littlerabbittarot

[littlerabbittarot]

Going at Your Own Pace & Appreciating the Process — Wisdom from the Knight of Pentacles

When you think of a “knight”, you may think of a head-strong, quick on their feet, expert fighter. One always up for the challenge and who lives life on the edge. And certainly the knights of tarot echo that sentiment. The knights of swords and wands really exemplify that image of one who races to the finish line without a second thought, with the ‘Knight of Cups’ not far behind. All of them filled with energy and ready to tackle their task.

I love all of the knights from tarot, but if I had to rank them, my #1 would easily be the ‘Knight of Pentacles’. Reliable, sturdy, resilient, resourceful, and patient —this knight trails behind the others in the race, but there is a lot we can learn from this master rider.

I may be biased when it comes to the ‘Knight of Pentacles’, as this card often likes to pop up in my readings for myself. As someone who struggles greatly with anxiety and stress, I feel like it’s almost ironic to get this card, one of calm and focused determination, compared to say, the ‘Nine of Swords’, a card of literal nightmares. I’m one who panics first, thinks logically later. So to have a card that is effectively the opposite of myself stalk me from one reading to another is both amusing to me, but also wildly comforting.

When you live your life so full of panic, it can be easy to jump from tunnel vision terror to wide lens overwhelm in the blink of an eye. That’s when the ‘Knight of Pentacles’ appears with just one word for me: Breathe. Suddenly I’m just staring at this one card, and the world falls into place around me. I float down from my mental thunderstorm and am sitting in my chair, at my desk, in my home. I feel my shoulders automatically relax, tension fading, jaw unclenched, as I take in my immediate surroundings. Not the mental stress of the situation, this isn’t Swords we’re dealing with, but my physical presence. The cool air of the AC or the warmth of my clothes. Birds singing or cars driving by. The burning of a candle or the scent of fresh flowers. This card gives me a chance to settle down, catch my breath, and take a step back from the situation at hand.

The ‘Knight of Pentacles’ is the epitome of the Tortoise and the Hare. The slowest knight, but by no means the least capable. They have a wisdom about them that the others lack — the understanding of patience and mindfulness. This knight knows that rushing to a conclusion can cause distress and trouble, and that by taking the time to analyze not just where you’re going, but also where you are is important. This knight isn’t just looking ahead, but taking in the lessons of the past that brought you to this point.

Taking the time to check in with your present self is something we often forget to do. In the busy world of today, it’s always a to-do list for the future. The ‘Knight of Pentacles’ asks you to put that list aside for a moment. Where are you? What’s around you? What are you doing right now? How are you feeling right now?

If things are unwell, the knight asks for you be aware of those things first. If you are overly stressed, take a pause and go through things one at a time. Organize thoughtfully and strategically. The more you plan now, the less you’ll have to frantically figure things out later. If you’re anxious, look into what is causing that anxiety. What can you address about it now that can leave you calm for later? (Perhaps check my journaling prompt for anxiety.) Maybe you’re hungry? Or thirsty? Or need a nap? Our body tries to send us signs when we have needs, but being able to identify what those signs are can be a skill in and of itself. Learn what your signs are.

If the work you’re doing is overwhelming or unfulfilling, perhaps you are just wanting to reach the results or get things over with, the ‘Knight of Pentacles’ asks to really look into the process. Take each step as it comes. What are you learning? (Positive, negative, and neutral.) What are you experiencing? What is going on around you as you work? What can bring you more into focus on your tasks? (It can be a mindset, or something physical, like music, art, etc.) The ‘Knight of Pentacles’ is never about rushing through a job, but rather, appreciating it for what it is. This isn’t to say to ignore your needs. Like I said above, checking in with yourself is important, but there can certainly be times where satisfaction can be found. Or if not, plan ahead, what can be changed to make things more worthwhile?

Of course, I’d be remiss to not mention the shadow side of this card. One of laziness, procrastination, and apathy. Where you indulge yourself too much in the suspension of time. Responsibility takes a backseat to lounging around doing trifle nothings. Where life has lost purpose and meaning, and the days all blur together.

There is a time and place for action. Taking time to care for yourself does not mean everything comes to a halt. At some point, decisions must be made, things must be done. The ‘Knight of Pentacles’ is not a card frozen in time, but of slow, gradual, and methodical movement. Be mindful not to get lost in the haze of idling around too long. The tortoise does eventually beat the hare, after all.

