Self Care Saturday (On a Sunday)

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?

Living Tarot, Wisdom of the Forest Oracle, Wild Whiskers Spirit Animal Oracle

EarthTen of Wands and Dignified Dragon – Make sure as you move forward into this week that you are staying on guard about putting too much on your plate. The holiday rush is taking up all of your energy and all of your attention.  Do not make promises you cannot keep or that will be detrimental to you to try and keep. Do not make commitments to anything more or extra.  Dance in the fire of what is already before you and on your plate… there is no room for more right now.

AirSon of Pentacles and Mischievous Monkey –  You’re clever and often single minded.  Single minded isn’t a bad thing, but you need to activate that clever wit this week to help bring a little humor and a spark of fun to the process. Keeping your head down and taking each step forward one at a time is all well and good, but don’t forget that it’s especially during these times that a little bit of funny and fun are needed most.

WaterSeven of Swords and Lofty Lion – Emotionally, self control is going to be a bit difficult for you this week. Like the other night when you burst out in tears and became a sopping mess for a bit, your emotions are going to steal away with you again and again.  This is natural when someone is under the kind of stress and strain that you are currently under. You will make it through, so don’t shy away from these moments.  They are needed.

FireEight of Pentacles and Elegant Eagle –  Lots of hard work coming in this week, which is to be expected from the holiday rush.  You’ll have the opportunity to make some good decisions for your business this week as well. These opportunities have the potential to positively influence your business in the future. Make sure that you think them through thoroughly before cementing your decisions into place and take into consideration what your gut has to say.

WaningFocus – There’s not a whole lot of control over the next week and you are going to have to train your focus on where it needs to be instead of where you want it to be. The nature of the holiday rush is that you have to train your attention on the business and your work, no matter where else you might feel you want to place it instead. There’s only so much time to go around, and only so much you can invest… and right now you have to invest your focus in those places instead of where you want to train your focus, attention, and time.

WaxingSmile – “It may not be possible to immediately meet all adversity with a smile, but we can begin to try.”  This quote from the small guide that came with this deck says what I’ve been trying to wax poetic about for over a half hour and talked myself into circles repeatedly.  Right now there is so much stress and so much strain that it’s hard to be positive.  The important part is in the trying.  It’s in finding the little things that you can smile about, the small things that can bring a chuckle.   Just as is mentioned in the Air position in this reading, you need to make sure that you’re allowing those things to lift you up, no matter how small, and using your clever wit and sense of humor to foster and support this effort.

Take Away – You may not be doing what you want to do, but you’re doing what you need to do, and that’s extremely important at this time of year.  Give yourself little boosts of positivity in small ways will help keep you a bit more uplifted.  Make wise choices and listen to your gut as you watch out for opportunities to further your goals this week, and be aware that emotional outbursts are going to happen.  They’re scary and embarrassing, but they’re a part of the process so don’t run from them.

DECKS USED:  LIVING TAROT, WISDOM OF THE FOREST ORACLE, WILD WHISKERS SPIRIT ANIMAL ORACLE

Morning Bonus Read – Distractions

The prompt for this reading came from one of my Discord servers and is as follows:
“A fun one for this week! But be aware, accidental shadow work can be done with this one 😅”

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Playing Cards1. Ten of Clubs atop Seven of Diamonds – Your habit for piling on too much responsibility on yourself and too many projects makes it difficult to stay the course without getting distracted. There’s always so much to explore and to do, and you always seem to think you have a bigger plate to pile things on than you actually have.  It’s hard to “stay the course” with the long term projects sometimes with so many different things trying to tug on your attention at one time.

2. Four of Hearts atop Six of Diamonds

One of those things you need to make sure you are staying focused on is your meditation practice. Every time you skip this practice, you facilitate bad habits perpetuated by your past.  Instead of allowing your past and the bad habits that have grown from there to dictate your life and your well-being, work harder on staying focused on the things that help you to be better.. feel better… and be healthier.  Your meditation is at the top of this list and should not be ignored.

3. King of Spades – All that crap that you want to put on your plate but have no room for isn’t as important as you think it is. Strategizing can only take you so far.  Let it go… let the task master that demands more of yourself every single day ease up a bit. You’re not allowing yourself enough time to breathe.

DECK USED: RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER PLAYING CARDS

Transitioning from November to December

This is a spread that I do at the end of each month to close out the month.

