tarot self care

Morning Bonus Read – Standing in Your Power

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Women of High Fantasy Tarot

1. What is often the reason I don’t stand in my power? (I had to rephrase this one.)

Queen of Coins – Because I want to support others, and sometimes that means toning myself down for a more gentle approach.  The aggressive tactics that I use on myself are not suitable to helping others. (Okay, so they’re not really suitable to be used on myself either, but that’s for another time.)

2. What I’m scared of about channeling my power.

Four of Coins Rx – Getting stuck in a rut of my own making. I’ve pushed so hard on certain methods and agendas for so long, that I worry I won’t be able to break free of the unhealthy ones. What -is- my power exactly if not that hard shove that gets things done? I know this is my inner uncertainties speaking, but it feels like a valid question.

3. A way that I can stand in my power.

The Lovers – Focus on making healthy choices and leaning into Gideon for help on staying on track.  I’m not in this alone and I don’t have to feel like I am.  Isolation may be a go-to habit, but it’s not a healthy one.

4. What I could accomplish if I did stand in my power.

Ace of Wands – The potential is endless, as I would be able to direct that powerful inner drive of mine in any direction I wished.

5. Something I should be more confident about.

The Magician – My capability and ingenuity. I am adaptive and able to make things work in my favor through the skills and abilities that I possess. Although I project confidence in this area, there’s often a feeling of self doubt when trouble comes knocking and I have to put these qualities into action.

6. How I can be more confident that the universe has my back.

Imagery in the Eight of Coins – Remember that everything is connected and it is through this connections that the universe helps and guides.  Support comes in all shapes and forms.

DECK USED:  WOMEN OF HIGH FANTASY TAROT

Morning Bonus Read – August

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Belle Époque Lenormand - August Lenormand Reading

What clarity will August bring?

Star – August is a time to get in touch with the optimism that you’ve let slide over the summer months and bring it back into focus.  It’s good for you, and it helps you in your journey and growth.  Focus on finding the positivity and optimism, and instilling more of that into your life.  You need it to help lift you out and away from the rim of depression’s pit.

Is there an adventure that is calling me that I shouldn’t ignore?

Scythe – Yes. But it isn’t that you shouldn’t ignore it because you want to go down that path, but rather because you need to be aware that this possibility is there so that you can avoid it.  You’ve lost time this last week, and you run the risk of it turning into a slide down into depression’s pit if you don’t get a handle on things and pay attention to how close you get to the pit’s lip.

What can I do to open my heart to all the potential for self expression that this month’s Leo New Moon can offer?

Fox and Fish – Go with the flow, but be clever about it. A raft that floats down the river will get further by taking the easy, free flowing path than the one littered with rocks to navigate around and possibly hung up on.  In both instances you are going with the flow, but one executes strategy in the journey.  Don’t resist the flow of life around you, just make sure you’re paying attention and navigating instead of floating along and being beaten by the rocks along the way.

How can I magnify the imaginative energy that this month’s Full Moon in Pisces may bring?

Man – Lean into time with Gideon and the creative play that we can enjoy together.  This time together doesn’t just magnify your imaginative energy, but is also a soothing balm to your soul.

How can I make the most of the long days of summer?

Stork – Again, go with the flow.  The summer months are beginning to wind up.  Don’t allow yourself to resist the shifts taking place as autumn approaches, but instead let them flow around you.  Tensing up and digging in your heels won’t change anything, nor solve anything.  Instead, embrace the shift into the harvest season to come.

Overall theme for the month of August.

Cross – You’re tired.  You are worn and you have been struggling. August is a time to deal with these feelings and recover from them.  Whether they are physical, spiritual, emotional, or otherwise… you can’t carry them forward any longer and August is giving you the time and space to release these things and step free of the weight you have been  struggling under..

DECK USED:  BELLE ÉPOQUE LENORMAND

Self Care Saturday (On a Sunday)

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These Saturday readings are (not usually) bearing in on any one thing or event in my life, as the question used is asking for a more general outlook. This is a self care exercise, and is not meant as a predictive reading… although that, too, happens on occasion.

The question is… What do I need to focus for self-care through the week ahead?

Wild Spirit Tarot, Wildcraft! Herbal Adventure Game Cards, Sacred Earth Oracle

Earth – High Priestess and Pine – Stand strong and listen to your inner voice. You’ve been injured and this isn’t the time to push yourself or let yourself be impatient.  Instead, trust that everything will come in its own time.  Allow your body to speak and tell you what it needs to recover and be strong once more.  Accept that just like the growth of a pine tree, your healing is going to take time and patience.

