Love and Kindness

IMG_7967Today’s meditation was just over ten minutes long and was combined with interval timer for my stretches.  The topic of this guided meditation was about the small choices we make… in other words, the butterfly effect.

It was about how with each small good choice we make for ourselves in our lives, we foster and encourage goodness and positivity and healthy habits to develop and take root.  And how it’s important to encourage this positive growth, as opposed to feeding the bad habits and making bad choices that hold us back.

Tarot of the Little Prince - Ten of SwordsToday’s draw is the Ten of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of painful endings, the dying off of hard times, and the end of cycles of difficulty and trials.  The swords suit is, after all, a story about tragedy and the Ten of Swords is the end of said tragedy before the hero of the story picks themselves back up and brushes themselves off to try again.

I find the imagery in this card to be extremely disorienting today.  I’m not sure if it has always made me feel this way, but today? When I look at this card it feels as if the entire world has been turned upside down.  And in this chaotic, confusing world the boy curls close the fox that is his companion to protect the fox from being hurt or lost.

The message here is about making sure that you are caring for your heart… your soft squishy insides.  When the world falls into chaos, make sure you’re taking care of what’s important to you… including yourself.  Kindness and love is needed.  It might not conquer all… but it makes everything just a little bit better.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE LITTLE PRINCE

#DiscordTarotolicsNov2020 Challenge Prompt
Question
: Do Spread #4

Tarots Egyptiens Anima AntiquaWhat have I been taking for granted?

Nine of Coins – I spend so much time focusing on where I’m going and what I need to do that I’ve forgotten to take time to enjoy the present and what I have in the now.  Gideon reminded me earlier today of this. I was sad about having lost my “easy”… that easy going nature I’d had when I was younger siphoned away over time as I started my own businesses and responsibilities piled on my shoulders.

He reminded me that yes, that “easy” was nice, but it was also a time in my life where I was struggling just to feed myself.  In the same way as looking back on what I miss, I often train my focus forward on where I want to go… but in truth?  I need to spend more of my focus on the now, and just how good I have it these days.

What’s been holding me back from seeing my blessings clearly?

Six of Swords Rx – My determination to move forward and claim more of what I want out of life, to achieve more and succeed.  To stake my claim on the future. This determination has made it difficult to ease up and enjoy the present to its fullest.

How can I better express my gratitude in the future?

Knight of Cups – Instead of focusing so hard on responsibilities and goals, seek out the things that bring me joy and satisfaction and go after them instead.  Seek the things that foster a bit of pleasure in the present instead of constantly striving for more out of the future.

What do I need to acknowledge gratitude for in my relationships?

Four of Swords – I am so grateful that those in my life understand my need for alone time and encourage that.  It’s something that I don’t express a lot of gratitude for, but having had some experience in the past few years with some truly extroverted people that need a good deal of social contact?  I have come to realize that the friends and loved ones I have are very unique in that they are supportive of my need for alone time.  I didn’t realize how rare this was until… well, just now when thinking about it.

What do I need to acknowledge gratitude for in my finances?

Five of Cups – This is an echo of the response in my first question of this spread.  It’s about realizing how good I have it now, and feeling gratitude for the present and all that I have in this present moment. I need to stop telling myself that I’m not doing enough… that it’s not enough… that I’m not enough.

What do I need to acknowledge gratitude for in my work life?

King of Cups – I am able to do what truly nourishes my soul.  Sometimes I might feel worn down and tired, and I might not enjoy it as much as I could… or should.  But, the fact remains, I’m doing what I love. I’m doing what I enjoy. And, through my work, I share my pleasure and enjoyment, my emotions and my hopes and the energy of my positive emotions with others with every single piece that I ship out.

DECK USED:  TAROTS EGYPTIENS ANIMA ANTIQUA

Squishy On The Inside

Today’s meditation was skipped this morning because the girls wouldn’t leave me alone.  They were driving me nuts. Even when I asked them to leave me alone for a bit, they couldn’t seem to resist being distracted. So yeah… I’ll do it tonight before I go to bed.

Tarot of the Little Prince - The EmperorToday’s draw is the Emperor card, which is traditionally a representation of leadership and authority, structure and stability, as well as themes that have to do with “the establishment” and a classic “father figure” type of energy.

What stands out to me the strongest in the imagery of this card today is the sleeping prince in the throne while the Emperor sits on a rock watching over him and entertaining the fox.

What I see here in this imagery is protection and care.  What I see here in this picture is the love that someone can have for those that seek out their help.  The love of a caregiver that carries many, many responsibilities.

The message here is that even those that are too busy or seem formidable sometimes have the kindest hearts, and only need the right opportunity to allow that kindness to shine through. Don’t be fearful of these people, for they are human too.  Maybe you won’t get the chance to see that soft kindness that resides within their hearts, but never doubt that it’s there waiting for the right moment to break free.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE LITTLE PRINCE

LionHart’s As Above So Below Challenge Prompt
Uranus Question
: How can I use the energy of Capricorn in Uranus in my chart to help me discover and learn new things?

Tarots Egyptiens

Reading Summary: Keep in mind how long things will take (Seven of Coins) to get done when plotting and planning (Two of Wands) for your hearts desires (Nine of Cups), and that you will reap what you’ve sown along the way (Judgement).

Take Away:  It’s not about the end goal, but about the journey and what you do to get there along the way. No matter what I’m learning, it’s important to remember that everything takes time and those things that take the longest to learn are often the ones that are the most awarding in the end.

