textured tarot

Celebrating Your Joys

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Today’s meditation was just over ten minutes long and extremely uncomfortable. This had to do with the fact that my muscles were so tight that I was very stiff to the point of some pretty intense pain. It did help my body normalize the pain a bit, though, which is always a good thing.

Page of Wands - Textured TarotToday’s draw is the Page of Wands, which is often a representation of that spark of creativity within the energetic passion of the Wands suit.

The message for me in this card is about finding what you love and reveling in it. It isn’t enough sometimes to just do what you love, sometimes you need to really relish it. Wallow in it, and celebrate it and the joy you find within it.

It’s about enthusiasm and the joyous celebration of how our passions enrich our lives… and is very much the lighthearted reminder I needed today to help counterbalance the weight of my anger and disappointment concerning yesterday’s events.

DECK USED: TEXTURED TAROT

#TarotForGrowthFebruary Challenge Prompt
Question: What is my relationship with my mind right now?

Circle Inner Animal Tarot

Me – Queen of Swords – Dignity and Strength

My Mind – Nine of Cups – The Happy Camper

Our Relationship – Four of Cups and The Star – Working well together as long as I stay open

Advice – Seven of Wands – Avoid feelings of defensiveness

Take Away – Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched. I’m on solid footing, but even with my regular pessimistic outlook, I can sometimes be a bit too hopeful at times when my mind has already reasoned out a negative result or outcome.

DECK USED: CIRCLE INNER ANIMAL TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsFeb2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: Do Spread #1

Dixit Cards Daydreams Expansion PackReading Summary: Its time to start looking more closely at the spirit guide aspect of my practice, but during the early times of this new path, I need to tread lightly and with care.

My creativity will start to reawaken soon, and to foster that process, I just need to practice some patience for the time being. Just wait.

Take Away: I have always pretty much ignored my spirit guides. I knew that they existed and were out there to assist and protect me, but I’ve always just let them do their own thing and go their own way. This has always worked really well for me, and for them too it seems. But in the fall I had a n expert hat makes me feel like I need to start making more of an effort where they are concerned. The cards are telling me to take things slow and don’t be overeager in pursuit of that new connection and/or method of communication.

DECK USED: DIXIT CARDS DAYDREAMS EXPANSION PACK

Owl and Bones February Two Card Challenge
Question: Where to be free / Where to let your intuition guide you

Textured Tarot

Reading Summary: Now is a good time to research and work on getting my ducks in a row concerning the note administrative tasks of my home and business. Set my inner snake retentive organization freak free.

It’s going to be important to depend on my intuition when I start to feel like something is missing. The answers are not always clear cut to the naked eye and when you delve deeper, it will be you intuition that needs to lead the way.

Take Away: It’s tax season! Right… so I hate tax season, but it is an excellent opportunity to get organized and get all of one’s ducks in a row. I just need to remember not to allow all that organization and analytical thinking to shut down my intuition.

DECK USED: TEXTURED TAROT

Go On… Get Going

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PNW Rainforest Today’s meditation was done in the middle of the rainforest, and I didn’t really keep track of how long I was meditating for. I went for a hike earlier today, and while out among the trees and the ferns, I found a place to settle in for a bit and relaxed.

The meditation was obviously not guided, but a combination of breathing exercises and immersion into the senses and surroundings.

The Chariot - Textured TarotToday’s draw is The Chariot card, and was the inspiration for today’s hike. I was trying to decide between taking a nap or going outside to find some fresh air just before doing my cards today, and the chariot cane up.

I took it as a sign that I needed to get outside and take some control over my own self care, so I went for a drive and was drawn to an old stomping ground from my youth. I spent some time hiking down to the beach front park, and then back up again to where I’d left my car.

DECK USED: THE TEXTURED TAROT

#TarotForGrowthJanuary Challenge Prompt
Question: How is the universe inviting me to celebrate that? (Built off of yesterday’s reading)

Circle - Inner Animal Tarot

Reading Summary: Even though you can’t always see it (The High Priestess), you are protected and watched over when you are feeling vulnerable (the owl’s extended wing), so jump on in and explore your emotional depths (Knight of Cups). You’re safe and protected while doing so (The Emperor).