The ‘Knight of Pentacles’ tells us that there is always time if we make the time, and often making that time is more important, both for our immediate needs, but also long term health, than prioritizing something else. There is no shame in taking a break or pause, even if only for a few minutes. I have found that the world as a whole can often be forgiving, but it’s ourselves most of all that struggle to forgive the most. You are not bad for resting. You are not wrong for taking care of your needs. This knight is here beside you to remind you of that.

What is your perspective on ‘Knight of Pentacles’? How do you identify with this card?

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Thank you for reading! I hope to continue to blog about tarot, mental health, and similar topics. Feel free to follow, or support me on Ko-Fi.

-LR🐇

[littlerabbittarot]

Finding Gratitude From a Difficult Year

This was probably the hardest year of my life, for a multitude of reasons. As the spiral of “The Year of Covid” continues, starting in 2020, each following year seems to want to outdo the last.

A lot changed for me this year: moving across the state, financial insecurity, deep bouts of depression and anxiety, hurricanes, and health scares. But this year came with more than just the bad, and no matter how your year has gone, I think it is important to not just acknowledge the pain and hardships you lived through, but recognize that you lived through them. We made it out the other side. And while we may still be dragging our feet or clawing our way through the mud, we can take this moment to pause in our efforts, and look behind to our tracks.

As 2024 is coming to a close, I want to reflect on this year. I want to try to embrace the pride of my strength to still be here. And if you have the time, I’d like you to join me.

While I will be using tarot cards, with a focus on myself in the reading, I urge you to take the questions from this spread and personalize them for yourself and your own situation. No deck is required. You are also welcome to take anything from my own reflections if they resonate with you. For privacy sake, I will be speaking more generally.

This spread comes from my yearly planner, which you can find here.

Deck: Rider Waite Smith Pocket Edition

How has this year changed you? — 3 of Swords

I was forced to face a lot of emotional hardships this year from circumstances outside of my control. The results of which caused many instances of spiraling thoughts leading to anxiety and panic attacks. I’ve had to sit with unknown after unknown and learn how to cope with the pain and fear that came with it. Looming clouds that blocked my sight caused me to imagine my worst fears for what may lie behind them.

This year has definitely pushed me beyond limits I thought possible, but clearly showed me that I can make it out the other side. I think if anything, this year has made me stronger in so many ways. In taking care of myself, in setting boundaries, in minding my health, and in growing my compassion. I think I am much more loving, patient, and forgiving now than I ever have been.

Certainly be kind to those around you, you never know what others might be going through.

What is something you have learned about yourself from this past year? — The Moon

Knowing this year was going to be especially difficult, though I of course could not predict how difficult, I knew shadow work would play a part. What I did not expect was just how much I would be relying on that avenue of exploration. 

I purposely dug deep to try to analyze who I am and why I am the way that I am. What were the paths that lead me to this exact spot? I didn’t want to shy away from the dark because I wanted to learn how to stop struggling. The past gives so many answers to the present, and in illuminating those darker parts of yourself, you start to shed light for those questions you harbor.

I’ve learned there is so much more to me that what sits on the surface. I sought out the sources of so many fears, anger, and hurt. In doing so, I’ve learned to give myself the grace I’ve always needed but never felt deserved. I’ve learned to forgive myself, most importantly. The young inner child me that didn’t know any better, and the adult me whose unfair judgement laid upon them. I’ve learned that I do the best I can given the circumstances around me and for where I am on my journey at the time. That growth is never-ending, and because of that, to accept myself in where I was then and where I am now.

What is something you should be proud of yourself from this year? — 10 of Cups

My greater ability to see light at the end of the tunnel. While I may never have my perfect happy ending, the fact that I see more chances for good and have more hope than at the start of this year is a sure sign of growth and healing. I’m more able to now see and want to look for the positive sides of things — not dismissing my fears, but showing myself that there are other possibilities. Nothing is set in stone.

I will dip into the darkness again, I will cycle through and have more ‘3 of Swords’ times in my life, but more than ever now, I know that a ‘4’ comes after the ‘3’, and a ‘5’, ‘6’, etc. The journey does not stop there, the story continues, and I’d like to see how it unfolds.

How has this year treated you? What lessons have you learned that you can take with you into this upcoming new year?

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Thank you for reading! I hope to continue to blog about tarot, mental health, and similar topics. Feel free to follow, or support me on Ko-Fi.

-LR🐇

[littlerabbittarot]

When You’re a Quart Low, You May Need to Journal

When emotions get high and thoughts are hard to control, that’s how I know it’s been too long since I’ve journaled.

