tarot

Dirty Words

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and was one of the #DailyCalm sessions from the @Calm app. Today’s session focused on myopic positivity (aka. toxic positivity), which I write more about below in my card of the day musings.

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The Banned Books Tarot - Strength cardThe @GlitterbyInk #JulyJoy25 Challenge
Celebration of Joy Prompt for July 2 : Friendships
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is the Strength card, which is traditionally a representation of inner strength, persuasion usually through means of compassion, influence and/or manipulation, and courage.

Myopic positivity (also known these days as toxic positivity) is the act of using positivity to discredit or ignore negative things. It’s the belief that if we just “think positive” that bad things won’t (or can’t) happen and that all our wishes will come true.

Myopic/toxic positivity has made words like gratitude, positivity, and optimism “dirty words” that are often snickered at or rejected by those that need them the most.

Myself included.

What I have learned through this daily exercise in finding a positive message in the cards, though, is that positivity/optimism and myopic/toxic positivity are not the same thing.

Healthy positivity and optimism doesn’t encourage us to ignore the bad things, but instead helps us to bear through those bad things in a healthier way. It makes us stronger, supporting us in ways that keep us afloat when things are turbulent. Thus, it’s part of a healthy support system, just like friends and family are.

The message for today is a reminder that what I’m doing here in this card of the day activity. That is… to explore healthy positivity and optimism, and how these things can help counterbalance one’s (my) own negative and pessimistic tendencies.

DECK USED:  THE BANNED BOOKS TAROT

Oracle Reading with The Naughty Oracle@LightningWildflower‘s July Tarot Challenge
Begin Prompts for July 1 – 3

What is waiting to begin if I give it space?

Clusterfuck of Fairies – You can find calm in the chaos, you just need to step back and let things play out on their own. Serenity comes in not engaging with the bullshit.

What mindset will support the next phase of my journey?

Pissed as a Parrot – Authenticity. People don’t say things they don’t mean when they’re drunk, they simple say the things they didn’t mean to say. That bald honestly is needed right now as you step forward on your path, sans alcohol.

What small steps can I take today that my future self will thank me for?

Boogeyman Bullshit – Confront your fears rather than hiding from them. This might feel like a monumental step, but in truth? It’s not as bad as your imagination is making it out to be.

Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Rhododendron Leaf for Fostering Confidence
Onyx Stone Fox for Identifying and Connecting to Truth
Gneiss Stone for Patience in Moments of Discomfort
Desert Rose for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: THE NAUGHTY ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

I took a nap because I needed it, even though I really didn’t want to.

Weight Disbursement

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Buzzing Mosquito Tarot - Six of PentaclesThe @GlitterbyInk #JulyJoy25 Challenge
Celebration of Joy Prompt for July : Opportunity
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is the Six of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of charity, generosity, sharing the wealth, asking for or accepting help, and balancing the scales between the “haves” and the “have nots” in life.

It can sting at our pride and cause us to think that others don’t see us as capable of handling things on our own when an offer of help is given. Sometimes, this makes it difficult to see an offer of help as anything other than an insult to our capabilities.

What these offers are truly doing, though, is providing you with opportunity. Opportunity to have more time or more money or more resources for more fun, or more time with loved ones, or more self indulgence.

Accepting help, therefore, becomes a strength; it allows you to enjoy life more by “spreading the load” through delegation and diversification. Could you do it all yourself? Yes. Of course you could. But accepting help allows you to get it done faster and/or easier so that you then have the energy and time to do something else entirely.

The message in today’s card is a reminder that accepting help isn’t an insult to your capabilities; it’s an invitation and an opportunity to both fill your time with something better and not exhaust yourself so that you can enjoy life more.

DECK USED:  BUZZING MOSQUITO TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJul2025 Challenge
Prompt for July 1st : Do the Third Quarter Spread

Third Quarter Tarot Reading with the Buzzing Mosquito Tarot, Atomic Age Tarot, Herbarium Oracle, and Haven Oracle

Year Ahead Theme : Temperance

Moderation is the name of the game this year.  Take care not to move too fast or go overboard in the grand scheme of things. Remember that even things that are healthy and good for you can turn bad if taken in excess.

Theme for July : Page of Cups

July will be a time for a lot of emotional exploration. For now, it would be wise to observe rather than act. You will learn more by watching than doing for the time being.

Focus / Advice for July : Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

You can be both resilient and adaptable when you need to be; these qualities are not mutually exclusive. Stay true to your authentic self, acknowledge your weaknesses, and let your strength shine this month.

