Wheel of Fortune Card

Finding the Positive for April 17 – 19

/ Twist the Leaf / Leave a comment

Card Captor Sakura Tarot's Wheel of Fortune, The Children of Ostara Tarot's Ten of Wands, Out of Hand Tarot's Three of Cups

April 17 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

•    •    •    ◈    •    🐇    •    ◈    •    •    •

The @GlitterbyInk #AprilFinds25 Challenge
Lost and Found Prompt for April 17 : Courage

Today’s draw is the Wheel of Fortune, which is traditionally a representation of luck (both good and bad), changing circumstances, the ups and downs of life, and the cyclical nature of life and the world.

Courage doesn’t mean that we don’t feel fear. It means that we act accordingly to our values and moral compass despite being afraid.

This can be difficult when we are taken off guard by unanticipated setbacks and surprises. Sometimes these obstacles and unexpected events make us want to run or hide, burying one’s head in the sand until they pass.

Today’s card and prompt combination is a reminder that life is unpredictable and this fear is not just okay but perfectly natural… and that courage is in resisting the fight or flight response in order to stand strong in who we are and what we believe.

DECK USED: CARD CAPTOR SAKURA TAROT

April 18 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped. (Side note:  I really need to work on avoiding the sessions that point out the physical and psychological benefits that meditation provides. It appears to trigger my self-destructive tendencies, and this causes me to then react by avoiding meditation.)

•    •    •    ◈    •    🐇    •    ◈    •    •    •

The @GlitterbyInk #AprilFinds25 Challenge
Lost and Found Prompt for April 18 : Freedom

Today’s draw is the Ten of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of overwhelm, burnout, struggling under too much responsibility, and can indicate a need to do some prioritizing and delegation.

“Some battles may yet be worth winning, while others are not worth even beginning.” – Xia Hunt

…and isn’t it lovely that we have the freedom to choose what battles in life we choose to put out efforts into and those we don’t.

We can’t fight all the battles, explore all the projects, or take on all of the responsibilities. It’s up to us to execute our freedom of choice by choosing only those we deem most valuable, most important, or most interesting to pursue so that we don’t overwhelm ourselves by trying to pile too much on our plates at once.

Today’s card and prompt combination is a celebration of that freedom to choose, and a reminder that it’s there for you when you need it in order to allow you to avoid becoming overburdened or overwhelmed.

DECK USED: THE CHILDREN OF OSTARA TAROT

April 19 – Mental Health Card of the Day

The @GlitterbyInk #AprilFinds25 Challenge
Lost and Found Prompt for April 19 : Love

Today’s meditation was skipped.

•    •    •    ◈    •    🐇    •    ◈    •    •    •

Today’s draw is the Three of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of friendships, revelry, celebration, and collaboration between those that are linked or alike not just in mind but also in heart.

I am an introvert. This doesn’t mean that I’m particularly shy, scared of people, or even that I’m particularly uncomfortable around people in general. It simply means that I enjoy my own company far more than I do the company of others.  It means that I don’t particularly need social interaction, and thus I rarely seek it out.  In fact, most of the time I feel like I get too much social interaction, whereas I’m aware that an extrovert would feel like that same level of social interaction wouldn’t be nearly enough.

That’s where today’s card and prompt combo come in. It’s a reminder that for many… dare I say, for most, social interaction is an expression of love. It’s how they express their love for you, and how they feel that they receive love from you in turn.

Today’s message, therefore, is a reminder that even if social interaction with others isn’t really something you enjoy? Try to remember that participating is an expression of love that others easily understand and appreciate, and that them spending time with you is them telling you that they love you too.

DECK USED: OUT OF HAND TAROT

Weekly Creativity Prompt – My Summer

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Pull (at least) three cards use them as the foundation to convey your ‘summer experience’ thus far for this year.

Tarot manouche Universel du XXIe SiecleThe Devil – I’ve played it a bit fast and loose as I expanded my deck collection this spring and summer, especially in the area of my playing card decks. It’s not as if I didn’t have the money to do so, though, and although it’s time to reign myself in now, it was a nice bit of escapism for a while.

Wheel of Fortune – Despite my spending, things haven’t been all -that- bad so far this summer.  There’s been a good bit of ups and downs, and I’ve spent a lot of time working on finding my center and keeping my balance as chaos reins in the world around me, but most of the upheavals (other than the major global one anyway) have been somewhat minor and only created ripples instead of waves on the smooth surface of my life.

The Hierophant – Over the spring and summer, I’ve rediscovered my great joy for teaching others, as well as providing them with guidance and help even beyond the tarot.  I’ve very much enjoyed the opportunity to teach others and learn from them in turn, and I’m looking forward to continuing to do so, even if I’ve taken a little break from teaching formal classes over June and July.

