Month: April 2023

Monthly Challenge: Lionharts’ Light My Fire Challenge: Days 24, 27, 28 and 30.

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So I’ve been MIA because…

I just bought a house!

I’ve been spending most of my mental energy designing and pretending to buy furniture for the place hahaha! I’m currently covered in paint, and desperately trying to catch up and finish April’s challenge on a semi-complete note.

Instead of doing all the days I’ve missed, I’ve selected the prompts I like the most for this last post before May. I hope you enjoy them 🙂

Day 24: What empowering thoughts can I focus on today to motivate myself?

Card: The Tower (yikes): Sometimes things come crashing down and that’s part of life. Sometimes things that were strong, break. Without a break, there can be no new growth, no rebuilding. Sometimes there must be pain to learn, to grow and to get rid of what doesn’t truly serve you. Remember, this too, shall pass.

Day 27: What part of myself or my journey am I being called to have more faith in, and what actions can I take to boost my confidence in this area?

Card: Four of Cups: Sometimes I get stuck between decisions and I become lost in endless back and forth- which is the right step to take, what should I do, what colour should I paint the kitchen and I dwell so much it immobilizes me. I need to believe in my choices a bit more, trust the process a bit more, and have faith that action will provide a forward movement, if nothing else 🙂 .

Day 28: What accomplishment can I celebrate (card 1) and how can I honour this today (card 2)?

Card 1: Knight of Swords (jumper): Taking action, going for it, jumping in with all of the feet I possess, despite the fear of not knowing how it might turn out. I should be proud of the recent risks I’ve taken 🙂 I am!

Card 2: Page of Swords (jumper, and not sure if it was reversed): Enjoy making plans, don’t get stuck into the minutia of every little thing involved in the carrying out of the plan- just embrace the enthusiasm. Don’t let anyone else’s opinions or ideas push that happiness away.

Day 30: What do I need to let go of by the end of Mercury Retrograde (after May 14th)?

Card: The Empress: Ooo not sure of this one- could be conflicts with female figures in my life- could be the concept of what makes someone feminine, could be my internalized gendered concepts and sense of expression in the ways that it limits me (aversion towards specifically gendered elements because of other’s opinions, internalized judgement). I’ll have to wait and see how this one manifests I think.

As in my last post, this selection comes from the Creatures Tarot. It’s an amazing deck. I’m still getting used to it, but I’m really enjoying it so far 🙂

Happy readings! 💛💛

-Madame Starbeam

Monthly Challenge: Lionharts’ Light My Fire: Day 22 and 23

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Day 22: How can I break free from patterns that no longer serve me and hinder my growth?

Card: King of Cups: Tap into my abilities to control my emotions or seek out someone who uses their emotions as a catalyst to move forwards in life- a good therapist or a friend perhaps?

Day 23: What inner wisdom can I tap into to make empowered decisions for myself?

Card: Three of Cups: Get together with the girls to gather my thoughts and make a plan- two heads are better than one? Empathetic socially driven wisdom will help me make the right decisions for myself.

I’ve used a new (!!!) deck I’ve just got that I really, really like for this set. It’s called Creatures Tarot, and it’s by an amazing artist called Sara Kathleen. She’s amazing, and this deck is a gem. It smells beautifully of ink, reminding me of tattoos, and the cards have such a beautiful bounce that I’m not afraid of bending them. The illustrations are simple, and straightforward and her philosophies on making things attainable for others are awesome sauce. If you get a chance to check this deck out or pick it up in her shop, you won’t be disappointed!!!

Happy Readings 💛💛

-Madame Starbeam

Monthly challenge: Lionharts Light My Fire Challenge: Day 20 and Day 21

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Do I ever call these posts the same thing?

Day 20: What opportunities await me if I choose to step outside of my comfort zone?

Card: Two of Pentacles Rx: A giant clusterfuck of epic proportions awaits me- I need to be careful when currently stepping out of my comfort zone, as there is a bit of dysregulation that may be waiting for me.

Day 21: What steps can I take to overcome any limitations that are holding me back?

Card: 9 of swords Rx: I can face the music, understand what my limitations are and look at them with clear eyes and a clearer heart. I can see that many of the sleepless nights I’ve had are within my power to change and may be coming to an end sometime soon. Hurray!