Ray of Hope for July : Ignite Your Inner Fire

Remember that it is through those things that you are passionate about that you find motivation and inspiration. Here is where the fun lies, and where survival becomes less of a chore and more of a game you are in the process of winning.

Theme for August : The Lovers

Make sure this August that you are connecting to what rings true for you and is best for you. Be around those people that encourage you to take care of yourself, and focus on doing the things that you need to do in order to rest and recover from stress and struggle. Some things just make life a little easier and more comfortable… and they’re worth your time and attention.

Focus / Advice for August : Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria)

August is a time to break out of your comfort zone. Try new things and explore. There are new paths offer being offered to you that you need to look at more closely. Stay true to yourself and make sure that you are getting what you need, and if you’re not? Then now’s the time to make a change.

Ray of Hope for August : Let take a deep breath and let the nervousness go. It’s time to get a move on. This is a month for taking action, especially during the first and last quarter moon. You’re safe as long as you stay within the sphere of what is right for you. Place that above all other considerations this month.

Theme for September : Queen of Cups

Remember that it is okay to seek out comfort from others. There are people in your life that provide you refuge on an emotional level. Seeking them out does a service not just to yourself, but also to them and the relationship between you both.

Focus / Advice for September : Daffodil (Narcissus)

Changes that you have put into effect in August bloom this month into a renewed sense of happiness and love for those areas of life that have been influenced by those changes. This creates a sense of renewed vigor and self-satisfaction that is meant to be enjoyed and shared with others.

Ray of Hope for September : Receive Grace

Don’t be a braggart. It’s all well and good to share your good fortune with others, especially in ways in which they can partake in it as well. Just don’t go overboard.

Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Wood Fern for Exorcising Negative Influences
Western Hemlock Cones for Balance During Disruptions
Aventurine Goddess for Harmony and Balance of the Heart
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: BUZZING MOSQUITO TAROT, ATOMIC AGE TAROT, HERBARIUM ORACLE, HAVEN ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

I took a break from work to pull these cards, enjoy these decks, and later on also finish this blog post. Oh, and I had shin ramyun for dinner, which I’ve been craving for a few days.

How We Connect

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Happiness Chemicals Cards and Sleepwalker's Tarot II Golden Planet - Page of CupsToday’s draw is the Page of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of a receptive omega energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s emotions, relationships, creativity, or intuition. This often translates into themes that have to do with emotional growth, second chances relationships, or exploring one’s creative pursuits.

Confession. I don’t like to be touched. Not even by most of the people I’m close with. I’m not a fan of hugs or handshakes, kisses or arm touches.

With the exception of sex? I have a tendency to shirk away on the inside whenever someone touches me. That even includes my partner… although in his case, I can usually push past it. Now that I think about it, though? I wonder if that’s why I often misinterpret some of his touches as sexual overtures instead of just touching to touch.

The thing is? I know that this distaste is the “wrong” reaction. It’s a defense mechanism on overdrive that’s far too sensitive.

I know, too, that most people find touch to be comforting. They probably don’t realize it, but the fact that I allow them to touch me and, in fact, allow them to take the lead and not just when and where, but how long they touch me for… is a gift. It is because I love them and want to be someone they come to and feel comfortable with.

I wonder sometimes, though, if it’s confusing to them that I rarely seek out their touch. Instead, I simply accept/give it when they signal it’s needed. Does it make them think I don’t care or love them or trust them? I worry that it might.

Today’s message is about exploring the unexplored emotions within us. How do you express love and acceptance? How don’t you? Why? Look at how others express their emotions to you. Is the connection one you enjoy or just accept? Is there miscommunication of emotion going on between how you express our emotions to others, and how they express their emotions to you? Today’s cards encourage exploring those themes in your life.

DECK USED:  SLEEPWALKER’S TAROT II GOLDEN PLANET

#DiscordTarotholicsJun2025 Challenge
Prompt for June 30th : Grab a spread of your choice you’re curious about… and give it a go!
@Lionharts #TheJuneTarot Radiance Rising Challenge
Prompt for June 30th : The Flow Spread

Naturmomente für Deine Seele and My Goddess Provisions Deck Sets

How am I invited to step into the flow of greater personal freedom?

The Spruce atop The Fox; Sagittarius – Remember that it’s okay to pause and take care, even in moments where it feels like things are rushed and need to be spontaneous. It is a part of your nature to foster stability, and that means that sometimes you just can’t throw everything to the wind without a care in the world. That’s perfectly okay.

How can I deeply root this flow in the daily rhythm of my life?