DECK USED:  TAROTS EGYPTIENS ANIMA ANTIQUA

#DiscordTarotolicsNov2020 Challenge Prompt
Question
: Let Go / Find Support / Dig Deeper

ICER Intuitive Art TarotLet GoEight of Fire – Slow down. Being constantly leaning full tilt into what you’re focused on is exhausting. Make sure you are taking breaks and breathers.  Make sure you are taking time for yourself, and that means not just physically but also mentally.  Meditation and forest walks are only going to help if you let yourself release that desperate need to push and push and do more and more.  Let it go and take a breath.

Find SupportWheel of Fortune – Get help with the chaos. At this time of year things are moving so fast that it can be hard to find your center and keep your balance. Instead of standing at the center of the wheel while the  thing spins around you, you are standing at the edge and the centrifugal force is trying to knock you on your ass.  You have others in your life willing to help you stay on you feet… reach for the help they’re offering.

Dig DeeperThe World – There’s more to life than work. Don’t forget to look up and look around, and ultimately remember where you are going and the path you have chosen beyond the work you do each day.  There is more to life than work.  Your path and your growth are important too.

DECK USED:  ICER INTUITIVE ART TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: When do people most often misunderstand me?

Edgar Allan Poe Tarot

Reading Summary: When I’m trying to help others (Six of Pentacles), but I’m too emotionally invested (Queen of Cups Rx) and/or I’m doing it for the wrong reasons (Three of Swords).

Take Away:  When trying to help others, it can be frustrating when they won’t listen, willfully only hear what they want to hear, or refuse to accept the help being offered. There are times, if I am emotionally invested in helping them, that this can turn into a tug of war as I try harder to make myself clear and they try harder to remain oblivious (or obtuse).   In these times, my emotional investment is working against me and creating disappointment and struggle, which in turn creates even more misunderstanding as my motives then come into question.

DECK USED:  EDGAR ALLAN POE TAROT

Revelry Can Be Healthy

Today’s meditation was skipped.  This is primarily because I overslept and felt like if I went to lie down and meditate, I’d end up dozing off again.  I figured that an impromptu nap, although nice, probably wasn’t going to make my day go any smoother, so I decided to put the meditation off until later.  At this point, it’s now a meditation that I will do before bed, since it’s now the end of the day.

Traditional Manga Tarot - Four of WandsToday’s draw is the Four of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of the passion and stability found in one’s home life, the celebration of that stability and the relaxation it can provide, and the joys of homecoming.

When I think of the Four of Wands, I think of that moment when you step through the front door and take a breath.  The stress and tension of the outside world sloughing off and falling away as you exhale, and leaving behind a sense of relief.  That, in its own way, is very much a celebration… but it is not the kind of celebration that I see here in the imagery of today’s card.

What I see here looks more like revelry.

And… why not? Sometimes a little lighthearted revelry to celebrate the comfort and stability of your home life is a good thing.  A form of appreciation and expression of joy at the harmony and security you’ve grown and fostered for yourself and those you love.

DECK USED:  TRADITIONAL MANGA TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsNov2020 Challenge Prompt
Question
: Do Spread #2
What drives my urge to spend beyond my means?

Golden Tarot by Kat BlackReading Summary: The desire to have what I want when I want it (Seven of Swords), and feeling a lack of nurturing in my life (Queen of Cups Rx), combined with an enthusiasm that tries to blind me to reality (The Fool).

The Seven of Swords and Queen of Cups lean into the past, indicating that these urges are rooted in my past instead of within the present or future.  There is also a color connection between the Seven of Swords and the Fool which indicates that the “I want what I want when I want it” urge is a foolish endeavor, and rooted in childish mentality.

Take Away: I am feeling called out. *LOL*  Fortunately we are talking about urges, and I have the self restraint to make sure I do not spend beyond my means… no matter how tempting that might be sometimes.  The indication here is that that urge to spend beyond my means is rooted in the need for a balm to some inner part of myself that feels neglected and abandoned… combined with a bit of the whole “I want what I want when I want it” added in there.

DECK USED:  GOLDEN TAROT BY KAT BLACK

Heal & Transform November Challenge Prompt
Question
: What aspect of myself am I ready to nurture and embrace?

Emerging From Darkness Tarot

Reading Summary: Everybody is looking towards the past, and thus this reading is about the past and how it influences my present and future.

In the past lies the home life I craved filled with stability, security, comfort, and harmony (Four of Wands Rx). I’m ready to lean into my meditation and spirituality (Four of Cups) to overcome the obstacles that my past has created (Nine of Wands) and move forward in learning how to build my own home (Daughter of Coins).

Take Away:  The cards here indicate that it is time to use my spirituality and meditation to assist me in overcoming my shadows concerning my home life when I was young and how it influences how I treat myself and look at my future goals concerning home life and stability.  There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding my stability and security when it comes to my home life, not because I am unable to create these things, but because there is a negative whisper inside where my shadows live that tells me it’s never enough.

It’s time to start nurturing that part of myself, and accepting that the past does not have to reverberate into the future.

DECK USED:  EMERGING FROM DARKNESS TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What is my biggest strength?

Tarots Egyptiens Anima Antiqua

Reading Summary:  Using my sense of order and organization (Nine of Wands) to assist me in getting what I want out of life (Ten of Coins) and using my creativity to get me there (Knight of Cups) despite the obstacles that stand in my path (Queen of Wands Rx).

Take Away:  The fact that I am adaptable and willing to use my creativity to advance towards my goals, combined with my sense of order and organization, is my greatest strength as it allows me to overcome obstacles that might try to block me along the way.

DECK USED:  TAROTS EGYPTIENS ANIMA ANTIQUA