tarot

The Things We Keep

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Today’s meditation was about fifteen minutes long, and was a self guided meditation done in the dentist chair while the hygienist did the scaling on my teeth.

During today’s meditation, I focused on the information in the graphic about otters and their rocks.  I had no idea that otters had special rocks, or a pocket to carry one around in.  I think that’s incredibly sweet, though. I’m a big fan of otters and often watch them play in live zoo feeds, as well as in rescue/recovery videos and other social media.  They are very playful and community minded, and I i find the idea that they have this “one good thing” that they choose to carry with them wherever they go to be incredibly sweet.

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Faeries and Magical Creatures Tarot - Four of CupsThe @GlitterbyInk #AprilFinds25 Challenge
Lost and Found Prompt for April 2 : Balance

Today’s draw is the Four of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of dejection, refusal of assistance, contemplative moments, meditation, and feelings of apathy.

In looking at this card, I don’t see a lot of apathy, but I do see displeasure on the face of the Fae as he looks into the mirror he holds in his hand.  Combined with the water he soaks in, which feels like stewing in one’s emotions, I find that the message in today’s card when combined with the meditation for today is to be careful what you take with you, because even the little things matter.

Whatever we choose to carry with us as we move through life influences our emotional perspective on everything else. We can carry our dissatisfaction with life or the things in it with us, or we can let them go and instead carry with us the things that bring us joy.  It’s a choice. It requires choosing to let go of the bad, and instead focus on the good.  In doing so, we stew ourselves in pleasure and happiness, instead of dissatisfaction and discontent. Which way would you rather tip the scales?

DECK USED:  FAERIES AND MAGICAL CREATURES TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsApr2025 Challenge
Prompts for April 3rd thru 5th

The Granny Squares Card DeckWhat is the most valuable thing you can do for yourself this month?

Heartfelt Square – Allow your heart to have a say instead of always leaning into logic and reason. You’ll feel happier and healthier if you give your heart a chance to speak as well rather than disregarding its input as irrational and thus irrelevant.

What is the most valuable thing you can do for yourself this month?

Rose Square – Get out and get your hands in the dirt. Play with the flowers. Plant some of the beauty into your life that will then grow into something joyous that will sustain you for the months to come.

What is the most valuable thing you can do for others this month?

Levantine Square – Stay calm and serene. Being reactionary hurts the situation and helps no one. Others need you to be levelheaded and not fly off the handle this spring.

What good is ready to come into bloom in your life with spring’s arrival?

Daisy Wheel Square – You are being given the opportunity to be the eye of the storm both for yourself, as well as for others. Focus on being that calm space were a break can be taken and a breath of fresh air pulled in. The moment of calm, and even happiness, in chaos.

What can you do to encourage this arrival?

April Square – Instead of looking forward to the future or back into the past. Your priority needs to be in the present for the time being. Stay focused on the here and now. Make sure that you are leaning into meditations that focus on current circumstances and awareness of what’s going on around you in the now.

Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Rhododendron Leaf for Fostering Confidence
Rose Quartz for Gentle Kindness to Self and Others
Aventurine Goddess for Harmony and Balance of the Heart
Citrine for Energy Lift (easing the weight of heavy energies)
Selenite Spoon for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: THE GRANNY SQUARES CARD DECK

Daily Self Kindness

I took a total of two naps today.  One in the morning after my dentist appointment, and a second one in the evening before supper.

Finding Fun in the Journey

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and was one of the #DailyCalm sessions from the @CalmApp. The session was about the benefits of inviting humor into your life.

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The @GlitterbyInk #AprilFinds25 Challenge
Lost and Found Prompt for April 1 : Curiosity

Black Seed Tarot - Three of WandsToday’s draw is the Three of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of the first active step in a journey, progress towards a goal, and the seizing of opportunities.

Combined with the Lost and Found prompt for today, the message in today’s card is about how we choose the journeys that we decide to explore, and an encouragement to allow curiosity to take the wheel once in a while.

Remember that life is more interesting when your curiosity is engaged. Not all choices and paths can be chosen by reason and responsibility. Sometimes, you have to go with what sparks your interest and draws you in, even if… or maybe especially when you don’t know where it’s going to lead you.  In these cases?  The mystery can be half the fun.

DECK USED:  BLACK SEED TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsApr2025 Challenge
Prompt for April 1 : Do the 2nd Quarter Spread

2nd Quarter Tarot Reading with the Black Seed Tarot, A Little Rain Oracle, and Dream Affirmation Cards

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 April : Eight of Wands

Look at how the cattails bend in the breeze, always adapting to move teeth the flow. The stalks do not break, and the roots stay anchored deep as wild energies toss them to and fro. Take the lesson of the cattails to heart and make sure you bend when you need to  in order to adapt instead of breaking.

