using tarot for guidance

Morning Bonus Read – Thinning Veil Spread

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Because I am trying to show a bit more of my decks this month, as I have a whole LOT of October/Halloween/Samhain decks, I’m doing a few extra bonus reads over the month.  This is one of those extra readings.

Thinning Veil Tarot Spread - SkeleTarot

Your Higher Purpose
Page of Pentacles

Learning how to connect to the earth and to develop my manifestation abilities no matter what life throws at me along the way.  It’s about adaptability and staying grounded while still moving forward.  There is also an indication here about the speed of that movement.  This is not fast movement, but rather slow and steady with the focus more on what you learn along the way than where you are going to end up.

Advice From Beyond the Veil
The Lovers

So many of my readings that have included this question end up throwing this same answer to me again and again.  Make good choices.  This isn’t about making choices that advance some agenda but rather about listening to my moral compass and allowing deeper needs and motivations to lead rather than surface wants and desires.

A Lesson From This Side of the Veil
Strength

The events of my life thus far have been about survival. It’s about taking your licks and keeping moving, no matter how much it hurts or how debilitating the experience should be. This is a lesson in inner strength.  Most of my “misfortunes” along the way were not about making good or bad choices, but about the strength gained along the way as I move through and beyond the ramifications of what has happened, continually adapting as I go.

Your Shadow’s Influence
Ace of Wands

As the shadows within work to whisper in your ear, it can be hard to keep your inspiration and enthusiasm going.  The influence of my Shadow upon this lifetime is to teach me how to sustain that enthusiasm, even as those whispers try to distract me and drag me into backslide after backslide.

DECK USED:  SKELE-TAROT

Examining Motivations

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At the moment, I’m playing catch up after having not kept up on my blog posts for a few days, so I don’t remember what the meditation was like today… or if I did it, to be honest. I will return to updating about my meditation each day once I’m caught up with my posts again.

Madam Lydia Wilhelmina's Tarot - Ace of WandsToday’s draw is is the Ace of Wands, which is traditionally an interpretation of new inspiration and enthusiasm toward new passion projects.  It’s not so much about the idea or the act of participating in a project, but about the spark of fire and drive that kindles in your soul when you are inspired.

It feels like there’s a message here in the clouded, deformed figures down in the lower right corner, and yet even now it doesn’t want to rise to the surface and speak to me. It’s about motivation behind why things spark your interest, and the hidden secrets we keep sometimes.

Oh… there it is. 

The thing is?  Sometimes when we feel that spark of inspiration? It’s important to take a pause and look at our motivations. Why are you so keen on this new idea or project, where is the interest and enthusiasm coming from?  Is it pure?  Or is it something being used to conceal or run away from something else you don’t want to deal with. 

For example.  Mopping the floor and cleaning the windows sucks.  But it might look really appealing if you’re trying to avoid cleaning the toilets instead.  

The best projects and creative endeavors are bred not from avoidance, but from pure inspirational spark.  Make sure that when you feel a spark in your soul that you are eager to explore, that that exploration is pure curiosity and interest…. and not motivated by procrastination or avoidance.

DECK USED:  MADAM LYDIA WILHELMINA’S TAROT

LionHart’s #TheOctoberTarot #SeasonOfTheWitchChallenge Prompt
Question: In what way am I suggested to protect my personal energy?

The Vampire Tarot

Reading Summary:  Grounded advance (Knight of Pentacles) and overcoming lack of joy in your entrepreneurial spark (Four of Wands Rx) through the sharing of that passion with others (Queen of Wands). It’s okay to feel, but don’t allow those feelings to mellow and stagnate (Queen of Cups… it’s about her face and how she’s holding the cup).

There is growth and advancement here in the inclusion of greenery both in the Queen of Wands and Queen of Cups.   Emotional influences blending with inspirational drive will allow for a breaking free of the cage you feel like you’re trapped in.  As long as you stay grounded, it’s okay to move slow.

Take Away:  Whether these cards are read left to right, or right to left, the key here in moving forward and continuing to grow in both my emotional wealth as well as my business requires some grounding, as well as slow but steady progress.  Don’t remain stagnant. It’s not healthy, no matter how appealing it might seem.

DECK USED:  THE VAMPIRE TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2020 Challenge Prompt
Philosophical Question: How important is play in living a healthy and fulfilling life?

