veleda woods tarot

Struggle Isn’t Failure

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Today’s meditation was skipped because I kept putting it off and putting it off and… I ended up running out of time.

Veleda Woods Tarot and Less Anxiety Affirmation CardsToday’s draw is the Eight of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of hard work and progressing on one’s skills and abilities to build in an expertise.  This mastering of a skill can be through repetitive action or apprenticeship, and can lead to perfectionism when the energy of this card goes too far.

Sometimes, when we are on a path to working on a skill or ability, it can feel like it’s taking forever or that we’re not getting anywhere.  I know that I personally feel that way quite often.  I think it’s because so often so many things come easily to me.  Writing, photography, most of the creative endeavors I’m interested in exploring, etc.  So that when something comes up that I want to master that is a bit more challenging comes about, it feels like I’m standing still not because I’m not making progress… but because the speed of my progress is significantly decreased from what I’m used to.

Today’s cards are a reminder that even when we’re struggling with learning a new skill, it doesn’t mean we can’t learn it or won’t succeed.  it just means it might take a little longer than we’d like.  Be gentle with yourself and don’t put yourself down during these times.  Instead, focus on encouragement and celebrate every small accomplishment… and eventually, you’ll get there.

DECK USED:  VELEDA WOODS TAROT AND FLOWER FORTUNE CARDS

CoffeexTarot’s Self Love For The Summer Prompt
Question: What is a positive influence in my life right now?

Veleda OracleLove atop Adventure, Courage – Roleplay with Gideon. The writing we do, the characters and worlds we build… all of it.  It’s an adventure that we play out together.  An expression of our love as we build stories and lives out of our imaginations, flesh them out through time and words and creativity, and bond through them with each adventure we experience together with each other.

Courage, Foundation atop Awakening – Restructuring how I treat myself and how I balance my life from the ground up. This is something I’ve been working on for some time now and it’s definitely a positive influence on my life.  I’m much healthier and happier now than I have been in the past with my old methods of doing things.  There’s still a long way to go in the journey though.

DECK USED:  VELEDA ORACLE

#DiscordTarotolicsJun2021 Challenge Prompt
Topic: About nature…
Question: Why does time in nature (or the lack thereof) have such a profound affect on my well-being?

Veleda Woods TarotReading Summary: You take energy from the trees and the green and the growing things (Seven of Swords), which lifts your spirits (Nine of Cups) and helps you feel satiated and at peace (Ten of Cups).

Take Away: These times in the forest helps you stay balanced by providing you with clean and sustainable energy that feels pure and good, filling you with positivity and positive influence.

Like a bath refreshes the skin or a long drink of water refreshes the body, the time spent in nature refreshes your energy and your soul, giving you a much needed uplift in not just your energy but also your mood.

DECK USED:  VELEDA WOODS TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I made sure to get through my post office haul today so that I wouldn’t have to do more of it tomorrow and through the weekend.  With time off this week, I wanted to get a few things out of the way and it felt good to be able to do that.

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?

Veleda Woods Tarot, Synchronicity Oracle, Awakened Soul Oracle

Earth – High Priestess, Justice, Home – Use your intuition to find balance at home. This week may come with a hint of imbalance as you work through getting your equilibrium back after the events of Friday and Saturday with your mother. Instead of dwelling, find the route of least resistance through use of your intuition, and allow things to balance themselves out instead of trying to right the scales on your own.

Air – Nine of Wands Rx and Incantation – It’s time to refresh and reinforce your wards and protections. Instead of going by rote, take some time to sit down and work through what needs to be done and what needs to be changed up.

Water – Ace of Cups, Fledgling of Cups, Sister – Repetition of new beginnings is going to be a theme this week.  Make sure that whether you’re dealing with your new emotional growth, or approaching an emotional issue that has arisen again and again over time, that you lean on those closest to you instead of trying to stand strong on your own.  It’s okay to reach out for support when you need it, and they are more than happy to lend an ear or a shoulder.

