using tarot for guidance

The Give and Take of Comfort

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Today’s meditation was skipped, Although not for lack of trying. Leg cramps made it impossible to stay still.

Disney Villains Tarot - The EmpressToday’s draw is the Empress card, which is traditionally a representation of the divine feminine, mother earth, the strength that resides within feminine energy, nurturing energies, beauty, and abundance.

The imagery on this card reminds me of interactions I’ve seen between a friend of mine and her mother. This friend keeps her hair very long, even though it often frustrates her. I always wondered why until I began seeing her and her mother together more often.

Whenever they are together the mother is drawn to playing with her daughter’s hair, running her fingers through it and caressing it. My friend’s mother finds her hair beautiful and irresistible. It has become a comforting and bonding experience between them that the daughter fosters by keeping her hair long even though it’s not her preferred style.

This card begs the question… What creates a comforting atmosphere in your life? What bonds and rituals with others nurture your soul? What little things that nurture and connect us do we overlook that, with a little attention paid, we can preserve and foster in our lives and the lives of others?

DECK USED:  DISNEY VILLAINS TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2022 Challenge Prompt
Topic for October 2nd: Do Spread 1

The Halloween Tarot in a TinBat – What is ending at this time that needs my awareness and focus?

Nine of Ghosts – The time for comfortable satisfaction and chilling in your accomplishments his coming to an end for the year. The next three months, you won’t have much time for reflection on all the good stuff or a sense of satisfaction. You’re going to be too busy.

Calendula – Who is a loving constant in my life that needs a bit more recognition?

Knight of Pumpkins – Those in your life that are trying to help you meet your goals, but do so at a slower pace. You don’t need people to push you, just to help you stay on track and move at a slow and steady pace instead of a frantic one driven by your emotions and anxieties.

Owl – What do I need to know right now to trust that I’m on the right path?

The Hermit – As long as you keep your alone time healthy, you’re good. Don’t fall into unhealthy habits of retreating into yourself and cutting other people out.

Rosemary – What memory from my past needs revisited to guide in my future safety?

Page of Bats – You need to look back at the things that you learned this year that are practical and help guide you towards your goals. Revisit things like QuickBooks, Vela, and other tools that can help you automate parts of your business as they can help ensure that you are not overwhelming yourself with a crapload of stuff that could be done automatically instead of manually. This then helps in mitigating the approach of burnout that is so prevalent for you through the holiday rush.

Black Cat – Where is conformity more of a risk than independent thought?

Knight of Imps – Fads fade. Don’t jump on the bandwagon because whatever it is seems popular and different than what you’re now doing. If you’re bored with what you’re doing, find something new and unique to chase after instead of following the crowd.

Wormwood – During this time when the veil is thin, what in my life needs protecting?

Ten of Imps – Do not allow yourself to get overwhelmed and overburdened at this time. The more overwhelmed you feel now, the worse it will get later on through the season ahead.

Raven – Where can sating my curiosity lead to the resurrection of something I’ve lost?

Five of Imps – If you seek out others perspectives on the things that they are passionate about, you can stir up your own passions as a response. Their enthusiasm and conviction can in turn feed yours.

DECK USED: THE HALLOWEEN TATOT

HealingThruTarot’s October Shadow Work Challenge Prompt
Question for October 1st and 3rd

Disney Villains TarotWhat situations leave me stressed?

The Emperor and Ten of Wands – The necessity of taking charge and taking on responsibility when secretly you are already overwhelmed and far beyond your limit.

You take these things on naturally with barely a glance at the damage it will do to you by doing so. This added pressure and overwhelm then build into something detrimental in the background while you try to pretend it’s not happening.

How can I handle these triggering situations better?

Death and The Lovers – Instead of letting things come to a head and become unhealthy, start working on small processes along the way to delegate and otherwise turn situations around so that they can be more healthy for you when crunch time comes.

DECK USED: DISNEY VILLAINS TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I worked on getting my rosary orders done during play today instead of putting it off til tomorrow and letting it overwhelm me on orders day.

❤️ Self Care Saturday (On a Sunday)

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These Saturday readings are (not usually) bearing in on any one thing or event in my life, as the question used is asking for a more general outlook. This is a self care exercise, and is not meant as a predictive reading… although that, too, happens on occasion.

The question is… What do I need to focus for self-care through the week ahead?

Murder of Crows Tarot Limited Edition and Red Hand Lenormand

Earth – Nine of Pentacles – Take stock of what you have and find contentment in how far you’ve come. No need to push and shove ever forward, instead still yourself this week to better appreciate all you have accomplished.