Focus / Advice for April : Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis)

Movement and change are needed. Take these lessons to heart and foster faith within yourself that all will work out in the end. Efforts to stay positive will help you adapt more easily when needed.

Ray of Hope for April : I have the power to make my all dreams come true.

Don’t let difficulty discourage you. Adapt to the changes that come in the present, but stay on track for your long-term goals. In the long run, adaptation doesn’t have to steer you off course.

Theme for May : Judgement

Consider if the things you are doing in the present are in alignment with furthering the goal of who you want to become in the future. Are those that you surround yourself in helping you to meet those goals? Or are they holding you back from the growth you seek to achieve?

Focus / Advice for May : Rumduol (Sphaerocoryne lefevrei)

Trust that your judgment concerning others and their character is not as bad as it sometimes feels like it is. Work on stepping out of your shell a bit more in order to connect more meaningfully with others this month.

Ray of Hope for May : I am a creative thinker and I find great solutions.

There is power in brainstorming with others.  You offer perspectives others might not consider, and they do the same for you. Remember that together, your ability to problem solve and dip into thinking outside the box is far more powerful than on your own.

Theme for June : Ten of Pentacles

You have a lot going for you this month, and it’s a perfect time to spend some time really acknowledging and appreciating how far you’ve come and how comfortable you have become in sharing the stability that you’ve developed for yourself with your loved ones.

Focus / Advice for June : Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis)

Count your blessings and trust that you’re on the right track.  Wallow in the good stuff a little bit while there’s time and opportunity to do so, and it will help to give you a fresh, happy glow that not only reflects in your countenance, but also in  your view of the world around you.

Ray of Hope for June : I am grateful for all the wonderful things in my life, big and small.

Make sure that you are looking at things in a positive light, enjoying your accomplishments rather than disregarding them as insignificant. Even small accomplishments have value.

Other elements included in this reading:
Brass Compass Rose for Finding Direction
Dried Rhododendron Leaf for Fostering Confidence
Foraged Norway Maple Key for Bouncing Back to Thrive
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECKS USED: BLACK SEED TAROT, A LITTLE RAIN ORACLE, DREAM AFFIRMATION CARDS

Daily Self Kindness

Once I got home today, I spent some much needed quiet time creative writing with Gid.

What Are You Growing?

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and was one of the #DailyCalm sessions from the @CalmApp. I don’t really remember what the session for today was about, only that it had something to do with being kinder to yourself and not listening to that inner voice that tries to tear you down.

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Fantastical Creatures Tarot - the Justice cardToday’s draw is the Justice card, which is traditionally a representation of balance, cause and effect, repercussions and consequences, give and take,  and can often indicate the law or legal system.

Combined with what I can remember of today’s meditation session, the encouragement here today is to remember that “you get what you give”.

That means that if you allow negative thoughts and recriminations to have free reign in your head?  Then what you get out of that is negativity  and a tearing down of self confidence.

A better option is to counter balance that negativity going on upstairs with a bit of positivity by taking time to appreciate the good stuff in life.  Even if it’s just taking a moment to enjoy a spot of sunlight or appreciate the shade of green in the leaves of a plant. Gather up the pleasurable things, the things you’ve enjoyed, and the things you’ve accomplished. Enjoy them, and let that enjoyment help in beating back the negative thoughts trying to take over.

DECK USED:  FANTASTICAL CREATURES TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsMar2025 Challenge
Prompt for March 31 : Pick a spread of your choice that you’ve been curious about… and give it a go!
@Lionharts #TheMarchTarot The Power of Now Challenge
Spread : I Am Where I Need To Be Tarot Spread

"I Am Where I Need To Be" Oracle Reading with the Dragon Path oracle

How have I deepened my connection to the present?

Transformation – You have been working on shifting your focus from a future driven push to always be advancing to a focus on the present. This shift then opens up space to let in more recognition, appreciation, and gratitude.

What have I uncovered that will continue to guide me?

Crystal – Clarity in how you view yourself and your actions has become easier to access and will continue to guide you if you let it. Among other things, this clarity allows you to see the stagnancy you’ve been stuck in as a time of retreat and healing rather than failure.

How can I  honor the power of now as I move forward?

Harmony – Keep the lessons mentioned above in mind as you plan for the future. Don’t just acknowledge, but put into action the understanding that there needs to be a balance between your drive towards future goals and your appreciation of the present.

Other elements included in this reading:
Northern Red Oak Leaf Impression for Inner Strength
Conch Shell Knot for Concentration, Clarity, and Determination
Picture Jasper for Sense of Proportion and Grounding

DECK USED: DRAGON PATH ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

I made sure to get my rush orders done and out the door so that I can take a couple extra days off without worrying about them. The trip was trying and I feel like I need a little extra recovery time.