Root atop Comfrey; The Hedgehog – It’s when things feel the most stable that you’re able to open up and let go. In order to find the freedom to go with the flow, you need to feel that there is stability in place to fall back on. This allows you to feel protected even in times when you are allowing yourself to be vulnerable.

What can this flow lead to for me in the months to follow?

The Mullein and Throat – Following this flow can lead to the ability to speak your truth more freely. When you feel protected, it allows you to communicate more openly instead of holding back.

Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Rhododendron Leaf for Fostering Confidence
Fuchsia Flowers for Stability in the Face of External Disruption
Tree Agate for Fostering Peace and Patience
Rose Quartz for Gentle Kindness to Self and Others
Desert Rose for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: NATURMOMENTE FÜR DEINE SEELE AND MYGODDESSPROVISIONS ORACLE PACK COLLECTION

Daily Self Kindness

I crawled around on the floor to dig through the bottom shelves and pull a collection of decks in rotation for July today, instead of putting it off as I was tempted to do.

Finding the Positive for June 27 – 29

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Gaian Tarot's Queen of Wands, Pop-Up Tarot's Strength Card, and Peanuts Tarot's Six of Cups

June 27 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was eleven minutes long, and was a self guided session focusing upon a little piece of affirmation art by @ve_kiss_klech that said “Wishing you a good day free from whatever hell you’re brain says should be happening.”

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Today’s draw is the Guardian of Fire (Queen of Wands), which is traditionally a representation of a receptive alpha energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s passion, drive, willpower, determination, values, and principles. This often translates into themes that have to do with being supportive of others projects and passions, or searching for inner truth within your own values and principles.

I know what I’m supposed to be doing to day, but it turns out? I’m not doing it.

It turns out, in fact, that the world is not going to fall apart if I step away for a moment from what has to be done to enjoy something else that heals the ache and feeds the soul.

Sometimes? Structure is smothering, and without an occasional swirl of fresh air to feed our inner fire? That heavy structure can start to suffocate our inner spark.

The message here in today’s draw is a reminder that sometimes we need to break free from duty and structure in order to nurture that spark of inner fire within us all.

DECK USED: GAIAN TAROT REDFEATHER 2ND EDITION (trimmed)

June 28 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and was one of the #DailyCalm sessions from the @Calm app. Today’s session dealt with grounding, and using the sensations in your hands as a focus in order to draw yourself back in when you’ve started to become distracted by thoughts or other stimuli.

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Today’s draw is the Strength card, which is traditionally a representation of inner strength, persuasion usually through means of compassion, influence and/or manipulation, and courage.

Play to your strengths… but not to the expense of trying something new.

We all have our own unique talents. The world is a vast kaleidoscope of differences among humanity, and its that variety of differences that make life interesting. That means that the skills, abilities, knowledge, and interests you hold make you unique. A piece of the massive puzzle that is humanity as a whole. You fit into this puzzle not by being the same as everyone else, but because of your uniqueness… just like jigsaw puzzle pieces.

We are all seeking that “perfect fit” in the grand scheme of things. The more we explore and learn about ourselves, the closer we come to finding that “perfect fit” in the world.  Today’s message encourages us to explore our strengths. Not just the ones we know about already, but also those we’ve yet to discover. Don’t be afraid to experiment, explore, and try new things. You never know what’s going to fit until you give it a try.

DECK USED: THE POP-UP TAROT

June 29 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Today’s draw is the Six of Cups, traditionally a representation of nostalgia, joyful memories, childhood experiences, and revisiting the past in some way.

When I was growing up, TJ (my parent’s pagan parenting mentor’s best friend) used to tell me wild stories about all the things that Z (my parent’s pagan parenting mentor, turned my spiritual mentor) got up to in  her youth.

Z has taught me a lot of things over the years, and has been integral in my (and my sister’s) development into the people we are today. But it was TJ that did the lion’s share of teaching me about “authenticity of self”.

All his walks down memory lane with me as his audience taught me the value of letting who we really are shine against all odds.  Because Z is an amazing woman. She’s strong, intelligent, empathetic… but even she made mistakes along the way. Even she had a wild side. And, despite her wild side being completely different than how everyone else was rebelling at the time? Even she experienced peer pressure as well.

Yet, through all of that, she became the amazing woman who has been my sister and I’s guide from a young age of 9 or 10 right through to today, decades later.

The message in today’s cards is a reminder that without the past, there is no future. Don’t try to erase the past. Within it resides not just how we’ve gotten to where we are, but how we’ve become who we are, as well as the foundation we need develop into the person we want to become.

