The Uncommon Tarot

Slow Progress Is Still Progress

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

IMG_9414Today’s meditation was just under seventeen minutes and was a guided meditation from the Oak app that was the first in a series of lessons about using mantra in meditation.  I included the interval timer for my piriformis stretches as well.

I actually liked the lesson.  I especially was appreciative of the fact that although it started out asking you to verbalize the mantra (something I’m unable to do due to my mutism), it moved quickly on to it being in the mind instead of passing through the lips.  This makes my participation much easier and I found the meditation itself relaxing.

Black Line Tarot 1st Edition and Thera-Pets Emotional Support Animal CardsToday’s draw is the Page of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of a receptive omega energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s finances, resources, home life, health, or manifestations.  This is the energy of a learner, student, or novice in these specific areas and includes an energy of openness and growth.

I love the sprigs of plants as a representation of growth and manifestation in this card’s imagery, and the cherry blossoms above as an indication of innocence and beginnings.

When combined with the Thera-Pets card for today, what I see here is a reminder that it’s okay to struggle and that we are our own worst critics.  When doing something that makes us feel vulnerable or trying something new, it can often feel like we’re sucking ass at whatever that thing might be even when maybe we’re not doing bad at all, or are even doing extremely well.  That “level of expectation” can often make us feel like we’re failing even when, in truth, we’re making great strides towards growth and learning.

I relate to this today in my personal climb out of the pit of depression I’ve been struggling with.  I found bottom, I’ve begun my climb.  But there are times when it doesn’t feel like I’m getting anywhere.  The reminder in these cards encourages me that I need to keep trying, and keep climbing… because just because I feel like I’m not getting anywhere right at the moment doesn’t mean I’m not making progress.

DECK USED:  BLACK LINE TAROT AND THERA-PETS EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL CARDS

The Radical Love Tarot Challenge Prompt
Topic:  Boundaries
Question: What boundaries have I been neglecting lately?

The Uncommon Tarot

Reading Summary: Using a combination of gratitude (Ten of Coins) and family (Six of Cups) to help in keeping me grounded (Four of Coins) as I work through my personal challenges (Strength).

Take Away:  The boundary that has been neglected is the boundary with myself. I need to stop my solitary “I’m strong enough” bullshit and allow others to help me.  Especially during the major depressive episodes, I have a habit of trying to retreat into myself, not wanting to subject those I love to the “ugliness” of the depression.  My family (both blood and chosen) has the ability, though, to help foster my feelings of gratitude and give me the extra oomph of grounding that I need right now.  Neglecting the boundaries I’ve set for myself and allowing myself to retreat as I have does not help me in my recovery, but can instead hinder my progress.

DECK USED:  THE UNCOMMON TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsFeb2021 Challenge Prompt
Question:  What is the best and worst thing about getting older?

Black Line Tarot 1st EditionWhat is the best thing about getting older?
Queen of Swords and Ace of Swords

Older and wiser means better new beginnings.  I’ve always been pretty good at picking up new things. New ideas, new projects, new skills… there’s never been much that’s intimidating about all that for me.  But I feel that with a lot of people?  There is a great deal of intimidation in trying something new.

As we age, though, and try new things again and again, we gain confidence in ourselves and that feeling of “newness” and worry about how it will go seems to ease and become more manageable.  It becomes less about “what if I fail?” and more about “how do I succeed?”.

What is the worst thing about getting older?
Three of Wands and Eight of Swords

Uncertainty about what’s ahead. This is something that I never understood when I was younger, perhaps because I had no fear of death when I was younger.  But, as I age and I find more and more value in life, I have begun to understand this fear and uncertainty.

When younger and willing to let go so easily, there was no concern over the when or how, no worry over what would happen after or where I would go next once this life had come to an end.  I have found, though, that as I have come to value this life more and more with age… I come to think about this uncertainty with a far less lackadaisical view.

DECK USED:  BLACK LINE TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

You know, I often sit down at this end of the post and get stuck at this section.  I can’t think of a single kindness that I did for myself today.   I mean… okay so yeah.  I took the day off.  I haven’t opened up my shops even once today.   That’s something, right?

New Moon in Aquarius – February 2021

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today is the new moon, and like all new moons and full moons, I did 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 about the rising of altruism, and brought to you by Sharron Basanti of Seeds of Shakti.

Aquarius New Moon - The Uncommon Tarot

1. What visions is my mind awakening to?

Ten of Swords – The pain of what I’m currently going through, the mental illness that I’m struggling with.  The beat down that it is giving me, and the potential to rise from it in the end.  There is a need to ride out the process in order to find that potential, though.  First you must hit the ground, bleed out upon the grass… only then can you then rise from the ashes and start over.

2. How can I be more open to ideas that are outside of the box?

Four of Swords – Ease up on yourself.  It’s okay to need rest and recovery is a part of the process. Do not shame yourself into trying to avoid or outright reject this process. Part of last year was about accepting this and making allowances for rest and recovery.  Don’t backslide into shunning the need for this rest and restoration.

3. What false perceptions do I need to release in order to create space for sacred truths to rise up?

Eight of Wands – Not everything has to be done right this moment. You always push for everything to be done right now. Right away.  You don’t expect this from others, and yet you demand it from yourself.  it’s time to release this expectation and allow yourself the room to breathe through the process of getting things done.

4. In what aspect of my life do I need to be innovative?

The Magician – Don’t allow yourself to sink into feelings of helplessness and powerlessness.  You are a skilled and strong individual, knowledgeable and capable. The depression can cause you to lose track of your awareness concerning these things, but in keeping them in mind you empower yourself to stay strong and keep going.

5. Who do I need to collaborate with in my kindred circle for my health and well-being?

The Empress atop The Hermit Rx – This is about Z and the kindness and nurturing she offers during times when you need her support. Whenever the Empress appears, it often reflects back to the same energy that Z carries upon her and within her, and she is the person that you need to collaborate with now in order to assure that you don’t use alone time activities to retreat into yourself.  By speaking with her about your concerns to do with alone time and not using your alone time in healthy ways, she can be there for you real-time and on-point to make sure that it doesn’t happen and you use that time in healthy ways.

6. Message from my Guides and Ancestors.

Four of Cups – Rest does not turn into stagnancy as long as you make the choice to stay engaged instead of turning away from your feelings and interests.  Rest is healthy, and can help foster your gradual improvement as you begin to find yourself on the road to recovery.  Stagnancy is unhealthy and will hold you back.  They are not the same thing, so make sure you are aware and paying attention to which “wolf you feed” in this matter.

DECK USED:  THE UNCOMMON TAROT