All the Hidden Things

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long and a self-directed session based on a graphic by @FredwardFall

This graphic really touched me in a deep and pretty pervasive way. It made me spend time considering what in life directs my actions, reactions, thoughts, and perceptions that perhaps I’m not even aware of.  This train of thought then wandered into thoughts of inner child work and shadow work, both of which explore parts of your inner paradigm that are not clearly seen through the lens of everyday life, but function beneath the surface, usually suppressed and ignored.

And yet even as we ignore them?  They continue to hold influence over us that we often don’t even realize or acknowledge.

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Fox Fairy Goddess Tarot - The High PriestessToday’s draw is the High Priestess card, which is traditionally a representation of intuition, secrets, sacred knowledge, mystery, the subconscious mind.

The message in today’s card is an encouragement to listen to that secret inner knowledge that only you are privy to, because it’s in dipping into the unknown within ourselves that we learn and grow.

Combined with the meditation done today, we carry this theme further in understanding that means not just listening to our intuition, but also to the other suppressed voices within us as well, like our inner child and our shadow.

This is how we deepen our understanding of self, and at the same time of others.  This is how we learn to become whole and connected to the deepest parts of ourselves, and through that connection then can deepen our connection to our spirituality, our path, and the world around us as a whole.

DECK USED:  FOX FAIRY GODDESS TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsMar2025 Challenge
Prompt for March 30 : Do Interrobang Tarot’s Spring Spread

Spring Tarot Reading with the Bad Ideas Lead to Better Ones Cards and Amethyst Oracle

This spread goes from bottom to top. We begin with the underground, with death and decay.

Death/Passage: What died for me in the past season?

Pack All the Things and Passivity – You have successfully managed to pull yourself out of the cycle of stagnancy you’ve been experiencing over the past few months without overloading your plate with too many extra responsibilities.

Decay/Fertilizer: How does that passage fertilize what comes next?

Feeling Overwhelmed and Collection – The passage of this time of stagnancy allows you to more easily identify and acknowledge where you are still feeling overwhelmed or weighed down, and then begin working on finding a better balance in these areas.

Next, we consider the perennial, and turn our attention to any old growth due to renew.

The Perennial (Rebirth): What renews or rekindles for me now?

Eat While They’re Busy and Fear – It’s time to allow yourself the space you need to care for yourself properly, without allowing the fear of something going wrong to keep pulling you back into unhealthy caretaker habits.

Tending & Cultivation: How can I best greet and tend to this?

Clean the Body and Poison – Identify and reflect on what is perpetuating “sickness” within your life and it’s flow. Spend some time familiarizing yourself with those unhealthy patterns and cleansing them from your life.

Finally, we look above ground to consider the annuals, the unplanted seeds, and our garden plans.

The Annual (New Life/Seed): What do I plant next or start afresh?

Competitive Online Gaming, Spring, and Precarious – Work on establishing a better balance between those non-productive activities that you enjoy and the productive ones you need to get done. Now that you have broken free of that cycle of stagnancy, it’s the ideal time to establish better balance between these two areas.

Planning & Plotting: How can I best prepare to make sure that it thrives?

Uses a Wheelchair and Perspective – Use your ability to “put yourself in others shoes” to foster greater patience for yourself and others.

Other elements included in this reading:
Sigil: Sustainable Healthy Energy
Dried Rhododendron Leaf for Fostering Confidence
Foraged Norway Maple Key for Bouncing Back to Thrive
Kambaba Jasper for a sense of Peace and Tranquility
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: BAD IDEAS LEAD TO BETTER ONES CARDS AND THE AMETHYST ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

When Gid asked me to take a moment to really consider if I was okay with drowning today, I actually did it instead of just jumping in right away because it’s what I want and was craving.

Fight Back with a Reality Check

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

It can be hard for some to believe that I’m not a patient person. I display a good deal of patience with others, after all. In truth, though? I simply hide my impatience behind the tendency to do everything myself and self-abuse myself with inner narratives to push myself to work harder and faster.

The meditation session for today was a reminder that patience isn’t just for others, but for the self as well. When we give ourselves patience, we help to “cut the strings” of our negative inner narrative’s control over us and the unhealthy demands that those negative thoughts feed us.

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Card of the Day Tarot Reading with the Wild Reflections Tarot - Eight of SwordsToday’s draw is the Eight of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of willful ignorance, self-imposed restrictions, turning a blind eye (especially when it can be harmful to self), and entertaining a victim mentality.

The card for today combined with this morning’s meditation is a reminder not to ignore that negative inner voice.  Don’t just push it away and pretend that it isn’t there, for it will just continue to do more damage by whispering from the dark corner you shove it into.

Instead, confront it.  Hear what it says and -correct- it with thoughts of love, kindness, and understanding. In giving yourself this gift of patience by fighting back against that negative inner voice, you allow a healthier side of yourself to flourish, and provide yourself with sorely needed healing that you’re currently ignoring.

