tarot self care

Taking Stock and Saying “Well Done”

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IMG_5597Today’s meditation was a little over fifteen minutes long and was focused upon the mentality of being “enough”.   This is a mentality that I struggle with a lot, and I chose this topic for my meditation because of the graphic to the right, which I saw on IG.

I really like this graphic, and it speaks a lot to how I view helping others…. and being a teacher and guide as a whole.  No one is perfect.  Everyone has things to work on and different experiences that come together to create the whole that is them.  All these little things we learn along the way can be offered to others to help them, and teach them.

It is like when I take on a mentee I’m always sure to let them know that I don’t know everything, and that I will learn from them just as they learn from me. Growing and learning is about give and take.  It’s about sharing and an exchange.  It’s not a one way street.

Next World TarotToday’s draw is the Ten of Pentacles, which is a traditional representation of completion and fulfillment in the area s of one’s finances, resources, health, the physical realm, and manifestations.

Interestingly enough, I don’t see the Ten of Pentacles in the imagery of this card.  To me, it feels much more like the Nine of Pentacles and all that solitary pleasure one takes in their accomplishments.

That said, what really stood out to me in the imagery of this card today is the alignment between the purse that the woman holds and the arc of moon phases in the sky surrounding her.  It is as if she’s swung her purse in a cheerful arc and it left behind a trail of moon phases in its wake.

This aspect of the imagery and what I see within it speaks of allowing yourself to find joy in your accomplishments no matter the time or season. There’s no wrong time to look at how far you’ve come, take stock of your accomplishments, and give yourself a little pat on the back.

DECK USED:  NEXT WORLD TAROT

#TarotForGrowthAugust Challenge Prompt
Topic: I feel like I’m struggling to see clearly.
Question: What comfort do I get from from the belief that reality exists separately from my perception of it?

Anthro Tarot

Reading Summary: Lost opportunities (Ace of Pentacles Rx) due to an unrealistic singular view (Nine of Pentacles) that comforts only you (The Empress).

Take Away:  OK… First of all I don’t like this question and I disagree with it entirely. I tried to rephrase it to make it more palatable to me… but that didn’t work either, and this is clearly reflected in the response from the cards.

In my opinion if you are unwilling to look outside your own perspective and see the world from the eyes of others and from their perspectives as well as your own, then you are closing yourself off and being close minded. I feel like this question encourages that close mindedness. I do not believe that seeing clearly means cutting out other perspectives and narrowing your view. I feel the seeing clearly requires seeing beyond your own personal perception of reality in order to see the whole picture.

Perhaps I missed the point of the question?

DECK USED:  ANTHRO TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsAug2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: Do Spread #1

Spark and Pen TarotSeeds Sown – Six of Swords – Over the spring and summer, I’ve been working on shedding a lot of bad habits and other negative influences on my physical body like overworking myself and eating less junk every day.

The Chaff – The Chariot – My impatience is a big problem when it comes to most goals, and it’s no different in this case either. In this reading, the Chaff is my impatience. Discarding that impatience and accepting that I’m not going anywhere fast will make room for the type of growth I want to happen. Change takes time.

The Harvest – Nine of Swords – In order to prepare for the harvest to come I need to make sure that I’m staying on top of my mental health. Falling into a depression or creating a situation where anxiety rises into play will only set me back on my physical goals… not to mention my goals in other areas as well.

DECK USED:  SPARK AND PEN TAROT

Lionharts #TheAugustTarot #ElementalChallenge
Question: How can I best work with the energy available to me at this time?

Tarot Del Fuego

Reading Summary: Take your time (Knight of Cups Rx) and make good choices (Seven of Cups) that will lead to triumph instead of defeat (Five of Swords).

Take Away:  The energies outlined yesterday weren’t particularly pleasant. If you want to change the trajectory of that energy, you’re going to have to think clearly and really examine every choice available to you. This is a theme of strategization (Google says this is a word, but I’m still not sure), instead of just being reactionary.

DECK USED:  TAROT DEL FUEGO

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: How can I get better at stopping to smell the roses?

Sacred Rose Tarot

Reading Summary: Practice at slowing down (Knight of Wands Rx), and adding a little bit of youthful enthusiasm (Six of Cups) to the effort. It doesn’t have to be solitary (The Hermit Rx), and you need to remember that just because you’re taking time for yourself away from everything doesn’t mean that the world’s gonna fall apart because you’re not there to hold it together (The Tower).