As before, I’m using the Modern Witch Tarot deck- lovely one 🙂 I like it very much 🙂

Happy Readings! 💛💛

-Madame Starbeam

Monthly Challenge: Lionharts’ Light My Fire: Days 18 and 19

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I’m more on top of my shit today!

Day 18: What practices or rituals can I add to my daily routine to incorporate more self-care?

Card: The World: I can bring in an element of reflection (which is funny because I came to the same realization this morning when I was raking myself over the coals for old crappy things I’ve done), and maybe incorporate some gentle low key travel, or some travel plans for the future. I like that idea 😉

Day 19: What changes can I make to make life easier (card 1) and how will these changes benefit me (card 2):

Cards: The Hierophant Rx (card 1), and 4 of Cups. I can start to follow the beat of my own drum and go against the status quo. I don’t feel like that necessarily makes life easier though… so maybe it’s more that I need to stop taking stock in the kind of concerns and beliefs that those in power in my life seem to have. I can let go of that need for approval. In doing that, I can re-evaluate what’s important to me, where I want my life to go and what I need to do to get there. I feel a bit like I’ve lost my way recently, so maybe this will help.

The deck used is one I’ve had for a while but haven’t used in ages that I love from Lo Scarabeo. It’s called The Tarot of Oppositions and if you’re interested in getting into reading reversals (which some tarot practitioners do not do for lots of different reasons), then I would highly recommend it. It has a beautiful duplication where you can see the reversed (or opposite meaning) in the reflected image- if the card is upright, you see the upright image clearly, but if you pull a reversal, then you can see the reversed image clearly. You can also use this as a way to just balance your concepts of multiple card meanings. I find once it gets into like 5+ in each suit, it can be a little harder to read, but I still really enjoy it for this purpose. The card quality is also pretty good for a mass-market deck, the price point is reasonable, and the artwork is pretty cool. I like most of the decks I’ve bought from Llewellyn (and most of the witchy books they sell, too). They routinely have site-wide sales that are pretty awesome.

Happy Readings! 💛💛

-Madame Starbeam

Monthly Challenge: Lionharts’ Light My Fire April Challenge Days 16 and 17

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Day 16: How can I show up for myself today?

Card: Two of Wands: I can give myself options, and ideas, make plans for the future and show up for myself in whatever way I can.

Day 17: Where can I be more generous with myself today?

Card: Ten of cups RX: I can be kinder on myself regarding the mistakes I’ve made with relationships and the friendship issues I’ve had in the past. I can be kinder to myself on the cringe moments that I think about- everyone has them. Not just me.

I’ve used the fake Spacious Tarot here 🙂

Happy Readings 💛💛

-Madame Starbeam

Monthly Challenge: Lionharts’ Light MY Fire Tarot Challenge: Days 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15

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Day 11: How can I best channel my most courageous, most fearless self?

Card: Mouse: Pay closer attention to what’s going on. The mouse asks you to look into what is happening around you, what contracts you’re signing, and what’s happening with those who you surround yourself with. So boosting my courage can come from paying attention to the opportunities and the things that I surround myself with.

Day 12: What commitments can I make to support my journey towards self-love?

Card: Chimpanzee: I can use my intuition and understanding of the world to find the best ways to support myself. I can commit myself to bridge the gap between my intuition and my ‘logic’ brain.

Day 13: What am I being called to dedicate more time to this season?

Card: Manatee: Being a badass sea cow and swimming along with the flow! Letting things happen and not fighting them but going with the waves. I don’t always have to make everything into a battle.

Day 14: What can I do to stay motivated in achieving my goals or plans?

Card: Peacock: Stand out from the crowd! Take the accolades that are offered (if they are) and don’t be afraid to strut your stuff. Also, I’ve seen peacocks in real life, I have to be loud and annoying and possibly hang out on a roof top when possible.

Day 15: What personal strengths can I tap into to help me overcome any current challenges?

Card: Cat (domestic): Claws! Adorable side-eyes, and sharp teeth. 🙂 I can use my independence to find the right way.

