#TheAugustTarot

Distractions Can Help

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s meditation was just over twelve minutes long, and was the 9th installment of the Balance app’s introductory course. It focused on combining the skills of breath focus and body scanning into meditation together.

Sacred Bridges Tarot and How to Be a Wildflower DeckToday’s draw is the Nine of Stakes (Swords), which is traditionally a representation of nightmares, worry, negative inner dialogue, and the things that these things result in such as insomnia and anxiety.

The chaos in the Nine of Stakes (Swords) card pulled today is filled with chaos.  It’s about how the world looks when your mind is not at ease, how everything seems out of control.

The Affirmation card for today (front and back are both displayed in the mage), encourages you to take some time to step out of that chaos when it starts to encroach.  Find your joy and follow it, allow it to take your mind off your troubles for a while.

Sometimes, problems don’t get solved through obsessively worrying about them, fussing over them, and struggling with them.  Sometimes? The easiest way to solve our problems is to step away from them and allow our minds to settle.  Then, when you come back to them, it’s with a cool and calm mind that is far more prepared to deal with the issues your mind was so obsessively struggling with.

DECK USED:  SACRED BRIDGES TAROT AND HOW TO BE A WILDFLOWER DECK

#DiscordTarotholicsAug2021 Challenge Prompt
Topic:  Hold Tight / Let Breathe / Set Free

Insect Tarot and The New Arcana OracleHold Tight – King of Cups and The Maze – Hold tight to Gideon, no matter the ups and downs or where life might take you. There are so many things in life that can change and so many unexpected turns to go through, but he’s the one to be by your side through it all. Don’t loosen your grip, and for fucks sake don’t let go.

Let Breathe – Six of Wands and The Giant – The expectations of others will crush you if you let them. You can’t please everyone all the time, but you can make sure that everything is up to your own personal standards. That is enough.

Set Free – Ten of Cups atop Six of Swords, The Lucky Cat – Set free the idea that everything has to be perfect. Life is not perfect. Nature is not perfect. So why would anything that you do have to be perfect? It’s okay for it to be good enough… and not perfect.

Remember that it is only through the flaws that true perfection is actually found.

DECK USED: THE NEW ARCANA ORACLE AND THE INSECT TAROT

The #MysticStarChallenge at the Sacred Grounds Tarot Club
Questions for August 1st thru 3rd

Sacred Bridges TarotRight now my Major Arcana card is:

Temperance – Speaking to themes that deal with moderation, and taking time to connect with and savor the world around me.

What message does the card have for me?

Plowing forward (Artisan of Stakes) can upset the apple cart (Chief of Wheels Rx). Pause to really think about your choices (Two of Stakes) and learn from your mistakes (Apprentice of Stakes).

This is about making sure I’m not just doing what I know, but rather making sure I take my time and align with my new path choices.

Diving into work, ignoring my needs, constantly obsessing over what needs to be done, and focusing only on work and my need to build more and more stability. These things are not working for me anymore, and like a stone struck with a hammer too many times, I was beginning to crumble under the abuse.

What challenges does this card wish to warn me about?

Don’t just jump on those new creative pursuits and opportunities when they come your way (Ace of Waters), you have a tendency to go too fast and think on the go instead of before you leap (Eight of Staves).

When I see something that interests me that I’d like to try, I have a habit of diving in and doing things on the fly instead of pausing to think it all through first. I trust my intuition, creativity, and adaptable nature to help it turn out in the end.

Although this works for me as a process, it allows me to take on too much, as I don’t fully realize beforehand just how much time and work will be involved.

At this time, how can I embrace and incorporate this card best into my life?

Create good boundaries for yourself and toe the line on them (Nine of Staves). Let others help you with the responsibilities and obligations that you already shoulder (Three of Waters).

DECK USED: SACRED BRIDGES TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

So much good time with Gideon today.  I love you so much.

