Today’s meditation was just over ten minutes long and was a yoga nidra meditation with interval timer. It was a guided meditation, and based on moving one’s consciousness and awareness through the body slowly starting at the head and moving to the toes. At each part of the body you stop and pause, acknowledge the sensations present and breathe into that area, then exhale and move on to the next.
I’ve mentioned before that nidra meditations are my absolute favorite. I love the amount of relaxation I can get from following the process from one part of the body to another in this manner.
The actual focus of the nidra in this particular guided meditation had to do with acknowledgement of sensation. Sometimes, when we are looking for sensation, we forget about all the sensations we’re experiencing. It’s easy, when say… focused on your arm. To focus there and say “no, I don’t feel anything” because the muscle isn’t sore and there’s no pain or discomfort. But that doesn’t mean that sensation it’s present. There’s the sensation of cloth touching flesh, of air currents on skin, etc. These are also just as much sensation as a tickle, pinch, or pain.
The key being that when we let go of the expectation of what we should be looking for or are supposed to feel, it frees us up to experiencing what’s actually there in the moment.
Today’s draw is the Magician, which is traditionally a representation of having all the “tools”, skills, abilities, and knowledge to do what needs doing. The Magician is knowledgeable, resourceful, and capable, and it is these energies and qualities that are brought into play when this card makes an appearance.
What really stands out to me this card is that keen gaze. You would think that it would be the tattoos that draw my eyes, and yet that is not where my gaze is drawn when I see this card today. It’s all about the eyes. They feel clever and cunning and knowledgeable, grounded. Prepared. He is the Eagle Scout of the tattoo’d hotties, looking out at me as if to say “you know the answer”.
And that’s the message in today’s card. I know the answer. **I** am capable, knowledgeable, grounded, resourceful, and clever. **I** am more than able to take on the world and bend it to my will, or adapt as needed when bending things my way is not an option. Today’s card is a reminder that I am a strong and fully capable man more than able to handle what may come.
DECK USED: BOTAN TAROT
#Zentember #LovelyHealing Challenge Prompt
Question: How do I accept life more fully?
Reading Summary: Worries and anxieties (Nine of Swords) are blocking your path and holding you back (Nine of Wands). Make the choice (Two of Swords) to overcome (Yellow in Two of Swords) pessimism instead of giving into it (Five of Cups).
Take Away: The cards here make it clear that the worries and anxieties that are blocking my path and stirring up my pessimistic side are something I have a choice about. This is not an uncontrollable situation and I need to (as readings prior to this have also indicated over the past week) make sure I am making the conscious decision to lean into optimism and positive thought rather than sinking into the habitual pessimism that is my regular tendency.
DECK USED: LONELY DREAMER TAROT
#DiscordTarotholicsSep2020 Challenge Prompt
Topic: Do Spread #1
How can I create a greater feeling of contentment in my life?
Reading Summary: Make sure you’re paying attention (Two of Swords) to your inner dialogue (Ace of Swords) and choose a nurturing approach (Empress) rather than a sharp one (Sword imagery in the Ace).
Although leaf shape between the Ace and Two of Swords is very similar and connects these two cards, it is the blues that blend through the three cards, purifying and darkening as they go from the Ace of Swords through the Empress that really catches my eye.
The purity of the blue in the Empress card indicates to me that it is the key player in this spread, ranked in importance above the muffled colors in the Two of Swords and the impure greenish tinge of the blue in the Ace of Swords. Just as that color dynamic speaks to me of a leaning toward the Empress, putting weight upon her importance in these cards, the impression is further reinforced by the purity of the green in the Empress which (like the blues) holds weight in the spread over the more muddled greens in the Ace of Swords.
The red ribbon in the Two of Swords is a splash of color that catches the eye and holds its own weight as it corresponds to the woman’s blindfold, indicating that this card is not about choice in this instance, but about being blinded and not paying attention.
Take Away: I am notoriously hard on myself and that is what the cards are calling me out on in this reading. In order to create a greater feeling of contentment in my life, I need to be paying close attention to my inner dialog and course correcting any negativity and unpleasant pessimism into a more nurturing vein of encouragement.
DECK USED: TAROT LEAVES
Lionharts #AstroTarotChallenge
Question: How/What am I currently contributing to my culture, social space, or direct environment?
Reading Summary: I’m generous with my time (Seven of Pentacles), my ear, and my support (Queen of Cups) when others are feeling uncertain or lost (Moon).
Take Away: I contribute to my social space and direct environment by giving of myself. This includes not just my time but also my support. I make space for others who are feeling confused or uncertain, providing them with an ear to listen to what they need to get out and try to cast a healing light to help keep that darkness they are experiencing in check.
DECK USED: THE PAINTED TAROT
#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What makes me bulletproof?
Ace of Arrows (Truth) – I demand truth, and I “speak” it in turn. It’s not worth it to waste my time on lies and half truths, and I do not expect to be coddled or pandered to by others. Instead, I would rather know the whole truth up front so that if it is unpleasant I can deal with the fall out and quickly move on from that to other important matters.
High Priestess – My intuition and moral compass. I am lead by them and I follow them without question, depending upon what they say as absolute truth. I trustingly move to the beat of their drum because I understand that they are whispering secrets in my ear and telling me things I need to know, providing guidance to my benefit, and providing information that would otherwise be beyond my ken.
Mother of Feathers – I like to help others when I can and I give good advice, and have absolutely no trouble admitting I’m wrong when it happens, especially if it is going to give me the opportunity to learn from my mistake. Sometimes I can have a “sharp tongue”, but there is a reason for this when it happens, as it creates a succinct punctuation to my words that catch one’s attention in the way a gentler approach can’t always do.
DECK USED: BRADY TAROT 2ND EDITION
Seven of Cups – Each stone has it’s own strengths and weaknesses, it’s own unique vibrations and abilities. And with each spellcraft and ritual, cartomancy reading and energetic influences I want to project or draw in, I stand before this table and the myriad of stones available to me and seek out the one best suited for the need and situation at hand
The Magician – The tools of my path are many, and some are more useful, and more important, than others. It isn’t enough to have the tools needed, but you also need to be able to use them with skill and efficiency.
King of Cups – The man knows not just what I like, but goes out of his way to make sure that the reminders of him are just right. He is kind and strong, supportive and loving, demanding and willing to listen. He guides… he demands a lot… and yet everything he does is emotion directed. Emotion driven.
Twisting the Leaf 