#whisperingwoodschallenge

Stirring Up Energies

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IMG_0268Today’s meditation was just over ten minutes long and another of the short Calm app meditations combined with the interval timer for my piriformis stretching.  Thing is?  Although I benefit more from the eighteen minute meditations than I do the ten minute ones?  I have a hard time allotting myself that extra eight minutes.  I’m not sure why but I do.  So…. I’ll save those for when need that extra amount of meditation and go for the shorter ones for the day-to-day.

The focus of today’s meditation was about trying new things and not -avoiding- trying new things if the reason for avoiding them is just that it’s uncomfortable in some way.  All new things are uncomfortable.  All new things can cause worry or anxiety or discomfort.  That doesn’t mean new things are bad.

Denizens of Earth Tarot and Thera-Pets Emotional Support Animal CardsToday’s draw is the Nine of Earth (Pentacles) which is traditionally a representation of satisfaction with a job well done and the sense of security that comes from that. It’s often a solitary card, but one filled with gratitude and self-acknowledgement for one’s blessings and accomplishments.

The crocus is one of the first announcements of spring each year, emerging from cooler temps to greet the warmth of the season and it’s earthy themes of rebirth.  It is a sign that spring has arrived and all is well, and that the bounty of summer is coming.

What I see in this card is not so much about what you have, but rather the potential of what can be achieved.  The promise of opportunity ahead to fulfill your needs, succeed in those things that create stability and comfort in your life, and not just survive but thrive in the budding energy that spring has to offer us all.

When combined with the Thera-Pets card for today, the message here is that not only is the opportunity there for you to make these things happen, but so too is the capability within you to do it.  Sometimes we feel like we’re just not enough, and because of that feeling, we allow opportunities to pass us by that otherwise we would have jumped at.  Don’t allow this spring to be one of those times you let opportunities pass you by. Instead, choose those things that will help you thrive, and pursue them.  You have it within you to ride spring’s energy and direct it into a positive outcome.

DECK USED:  DENIZENS OF EARTH TAROT AND THERA-PETS EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL CARDS

LionHart’s Whispering Woods Tarot Challenge Prompt
Question: What good have I achieved for myself this month?

Bumbleberry Hollows Tarot

 Reading Summary:  New beginnings and new ideas this month (Ace of Swords) have allowed me to turn past bad habits and tendencies (Six of Cups) into something healthier and more beneficial moving forward (Nine of Pentacles).

Take Away:  I’ve come to the realization this month that emerging from depression is a form of rebirth.  A way to change things I’ve done wrong in the past an do better in the future.  In the past, my focus coming out of a depression has always been about “getting back to normal”, but I’m starting to understand that this is not the only way to approach my recovery, and that emerging from depression’s darkness provides me a way to essentially “begin again” and create new habits and new ways of dealing with things.  That the depression wipes out the majority of old habits, creating a blank slate to rebuild upon… and in this opportunity resides the potential for building something better.

DECK USED:  BUMBLEBERRY HOLLOWS TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsMar2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: Do Spread #3

Denizens of Earth TarotWhat to leave behind along with the winter’s chill?

Father of Earth (Dragonfly) – It’s time to trade in more stagnant and staid energies for something with more vitality and alacrity. Being grounded is all well and good, but not to the point that you’re losing range of motion and opportunity through inaction.

What to take with me into the spring?

The Emperor – A sense of empowerment is necessary and you need to make sure you foster those feelings as you move into the spring.  Allow that sense of being “large and in charge” spur you into using your energy wisely to not just find your footing but run with those things that you want to build in your life and accomplish.

What needs exposed to the light and the world this spring?

The Lovers – You are doing the best you can to make the choices that are healthy for you and this is not something to hide away from the world, but rather something to celebrate.  When combined with the forward motion of the Emperor in the previous position, we see a message of leading by example.  Encouraging others to make healthy choices in their lives by showing them how it’s done within your own life.

What needs kept close for further contemplation and meditation?

Child of Fire (Red Fox) atop The Wheel – Inspired ideas that you want to explore need a bit more time to percolate in your head before you act on them. You have plenty to do without adding on more that will imbalance everything and “upset the apple cart”.  Keep them close and sort them out before acting, as you need this time to make sure these ideas become a success, rather than depending on luck to make them work and succeed.

