Grace and Patience

Today’s meditation was skipped.

The Untamed Mystery Tarot Noir EditionToday’s draw is the Temperance card, which is traditionally a representation of moderation, balance, and patience.

A bleeding rose and an hourglass of skulls stands out in this card, as does the fact that everything in the card (including the crane) is tied together by ribbons of energy that flow throughout the card’s imagery.

There is a certain beauty and grace that comes with moderation. A serenity that I struggle to understand and instill in my life.  And yet, when moderation is not given its due, and we are impatient or over eager, there is a tipping point where things become harmful to us.  A point where the death of moderation breeds damage to our well-being.

Today’s card speaks of the need to look at those places where we struggle with moderation and balance, and acknowledge the damage that allowing ourselves to get “out of hand” can cause.  How can we do better?  What mindfulness tactics are needed to keep things gracefully balanced and flowing smoothly?

DECK USED:  UNTAMED MYSTERY TAROT NOIR EDITION

HealingThruTarot’s October Shadow Work Challenge Prompt
Question for October 20th
: What self-destructive behaviors do I exhibit?

The Lantern Guide Deck and Trauma OracleBehaviorEmotional Abuse – That inner narrative you have going on is vicious and cruel, and is focused on tearing you down one brick at a time.

How can I help myself turn this around?

Two of Birds (Wands) – Have a plan and stick to it. You know how to shut up that voice and steal its power, so make sure you do these things and have what you need in place to foster healthier practices.

Behavior Ignored – You neglect yourself, your needs, and your self-care. Everyone needs nurturing and care. You are no exception. By ignoring issues that need tending, you neglect and ignore things you need to tend to in order to stay healthy and well.

How can I help myself turn this around?

The Hanged Man – Take a new perspective with the things you are tempted to ignore. See them as the small things they are rather than the huge things your feelings try to say that they are, for when you ignore them they only grow and fester larger and larger until the become as massive as you thought they were all along.

Behavior Disesteem – Putting yourself down is something carried over from your past. You took to the task when they were no longer able to do so.

How can I help myself turn this around?

Eight of Lanterns (Cups) – Do not allow your negative inner narrative to take control or have a voice. Instead, turn away from it toward the warmth and understanding that work better for your well-being.

DECK USED: THE TRAUMA ORACLE AND THE LANTERN GUIDE DECK

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2022 Challenge Prompt
Question for August 20th
: Windowsill Candle – Where do you need to lean into the light (positivity/optimism)?

The Untamed Mystery Tarot Noir EditionReading Summary: You have a tendency to fall back into doomsday thinking (The Devil) when confronted with the fickle turns of fate (Wheel of Fortune) instead of leaning into the new path with your emotions that you’ve been walking upon the past few years (Page of Cups).

Take Away: Sometimes, it’s still difficult for you to pull away from the pessimism and see a more positive perspective.  Remember that this is a journey of exploration. Experiment with positivity and optimism to better explore its potential during these times when uncertainty and negativity feels like it’s getting the upper hand.

DECK USED: UNTAMED MYSTERY TAROT NOIR EDITION

Daily Self Kindness

This is another catch-up post, and I didn’t write down my self-kindness at the time, nor can I remember what it might have been.

Stick a Fork In Me

Today’s meditation was skipped (again).

Autumn Miss TarotToday’s draw is the Ten of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of painful endings, closure, the end of a harsh and difficult journey, and in some instances, severe injury.

No blood (red drape aside)… he’s just done. He’s done. As in “stick a fork in me, I’m done” except in this case it’s swords.

This is the second day in a row I’ve pulled the Ten of Swords for my card of the day, and as a budding stalker in my life, this card asks… suggests… perhaps even demands that we examine those places in our lives where we are pushing ourselves too hard. Root them out, and accept that it’s time to take a break in those areas.

(This message is then conveniently reinforced by the fact that when I was putting this card back into the deck, the Four of Swords fell out, which is all about rest, recuperation, and recovery.)

DECK USED:  AUTUMN MISS TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsSep2022 Challenge Prompt
Question for September 19th and 20th

Untamed Mystery Tarot Illusion Edition and Messenger CardsWhat lessons can Libra season (begins on the 22nd) teach you this year?

Deal with moments of misfortune (Wheel of Fortune) “like a boss” (King of Swords),and you will come out the other side happy with the results (The Sun).

StopJaguar and Hummingbird – Crowding yourself in and limiting your potential.  Your growth and the connection you share with the world around you and all that is within it is being smothered by your self-neglect and destructive tendencies.

Start – Raven’s Dream – You have a great deal of potential to explore within yourself, and can sore if you allow yourself the room to spread your wings.  Only when you give yourself the room to grow can you fully stretch into that space and connect with the growth eager to be activated within you.

ContinueBear and Raven – Continue to seek to understand yourself better and explore those deeper parts of yourself. Continue to cut loose the chaff in your life and clear away that which no longer works for you by getting in touch with yourself and the truths held deep within you about who you are and who you want to become.

DECK USED: UNTAMED MYSTERY TAROT ILLUSION EDITION AND MESSENGER CARDS

The #ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge Prompt by E Roebuck-Jones
Questions for September 19th thru 22nd

Autumn Miss Tarot and Bad Girl TarotHow do I choose hope over fear?