Fire – Ranger of Wands and Fall – This is a reminder that you need to start working on the preparation for the holiday rush now.  The earlier you begin your preparations, the less rushed and struggling you will feel when the holiday rush starts.

Waning – Treasure – It’s funny that this comes up as what is waning over the week ahead when I just  noticed this morning how sad and tattered some of my “specimens” I use in my card photos are starting to look.  It’s time to toss out those treasures that have become faded and tattered, and seek out new ones to replace them with.

Waxing – Boundaries – This hearkens back up to what was mentioned in the Air portion of this reading.  It has to do with making sure I get those new wards and protections in place, and reinforces the need to make sure they get done this week and are not put off until later on for whatever reasons that might come up to stir up the temptations of procrastination.

Take Away – Focusing on sharing with loved ones and the protection and balance of the energies of the hearth is going to be a theme this week.  Make sure you are following your intuition and not falling into old habits.  New methods are to be encouraged rather than set aside this week, as some refreshing and “sprucing up” of old and repeated processes.

DECKS USED:  VELEDA WOODS TAROT, SYNCHRONICITY ORACLE, AWAKENED SOUL ORACLE

Percolating is Not a Dry Spell

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IMG_5404Today’s meditation was just over ten minutes long, and I chose to do a guided meditation today that focused on a method of using “volume control” as a way of quieting one’s mind during meditation, instead of shoving thoughts away or trying to reject or ignore them.

Sometimes brute force just isn’t the way to get what you want, and that can include when dealing with your own mind and ability to concentrate.  This meditation was a walk through on allowing thoughts to flit through, but turning down the “volume” on these thoughts until they move from shouting, to talking, then to murmuring, and finally to a quiet whisper in the background.

Women of Science TarotToday’s draw is the Nebula card, which comes from the oracle side of this deck’s cards. Scientifically, a nebula is a cloud-like substance in space made up of the death of old stars combined with gasses and other matter.  This essence is then where the birth of new stars take place, recycling old supernova remnants and other elements to give birth to something new.

I very much liked the line in the guide for this deck that speaks of this card being a reminder that before things can manifest into reality, they exist in a space of creative possibility and potential.

What stands out to me the strongest in the imagery of this card today is the eggs, which also speaks of possibility and potential.  Like the thought experiment of Schrodinger’s Cat, as long as the shell remains unbroken, there are infinite possibilities that lie within.  I also have a small draw to the volcano’s explosion in the background, which speaks to me of the explosive quality that creativity and manifestation can sometimes take on.

The message in this card today is about embracing one’s creative nature. Even in times when you are not actively creating, the potential is there and there continues to be “workings” going on in the mind deep beneath the subconscious.  Dry spells are not dry spells… they are times of subconscious percolation.

DECK USED:  COSMOS TAROT AND ORACLE

#DiscordTarotholicsJul2020 Challenge Prompt
Question:  What issue should I wait on and avoid dealing with at this time?

Albano Waite TarotReading Summary: Don’t worry about stealin’ assholes right now (Seven of Swords). Whatever damage was going to be done, has been done now, so just focus on your emotional growth (Ace of Cups) and do your work (Two of Pentacles).

Take Away:  I’ve had so many warnings lately about sharing my inspired ideas and projects with others, that I’ve lost track of just how many warnings there has been.

The issue that I need to deal with later on has to do with the fact that I have either managed to avert this issue… or I’ve already fucked up and the fallout will come later on. For now, I need to focus on carrying on with carrying on as I have been.

DECK USED:  ALBANO WAITE TAROT

#OwlandBonesJuly Challenge by Owl and Bones Tarot
Topic:  resist // rise up // revise

Veleda Woods Tarot

The message in these cards is not mine and does not fit my life. I had the feeling when I was pulling these cards, that this message is not for me. I don’t know who it is for… but perhaps it will resonate with someone in the different places that it is shared, or perhaps the intended recipient will stumble upon it by chance.

