Tag: tarot in canada

Tarotholic’s Monthly Challenge: May: Day 7: Another spread!

On By HeatherIn Monthly challenge, Special SpreadsLeave a comment

Here we go folks! Another spread from the amazing Twist the Leaf/Tarotholics discord:

OK I’m not sure if my dumbass will suffer from information overload with two cards for each for extra credit, but we’re gonna give it a hook. I encourage you to give me feedback if you’re reading this- tell me if you see something I don’t! 😀

Here’s my spread:

What positive qualities do I have that others admire?

Cards: Four of Pentacles (rx) and Queen of Wands (rx): I’m generous with my emotions or at least I’ve got the spirit but I’m a little confused when it comes to action and putting plans into place- I’m generous with my time and emotions, but I can get stuck within certain pursuits and carry things forward in an intense way.

What positive qualities do I wish I had that I admire in others?

Cards: The Moon (rx) and The Devil: I wish I could get lost in excess and not regret it, that I could convince myself of some positive misconceptions that would make my life easier. I admire the way others can fully trust and empower themselves through their intuition.

What step(s) can I take now to work toward developing that quality in myself?

Cards: Ace of Pentacles and The Chariot: I should use material elements in life (maybe physical self-care, the earth) to push myself forward into tapping into my intuition. Or I should spend more money on new indulgences to obtain the excess of the Devil’s vibe? I mean, usually, this deck tells me not to do that, so I think it might be getting more in touch with new jobs/work/nature/growing opportunities that are coming up soon.

What step(s) can I take to make the positive qualities I already have shine brightly?

Cards: Eight of Swords (rx) and Nine of Swords: Surrender to what is coming and understand that the anxiety I’m bound to face in thinking I’m not good enough or I can’t provide for others or I’m not doing a good job; this is counterproductive but unavoidable. Feel it, and let it go. I am the only one who will put myself through it and also the only one who will stop myself from going through it.

I used the This Might Hurt tarot deck, which is available for purchase in a new limited edition now, I believe. It’s a fabulous deck 🙂

I liked this challenge! Let me know if you do it and what you get out of it!

Happy Readings! 💛💛💛

-Madame Starbeam

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

On By HeatherIn Monthly challengeLeave a comment

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

On By HeatherIn Monthly challengeLeave a comment

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: Days 18 and 19

On By HeatherIn Monthly challengeLeave a comment

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

On By HeatherIn Monthly challengeLeave a comment

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

On By HeatherIn Monthly challengeLeave a comment

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.

On By HeatherIn Monthly challengeLeave a comment

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

On By HeatherIn Monthly challengeLeave a comment

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

Monthly Challenge: Lionharts WanderLust: Days 25 and 26

On By HeatherIn Monthly challengeLeave a comment

Day 25: In what area can I use the beauty of nature to find joy or rekindle my passions? Where do I begin?

Card: 4 of wands Rx: Private and inward work on goals and private personal celebrations- I can use nature as a way of continuing to understand myself better, and I can start by rewarding myself for the small accomplishments and private achievements I’ve accomplished so far. 🙂

Day 26: In what way or area(s) have I found myself this month?

Card: 8 of pentacles Rx: I’ve found myself through self-improvement, through wishing to perfect and dwell on the imperfections in my life from the past. It’s been a strange month, of that I can assure you and the anxiety that has bubbled up at weird times has not been helpful, but I have been working on finding a way through it. I hope that it helps.

Deck used: Modern Witch Tarot.

Happy Readings 💛💛

-Madame Starbeam

Monthly Challenge: Lionharts’ WanderLust: Massive Catch up Days 20-24

On By HeatherIn Monthly challengeLeave a comment

Hahahaha whoops.

Listen. Listen. Listen. I used to be a blogger, alright? Back when I was in university, and in high school- when I was in my early 20s and the internet was still a fresh young beast. I was a blogger extraordinaire! I’d write multiple posts a day, and they would be so chaotic, ridiculous, awesome, unfiltered and so… cringe. But, I’d write! I would be writing! These days, I’m lucky if I wash my hair correctly every other day. Keeping up with multiple blogs? Impossible. So you’ll have to forgive my lapses. They will be often. They will be long. But hopefully, they will not be forever 🙂

So let’s get crackin’ then shall we?

Day 20: What can I learn from the wind,, the sky or the air element right now?

