Finding the Positive for December 1 – 3

Winter Magic Tarot, Snowland Tarot, Winter Waite Tarot, and Self-Made Christmas Affirmation Cards

December 1 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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The @GlitterbyInk #DecembersChild24 Challenge
Healing the Inner Child Prompt for December 1st
: Nostalgia

Today’s card is the Devil card combined with the affirmation “Have an ice day and stay frosty!”

A lot of the cards in the affirmation deck I’m using this month hold a great deal of nostalgia for me. Not because the characters are familiar, but because I remember these corny little cards (like valentine cards kids exchange at school) that we used to have for different holidays.

It reminds me of feelings and fun and childhood moments of hope.  It reminds me of bushing hotly as I made little cards to give out because my parents wouldn’t buy the store-bought ones for me, and how fascinated I was with each of the little sayings on the store bought ones given to me on the day.

There’s danger in nostalgia, though.  The same danger that lies hidden in pretty much anything pleasurable. For  if you dip too far into it, you lose sight of reality.  You forget about the bad parts, just as if you lean too far into thinking about the bad parts of your past that you lose sight of the good parts.

Today’s cards, for me, are a reminder that too much of a good thing is no longer a good thing. Balance is important.  Take the bad with the good and vice versa in order to keep the scales balanced in your life and your memories based more solidly in reality.

DECK USED: WINTER MAGIC TAROT AND SELF-MADE CHRISTMAS AFFIRMATION CARDS

December 2 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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The @GlitterbyInk #DecembersChild24 Challenge
Healing the Inner Child Prompt for December 2nd
: Magic

Today’s card is the Page of Swords combined with the affirmation “Have an elf-cellent holiday season!”

There is a lot of really amazing things happening this time of year.  Charity ramps up and kindness with it. There’s community events like parades and holiday bazaars. Gift giving and generosity rise.

It can be hard to enjoy, though, if you spend too much time in your head.  Doing so can separate you from the warmth of the season and the bits of fun that it has to offer.

I hear a lot of people that bitch about the music or the crowds, etc.  Fair.  We all have things we don’t like about the holiday season.  But what do you *like* about it?  And more important yet, what do you feel ambivalent about that you might actually like if you gave it a chance?

Today’s card (combined with the Healing the Inner Child prompt) reminds us to stay open to the joy and the fun that this time of year has to offer.  Don’t get caught up in the negative aspects, but reach for the positive ones to make these busy weeks ahead feel happier and warmer, lighter and more magical than they otherwise might.

DECK USED: SNOWLAND TAROT AND SELF-MADE CHRISTMAS AFFIRMATION CARDS

December 3 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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The @GlitterbyInk #DecembersChild24 Challenge
Healing the Inner Child Prompt for December 3rd
: Curiosity

Today’s card is the Queen of Swords (landed on the table reversed) combined with the affirmation “There’s no need to be so hard on yourself, you’re managing as best you can.”

I have met a few people in my life that have a woe that I personally have a hard time understanding. I’ve been thinking about them a lot the last little bit, because I ran into another one just the other day.  These are people who have come to the belief that they have no true talent or skill. That they are a waste of space and time because they have nothing that they are good at, no hobbies or interests, nothing at which they shine.

And then… today’s cards brought to light an understanding of this mindset that I hadn’t considered before.

What drives inspiration? Curiosity does.  It’s the spark of fire that gets inspiration started and us moving to explore whatever has caught our attention.  And what kills curiosity? Internally directed negativity.  It is the voice within us that tells us we can’t do something, that we’ll suck at it, that it’s a waste of time. That inner voice may have been created by someone else, but by the time we get to the point where we believe we are talent-less and without merit?  It’s playing on repeat in our own heads.

The key to breaking this pattern comes in turning to that negative voice and saying “fuck you, I’m doing it anyway”.  Not worrying about if you’re good or not and just sating that curiosity anyway. Letting yourself have fun with it, play with it, and mess things up.

Even when you -know- you might fail, it’s in doing it anyway in order to gain experience and just -see- what happens.  Because if you don’t do that?  You can’t learn.  And if you don’t learn?  You never find those things you enjoy and are good at.  And yes… sometimes that negative voice in your head is going to whisper away in the background those things you don’t want to hear, but the idea is to not listen.  To have some fun.  To let your curiosity flourish.  Experiment and explore.