Air – The High Priestess – Less logic, more intuition. This week is not the time to bury yourself in practicality and let logic lead your decisions. Allow your intuition’s voice hold sway over practical matters, and weigh what it says more heavily than logic in the coming week.

Water – King of Cups – More time with Gideon. You both need it, and it will help ground both of you emotionally. He is starving for more of your attention and time, and this week is a good time to get in a little extra time with him.

Fire – Queen of Pentacles – Only in this area (business matters, your drive for success) should practicality hold weight this week. Do what needs done to nurture your business to flourish. This does not mean to over do it, but begin putting in a little more here and there to get you where you need to be.

Waning – Fish and Moth – Do not “go with the flow” right into temptation and the flame. Instead, take pause and be conscious and conscientious in your actions.

Waxing – Scythe and Bouquet – Focus on resolving problems this week rather than letting things slide. It’s a good week for positive outcomes to troubling situations.

Take Away – Small progress and troubleshooting for the business are all you should be pouring practicality and logic into this week. Otherwise, let your intuition steer the boat, and make more time to spend with Gideon while you still have the chance.

DECKS USED: MURDER OF CROWS TAROT LIMITED EDITION AND RED HAND LENORMAND (LENORACLE)

Mysteries Abound

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

The Macabre Tarot - The Divine - The High PriestessToday’s draw is The Divine (the High Priestess) card, which is traditionally a representation of intuition, secret knowledge, the subconscious, and is often connected to lunar cycles.

The eye in this card holds a lot of my focus today, as does the fact that it is cast up towards the arc of moon phases above.  It brings to mind thoughts about how there is far more to life than meets the eye. Whether your beliefs include God, or a Pantheon, or ancestral spirits, or guides.. or none of these at all. There is no denying that the world is filled with mystery.

Today’s card is a reminder that these mysteries are all around us, free for us to explore if we wish, or just sit in wonder and admire. No faith necessary, no religion required.

DECK USED:  THE MACABRE TAROT

Mr Lionhart’s Seasons of the Witch Challenge Prompt
Questions for October 1st thru 3rd – The Omens

The Horror Tarot and Seasons of the Witch Samhain OraclePrediction, path, or prophecy, what will October bring for me?

Death and Third Harvest – A lot of small changes will happen over the month of October, culminating in the completion of a larger transition into something new by Samhain. Take your time in gearing up for the holiday season. Do a little a day, and by the time the holiday rush begins you will be ready.

As above, so below, show me where I need to go.

Ace of Swords and Intuition – Listen to that intuitive voice within you when communicating with others this month. Logic isn’t enough. You will need to delve deeper and seek guidance from within, as well as those that communicate with you through the language of your intuition.

From today until Samhain, how or where should I begin?

Judgment Rx and Grief – Don’t allow negativity and self judgment, or the mourning of the idleness of summer passing, to drag you down and cut you off from your path forward. Keep negativity in check, so that it doesn’t sink in and cause you emotional turmoil.

DECK USED: HORROR TAROT AND SEASONS OF THE WITCH SAMHAIN ORACLE

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2022 Challenge Prompt
Question for October 1st: Jack o’Lantern – What makes you smile or lifts your spirits?

The Macabre TarotReading Summary: When you and/or others are able to take disappointments (Three of Daggers) and piecemeal the experience gained from them into  progress toward your goals (Two of Bones) instead of letting it be something that weighs you down or holds you back (Ten of Bones).

Take Away: Turning a negative experiences around into a positive ones is uplifting for you. Finding the boon in negative experiences lifts your spirits, whether it’s you, something you’re involved in directly, or just witnessing someone else do it.

DECK USED: THE MACABRE TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

Lots of play time with Gideon today.  I had to skip my nap, but I don’t regret it at all and didn’t need one all that bad today anyway.  I needed the time with him much more.

📆 Transitioning from September to October

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Month End Check-In Tarot Reading with the Cats Rule the Earth Tarot and the Glowwood Oracle

Here and Now I Exist – Who you are now, in your entirety.

The Magician and The Beech – Your energies and those around you are on the ascent, and you have all the tools at your disposal that you need to make sure that everything goes just the way you want it to. Have confidence in your tools and your ability to use them to achieve your goals as things begin to speed up and the holiday rush begins to crowd out everything else.

The Slough – What is to be left in the past as you move forward.

Judgement and The Stag Beetle – Make sure that you are not judging yourself harshly for the transition period that is coming. Change is hard, and of course there’s going to be a little bit of struggle involved as you move from a time when you can focus on yourself to a time when every shred of your focus needs to be towards your business and it’s growth.

What Lies Ahead – An ideal state or ideal self you are seeking at this time.

