tarot

It’s Better Together

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

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The @GlitterbyInk #MayTag25 Challenge
Celebrating Our Community Prompt for May 17 : Enthusiastic

Empyrean: An ORV Tarot's Three of PentaclesToday’s draw is the Three of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of teamwork, collaboration, working together, and themes to do with bringing in help and/or outside expertise in order to get something done.

Sometimes adding the participation of others can make things more interesting.  We’ve all had those projects and jobs where no matter how hard we try, the interest just isn’t there. And, because the interest isn’t there, neither is the motivation or focus that the task in question needs.

The message in today’s card and prompt combo is that in these instances it can sometimes help to involve others in the process. This includes for introverts, by the way.  Their interaction and contributions can at times make all the difference and change the tone from the drudgery or a chore into something fun or interesting to be enthusiastic about.

DECK USED:  EMPYREAN: AN ORV TAROT

#detarotjufmeitarotchallenge Tea With the Queens Challenge by @de_tarotjuf
Tea with the Queen of Cups : Emotional Intelligence and Care
Prompts for May 17 – 19

Oracle Reading with the White Rabbit Oracle I and II, and The Deck of MushroomsHow can I take better care of myself?

Playfulness, Adventure; Golden Chanterelle, Golden Scruffy Collybia – Don’t you think it’s time to get outside and have a little fun in nature? Just make sure that when you do, you are taking care with your safety. Not everything is as it appears, and that means that not everything is as safe as it appears. Keep that in mind when you’re out and about delving into adventures with a playful spirit.

What emotions are coming up for me today?

Awakening, Dazzle; Yellow Stainer, Wavy Cap – Don’t let the worry of forbidden pleasures and danger in disguise keep you from stepping out into the sun and enjoying the day. You may feel hesitancy to seek abandon and really be yourself, but it’s during these times that you really need to shine your brightest instead of hiding away.

What does my intuition tell me about a current situation?

Surprise; Pyramid Builder Lepidella – Sticking with the familiar can sometimes suck. Remember that surprises aren’t always bad, so make sure that you step outside your comfort zone a bit and see what good may come of it.

Other elements included in this reading:
Conch Shell Knot for Concentration, Clarity, and Determination
Omarolluk for Protection and Bridging Liminal Divides
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECKS USED: WHITE RABBIT ORACLE I & II AND THE DECK OF MUSHROOMS

Daily Self Kindness

This is a catch up post, and I’m not entirely sure what the self kindness was for this day

Crotchety Old Men

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

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May Day Faerie Festival Tarot's Death cardThe @GlitterbyInk #MayTag25 Challenge
Celebrating Our Community Prompt for May 16 : Kind

Today’s draw is the Death card, which is traditionally a representation of gradual organic changes, loss, slow moving transitions, and letting go.

Right… so, did you know that the leading cause of crotchety-ness in the elderly isn’t actually a dissatisfaction with how life has treated them, nor their (sometimes) in ability to adapt to modern changes?

It’s pain. Physical pain, to be precise.

As someone that has dealt with severe chronic pain over the past 20 years, I definitely get that. Pin makes irritants more irritating, inconveniences more inconvenient, etc. It’s hard not to let the pain drag you down and drown you in misery, and it’s equally hard not to fall into t he self-pity trap and begin to feel that life is picking on you.

Many don’t even realize it. The aches and pains come on so gradually that it’s hard to notice, especially when their average overall pain level rises a notch over the coarse of a few years.  A few more pass and another notch rises. A few more years… and they begin to realize that pain that was once occasional is now constant, and they have no idea when or how that happened because the change was so gradual.

The point is? Aging hurts. The older you get, the more it hurts, until it hurts a lot all the time.

So if you run across an elder whose a bit crotchety and unpleasant? Take a minute to react with kindness, instead of rolling your eyes or being uncaring. They are hurting, and chances are? They’re trying really hard to hide just how much.