Resist – Nine of Cups – Conformity.  This interpretation is not about the 9 of Cups, but about the imagery on the card. Individuality is important.  Do not be one of the many, but take a leap through the door and allow yourself to be unique.  Conforming to the values of others and marching to their drum instead of thinking (and feeling) for yourself is not the answer.

Rise up – Guardian of Cups – The narrative you are given needs one’s heart and intuition to discern and dissect.  Instead of listening to what is being said, listen to what is not said which lies beneath the surface.  Listen to the emotions.  Do not allow those with ulterior motives based in negative emotions to carry you away with their narrative.

Revise – Ranger of Wands – Your outlook needs examining.  You take after your passions and those things you feel deeply about with zeal and power pushing you forward, but are you going in the right direction? You need to examine what lies beneath that drive to move forward and push against… that drive that keeps you going.  Make sure that what lies beneath is good and pure… not polluted by other’s narrative or your desire to “fit in”.

Take Away – If you have read this reading and it resonates with you… it is time to do some soul searching , and some close examination of the motivations that drive not just you… but those around you as well.  What undercurrents of emotion are truly driving those you follow, admire and listen to? Deep down, why do you choose to follow them in turn?  It’s time to reflect upon these questions.

DECK USED:  VELEDA WOODS TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question:  When am I creatively true to myself?

Wheel of the Year Tarot

Reading Summary: When I allow things to develop at their own pace (Seven of Pentacles), and don’t allow myself to become overburdened (Ten of Wands) or listen to much to my negative in her narrative (Queen of Swords).

Take Away:  The cards here indicate that you can’t “force” creativity either through expectation or through negative enforcement.  Creativity has to come through positive reinforcement and patience, allowing that spark to come alive and develop slowly over time.  The trip to manifestation is only the end result… the full process is beneath the surface and only begins to come into conscious awareness when it’s ready to be seen.

DECK USED:  WHEEL OF THE YEAR TAROT

Creativity Requires Bravery

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long and tacked on to the end of my yoga/physio practice.  I had a lot of orders to get through today, and I didn’t want to take a chance of falling asleep if I got too comfortable. Taking time off has a bit of a price to it, yeah?  Lots of orders to get through and get processed to go out tomorrow, as they piled up during the time I took off.  At least I got a little bit of it done yesterday while we played.

Herbcrafter's Tarot - Ace of Fire - MulleinToday’s draw is the Ace of Fire (Ace of Wands) card, which is traditionally read as a new beginning, initial kindling, or the “seed” of a start in the area of one’s drive, motivations, passions, and inner spark.   This card signifies the initial spark of interest in the things that capture our attention and keep us captivated.

Not surprisingly, what catches my attention in this card’s imagery today is the gigantic mullein plant standing tall and strong and ready for harvest.

Mullein is an anti-inflammatory with an extremely diverse amount of uses.  Spiritually, it is also used to help in banishing bad dreams, foster bravery, and cleansing of psychic energies.   What I see in the plant represented here in this card today and in relation to being on the Ace of Fire, is that when that spark of inspiration strikes you, sometimes you have to take a moment to center… to gather yourself… and then take a leap.

Creativity requires bravery.  Following your dreams and going after those things you are passionate about takes bravery and strength.  The message in today’s card is about fostering that strength and encouraging it to flourish so that you are better prepared to go after your dreams and explore the things that kindle that spark of inspiration within you.

DECK USED:  HERBCRAFTER’S TAROT

#TarotForGrowthJuly Challenge Prompt
Topic:  I’m so overwhelmed.
Question:  Why am I so afraid to say no?

Hanson Roberts Tarot

Reading Summary: I feel like I have so little control over the emotional side of my life (King of Cups and Two of Cups) that I feel the need to grasp and hold onto that control with an iron grip in the places where I can (The Emperor).

The bowed heads in the Two of Cups combined with Gideon represented by the King of cups indicate my submission and smallness.  Thus the indication of “lack of control” comes forth between the two cups cards (emotional side of things) in this reading.