DECK USED:  DENIZENS OF EARTH TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I bought CocoPuffs!  Okay so yes, I need to eat healthier and I get that but it’s COCOPUFFS!  I will just have to practice that whole moderation thing and make them last.

Lessons Lost

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Today’s meditation was skipped, although not intentionally.  I ended up falling asleep and having a nap instead, and when I got up it was a bit later than I’d like and I had to do my cards before I lost the sunlight.  Thus… no meditation.

Baby Tarot and Thera-Pets Emotional Support Animal CardsToday’s draw is the Wheel of Fortune, which is traditionally a representation of the ups and downs of life and how life can, at times, be unpredictable.  At times, there are those that read this card as being about good luck, or about bad luck.  In truth, it is about both and how one’s fortune is constantly changing.

What stands out to me in the imagery of this card today is the fact that the baby on the far left looks scared.  The thing is?  Sometimes that’s just how things go.  Fear is a part of the human experience and it can teach us lessons,  just as mistakes and pain can.    It can also allow us to learn from other’s mistakes, so when it’s our turn to learn that lesson the other person learned?  We have a step up to doing things better than the person before us did.

When combined with the Thera-Pets card for today, the lesson here is that even in our mistakes, there’s a lesson to be learned.  Even in our fear and pain, there’s something to be gained.  But we have to look for it.  Sometimes these lessons go by unlearned because we are too stubborn or too wrapped up in the misery to look for the lesson.  It’s important to look for the lesson.  That is… the lesson that makes us better than we were before the experience came along. The lesson that makes us better at something, and/or a better person.  If all you take away is the negative aspects of the experience, then the experience was wasted and the lesson the universe intended you to learn is lost.

DECK USED:  BABY TAROT AND THERA-PETS EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL CARDS

Sacred Grounds Tarot Club Prompt
Question: How can I more easily depend on others to help me?

Tarot Art Nouveau

Reading Summary:  Start your journey over (The World) from the beginning (doubled Aces) with a fresh and open heart (Ace of Cups) and new perspective on your passions (Ace of Wands).

Take Away:  In the process of surfacing from the MDE, I am given the opportunity to “begin again” with a new perspective.  Like a snake shedding its skin, as I come out of that dark pit of depression, what was before is being left behind and I am able to start over in how I deal with my responsibilities and how I handle myself concerning stress and pressure.  The cards here represent that new beginning, and remind me that if I want to allow people to help me more in my life and responsibilities (which I do), I need to reassess my feelings concerning this and adjust my passions and drive to include them from the beginning.

DECK USED:  TAROT ART NOUVEAU

#DiscordTarotolicsMar2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: What do I need to focus on for self-care for this full moon?

Baby TarotReading Summary:  Restructuring (The Tower) how I expend my energy.  There is a need to instill more care and nurturing into how I do things (Queen of Pentacles), which will take a bit of learning… which will be slow going but worth it (Page of Pentacles).

Take Away: As my other reading for today already mentioned, I’m at a place where I have the opportunity to do things differently.  A place in my recovery from my depression where I can “begin again” and do things better this time around. I’ve been working for a long time at finding a better way to treat myself and nurture myself, to care for myself while I carry on the responsibilities that lie on my shoulders.

I need to make sure, during this full moon, that I tip my energies towards that restructuring of how I do things, and lean into those efforts to approach things in a better and healthier way.

DECK USED:  BABY TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I didn’t get angry at myself for taking a nap today.  I also managed to resist buying a few decks that I’ve been tempted by but have decided to wait on until later.  Perhaps late in the fall when orders for the jewelry business pick up.  I don’t think there will be any worry about losing out on getting them between now and then in this case, and if I still want them by then, I’ll have the extra money to splurge.

Look Up… Keep Going

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IMG_0229Today’s meditation was just over twelve minutes long and was another of the shorter guided meditations on the Calm app, which I paired with an interval timer for my piriformis stretches.

The focus of today’s meditation was about how sometimes we hurt ourselves more by struggling against pain and unpleasantness than we would by just going with the flow.  It is how, for example, if you were to step on an animal trap and it went off and caught your leg. The initial pain is bad enough, but then you begin to thrash and struggle in its grip and in the process cause yourself more pain and more damage.

In this way, sometimes when we resist change or fight against experiences that we don’t like or that hurt us in some way, we end up causing more pain to ourselves than if we had just taken a moment to pause and breathe through it.