Edmund Dulac Tarot, Jeremy Miranda Cards

Individuality Ace of Cups – You seek a new more positive path and sail the seas that take you in the direction of that which you seek. You are currently still hesitating, though, hiding in the shadowy shelter of the old way of doing things instead of taking the plunge full on.

Dependence Six of Cups – You are trying to shed how things were done before. Not just in relation to how you work and deal with the responsibilities you take on, but also in how you see success and in the reorganization your priorities and values.

Creativity Eight of Coins – Using your skills and abilities to assist in finding a sense of home and security. At this time you’re working hard and tapping in to everything you you’ve learned and know, all your creativity and expertise in order to find the security you seek that will set you up for the rest of the year.

Limitation Two of Cups – The cold hard influence of your parents values and disciplines have made this progress harder than it needs to be.  They want you to share their values and in many ways you have.  Now that you are re-evaluating the balance of those values, placing joy higher on the list and responsibility a bit lower, that separation from their teaching is causing a cold dissonance that needs time to overcome.

Change The Hermit –  The peace and serenity you gain through allowing yourself a touch of alone time helps you connect with your inner truth and the quiet voice of your intuition. It allows you to see the path that is right for you and you alone.

Sympathy Four of Cups – Make sure when you take time for yourself that it is done in a productive way. Too many times you retreat into yourself and from everyone else both emotionally and physically. Even productive alone time can turn unhealthy if you linger for too long.

Luck Eight of Cups – When you left home, you dove into a world of hurt on many different levels, and yet even through all the struggles and pain of that time, there was joy in the fact that you had gained your independence and freedom from tyranny. This joy existed even within the chaos and struggle, the pain and the fear. It is a part of you even now.

Power Three of Swords – You can defeat encroaching forces of fear and depression with celebration and familial warmth. Embrace family and loved ones and allow them to pick you up when you’re feeling low or feel the darkness trying to slip in. They can help you, but you have to let them in.

Responsibility Four of Swords – A future boon is coming in the form of rest and recovery and true peace. Right now you struggle and there’s so much to do, but remember that this is only a temporary thing.  Quieter times are coming and you’ll be able to enjoy some peace and rest soon enough.  It’s on the horizon and not that far off.

Message from Spirit World –  The new path you are on is providing you room for more joyous celebration and enjoyment of life as well as a more restful recovery and enhanced inner peace. Be kind to yourself.

Message from Mind’s World – Child-like imagination can take you to amazing places and awaken your creativity. Embrace the fanciful and let your mind wander a bit now and then. You don’t have to be so serious and studious all the time.

Message from Known World –  Too much work and not enough rest will leave you in a world of cold misery when you are left drained and alone. It’s important to stay connected and close with those you love and allow them to help you so that you can remain healthy not end up hurting yourself (and them) by trying to do too much on your own.

Take Away – There are a lot of warnings here about encroaching darkness and old habits trying to get a foothold. You need to remember to reach out to those you love for the emotional support you need to keep this darkness at bay.  If you can hold it at bay, your reward at the end of the holiday rush will be a rest and recovery that does not include the normal depressive sludge you usually need to wade through in January.

DECKS USED:  EDMUND DULAC TAROT, JEREMY MIRANDA CARDS

Self Care Saturday (On a Sunday)

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?

Scorpio Sea Tarot, Edmund Dulac Tarot, Sacred Journey Oracle

EarthThe Sun and Consulting the Ancestors – Echoing back to yesterday’s reading about where joy resides, here we see The Sun in the earth’s grounding position. What would your ancestors say to you if they saw you working the way that you do?  Not your father, but your guides and those that love and support you on the other side.  Would they tell you to work yourself to the bone and neglect yourself in the process?

Stability and security are merely a foundation.  They are the safe and sturdy foundation on which you then dance joyously upon, safe in knowing each step of your dance will not be on crumbling stone, but sturdy ground.

AirTen of Cups and In the Clouds – Keep your chin up and make the effort to keep your inner dialogue positive.  Crappy shit happens and stress can be a killer, but if you can keep your mind focused on the positive it will help you in overcoming the darkness that tries to seep in.  And start taking some vitamin D.

WaterThree of Cups, The Ice Queen, Clandestine Escape – This week may feel like everything is working in sync, but watch out for the darker emotions just beneath the surface.  Don’t freeze them out or forget they’re there, or you may find them sneaking up on you unexpectedly when you’re not looking.