Take Away:  I do not have a problem with saying no to others, but I very much do struggle with saying no to myself, whether that is in how I fill my plate with responsibilities and obligations, or in my addictions and pursuits and the things I want or want to do.   This difficulty in saying no to myself in these areas stems from my need to feel in control.   The more out of control I feel emotionally, the more I try to compensate by piling to much on my plate in those areas I feel that I do have control.

DECK USED:  HANSON ROBERTS TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJul2020 Challenge Prompt
Philosophical Question: Would life lose meaning if we could live forever?

Women of Science TarotReading Summary:  You could fill your cup again and again (Queen of Cups), and even become addicted to the joys that life offers (The Devil), and yet it is the nature of humanity to lose sight of the value of those things that is with us day in and day out and begin to take them for granted (The Emperor).

Take Away:  Yes.  If there is no end… there is no value. Even with the relatively short lifespans that humanity currently has, people take for granted the great gift and possibilities that life provides them each and every day.  If immortality was possible, it would create a greater divide concerning one’s perceived value of life and thus its meaning.

DECK USED:  WOMEN OF SCIENCE TAROT

#OwlandBonesJuly Challenge by Owl and Bones Tarot
Topic:  prepare for change // draw your energy // conserve resources // emerge

Veleda Woods Tarot

Prepare For Change – 9 of Swords and The Adviser Rx – There is a recommendation in these cards to reach out to my therapist and make an appointment. I’m not sure what it is I need to sort through with her, but the message here is clear. I’ll take the advice and call and make an appointment, as it’s apparent that in order to prepare for a change to come, I need to reach out to her.

Draw Your Energy – The Moon and The Star – Remember that in times of uncertainty to turn my attention to fostering hope and optimism. It’s too easy to fall into the old habit of pessimistic thinking, and uncertain times can create a breeding ground for those old habits to slip in and take root.

Conserve Resources – 8 of Wands Rx and The Lovers – Slow down and spend some time basking in the sun of your relationship with Gideon. This choice isn’t always easy for you, as you want to move fast and get things done and push, push, push for more. But the fact is that the faster you move the faster you want to move, and the more you push… the more you want to push even harder. Make the choice to not follow that path.

Emerge – 8 of Cups – You’ve been working hard at changing things and stepping away from old habits. It’s time to start focusing on emerging on the other side of this transition. When you abandon one place, you are also arriving in another. Begin considering what you want this new reality you’re emerging into to look like.

DECK USED:  VELEDA WOODS TAROT

Choosing Freedom

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Today’s meditation was skipped because I chose to oversleep and then had to scramble to get my ass up and moving in order to get everything done that I need to get done today.  I will try to do it before bed tonight, and then get back on track with morning meditations starting tomorrow.

Cosmos Tarot and Oracle - Ten of FireToday’s draw is the Ten of Fire (Ten of Wands) which is traditionally a representation of burden and overwhelm of responsibilities or obligations.   It is a card filled with feelings of hard work that have turned into drudgery.

I actually do not see any of that in this card’s imagery, or really in the key words either, for that matter.  In fact, what I see in the imagery of this card has more to do with release and freedom. This is depicted twofold in this card’s imagery.   First, through the releasing of the birds to find their flight and freedom in the sky.  And second, in releasing the birds, the woman in the card is also released from the responsibility of caring for them and thus free of her burden of responsibility.

The message in this card is an encouragement to release some of my own burdens, and this is something that I’ve actually made the decision to do and, in fact, have already put in motion the process of doing.   I’m taking a week off from the business.  I’ll still be working at the farm and the salon, but I will not allow either of them to increase my hours during this week either.     I need to step back and take some breaths of fresh air away from the constant cycle of work that the business creates.

I need a break, and I’m going to allow myself to take it.

DECK USED:  COSMIC TAROT AND ORACLE

#TarotForGrowthJuly Challenge Prompt
Topic: I’m struggling with self-worth.
Question: Do my issues with self-worth require professional attention? How can I set my shame or guilt aside enough to more easily approach these issues with my therapist?