Tarot of the Sevenfold Mystery and Thera-Pets Emotional Support Animal CardsToday’s draw is the Ace of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of seedling spark of new ideas, new aspirations, new educational pursuits, and new interests.

What really stands out to me in the imagery of this card is the spade on the sleeve of the arm holding the sword.  It’s such a small thing, and yet this tiny detail adds another element to this card that resonates with me.  The reason for this is in cartomancy, the Ace of Spade often represents death and the process of something in your life having to “slough off” to make way for something new.  Normally this is something I would associate with the Ten of Swords, but here we see the cycle that begins after that death is complete.  The new opportunity to do things different… to do them better this time around.

When combined with the Thera-Pets card for today, what I see here is a reminder that each day is a new day.  An opportunity.   Each day you can be better than you were the day before.  Each day you can find a different way, a new way, to approach the day and the struggles that lie before you.  Instead of looking down at the ground, remember to look up (based off the rays in the sky in the Ace). Keep your chin up and keep going.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE SEVENFOLD MYSTERY AND THERA-PETS EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL CARDS

LionHart’s Whispering Woods Tarot Challenge Prompt
Question: In what way am I asked to nurture or replenish myself?

Whimsical Tarot

 Reading Summary:  Slow down (Empress over the Devil).  Your enthusiasm for your addictions (Queen of Rods and The Devil) are being spurred to greater heights by the reawakening of your emotions (Knight of Cups).

Take Away:  It’s time to do a bit of financial replenishment.  Although this doesn’t mean cutting out on decks entirely, it does mean that it’s time to slow down a bit.  Don’t allow emotions to drive your pleasures and addictions over the line into being unhealthy.   This isn’t just about decks, but covers the crap ass food you’ve been eating as well.  This is not good for you either in excess.

Although broken down through these four cards, this could have been communicated just as easily by handing over the Temperance card. The cards broke it down to make sure that the message couldn’t be misconstrued.

DECK USED:  WHIMSICAL TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsMar2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: What are my strengths when dealing with others?

Tarot of the Sevenfold MysteryReading Summary: I am clever (Seven of Swords), passionate (Queen of Wands) and easy to learn from (Lady of Pentacles).

Take Away: I am extremely biased and blind when looking at myself and how I am perceived by others.  What they see is not at all what I see, and in this manner, I can’t tell if these cards are accurate or not. 

That said, what I see here in these cards is that I have a grounded energy that make me approachable to others and easy to learn off of even by those that are not in my life to learn from me.  A part of this is because I appear cunning and clever, which stirs up people’s interest, and because I am well seated in my passions and experienced in them.  The latter gives me the ability to speak on these things with authority and passion, sparking the interest and inspiration in others as a result.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE SEVENFOLD MYSTERY

Daily Self Kindness

I have been wanting to experiment with a new idea for reading cards, and in order to do that I needed to have some people to test out my idea on.   I’ve been putting it off because of my recovery, but I’ve been eager to give it a go.  Today I gave out a number of free readings (nine, to be exact) in order to test the readability of my idea.  Out of the nine test readings performed, I only had one that was hit-or-miss, and I think that was less about the cards and more about difficulty connecting with that person’s energy. I would consider this test a success, and I enjoyed it.

Slow Awakenings… and Impatience

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IMG_0205Today’s meditation was was just over ten minutes long and I returned to the Calm app today for one of the guided meditations, with my interval timer added in for my pirifromis stretching.

The focus of today’s meditation was about living in the moment, even when the moment sucks. I agree that sometimes you just have to allow yourself to experience what’s happening, but I don’t think it should keep us from improving our situation when its possible to do so.   It’s a delicate balance.

Tarot de Marseille-Waite and Thera-Pets Emotional Support Animal CardsToday’s draw is the High Priestess, which is traditionally a representation of the subconscious, intuition, inner awareness, spiritual knowledge, and the possession of secret knowledge. 

What stands out to me the strongest in the imagery of this card is the curtain behind the priestess.  A curtain that hides what lies beyond.  The Priestess knows what is there, but like the beaded curtain in a fortune teller’s shop, only she knows what lies on the other side.

Combined with the Thera-Pets card for the day, what I see here is a reminder that I’m still in recovery.  During an MDE, my intuition is often stilted and muffled.  This can become really frustrating, especially now in the process of recovery, where I feel like I -could- be or -should- be fully recovered… but I’m not yet.