DECK USED:  MAY DAY FAERIE FESTIVAL TAROT

#detarotjufmeitarotchallenge Tea With the Queens Challenge by @de_tarotjuf
Tea with the Queen of Swords : Intellect and Truth
Prompts for May 15 – 16

Oracle Reading with the Essential Oil Oracle Deck and Shapeshifter TarotWho or what helps me to live my truth?

Coffee and The Golden Eagle – I once read that there are two paths for the Scorpio. One is the high road of the eagle who is fair and just, and soars above conflict and retribution. The other path is the scorpion who skitters along the ground striking at anything that comes near.

These cards point to Z. Not only is she a Scorpio, but she works hard to tread the path of the eagle instead of the scorpion. She worked hard to teach me to do the same, even though I am not a Scorpio (although I do have it in my chart as my moon sign).

These cards speak of the need to rise above bullshit and not allow it to influence my emotional stability, and to play the “What would Z do?” game when needed.

What step can I take to create more clarity in  my life?

Juniper Berry and The Lion’s Lamb – Take care not to jump to conclusions. Hold back and see if those that are showing their true colors are friend or foe before stepping into the fray. Sometimes people surprise you if you just let them do things on their own while you stand back and watch, instead of getting involved too soon.

Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Hoya Leaf for Inward Exploration
Mandala Disk Charged for Serenity and Balance
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: ESSENTIAL OIL ORACLE DECK AND SHAPESHIFTERS TAROT (trimmed naked)

Daily Self Kindness

This is a catch up post, and I’m not entirely sure what the self kindness was for this day.

Finding the Positive for May 13 – 15

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Major Tom's Tarot of Marseille Lovers Card, Low Scare Tarot's Ten of Pentacles, Archania Tarot's The High Priestess card

May 13 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and was a #DailyCalm session from the @Calm app.

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The @GlitterbyInk #MayTag25 Challenge
Celebrating Our Community Prompt for May 13 : Artistic

Today’s draw is the Lovers card, which is traditionally a representation of love and relationships, harmonious unions, and making choices that are geared toward what is best for you.

The card pulled for today offers us an opportunity to look at our  needs through a different lens. In the marseille tradition of tarot, the imagery we see is a central figure in one of life’s age-old battles as they are pictured between a matronly figure and a new love. It is a choice between past or future, stable stagnancy or new beginnings.

Everyone needs to make these choices in life, whether it’s moving away from home, choosing a partner, etc. The artistic representation here depicts making a crossroads where a decision must be made for your future… one that you’ll have to live with for a very long time, and advises us to make the choice that aligns with what we want out of life and need in our loves moving forward. For, whatever choice we make, we’re making a commitment to move in that direction.

[Digression Note spurred by the “Artistic” prompt for today:  When reading tarot, the reader also makes a similar choice pertaining to their practice. They can learn the traditional meaning of each card and stick to them with strict adherence, or they can use the traditional meaning in conjunction with visual cues in the card’s artistic choices.Neither choice is more right or wrong than the other, only more right or wrong for an  individual. 

For me?  It’s the latter that fits best. Colors, forms, shapes and lines. All of these things provide so much extra information, making reading the cards more than the rattling off of card meanings and introducing an element of art interpretation into the mix, where each card’s illustration doesn’t just speak to me but offers a conversation.]

Combined with the prompt of “artistic”, what I see her in the Lover’s card is a reminder not to just choose what’s easy in life.  Look at the context and consider the future. Think outside the box and use your imagination, then choose. Taking what is easy without considering the alternatives often leads to a lackluster life.  Sometimes, easy is still the right choice, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t need to consider other choices and perspectives first and make sure.

DECK USED: MAJOR TOM’S TAROT OF MARSEILLE

May 14 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was eight minutes long, and was a #DailyTrip session from the @Calm app.

The topic of today’s session was about restorative activities, and how important they are to our general well-being.  Activities in life that make you feel restored, such as going for walks, meditation, cloud watching, spending time with a loved one, coloring in a coloring book, watching a movie, etc.