Dead Waite TarotReading Summary: Play is the music of life. Whether you’re on your own and singing to the sky (imagery of Queen of Swords), or with those you love and serenading them from the heart (imagery on Ten of Pentacles)… either way that joy of play is what clears away the smog (imagery in Death).

Take Away:  Clearly, it’s very important.  It’s the fresh air that clears away the stagnancy and cobwebs in our lives and allows us to look at ourselves and the world around us with fresh eyes.  Lack of play encourages stagnancy and lack of growth. 

DECK USED:  DEAD WAITE TAROT

#MysticStarChallenge October Challenge Prompt
Question: How does the message from the 19th help me with my greater purpose?

The Gothic Tarot

Reading Summary:  It helps me open my eyes (Eight of Swords) to the fact that I’m not allow and am receiving strength from others (Strength) that are near and dear to me and have my best interests at heart (Four of Wands).

Take Away:  My spirit guides are represented here by the Four of Wands, as they are with me all the time… from birth to death they will be there to help and provide a stable “home base” of guidance along the way.

The message on the 19th was that they are behind me 100% and are my cheerleading squad, there to cheer me on and give me strength. The message opened my eyes to this face, and that knowledge provides me with an undercurrent of strength that I didn’t have previously.

DECK USED:  THE GOTHIC TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What has most influenced my spiritual path?

Luis Royo's Labyrinth Tarot

Reading Summary: Learning about different traditions and adopting what has felt right for me (Seven of Swords).  Hardships along the way that have taught me strength (Five of Pentacles).  Following my gut concerning what is right for me… and what isn’t (Eight of Cups).

Take Away:  This is about the development of my independence and finding the path that is mine alone.  It’s about accepting that I have my own path, and that that path is directed by my intuition and moral compass rather than by what others think or feel is right for me.

DECK USED:  LUIS ROYO’S LABYRINTH TAROT

The Power of Manifestation

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At the moment, I’m playing catch up after having not kept up on my blog posts for a few days, so I don’t remember what the meditation was like today… or if I did it, to be honest.   I will return to updating about my meditation each day once I’m caught up with my posts again.

Tarot of Haunted House - Eight of PentaclesToday’s draw is the Eight of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of harmony and expertise built over time through hard work and the honing of one’s skills.  It’s about manifestation through these skills, and work with one’s hands to create one’s masterpiece.

What really stands out to me in the imagery of this card today is the pentacles themselves and their positioning within the air above where the woman kneels in her circle.   She has honed her skills of manifestation and is in the middle of doing a boon spell. She has worked on this craft, done all of the physical labor, and with the skills she has honed she has become strong enough to manifest abundance in a very physical way.

Today’s card is a reminder of what I can do… of the fact I have this ability.  Not to create coins out of mid-air, but rather to take an idea and make it into a reality.  To spin an idea into physical reality is a skill of creativity and creation, and a blessing to cherish and enjoy instead of simply exploit.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF HAUNTED HOUSE

LionHart’s #TheOctoberTarot #SeasonOfTheWitchChallenge Prompt
Question: What should I keep in my mind when working with the other side?

Ghosts & Spirits Tarot

Reading Summary: Stay grounded (Four of Pentacles) and don’t linger (The Chariot) or things can start to fall apart fast (The Tower).

Take Away:  This is an echo of the reading I did yesterday that was a very similar question.  It’s a warning that when I am working with the other side I need to be in a grounded place of control.  In order to avoid chaos and disaster, it’s important to make sure I’m in the right place to be working with the other side, and able to get “in and out” quickly and smoothly while maintaining control.

DECK USED:  GHOSTS & SPIRITS TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: What echos from the past are trying to resurface for me right now?

Nightmare Before Christmas TarotReading Summary: Dad (The Devil and Six of Potions) trying to come back and tell me (Six of Candles under Six of Potions) what living my life should look like (Ten of Pentacles).

Take Away: This is the “cheer up and be a man” message that my father always had ready and waiting for me.  “A man” being a provider and the strong foundation of a fruitful family.  My father loves to try and rise up at this time of year and bring with him his whispers from the past, although I am grateful that these aren’t the worst whispers he’s ever shouted at me back when he was alive.

Still, with the fact that I feel like I’m lacking motivation this year, I really don’t feel like his input is productive, but more of a thorn in my already sore side.

DECK USED:  NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS TAROT

#MysticStarChallenge October Challenge Prompt
Question: How do I embrace my message?