The reminder here is that it takes the time it takes.  My intuition isn’t going anywhere, nor does it become “rusty” with disuse during these times when I’m stuck in the MDE. Patience is needed, and it’s okay for things to move slowly.

DECK USED:  TAROT AND THERA-PETS EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL CARDS

LionHart’s Whispering Woods Tarot Challenge Prompt
Question: Where am I welcomed to take a break and gather myself?

Walter & Fitzpatrick inspired Harmonious Tarot

 Reading Summary:  You don’t have to charge forward (Knight of Wands) with your eye on the prize (Two of Wands) and coming out on top (King of Swords) as you are standing up for what you believe is right. (Seven of Wands).

Take Away:  Sometimes just living your life the way that is right for you and following your own moral compass is enough. It doesn’t always have to be about saving the world or going somewhere.  It doesn’t have to be about winning or losing or conflict.   It’s okay to just live by example sometimes, and that can be enough.

DECK USED:  WALTER & FITZPATRICK INSPIRED HARMONIOUS TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsMar2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: How can I better handle conflict?

Tarot de Marseille-WaiteReading Summary:  Take a pause (Trois de Bâton Rx). 

You need to approach from a place of stability and comfort (Quatre de Bâton) where you can then linger (Trois de Bâtons Rx) and view your choices more clearly (L’Amoureux).

Take Away: Sometimes, when conflict is upon us, we react in the moment…. even when there are times when we know that we shouldn’t.  Emotions running high and BAM, out of the blue your mouth opens and something unintended comes out, or we clam up and flinch away, or we act without thought and do something we regret as a result. 

The cards here are indicating that in order to better handle conflict, it is wise to take  a step back and find your balance and calm.  Put yourself in a place of comfort and calm where you can look at things from many perspectives, and with a level head, choose the response that will be best for you. 

DECK USED:  TAROT DE MARSEILLE WAITE

Daily Self Kindness

I made sure to structure my time so that I didn’t have to pull another all-nighter like I did Monday night.  That shit was ridiculous and I want to actually sleep tonight.

Fostering Forward Movement

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Today’s meditation was skipped because I was tired and ended up sleeping instead. I very much need to get back into doing this daily, but… yeah.  Today wasn’t it.

Harmony Tarot and Thera-Pets Emotional Support Animal CardsToday’s draw is the Four of Autumn.  This is not a tarot card, and the meanings on these cards are not cohesive with a tarot system.  I wasn’t aware of this when I purchased the deck (because, hello, the word “tarot” is in the title yeah?) but this deck is an oracle deck.

(Mini-rant about marketing ploys now over.)

Right, so.  The Four of Autumn is about a time of healing from a mental health ailment, distressing situation, or conflict.  It carries elements of the Four of Cups within it’s meaning in that there is a need to step back from others in order to heal, and a bit of the Seven of Pentacles in that  this healing can take a bit of time to develop and patience to bring into fruition.  It is about acceptance of where you are and taking time to yourself to find your focus and where you want to go.

When combined with the Thera-Puts card for today, the message is that sometimes when you’re working on healing from difficult times or circumstances, it can feel like it’s taking forever and the progress can sometimes feel so slow that you wonder if you’re ever going to actually heal fully at all.  Patience can be a hard thing, especially when stuck somewhere that is unpleasant.  The message here is to take a breath and practice that patience, accept it’s going to take some time yet, and do what you need to do to foster that forward movement towards a healthier you.

DECK USED:  HARMONY TAROT AND THERA-PETS EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL CARDS

LionHart’s Whispering Woods Tarot Challenge Prompt
Question: How can I nurture my dreams into full growth over the next few months?

Gregory Scott Tarot

 Reading Summary:  In times of struggle (Three of Swords) and strife (5 of Swords) make sure that you are focusing on finding balance and connection with the earth and your spiritual self (Temperance).

Take Away:  This message is a re reiteration of my COTD for today.  It’s a reminder that sometimes you need to take a step back and pause… breathe… focus on finding your balance and the connections that help you find solid ground within yourself.  This is especially important when dealing with times of struggle and strife.  In order to nurture my dreams over the next few months, this is a lesson that I will need to keep in mind.  Don’t allow the crappy shit to keep you from doing what you need to do to feel balanced, complete, and connected.