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The @GlitterbyInk #MayTag25 Challenge
Celebrating Our Community Prompt for May 14 : Resourceful

Today’s draw is the Ten of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of satisfaction and stability in the area of one’s finances, resources, home, health, manifestations, and the physical world. This often translates into themes that have to do with hard earned success, accomplishments, abundance created through patience and hard work.

How do you recharge?  Is sleeping the beginning, middle, and end of your restorative process? Or are there other methods and moments mixed in there as well?

For me, it’s time in nature. Hiking or taking macro photos of nature’s interesting intricacies. Digging in the dirt or tending to plants that need a little TLC. These things are restorative to me.

The thing is? Success isn’t just about what you earn  monetarily or through status. It’s about how you are able to spend your time, and how you feel about life as a whole. If you’re constantly pushing and struggling, then life is missing something.  And just maybe? That something isn’t more money, but rather the time and energy to give yourself the restorative activities that make life feel a little bit more like a treasure and a little less like a chore.

Today’s “resourceful” prompt combined with the Ten of Pentacles card and the topic of today’s meditation session is a reminder that restorative starts with “rest” for a reason, and that we all need not just sleep, but also activities in life that feel restorative to us.   Sometimes that means being resourceful and thinking outside the box. Stealing a few minutes here and there to experiment and try new things, even silly things, to find those that allow you a moment of respite now and then. As a result, you may discover you’re already more of a success than you think, as you begin to enjoy life just a bit more.

DECK USED: LOW SCARE TAROT

May 15 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was eleven minutes long, and was a #DailyCalm session from the @Calm app.

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The @GlitterbyInk #MayTag25 Challenge
Celebrating Our Community Prompt for May 15 : Energetic

Today’s draw is the High Priestess card, which is traditionally a representation of intuition, secrets, sacred knowledge, mystery, the subconscious mind.

The High Priestess in this card seems oftly cheeky with her flash of thigh and flirtatious glance up at the pillar of masculine strength in the upper corner.  I don’t often see the High Priestess as a sensual card, but in this one, it’s hard to miss. It seems to say loud and clear “when you know… you know”.

The other day, I had a card of the day that spoke about how just because we like something or find it appealing, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s right for us.  Today’s card? Says that when it *is* right for us? We’ll know.  No doubt. No questions asked. When you know, you know… you know? This knowledge comes from within. It comes from your gut and has nothing to do with thought or reason. It’s inner ken that says “YES” because it is right for you.

Today’s message is to not ignore those feelings. When they come, it means you’ve stumbled upon something special and “just right” for you. In those instances, maybe give yourself the opportunity to explore instead of just reject, for you never know what new good thing you might be discovering.

I am as at-fault as anyone else for missing these signs at times, by the way. Nearly seventeen years ago, when I first met Gideon, it wasn’t I who knew. I was too much in my head and full of resistance to know… to recognize who he was and the potential he held for me and my future.  It was him.

He knew.  He knew from the moment he first saw me, before we ever even met.  He knew, and he followed that knowing, worked hard to turn my gaze and get me to realize that being with him would not sacrifice my independence and how good we could be together.  And nearly seventeen years later? Here we are, still happy, and still going strong.

So don’t let FOMO conceal itself as that inner knowing.  If it’s meant to be?  It’ll be yours… even if you miss the signs at first.

DECK USED: ARCHANIA TAROT

Not for You

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Ouroboros Tarot's Eight of CupsThe @GlitterbyInk #MayTag25 Challenge
Celebrating Our Community Prompt for May 12 : Charismatic

Today’s draw is the Eight of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of withdrawal, abandonment, or letting go of things, situations, or people in your life that are just not working out for you emotionally.

Just because someone or something seems appealing doesn’t mean that it is meant for you or emotionally healthy for you.  This can be true whether it’s an outfit you see in a store window, a person you meet at a party, a food that looks (or even is) delicious but unhealthy for you, etc.