DECK USED: PEANUTS TAROT

Make Smart Choices

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Time Tarot's Nine of Wands and Little Frog's Guide to Self-Care CardsToday’s draw is the Nine of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of boundaries, defensive maneuvers, and protection of what you hold dear.

So today I spent a good eight hours straight trying to fix some damn problem between the brand new update to my virus software and a program on my computer (TuneBlade). I tinkered on my own for a bit, then contacted support and let them tinker for a bit too.  I uninstalled and reinstalled software (TuneBlade, Bonjour, my VPN, and my antivirus/firewall). I switched “smart filtering” to “allow”, and all that crap.  And still, no joy.

I’m feeling discouraged, and frustrated, and very tempted to turn the antivirus/firewall and VPN off, just so I can have some earbud-free music.

Or… I was. Until I saw the Nine of Wands for today’s card.

Today’s combination of cards is a reminder that discouragement and frustration are not good reasons to let down your guard. There’s more at stake here than the pleasure of some music. There’s more at stake in your other current struggles as well.  So stay strong and take care not to blithely make frivolous decisions that could put you or what you care about at risk.

DECK USED:  TIME TAROT AND LITTLE FROG’S GUIDE TO SELF CARE CARDS

@LightningWildflower‘s June Tarot Challenge
Flow Prompts for June 28th thru 30th :

Oracle Reading with the Enchanted Forest OracleWhat am I struggling against? 

Let Go – When you invest yourself, your time, and your energy in others, it can be hard to accept that you’re better off letting go than trying to salvage things. You always want to give people the benefit of the doubt and try to , in turn, give them more chances than is healthy. That struggle in letting go gets you hurt more often than not.

What will bring more ease into my life?

Simplify Life – Simplicity has the potential to bring more ease into your life. When you overthink things, it just causes more unnecessary complications instead of actually fixing anything. This is counterintuitive, because it feels like over-thinking is helping in some way. Resisting the urge, though, will create more ease than letting yourself be pulled down the rabbit hole.

In what way am I being asked to go with the flow?

Energetic Pull – Let your intuition and your senses guide you instead of getting stuck in your head. Sometimes it’s okay to trust the universe to lead the way without asking a thousand and one questions.

Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Rhododendron Leaf for Fostering Confidence
Yellow Aventurine Dragonfly for Confidence During Change
Flower Agate Moon for Opening the Mind to New Possibilities
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: ENCHANTED FOREST ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

I allowed Gideon to talk me into playing for a bit again tonight, even though I wasn’t really feeling it. In the end, I think it helped me feel a bit better than I would have otherwise.

Don’t Force It

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and was one of the #DailyTrip sessions in the @Calm app.

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Baseball Tarot's The Empress Card and Happiness Chemicals DeckToday’s draw is The Natural (The Empress) card, which is traditionally a representation of the nurturing, female strength and empowerment without losing that “softer side” in the process, abundance, fertility, the divine feminine, and Mother Earth.

“Stop trying to make things happen through willpower or ego. Go with the flow and simply be yourself.” – Deck Guidebook

Abundance comes through playing off of your strengths.

Breathe and let things come to you at their own pace. There’s no rush. When you push too hard, you strangle both your own potential and the potential of the situation.

Today’s message is a reminder that slowing down is not stopping. This message encourages going with the flow instead of forcing the results you want. Instead, let the universe help you to realize what’s really possible and invite that abundance to flourish in your life.

DECK USED:  BASEBALL TAROT AND HAPPINESS CHEMICALS DECK

@LightningWildflower‘s June Tarot Challenge
Connection Prompts for June 25th thru 27th

Ocean Spirit OracleWhat do I value most in my relationships?

Clarity – Your relationships with others allow you to see not just the world through a different perspective, but also gain a greater understanding of yourself as well. This is because unlike strangers, these people are open to you asking questions, understanding that you seek to reframe your own perspective to include greater clarity through a broader outlook.

How do I usually engage with those around me?

Freedom – You have a tendency to let others do their own thing and make their own choices, and expect them to do the same for you.

What connections need to be improved?

Perspective – This card echoes back to the first question above, and speaks of a need to work on listening more and sharing less. Don’t disregard the details just because you’re distracted by inner narratives, overwhelmed, or feeling too busy to take the time.

Other elements included in this reading:
Random Beach Detritus for a Stronger Connection to the Sea’s Wisdom
Carnelian Agate for Inner Drive and Focusing On One’s Aspirations
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: OCEAN SPIRIT ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

I made dinner tonight instead of just snacking my way through the evening as I wanted to do.