Air – Page of Wands and Wasp Sting – Leaping forward quickly into anything at this time is going to hurt.  Put away your aggression toward yourself and others and allow yourself to step away from thoughts of work or things you just can’t do or get to right now.  It’s okay to put these things down, rather than “stinging” yourself over them again and again.

Water – Ace of Swords and Hornet Sting –  Hornets are more calm than wasps, but their stings are more painful. Combined with the Ace of Swords, we again see a warning not to dive into any new ideas right now.  No matter how cool they may seem or how interesting they are.  Now is a time to chill and rest.  Anything else is something you will end up regretting.

Fire – The Emperor and Diarrhea Rx – Control yourself and you won’t have to pay the consequences of ignoring these warnings and going full boor into things better left alone at this time.  You’re not going to like the consequences, so make sure you are keeping yourself and all that enthusiasm in hand.

Waning – Friction – Again we see an indication that this week isn’t about movement but about chilling and relaxing.  Stepping back away from agitation and active movement, now is a time for rest.

Waxing – Specialization – In the things you do  put your attention in, avoid anything new (as noted above).  Instead focus on the things you know and are familiar with, and delving deeper into those things.

Take Away – This week is all about rest, recovery, and recuperation.  It’s not about new ideas or interesting new projects.  If you want to pour your energy into something?  Pour it into the stuff already per-existing in your life that you know and enjoy.

DECKS USED:  WILD SPIRIT TAROT, WILDCRAFT! HERBAL ADVENTURE GAME CARDS, SACRED EARTH ORACLE

Morning Bonus Read – Transitions

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The prompt for this reading came from one of my Discord servers and is as follows:
“This weekend was the halfway point between solstice and equinox. Depending on your hemisphere, it marks the start of the planting season or the start of the harvest season. Let’s use divination to enter this transition time mindfully.”

Jeu Japonais Playing Cards1. What lessons has the current season been teaching me?

King of Diamonds and Seven of Hearts – With taking up more responsibility to care for yourself as well as others, there comes a wide array of options and decisions you’re not always prepared to make on the fly.

Two of Spades and Ten of Spades – Taking time to think things through and make the best decision possible with all the information you can gather can help you avoid unpleasant endings.

2. What steps should I take to close out this season well?

Queen of Hearts – Allow yourself to be kind with yourself for just a while longer. Soon enough you’ll have to raise shields and buckle down. Wear your heart on your sleeve a while longer, both for yourself and for others.

3. What lessons await me?

Six of Spades atop Three of Spades – Sometimes shit just doesn’t go your way no matter how hard you try. You need to learn when to cut and run.

4. What steps should I take in the transition period to prepare myself for the lessons to come?

Nine of Diamonds – Time to get back on the gratitude train. Whether that’s the morning devotional done each day, or just taking time each day to really sink into thoughts on what you are grateful for.

DECK USED:  JEU JAPONAIS PLAYING CARDS

Morning Bonus Read – Self Growth

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Cat-Rot Tarot - Self Growth Tarot Spread

Your Past Self – Nine of Pentacles – Once upon a time?  I thought that I had all my ducks in a row and everything in hand.  Back when I was closing myself off to my emotions and working myself into the ground, I really thought I was in a good place.

Your Current Self – Seven of Pentacles – But I soon came to realize that there’s a lot more growth to come and it’s going to take a long ass time to work through. I began to realize that there was a lot more to life than work. I began to realize that I needed to slow down.

Your Higher Self – Three of Swords – I am my best and highest self when I’m able to look beyond my pain and negativity to see the growth and lessons these experiences are offering me. In the moment, this can be difficult, but I know that those lessons are there and I only need to find them and understand them.  It does not take the pain away, but it gives the pain worth.

What Blocks Your Potential – The Devil – Ego. Over confidence. And allowing myself to indulge too deeply in what would otherwise be harmless pursuits. I have an addictive personality, and even though I’m aware of it?  Sometimes it still manages to get its hooks in and take me for a ride I’m not ready for, causing blockages and detours, backsliding and often… recovery as well.

Family Patterns – Six of Pentacles – Being too generous and forgiving with my family.  My father’s abuse.  My mother’s narcissism. Their hurtful behavior is something that has left some serious scars, and yet I can’t manage to hold it against them.  At least not to the extent that would seem reasonable and healthy.