I got this deck from a friend for my birthday. It’s called Messages from your Animal Spirit Guides Oracle Cards, and I really like the feel of them as well as the directness of the message behind them.

Happy Readings 💛💛

-Madame Starbeam

Monthly Challenge: Lionharts’ Light My Fire Tarot Challenge: Days 7, 8, 9 and 10

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I DID IT AGAIN, I’M SORRY THIS MONTH IS A LITTLE INSANE.

I would like to promise you that the next month of May will be better. That is a lie.It will probably be worse.

Anyway, here’s wonderwall.

Day 7: How can I harness my energy to fuel my creativity and pursue my passions?

Card: 6 of Vessels (6 of cups): Look back on memories, turn back the clock and remember the good times of the past. Look at how I’ve harnessed my energy in the past and use it in a similar way- I always used to dive deep into creativity and express myself through writing when I was a kid, so maybe this is something I should look back into.

Day 8: What can focusing on my passions do for me?

Card: Ace of Wands: It can give me new ideas, new thoughts, and new ways of expressing myself. I think it can also give me a chance to cleanse myself- sweep away the cobwebs. It can give me a way of opening up the world around me- unlocking my community. For me, I think this is telling me that by focusing my energy on the new things happening around me, I can have a fresh start.

Day 9: What steps am I guided to take to further awaken my inner fire?

Card: 10 of coins Rx (10 of pentacles reversed): Avoid spending money? Maybe? Or spend money but be careful and watch out for overspending? Taking in what I have right now, and enjoying the journey I’m on. Making the most out of what I have in my power at the moment. Ok, I can do that!

Day 10: How can I cultivate a sense of adventure in my life?

Card: The Crow and Dogwood: Intelligence: Solving the problems that exist in my life and believing in myself. Try and find unique and interesting ways of solving problems and look for the shiny, interesting things happening in life- find them and latch onto them.

The decks used today are The Transient Light Tarot, and Woodland Wardens Oracle cards. They’re both awesome, affordable, and available at a tarot website or shop near you! 🙂

Happy Readings 💛💛

-Madame Starbeam.

The Hanged Man/One: A look at a few different decks

On By HeatherIn Card breakdown, Special SpreadsLeave a comment

This comes from a creativity prompt on the discord server I’ve mentioned before (a great resource! All are welcome!). The Hanged Man is represented in a variety of different ways, depending on what or how the deck creator wants it to look like. Each version gives different insights into the meaning of the card and the ways you could choose to read them.

Have a look at some of my Hanged Man cards.

My more traditional Rider Waite Smith connected decks look like this:

RWS Versions:
Tarot for all ages (purple one, called Surrender): Birds carry this person away over the sea, where they seem to have no troubles, worries or fears. I read this (and many of my others) quite positively- it’s a call to let yourself be free (maybe connect to inner peace, like the white birds carrying the person away from their ‘sea of troubles’), and let whatever happen.

This Might Hurt: Here we have a lot of nature/woodsy imagery: two trees combine to hold up the hanged man, a bird rests on his leg akimbo, flowers and a sun hitting the horizon shine behind his head. This card seems almost more meditative, stop and let everything go, connect to nature, connect within yourself- I read this as a bit pushier- encouraging the reader to stop and reflect within themselves- the precision of the limbs, the plaid lumberjack vibe and this person in the forest makes me feel like he’s working at letting things go.

The Hidden Light Tarot: A monk suspended in prayer, there is tight control here.

It feels as though the monk has put himself in this position for a purpose. He is putting himself through this physical test to help himself. I would read this card as inspirational- what can you do to find this sense of control and peace? To what lengths can you push yourself to let go? You have to do the work here.

One of my decks that strays from the RWS images is the Transient Light Tarot:
The anchor hangs upside down- an impossible feat- if your anchor isn’t working, then surely you must feel lighter- releasing what is holding you down, or at the very least, turning it upside down to get a new perspective on it. It’s resting in your hands as well, making me read it as if it is entirely within your grasp to see things from the other side- to see things in a different way, or even to let the weight of life lift off your shoulders. I read this as more of you know what you need to do, and it’s easier than you think. You can let it go- it’s all in your hands.

