Advice of the Day: Stirring the Cauldron

#EmbraceTheMagical: Cauldron
The Ellis decK

Are you still stirring a brew you are not satisfied with?  What are you waiting for? If there is something new you'd like to try then do it! Add it to that cauldron!  The only thing stopping you is yourself.

Feeling Uninspired

I have been bored creatively.  I have a desire to be creative (to draw, paint or sculpt) but I have no ideas.  I am stuck in a very unmotivated state.  I don't have the same passion I used to...or at least I haven't found anything to be passionate about.

I thought having all this extra time for myself would give me a boost but nothing has changed.  Perhaps I'm looking at it the wrong way.  Taking time to yourself can be refreshing but moderation is key.  Am I spending too much time alone?  Maybe I need to get out more and open up to the world.

If I'm bored with my current state then why should I stay in it?  There are plenty of options out there to change things up.  Perhaps then inspiration will strike like the fourth cup in this card.  If she doesn't snap out of it quickly that cup is going to whack her right in the head!  I've got to find ways to look outside the box and get moving again.

Character Cards: Strong Hearted

Choose a character from a story you are very familiar with.  Draw a card for that character and reflect on how it might relate to the character.  

What does it say about them?

(Exercise from Tarot 101 by Kim Huggins)

Character: Luna Lovegood

Card: Three of Swords

Luna  is so quirky and positive on the outside, it might be easy to forget that she can hurt inside too.  She has been through difficult times.  She has experienced loss and heartbreak.  People tend to overlook her and she is constantly made fun of by her classmates.  She doesn't have many friends because she is so openly different.  I'm sure Luna feels lonely very often.  She doesn't show it but all those swords have got to hurt.  This girl does a good job overcoming this card.  She has a strong heart.  Despite all the negatives she manages to put on a good face.  She holds tightly to her individuality and perseveres.

Battered and Worn

I've been feeling kind of stuck recently.  I even dropped the ball on my daily draws for a few days.  There has been such a lack of energy.  Today I had to kick myself into doing something...any little thing to move forward in some way.

Tonight I decided to try some automatic writing using a tarot card for inspiration.  I drew the Ace of Swords.  It was an interesting experience writing down whatever came to mind.  I liked not worrying about what the traditional meaning was.  After rereading my finished entry I underlined parts that stood out.  The Ace of Swords can be about achieving something through mental/intellectual means.  Strategic action, to use one of the phrases that showed up in my writing.  But there needs to be a balance somewhere...and I think this card showing up is trying to tell me that I've been over-thinking.  That I have been emulating the sword suit a little too much and maybe I should tone it down.  Maybe this card is the reason I feel stuck.  Like the sword embedded in the stone.  It has fought many battles and returned victorious but it is battered and worn out.  It's about time I ease up and let things flow.

Funny that was the message I got out of this exercise.  Because isn't that what automatic writing is all about?  Don't think too much, just write whatever comes to mind no matter how silly it sounds.  I need to apply this to my day tomorrow and see what comes out of it.

Blessings In Disguise

Inspired by DailyTarotGirl's most recent post about tarot card combinations, I decided to give her exercise a try.  I chose The Moon for my Major Arcana card because it is my favorite from the Ellis decK.  My random Minor Arcana draw is the Ten of Swords.  On to the questions!

1. When I feel like the Minor Arcana card, how does that affect the part of myself that is like the Major Arcana card?
If something I worked hard on fails, I might succumb to the feeling of defeat.  Feeling that way certainly hampers ones dreams.  It would affect my openness to imagination and intuition.  It is hard to have faith in my dreams after being hit with a resounding "No".  The Moon part of myself that would appear is likely one of fear and being unsure of  myself and my vision.

2. How would the part of myself that is like the Major Arcana card deal with the life situation illustrated by the Minor Arcana card?
If I was The Moon and feeling the defeat of the Ten of Swords, I would probably look for the hidden meaning behind the situation.  Could this loss be a blessing in disguise?  There is some hope in this Ten of Swords...and with an ending there are new beginnings.

3. What does this tell you about yourself? Is it relevant to your life right now?
It brings to light that I have a tendency to be easily discouraged.  Not much of a surprise but I should be more mindful about it.  I have had no encounters with the Ten of Swords recently, but it could show its face anytime.  I will have to be prepared to overcome the loss or disappointment and soldier on.