The Benefits of Curiosity

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s meditation was just over fourteen minutes and was a repeat of yesterday’s meditation.  I enjoyed it enough that I wanted to repeat it, and I felt the need to meditate today.  Instead of subversively punishing myself by pushing away that feeling, I gave myself what I was craving.

Mystic Faerie Tarot and How to Be a Wildflower DeckToday’s draw is the Knave (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, manifestations, and the physical world.  This often translates into learning new skills that can be used to create or manifest ideas into reality.

Like all the pages, the Page of Pentacles is filled with curiosity, and is open and ready to learn and explore.  That pairs amazingly with the imagery on the back of today’s affirmation card, which depicts an octopus.  The octopus is one of the most intelligent and curious of our worlds known sea creatures.

The thing is?  The more curious you are?  The more intelligent you have potential to become.  Through every moment of curiosity a learnable moment is born. This is why children ask so many questions. They’re learning. It is through our curiosity that we (all of us) discover the world around us and all the wondrous things it has to offer, and in the combination of the affirmation card for today and the Knave of Pentacles, we see an encouragement to stay curious and eager, interested and engaged.

DECK USED:  MYSTIC FAERIE TAROT AND HOW TO BE A WILDFLOWER DECK

CoffeexTarot’s Who’s Your Spirit Guides? Prompt
Questions for August 1st thru 5th

A card to represent the guide(s) communicating with me.
Journey of the Sacred Bee TarotStrength / California Poppy

This particular guide is all about personal strength in the things that matter to me personally, as well as helping me to navigate the world as I move along my path. Manipulation and persuasion through their messages to help keep me on track, and out of more trouble than I can handle. Their influence is positive and uplifting, but not overtly so.

What type of guide(s) are you?
King of Wands / Dragonfly

Strong willed and determined. Authoritative, but able to relate to the creative drive I harbor inside. Focused on changes, and ensuring that I weather those changes well.

What is your personality?
Alchemy / Sunflower

Patient. Adaptive. Focused on turning negatives into positives. Spiritual interconnectedness. It’s not about them, but about me.  They’re here for a purpose.

What is your connection to me?
The Wheel / Clockworks

I was “picked up” (much like a stray pup) for the purpose of being guided through the ups and downs of life. They see themselves as the protector of my balance as life shifts like sand beneath my feet.

Message you have for me?
Five of Swords atop Two of Disks

“With each failure and defeat, make sure you are looking forward to adapt instead of allowing these times to beat you down and send your world out of balance.”

DECK USED: JOUNEY OF THE SACRED BEE TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsAug2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: What do I need to prepare to harvest in my life during the month ahead?

Mystic Faerie TarotReading Summary: Nurturing yourself and others (The Empress) will lead to closer/tighter bonds between you and others (Three of Cups), leading to a greater strength (Strength) for what is to come throughout the harvest season (wheat in Empress’ arms).

Take Away: Strength, especially the quiet strength that lies beneath the surface, comes in many shapes and forms. It isn’t always just about us, but sometimes is bolstered and supported by others.

As I prepare for the harvests coming through the month a head, I need to keep in mind just how much benefit… just how much strength I get from those around me.

Don’t take this for granted, but instead appreciate it and return it with your own brand of support and nurturing as a way of showing gratitude for all that they offer you.

DECK USED: MYSTIC FAERIE TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

It set me back in my work, but I let myself take a nap today even though it was an orders day.  Oddly?  I managed just a short nap instead of my body’s normal demand for at least two hours, but it was enough to help me keep going and finish up what I needed to get done today.

Don’t Taste the Cherries… Savor Them

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s meditation was about fourteen minutes long and was the seventh installment of the introductory meditation series in the Balance app.  I’ve not been using a timer for my piriformis stretches when using these meditations, which is why the times on them is all over the board.  Sometimes the meditation finishes before my stretching is finished, so I just keep meditating until I’m done with the stretches.