DECK USED:  GREGORY SCOTT TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsMar2021 Challenge Prompt
Philosophical Question: Why do we dream?

Harmony Tarot (Oracle)Reading Summary: To rise above and improve upon ourselves (Nine of Winter), find happiness and acknowledge those things we take pleasure in in our lives (Le Soleil), and to seek out truth in those people and things around us (Two of Summer).

Take Away:  The answer here is that dreams are to give us something to strive for, something to grow towards, and a way to connect with the world around us in healthy ways that will make us happier and healthier. 

If you don’t have dreams to strive for, then the stagnancy of where you are without the drive and desire to move forward, will cement you in place and allow decay to begin to take root with you.  Our dreams are the drive that keep this unhealthy stagnancy from happening.

DECK USED:  HARMONY TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I took a nap when I really didn’t want to.  I’m a little frustrated at being more tired lately than usual, but I’m trying to be accepting and understanding of this, and allowing myself a bit more rest to help in perhaps healing whatever it is that’s keeping me from the full energy I usually have at my disposal.

Slow Is Still a Go

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There was no meditation today because yet again the guys across the street were making a hell of a racket.  It wasn’t just the machinery, which I could probably have found a way to ignore, but rather… it was the yelling.  I swear to fuck they all talk at full volume.  Maybe they all have earplugs in their ears and have to shout just to be heard by each other.  I wonder if they realize that the entire condo complex across the alley from them can hear every word they say as well.

Cat-Rot Tarot 2020 Edition and Thera-Pets Emotional Support Animal CardsToday’s draw is the Three of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of taking the first steps in the direction you want to go after the planning of the Two of Wands has been accomplished. This particular “travel card” in the tarot has to do with going after what sparks your interest, and stirs up your innovation and inspiration.

What stands out to me the strongest in the imagery of this card is the fact that the cat looks kind of like a slug in this card.  If it weren’t for the ears… it would kind of look like a snail carrying its shell on its back, yeah?   Okay, so at least that’s what it looks like to me.

The significance of seeing a snail in this imagery has to do with speed and the fact that sometimes?  Forward movement is enough. This is reinforced in the Thera-Pets card for today, and the two cards together are a reminder that as long as you are heading in the direction you want to go?  It’s okay to not be moving at full speed ahead.  Taking your time is okay.

DECK USED:  CAT-ROT TAROT 2020 EDITION AND THERA-PETS EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL CARDS

LionHart’s Whispering Woods Tarot Challenge Prompt
Question: In what area of my life can I use a positive (energy) boost right now?

Lazy Crow Tarot

 Reading Summary:  I need to work on worrying less (Nine of Swords) and being more open (Page of Cups) to the love and camaraderie (Three of Cups) found in my home these days (Four of Wands).

Take Away: Okay so… it’s true that I have a really odd sense of humor. There’s a lot of jokes and humor that I just don’t understand at all, and there’s a lot of things I find amusing that others find not to be amusing at all. This factor doesn’t help in this situation, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be more open to allowing lighthearted warmth in that L and Z have to offer, instead of ignoring it for the stresses and worries going on in my head.

DECK USED:  LAZY CROW TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsMar2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: What would be a better way to deal with my anxieties that will allow my feet to stay on the ground?

Cat-Rot Tarot 2020 EditionReading Summary:  All the tricks and tools in the world (The Magician), clever ideas, and experience under your belt (Queen of Swords) is not going to get you outside and in nature like you need (The Empress).  Just do it (Two of Pentacles) and you will feel better for it (Five of Pentacles Rx)

Side Note: This deck has a somewhat oddly unique way of speaking that takes a bit of getting used to. I noticed this as well with the other edition of the Cat-Rot Tarot.

Take Away: In order to deal with my anxieties in a better and more grounded manner I need to make sure I’m literally getting out in nature and grounding. In doing this, I am able to feel more balanced and less as if I’m fighting a loosing battle all the time.  All of my “clever” excuses and sneaky ways of putting this grounding and connection to nature off are doing me absolutely no good at all.

DECK USED:  CAT-ROT TAROT 2020 EDITION

Daily Self Kindness

Although I was tired, I took some time after play with Gideon just to sit with him quietly and soak in some one on one time. The drop is toying with me and I needed it.