Take Away:  Lots of reminders to slow down and be mindful in the cards today.  In this case, that slowing down is meant to encourage me to find youthful fun in the process of taking a look around and time to smell the roses.  It’s about putting away the guilt and sense of driving obligation and responsibility so that I can be lighthearted in my enjoyment of the moment.

DECK USED:  SACRED ROSE 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?

SCS

Earth – Temperance and Eagle – This week is going to require a little more restraint and moderation than normal. Make sure that you are staying aware and observant of the world around you, and don’t close yourself off. Observation is key here. This is not a time to act… just watch closely.

Air – Nine of Swords and Bee – You are more effective than you realize. The beautiful things you make, and the ways in which you reach out and touch the world, have rippling effects of positivity that spread far and wide.  Don’t allow your anxieties and negative inner narrative to snuff out the positive influences you share with the world around you. Instead, focus on the joy and pleasure you get in the things that you do well.

Water – Knight of Wands and Elephant – Slowing down is such a recurring theme in the cards this summer, and here again it shows up to speak out about taking time and slowing down this week.  There is also, once again, the reminder not to close yourself off in the presence of the Elephant.  Make sure that you are directing your focus to those around you, rather than getting so wrapped up in your own interests that everything else fades off into white noise.

Fire – King of Cups and Crow – Direct the lion’s share of your focus and drive towards spending real and valuable time with your loved ones.  Set aside superficial interactions and go for depth and meaning in the time you spend with those around you and your communications with them.  Express what lives within your soul with those you love through open communication, truth and honesty.

Waning – Juniper Berry and Black Pepper – Although self awareness is an important quality to have, focusing too much on your negative qualities, self defeating tendencies, and self destructive urges is not going to be a good way to spend your time this week.  Set aside your fears and worries, let go of that negative inner narrative, and turn your focus in another direction.

Waxing – Frankincense – As a few other readings have hinted at lately, now is a time of rebirth for you. You have already let go of so much of your old ways, and you are in the process of rebuilding your processes now.  Don’t look ahead, but move forward.  Train your focus on each step you make in the now, with the awareness that each step you make is a building block that creates the future’s foundation.

Take Away –  The theme for this week is to make sure that my focus and attention is being directed in the direction of my loved ones and not business struggles, financial concerns, or my own negative inner narrative.  Connect with those you love and allow them to give you  the support and boost you need in your life this week, just as you provide that for them in turn.  Be sure not to make any important financial decisions this week.  Watch and wait… gather information at this time and make your decisions later on down the road.

DECKS USED:  BIG THINGS IN SMALL PACKAGES TAROT

A Sharp Mind Is A Horrible Thing To Waste

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Today’s meditation was just over ten minutes long, which included the extended piriformis stretching that I’ve been including with my changed up routine for my yoga/physiotherapy practice.   The every other day schedule is definitely helping quite a lot, and my meditation today was both relaxing and refreshing.   Although I didn’t fall asleep during the meditation this time?  I did decide to take a nap directly afterward.  I just felt so relaxed that it seemed… perfect.

Tarot of the SidheToday’s draw is the Dreamer Queen (Queen of Swords) which is traditionally a representation of a receptive alpha energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s education, intellect, logic, and communications. As indicated by the word “alpha” mentioned in the previous sentence, this card is an indication of strength and authority in these areas, without the projective qualities that the King of the suit would possess.

There are two things in the imagery of this card that stood out the strongest to me today when the card was first flipped over.  The first was the harsh edges and sharp angles of the queen’s visage.  This is often the case when depicting the Queen of Swords and is indicative of the Queen’s sharp mind and potentially sharp tongue.   The second thing that stood out in this imagery was the little feathered creature sitting in her hand who she appears to be conversing with.  The small creature is soft and delicate, and comes to her for her strength and those sharp edges that it does not have naturally itself.

This card’s appearance today and the imagery upon it is here as a reminder that there is another aspect to the Queen of Swords beside the one that my mother so often represents. There is also the confidant and counselor the listener… The person you go to when you need help to sort out your mind and your thoughts. I want to focus on embodying this aspect… and not the one that my mother presents on a daily basis.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE SIDHE

#TarotForGrowthAugust Challenge Prompt

Topic: I feel like I’m struggling to see clearly.
Question: Why do I struggle to trust my own perception of reality?

Stunning Tarot

Reading Summary: Because I know I can be biased (imagery in the Seven of Wands) by my accomplishments and my goals (Ten of Pentacles) as well as by my desires (Ace of Wands).