Dear Heart Tarot and How to Be a Wildflower DeckToday’s draw is the Queen of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of a receptive alpha energy, personality, or person in the are of one’s intellect, logic, communication, and wisdom.  This often translates into themes about being shrewd, sometimes even verbally cutting, and yet good at giving advice.  It’s about having the intellect and experience to offer others the advice they need to hear… which is not necessarily what they want to hear.

I have heard stories about my great grandmother, and how terrified people were of her.  How accurate she was with throwing a dirty dish cloth at someone when they  popped off at the mouth.  How tyrannical she could be. How stubborn she was.

And yet, she’s also remembered for having kept the family together during times when there was much conflict and in-fighting going on.  Her demand that everyone gather twice a year and “play nice” while at her home created bonds and kept family as family when without her they would have spread into the wind in all directions.  She was known for her love of these gatherings, and the love of her family.

That’s the message in these cards today.  It’s about realizing you don’t have to be hard or harsh all the time.  It’s about finding the things that really mean something to you, and diving into them.  So ask yourself… what matters to you?  Are you pushing it away?  Are you disregarding it?   Are you savoring it?  Or are you too busy trying to “stand strong” to soften for the special things in life that mean more?

DECK USED:  DEAR HEART TAROT AND HOW TO BE A WILDFLOWER DECK

#DiscordTarotholicsAug2021 Challenge Prompt
Topic: Do Spread #1

Frau Grand Duchess Tarot and The Sophie Herxheimer IndexSeeds Sown – What seeds for my physical health & growth planted in the spring have flourished and grown strong?
Nine of Cups and Upper Pink Index

Understanding the physical benefits that a regular daily meditation practice has for me.

I might still resist on an inner level the daily practice, my resolve not always it’s best when confronted with my emotion driven destructive urges, but the physical benefits are undeniable and acknowledged. My body is happier and healthier when I am doing this practice on a regular basis, and the longer I sustain that regular basis, the more benefits I reap from it and the happier my body is.

The Chaff – What seeds have not flourished and I need to let go of to encourage healthy growth in other areas?
The Emperor and Lower Pink Index

I’ve come to realize that forcing myself to do things, even things healthy for me or that I normally enjoy, kills my enthusiasm. The forceful push breaks my spirit, kills the part of me that -wants- these things in the first place. I end up feeling like it’s a chore. This method isn’t working for me, and I need to let it go.  I need to figure out a better way.

The Harvest – How can I best prepare now to reap the benefits of a positive and healthy harvest in the Fall?
The Chariot and Bottom Blue Index

Enjoy the process.  Don’t spend so much time trying to control every little thing that you miss the beauty in the changes and transformations taking place. Life is too short not to savor every taste of joy and pleasure you’re given.

DECK USED: THE SOPHIE HERXHEIMER INDEX ORACLE AND FRAU GRAND DUCHESS TAROT

Mr Lionharts’ #TheAugustTarot #SOLTarot Prompt
Questions for August 1st thru 3rd

Dear Heart TarotWhat energy am I invited to embrace this month?

Two of Swords – This or that, not both. Be decisive.  Hemming and hawing isn’t going to do you any good, and stewing in the decisions that need made this month isn’t going to do anything, but make a mess you have to clean up later.

How can I best embrace this available energy?

Knight of Cups – When you’re being decisive and making those choices, make sure that you are choosing what’s going to make you happy. Not everything can be about money and responsibility.  Sometimes?  You just have to do what’s right for you and will bring you joy, and fuck the rest.

What can I accomplish for myself throughout August?

Eight of Pentacles Rx – Take time for yourself away from work. Now is the time to really enjoy these more fun and enjoyable pursuits, take the rest and relaxation you need, and enjoy the lazy days of summer that are left.  Soon enough, you’ll be back to the grind and struggling to keep up with orders.  Let’s not jump the gun and start in on that too early.

DECK USED:  DEAR HEART TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

Hours of relaxation time with Gideon.  I even managed to deal with a disgruntled customer without getting all out of sorts.

Everyone Is Lovable To Someone

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s meditation was just over ten minutes long and was relatively uneventful and quiet.  Which is honestly a little surprising because that never seems to happen anymore.  The fire alarm decided to wait until after I’d gotten through my meditation to go off tho, so that was nice at least.