What does the Hanged Man look like in your deck? How do you read it?

Happy Readings! 💛💛

-MadameStarbeam

Monthly CHallenge: Light My Fire Lionharts’ April Challenge: Days 4, 5, and 6

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Day 4: How can I best embrace and embody my carefree spirit in the present moment?

Card: The Wheel of Fortune Rx (reversed): What carefree spirit? LOL I need to reflect back on my past actions- maybe I can use them for inspiration. Remember times when I was more carefree and fun-loving. Embrace that moment.

Day 5: Where can I infuse more playfulness and curiosity in my approach to life?

Card: 3 of cups- this is my second three of cups within an hour lol- I guess I have to meet up with folks and party a bit more. Let my hair down. Worry less.

Day 6: What can I engage in to bring more joy into my life right now? Draw up to 3 cards.

Cards: 3 of Swords, Guardian (Queen) of Wands Rx, and 5 of cups: I’ve been hurt and suffered loss (who hasn’t), and those painful moments have caused me to limit what I can feel for others, how close I let them get, and how much I share with them. I believe that very few people can be trusted, and I need to look towards breaking out of that mentality and learning to forgive others and myself. I need to reestablish my sense of self, my sense of purpose and not remove boundaries but instead assess how those boundaries help and hinder me.

The deck used today is a bootlegged copy of the Spacious Tarot (a gift from someone who didn’t know it was a knock-off). I like the imagery in the Spacious Tarot, and I think if you’re on the hunt for human-free images, this is a good one!

Happy Readings! 💛💛

-MadameStarbeam

Monthly Challenge: Light My Fire Lionharts’ April Tarot Challenge: Day 1, 2, and 3.

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Day 1: What inner fire am I guided to ignite, nurture, and/or honour this month?

Card: 3 of cups: I should honour my connections to others, help myself grow and develop the relationships I already have, any new ones I’d like to create or build afresh. Maybe also indulging myself- treat yo self kinda vibes!

Day 2: Where do I need to take a bold step forward in my life?

Card: 3 of Pentacles Reversed: Hmmm teamwork- I don’t really work in a team though, so I’m not too sure about this card- Maybe I need to be bold and join a team, or work together with someone on a project of some sorts? It could be that the activities I’m doing at the moment are too boring, and don’t inspire passion, so perhaps I need to develop those? The branches of this tree on the card make me feel like it wants me to step out of my individualized life and make some new connections maybe.

Day 3: Draw a card and use its message to create a daily mantra for the month ahead.

Card: Judgment: lol: I trust myself. I am wise. I know what is best for me.

The deck used today was The Essential Tarot- I wouldn’t really recommend it, to be honest. The images aren’t always helpful- it veers more towards a pip deck (a deck with the minor cards as just the number of the symbol, so the 3 of pentacles you can just see 3 pentacles, etc), and I don’t find it super intuitive to read. It doesn’t feel like there was a tonne of thought put into its creation and some of the images (especially of the court cards and major arcana) don’t really guide you at all, or give you any help. It was available at a discount book outlet so I grabbed it, but I wouldn’t recommend you do the same. The card stock is good but a bit sticky, and it smells strongly of chemicals. It’s growing on me, but I don’t think I’ll use it much.

Happy Readings 💛💛

-Madamestarbeam

April’s Challenge

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Ok, I know I haven’t finished March yet, but it’s already the 8th of April and I haven’t even begun yet!

It’s been a crazy few weeks, with a new contract starting at work, a few days taken up by extra work and plans, and a slight health issue- fingers crossed it’s not as big of a deal as it seems to be. All of this has meant I’ve been working on keeping myself going and not going batshit crazy, so although tarot has been tugging at me every evening and every morning, I haven’t been able to do fuck all.

Here’s the challenge I’m going to attempt for April. It’s another Lionharts’ challenge. I like that there’s usually an element of self-reflection in the questions asked, and I also like the visuals. That said, whenever I get a chance, I might try to chuck in some more challenges or just a card of the day here and there! 🙂

Follow Lionharts’ on Instagram to see more, and follow me on Instagram for occasional dog bum-based spread photos.

Happy Readings 💛💛

-Madamestarbeam