Take Away:  I work very hard to keep myself as unbiased as much as I possibly can in nearly all things, and I work hard to take in as many perspectives as I can in order to accomplish this.  But I’m still human… and I can’t be entirely unbiased no matter how much I wish to be.  My awareness of this makes me always doubt if my personal perception is the truth… or simply one perspective of an array of many.

DECK USED:  STUNNING TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsAug2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: What do I need to prepare to harvest in my life during the month ahead?

Luminous Void TarotInitial Reading Summary: Letting go of some of my defenses (Nine of Wands Rx) and some of my personal investment of time and attention to  monetary matters (King of Discs Rx). Instead, spend some time focusing on turning that investment of time and thought towards Gideon, my relationships, and finding a steady seat for my emotions (King of Cups).

Secondary Reading Summary: The Tower flipped out and slid under the King of Cups as I was setting the deck down. Instead of adding to the reading above, it created a second reading attached to the first which involved the King of Cups and the Tower by themselves. This second reading feels like a possible upcoming event (The Tower) in Gideon’s life (King of Cups), which will require directing extra focus in that area during the upcoming harvest season (relating back to the first reading).

Take Away: I need to set aside some of the things I normally am so focused on to free up some time and attention that will need to be directed toward emotional support of others.

I’ve discussed this secondary reading with you in IMs already, and I will pull cards tomorrow to see if I can suss out more details concerning what the Tower portends, and what actions might be able to be taken to avert and/or cushion it’s arrival.

DECK USED:  LUMINOUS VOID TAROT

Lionharts #TheAugustTarot #ElementalChallenge
Question: What is the general energy available to me this month?

El Gran Tarot Esoterico

Reading Summary: Lack of inner wisdom and insufficient esoteric knowledge (High Priestess Rx) leading to self defeat (Five of Swords Rx) because I’m too busy charging after my passions (Knight of Wands).

Take Away:  OK… I’m going to have to work on adjusting my trajectory on this one, because this is definitely not a direction that I want to go in right now. I need to make sure I’m paying close attention to what the cards have to say this month and listening for the inner whispers of intuition that will assist in guiding me in a better direction.

DECK USED:  EL GRAN TAROT ESOTERICO

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: How can I slow down in life?

Gypsy Palace Tarot

Reading Summary: Continue to focus on your emotional growth (Page of Cups) instead of attacking yourself with negative judgments (Judgement) about what you’re not doing (Knight of Swords Rx).

Take Away:  Emotional growth is not a waste of time.  Focusing on that growth is not  wasting time.  Improving yourself and allowing yourself the freedom to explore this new experience is not a waste of time.   Stop telling yourself these things are wasting time.

DECK USED:  GYPSY PALACE TAROT

Transitioning from July to August

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

Month_End

Individuality – Seven of Pentacles and Self Heal (Responsibility) – At this time I am in the middle of a long term growth and healing process. This extends beyond the emotional growth that I have been dealing with through the past few months.  As I come to a point where that growth spurt changes from active growth to a time of adjustment, the emotional growth I experienced has begun to spread out into other areas of my life, influencing everything around me in small ways that will over time develop into something more beneficial and obvious. Have patience with yourself.

Dependence – Six of Rods and Nettle (Transformation) – Sometimes lately?  I feel like a know it all asshat.  Especially when dealing with that one specific brick wall we have on our server right now.  I want to release this feeling, but in order to do so, I need to dig into what’s creating that feeling.  Is it something in my personal communications that has shifted lately that’s causing it?  Or is it being stirred up by an external source?

Creativity – Page of Cups and Bee Balm (Vibrance) – I want more lighthearted creativity in my life. With the emotional growth I’m feeling a bit softer and a bit warmer, but I also want to feel a bit “lighter” and instill a bit of carefree creativity  in my life that’s been missing for the past… year?  I mean, there’s been little hints of it, but I’d love to have more.

Limitation – The Hermit and Borage (Optimism) – Retreating into yourself and closing yourself off to others is not assisting you in your goal to be more optimistic and positive in life.  By closing yourself off, you are allowing your inner dialog free reign to have its way with you.  It’s not healing, and it is important to both acknowledge this fact as well as watch out for these tendencies.

Change – The Chariot and Daylily (Centering) – Focus on the fact that you can’t truly control the future or the past.  It’s only the present that’s truly in your control, and you have the ability to make every day what you want it to be if you’re willing to grab the reigns and actually do it now instead of just thinking about it or planning for it to happen sometime in the future.