And yes, everything is fine.  It looks like someone was trying to break into the storage room and a buddy of theirs went and pulled the fire alarm to work as a distraction to give them time without interruption.    They didn’t get in so… yeah.

Next World Tarot - Three of CupsToday’s draw is the Three of Cups, which is traditionally interpreted as a “joyous joining” of friends whether in celebration, or collaboration, or just in friendship on its own.

Honestly? I’m not sure how I feel about the pink smiling shark.  I find it really distracting in the imagery of this card, and so I suppose I should consider it as the message.  The fact is, though? It’s just weird.

That said?  I can work with that.   It stands out…. so lets go with the shark.  The shark in this card appears among others and does not show its teeth.  Instead it is a shade of friendly pink and sports a smile.  This actually hearkens back to something I was thinking about in the shower yesterday. I had a client recently that insisted that they were unlovable and would never find a partner.  They were very upset and I refused to do a reading for them on that day. Instead, I told them I had something for them to think about.   I told them that even some of the shittiest people in the world that have people that love them.  Assholes and abusers, haters and closed minded bigots.  These horrible people managed to find someone to love them, so someone like him that isn’t horrible? Has not just as much of a chance of finding someone, but even more of a chance at it.

The shark clearly has friends in this imagery even though it’s a predator swimming among creatures he considers food.  Instead the shark gets along with them, makes friends with them.   So too can those that feel they are unlikable or unlovable find friendships and love.

The message in this card is that no one is unlovable.  No one is unlikable. We just feel that way sometimes.

And can I just say?  Sometimes at the end of the month I’m not ready to move on to different decks and wish for more time with the ones I’ve worked with for the month… but this month?  I’m so ready to move on from this deck and the Tarot of the Sidhe.  I can’t wait for the decks that come up for these pulls starting tomorrow.

DECK USED:  NEXT WORLD TAROT

#TarotForGrowthAugust Challenge Prompt
Topic: I’m struggling to move past trauma.
Question: What’s the next actionable step I can take to move forward down the path of healing?

Tarot of the Dream Enchantress

Reading Summary: Stay strong (Strength) in the face of change (Death)… your foundation might feel precarious but it is sturdy and will be okay (Four of Pentacles).

Take Away:  It’s about perseverance. Sometimes actionable steps are not actions at all, but more about being aware and standing strong.  Change is a part of life and sometimes those changes that happen can feel like the end of the world.  The cards here are a reminder that it isn’t the end of the world.  It isn’t all going to fall apart.  Your foundation and will continue to stay solid and strong. 

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE DREAM ENCHANTRESS

#DiscordTarotholicsAug2020 Challenge Prompt
Topic: Write something free form inspired by the cards.

Spark and Pen TarotLate at night in the deep deepest darkest hours before twilight, the green lady with the crown puts down her torch and her book, and pulls on her cape (The Empress). She goes to visit Coney Island to ride the Wonder Wheel and enjoy all that Luna Park has to offer (Wheel of Fortune). Soon, she will have to return to her place watching over the city, and pick up her torch and her book once more for another day (Death).

DECK USED:  SPARK AND PEN TAROT

Lionharts #TheAugustTarot #ElementalChallenge
Question: How can I best support and nurture myself and my personal growth at this time?

Hilda Tarot

Reading Summary: Accept that sometimes shit happens (Justice) and you’ll have to make the best of it (Knight of Swords). Take those moments to rest and recuperate (Four of Swords) so that she can be ready for the next challenge (The Magician).

Take Away:  The advice here to help me in nurturing myself and fostering my personal growth is that I need to not let the little unexpected surprises in life trip me up so much.  Hurdles happen and just like tripping over a root on a trail in the woods, you have to pick your ass up and keep going because no one is going to come for you if you sit there and whine about it to the trees.

DECK USED:  HILDA TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: How would I feel if I was more mindful right now?