Then… our of nowhere?  You might just some day you just might surprise yourself by ending up being good at something you once were bad at… or good at something you didn’t ever even consider you might be good at.   That’s how you find where personal talents lie and those things that you enjoy.  Dive in, and have fun… and don’t worry so much about if you’re good at it or not.

DECK USED: THE WINTER WAITE TAROT REVISED EDITION (2019) AND SELF-MADE CHRISTMAS AFFIRMATION CARDS

Finding the Positive for December 10 – 12

These Card of the Day readings are a mental health exercise (suggested by my shrink) used to help counterbalance my natural tendency toward pessimism, negative inner narratives, and depression. The request posed to the cards is, “A positive message to carry with me throughout my day and foster perspective.”

Vintage Christmas Tarot, Winter Magic Tarot, Winter Waite Tarot Glitter Edition, and Christmas Affirmation Cards

December 10

Today’s meditation was skipped.

Three of Cups – “Here’s  friendly reminder that the negative voice in your head is not you; you are actually completely delightful.” It has been pointed out to me that I’ve been being a serious ass lately. It was meant as a joke, but the ring of truth in it hit me in the face.  I’d asked someone close to me to pick up after themselves before going to bed last night, with the warning if I came out into the living room in the morning to find the dirty dishes still in the livingroom, I was going to be extremely upset.  They retorted back that I’m always upset, so what’s the difference?

The thing is?  It was said in a good-natured, teasing manner but… they were also right. I’ve been letting my fears and worries, as well as my inner criticism and cruel prodding of my inner narratives, get to me.  And, it’s showing.  It’s showing in how I interact with others.

Today’s card speaks of making sure to be are aware of these types of issues, encourages working harder not to listen to that negativity that holiday stress causes to rise up from within, and take care of how it comes out in interactions with others.

DECK USED: VINTAGE CHRISTMAS TAROT AND CHRISTMAS AFFIRMATION CARDS

December 11

Today’s meditation was skipped.

Two of Pentacles – “Stop calling yourself garbage. You are a shimmering star. You are amazing!” Just because you might be struggling a bit with finding your balance right now doesn’t mean that you suck at it or are failing.  Balance is hard. Just because it seems like it should be simple and easy doesn’t mean that it is.  Just because you’re struggling doesn’t mean you suck.

DECK USED: WINTER MAGIC TAROT AND CHRISTMAS AFFIRMATION CARDS

December 12

Today’s meditation was skipped.

Two of Swords – “You will rise above the ashes. You will find a way to become whole again.” Like so many others this year, your profit is down compared to years past, regardless of what the talking heads say about the “economy” having recovered. This kind of thing means you are going to have to make some hard decisions… but it doesn’t mean that this is the end of the line. You will make those decisions, and you will adapt to keep going, just as you have always done during hard times.

DECK USED: WINTER WAITE TAROT GLITTER EDITION AND CHRISTMAS AFFIRMATION CARDS

📆 Transitioning from December to January

Month End Tarot Reading with the Winter Magic Tarot

Here and Now I Exist – Who you are now, in your entirety.

Queen of Cups – You are enjoying being the emotional touchstone of others in your life, and enjoying time with someone that supports you with a motherly warmth. After having had to close yourself off for the holiday rush, you are beginning to open back up in a position of both support, and being supported.

The Slough – What is to be left in the past as you move forward.

Two of Pentacles Rx – Willful imbalance. That is a part of what the holiday rush involves for you, as you are required to let go of a lot of things, including self care, your emotions, and more, all to make room for the rush to run its course. Now now that the rush is over, it’s time to leave that unhealthy imbalance behind.

What Lies Ahead – An ideal state or ideal self you are seeking at this time.

The High Priestess – You are seeking a re-connection with your intuition, spirit guides, and spirituality. There is a lot of knowledge hidden within that has gone dormant that you are now seeking to reawaken.

Limitations – Negative influences, opposition, or ill will.

The Hierophant – Take care that you don’t get so tightly bound up in tradition that you become rigid and inflexible. Your adaptability is a part of what makes you so good at bouncing back when you stumble or are taken by surprise.

The Boon – Positive influences, higher guidance, or divine intervention.

The Chariot – You are eager to move forward onto a path that aligns with your goals, as well as toward the more balanced sense of control hinted at in the Two of Pentacles previously revealed in this reading.

