using tarot for guidance

Choosing Stability

/ Twist the Leaf / Leave a comment

Today’s meditation was a ten minute long #DailyCalm session from the @Calm app.

•    •    •    ◈    •    🎄    •    ◈    •    •    •

The Revelation of the Cat Spirit Tarot - Seven of CupsThe @GlitterbyInk #DecemberDays25 Beyond the Solstice Challenge
The Archetype Prompt for December 14 : Grounded
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is the Seven of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of themes having to do with having a plethora of options to choose from, all of opportunity’s doors being open upon one’s path, and at times being overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices available in the moment.

Grounding yourself takes work. Not in the way that you work hard to achieve a goal, but more in the way that you have to be mindful of when you need it and how you achieve it. It’s not about drive or ambition, it’s about awareness and stillness.

It’s about making choices that create that space for grounding and stability in your life. Whether that’s in a moment when you need it most, or overall in your day-to-day life so that you have that stability there for you day in and day out.

The message in today’s cards is a reminder that being grounded is a choice that we make, and in making that choice we do the things needed to give us that sense of stability and grounded energy.

Whether these activities are meditation, or breath exercises, or touching grass, or spending time in nature, or whatever it is that gives you that sense of grounding. Participating in these things is a choice that we make; and if we don’t consciously and mindfully make these choices, we will be unable to find the grounding and stability that we need.

DECK USED:  THE REVELATION OF THE CAT SPIRIT TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsDec2025 Challenge
Prompt for December 14th : Do Spread 2

Tarot Reading with The Revelation of the Cat Spirit Tarot

Thistle: How can I ward off the blues that try to encroach as the holidays draw to a close?

Knight of Wands – Delve into the things that you feel enthusiasm for. You’ll need that dose of enthusiasm to help lift you up as the excitement of the holidays begins to wane.

Garnet: How can I purify myself to help find a better balance for the new year ahead?

Five of Swords Rx – Work on seeing life less as a battle with winners and losers. This mindset pushes people away. Consider seeing life as a journey that involves including others instead. Not everything has to be a battle to the death.

Yew: What practices need resurrected in my life to protect my well-being?

Ten of Swords atop Five of Wands – End conflicts before they can even begin. Remember that you can say “fuck it” and walk away. You don’t have to engage, even if they’re trying their hardest to tempt you to.

Diamond: How can my imagination foster more fearlessness in my life?

Ten of Cups – Instead of worrying about the stuff that might go wrong along the way, imagine all the goodness and shared joy that can come from your endeavors.

Holly: How can I create longevity in the fertile soil of my new endeavors?

Eight of Wands Rx – Don’t rush. Remember to take things slow. It’s important to keep in mind that “your own pace” doesn’t mean “as fast as you can”. It means taking things slow and easy so that you can savor the process and experiences along the way.

Emerald: How can a closer connection to hearth and home affect my sense of loyalty?

Two of Swords – When you are disconnected from hearth and home, you have a tendency to make more selfish choices that in the end are often less successful, both personally and professionally. This means that you make better choices when you are connected to those things that matter most to you.

Peppermint: What methods can I use to best stimulate my mind when I need a boost?

King of Swords – Allow yourself to delve into “rabbit holes” of interest, and drag others with you as you go. This allows you to both learn new things that can benefit you in the future, and enjoy the experience of teaching others what you’re learning as you’re learning it. Sharing the wealth, even as you cover new ground.

Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Purple Heather Sprigs for Independence and Luck
Japanese Cherry Leaf as a Reminder of Life’s Fleeting Moments
Gneiss Stone for Patience in Moments of Discomfort
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED:  THE REVELATION OF THE CAT SPIRIT TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I had absolutely no interest in going grocery shopping today, but stopped by and picked up a few needed things anyway because I knew it would be harder to do meals for the rest of the day without them.

❤️ Self Care Saturday (On a Sunday)

/ Twist the Leaf / Leave a comment

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?

Self Care Saturday Tarot Reading with the Yuletide Tarot and Vintage Yuletide Lenormand

Earth – King of Candles (Wands) Rx – It’s time to take stock of what you are putting your energy into and if it’s really what you want to be putting your energy into. Consider where would it be better to sit back and watch, rather than participating let alone taking the lead.