Stunning Tarot

Reading Summary:  Hol-eee-shit.  *Eyes the cards.* Okay so if I was more mindful right now I’d be feeling a good deal more defeated (Ten of Swords) and in need of rest and retreat because the world (Four of Swords) would feel like everything is falling apart (The Tower).

Take Away:  The lesson here is that mindfulness is not always your friend. Sometimes you have to be a bit oblivious and obtuse just to get through the day.

DECK USED:  STUNNING TAROT

Picking Up A Previous Practice

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s meditation was ten minutes long and I fidgeted through the entire process.   I had an idea for a new organization method for my decks, and honestly?  I just couldn’t calm down about it enough to do anything useful with those ten minutes of meditation.  I will try again tonight before bed.   Now that I have everything rearranged (again), I should hopefully be a bit less fidgety.

Tarot of the Sidhe - The Dreamer, Ace of SwordsToday’s draw is The Dreamer card (Ace of Swords), which is traditionally a representation of inspiration, new ideas, eureka moments, and mental clarity.

What stood out the strongest to me in the imagery of this card is the hands at the bottom.  Their positioning is probably supposed to represent the alchemical air symbol of an upright triangle with a line through it.  The thing is, though?  It looks an awful lot like the Hakini mudra (except that the pinky fingers are not bent in that mudra, so it’s not exactly… right.

Still, it’s actually pretty fitting, as the Hakini mudra is used for concentration and to boost the brain including memory, inspiration, and cooperation between the right and left hemispheres.

I see this card’s appearance today as a reminder of the benefits that including mudras into my medication can have.  This is an activity that I have really slacked off on over the past few months, but I think it’s time to start incorporating them into my practice again… and perhaps I’ll even start with the Hakini.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE SIDHE

#TarotForGrowthAugust Challenge Prompt
Topic: I’m struggling to move past trauma.
Question: Who can I turn to for help enforcing those boundaries?

Tarot Mundi In Minima Tarot

Reading Summary: Family and friends (Four of Wands) will step up to provide solid back up (Knight of Discs) when needed (The Tower).

Take Away:  Friends and family is the answer here.  It’s those that are nearest and dearest to me that I can depend on.  People like Gideon, my sister, Z, J, Ms B… these are all people that are a part of my inner circle of love and support and people that I can depend on to help when I need it.    The key here is in the last card in this spread, which is The Tower, and the deck’s way of stressing “when you need it”. 

DECK USED:  TABULA MUNDI IN MINIMA TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsAug2020 Challenge Prompt
Topic: Do Spread #4

Odd Hand TarotSeeds Sown – Ace of Pentacles – The seeds that I planted in the spring that have flourished have to do with finding a new balance between my responsibilities and my life.  This isn’t so much about the balance itself, which is still in the works, but the openness and willingness to make the changes needed and start upon a new path.

The Chaff – Strength – Those seeds that have not flourished are the ones that I plant every year and this year have chosen  not to encourage.  That is the tendency to push and shove and force my way forward with determination and blind focus. In the past I have done this to my own detriment again and again, and it is something that has been working for me less and less with each year that passes.

The Harvest – Four of Wands – Friends and family connections are going to be very important as I prepare to reap the rewards of my summer’s hard work. This card indicates I need to make sure I’m not just getting myself ready for the busy season ahead, but my those around me as well… both those that are here to help with that busy time, and those that are stuck waiting in the wings for the rush to end.

DECK USED:  ODD HAND TAROT

Lionharts #TheAugustTarot #ElementalChallenge
Question: How can I best provide help and support to my loved ones at this time?

Luminous Void Tarot

Reading Summary: When crap happens and they feel depressed (Five of Discs), be generous (Six of Discs) with my advice (The Hierophant) and my emotional support (King of Cups).

Take Away:  Honestly?  As much as I love to help people?  I always feel like when I give advice that it might be overstepping.  I mean, I know that the advice is decent and I have a lot of experience under my belt to base my advice through… and yet it always feels like encroaching? I’m relatively sure that this is not the case and just my own personal insecurities, but there’s always that worry of being seen as some sort of know it all. You know, not the good kind but the annoying kind.