The Wound – An unpleasant past experience or event that is ripe for some support and healing.

Three of Cups Rx – You have been hurt by those that weren’t there for you in the past. Now is the time to work on bridging these gaps that have formed and healing the hurt where possible. Don’t allow sugar coating or gaslighting, and don’t forget the slights.  At the same time, the hurt needs healing, so focus on making that possibility become a reality.

Nostalgia – A positive past experience or event to acknowledge, reflect upon, and enjoy.

Three of Swords – Make sure that you are looking for the boon in your personal struggles, disappointments, and woes. Nothing is ever as bad as it first appears, and when you run into hurdles, it’s important to look back at past struggles and remind yourself of that.

A Warning – Something coming that can be prevented or overcome.

The Happy Squirrel – The returned presence of someone in your life can look like a boon, but it has the potential to cause a lot more problems than their presence is actually worth. Like a wolf in sheep’s clothing, they are coming in soft and dormant, but going to cause problems down the road (when they get hungry again).

Empowerment – A future opportunity to work toward.

The Moon – Uncertainty is coming. The more you prepare, the better off you will be. Make sure you have everything backed up and preparations in place.

Message from the Spirit World – You can lead the way unerringly through the chaos to come. Just don’t let doubt and uncertainty overwhelm you. Get ready now so that you can lead others out of the storm when the time comes.

Message from the Mind’s World – There is currently an imbalance between your emotions and intuition. One bolsters and strengthens the other, so make sure you are looking at both as you plot your course forward.

Message from the Physical World – Just like the saying “all work and no play makes for a dull boy,” also true is “all rigid tradition and no fun makes for a disappointing life.”

Take Away – This entire reading is about recovery and finding balance after the holiday rush, as well as what’s currently going on with A, the server, and the team. It speaks of a need to look ahead, plan, and get all of your ducks in a row, as well as seeking out and finding balance once more between work life, home life, and self care.

DECKS USED: WINTER MAGIC TAROT

❤️ Self Care Saturday (On a Sunday)

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 Winter Magic Tarot and Yuletide Tales Lenormand

EarthKnight of Pentacles – It’s time to slow down. You can still keep you eye on your goals, but the slower pace is needed. It might feel like stagnancy, but if you’re still moving toward your goals? It’s not.

AirKnight of Cups – You need to make sure you keep in mind what it is you want in your life. Don’t lose sight of what’s truly important to you and will make you happy. Orient yourself towards those things.

WaterEight of Swords Rx – Now that the holiday rush is over, it’s time to remove the bindings on your emotions so that they can flow freely once again. Keep this in mind moving forward through the week and remain conscious of this goal as you move out of emotional stagnation.

FireAce of Wands – Find other passions to pour your excess energy and anxiety into. That excess will taper off over time, but it needs redirecting into new and different interests in the meantime.

WaningBirds and Anchor – Don’t depend on family and friends for the stability you crave. You have to create that for yourself.

WaxingRider and Garden – That doesn’t mean avoid them, though. Enjoy their company and companionship as you visit with them over the next week.

Take Away – It’s time to ease up on that tight grip of control you have had over your emotions and intuition throughout the past seven weeks.  Allow your softer side to stretch from the shell you’ve built around it and begin to find the fresh air and freedom it needs to return happy and healthy once more.

DECKS USED: WINTER MAGIC TAROT AND YULETIDE TALES LENORMAND

Make the Time

Today’s meditation was skipped (yes, again).

Winter Magic Tarot - The EmpressToday’s draw is the Empress, which is traditionally a representation of the nurturing, female strength and empowerment without losing that “softer side” in the process, abundance, fertility, the divine feminine, and Mother Earth.

She may be the queen of the winter wonderland of this deck, but that doesn’t keep her from having a hint of knowing warmth in her eyes.  In this way, it is the expression upon the figure’s face in this card that draws my attention today.

That gaze seems to say… “Don’t forget that no matter how busy today gets, you still need to take care of yourself.”

This is fitting, since it’s yet again orders day, and there is SO much to get done.  Today’s card is a reminder that even if it doesn’t feel like there’s enough time?  Make time to take care of yourself.

DECK USED:  WINTER MAGIC TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I made chocolate chip cookies.  Not from scratch… I just don’t have enough time for that, but from store bought dough, which while not as good as my recipe? It’s still way better than nothing.