It’s funny that it has taken me a while to notice this is something that happens at all. As I’ve grown more and more in practicing mindfulness, you start to pick up on things you didn’t realize before. Being present isn’t just a state of awareness of what is going on around you, but also why. 

Tools like tarot have aided me a lot in my journaling journey, and made it much easier and approachable for me to jot down my thoughts and let my emotions out on the page. Of course, the health benefits of journaling cannot be, in my opinion, understated, so naturally the times when I journal are the times where I feel I am at my best, even if those times are difficult. Journaling gives me a place to vent, to plan, to organize. And gradually, those effects can be felt, giving me strength.

Likewise, when I lax in my journaling, losing out on those meditative moments that I give to myself to ponder and heal, that toxicity begins to build up. Like a messy room full of clutter, the mind starts to reek with junk thoughts and anxiety buzzing like flies you cannot swat away.

As someone who did have a habit of journaling every day for some time, I began to take the benefits for granted, and eventually journaled less and less. While I’ve discussed why I don’t journal every day anymore, which I still stand by for me personally, it’s clear that I would still benefit from more regular occasions. Once about a month or two pass without me really sitting down and meditating with my thoughts more methodically than just letting them drift by, that’s when I start to feel unwell and more easily agitated.

I take being able to recognize that as a win, however, and am grateful for the years of journaling I have done to learn myself well enough to catch this when it happens. Similar to ‘Spoon Theory’, understanding that you only have so much energy (spoons) in a day to give to tasks, or as my mom would say when her kids (and now grandkids) start to get hangry: You’re a quart low — practicing being aware of these moments of anger, upsetness, etc., can help you take action to address things sooner and more efficiently. Am I more easily upsettable than usual? Would I normally be so agitated about this thing? Maybe I should [eat, sleep, shower, or — journal]. ;)

And so, journal I did! Wanting to use a more gentler deck to ease back into things, I was immediately drawn to ‘Great Eastern Oracle’ by Rassouli. After shuffling the cards, what I pulled was exactly what I needed to hear.

“Re-create yourself: Feel the thrill of the ride.” Such wonderfully powerful words with an equally beautiful artwork to accompany it. Almost as if the figure was offering up this creation to themselves, holding it up with pride, like saying, “Look at who I am. Look what I can create. Look at who I can be.”

The guidebook also had words that hit especially strongly for me: “You are the creator of change in your life, because you can choose the direction and actions you take.”

Something I always try to incorporate into my practice, be it readings for myself or for any querents, is to make one feel empowered. I want to feel capable of action, of change, of strength. And what could be more empowering than the message of you holding all the power? Circumstances will always be what they are, but how you respond and react to them is ultimately something you control. And to hear the message of being able to create change in my life filled me with such energy and hope.

I can be a bit stubborn at times when it comes to learning lessons, so hopefully with enough iterations of me realizing how beneficial and useful it is to journal more than once a month will kick in eventually, haha. But maybe me writing this all out here will serve as a reminder to you as well. Perhaps this is an opportunity for you to journal too.

How do you feel after you’ve journaled your thoughts? In what ways have you found journaling helpful for you?

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Thank you for reading! I hope to continue to blog about tarot, mental health, and similar topics. Feel free to follow, or support me on Ko-Fi.

-LR🐇

[littlerabbittarot]

Working with ‘Tarot of the Witch’s Garden’ for a Week + Deck Review

As a new deck in my collection, ‘Tarot of the Witch’s Garden’ is a beautiful deck with gorgeous imagery and symbolism. I thought this would be a wonderful opportunity to dive deeply with it specifically, and spend one week exploring with it and the messages it has to share. (I debated a month, but that seemed like it’d make for a long post! Let me know if you’d like a month long deep dive in the future though, haha. Maybe I’ll make a video for it instead.)

As this post is more about my personal exploration and being honest and vulnerable, please be kind in the comments. I am not seeking outside advice, just discussing my experience with this deck.

Note that this post was inspired by Katey Flowers’ series on YouTube “Keep or Cull”, which you can watch here.

Day 1

Starting off with a one-card gratitude pull, I thought it could be a nice gentle way to get into this deck. What is something I can be grateful for? ‘The Five of Wands’ was an interesting pull, I must say.