Air – Five of Candles (Wands) Rx – Take care not to allow yourself to be drawn into conflict this week. It won’t end well for you if you do. This is one time when it’s better to walk away and deal with it later than to engage now just to “get it over with”.

Water – Five of Good Cheer (Cups) Rx – Really lean into your positivity and optimism exercises this week. You need the extra uplift to help keep your pessimism from dipping into dark places and dragging you along for the ride.

Fire – Queen of Candles (Wands) – Enthusiasm is an important part of making it through the holiday season with health and good cheer intact this year. Look for those things that you can enjoy, and encourage others to do the same.

Waning – Fish and Ship – The less amount of travel you do this week, the better. It could be costly for you if you’re not careful to keep excursions to the minimum.

Waxing – Whip and Paths – Practice a little more discipline this week to keep you from being distracted by flights of fancy and overfilling your plate with the opportunities on offer.

Take Away – Make sure that the enthusiasms you decide to participate in this week in order to keep your spirits high are things that still move you in the direction that you want to head as you get closer to the new year and what lies beyond. Choosing to travel during the flooding that’s going on could be more costly than you realize. If and when staying home as an option, do that instead of taking the risk.

DECKS USED: YULETIDE TAROT AND VINTAGE YULETIDE LENORMAND

Finding the Positive for December 10 – 12

/ Twist the Leaf / Leave a comment

Coastal Crow & Raven Tarot's Magician card, WinterBell Tarot's Ten of Pentacles, Mystical Tarot of the Saints' Six of Coins / Six of Pentacles

December 10 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

•    •    •    ◈    •    🎄    •    ◈    •    •    •

The @GlitterbyInk #DecemberDays25 Beyond the Solstice Challenge
The Artisan Prompt for December 10 : Vibrant
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is The Magician card, which is traditionally a representation of capability, potential, resourcefulness, action, and manifestation. This often translates into themes having to do with being in possession of all of the skills, abilities, and tools necessary to reach one’s goals and accomplish one’s ends. It’s about being capable and skilled, resourceful and gifted with what is needed to get the job done.

The greatest tool at your disposal is your brain.

The Magician is filled with the energy of innovation, having all the tools needed to do what needs done. Well the most valuable of those tools isn’t experience or anything in particular that you own. It’s your brain.

Common sense and innovation are the key to any and all other “tools” at one’s disposal. If you can’t think? You can’t -do- what needs done.

The message in today’s card and prompt combination is a reminder that it’s your mind that shines brightest when it comes to solving problems. Don’t forsake yourself or your ingenuity. Don’t call yourself stupid, lean into willful helplessness, or forsake your innate ability to problem solve. Be creative. Use your brain. That’s what it’s there for.

DECK USED: COASTAL CROW & RAVEN TAROT

December 11 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

•    •    •    ◈    •    🎄    •    ◈    •    •    •

The @GlitterbyInk #DecemberDays25 Beyond the Solstice Challenge
The Artisan Prompt for December 11 : Gilded
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is the Ten of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of satisfaction and stability in the area of one’s finances, resources, home, health, manifestations, and the physical world. This often translates into themes that have to do with hard earned success, accomplishments, abundance created through patience and hard work.

What makes your life worth living?  What cycles in life return to the surface again and again, creating value where it felt like value was lacking?

That’s the questions that I see this card asking us today.  It’s in the star that shines so brightly in the center like a symbol of hope and positive outcomes, and the circle of ornaments and deer that encircle the star, speaking of abundance and fruition.

The thing is?  We can’t always have everything we want. And if we could? Just imagine how boring that would be.  Instead, or good fortune comes in cycles, creating a balance between good and bad… and it’s up to us to focus on the good and give it the true credit in our lives that it deserves.

The message in today’s card combined with the “gilded” prompt is a reminder that our abundance and good fortune are only as valuable as we allow them to be.  If we disregard them, then they hold little value in our lives.  But, if we take time to acknowledge and celebrate these things, they have the ability to shine more brightly and lift us up even during times when we’re struggling.

DECK USED: WINTERBELL TAROT

December 12 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was a ten minute long #DailyCalm session from the @Calm app.