Ace of Pentacles– By seizing opportunities when they arise, you will always be able to choose hope over fear, for pursuing one’s dreams and being open to opportunity is one of the greatest demonstrations of hope thriving within us all.

How can I put myself first?

Two of Swords – Putting yourself first is a conscious choice and takes decisive action. When you dither on it, you fall to the default of self-neglect.

Can I accept myself – even my faults?

Page of Cups – Find joy and take pleasure in your imagination and curiosity. In doing so you will find acceptance of all parts of who you are. Just remember this is a learning process for you.

Do I feel I deserve…

LoveThe Devil Rx – Not of the healthy variety.

CompassionEight of Cups – Clearly not. You expect people to turn their backs and walk away.

EmpathyThe Hierophant – No. Instead you expect to need to teach others this quality, usually by example.

Take Away – Honestly? I’m a self-destructive pessimist with an aggressive negative inner narrative. I almost always expect the worst when it comes to what I might receive from others in these areas… and then am pleasantly surprised (and sometimes also confused) when I get something good instead.

DECK USED: AUTUMN MISS TAROT AND BAD GIRL TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I took the card’s advice and only did easy stuff today instead of pushing to get the harder things done.  I was just too tired.

Don’t Be Shy

Today’s meditation was skipped.

Untamed Mystery Tarot Illusion EditionToday’s draw is the Page of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of a receptive omega energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s emotions, relationships, imagination, creativity, and intuition. This often translates into themes that have to do with exploring new creative endeavors, letting your imagination free to wander, and revisiting emotions and relationships for further exploration and consideration.

In this card, the brain in the cup corresponds to the pattern of markings on the top of the fish’s head as he winds around the cup’s stem and finds an eye peering out at him from the foliage.

Sometimes when we are so deep in our own pursuits we forget there are others around us… and sometimes we are far too aware. Today’s card is a reminder that we can’t know what others are thinking when they look at us. Don’t stifle your imagination and creativity just because you fear what others might think if they were to see you or are watching.

DECK USED:  THE UNTAMED MYSTERY TAROT ILLUSION EDITION

OwlandBonesTarot’s #BothSidesOfTheTarot Prompt
Questions for September 14th thru 16th

Broken Mirror Tarot Marseille Edition and Mission du Vie w/ ExpansionWhat do you believe to be true?

Temperance – You believe that moderation really can work for you if you let it. You struggle a lot with instilling moderation in your life. In your interests and hobbies, in your work. In your physical demands and pain management. In so many areas, you push too hard and too fast. But you know there is another way and believe in it… even if you struggle to implement it in your life.

What may be false?

The Tower – That every change is going to be a huge ordeal or a catastrophe. It might feel that way, but it’s not true.

Finding Balance Between the TwoLe Communicant / Semaine Prochaine – Don’t keep your struggles to yourself. Instead, be open with others. Remember as well that a bit of procrastination can be one way to implement moderation, as long as it’s done in a healthy way.

Do this solo.

Eight of Staves Rx – Slowing down can absolutely be a solo endeavor.

Join forces for this.

Four of Cups – Just make sure that if you start to feel a downward tug on your emotions, that you reach out to others to help lift you back up.

Finding Balance Between the TwoLe Rêveur / Retard Interne – Self awareness is an important step in knowing when you can handle alone time… and when you can’t. If you have your head in the clouds, you may miss the internal warning signs that it’s time for a change.

What do you see as half-full?

The Judgement – You feel optimistic in the fact that you are on your right path spiritually and in your development into a better person. You feel that each day is a step on this journey and positive progress towards self-betterment.

What do you see as half-empty?

Nine of Staves Rx – It is nearly impossible for you to feel safe. Even as you work to tear down boundaries in order to connect more with others, new walls form due to feelings of vulnerability.

Finding Balance Between the TwoÉvénements Imprévus / Défis / Juillet – Keep in mind that your defense mechanisms are in place due to past events that have happened to you. Your responses to these events and vulnerability that you feel because of them are not unreasonable. It doesn’t make you a bad person to be cautious.

DECK USED: BROKEN MIRROR TAROT MARSEILLE EDITION AND MISSION DE VIE ORACLE W/ EXPANSION

#DiscordTarotholicsSep2022 Challenge Prompt
Philosophical Question
: What is humanity’s biggest accomplishment?

Untamed Mystery Tarot Illusion EditionReading Summary: Nurturing strength (Queen of Pentacles) with the ability to listen with empathy (Page of Cups atop Queen of Cups Rx) and take what they hear to offer inspiration (Queen of Wands).

Take Away: In these cards, the biggest accomplishment of humanity is its growing and expanding respect for women, their strengths and their power that lives not in brute force or avid aggression, but in  how they relate to others and bend the world to their will in the way that the wind can cause trees to bend without breaking.

DECK USED: THE UNTAMED MYSTERY TAROT ILLUSION EDITION

Daily Self Kindness

I said no to helping do a security check of the garage and underground tunnels that are a part of the building.  They didn’t really need me and my hip was not going to be able to handle the flights of stairs required.