It took me a moment of sitting with this imagery, and not just thinking in terms of the basic meanings of the card. Little birds fighting over breakfast at the break of dawn, with the worms squirming to wiggle free. This is definitely reminiscent to how I’ve viewed things in the past with my online life. All a fight for attention, a competition for success. Over the many years of being online, making friends, and the various experiences I’ve had in life, I’ve grown more appreciative of the collaborative process of society. Friendly competition is all fun and games, but when it becomes a fight for survival, that’s a step too far. I certainly had bitter attitudes towards my peers who I viewed as my rivals. It was an unhealthy mental state to be in, and the toxicity did not aid me in life, nor make me feel any better about myself. The negativity I had was palpable in the people around me, which made the relationships around me suffer. Gradually turning in a more positive direction echoed in those around me, and I began to become an image of inspiration to others, and be seen in a more fruitful light.

The ‘little’ (certainly an understatement, the book is quite big, haha) white book that came with this deck discusses this card thusly: “The Five of Wands indicates the moment a crowd is whipped up in frenzy. Drama is unfolding. Will it draw you in and distract intended focus or point you in a new direction? Are others feeding personal energy in a positive way? […] Current energy has the potential to distract or inspire. Make choices accordingly. It is possible to participate or walk away.”

I liked the use of the word ‘feeding’ with one’s personal energy, as the birds are feasting on the worms. What aspect of our lives are we growing by giving our time and energy toward it, and is it worth it?

I suppose as a summary: I am grateful for the mental progress I have made to look at my peers and friends as inspiration, rather than eyeing them down with envy. It was a long and arduous process, and not a straight path. I veered off course many times. I’m not perfect, of course, but I’ve made big strides in focusing more on myself, my goals, and how I can work together with others, rather than against. I can root for those who find their share, or give some of my winnings to others. I found it made things much easier to enjoy the ride of life than wallow in the self-pity of my lack of success. 

Day 3

I wasn’t quite sure what spread to use for today, but I had come across someone discussing their results of using owlandbonestarot’s recently shared ‘Tarot Spread for Lammas’. I had only just recently heard of this holiday, and loved the idea of it. As the seasons change, you take a moment to celebrate the profit from what you’ve harvested. (‘Profit’ historically meaning grain, but of course, nowadays can apply to much more.)

Source: owlandbonestarot Instagram

I thought it was fitting with my previous gratitude single card pull, which was what made me pick it.

What is ready to harvest? — Four of Swords

I felt this instantly. I have been taking things slow and resting a lot this year, and I have felt my energy building up because of it. Taking breaks and pauses in life and activities can be normal and healthy, but I’ve definitely reached a point where I’m ready to dive back in to my hobbies and passions, but now with a well rested mind and new life experiences to bring to the table.

How can I show gratitude? — Six of Pentacles

Certainly fitting! I can express my gratitude and focus my energy in helping others. Getting more involved with those around me, and sharing my newly rested and refreshed energy to those who may need it. As the saying goes, you cannot pour from an empty cup, and after refilling some of mine, I am more than ready to give some drink to others.

How can I celebrate community? — Two of Swords

I had to take a pause with this unexpected pull here, a more darker feeling card in an odd position, but my initial thoughts were how the character here reflected how I have been feeling. Isolated, closed off, wanting to stow away and hide from the world. More so in needing my space than being forced into a corner. Blindfolded by choice. The character here has their back to the wall in a quiet place, alone, which felt reminiscent to my ‘Four of Swords’ state, going into my cocoon until I felt safe and recovered. My thoughts turned to knowing that I have support, and that I am more open now to getting that support from others. That I don’t have to feel trapped or alone, that I can branch out my wings.

Looking up in the guidebook, this card states: “The witch holds two swords in a protective stance over her heart. The secret of this card is how to raise protective shields. She will not wound anyone who wishes to aid her, yet her decision must be alone. The Two of Swords marks the private contemplation of the self.” 

Which is an interesting interpretation I had not heard of or considered before. I suppose my form of celebration comes in feeling able to put down the swords, take off the blindfold, and be more open to those around me. While also being aware that there are those around me in various stages of this closed off and indecisive state, and be respectful of that. My experiences give me opportunities for growth and understanding other people, which can hopefully help them feel heard, less alone, and more able to heal.

I suppose all-in-all, this spread is about me coming more out of my shell, and exploring and embracing the people in my life, and those I come across.

Day 7

For this last day of exploring this deck, I thought it’d be fun to use one of the spreads listed in the guidebook. (Of which there are quite a few!) To go along with the running theme of change and growth, I picked the ‘Life Transitions Spread’ which states: To empower the self amidst transitional life moments.

