Gideon’s Challenge

Evening CloudsThe Heart’s Anchor

In the clouds
resides
a reminder
of just how
small
we all are
and how
your love
provides comfort
and stability
in a universe
filled
with uncertainty.

I love you.

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

🎨 Weekly Creativity Prompt – Different Scenarios

Prompt: “The purpose of this activity is to practice interpreting small spreads by combining card meanings, symbols and intuition. We will all interpret the same cards based on a few different (imaginary) situations. A 3 card spread will be posted together with 2 more specific scenarios. It’s your choice which scenario you’d prefer to use, or if you’d rather do a general reading of these cards as for an imaginary querent.”

Tarot of the Abyss - Page of Pentacles, Five of Pentacles, Wheel of Fortune

Scenario 1 – Kayla is having a hard time getting along with her teacher. She’s a little shy, and the presentations they do in class make her anxious. She wants to know how to just get through the school year.

Look at these presentations less as a trial to get through (Five of Pentacles) and more as a skill to be learned and honed (Page of Pentacles).  Remember that you are not the only one that is nervous about doing their presentations.  Because of that, when it goes badly, others are going to be supportive… and when ti goes well they will celebrate with you (Wheel of Fortune).

Scenario 2 – There’s been some changes in Martin’s life and he’s trying to figure out the best way to tell his mum about them.

Ease into introducing your mother to these changes in your life instead of dropping them in her lap all at once (Page of Pentacles).  If she’s not given enough time to adjust, she won’t take the news well (Five of Pentacles).  Timing is also an important factor, for her reactions will be different depending on not just how you present these changes to her, but also when you do so (Wheel of Fortune).

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE ABYSS

🎨 Weekly Creativity Prompt – Differing Perspectives

Prompt: “Pull the Queen of Wands card from your deck(s). Compare the imagery between the card provided below and the card(s) from your own deck(s). How would you read them differently and why?“

Queen of Wands - Tarot of Mystical MomentsMystical Moments Tarot – She stands tall and holds steady a beacon for others to follow. The moths are drawn to that glowing beacon, inspired by her presence and her holding the sunflower aloft.

This card speaks of those that inspire us, and how that inspiration can draw is in like moths to a flame. It asks us where is inspiration sparking for us right now?  If you aren’t seeing that light to follow, maybe it’s time to start looking.

Queen of Wands - Cthulhu Mythos Tarot, Diabolik Tarot, Lost Hollow Tarot

Cthulhu Mythos Tarot – Surrounded and embraced by tentacles from below, this Queen holds within her an orb of energy that glows at solar plexus level.  This card speaks of being strong in one’s leadership of others.  Sometimes when we inspire others, its important to keep them on track rather than letting them just go off and do their own thing.  This card asks the question… where in your passion projects are you in need of more focus?

Diabolik Tarot – What would you do for her? To be her… or to possess her? The femme fatale has been an inspiration and motivation to many a thief, criminal,  and hero alike. She inspires them to leap forward and dive into the fray, to break the law and do amazing things.  This card speaks of being not just inspired but motivated by someone else.  It warns that you need to remember to make the choice to act based upon your own character, or whoever is motivating you will take those choices out of your hands.

Lost Hollow Tarot – Dark and mysterious, this Queen walks among a field of sunflowers at night. She is a beacon of light in the darkness, the sunflowers behind her speaking of hope and success within the encroaching darkness, if you are willing to brave the dark to follow her lead. This card says that sometimes finding inspiration is not easy or for the weak of heart, but takes courage and an intrepid spirit.

DECK USED: TAROT OF MYSTICAL MOMENTS, CTHULHU MYTHOS TAROT, DIABOLIK TAROT, LOST HOLLOW TAROT

🎨 Weekly Creativity Prompt – Autumn Themes

Prompt: “From your deck of choice, select one card for each of the following themes: 1) A wander in the Autumn woods; 2) Guidance from the Past; 3) The Beginning of the End. Post the cards you chose here, and share with us how you made the connections that you did with the prompts above.”