FireFive of Wands and The Butterfly Trap – You know that saying that when you fall off the horse, get up and try again? Here it is, literally before your eyes. Keep in mind that things are going to take some patience and a bit of a gentle touch this week if you don’t want to fall on your ass again and again.

WaningThe Actress – Step away from showing a brave face this week and give the genuine article to the world. Vulnerability sucks, but it’s necessary, even now during the hurried chaos of the holiday rush. Don’t hide behind a mask of composure and control.

WaxingMother Earth – Rising into power this week and in need of your focus is the need to make sure you are taking care of yourself. This doesn’t just include self care activities like soaking in the tub or doing your meditation, but also making sure that you’re getting out in nature, even if it’s just for an hour now and then.  Don’t forsake that connection, as it can help you in feeling more at peace and more in control.

Take Away – The take away here is that I need to make sure I focus on self care and fostering joy this week.  Right now the holiday rush is about building up that foundation that helps foster stability and security.  That stability and security is the building blocks that create the house of joy. Take care of yourself, love yourself, give yourself what you need, and be gentle with yourself.  Stay aware of lurking shadows and keep them at bay by leaning into optimism, but make sure you don’t forget they’re there… and sneaky.

DECKS USED:  SCORPIO SEA TAROT, EDMUND DULAC TAROT (TRIMMED NAKED), THE  JOURNEY ORACLE

Morning Bonus Read – Weekly Contemplation

The prompt for this reading came from one of my Discord servers and is as follows:
“This week, let’s take a minute to breathe and talk with our divination tools about this holiday time.”

Favole Playing Cards by Victoria FrancesWhat am I grieving the loss of this week?
Four of Diamonds

That stability that I am so constantly craving more of.  With the holiday rush now fully upon me, there’s very little stability to be had as the world whirls around me in a chaotic cacophony of demands for my attention, all of which can’t be ignored.

What am I doing to protect my world and make it better this week?
Queen of Clubs atop Eight of Clubs

I am using my enthusiasm for that stability and security I crave to ride the energy of that chaos through the storm. This is something I have done year after year and am experienced at, and with every year that passes it’s more busy… and more fruitful.  I need to give myself over to the wild ride.

How can I partake in community and giving and accepting support from my loved ones this week?
Ten of Spades atop Queen of Hearts

(Just sayin’, but that Queen of Hearts looks like a young Z.  I mean.. wow.)
Okay, that aside.  Although the holiday rush requires physical support from my loved ones, it’s their emotional support that is really important right now even beyond the physical efforts they’re making to help me out with the business.  Gideon, Z, and L are my lifelines and I need to remember to share with them how I’m feeling rather than closing it up inside where it will fester and crush me into the dirt.

What do I have to be thankful for this week?
King of Diamonds

The holiday rush creates one big huge gigantic boon and the King of Diamonds clearly expresses exactly what that is.  The money is rolling in and that is… so fucking great.

DECK USED: BICYCLE FAVOLE PLAYING CARDS BY VICTORIA FRANCES

Morning Bonus Read – Difficulties

Difficulties Tarot Spread - The Lunatic Tarot

What is difficult right now?
Ace of Wands

Keeping my motivation up and running when there’s so much to do and so little time.  It becomes frustrating to feel continuously like you’re falling behind only to have a moment of “Oh, I’m caught up” show up now and then for a moment long enough to get one deep breath before the race continues.

What can I learn from this struggle?
Judgement

Sometimes it makes me feel like I want to just set it all aside and walk away, and then I remember why I’m doing all this and it helps me stay the course. It’s about independence, and being able to live my life on my terms how I want to live.

What will help me move through it?
Knight of Wands atop Seven of Swords

Strategy and cunning carried forward on my desires for what I want to accomplish.  This is about determination and willpower, and the clever cunning to find a way to do it no matter what.  My skill at making sure I come out on top, even while being carried through the most violent of rapids, is what will help me move through this time of lack of motivation and struggle with my inspirational spark.

What do I have to look forward to?
Four of Cups

Soon enough you’ll have time to rest and recover and meditate and enjoy all that off time again that you were struggling to get used to in the summer.  And… you’ll probably struggle with again when the opportunity returns.

DECK USED:  THE LUNATIC TAROT