The message in today’s card is a reminder to not cling to those things that aren’t meant for you. No matter how appealing they seem, its important to have the self-awareness to know that even when something appeals, it’s not a good fit for you personally and will, in the long run, only end up causing frustrations or discomfort.

DECK USED:  OUROBOROS TAROT

#detarotjufmeitarotchallenge Tea With the Queens Challenge by @de_tarotjuf
Tea with the Queen of Swords : Intellect and Truth
Prompts for May 12 – 14

Oracle Reading with the Plant Magic! OracleWhat can I let go of to move forward?

Bonsai – Excess work. Meticulousness. Perfectionism. High maintenance people and over-maintenance in your endeavors.

If you want to slip free of where you are now and into a better place, you need to be able to say no, and be willing to let go of perfection and half-ass things when the responsibility for others becomes too much.

How can I clarify my thoughts?

Monstera – Understand that the thoughts that run through your head are often reactionary and built upon habit. You can respect yourself by providing support for your thoughts, rather than letting them run rampant with negativity. Feed your thoughts positivity and optimism to fertilize growth in the direction you want your thoughts to go. In doing so you offer room not just for growth, but greater mental clarity as well.

What are my most important values and beliefs?

Witch Hazel – Meditation really can make a difference in your life if you let it. You really do need alone time away from others. It’s in these practices that you are able to develop and maintain a calm center within yourself, and thus the peace and serenity needed to deal with the chaos of day-to-day life.

Other elements included in this reading:
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: PLANT MAGIC! ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

This is a catch up post, and I’m not entirely sure what the self kindness was for this day.

Protecting Peaceful Moments

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

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The Cubby Cat Tarot's Nine of WandsThe @GlitterbyInk #MayTag25 Challenge
Celebrating Our Community Prompt for May 11 : Imaginative

Today’s draw is the Nine of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of boundaries, defensive maneuvers, and protection of what you hold dear.

Defend what matters to you, no matter what. If that means contacting city bylaws again for the third time this year to report the building next door in order to preserve your peace?  Do it!

(Pauses in writing this to do just that.)

Peace is important, whether it’s getting a few minutes to yourself once in a while, the quiet needed to think, or even just a bathroom with the door closed and no one on the other side either knocking or talking through it. Peace is an essential part of maintaining our health and well-being.

The message in today’s card is a reminder that these moments of peace are worth protecting. Without them, restoration and healing become harder (if not impossible). So even if it feels like an inconvenience, make sure that you are protecting these moments of peace in your life with good boundaries. Just imagine how much life would suck without those moments of peace, and use that as your motivation to make sure you keep them safe.

DECK USED:  THE CHUBBY CAT TAROT

#detarotjufmeitarotchallenge Tea With the Queens Challenge by @de_tarotjuf
Tea with the Queen of Swords : Intellect and Truth
Prompts for May 9 – 11

Oracle Reading with the New Gate Oracle Era of Wind and Spirits In Flowers OracleWhat is a truth that I am currently being allowed to face?

Connect With Your Higher Self – It is intention that creates action and the manifestation of your goals. If you don’t really intend to “do a thing” or move in a certain direction, even though you know you should, your task or goal has a greater chance of failure as a result.

It is important, therefore, when making your goals that your intentions align with them, and that you aren’t allowing self-doubt, disinterest, or inner-negative narratives get in the way. In this way, you are setting clear intentions that your actions and the universe can use to harmonize into reality.

How can I communicate better?

Set Priorities – “What is the most important thing to me right now?” and “Do I need to care about this?” are two extremely important questions to ask yourself. It’s only when you are clear and honest about your priorities that you can set achievable goals and accomplish those things that matter to you. Ask yourself these questions often in order to communicate more clearly with yourself on what you’re doing and where you’re going on your personal path.

What mental challenges do I  have at this time?