DECK USED:  TAROT MANOUCHE UNIVERSEL DU XXIe SIECLE BY SANDRA JAYAT

Staying Centered

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

I’m playing a bit of catch up today.  I know that I meditated on the 29th, but I’m not sure for how long or the method I used since I’m now finishing up on writing this post on July 1st.  I did meditate tho… so there’s that.

Herbal Tarot - Medicine Wheel of Fortune - Slippery ElmToday’s draw is the Medicine Wheel (Wheel of Fortune) which is traditionally a representation of the unpredictability of life and the ups and downs we go through as we move through our lives.

I think I’ve mentioned this before, but the Medicine Wheel reference on this card makes me a bit uncomfortable.  This deck is very diverse… but it doesn’t tip into appropriation (IMO) anywhere but in this card and the use of the native wording on the card and references in the book.   I don’t see the imagery on this card as a medicine wheel at all, but rather as a sort of faerie ring in stone around a mighty elm tree.  I see incognito Fae encircling something respected and sacred.

Spiritually speaking, Ulmus fulva (Slippery Elm) is a representation of nourishing encouragement, strength, and the soothing of the spirit.  It is often used in workings that involve assisting in the acceptance of change, and centering the inner self while moving through transitions with ease.  Medically, it is an antiemetic with high nutrient content, meaning that even when someone is extremely sick and nausea, they can usually tolerate the herb if given in tea form or added as a powder to foods such as oatmeal or soup.

What I see here as the message in today’s card is a reminder to stay close to the center of the wheel.   In other words?  Stay centered.   Roller coasters and amusement park rides are all well and good for a few seconds, but when you incorporate that energy into your life it becomes a chaotic mess.   Stay centered and focused, and it’ll all work out just fine.

DECK USED:  HERBAL TAROT

#TarotForGrowthJune Challenge Prompt
Question: Who in my life could benefit from some extra affection at this time?

Dream Raven Tarot

Reading Summary: All of them (Ten of Cups). Don’t overtax yourself or beat yourself up about this (Seven of Wands), you love them all and do what you can for them and they know this (King of Wands). You aren’t slacking, they’re just greedy (Six of Cups). Stay balanced, because you just can’t please everybody all the time (Four of Pentacles).

Take Away:  Everyone in my life could benefit from me giving them some extra affection, but this is because they love me and… because they love me they are greedy for that affection.  It doesn’t mean I’m neglecting them, nor does it mean I’m doing anything wrong by keeping things in balance and doing what works (and is healthy) for me.

DECK USED:  DREAM RAVEN TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJun2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: How can I carry more joy forward into the future?

Grimalkin Tarot Reading Summary: Develop new ways to incorporate your current passions and your creative spark into more of your life (Page of Wands), and work at keeping your inner critic in check (ignoring the red bird in favor of the dove in the Queen of Swords). You’re strong enough to make these changes (Strength).

Take Away:  Incorporating more joy into my life involves making sure that my inner critic’s voice is not allowed to carry as much weight as I would usually give it, but also requires following the spark of inspiration and creative interest when it flares up rather than ignoring it or pushing it aside.  Instead, make room for these things that kindle that inner spark.

DECK USED:  GRIMALKIN TAROT

#TheJuneTarot Challenge by Lionhart
Question: What am I asked to take with me moving forward?

Tarot Mood

Reading Summary: Stop worrying so much (Nine of Swords) and make your transition with grace (The World). This change you are slowly moving through (Death) is not as scary or complicated as you’re making it out to be (The Moon Rx).

Take Away:   Confidence and grace, while leaving behind my fear.  Making changes like those I’ve been working towards are not easy and take time.  Sometimes it seems like a constant uphill battle or feels like I’m going to fail. Sometimes anxiety over what the new results will look like rise up to make me squirm.  The encouragement in these cards is a reminder to stay centered and focused, and not allow these things to distract me.

DECK USED:  TAROT MOOD

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: How will I know I am on track?

Trippin' Waite Tarot

Reading Summary: Gideon will help with that (King of Cups). Just stay calm and take your time (Temperance), and make good choices (The Lovers).

Take Away:  Well, you are not always the King of Cups in every reading where this card shows up.  But you are in this one.  Knowing that I stay on track is a group effort.  I need the outside input from those that know me the most and best.  As long as I listen to that input and stay true to my path and that slow progress, making the choices that feel right to my inner compass along the way, then I’ll continue to be on track and be able to feel (through my inner compass) that I have not deviated.

