using tarot for guidance

Seeking Out The Good Stuff

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Today’s meditation was skipped in preference for a 2 1/2 hour nap.   I had really only planned on an hour, but it turned out to be more than double that.  Which, since it’s Tuesday, is fine.  It just meant that I got things done around the house a bit later than planned.

Moonroot Tarot and Flower Fortune CardsToday’s draw is the Five of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of apathy, boredom, pessimistic mentality, and discontent.

The image in this card is very relatable to me.  Here we have a scene where snow is falling in the background, and the figure in the image is sitting there like “oh great, it’s snowing” in a very negative way.

The thing is?  I love the snow.  Yes, it’s inconvenient and can be dangerous, but it’s also beautiful and fresh and fun… and in this part of the world, quite unusual. I could understand the negative attitude coming from people that deal with snow for months on end.  But here?  I don’t understand those that can’t see the beauty through the fear or discomfort.

These people stay inside, refuse to even go out for a walk, let alone a drive, and generally just complain the entire time about the weather.  But what is really holding them back from appreciating what’s going on around them?   It’s fear.  It’s the fact that some people can’t drive in the snow, and sometimes you slip and fall in the snow.  They focus on the discomfort, on the fear, and on the negative aspects rather than sinking into the positive and joyful aspects of the experience.

As the Flower Fortune card says for today, “If you are afraid to shake the dice, you’ll never roll a six”.  The “roll a six” for those that don’t know (since I had to look it up) is about the game of craps and lady luck helping you to win.  The message in these cards is that if you spend too much time focusing on the negative in a situation or your fear, then you loose out on the opportunity to actually find something fun, beautiful, or good in the whole situation.

DECK USED:  MOONROOT TAROT AND FLOWER FORTUNE CARDS

Raven Willow Tarot’s Emotional Exploration Prompt
Questions for May 25th and 26th

Seventh Sphere RWS TarotWhat role does relaxation play in my life?

It’s a healthier way forward (Six of Swords) into an entire new way of life (The World) where balance is the focus, and self-care and work are more evenly distributed (Two of Pentacles).

Over the past two years, I’ve been working hard at creating a new balance in life where I’m not constantly on a cycle of burnout and recovery.

In order to create this new balance, the key lies in the amount of rest and relaxation I allow myself to have, and in making sure that this relaxation is scattered throughout the day to day instead of “saved up” to use for recovery from burn out.   Because if the relaxation is scattered throughout the day to day, you never end up hitting burnout in the first place.

How can I enhance relaxation in my life?

Gideon may be greedy, but he also has your best interests and welfare at heart (King of Cups). Look back at the things in your life (Six of Cups) that have breathed fresh air into your inspiration and enthusiasm (Page of Wands)… Do more of those.

Gideon is eager to help you find that balance, and works hard to make sure you treat yourself well.  You need to listen to him and take these efforts to heart, as well as his suggestions to help you in finding and maintaining that balance. He watches over you, and watches everything you do with a keen eye, and can catch your slip ups often before you do.

Make sure that a part of your relaxation process includes those things you enjoy.  It doesn’t always have to be about sleep, but it needs to be about distancing yourself through small acts of personal kindness from the stress and pressure of work… and the stress and pressure you put on yourself concerning your responsibilities.

DECK USED:  SEVENTH SPHERE RWS TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsMay2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: What do you need to focus on for self-care for this full moon?

Moonroot TarotReading Summary: Those around you that you support (Six of Pentacles) are seeking new ways to return the favor (Page of Pentacles).  Don’t turn them away in your stubbornness (Eight of Swords Rx).

Take Away: Although the relaxation mentioned in your previous reading is an important part of finding a new and healthier balance in your life, so is making sure that you are staying open to the help others are offering.  Don’t reject out of pride or stubbornness.  Allow them to try, teach them how to help you, and share the load instead of carrying it all on your own shoulders.

DECK USED:  MOONROOT TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I took a nice long nap today.  I didn’t realize how badly I needed it until I woke up and felt so much better afterward.

Lunar Eclipse in Sagittarius – May 2021

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Along with the Full Moon, which I did a reading for yesterday, tomorrow is also a Lunar Eclipse!  In celebration of that upcoming event, I decided to do a reading geared towards the eclipse and the energies surrounding it. This spread is brought to you by Ethony‘s Tarot By the Moon series.