Snapdragon (Antirrhinum) – It’s difficult for you to focus on the positive, even when you are familiar now with the domino effect that optimism can create in moving toward your goals and a healthier, happier life. Positivity breeds more positivity, but you struggle to be open to the seeds of optimism.

How can I overcome them?

Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) – Persistence. Keep trying. The bluebell says, “Every day is a brand new day, and every moment a chance to start over and try again”.  In the spirit of this message, don’t give up. It’s through consistent effort that you return to again and again whenever you fall off track that will eventually get you there.

Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Rhododendron Leaf for Fostering Confidence
Conch Shell Knot for Concentration, Clarity, and Determination
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: NEW GATE ORACLE ERA OF WIND AND SPIRITS IN FLOWERS ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

This is a catch up post, and I’m not entirely sure what the self kindness was for this day.

Supportive Acts of Self-Care

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Today’s meditation was twelve minutes long, and was a #DailyCalm session from the @Calm app.

The session for today dealt with anxiety, and was a guided meditation concerning confronting and then releasing instances, people, and situations that make our anxiety spike, even if just for the few minutes of a meditation.

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Tarot of a Moon Garden - Ten of WandsThe @GlitterbyInk #MayTag25 Challenge
Celebrating Our Community Prompt for May 10 : Supportive

Today’s draw is the Ten of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of overwhelm, burnout, struggling under too much responsibility, and can indicate a need to do some prioritizing and delegation.

Anxiety creates overwhelm. You could have nothing pressing on your plate and minimal responsibilities, and anxiety would still create a sense of overwhelm so great that you feel unable to cope.

The thing is, anxiety is temporary. Depression is temporary. These things that influence our perception of what is “too much” for us are all temporary. That doesn’t mean that they should be ignored, though. It’s through supportive acts of self-care that we deal with these feelings and help to ease them.

So remember… just because we “tay the course” on your path doesn’t mean we ignore our discomfort or neglect our needs along the way. Instead, by giving ourselves moments of rest and the loving care we need at any given time, we support our journey and help ourselves in continuing on in healthier ways.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF A MOON GARDEN BORDERLESS EDITION

#DiscordTarotholicsMay2025 Challenge
Prompt for May 11 : Do Spread 2
Prompt for May 10: What do you need to focus on for self-care for the next month’s full moon?

Oracle Reading with the Oracolo dei Visi

Reading Summary: The curvature of the wreath in the anchor card (The World) connects with the horns of the goat in the Determination card. There is also a lack of laurel that is normally present in The World card, but shows up on the head of the figure in the Honor card. These connections speak of a need for determination to reach the finish line on a project that you’ve been working on, but remember not to sacrifice your honor to get there.

“Don’t let the goal distract you from who you are” is shown in the fact that the man in the Honor card faces towards the future, while the hawk beneath him and the woman in The World card both face toward the past.

The figure in the Dream card also faces toward the past, and almost in the exact same angle as the face of the figure in The World card. This speaks of a need to reevaluate your dreams from the past that you are working toward, and decide if they’re really what you want in the present, or if you’re pushing forward out of stubborn determination alone.

Take Away: Sometimes, the dreams we have and the goals that we create from them are a reflection of what we need in the moment, instead of what is good for us in the future.

These cards are encouraging you to look at these dreams and goals that you have held dear for so long, and ensure that they are still in alignment with who you are in the present and where you want to go. Make sure that you aren’t sacrificing yourself and who you are becoming to fulfilled dreams and goals that are no longer applicable to you.

Other elements included in this reading:
Bind Rune on Cedar for a Protected Home
Foraged English Oak Leaf for Strength and Determination
Clear Quartz Crescent for Amplification of Lunar Energies
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECKS USED: THE GRATITUDE ORACLE (SELF NADE) AND ORACOLO DEI VISION

Daily Self Kindness

This is a catch up post, and I’m not entirely sure what the self kindness was for this day.