Sympathy – Wheel of Fortune and Rosemary (Clarity) – The past event these cards refers to has to do with my family’s expectations growing up as well as as an adult, and how there were times in which those expectations created self doubt. This painful lesson holds relevance at this time, and I need to remember that I have found my path and that I do not need to live my life for anyone but myself… nor conform to anyone’s expectations but my own.

Luck – Two of Swords and Evening Primrose (Rebirth) – These cards are a reminder of the day that I first was introduced to the poem “The Dash” by Linda Ellis.  This is a poem that changed my life.  It gave me a perspective that I needed, at a time when I needed it a most, and provided me with the knowledge I needed both of myself and what I wanted from life, to allow me to choose my path wisely.

Power – The Hanged Man Rx and Purple Poppy (Evolution) – Take care to stay aware and seeking those extra perspectives and different opinions.  It’s okay to have your own opinions and methods, but don’t forget that you need a much wider and more vast array of input to make good decisions on how you move forward and grow from one day to the next.  Don’t close yourself off or allow yourself to grow and evolve in a direction that would close you off from these things.

Responsibility – Strength and Bleeding Heart (Independence) – The opportunity in the month echos back to the mention of being in a time of “adjustment” concerning my emotional growth.  I have the opportunity to create a steady foundation at this time that will develop into a new kind of internal strength that includes a depth of emotional capacity rather than excluding my emotions from the equation.

Message from Spirit World –  You have the control to steer how you develop spiritually over the month ahead.  Stay open to new perspectives and seize control of your own autonomy.  Your future and your development is in your hands.  Your personal hands.  Your growth stretches beyond just the emotional and into the spiritual.  Make sure that you staying mindful of your choices and the direction your progress is taking.

Message from Mind’s World – It’s okay for things to take time and you need to accept that.  Fill that time with the things you want to do and stop worrying so much about what other people think about you.  This should be a time to focus on what you want, not what others want or expect of you.

Message from Known World – Although the world is often uncertain, you can make choices to steer things in the direction you want them to go.  Stay focused on what you want as things change around you, and your path will continue to steer true as you evolve upon it into the person you want to become.  Each day is filled with a series of constant choices.   Stay true in these choices to who you are… and what you want.  The Hermit in these cards stands out as the outlier… now is not a time to retreat or close yourself off from the world and those around you.  It would not be healthy for you at this time.

Take Away – There is a theme here in the cards that has to do with growth and progress, in what I want to instill into my future, and how the future is built from the present.  What you do here in the now is what directs you upon the path of your future, so make sure that your present choices are ones that suit what you want of both who you are today, and of who you want to be in the future as well.

DECKS USED: HANSON ROBERTS TAROT AND THE SOULFLOWER ORACLE CARDS

Vulnerability and Trust

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long and… I did it twice.  I was actually trying to fall asleep, as for some reason I was having a lot of difficulty in that area this morning.  I didn’t manage to fall asleep during either of those meditations, although they were very relaxing.  And I did eventually manage to fall asleep for a few hours some time after that.  I’m still feeling a bit sleep deprived, but much better than earlier before the nap.

Cosmos Tarot and OracleToday’s draw is The Magician card of the major arcana, which is traditionally interpreted as (essentially) “the man with all the tools”.   The card is about confidence and resourcefulness. The Magician is about having the tools necessary to do whatever needs done, and the skill to wield them as needed along the way.

I just have to say… I love this card’s imagery.  I love the Satyr helping the little lamb to get out of the tree’s branches.  It shows both gentleness and kinship, but also strength and surety.

The lamb, specifically, caught my eye today.  And the hands of the ram.  There is kindness and capability in those hands, and an aching vulnerability in the visage of the lamb.

The message in this card is to trust in the one you know can help you.  Trust in the one that has the strength and the gentleness and the loving care to help you.

Today’s message is about trust, and about putting yourself into the caring hands of the one you trust when you are feeling vulnerable.

DECK USED:  COSMOS TAROT AND ORACLE

#TarotForGrowthJuly Challenge Prompt
Topic:  I’m struggling to maintain motivation.
Question:  What single, small change can I introduce into my routine that would most benefit my goals moving forward?

Star Seeker Tarot

Reading Summary: Despite my fears and anxieties (Nine of Swords) , continue to make a conscious daily choice (Two of Swords) to grow and move forward (Seven of Pentacles).