Personal Issues – Four of Pentacles – Overly focused on security and stability.  This is a need that grew from homelessness and severe scarcity. It comes from taking showers in the school locker rooms and sleeping under abandoned cars.  It comes from the instability of couch surfing, and an apartment furnished with car tires, milk crates, and cardboard boxes. It’s my past… and yet something I still struggle with.

Conscience – Ten of Wands – Feeling guilty about slowing down and taking things slower, not doing as much, and not progressing as fast as I’m used to doing. That hard, nose-to-the-grindstone pace that I’ve been pushing myself on for so long has taken its toll and I know it’s time to slow down, but somehow?  There are a lot of times when I feel so fucking guilty about that.  About not doing more and pushing harder.

Desire – Temperance – Less pushing and more time off. More time to connect with my spirituality and path. More time to connect with the world around me.  I have gotten a taste of the slower path and worked through some of my guilt concerning it, and I’ve come to a point where I actually crave more.  This from the man who, just a couple of years ago couldn’t take a couple hours off without going stir-crazy.

Lesson – Wheel of Fortune – Ups and downs happen. It’s part of life. Adapt, and keep moving.

Advice – Page of Swords – Slow down more. Now is the time to indulge in this behavior. Soon enough the holiday rush will start and you will have so much work on your  hands that you’ll be struggling just to keep up.  While things are slow, it’s okay to take time for yourself.  This is a new path, and there’s going to be struggles, but you’re aware of what’s come before and what needs to change.

DECK USED:  CAT-ROT TAROT

Morning Bonus Read – Monthly Key Spread

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The Prince Lenormand - Monthly Key Spread

Key to Your Heart: What will Guide you to make decisions that are aligned with your heart and your truths this month?

Ship – You know that whole proverb that says “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket“?   Yeah… that.  A lot of times, the Ship card is about travel and business, but in this case? It’s about making sure that you’re not screwing yourself (and your business) over by focusing too much in one area.  Even if you’re not diversifying now?  Make sure you have an escape plan for if you need to. In order to adapt and come out on top, this is important.

Anchor: What will ground you in the face of anxiety, stress, overwhelm, and existential dread in general?

Letter – Write.  Write down your thoughts and your feelings, write down your anxieties and worries.  Share them with Gideon.  Fill your blog with them.  Have a big idea that you can’t explore right now? Write those down too.  List making is a good thing this month, expressing yourself through the written word is very much in your forte.  Use these skills to help ground yourself and find balance when things feel out of control.

Star Wand: What accelerates your magic, creativity, and manifestation powers?

Sun – Optimism and positivity. Sometimes I feel corny when I get this response from the cards. But the thing is? It really does work. Does it entirely take away the depression? No. It doesn’t. But it makes the time spent in them not as severe, and it makes the visits into a depression not as long. It provides more energy, and just… makes the days better. What is “it” that I’m talking about? Optimism and positivity. Making the -effort- to try and see the good side of things, including the Card of the Day activity that I do where I ask each day for the cards to provide me with a positive message to carry with me throughout the day and foster perspective. It helps, no matter how corny my inner pessimist says it sounds.

Blessings from the Stars: The Universe has got your back – how will you be supported this month?

Man – Gideon will be a huge influence in your life this month, in supporting you and helping you in working through what comes up. Don’t forget that he’s there for you and don’t shy away from leaning on him when you need to, sharing with him whatever and whenever you want, and trusting him to always have your best interests at heart.

One Trick Up Your Sleeve: A life saving idea or inspiration for any unexpected challenge or difficult moments?

Lily – Take a pause to think things through, and don’t be shy about asking for advice from those with more experience that have time tested wisdom to offer up to you. Crones are called wise women for good reason.

Emergence Pt 1: What is emerging within you / within your reality right now?

Moon – You’re finally starting to come out of the mind fog that you’ve been struggling with through this season. As you do, your curiosity and creativity are beginning to thrive once more, and you’re starting to experience more enjoyment in your artistic endeavors.

Emergence Pt 2: What are you expanding towards?

Tree – Evolution from past to present. Growth that comes from finding connections to the past that will help you flourish rather than wither your roots. It is time to transform those issues that still drive your inner destructive tendencies, and turn them around into something healthy.

DECK USED:  PRINCE LENORMAND ORACLE