•    •    •    ◈    •    🎄    •    ◈    •    •    •

The @GlitterbyInk #DecemberDays25 Beyond the Solstice Challenge
The Artisian Prompt for December 12 : Abstract
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is the Six of Coins (Pentacles), which is traditionally a representation of charity, generosity, sharing the wealth, asking for or accepting help, and balancing the scales between the “haves” and the “have nots” in life.

Lots of people look at generosity as a nice idea, but not something they can practically do. I get this, as I too struggle in certain areas where I would normally want to be generous.

The thing is, though?  Maybe that means we’re looking at generosity in a closed-minded way.  How many things have you thrown away this week that someone else might have possibly used?  Did you throw them away because they held no use? Or did you toss them because it was “too much trouble” or inconvenient to find a way to donate them to others that could use them?

Food, blankets, cardboard boxes others could use for gifting, bottles of water, electronics, winter wear, old shoes, socks, even leftovers.  All of these things can be donated or given away to others that could use them… and yet we throw them away out of convenience.

The message in today’s card and prompt combination is a reminder that generosity is not an abstract concept. It simply takes a little effort to make it work.  Even those just scraping by -can- contribute to others and help them by offering time or support instead of money, food, or goods.  It’s up to each of us, though, to carry those abstract thoughts of generosity forward into reality.  Otherwise?  They’re just a nice idea that nobody’s actually doing.

DECK USED: MYSTICAL TAROT OF THE SAINTS

Seeking Celebration

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s meditation was a ten minute long #DailyCalm session from the @Calm app.

•    •    •    ◈    •    🎄    •    ◈    •    •    •

Storybook Christmas Tarot - The Sun cardThe @GlitterbyInk #DecemberDays25 Beyond the Solstice Challenge
The Artisan Prompt for December 9 : Festive
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is The Sun card, which is traditionally a representation of success, optimism, positivity, fun and frivolity. In my path, the Sun is also a symbol of male vitality, virility, and warmth.

There’s always something to celebrate. Sometimes we don’t feel like it, and sometimes our negative inner narratives keep us from being able to see it… but there is always something to celebrate.

Today’s message from the Sun card combined with the “festive” prompt is a reminder to not sink so far into the negative self talk going on in your head that you forget to look for the good stuff all around you. Sometimes looking for these things takes more work than others times, but it’s there for you to find if you work at it. Not only that, but like so many other things in life, the more you work at it, the easier it becomes.

DECK USED:  STORYBOOK CHRISTMAS TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsDec2025 Challenge
Prompts for December 8th and 9th

Tarot Reading with The Mystic Gnome TarotWhere could you direct your focus this week to be more understanding?

Nine of Swords Rx and Ten of Pentacles – In a repeat of the message in the card of the day pulled for today, these cards are a reminder not to listen to the negative inner voices telling you about everything that’s wrong and everything you’re doing wrong, that you’re not enough, or everyone else is stupid, etc.

Instead, look at those things that you are being given the opportunity to celebrate and where abundance lies in your life. When anxieties and depression are are weighing you down, it can be hard to find and appreciate these positive things in your life, but they’re still there. You just have to look for them and take a moment to appreciate them. Don’t disregard them to listen to that negative inner voice instead.

When harsh judgments and fear lead thoughts are pushed to the back, it allows you to be more open and understanding, both to yourself as well as other others.

What can you do to feel more fulfilled in your day-to-day life?

Five of Swords Rx and Knight of Wands Rx – Stop looking at everything you do as a battle that you have to run into full speed ahead. Yes, some difficult things in life do feel that way. You don’t have to turn everything you do into that kind of a dynamic, though.

Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Acorns for Protection during New Beginnings
Foraged Lodgepole Pine for Resilience, Growth, and Renewal
Rainforest Rhyolite for Facilitating Calm Transitions
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: THE MYSTIC GNOME TAROT

@Lionharts #TheDecemberTarot Fruits of 2025 Challenge
The Wheel / Transition Prompts for December 7th thru 10th

Tarot Reading with the Storybook Christmas TarotWhat is ready to move the moment I stop resisting?

Six of Candy Canes (Wands) atop Five of Icicles (Swords) – A lot of the times when you people please you are participating in a self-defeating cycle. Although you aren’t a people pleaser for everyone and everyone, you are for a select few. When you let go of this need to please them, you will better be able to give yourself what you need.

What cycle is closing with or without my permission?

Six of Icicles (Swords) – If you don’t start moving on your own concerning those things that it’s time to let go of, life is going to rip them from your grip instead.