Lua Tarot - Lunar Eclipse Tarot Reading

1. What external influences are not serving my highest good right now?

The Hanged Man Rx – Make sure that you’re not allowing the closed-mindedness of others to influence your own perceptions. Be aware of where their motivations are centered in relation to the perspectives that they share instead of taking what is said at face value.  Dig deeper and read between the lines, then let go of what doesn’t serve you instead of falling into the trap of their perspective being the only one.

2. Where do I need to shift my perspectives?

Queen of Cups – It is not a weakness to seek out support and a sympathetic ear when you need one.  It takes strength to share your weakness with others and trust them to support you during those times instead of closing up and dealing with it all on your own.

3. How can I best re-charge my energy?

The Seeker – It’s time to get your ass back out in nature and do some hiking. This is about more than a bit of forest bathing, but should include some exertion and effort combined with the peace and comfort that the forest gives you.  Realistically, you can’t go on your own right now, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go at all, just make sure you pick your trails wisely so that whoever you take along can keep up.

4. What is the best course of action for my highest good?

Page of Cups  – Stay open and receptive to input and allow your creative energy to stretch and flex.  Imagination and enjoyment in what you do is a good thing and will help you thrive and move forward, just make sure you’re not closing yourself off emotionally as it will close you off in other ways as well and none of them are healthy.

5. What belief do I need to leave behind??

Knight of Wands – That you have to be go-go-go all the time, moving non-stop toward your goals.  It’s okay to rest, and it’s okay to take your time.  Don’t worry so much about how fast you’re getting where you’re going. Instead slow down and enjoy the ride and the stops along the way.  You’ll get where you want to go eventually and without the unhealthy pressure, burnout, and stress that going full speed all the time creates.

DECK USED:  LUA TAROT

Morning Bonus Read – Pet Reading

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Sparkly Lenormand Reading - Pet Tarot SpreadYour Connection

Mice – It’s all about the food.  Proof that sometimes the cards have nothing to do with their traditional meanings, here they are teasing me with the events of last night and this morning.  Last night, Miss Luna rolled her empty food ball right to my feet and sat beside it staring at me for a half an hour, trying to get me to fill it.  This morning, she was very mouthy about getting it filled and set down for her to eat.  Mice eat… and in the picture this is reinforced by the cheese.

Why you were brought together.

Heart – Heart connection. Need to love.  She needed someone to love her and take care of her, and I needed someone to love and take care of.  We were both in need at that time, and connected through that need.

What your pet really likes.
(The deck refused to give me a card for the word “loves”.)

Clouds – Cuddle time when feeling uncertain. Solidarity in times when things feel unstable and unclear.  When I’m feeling out of sorts, she comes and cuddles with me or sits near me, letting me know she’s there even if she might not want to be petted at the time.   When she feels uncertain or worried, she comes and sits on the other side of me.  Her comfy spot is usually between me and the door, but in these moments she changes to lying on the other side of me and settling her ass up against my hip for reassurance.

What your pet fears.

Key – Leaving the house or you doing so.  Again we see an intuitive response instead of a traditional one.  What Miss Luna fears the most is having to leave the house or me leaving and not coming back.  In fact, when I leave she will often sit on the end of the rug in the entryway and wait for me for hours, or if not, she will come running to greet me whenever I come home.  When I used to go away for days at a time, she would make herself at home in the spot where I sit on the couch and stare at the door for hours on end.

How to help your pet.

Anchor – Encourage feelings of security.  She likes the stability of a schedule and the dependability that it creates in her world.  She likes being able to depend upon me, as well.  In knowing I’m there for her and will take care of her always.

A message from your pet.

Dog – Miss Luna says, “I love you, Daddy. You’re the bees knees and I want to be with you for always.”

DECK USED:  SPARKLY LENORMAND

Fertile Soil

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IMG_1743Today’s meditation was just over ten minutes long and was another of the guided meditations from the Calm app combined with an interval timer for stretches.  I don’t really do meditations on order days, but I really felt the need today so I went ahead and did it anyway.

Today’s meditation was about making sure that you are taking care of yourself and doing the things needed to keep yourself healthy and happy, because if you want to help others you have to help yourself first.  If there’s no energy or if you’re burnt out, you’re not operating at your best… and that means you’re not giving your best either.

The Alchemist's Garden Tarot and Flower Fortune CardsToday’s draw is the Tower card, which is traditionally a representation of tearing down established structures and patterns in order to make room for something new to be built in its place.  This type of change comes on suddenly, is chaotic, and can often be frightening or painful.