Take Away:  There is definitely a bit of hesitation. And one of those “I dunno what to do” feelings you get when trying something new and unfamiliar. Thank you for being there to watch over me and make sure that my fumbling in the dark to find my way doesn’t result in my breaking my nose in a rake handle. I love you, my stick.

DECK USED:  CIRCLE – INNER ANIMAL TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJan2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: What is your greatest vice you’re not consciously aware of?

Dixit Cards - Daydreams Expansion Pack

Reading Summary: My desire for acceptance is stronger than I realize (First Card), and on an emotional level I subconsciously seek out praise and or accolades (Second Card) to sate that desire (Third Card).

Take Away:  Ouch! Geez… ok yeah, that’s probably true. I’m pretty sure that’s a somewhat common human trait as a whole but it definitely stung a bit hearing it.

DECK USED:  DIXIT CARDS – DAYDREAMS EXPANSION PACK

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge Prompt
Question: What is a good way for me to stay motivated?

The Textured Tarot

Reading Summary: These cards are about my making the list. It’s about feeling mentally overburdened (Ten of Swords) and finding a new way (Ace of Swords) and you holding me accountable and keeping me on track emotionally (King of Cups).

Take Away:  I think the tasks list is a really good idea, but I think I might need a reminder now and then that when I write things down on it I need to break some of them down into smaller tasks.

DECK USED:  THE TEXTURED TAROT

Forward… No Backsliding

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Today’s meditation was just over ten minutes long, and focused on encouraging reflection upon one’s thought process and how it can create self-fulfilling prophesies.

It used a story known as The Two Wolves as the basis behind the guided meditation, and spoke on how when you focus on the negative, it gives that “wolf” energy and strength.  And the same when you choose to feed the positive “wolf” within as well.

I have always loved this story, although I think sometimes I have a habit of misinterpreting it.  It’s easy to take the moral of the story to mean you should ignore negative things, and that by starving them of attention they will die.   In truth?  You can’t always ignore the bad things.  Yes, sometimes they will starve and die… but other times they will fester.  The trick is in knowing which is which.

Page of Swords - Efflorescent Tarot (Color Edition)Today’s draw is the Page of Swords, which is often a representation of learning from the mistakes and challenges of the past, and moving forward with those lessons in hand to step into the future.

The Page of Swords in today’s draw is a reminder that today is a new step forward. After our talk last night, it would be easy to slip my way back into that fog of fear, but today’s card has stepped in to make sure with a new day that I stay on this new path.  The Page of Swords says, “Don’t fall back into the habits of the past, don’t sink back into the sludge, take care not to return to what came before. You don’t want to go back there. Move forward instead.”

DECK USED: THE EFFLORESCENT TAROT (COLOR EDITION)

#TarotForGrowthJanuary Challenge Prompt
Question: How can I nurture those seeds? (Build off of yesterday’s reading.)

Textured Tarot

Reading Summary: Gratitude (Ten of Cups) and rest (Four of Swords), and don’t allow for wallowing in uncertainty (Eight of Swords) because that breeds bad things (Nine of Swords).

Take Away:  I need to make sure that I’m taking the time and effort to be grateful for what I have instead of always looking for something more or better, as well as make sure I am resting when I need it instead of constantly pushing myself beyond my limits. Allowing myself to stand stagnant in the sludge of confusion and fear I’ve been trying so hard to ignore the last few months has not helped me in rising above anything, but only creates more stress and more opportunities for bad shit to overtake the good and turn my addictions against me.

DECK USED:  THE TEXTURED TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJan2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: What is something you have never considered doing that would improve your life?

Lost Forest Tarot

Reading Summary: This is about delegating. It’s about when new ideas spark and instead of holding them all to myself to execute on my own, taking them to a helper (once I get a new one) to have them do the “fleshing out” while I oversee the process.