DECK USED: WILD REFLECTIONS TAROT

@Lionharts #TheMarchTarot The Power of Now Challenge
Embodying the Present Prompts for March 23 – 28

Oracle Reading with the Esprit de la Nature OracleI move with clarity and confidence. How have I already begun to empower myself through my actions?

Cincincha – You have already begun to empower yourself by working to embrace not just the good, but also the bad; not just in the world around you, or in the things that happen in your life, but also within yourself. This is not always an easy task, but the effort is there to create acceptance for yourself and your reactions, your experiences and your surroundings… regardless of whether these things are perceived as good or bad in the moment.

I align my actions with my deepest knowledge. What choice before me reflects my best self?

Élémental de terre – Less frenetic energy, more calm. Take your time and let things move at their own pace. When you choose to move with the flow of the world around you and ground yourself in and the earth, you give yourself permission to move at a slower pace and be more present in the moment.

I claim the path that is meant for me. What am I ready to step into?

Géant – When your ancestors and guides speak, remember that they are doing so for your greatest good. Work on reserving your doubt concerning their motivations when they speak to you, but rather listen and consider what they have to say and the advice that they’re trying to give you with an open mind at face value.

I trust in my own wisdom. What inner strength will guide me forward?

Cerf – Remember that vulnerability is its own kind of strength. You do not always have to be the one in charge or the strongest of them all, for in your vulnerability comes the strength you cannot find when you are on your guard and keeping others at arms length.

I trust in the foundation I have built. How has embracing presence strengthened my path forward or my overall journey?

Licorne argentée – Believe in the power of your creativity and the ability to manifest what you imagine into being. It may take hard work, but it also takes faith and belief that you can do this, whatever “this” is at the time.

I walk forward with purpose and clarity. What new possibilities have opened up to me?

Ogre – You have the opportunity to create a new sense of stability in your life right now. You need to stay focused on keeping yourself from becoming too distracted or spread too thin. Protect that stable foundation you have created and anchor yourself to it. That needs to be your priority.

Other elements included in this reading:
Serpentine to Bolster Heart and Emotions
Carnelian Agate for Inner Drive and Focusing On One’s Aspirations
Amethyst for Spiritual Growth
Rose Quartz for Gentle Kindness to Self and Others
Dumortierite for Intuitive and Intellectual Communication

DECK USED: ESPRITS DE LA NATURE ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

I did a good deal of resting today. The trip I just got back in left me extremely overstimulated, and I needed some time alone as well as some decent naps (plural) to help find my balance again.

Finding the Positive for March 27 & 29

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Rosa Obscura Tarot's The Hermit card, and The New Voice Tarot's the Devil card

March 27 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and was one of the #DailyTrip sessions from the @Calm app. It spoke of how the narrator has a car with an indicator light that never turns off.  His mechanic can’t find anything wrong with the car, and can’t figure out how to turn off the light, either. So the narrator takes this light as a reminder to give the car a little extra love and attention on the times when he notices it.

He likened this to our own bodies, and how when we have aches, pains, or soreness, it’s our body’s way of asking us for a little extra love.  It’s not something to punish ourselves for, or to push through, but rather something to stop and pause with for a moment, and to give ourselves a bit of love and understanding for.

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Today’s draw is the Hermit card, which is traditionally a representation of inner exploration, self reflection, and healthy alone time.

The card for today combined with today’s meditation asks us to reflect upon where we are being unnecessarily cruel to ourselves, and not providing ourselves with enough kindness and understanding.  What are we punishing ourselves for, and in what ways are we doing so?

It’s in reflecting on these things that we learn how to recognize issues and treat ourselves better moving forward. Don’t be afraid to open your eyes and take a closer look at what’s really going on between your negative inner narratives and those shortcomings and weaknesses that make you just as human as everyone else.

DECK USED: ROSA OBSCURA TAROT

March 29 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Today’s draw is the Devil card, which is traditionally a representation of temptation, struggles with moderation, harmful excesses, addiction, and self-harm.

When I was working on taking a picture of this card, I came to realize that maybe I don’t have quite enough small crystals and stones.  I -then- realized that I really don’t need more gemstones and crystals, but that this was my brain’s way of trying to tempt me into going shopping.

Thus, this card today had a personal message for me.  A reminder that sometimes we have to be responsible and not give in to the idea of a bit of frivolous spending, even when we really wanna. I don’t really -need- more small sized stones.  What I need? Is to pay off my mortgage and keep up on my financial responsibilities.  Knowing myself as I do, and that I have an extremely addictive personality, I know that one little spending splurge will quickly lead to another, and then yet another.

It’s better to nip this in the butt now.

DECK USED: THE NEW VOICE TAROT