The Iboga plant (Tabernanthe iboga) is a psychoactive plant that is highly toxic and commonly used in certain areas of the world to bring about visions and near death experiences.  It is my understanding that through the process of these NDEs it is believed that you tear down you shed your past, your sicknesses, or your life that is not working for you, and return with fresh and fertile soil to build from moving forward.

Combined with the Flower Fortune Card, which states “Never fear what you do not know”, what I see here is a message about that process of tearing down to re-build. Sometimes we invest a lot… a lot… in making something work in our lives.  And it can feel horrible when that thing just isn’t working, or maybe it did work for a long time, but isn’t anymore.  When those things are dismantled or torn out of our lives, the change we struggle with isn’t about losing those things usually.  It’s about the unknown that lies ahead.

The message in today’s cards is a reminder.  Don’t allow fear to keep you from tearing down what isn’t working and starting fresh.  Starting again puts all the control in your hands, and fertile soil in your life with which to grow something new and beautiful from.

DECK USED:  THE ALCHEMIST’S GARDEN TAROT AND FLOWER FORTUNE CARDS

The Sacred Grounds Tarot Club Prompt
Topic for May 23rd thru 25th:

Tarot RenardMind – Forefront of Consciousness
Four of Swords, Eight of Swords atop Page of Swords

You are fooling yourself if you think that you are looking at rest in a healthy manner. You’re not getting enough and you know it. Open your eyes and look closer.

Body – Subconscious
The Tower and The High Priestess

That inner critic needs to go. It’s holding you back and even your intuition is being affected.

Spirit – Deepest Desire
Ten of Cups

Happy home, success, more positivity.  Stop looking so hard at the earthy side of things and pay more attention to the watery elements in your life.  Emotions are more important.

Spirit – Deepest Issue
Nine of Swords

Anxieties and worries clouding your judgment. Fears holding you back. The hesitation you’re dealing with isn’t about time or preparedness.  It’s about fear.  Deal with the fear and the procrastination you’ve been feeling in so many areas of your life lately will lift as a result.

DECK USED:  TAROT RENARD

#DiscordTarotolicsMay2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: What are you ignoring that needs to be dealt with?

The Alchemist's Garden Tarot

Reading Summary:  Closed minded thinking from an external source (Hanged Man on its side) is holding you back (The Chariot in the left position) and stealing your potential and progress (Eight of Wands in the right position).

Take Away: This is the second time in a few days that the topic of a closed minded influence in my life has been brought up. I can’t think of anyone in my life at this time that could be exerting this influence, but it’s clear from these cards that they (or a situation causing this mindset) is on the way, and that I need to shut it down quickly when it arrives.

This could be about “all or nothing” thinking in the moment.

DECK USED:  THE ALCHEMIST’S GARDEN TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I’m soaking in the bath before bed tonight.

Full Moon in Sagittarius – May 2021

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On Wednesday is the full 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 brought to you by Ethony‘s Tarot By the Moon series.

Stolen Child Tarot - Sagittarius Full Moon Tarot Reading

1. What impulses need taming?

Six of Flame – Be unique. Fitting in isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.  You know this already but sometimes you forget or the awareness gets pushed aside a bit.  It’s okay for that to happen as long as you remain true to your values and ethics, but it’s better to return back to the confidence of self that allows you to not feel the desire to fit in in the first place.

2. Where can I best direct my energy?

The Emperor – Own your environment, and own yourself. Focus on becoming better seated in your element and projecting that true strength that lives within you and that others depend on.  This doesn’t mean you are supporting them, but when you simply stand beside them, it makes them stronger as a result.

3. How can I best redirect my aggression?

Five of Oak – Don’t allow your feelings of scarcity to trigger you into being miserly. Turn it around into generosity instead.  Just because you feel like things are not going well doesn’t mean that’s the truth.  Work at letting go of the inward directed aggression that feelings of scarcity create. Instead, look at all you have and all you offer to others, and you can see just how well things are actually going.

4. How can I add a little spice to my life?

Page of Oak – Lean in.  Finding the fun and finding your way forward sometimes requires a bit more dedication than others. Push forward to seek more joy and more positivity.  Actively commit to this path and put genuine effort into the process. Don’t put it off for later as your happiness is important.

5a. What personal beliefs need re-examining?