Take Away:  Okay so this idea makes me squirm… just sayin’.  I’m pretty sure it’s the control freak aspect of my make-up that makes it hard for me to be comfortable with the idea.  But, it’s probably a really good one.  

The suggestion here is that when I have an idea for new products and I really want to move on it rather than putting it in my “ideas for later” book, I bring my helper into the design process from the start and have them do more of the physical labor part of my new design ideas while I keep a close watch and guide their hands, rather than pushing myself to do it all on my own.

DECK USED:  THE LOST FOREST TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge Prompt
Question: How can I ask for the help I need?

Field Tarot

Reading Summary: Take my head out of my ass and abandon my pride (Six of Wands). Sometimes you just have to do it what needs doing. (The Chariot) Don’t hesitate. Don’t sleep on it. Those things aren’t going to help. (Nine of Swords)

Take Away:  Damnit.  I hate to admit it.  But the truth is that sometimes it really is just pride holding me back.  It’s that assumption that I shouldn’t need help, or forcing myself to say “I can handle it” when I really can’t… or maybe I could, but it would be healthier for me if I didn’t handle it on my own.   At those times, I procrastinate asking for help and it creates a low thread of stress and anxiety in the background that then builds and builds on itself so subtly that I don’t notice until it’s too late.

These cards indicate that the better path is to set my expectations of myself and pride aside and just reach out for help from the start, and I can then circumvent those negative repercussions of not having done so.  They also suggest that in order to motivate myself into reaching out from the beginning, I need to remember just how messy both mentally and emotionally that things can get when I don’t seek out help.

DECK USED:  THE FIELD TAROT

An Optimistic View

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and was incorporated into my yoga/physio routine.   When I do yoga first and then settle into the meditation after, it seems to create a sense of accomplishment to my routine that I don’t get otherwise.   That said, although it creates this sense of accomplishment, I don’t feel as if I get as much out of these meditation sessions as I do from guided meditations.

Or… maybe I’m just missing the guided meditations, as I haven’t been doing them all that often lately.

The Fool - Spacious TarotToday’s draw is The Fool card of the Major Arcana.   I love this card for the Fool because it has the feeling of beginnings in a way that I think a lot of cards lack.   Yes, there’s an end to that cliff, but looking out over the horizon, there is a vast array of possibilities that the artistry speaks of for me.

And that is the message of the card in today’s draw.  The Fool makes an appearance today to remind me that life is a journey, and each day presents new possibilities to discover and explore.  It’s okay to look at the world with a sense of wonder and set aside pessimism to take a deep breath and appreciate all life has to offer.

DECK USED:  SPACIOUS TAROT

#TarotForGrowthJanuary Challenge Prompt
Question: How can I keep my actions aligned with my goals throughout the year?

Bohemian Animal Tarot

Reading Summary: Don’t allow yourself to get overwhelmed (Ten of Fire) and focus on staying optimistic (The Sun), proactive yet well grounded (Knight of Earth) while taking the time to be kind to yourself and others (The Goddess).

Take Away:  These are all things that are a bit of a challenge to me.  I have a habit of stacking too much on my plate, being pessimistic, and allowing myself to be unkind to myself.  These traits will be a hindrance to staying on track with my goals this year if I don’t stay on top of them.

DECK USED:  BOHEMIAN ANIMAL TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJan2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: Draw 3 cards to tell the story of what you would do for a Dove Bar. (Had to change it from Klondike bar, cuz those things are nasty.)

Textured Tarot

Reading Summary: Dive to the deepest of depths (Ten of Swords), and fly to the highest of heights (The Sun), and use all of my substantial skillz to get what I want (The Magician). WahhhHaHaHa!!!  (LoL… Sounds like a Celine Dion song, yeah?)

Take Away:  Honestly?  Dove Ice Cream Bars are, hands down, the most amazing ice cream bars on the planet.  No contest.  I’ve tried them all and they are far and above the winner out of them all.  That said?  I intentionally drew these cards with humor in mind, and they didn’t disappoint. 