Rings of Fortune Tarot - Four of Wands, The Hierophant, Judgement

A Wander in the Autumn Woods

Four of Wands – Stepping into the woods and among the towering trees is like coming home, the energy of the forest welcoming me in as a celebration bursts to life in my soul.  Energy flows and welcomes me deeper, and with each step I take into the shadowed embrace of earthy greens, the soil under my feet sings its welcome and eagerly reaches to welcome me home.

Guidance from the Past

The Hierophant – When we listen to our ancestors, they teach us lessons about what is important and the value of traditions. In their guidance comes age old skills and methods that have been proven through the tests of time and carried forward to be shared with new generations. Sometimes, the “new ways” of doing things “work just as well”, but yet dilute the power and meaning old traditions keep strong. Guidance from our past keeps those traditions strong, and their power rich and potent.

The Beginning of the End

Judgement – As children, we rarely think about the -kind- of people that we will become. We think about the things we want to do and experience, but not really about if we want to be good, or wise, or generous, or kind.  We don’t think about this until later in life, when we begin looking toward the ends of our lives and realize perhaps we don’t yet “measure up” to our potential.  This is the beginning of the path to the end.  That place where self awareness connects with the kind of person we want to become before we move on.

DECK USED: RINGS OF FORTUNE TAROT

🎨 Weekly Creativity Prompt – Different Scenarios

Prompt: “The purpose of this activity is to practice interpreting small spreads by combining card meanings, symbols and intuition. We will all interpret the same cards based on a few different (imaginary) situations. A 3 card spread will be posted together with 2 more specific scenarios. It’s your choice which scenario you’d prefer to use, or if you’d rather do a general reading of these cards as for an imaginary querent.”

Fifth Spirit Tarot - Three of Pentacles, The World, Eight of Pentacles

Scenario 1 – Jordan is trying to get over their jealousy of their ex dating someone else. They know it’s irrational but keeps cycling back to their ex and they’re coming to you for guidance and advice.

Sometimes in order to move on from a particularly significant phase in our lives (The World) it takes not just hard work on our parts (Eight of Pentacles), but help from others as well (Three of Pentacles).  Make sure that you are including those around you in your pursuits for freedom from these feelings and the new beginnings you are trying to build in your own life.  Tell them you are struggling and let them help you in creating something new that doesn’t involve a constant focus on your ex.

Scenario 2 – There is a conflict at Joey’s workplace involving his manager and a coworker. Joey wants some guidance on how to navigate this situation.

Both of these people are important to your work, and it would behoove you to insert yourself into the situation (Three of Pentacles) and help them sort things out. Guide them toward turning over a new leaf in their working relationship with each other (The World), and remind them how important working together is in performing at their individual bests at their job (Eight of Pentacles).

DECK USED: FIFTH SPIRIT TAROT

🎨 Weekly Creativity Prompt – Autumn’s Fall

Prompt: Pull (at least) three cards and use them to tell us what the trees say as they release their autumn leaves. Then… Pull (at least) three cards and use them to tell us what the autumn leaves say as they fall from the trees.

Kumacchi TarotWhat the trees say as they release their autumn leaves…

Thank you for spending this time with me and enriching my life with your presence. It has been my greatest accomplishment to support and nurture you with my strength (Ten of Pentacles). I wish I could hold onto you forever (Four of Pentacles), but I must release you into the world so that you can dance on the wind (The Sun).

What the autumn leaves say as they fall from the trees...

Our time together has been wonderful (Ten of Cups), and I have taken pride in helping to shelter you from the storms of the spring and summer sun (Nine of Wands). We both knew this day is coming (Two of Wands), but I have to confess that now that it’s here I’m worried about tumbling into the gutter (The Devil).

DECK USED: KUMACCHI TAROT