Midcenturian Tarot

Do my issues with self-worth require professional attention? – Three of Wands beneath The Chariot – You’re already on this path. You have direction and control in this moment over these issues and your therapist has given you the tools needed to prepare you as you move forward along your path.

How can I set my shame or guilt aside enough to more easily approach these issues with my therapist? – Two of Pentacles and Two of Swords – When you have need of your therapist’s help, you need to weigh your options and make a choice to do something about it instead of hanging back and waffling.

Take Away: Yes. Sometimes I need help with my self esteem issues.

Depression, which is my mental health issue predilection, is said to be hatred turned upon the self, and this is true in my personal experience.  Not that self hatred turned on the self creates depression, but that depression creates the cycle that turns hatred inward on yourself. At these times, I do need professional help.

Sometimes?  The depression sneaks up on me at a slow creep, and while I have an inkling of an idea that it’s coming or even has arrived, I waffle on getting help too long and slide into a deep pit of a depressive episode as a result.   A better choice is to not waffle, but call right away as soon as the first hint of what’s coming is noticed.

DECK USED:  MIDCENTURIAN TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJul2020 Challenge Prompt
Topic:  Act on This / Let this Rest

Veleda Woods TarotAct On This – Five of Cups – Work at letting go of your apathy and inner dissonance. Do not allow yourself to sink into these feelings, as they are not good for you and will hinder your path forward.  Instead, focus on rising above and finding the “sunlight through the clouds”.  There’s just as much good in the world as there is bad, so turn your attention from the “broken stems” in life and look for the good instead.

Let This Rest – Harvester of Swords Rx and The Devil – It’s time to lay off  a bit on shopping for your addiction. You have lots of preorders and kickstarters coming over the next few months, as well as orders that have not yet come in due to shipping delays. This does not necessarily mean cutting yourself off entirely as that would create a sense of deprivation and resentment, but it’s time to ease back for a bit.

DECK USED:  VELEDA WOODS TAROT

#OwlandBonesJuly Challenge by Owl and Bones Tarot
Topic:  within // without

Student Tarot 4 Godard's BirdsWithin – Wheel of Fortune – You need to focus on being centered and more adaptable.  Don’t allow inner chaos to take hold and run rampant.  Do what you need to in order to keep yourself balanced and centered.

Without – Empress and The Lovers – Take time to appreciate all of the nurturing and love that you receive from others, and most especially from Gideon.  There is a great deal of love in your life, directed at you every single day in so many different ways.  Don’t take this for granted, but instead accept that love and nurturing care, and enjoy it rather than ignoring it or disregarding.

DECK USED:  STUDENT TAROT v4 GODARD’S BIRDS

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What moment from today do I feel is memorable?

Women of Science Tarot

Reading Summary: My decision (Five of Micro) to do something different (The World) and prioritize my inner knowledge and needs above my outer ones (The High Priestess).

Side Note:  The interpretation of these three cards is based off the imagery on the cards rather than their tarot meanings. In some cases, there is some overlap, especially in the third card… I just wanted to point out that in this case I wasn’t paying attention to the suits and traditional meanings.

Take Away:  I mentioned this in my COTD analysis, but I made the decision today that even though I’m not going anywhere, I’m going to put my shops / business on hold for a week and just take some time away from it to get a little distance and perspective. This is an extremely difficult decision for me, but I’ve already put everything in place and my “vacation” will start tomorrow after I’ve dropped off all my packages at the post office.

DECK USED:  WOMEN OF SCIENCE TAROT

The Follow Through

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IMG_5203Today’s meditation was just over ten minutes long and was a guided meditation that focused upon the benefits of sticking to your meditation practice rather than giving up when things don’t start changing (or getting easier) right away.

This isn’t the reason that I personally give up, it seems.   The problem for me is that self destructive creature that lives in my mind, hiding quietly in the shadows seeking out the small cracks and secret openings that will allow it to slip in and wreak havoc.    I know about this tendency and I struggle against it all the time, but sometimes? It manages to get its nails in deep even when I’m trying my best to not let it.