DECK USED:  TRIPPIN’ WAITE TAROT

Taking The First Step

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s meditation was just over eleven minutes long and focused on how sometimes we fill our lives up with so much noise that we lose track of our path, and how important it is to slow down and take the time to connect with silence and stillness so that we can delve deep into our selves, our values, and our motivations.

If you don’t take the time to know yourself, then you end up missing an entire aspect of the world, and the depths of our interaction with it.   In that aspect we find perspective and understanding that isn’t available when dealing with ourselves and others on a purely surface level.

As deep as we know ourselves in our day to day, there are always inner depths yet to plunge into and explore.  Depths that can only be reached through stillness and silence and taking the time to do so.  Meditation allows for that exploration.

Wheel of Fortune - Efflorescent TarotToday’s draw is the Wheel of Fortune card of the Major Arcana, which is not just my birth card for this year but also appears to be my stalker card for the beginning of the year.

This card’s traditional meanings deal with the ups and downs of life, and with luck (both good and bad).  It can also mean a turning point as well as a resistance to change, and I’m starting to think that the stalking aspect of the card during this time of year has to do with those latter meanings rather than the former ones.

As a stalker card, it’s asking me to seek deeper meaning, and there is definitely a time of transition going on for me in a lot of areas.  There is also a sense of resistance in some ways, because I feel like I am dragging my feet on getting started on things.

The fact is that a journey can only start once you take the first step.  It can be a small step, but it has to happen.   So I feel the message of today’s card isn’t so much about the ups and downs, or even about luck.  It’s about movement, and taking that first step.

DECK USED: THE EFFLORESCENT TAROT (COLOR EDITION)

#TarotForGrowthJanuary Challenge Prompt
Question: What can I do to prepare myself for that obstacle? (Build off yesterday’s cards.)

Jeremy Miranda Oracle Cards

Reading Summary:  The obstacle in yesterday’s read was about tripping over my own pride.

In the first card, I see a simple and stable home that blends in well with the earthy surroundings and draws focus to the window devoid of curtains.   This card indicates a need to keep one’s mind and heart open to both the view you can obtain within yourself, as well as at the world outside yourself.  Entertaining different perspectives while staying grounded and stable can sometimes be difficult, and pride is a hindrance to this goal.  By being mindful of this and fostering this multi-perspective view, it can help to then combat against the pitfalls of pride.

Within the second card, there is a comfortable if sparse room with a warm fire burning in the fireplace.  The card speaks to me of that inner self and allowing yourself to find comfort and warmth within yourself.  This comfort and warmth allows for kindness to the self.  Pride is cold and hard, and what comes from it is also cold and hard.  By allowing some space for simplicity and warmth within the soul, pride has less room to take hold and grow into a problem.

The image in the third card speaks to me of escaping cold chaos for inner warmth and inner calm.  As I mentioned before, pride is a cold emotion and is often used to cover up the turbulence of uncertainty.  Fostering inner calm gives you somewhere to go to escape that cold conflict that can encourage pride to rear its head as a defense mechanism.

Take Away:  The cards indicate that to prepare myself for the possibility of a “flare up” of pride and possibility of tripping over it, I need to stay grounded and down to earth with an open outlook while keeping things simple and remembering to foster an inner warmth and inner calm that I can touch base with when things feel uncertain.

DECK USED: JEREMY MIRANDA ORACLE CARDS

#DiscordTarotholicsJan2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: Something that you miss more than you realize and can bring back into your life?

The Circle Inner Animal Tarot

Reading Summary:  Time spent in liminal spaces (Infinite Circle) within the deep forest (Ten of Pentacles) brings me happiness (The Sun).

Take Away:  I need to start going hiking again.   I haven’t been out into the depths of the rainforest since the first week of November. That bond with nature and lingering in the liminal spaces that reside there are refreshing to me in a way nothing else is.  I need to make the time to get back out there, which will lift up my mood and be healing to my inner spirit and inner spark.

DECK USED:  THE CIRCLE – INNER ANIMAL TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge Prompt
Question: What makes my ideal life?

Accurate AF TarotReading Summary:  Knowing that I have moved through life’s change and challenges (Death) while holding strong to the parameters of my values and personal moral compass (Judgement and Strength).  Being able to do this while exploring my creative ideas (Ace of Wands) and obtaining my goals (King of Pentacles).

Take Away:  Both exploring the spark of my creative spirit as well as obtaining my goals are very important to finding satisfaction in my life, but in order for that life to be considered “ideal”, I also need to be able to adhere to my personal values, ethics, and morals through the challenges and changes that life presents to me.

