  NICOLETTA CICCOLI TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What do past lives mean to me?

Luis Royo's Dark Tarot

Reading Summary: You build up the physical within your life (King of Pentacles) which is then stolen away (Seven of Swords) as you are set free to join lost loved ones (Three of Cups) and the soul then can start again with prior knowledge it has earned (Knave of Wands).

Take Away:  This is about reincarnation.  It’s about how during our lives on earth, we have a habit of focusing too much on the physical.  Then when the physical is yanked away, we are left with a clear understanding of what’s left behind and what we’ve learned.  This knowledge is not conscious, but resides in the soul and is then carried forward into a new cycle.

DECK USED:  LUIS ROYO’S DARK TAROT