What timing can I trust instead of trying to control?

The Moon – When feelings of uncertainty rise up, instead of jumping into action right away, take a pause and see if it will work itself out instead. You can always step in once you’re sure that your hand in things is needed, instead of jumping in from the start.

What change has already begun beneath the surface?

The High Priestess – Your intuition is already working to try and balance out your need to please others and your own personal needs that you’re not fulfilling. You merely need listen a little more closely.

Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Parmeliaceae Lichen for a “Breath of Fresh Air”
Dried Rhododendron Leaf for Fostering Confidence
Die-cut Fox Figure for Strategic Thinking and Clarity
Conch Shell Knot for Concentration and Clarity
Gneiss Stone for Patience in Moments of Discomfort
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED:  STORYBOOK CHRISTMAS TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I took a nap to recharge today after finishing up some spellwork done as part of a holiday gift.

Looking at New vs Old

/ Twist the Leaf / Leave a comment

Today’s meditation was skipped.

•    •    •    ◈    •    🎄    •    ◈    •    •    •

Laughing Eye Weeping Eye Tarot - Seven of CupsThe @GlitterbyInk #DecemberDays25 Beyond the Solstice Challenge
The Artisan Prompt for December 8 : Vintage
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is the Seven of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of themes having to do with having a plethora of options to choose from, all of opportunity’s doors being open upon one’s path, and at times being overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices available in the moment.

Sometimes new isn’t better.

I watched a commercial from the 80s recently that had a bunch of cars bumping into things, showing how the bumper protects the car from damage and creates a safer experience on the road.  And I just have to honestly say that I’ve -never- seen a modern car take a bump like the older cars in this commercial did.  It was impressive.

It’s not just with cars that new isn’t always better, though. Think about the erosion of privacy, education systems,  and life skills in our youth.

The message in the card for today combined with the “vintage” prompt is a reminder that new isn’t always better. Instead of allowing ourselves to be enchanted on the novelty of new, today’s message encourages us to pause and ask if the “new” is realistically an improvement. What we are sacrificing in the update, and is that new shiny feeling really worth what we lose in the process?

DECK USED:  LAUGHING EYE WEEPING EYE TAROT

@aplacetodock #Yuletide Oracle Challenge
Prompts for December 7th, 9th and 10th

Tarot Reading with the Winter Waite Redux Tarot 2024What is on my Christmas list for Santa?

Two of Cups – Copacetic union. You would very much like for everyone to get along this season. There’s going to be a lot of people gathered together from different backgrounds and different parts of the world, and you would like there to be an effort on everyone’s part to let things go off smoothly and conflict free.

Finish the sentence: “This Christmas I hope..”

Six of Cups – … will be diverse and bountiful.

In an echo of the previous question, there’s a hope here for a harmony, even during times of collected diversity.  Lots of different people (and options) gathered around, and no shit stirring or anxiety involved, would be lovely.

What direction comes from the Christmas Star?

Death – Don’t allow your resistance to change fuck up your holiday happiness.  Change isn’t really your strong suite and you have a tendency to be stubborn and try to hold on as long as possible.  The direction given by the Christmas Star this year is to take care not to balk to much.  Go with the flow where you can in order to allow for changes to come and go with ease and the holiday season be less of a struggle.

Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Rhododendron Leaf for Fostering Confidence
Carved Bamboo for Positive Outcomes
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: WINTER WAITE REDUX 2024

@LightningWildflower December Arcana Challenge 
The Emperor Prompts for December 7th and 8th

Tarot Reading with the Laughing Eye Weeping Eye TarotWhere in my life do I want for more stability?

The Fool Rx and The Sun – You want to have your cake and eat it too. You crave stability in all things, but need the ability to cut loose and have some fun. These two contrast, in that in order to really cut loose and be care free, you have to loosen your grip on that stability that you covet so fiercely. You need to find a way to instill stability in this area that won’t hinder your enjoyment in the moment.

What does healthy authority look like to me?

Judgement and Death – Direction towards obtainable future goals while providing guidance through change. No when is particularly comfortable with change. In your opinion, health authority involves someone who is willing to help people move through change in healthy ways. Guiding them towards a future goal, instead of allowing them to get stuck in the stagnancy of resistance and grief.

Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Acorns for Protection during New Beginnings
Bird Figurine for Fostering Hope, Positivity, and Renewal
Gneiss Wishing Stone for Patience in Moments of Discomfort
Desert Rose for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED:  LAUGHING EYE WEEPING EYE TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I cut myself a break on meditation today, because I was really struggling to focus. I did lie there for about ten minutes, it just wasn’t particularly successful.

Temperance vs Minimalism

/ Twist the Leaf / Leave a comment

Today’s meditation was a ten minute long #DailyCalm session from the @Calm app.

•    •    •    ◈    •    🎄    •    ◈    •    •    •

Mont Saint Johns Astral Tarot - The Devil CardThe @GlitterbyInk #DecemberDays25 Beyond the Solstice Challenge
The Artisan Prompt for December 7 : Minimalist
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is The Devil card, which is traditionally a representation of temptation, struggles with moderation, harmful excesses, addiction, and self-harm.

In my life, there is a war going on between the Devil and Temperance. My addictive personality creates a struggle that requires constant vigilance.

For me, anything that generates pleasure has the potential to become an addiction. And, sometimes, my body and/or brain latches on and says “YES!!!” before I’ve even realized what’s happening.

This is a large part of the reason why I say no to myself so often when I really want to say yes.

The problem is that sometimes? The line between careful vigilance and neglectful treatment gets blurred.  In these moments, what should be good for me (avoiding potential addictions) turns into just another type of self-abuse.

The message in the card for today combined with the “minimalist” prompt is a reminder that temperance is the counter balance to addiction, including possible addictions. There is a difference between using temperance to instill a bit of minimalist thinking into your life, and using it to actually neglect your needs. Find the line between the two instead of allowing that wide distance, and all the wiggle room it provides, to stand.

DECK USED:  ASTRAL TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsDec2025 Challenge
Prompt for December 7th : Do Spread 1

Tarot Reading with the Astral Tarot by Mont Saint Johns

Bear: How can a period of introspection help with healing the past year’s pain?

Six of Cups – Let your introspection tilt towards looking back into the past. Look over the past year to seek out positive remembrances instead of focusing on all the struggles and strife that you had to fight your way through.

Robin: Where can I express more compassion and patience with others?

Four of Wands – At home. Your dust up the other day with Ms B makes it clear that you need to take a moment to put yourself in her shoes now and then. That moment of impatience and flash of temper wouldn’t have happened, had you really thought about the fact that maybe her hearing is going and she just didn’t hear you the first couple times.

Deer: How can I use my intuition to encourage more gentleness and caring?

Seven of Swords Rx – Take care that you don’t get so wrapped up in your own interests and perspectives that you lose sight of how your actions can affect others. Remember that taking care of “number one” doesn’t mean at the sacrifice of others feelings or welfare.

Squirrel: How can prep and resourcefulness help me through the holidays?

The World – Prep and resourcefulness allows you to approach the end of the year with less turbulence and upset. When you’re prepared, including prepared to pivot when needed, things just go smoother all the way around.

Wren: Where can I find inspiration to help me be enthusiastic about the holidays this year?

The Lovers atop King of Pentacles – Take care not to ignore your own needs. You know how important… even essential, stability is to you. Make sure that you are doing the things that will allow you to keep that stability intact from the foundation up.

Boar: In what way can stubborn persistence help me through the rest of this year?

Strength – Your stubbornness is a quality that allows you to take on more pressure without breaking under the weight… but only for very short bursts before it becomes unhealthy for you. As you approach the end of the year, make sure that you are only taking on what needs to be taken on, and holding strong on the boundaries that keep you from taking on too much.

Owl: How can the knowledge I’ve gained this year help me to trust myself better?

The High Priestess Rx – Lean into the practical knowledge you’ve gained. Although you have made a lot of progress in your spirituality this year, as well as your own personal growth, it’s the practical aspects of what you’ve learned this year that are going to carry forward for you and help you to trust yourself and your decision-making process better.

Other elements included in this reading:
Staghorn Sumac for Connecting with Nature and the Wild Within
Foraged Acorns for Protection during New Beginnings
Gneiss Stone for Patience in Moments of Discomfort
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: ASTRAL TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

This is a catch up post, and I’m not entirely sure what the self kindness was for this day.