DECK USED:  ACCURATE AF TAROT

Ups and Downs… It’s All Temporary

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s meditation was non-existent thus far, as I was late making it home from the farm, which meant that the housekeeper was here waiting for me when I got home.  I will do a meditation tonight when I go to bed, which will probably result in me dozing off.

I don’t get the same benefits from bedtime meditation as I do when I do it in the morning, but I also recognize that I can’t always manage the mornings, and there are still benefits even if not as noticeable.

Wheel of Fortune - Efflorescent TarotToday’s draw is the Wheel of Fortune card, and as one would suspect from this card, it represents good luck, but also the bad luck.  It represents the ups and the downs of life, and like all Major Arcana cards, deals with an overall outlook rather than any one aspect of the human experience.

This is my birth card for the year, and it is one of two cards that have been spending a lot of time stalking me over the past two weeks.   This one, I understand as there is a theme to the beginning of the year and the new year’s birth card.  Clearly this year is going to be filled with ups and downs.

The lesson here?  It is in the hands in the water.   The Wheel of Fortune is here to remind me to appreciate the good times, because they don’t last forever… and to hold on and keep treading water in the bad times… because they are also temporary.

DECK USED:  EFFLORESCENT TAROT (COLOR EDITION)

#TarotForGrowthJanuary Challenge Prompt
Question: How can I make the most of that energy (from yesterday’s read)?

The Fey TarotReading Summary:  Instead of allowing the daunting task before me to intimidate me (Seven of Chalices), I need to concentrate on putting my energy into the planning and organizing side of things and taking things one step at a time (Knave of Wands).

Take Away:   There’s a lot of elements involved in figuring out the best way to move forward.  It’s not so much the path before me that’s changing as I restructure things with my business, but rather how I walk. With so many elements involved, it feels a bit overwhelming and intimidating, but as with most things of this nature, I know that if I just take thing one very small step at a time, the progress will begin to add up.

DECK USED:  THE FEY TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJan2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: What could you use more of in your life?

Ethereal Visions Tarot

Reading Summary:  Authority (King of Wands) and ownership (The Empress) over my fear of things falling apart (Five of Pentacles).

Take Away:  All decisions to make a change have the potential to create anxiety for me, and the thing is that with the changes in my business that I’m making?  I have a LOT of anxiety that I might screw things up and end up tanking my business as a result.  These fears are a bit irrational, and I know that, but they bring about a need for a far more self possessed and grounded energy than I’ve been riding on of late.

DECK USED:  ETHEREAL VISIONS TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge Prompt
Question: Who would I like to be?

Wheel of Fortune TarotReading Summary:   Someone who is centered and self assured (Queen of Pentacles) in their abilities and able to have the stability of good fortune on my side (Ten of Pentacles) in life as I make difficult choices (Two of Swords) that normally create within me a sense of uncertainty.

Take Away:  This read is about wanting to feel more stable and grounded during situations that would normally create a good deal of anxiety for me.

DECK USED:  THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE TAROT

Ready… Set…

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and was another body scan that finished with a long period where I focused upon my connection to the liminal and the growing intensity of that pull to it that is a part of this time of the year for me.    To that end, I did some quiet visualization of hiking in the woods, as today is not a day I can manage to get out there.

Wheel of Fortune - Halloween Tarot Today’s draw is the Wheel of Fortune, which is the tenth card in the Major Arcana.  This means that it deals with an overall message or life path situation rather than a single aspect of the human experience.

The Wheel of Fortune card is a representation of luck (good or bad, depending on the reading involved), turning points, and destiny or the resistance thereof.

When the card came up in today’s reading, I saw it as a reminder to “fasten my seatbelt” for what’s coming ahead.   That is to say, the shift is coming between the slow time and the busy period, and I need to make sure that I’m prepared for it.  Don’t let it take me by surprise.  It’s time to get all my ducks in a row, all my supplies and product in order, and everything set and ready.

Deck Used: Halloween Tarot

Bonus Reading

Another #TarotForGrowthOctober prompt.

Question: What good thing in my life deserves celebration?

Halloween Magick Tarot Reading Summary:   I choose to make good decisions (Two of Swords) which includes working with others when needed (Three of Pentacles), and taking the steps to heal from the past rather than letting it weigh me down (Ten of Swords).

Take Away:  This message is about my independence and how I move forward in my life set to my own moral compass.  Whether I’m doing things on my own or working with others, I allow my experiences to educate me and assist me in making the choices that are right for me.  The cards are telling me that this quality is something that I’ve possibly fallen to the wayside on acknowledging, and that should be celebrated.

Deck Used: The Halloween Magick Tarot