Herbcrafter's TarotToday’s draw is the Two of Fire (Two of Wands) which is traditionally interpreted as finding direction and making plans.  It’s about going after what kindles your inner spark… specifically the fact that in order to head on a journey, you need to first make a plan and choose a direction.

What stands out to me the strongest in the image of this card today is the tools set on the counter.   There’s a plan here, and preparation has begun to get things done.  You have your tools and you have a purpose, a direction, and a plan.  But also, I note that there are no hands.

This speaks to me of a reminder that planning can only take you so far, then you have to either put your plans into action, or abandon them and walk away.   I don’t want to walk away… so it’s time to start moving in the direction I’ve chosen to continue in.  That is, the direction of the emotional growth I’ve been working with so far through the spring and summer months.

DECK USED:  HERBCRAFTER’S TAROT

#TarotForGrowthJuly Challenge Prompt
Topic:  I’m struggling to find my purpose.
Question:  What are the consequences of continuing to hide from my deepest desires?

Veleda Woods Tarot

Reading Summary: 9 & 2 rx. Less connection to others (Two of Cups Rx) and less satisfaction in my successes (Nine of Pentacles Rx), as well as increased apathy and and a more vocal inner critic casting judgment upon myself (Justice).

Take Away:  When you don’t take care of yourself, the scales of balance tip and the result is that you end up less healthy and less well internally too.   Apathy and negative thoughts creep in to pollute your thoughts and feelings, making it harder to bond with others and connect deeply with them, as well as making it difficult to enjoy your success because you’re too focused upon what you are perceiving as your failures.

DECK USED:  VELEDA WOODS TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJul2020 Challenge Prompt
Topic:  Unexpected Boon / Potential Obstacle

Hanson Roberts TarotReading Summary: Being able to get to that place of abundant stability and security that I crave (Ten of Pentacles), even though the emotions feel like they stand in the way (Ace of Cups).

Take Away:  The unexpected boon here is the ability to find that place of abundance regardless of the hurdles along the way.   The potential obstacle is self doubt.  It’s about the fact that I rarely see my path on an emotional level but rather a logical one.   If I want to make sure that the emotional side of things is not an obstacle, I need to learn how to handle my emotions and use them to my advantage instead of allowing them to hold me up or drag me back.

DECK USED:  HANSON ROBERTS TAROT

#OwlandBonesJuly Challenge by Owl and Bones Tarot
Topic:  listen // learn // teach

Tarotbot Tarot

Listen – The Hanged Man – Make sure I am not closing myself off to other perspectives and ideas. Sometimes when I am feeling vulnerable I struggle with staying open, but in truth… these times are the most opportune times in which to learn.  It’s important to stay open so that the discomfort is something learned from rather than just something gotten through and discarded.

Learn – Seven of Cups – How to make choices instead of always trying to take on too much. This is a difficult lesson for me, and one that I am presently working very hard at.  I have a habit of filling my plate too full and struggling with overwhelm as a result. Instead of allowing myself to put so much on my plate, I need to seek out ways to minimize my responsibilities and delegate.

Teach – Seven of Wands – Independence. How to stand up for what you believe in. And how to be confident in one’s beliefs and their individual uniqueness. These are things that I very much enjoy nurturing in others and hope to continue to teach other throughout my entire life.  I feel that with each person I am able to help in finding their self confidence and independence, I am making the world a better place as a result.

DECK USED:  TAROTBOT TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What am I passionate about?

Slavic Tarot

Reading Summary: I’m all for fighting for those things that I believe in and feel are important (Five of Wands)… but I also know when it’s time to let go and move on to something better (Six of Swords) in order to protect the things that are truly near and dear to me from harm (Nine of Wands).

Take Away:  The cards here indicate that what I am most passionate about are those things that are so very near and dear to me that I want to protect them, and that I am willing to abandon “the fight” of my own interests and drive in order to protect.

DECK USED:  SLAVIC TAROT