King of Wands and The Mistletoe – Lead those with you through the long haul forward with strength, and make your passions their passions. Inspire them to transition with you into this new, temporary reality that the approaching holiday rush presents.

Limitations – Negative influences, opposition, or ill will.

The Devil and The Fumewort – Fairweather friends have no place in your life right now. They will become a hindrance that weighs you down and chokes out your enthusiasm. Don’t let your self-destructive tendencies convince you to try to hold onto these people right now. You can revisit these friendships in January if they’re still around at that time.

The Boon – Positive influences, higher guidance, or divine intervention.

Three of Swords and The Aphid – Focus on the little things right now. There’s lots of little things you can do to prepare for what is to come. When working on these little things you can advance far quicker and far more than you expect you could because all these little things pile up if you let them. If you are looking for things to make you feel good about yourself during this time (connection between the Aphid and the Stag Beetle) make sure you are doing these little things, and writing them down so you can see the progress you’re making.

The Wound – An unpleasant past experience or event that is ripe for some support and healing.

The Moon and The Firemoss – You need to take time to confront the feelings that stemmed from your time of homelessness and abject poverty. Although it is a long time in the past, there are still issues that linger in your mind and your heart from this time.

Nostalgia – A positive past experience or event to acknowledge, reflect upon, and enjoy.

Ten of Cups and and The Glowworm – This refers not to one specific positive past experience, but rather on remembering the good times as a whole and releasing the bad. It’s okay to keep the lesson and let go of the rest, in order to encourage focusing more on the positive than the negative.

A Warning – Something coming that can be prevented or overcome.

Five of Wands and The Lambsquarters – An effort from outside sources to come in and try and take over is coming. Make sure that you are aware of what’s going on around you and prepared. They could be useful and even beneficial, but not if they’re given free reign.

Empowerment – A future opportunity to work toward.

The Hierophant and The Oak – Put on a display the strength, structure, and stability that your presence provides for those around you. You will be given the opportunity to further your influence towards stability in future weeks, and provide guidance to those that are in need of that stability.

Notation:  Skipping the “Three Realms” section of this reading today as a part of my self-kindness.  I’m just too tired, and I don’t want to hold back posting this post, for I know it’ll just sit there in my “almost ready” list of posts and make me feel guilty.

DECKS USED: CATS RULE THE WORLD TAROT AND THE GLOWWOOD ORACLE

Finding Stability

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Today’s meditation was attempted, but not quite there.  I did the laying down and even the closing my eyes and breathing slow, but my brain wouldn’t calm to the point needed to actually feel like I accomplished meditating.   I did try, though.

Autumn Miss Tarot - Four of PentaclesToday’s draw is the Four of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of conservation, security, stability, acting the miser or spendthrift, self-inflicted stagnancy, and control.

In the imagery today’s card, what catches my eye today is that the crown the figure wears helps in holding the coin atop his head. Sometimes we all need a little help to feel stable. In the card, the figure has put on this crown to assist in this. What is it you do in your life that help you in feeling stable?

The message in today’s card is about those activities that make you feel stable and grounded, and encourages us to tap into those activities to help you in feeling stable today.

DECK USED:  AUTUMN MISS TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsSep2022 Challenge Prompt
Philosophical Question for September 28th: What are the 3 major strengths of humanity?

Manshin I Oracle and the 11:11 TarotYoung Man in Straw Hat – Friendship and Compassion – The ability to prioritize compassion over wealth, and connect deeply with others instead of everything remaining either solitary or superficial.

Xiwangmu Queen Mother of the West – Reproduction and Good Health – Humanity thrives, even in times of struggle and when conditions are at their worst. They are not wiped out by plague or misfortune, but instead continue on, generation after generation.

Eopsin Goddess of Storage and Wealth – Hope and Good Luck – Even in times when humanity is ignorant, good fortune lingers to provide a hand up, and as a result consequences are mitigated by luck and hope.

Topic for September 30th: Grab a spread of your choice that you’ve been curious about and give it a go!
Spread: Lionhart’s Reason Season Lifetime Spread

Reason – Why are things manifesting for me the way the are right now?

Four of Swords – Because you need to take a bit of time for extra rest and recovery right now. The lull won’t last forever, and you need this time of recuperation.

Season – What can I learn from my current path and that which surrounds me?

The Tower – Don’t catastrophize what is merely opportunity knocking on your door. Look for the boon instead of allowing pessimism to tear apart the possibilities being offered.

Lifetime – How does this fit into the bigger picture of my soul journey?

Temperance – Learning patience and moderation is an important part of your journey.  Being able to see the value in rest and giving yourself the time to recover is a part of learning to be more patient with yourself and your goals.  So is not making a big deal out of every opportunity that presents itself as sudden change.