Card: The Magician Rx: I learn to take control of the things around me, push forward with power- something I’m lacking at the moment. I can tap into my intuition, see where my power can reach to, and see where it fails.

Day 21: How can I harness the warmth around me to fuel my inner fire?

Card: Guardian of Swords (Queen of Swords) Rx: It’s ok to be emotional- to get upset- to burn brighter and stronger at the things that are unfair in the world. I need to take care not to let the fire consume me, and overwhelm me.

Day 22: How can I use nature as a source of creative inspiration?

Card: 5 of Wands: I can use nature to unravel the anger and resentment coiled away inside of me. The inner battle that rages between making money, making others happy, and making myself happy can be fought and soothed through nature.

Day 23: What should I let flow in? What should I let flow away?

Cards: Flow in: 9 of pentacles Rx, Flow out: Greed (the Devil):

Embrace what I’m worth, I am enough, and I need to recognize it. Let go of overindulgence, hanging onto things I don’t need, and desiring more and more.

Day 24: Where should I give myself freedom?

Card: 3 of swords Rx: Give me the freedom to forgive maybe? To let go of any pain I’m carrying and give myself some kindness- the kind of kindness I give to others but not myself.

The deck used is the Tarot for all ages- a cute one though sometimes tricky to read as the court cards are a bit different and some of the major Arcana are renamed, but it’s a good deck!

Happy Readings 💛💛

-Madame Starbeam

Monthly Challenge: Lionharts WanderLust Days 18 and 19

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Here we go folks- possibly big things in the pipeline for me, which is why I’ve been so busy- sorry about that! Here we go!

Day 18: How can I tap into the natural rhythm of the Earth to find balance?

Deck used: Melanie Eclaire’s Flower Spirit Cards

I don’t feel like I need a card for this one- I just need to take a walk- I did it today. A really lovely person in the tarot discord I like mentioned just like… noticing where the moss is and where it grows- and yeah. Do that. It’s weirdly connecting? I dunno, my head is a mess of stuff, so maybe don’t listen to me.

Card: Hellebore (Flower Oracle cards felt right): I should believe that there is a higher power and a perfect pattern within the universe and relinquish myself to it. Looking further into Hellebore, in Victorian times, apparently it meant delirium (legit, it’s poisonous so fair), and these days it means peace, serenity and tranquility in addition to anxiety, stress and scandal- so just like all the good things and all the bad things at once? Cool. Cool cool cool

Day 19: How or where am I guided to use the power of water for healing?

Card: Evening Primrose: Love. I should use water to help heal my heart. Apparently, it often symbolizes youth, renewal and optimism as it is often the first to bloom in spring. Water can maybe rejuvenate my love for myself. Aww I like that a lot 🙂

Deck used: Melanie Eclaire’s Flower Spirit Cards.

This deck was one of the first oracle decks I’ve ever received and I hated using it because the cards are in a box that’s too small, they’re really bendy, the names of the plants aren’t written on them, and the book that explains everything is glued to the box that it comes in. I thought they might be nice to try for a change though 🙂

Happy Readings 💛💛

-Madame Starbeam

Fill Your Cup Friday

On By HeatherIn Fill Your CupLeave a comment

I thought it might be kind of cool to start a trend of what I’m doing in preparation for the weekend to help ‘fill my cup’. By this, I mean giving myself energy, replenishing my will to live, and just generally making myself feel more human. The old saying ‘you can’t pour from an empty cup’ makes a hell of a lot of sense to me, but learning ways to fill my cup has not come so easily.

I struggle with depression and anxiety (doesn’t everyone though?), and I find when I’m really, really down, it’s hard to pull myself back up to normal. It’s a bit like I’m drowning, and I need some kind of life jacket or something just to get to baseline- to break the surface of the water. I’m not talking about flying through the sky in happiness here- that’s expecting way too much at those kinds of moments. I’m just talking about feeling like I can brush my teeth, feed myself, go to work. Usual things.

So, in an attempt to help myself learn more about what makes me feel happy and fulfilled and what ‘fills my cup’, I want to do something once a week to feel like I’m more myself. I’m going to post it on Fridays because it has good alliteration, and I’m a sucker for good alliteration.

SO. Today? I lay in bed for about an hour with a silly game on my phone and my dog. I drifted in and out of sleep, and I just enjoyed the cosiness of it. The sun way streaming in through the window and I felt like I was a little lizard on a rock. It was good.

How do you fill your cup?

Happy cup-filling

-Madame Starbeam