tarot self care

Transitioning from November to December

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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)

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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?

Scorpio Sea Tarot, Edmund Dulac Tarot, Sacred Journey Oracle

Earth – The 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.

Air – Ten 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.

Water – Three 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.

Fire – Five 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.

Waning – The 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.

Waxing – Mother 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

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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

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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

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?

Druidcraft Tarot, Druid Animal Oracle, Druid Plant Oracle, Animal Spirits Knowledge Cards

Earth – The Fferyllt (Temperance) and Horse – Not a time of pause or stillness, but a time of peace and motion.  There is a difference.  This week is a time of gathering when the energies of home and hearth, finance and resources are swirling within and around each other and building. Make sure that you ride this energy by gathering up what needs to be stocked up on, and preparing what needs prepared.

Air – Nine of Cups and Meadowsweet – Focus on the good stuff this week and let that negative inner dialogue fade back into the background until it is less than a whisper. You don’t have time for that nonsense right now, and there’s too much going right at the moment to worry about it. You are feeling good, and good things are coming your way this week. Be sure to appreciate it to the fullest.

Water – Two of Pentacles and Wolf – This week will bring a little discomfort as you work at keeping that balance and sustaining room for your emotions to have a place in the holiday rush process. This is a learning process, and that discomfort is natural.  Don’t wall off just because it feels different or uncomfortable. Instead, stay open to the lessons that need to be learned.

Fire – Prince of Pentacles and Hare – Even through moments of fear you have slowly plodded forward toward the goals you wish to reach. Now is a fast paced time of year, but that doesn’t mean that you have to allow your heart to race or push your plans forward any faster than you want to.  Allow your intuition to guide your direction.  And remember… filling orders quickly doesn’t mean everything else has to speed up too.

Waning – Fox – Set aside strategizing for the week ahead and instead use this time to try settle into the new rhythms that you’ll be working with for the next few weeks. Now is not the time to plot and plan but rather to adjust and adapt.

Waxing – Frog – Abundance is coming and it’s coming fast and hard.  One of the themes of the frog is fecundity and the appearance of the frog in this position is an indication of encouragement and a continued ramping up of creative endeavors, sales, and business over the next week.

Take Away –  Things are getting busy and it’s time to let go of some of the more administrative and strategic tasks of running a business to dive headlong into the creative process and production aspects. You’ve begun to feel the energy and rhythm of the busy season, and it’s natural to ride that wave.  Just don’t lose track along the way of the balance you’ve managed to achieve.  Don’t forsake your emotions or your self care, and be sure that you are turning your mind and attention towards positive themes and optimistic views.

DECKS USED:   DRUIDCRAFT TAROT, DRUID ANIMAL ORACLE, DRUID PLANT ORACLE, ANIMAL SPIRITS KNOWLEDGE CARDS

Morning Bonus Read – Personal Expectations

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The prompt for this reading came from one of my Discord servers and is as follows:
“This week, let’s chat about our expectations of ourselves, especially during this busy time of the year.”

Ouija Playing Cards by HasbroWhat is one expectation I have of myself right now that is unhealthy?

Ten of Diamonds atop King of Hearts – That I can shoulder everything and not crack emotionally under the pressure like a dropped egg.  I am not the King of Hearts, and I do not do well under too much pressure, especially if my emotions become involved.  With my emotions at a higher level due to the emotional growth I’ve been fostering all spring and summer and the vulnerability that new growth has created, there is a risk of that shell being even more fragile than usual.

What is one expectation I have of myself right now that is healthy?

Ten of Hearts – Allowing my emotions to have free reign rather than being neatly boxed off and walled up for the next five to six weeks.  This seems counter intuitive to what is said in the advice above about what is unhealthy, and yet what this indicates is not that it is opposing advice, but rather that I need to find a better way of dealing with these emotions than closing them up in a dark cage in the basement.

How should I shift the unhealthy expectation into a healthy one?

King of Clubs – Use your drive and vision to motivate you into finding and using this better way of doing things.  New methods for old habits are hard for everyone, but you need to remember what you’re goals are… and that you can’t reach them unless you make these changes for the better.

Where should I look for support to make that change in my expectations?

Six of Clubs atop Queen of Clubs –  From those in your life that both admire you and inspire you.  With a foundation of admiration and moral support under your feet, you can take the inspiration that they create in you and carry it forward, even when things feel new, unsteady, vulnerable, or difficult.  That support system is there for you when you need it as long as you’re willing to reach for it.

DECK USED: OUIJA PLAYING CARDS BY HASBRO