DECK USED:  TEXTURED TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge Prompt
Question: How will I know I’m improving concerning my procrastination habit?

Ethereal Visions Tarot

Reading Summary:  Less issues with being upset with myself (Three of Swords), less struggles and more of a sense of accomplishment (Six of Wands atop the Seven of Wands), and obviously I’d be getting my work done (Eight of Pentacles).

Take Away:  When I let things pile up because of procrastination, the longer it goes on the worse I feel about myself and life in general.  By keeping up with tasks and not allowing them to pile up, I’m able to release the sense of struggling to move forward as well as that sense of disappointment in myself and embrace a sense of accomplishment.   It’s also a pretty obvious and telling sign that I’m improving if I’m actually getting things done and feeling on top of my work and projects.

DECK USED:  ETHEREAL VISIONS TAROT

Up And At ‘Em

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Today’s meditation was just under fifteen minutes long and was incorporated into some extra stretching during my physio/yoga time as I was quite sore this morning.  That was due to the furniture adventures yesterday, which I did while dehydrated and thus caused me to be unusually sore today.

It was relaxing, although not the norm.  Most of the focus during this time is on breathing, just as it is during regular meditation, but there is also a good amount of focus paid to body alignment and the release of muscle tension.

Four of Swords - Efflorescent Tarot (Color Edition)Today’s draw is the Four of Swords, which is a representation of reassessment, ease, stability, and shelter in the area of the mind, intellect, communication, and logic. This often presents itself with themes involving restoration, meditation, and recuperation, as well as potential stagnation.

What I see in today’s card is following along the same theme of a number of personal readings that I’ve done over the past few days.  That is to say, it deals with the stagnation that I have personally been feeling of late where I seem to be stewing in place rather than moving forward.

The card, to me, clearly communicates that in staying in one place too long, you run the risk of becoming tangled up and at risk.  Rest is only good for as long as you need it, then it can become something harmful.   This card’s appearance is further assertion (atop the recent readings) that it’s time to move forward instead of lingering in the murk and mire of indecision and hesitation.

DECK USED:  THE EFFLORESCENT TAROT (COLOR EDITION)

#TarotForGrowthJanuary Challenge Prompt
Question: What can I do to prepare myself to accept that gift? (Build off yesterday’s cards.)

Maregician Tarot (Sleeplessness Edition)

Reading Summary: Get your ass in gear (Justice atop the Nine of Diamonds), look at where you want to go (Judgement), and enlist others to assist you in getting there (Three of Hearts).

Take Away:  This is essentially a reiteration of my Self Care Saturday reading that I did yesterday.  The cards are saying that I need to take a good look at the amount of rest and recuperation I’ve been immersed in and begin the process of moving again in the direction of my goals.  The theme of bringing others in to help me is also pretty consistent, and being repeated again here as a reminder that I need to allow others to help me instead of forcing myself to take everything on by myself.

DECK USED:  MAREGICIAN TAROT (SLEEPLESSNESS EDITION)

#DiscordTarotholicsJan2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: Why do you take what what came up in yesterday’s prompt so seriously?

Lo Scarabeo Tarot

Reading Summary: Because I feel that it makes me stronger (Strength), and more prepared for disaster and difficulty (Nine of Swords), which gives the impression that by pushing myself harder I then manage to somehow free myself up for exploration of new inspirations and creative endeavors (Page of Wands).

Take Away:  The answers in the cards explain why, but that why is an illusion.  It’s true that it does feel that by bearing down on myself and being harsh with myself I am somehow not just increasing the quality of my work but also my productivity as a whole, freeing up time and energy to later explore what I want to do rather than what I have to do… but in truth what ends up happening is I end up exhausting myself and don’t get to use that free time earned in the way I want, because I have to use it to recover instead.

DECK USED:  THE LO SCARABEO TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge Prompt
Question: What do I need in order to create a more dependable morning routine? (Question was rephrased for clarity.)