Nicoletta Ciccoli Tarot

Reading Summary: Look at all the blue in these cards.  It spreads through the entire reading, and is only missing from the second card where pink shades tie in that card to the rest instead. Pink is independence.  Blue is calm and poise.

Card 1 – Hiding behind one’s independence in an effort to seize control and use it to create a solitary graceful strength away from the fear of other’s judgements.

Card 2 – Here is the solitary graceful strength.  Independence without censure.

Card 3 – Insidious whispers from outside sources.  Sitting atop one’s independence and begin resentful of those whispers, which creates negative feelings.

Card 4 – Very little independence.  That resentment from Card 3 has stolen the ability to fight back and the independence you seek.

Card 5 – Trying to seize control of a situation involving conflict. This situation feels out of control as you try to reign back in the independence lost.

Card 6 – Wearing your independence once more and at rest and ease now that it is once again back in your possession.

Take Away: The cards here indicate that to embrace this message of support I need to set myself free (second card) of the fear and worries (first card) of insidious whispers and influences (third card) sneaking up and taking me by surprise ambush (fourth card).

Whether I am calm and collected (last card), or fully aware and trying to seize control (fifth card)… what is coming is inevitable (water represented in both cards) and it is best to try and move forward into it with calm and poise (all the blue throughout the spread).

DECK USED:  NICOLETTA CICCOLI TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What do past lives mean to me?

Luis Royo's Dark Tarot

Reading Summary: You build up the physical within your life (King of Pentacles) which is then stolen away (Seven of Swords) as you are set free to join lost loved ones (Three of Cups) and the soul then can start again with prior knowledge it has earned (Knave of Wands).

Take Away:  This is about reincarnation.  It’s about how during our lives on earth, we have a habit of focusing too much on the physical.  Then when the physical is yanked away, we are left with a clear understanding of what’s left behind and what we’ve learned.  This knowledge is not conscious, but resides in the soul and is then carried forward into a new cycle.

DECK USED:  LUIS ROYO’S DARK TAROT

Morning Bonus Read – Dark Year Spread

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The Vampire TarotWhat is dying away, sloughing off, departing?
Five of Wands

My enthusiasm for the fight.  I haven’t had that spark of fire this season that usually rides me so hard.  That lack of enthusiasm makes it hard to push forward and has caused a slackening of motivation.

How can I lovingly support this transition?
Six of Cups atop Seven of Wands

These cards are not about supporting the transition.  They’re about supporting myself through a time of discomfort and reminding myself that I need to stay in the present and not allow the past and my past experiences to force me into unpleasant situations.   A lot of my motivation comes from those past experiences, and so this is also about acceptance.

What will this death make way for? What’s looking to be born or reborn?
Six of Pentacles

I really dislike this feeling of lack of motivation, but what this death is trying to make room for is a the ability to be more generous with myself and others.  This is about having the awareness of where I am, what I need from others, and what I can offer in turn.  Thus, putting me more in touch with what’s going on around me instead of within my own life from only my own perspective.

DECK USED: THE VAMPIRE TAROT

Take Care of Yourself

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Today’s meditation was skipped, unfortunately, because I got a bit of a late start after the farm.  Or rather, I ended up staying a bit longer at the farm this morning than planned, and it screwed the rest of my morning schedule.  I did manage to still get my flu shot tho, and made it to my Aunt’s only about an hour late, so it wasn’t an entire wash.

Madam Lydia Wilhelmina's Tarot - Ten of WandsToday’s draw is the Ten of Wands, which is traditionally interpreted as running into overwhelm or burnout in the pursuit of your passion projects and other endeavors. It is about taking on too much responsibility, about having too much on your plate, and about feeling over-burdened.

This is a very apt card for today, as today’s major project for today was about going over to my aunt’s new apartment in the city and helping to move all of her belongings out of the moving container (you know, like one of those big metal shipping containers) and into her apartment.  This also ended up including the assembly of a couple pieces of furniture that she needed help putting together, and helping her get a few of the essential boxes unpacked.

The sharp tips on the ends of the wands in this imagery are especially apropos, as I feel that the message in this card today is about making sure that I don’t over do it to the point that I end up hurting myself (sharp pointed spears) in the process. 

Today’s card was a perfectly timed reminder to make sure I would take care of myself today.

DECK USED:  MADAM LYDIA WILHELMINA’S TAROT

LionHart’s #TheOctoberTarot #SeasonOfTheWitchChallenge Prompt
Question: How can I best work with the thinning veil this year?