DECK USED: MANSHIN I ORACLE AND 11:11 TAROT

The #ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge Prompt by E Roebuck-Jones
Questions for September 29th and 30th

Autumn Miss Tarot and the Mad Doctor's OracleHow can I make time for rest and relaxation every day?

Nine of Pentacles and The Fall – Be more conscious of all the good stuff you’ve surrounded yourself with and your accomplishments.

When you rush, mistakes are made. You can accomplish just as much through focused mindfulness as by rushing, because the slower path wont hold as many setbacks, mistakes, and problems in the mix.

There’s truth in the saying that everything gets done in its own time.  In a lot of tasks and goals, you reach the finish line at the same time no matter if you rush or take your time, so why not slow down and enjoy the journey more instead of putting all that strain on yourself by rushing?

DECK USED: AUTUMN MISS TAROT AND THE MAD DOCTOR’S ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

I got all of the October decks pulled earlier today, and I’m still amazed at the ease at which I can now pull decks with the shelves up instead of my previous system.

Valuing Traditions

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Today’s meditation was a bit over fourteen minutes long and was spent in quiet with breathing exercises and forearm stretches.  My right forearm has seized again, and so the stretching during my meditation was to tend to this issue.

Telluric Tarot 2nd EditionToday’s draw is the Hierophant, which is traditionally a representation of tradition, structure, guidance, established principles, and spiritual knowledge.

In today’s card, the Hierophant is represented by Staurolite and Oak. Staurolite, an iron based mineral, has qualities of stability and longevity, while the Oak shares and transforms this longevity into strength and long established tradition.

The message in today’s card, therefore, is about where we find comfort and stability in old traditions and passed down practices. Especially in the third quarter of the year, we run into a wide variety of traditions, both in society and family. The holidays that fall in this quarter of the year are steeped in them.

Today’s card invites us to examine those traditions and the reason they are carried on through the generations. What value do they hold that keeps them flourishing year after year? Which traditions do you value most, and which need a closer look to understand more fully?

DECK USED:  TELLURIC TAROT 2ND EDITION

OwlandBonesTarot’s #BothSidesOfTheTarot Prompt
Questions for September 29th and 30th

Oracle des Messages de Ton Cœur and The Wandering Soul OracleWhat boundary could be set in place?

Angoisses – As the holiday rush approaches, anxiety will rise. Make sure that you are not allowing this anxiety to freeze you in place. Staying fluid and flexible is important.

What wall could be taken down?

Souffrances – The chronic pain you deal with on a daily basis has levels, and you need to start doing those things that help keep your pain and suffering in check.

Finding Balance Between the Two – You know what you need to do (Wisdom), so untie those stubborn knots tying your hands and holding you back (Bound) and do it.

You need to work on establishing a regular meditation practice, which helps a great deal with both your anxiety and your pain levels.

What needs acceptance?

Nourriture – Nurturing comes in all forms. We feed our body with food, we feed our heart with good friends and love, we feed our mind with books and curiosity, we feed our soul with those things and people that make our soul sing. All of these aspects need fed. All of them; not just whatever ones you feel are valid.

What could you refuse?

Pitié – Pay attention to your negative inner narrative and shut down its lies when they try to whisper to you. Don’t allow them to turn your perspective sour.

Finding Balance Between the Two – When you connect to those things that spark fire in your soul (Burn), it creates a lift in all areas of your life including how you speak to yourself. The better you feel, the less your negative inner narrative has to say (Interconnected).

DECK USED: L’ORACLE DES MESSAGES DE TON CŒUR AND THE WANDERING SOUL ORACLE

#DiscordTarotholicsSep2022 Challenge Prompt
Questions for September 29th

Telluric Tarot 2nd EditionGoal – Knight of Cups – To instill more joy and enthusiasm into your day-to-day activities, especially in relation to pursuits that involve your creativity.

Pros – The Lovers – More connection with your purpose, and a healthier outlook towards your work and responsibilities. Rose colored glasses make everything look better, which influences how you feel, think, and communicate with others.

Cons – Ace of Swords – Enthusiasm created from those “feel good” feelings brings about a plethora of inspired ideas that you don’t really have time to add to your plate.

Obstacles – Two of Swords – This over abundance of enthusiasm and barrage of ideas can cause solid planning and realistic goal setting to fall to the wayside.

Solutions – Antecedent of Pentacles – Don’t start what you can’t finish. Write it down instead, and save the ideas “for a rainy day” when you have a bit more time. You can always return to them late.

DECK USED: TELLURIC TAROT 2ND EDITION

Daily Self Kindness

I shared my frustrations with others instead of holding them inside and letting them fester.