The Textured Tarot

Reading Summary: Stop binding myself up in useless extraneous crap (Eight of Swords) so that I can have a quicker turnaround and more control concerning what gets done and when (The Chariot). I also need to work with L to coordinate better so that we aren’t tripping over each other so much (Two of Cups).

Take Away:  When L and I are trying to get ready at the same time, we have a bit of a “dance” we do where we circle around each other like satellites.   But there are times when there is absolutely no rhythm to it and we collide and bounce off each other, trip over each other and get in each other’s way.    The two of cups with it’s four faces and two of them bloody?  That is a representation of this occasional lack of rhythm and symmetry.

The other two cards indicate a need to not dawdle so much in the checking of mail and messages and other such extraneous pursuits when trying to get my ass moving in my morning routines.

DECK USED:  THE TEXTURED TAROT

Transitions and Changes

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Today’s meditation was just under fifteen minutes long, and I tried something new today.  As a part of my steps towards mediumship during my tarot practice, I settled in with a guided meditation concerning getting in contact with spirit guides.

This is something that many have made clear is an important step in the process, especially as a part of personal safety.    The problem?  I couldn’t focus.   I tried, but I just couldn’t do it.     I will try again another day, though.

Six of Swords - The Efflorescent TarotToday’s draw is the Six of Swords, which traditionally is a representation of transition, change, and letting go in the areas of intellect, communication, and challenges.

What I see here is sorrow.   I see the sharp and jagged teeth of the landscape behind her and the child in the boat, and the rough waters.  But she is moving away from these things.  Her face is filled with sorrow as she steers the boat upon its coarse

The appearance of the Six of Swords in today’s draw speaks of how difficult making the choice to make a change can be.  Change isn’t always something that falls in our lap or is inflicted upon us, sometimes it is a choice that requires leaving some people, places, things, or ways of thinking behind in order to move on to something better.

Today’s card is an encouragement concerning the renovations I am in the process of making to how I run my business this year.  It says… change is hard, but it will be worth it.

DECK USED:  THE EFFLORESCENT TAROT (COLORED EDITION)

#TarotForGrowthJanuary Challenge Prompt
Question: What does my body want me to know about 2020?

The Prediction Tarot

Reading Summary:  Stop allowing (The Emperor) my emotions and need to succeed (Queen of Cups beneath Page of Staves) hold me back from (The Moon) extending self care beyond the emotions and into the physical (The Empress)

Take Away:  The cards indicate that my body wants to elevate the way in which I care for it.   I spend a lot of time rounding out my self care in the spiritual and emotional side of things, but there is an aspect that I have not been focusing on, which is the physical side of things.  This is a request for more attention to be paid to how I treat my body and what my body needs.  In other words, “get off your ass and start eating healthier and going to the gym again”.

DECK USED:  THE PREDICTION TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJan2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: How have you grown over the past year?

Tarot Cats

Reading Summary:  A deeper emotional connection (Two of Cups) and a new way of looking (Ace of Swords) at my struggles (Five of Wands) of the past (Six of Cups).

Take Away:  A lot of times when “past year” reflections come about I find that I have repeated the same lessons over again, either because it didn’t stick the first time or because I just didn’t grasp it the first time around.   This year I’ve done a number of things differently, including beginning to share my spirituality with Gideon, which has brought us much closer, as well as much deeper understanding of how past events in my life (negative experiences) have influenced my life and development.

DECK USED:  TAROT CATS

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge Prompt
Question: How can I set realistic goals?

The Textured Tarot

Reading Summary:  Remember to stay stable and grounded (The Emperor) when change comes (Death) because… there’s going to be a whole lot of ups and downs and change this year (Wheel of Fortune).

Take Away:  Hello Wheel of Fortune once again.  As mentioned before, this is my birth card for the year.   The Emperor and the Death card indicate that it will be important when setting goals that I keep in mind just what kind of theme (ups and downs) this year has in store for me and create room in my plans for that possibility to manifest along the way.

DECK USED:  THE TEXTURED TAROT