The Botan Tarot

Lessons From the Past

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

The Botan Tarot - King of SwordsToday’s draw is the King of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of a projective alpha energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s intellect, education, communication, and instinct. Part of this also includes imagination, although that can also touch upon the Cups suit as well.

What really stands out to me in the imagery of this card today is both the wings he wears in his headdress, as well as the fact that the King is facing staring into the past (facing left).

This speaks to me of the fact that Kings don’t just speak and give direction. They must also listen. It is through listening to others and the past that we make wise choices on how to move forward. Today’s card is a reminder that through experience (both our own as well as that of others) we learn… and those lessons are our responsibility to carry forward with us into the future.

DECK USED:  THE BOTAN TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsApr2023 Challenge Prompt
Questions for April 1st

Materia Medica Oracle 2nd EditionWhat is the most valuable thing you can do for yourself this month?

Kava and Milk Thistle – Work at absorbing the fact that you can’t hide from your shit by using social media. (Scrolling on Instagram is enjoyable down time, but not productive.) Work at instilling more discipline to ensure you’re not using it as escapism and thus not getting anything done as a result.

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

Asheagandha and Mullein – Work on toning down your aggression a bit. You can accomplish just as much with a soft touch and a bit of sugar as you would with a baseball bat and some vinegar.  The aggression can be a bit off-putting to others.  It peaked a bit ago, but is still in the process of dissipating. Adding some conscious awareness to the process will help this go smoothly for you and everyone else too.

DECK USED: THE MATERIA MEDICA ORACLE 2nd EDITION

@Lionharts #TheAprilTarot Light My Fire Challenge Prompt
Question: What inner fire am I guided to ignite, nurture and honor this month?

The Botan Tarot - Ten of Cups, Four of Swords, The Fool, Eight of SwordsReading Summary: True happiness (Ten of Cups) requires times of rest (Four of Swords). Its foolish (The Fool) to turn a blind eye to your needs (Eight of Swords).

Take Away: Work on developing a closer connection with your needs this month instead of ignoring them as you normally try to do.

This includes everything from the normal self care stuff like eating and sleep to more vague themes such as how much better you feel when your laundry is done, etc.

Only when you get in touch with the things that you need and allow yourself to have them will you be able to connect more easily with the day to day happiness you crave.

DECK USED: THE BOTAN TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I intentionally spent some time today chilling on the bed watching vid clips that make me laugh.  I also skipped the second half of my Month End reading instead of pushing myself to do it all.

Compassion

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s meditation was was ten minutes long and one of the harp strings meditations with interval timer.   It was very relaxing, even if my piriformis stretches were pretty painful throughout the process. This is not a surprise as my physiotherapy / yoga practice is as well at the moment.  I’m paying the price of not going in to the chiro / sports medicine doc regularly.

Botan Tarot - The EmperorToday’s draw is the Emperor card, which is traditionally a representation of an authority figure or leadership.  This card is about  the responsibility and steady control as one makes decisions for the greater good.

Sometimes, when making decisions for the greater good, we have to disregard our own wishes and desires.  It sucks, but that’s what being the responsible party is all about.  It’s about working towards the well being of all instead of the individual.   This is the message that stands out to me today in the imagery of this card.  The man in the picture is weathered and tough, but his eyes hold a hint of kindness as well.   Strength tempered by compassion.

And whether you lead or follow, whether you’re the man on top of the mountain, or just one of the grunts climbing the hill?  We all have strengths.  The important thing is that we wield those strengths with compassion.

DECK USED:  BOTAN TAROT

#Zentember #LovelyHealing Challenge Prompt
Question: Where do I shine?

Art Nouveau Tarot c. 1989

Reading Summary:  Reevaluation (Four of Cups) of my strategies (Seven of Swords) when things change or go awry (The Wheel).

Take Away:  This is about adaptability, and making things up “on the fly” in order to keep moving even when roadblocks try to trip me up. The thing is, I don’t see anything in life as a real “road block” but more a challenge.  Stopping is not an option because life just doesn’t work that way, so it’s important to be able to adapt and adjust and keep moving, even when it feels like you’ve reached the end of the road. 