Funny enough, you would think it would be the emotional support part of this reading that I balk at, but when it comes to those closest to me that I love and that love me? I don’t have a problem reaching out with a hug or some emotional support.  It’s probably one of the only scenarios in life where being emotionally connected doesn’t feel awkward or uncomfortable.

DECK USED:  LUMINOUS VOID TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: How can I make the world a better place?

Pride Tarot

Ten of Swords – Show by example just how much you can survive.

Ooph.  Okay so this one is a hard one for me.  Not that I don’t share my struggles or that people aren’t aware of some of the things I have been through.  But if I were to list out all of the crazy ass shit that’s happened in my life…. or even just the ones that left scars on my body… it would sound like some sort of catastrophic “The Man Born With No Luck” B-movie or something. I have survived a lot.  A LOT.  But… it feels weird to put it all out there, which is sort of what you have to do if you want to show people by example just how much a person can survive and continue to move on from.

Eight of Wands – Send out into the world the positivity that you create. (imagery based)

This is something that I do regularly and love the most about my home business.  I love making beautiful things and sending them out to others to love and cherish.  I hope that every single piece of jewelry and other creation I make finds a home where it can brighten someone’s day… or many days, as the case may be.  I instill these hopes and that intent into each of the pieces I make.

Knight of Swords – Choose your battles wisely.

Sometimes we all pick battles we shouldn’t.  I think that’s a part of life and learning when and where to pick the battles that really mater and mean something.  To make the world a better place, it’s important to examine the battles you’re deciding to fight, and make sure they’re really worth the time, effort, energy, and emotion that you’re going to pour into them.  What is the motivation behind becoming involved?

DECK USED:  PRIDE TAROT

Be More Careful

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and took place in the bathtub.  I spent a great deal of time in the bathtub today actually.  What was supposed to be an hour in the tub with meditation and a little relaxation turned into two hours… and included a nap. Yes, I know that I need to be more careful about that.  I promise… it wasn’t intentional.  It was just so comfortable that I ended off dozing off.

Funny enough, I did my first reading for someone else in the tub today as well.   Mostly because I didn’t feel like getting my ass out and going to my reading table.   I have a few waterproof decks beside the bath so I just did it there and laid them out on the bath mat beside the tub.   Oddly?  I think it gave my interpretation ability a bit of a warmer tone.  Like… as in the reading seemed a bit more emotion based than normal.

Tarot of the Sidhe - Pan, The DevilToday’s draw is the Pan card (The Devil), which is traditionally a representation of temptations and self destructive behaviors.  This can include things like addictions as well as the development of bad habits, or allowing oneself to be “lead astray”.

This is me… sleeping in the tub.   I mean it’s really that clear to me in this moment.  I know it’s supposed to kind of look like sex or surrender, but what I see here in this imagery today is her… floating.  She looks like she’s floating.   In fact, when I first pulled this card today, I barely noticed the Pan at all, only her.

The message in this card is a warning that I need to pay attention to.  It tells me that sleeping in the tub is more than just “flirting” with danger, but is truly dangerous, and I need to make more of an effort to not doze off when I’m in there.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE SIDHE

#TarotForGrowthAugust Challenge Prompt
Topic: I’m struggling to move past trauma.
Question: What boundaries must be established for me to feel safe when confronting my trauma?

Gypsy Palace Tarot

Reading Summary: The Nine of Wands popped out while I was considering whether I wanted to have this question be about boundaries for myself or boundaries for others. This card indicates that the boundaries are about myself.

Both the Nine of Wands and the Queen of Swords are pointing to the past (to the left) indicating that I need to make sure that I am keeping my past out of my healing process.

The High Priestess indicates that in order to make the decisions on when my past can be incorporated and when I can’t, I need to look inside myself and make sure that I am taking a healthy path and not a hurtful one (indicated by the Priestess’ heart crossed arms).