Gothic Horror Tarot

Reading Summary: Take a position of strength (Queen of Staves) and gratitude (Nine of Cups), of grounded fulfillment  (Ten of Pentacles) about having made good choices that got you to where you’re at (The Lovers)…. only then can you work with others on the other side of the veil safely (Three of Coins).

Take Away: This is about making sure that I am “well seated” both emotionally and in the physical word and confident in where I’m at prior to reaching out to work with the other side.  It’s about more than just being grounded, but about being in a place of strength, confidence, and power. 

DECK USED:  GOTHIC HORROR TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: Energy I’m emitting / What that energy is attracting / What to do about it

Grim TarockEnergy I’m Emitting – The Hanged Man – Open and observant.  Quiet and willing to take my time when needed to understand things from different angles.  Non-biased and able to take in different viewpoints without losing perspective.

What That Energy Is Attracting – Ten of Fish – People are drawn to this as it feels safe and soothing. It makes me approachable even when perhaps I’m not as skilled as I’d like to be in communication and other interpersonal aspects.

What To Do About It – King of Chaos – Do nothing. The repercussions would suck for yourself and for others.  Chaos is just not comfortable or something you really want too much of in your life.

DECK USED:  GRIM TAROCK

#MysticStarChallenge October Challenge Prompt
Question: What message do my other Guides need to tell me?

Trick or Tarot

Reading Summary: My spirit guides say that they see that I’m moving forward in my business (Page of Wands) and that I’m not just capable (The Magician) but also highly skilled (Eight of Pentacles).

Take Away: They are all on my side and being my cheer-leading team, letting me know that I’ve got this.  It’s okay to feel overwhelmed, but they are reminding me that I’m strong and capable and in my element and if I just go with it, everything will be fine.

DECK USED:  TRICK OR TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What does shadow/darkness mean to me?

Tarot de Marseille par Pole Ka

Reading Summary: The influence that creates bad choices (Lovers Rx), the self recriminations and inner dialogue that drags me under into depression and retreat (The Hermit Rx), and the emotional mess that spills out to damage my ability to relate to others (Queen of Cups Rx).

Take Away:  Shadows and darkness are, in my perspective, the influences and decisions that create a situation of isolation and depression.

DECK USED:  TAROT DE MARSEILLE PAR POLE KA

Morning Bonus Read – Refocus Tarot Spread

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Because I am trying to show a bit more of my decks this month, as I have a whole LOT of October/Halloween/Samhain decks, I’m doing a few extra bonus reads over the month.  This is one of those extra readings.

Refocus Tarot Spread - Catton Candy Nightmare Tarot

Why do I feel unfocused right now?
Ten of Pentacles Rx

Because my stability feels a bit shaky and uprooted.  The thing is, this time of year is a transition period for me between the summer’s endeavors (that this year were primarily self-focused and personal) and the holiday rush (which is entirely business focused and entrepreneurial).  It’s not surprising that the shift from one to the other would make me feel unsteady, and thus a bit unfocused.

What is distracting me from my soul’s true path?
Judgement

Me.. being a dick… to myself.  I’m working on combating this as best that I can, but that dark snarl that likes to whisper nasty shit in my ear is definitely working overtime at the moment.

What requires my focus right now that I am neglecting?
Eight of Cups

I’ve had a lot of reminders lately about making sure I’m leaving the shit that isn’t working from me behind.  Here, again, we see that reminder that I need to keep my eye on where I want to go and not on how I  used to do things.   There’s a lot of temptation right now to fall into bad habits from my past, so these constant reminders are understandable and appreciated.

How can I release distractions and refocus on what matters most?
The Hanged Man Rx

Stop allowing hesitation to rule my actions and thoughts.  I’m being told to jump in and “adjust on the fly” as I move forward instead of hanging back with worries while trying to test the waters before jumping in.  Procrastination is not my friend right now.

Who or what can help me stay focused?
Ace of Wands

I need to get back in touch with that creative inner spark and the joy that it gives me to manifest ideas into physical items that bring pleasure to others.  This is my own pleasure and my purpose, and is something that I’ve lost touch with a bit off and on this year.

How can I benefit from realigning and refocusing?
Five of Cups Rx

It will allow me to move on and move forward instead of hanging back dealing with emotions that have no use or purpose for me at this time.

DECK USED:  CATTON CANDY NIGHTMARE TAROT