King of Zephyrs – You don’t have to be harsh to be “large and in charge”.  Not everything has to be a battle plan with a sharp tongue and sharper mind behind the wheel 100% of the time.  Everyone needs down time.

5b. What spiritual beliefs need re-examining?

The Star – Leaving things up to chance now and then is not irresponsible and will work out just fine. Your guides are there and will help in times of need, so too will your own intuition.  The world… the universe… it will provide.  So relax a bit and enjoy a bit more of the world around you instead of believing that you need to have your thumb on the pulse of everything all the time.

DECK USED: STOLEN CHILD TAROT

Let Your Guard Down

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Today’s meditation was just over ten minutes long, and was a guided meditation through the Calm app with an interval timer included for my piriformis stetching.

The focus of today’s meditation was about find what feels right for you.  Sometimes, it can be hard when bombarded by different options and ideas to figure out what’s the right one for you.

Sometimes you can’t even figure it out when you try them out for yourself and can’t -feel- it deep inside.  Sometimes?  That means you just have to go with whichever one feels best in the moment… other times?  It means that the right thing or right idea just hasn’t come along yet.

Men + Monsters Tarot and Flower Fortune CardsToday’s draw is the Seven of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of standing up for yourself and your principles, standing strong for those things you believe in, and hold to your values even during times of opposition.

It’s easy, when we’re on our own and there’s no opposition to the contrary, to be strong in our values and principles. And sometimes when we meet new people, we make assumptions about how they will view us and what we value.  Sometimes we put up walls prematurely to protect ourselves from those predicted or perceived judgements.

The combination of the Seven of Wands with the Flower Fortune card for today which says “A stranger is a friend you have not met yet” creates a reminder about these moments in our lives when we come upon new people that enter our sphere, and how we handle their arrival.

The message in today’s cards is to not prematurely erect walls and barriers between yourself and others on what you think they will think (or feel) about you or your beliefs, values, and principles. Not everybody’s out to get you or tear you down. When meeting new people, stay open and see what happens.  You may find yourself pleasantly surprised now and then if you give people a chance.

DECK USED:  MEN + MONSTERS TAROT AND FLOWER FORTUNE CARDS

Raven Willow Tarot’s Emotional Exploration Prompt
Questions for May 23rd & 24th

Tarot of the Wishmaster MinikinsWhat role does excitement play in my life?
Queen of Pentacles, The Moon, Five of Wands atop Death

When something catches your attention and sparks your excitement, it keeps you moving forward and encourages you to keep going (even if sometimes slowly) when you’re having doubts and your inner conflict tries to put you into a stall pattern.

How can I better enhance excitement in my life?
Three of Wands atop The Emperor, The Hierophant, Page of Cups

Own your passions and the direction you want to take them in with more certainty. You will continue to learn as you go, and inspire others to do the same, if you stay open both emotionally and creatively to new things.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE WISHMASTER MANIKINS

#DiscordTarotolicsMay2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: Do Spread #3

Men + Monsters Tarot What is the core stressor in my life at this time that is under my control to change?

Knight of Swords atop Three of Cups – Impulsiveness of others in my social circle. L seems to think that she’s in no danger from the stalker issue because the letter that showed up on our doors was addressed to me. I don’t feel like I have a lot of control over this issue, but I suppose that’s why it’s being brought up in this reading, yeah?

What has allowed this stress in my life to take root and grow?

Ten of Coins – Overconfidence of in our health and safety. Although she’s okay still with not going out alone due to the Asian hate crimes going on right now.  She always has Z or one of her other friends, or even J with her when she goes out.  And yet she doesn’t take the stalker issue seriously in relation to herself even though I’ve told her Gideon’s theory that they could have addressed it to me to throw us off.  After all, it was -her- that trucker waved to.  Not that it’s the trucker, but it could be.  It could be anyone.

What can I do right now to ease my stress and anxiety related to this issue?

Five of Wands – Hash it out.  Control over this issue has to do with actually butting heads with her on it again and again, reminding her again and again, talking with her, fighting with her, and making sure she stays alert even if it’s through the constant reminders and pokes and prods given to her on a daily basis.  In this way you can make sure that the danger stays in the forefront of her awareness, regardless of whether she wants to take it seriously or not.

DECK USED:  MEN + MONSTERS TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I had a lot of stuff to do today that was really hard to let myself do since I’ve got so much I need to get done.  But I did do it, and I feel better for it so I’m glad I did, even if I slept an hour longer than intended.