DECK USED:  ART NOUVEAU TAROT c.1989

#DiscordTarotholicsSep2020 Challenge Prompt
Philosophical Question: What are the 3 major strengths of humanity?

WilderWoven TarotTwo of Swords – Free Will – Humanity has the ability to make choices, to exercise free will upon themselves and their situation.  Although sometimes our choices are not always appealing, there are always choices open to us. We are able to dream our dreams, and make choices based upon what we want out of life.

The Emperor – Autonomy – With free will comes the autonomy to create out own fate and move forward in the direction we choose. Sometimes we must make a round-about path to get there, but ultimately we choose for ourselves where we are going on our path.

The Devil – Transcendence –   Which then leads us the ability to transcend.  This is not about “spiritual transcendence” to a new level of consciousness, but rather the ability to pull ourselves out of bad situations through our free will and autonomy and into a different situation or better place either mentally or physically.

DECK USED:  WILDERWOVEN TAROT

Lionharts #AstroTarotChallenge
Question: What is my biggest strength (or personal superpower)?

Hardy Tarot

Reading Summary:  Potential growth (Ace of Disks) through nurturing (Queen of Cups) and recuperation (Four of Swords).

Take Away:  As much as I struggle with giving myself the nurturing warmth and rest that I need, the fact is that I am able to physically bounce back rather quickly when I do fulfill those needs. After multiple car accidents, and more injuries than I can count throughout the three decades of my life so far,  my recoveries have always been impressively quick, and even more so if  I  allow myself the self love and recuperation needed during those times of healing.

DECK USED:  HARDY TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: How can I appreciate all of my talents?

El Goliath Tarot 2nd Edition

Reading Summary: Remember how much you have overcome (Starseed atop Five of Pentacles), and where you come from as well as how much you have grown along the way (King of Swords atop Page of Swords).  Take care to act sans impulsivity (Knight of Swords).

Take Away: Impulsive action is not my friend and in order to appreciate my talents, I need to use them in ways that support my growth and keep me moving forward.  That requires both forethought, as well as trust in my moral compass to lead me forward in a positive direction.

DECK USED:  EL GOLIATH TAROT

Full Moon in Pisces – September 2020

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Full Moon in Pisces Tarot Spread - The Botan Tarot

Tomorrow night will be the full moon, and like all new moons and full moons, I’ve done a spread aligned to the moon’s current themes as a part of my recognition of the moon’s cycle and influences upon us.  Today’s spread is brought to you by Ethony‘s Tarot By the Moon series.

1. What message does my intuition want to deliver?

Justice – Awareness is really important right now. Don’t allow yourself to be baited into going against your moral compass due of someone’s hidden motivations. You need to be paying attention not just to what’s going on around you, but make sure that you are examining motivations.  Both your own, as well as the motivations of others.

2. How can I connect more with my intuitive side?

The Fool – Let some of the starch out of your britches and relax. Your intuition works best when allowed to flow free. As you already know, gripping too tight or trying to be too stringent with yourself will smother that intuitive voice.

3. What emotions need healing?

Five of Cups and The Devil – There’s a lot of depression and self destructive urges lurking under the surface and although I work to heal them a little at  a time, and I am progressing… I still have a long way to go. It’s a daily struggle to lean into optimism, and to police those self destructive urges. Some more easily sneak under the radar than others.  It’s not surprising that the depression and self destruction would come up here, as it’s a long term journey… not  a short sprint.

4. How can I let go?

The Star –  I mentioned this in the previous question.  It has to do with leaning into optimism, working towards positivity, and foster hope in your heart on a daily basis.  These things are not easy for me, just as they would not be easy for pessimist… but if I want to make true progress on my healing journey, they are a necessary part of the process.

5. What self care do I need to focus on?

The Magician and Temperance – It’s important at this time to foster a little faith that you can handle whatever comes. Don’t stress out over the future and what’s coming along down the road, instead take time to focus on the present and allow your knowledge and skill to speak for itself when the time comes.

Staying in the present instead of pushing toward the future is not an easy thing for me, but it’s a form of moderation I’ve been working at exercising all spring and summer and will continue to work at into the fall.

DECK USED: THE BOTAN TAROT