Take Away:  My past is not there to help me heal… it’s what I’m healing from. I need to be judicious in how I incorporate my past into my healing journey in order to ensure it only does good and not harm.

DECK USED:  GYPSY PALACE TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsAug2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: What do I need to hear right now?

Tarot of WhyReading Summary: It’s OK to take control (The Chariot) of your personal time and retreat when you need (Four of Swords) to as long as you’re doing it in healthy ways (Four of Cups) that make you happy and bring joy to your life (The Sun).

Take Away:  This reading should be titled “Don’t Be A Sourpuss”.  If you’re going to take time for yourself, that’s okay… but make sure it’s for the right reasons.  Healthy reasons.  Don’t retreat just to wallow in a crappy mood or allow yourself to be a grump.  Alone time needs to be a time of restoration and enjoyment.

This is actually good advice because when I’m feeling grumpy and pessimistic, I have a habit of retreating into myself.  This habit has a purpose, as when I am dealing with an actual major depressive episode, this allows me to continue to function even though I’m a complete mess on the inside.  By pulling into myself, many people can’t even tell what’s really going on… and thus I can continue to put on the appearance that everything is fine and function normally under the observation of others.

The thing is, though, I don’t need to use this method outside of my MDEs.  It’s become a habit to retreat for any negative emotion, regardless of whether it’s clinical grade depression or not.   And that…. is not healthy.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF WHY

Lionharts #TheAugustTarot #ElementalChallenge
Question: How can I best support and nurture positive growth in my community at this time?

Sacred Rose Tarot

Reading Summary: You have the tools (The Magician) to help others reason out (King of Swords) their conflicts (Five of Wands) and come to a resolution (King atop Five). Spend some time with your friends and have some fun (Three of Cups). You can bring them together and resolve their disagreements to restore positive balance in the relationship (The Sun).

Take Away:  This reading is about J and his parents.  Both J and his dad are out of work right now, and living in the same house.  They butt heads a lot when they have to spend too much time together, which has been their situation for the past few months.

I stopped by J’s place today on my way home from my hike and threw horseshoes out in the yard with him and his dad.  His mom came to me before I left to give me her customary hug and thanked me.  She said that coming over helped disperse some of the tension in the house, and especially between J and his dad.  She told me I should come over more often and stop avoiding them because of the pandemic issues.

It was nice that I was able to help.  I very much do worry about the whole pandemic thing and accidentally bringing it to their home tho, just as J does… which is why he’s not hanging out over here at my house much these days.

DECK USED:  SACRED ROSE TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: How can I better focus on the future while being present in the present?

Tarot del Fuego

Reading Summary: When things build up and eventually get to a point of  noticeable change (Death), it can sometimes create an emotional mess from worry, pain, and sense of loss (Three of Swords). But, if you focus on your passions and hold steadfast to your goals in the present (King of Wands), you’ll have the tools you need to move forward into the future (The Magician).

seraphimSide Note:  You know, I just realized something about this deck. A lot of the imagery in these cards remind me of the Catholic representations of the higher hierarchy angels like the Seraphim and Cherubim. Multiple wings, multiple eyes… and just sayin’?  But the image I’ve chosen to share here in this post is one of the least freaky of the depictions I’ve seen.

Okay so back to the reading…

Take Away:  That’s the thing about the present, yeah?  It’s full of changes.  Every day there are changes, some good and some not so good.  Sometimes they slip by without being noticed, but other times it’s like you trip over them and skin both knees in the process.    Those changes that you trip over are why it’s so hard to stay in the present sometimes instead of becoming overly focused on the future.  The fear and other emotions they illicit make you want to turn away and look to something better, to disengage with the change and the feelings they create.

The cards here say that instead of disengaging by looking forward, a better path would be to focus on the things that spark your fire and keep you going.  Focus on what you can do now, and apply your attention and abilities to these things.  Let the future take care of itself.

DECK USED:  TAROT DEL FUEGO