Take Away: Sometimes it’s not about the things we do, but the thoughts we keep. When feeling vulnerable, it can be hard to stay open and continue to advance on one’s desires and goals. Sometimes the biggest and best thing we can do is make sure we are checking in with ourselves and making sure to stay open… make sure that walls are not coming up and closing you off. The message here is about mindfulness and self awareness.  It is a small change with a huge and important impact on the long term growth you seek.

DECK USED:  STAR SEEKER TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJul2020 Challenge Prompt
Topic:  Free Day!  Pick a spread you’ve been curious about and try it out.

The Fifth TarotWhat doubts need confronting?

I was raised to always seek perfectionism from myself.  To demand it.  Directing my energy into this idealism has become not just a habit, but a compulsion that creates self doubt concerning my skills and abilities.

What ideal needs releasing?

Let go of the expectations of what your mother could be or should be.  You want a new start and a relationship filled with love and support, but this is not who she is and it never will be.  Expecting this from her is futile.  Her heart is not open, nor is it the bud preparing to bloom… instead, it is the withered bud folding in on itself.

What do I need in order to accept my present self?

Patience, tranquility… and most of all, alone time. This isn’t about self reflection as it is about finding peace and allowing time for all that you have learned and discovered to sink in and settle into calm waters.

DECK USED:  THE FIFTH TAROT

#OwlandBonesJuly Challenge by Owl and Bones Tarot
Topic:  invest:  time // money // love // patience

Wheel of the Year Tarot

Invest Time – Ace of Wands – In developing new skills and passionate pursuits. I recently ended up putting the wood burning project I’d been practicing for on the back burner. Perhaps it’s time to pull it back out and play with it a bit more. Some more exploration and experimentation is in order and could be fun.

Invest Money – Queen of Pentacles – Literally… invest money.  Tuck some of that cash that you’re making right now away to replenish what’s been used over the past few months.

Invest Love – The Hierophant – Sometimes being a guide to others and teacher requires applying a bit of loving understanding. In this case, I need to take time to make sure I’m investing a bit more love and kindness than is my normal into my client readings.  Someone desperately needs to hear it.

Invest Patience – Queen of Cups – In yourself and others. Compassion is important, and a part of compassion is allowing space for people and providing them with room to speak their truth. Being a good listener is an extremely important part of interacting with others.

DECK USED:  WHEEL OF THE YEAR TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question:  How can I maintain my creative flow?

Wild Unknown Tarot

Reading Summary: Give less weight to your mothers influence (Mother of Swords Rx), give more weight to Gideon’s influence (Father of Cups)… and have confidence in your hard won skills (Eight of Pentacles).

Take Away:  The crap blocks my creativity most strongly is the shrinking, constricting pain that happens in my stomach whenever my mother’s claws manage to tear a chunk out of my insides.  Your comfort… your influence… your love is the balm to that pain and those wounds.  You lift me up and remind me that I am good and capable and more than just meagerly talented but innovative and skilled in my craft.

DECK USED:  WILD UNKNOWN TAROT

Afternoon Bonus Read – The First Harvest

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The prompt for this reading came from one of my Discord servers and is as follows:
“It’s almost Lammas, the First Harvest! This week, take some time with your divination tools to learn what things in your life you are currently or will soon be harvesting.”

Carta Bellica Renaissance Playing Cards

In what area of my life am I harvesting results?
King of Spades, Two of Diamonds

I am making progress in the area of balancing my obligations and responsibilities in a more controlled and conscientious manner.  This includes leading others into helping me to get what needs done finished, and finding time to sit down and rest when needed instead of constantly pushing for more.  The results of this effort are starting to actually show results in my life at this time.

In what area of my life will I soon be harvesting results?
Ace of Hearts

All that emotional growth that you’ve been starting down the path of over the past handful of months is moving into a point of rest now, and you will begin to see the results of the work you’ve put in and the effort made to protect that budding new growth from being snuffed out.

What is something that I currently need to be storing up or preparing for the future?
Seven of Hearts, Seven of Spades, Jack of Spades

There are a lot of things that I need to work at preparing right now in the business.  This takes a lot of planning, and a lot of juggling, including making some choices on how things are prioritized.  At this time you are still in the learning phase in some ways when it comes to plotting this new course, and it’s important to make sure that each step on this path at his time is measured and well thought out.

DECK USED: CARTA BELLICA RENAISSANCE PLAYING CARDS