1. What is the transition at hand? — Ace of Pentacles

New opportunities and potential for growth, is what hit me first. I thought of this venture with tarot, my blog and brand I’ve been building. Focusing more of my energy here may be fruitful for me, at the very least, for my health. Having a calmer state of mind with less stress can do wonders for the body. (And I do enjoy having all these decks and charms and what-not, adding to the vibe of my environment. :P)

As this is a witch themed deck, relating this to my tarot business just seems fitting.

2. How can I stay present? — The Moon

This one took me a second to grasp. I know this is a popular card to struggle with, and I’m no exception to that, haha. But my initial thoughts were of meditation and mindfulness — quite literally practices to keep you grounded in the present. Seeing the figure there in such a calm and quiet place, completely bare, vulnerable, but open, it feels relaxing.

The book reads: “With clarity a new possibility springs from the subconscious, as reflected in the pool. The image of the card offers dual dimensionality because the moon is a reflection of sunlight. It shows us what is possible through the subtle, the subconscious. The Moon allows us to embrace the sticky, prickly, fearful unknown leading to greater understanding. Once we become familiar with what terrifies us, we can integrate it into our life.”

Letting more of my subconscious come to the surface may be another key aspect here. Being still, letting the ripples settle, and observe what images appear.

3. How do I practice self-care? — The Sun

Literally the first word that popped into my head: Joyfully. With child-like enthusiasm. If something relaxes, helps, or makes me happy, embrace it. Don’t let shame stop me from taking advantage of the positives I get out of something. You love what you love, so enjoy it.

4. What must be accepted? — Three of Swords

This card is just so beautiful to me. I’ve seen criticism of how this artwork depicts this card, but I for one, LOVE the drama. It’s so over the top, but it’s also so accurate to how this can feel!

But yes, there will be hardships that I’ll inevitably face. Things may not go as planned, there will be lessons to learn. That’s all just a part of the process. (And if I want to be a drama-queen about it, I may! Haha.)

5. What must I release? — The Chariot

The reigns! So wild to get this card here, it’s been stalking me lately. Definitely a sign for me to just let go and see where the horses (life) will take me. Learning to go with the flow, letting be what will be, and allowing myself to ease my grip on control and just be fluid.

Interesting how I did a charm reading the other day, and the results were almost exactly the same. Quite a bit for me to think about ;)

In Summary

Wow, what a deck. Overall, the biggest reason why I got this deck in the first place was the artwork — and it delivers. I loved the fresh feeling of the artwork, the vibrant but balanced colors, the amount of details and little touches, and uniqueness of several cards that had me viewing the original meanings in a whole new light. (This may be one of my favorite ‘Hermit’ cards I’ve seen!) Every new deck can make you feel like you learn so much more about tarot, and this one was no exception.

While I haven’t yet read the entire guidebook, what I did read, I loved! The author did a fantastic job tying in so much extra meaning and depth to the imagery. And the full color larger images lets you see more closely and helps you catch details that you otherwise might’ve missed. (As an artist myself too, the larger images were very appreciated, just so I can admire them even more, haha.) The paper too is glossy, slick, and nice quality, the text and images are very crisp.

The back of the book also contains several spells and spreads, which I thought was a fun addition! I didn’t love the courts being separated from their suits and put in their own section, but that’s not a big deal. For those new to tarot, the book has a lot of info for getting you started, I do think it’s a very beginner/first-timer friendly deck and resource.

I do have a nit-pick about the box, which for the most part is great quality and I love the magnetic closure, but the depth of the slot the cards sit in is not deep enough, and not all the cards fit flat inside and can slide about. This is my first linen card deck, which is a nice texture, but does have a bit of a bend to it, which was disappointing for a brand new deck. (I’m not sure if the card slot not being deep enough is related to the cards warping?) My particular copy is a first edition printing, which comes with the mis-print of the Justice and World cards being switched, but that’s not a big deal.

Thus far though, it’s been an amazing experience. This is such a kind feeling deck to me, one that encourages, amazes, and inspires, and I’m looking forward to what all I can learn from it next.

I hope you enjoyed my little adventure with this deck! No doubt you’ll see these cards pop up again in future posts. ;)

Have you used this deck before? How do you feel about it?

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Thank you for reading! I hope to continue to blog about tarot, mental health, and similar topics. Feel free to follow, or support me on Ko-Fi.

-LR🐇

[littlerabbittarot]

Using Divination Tools to Practice Mindfulness With Decision-Making

Pendulums, coins, dice, or even cards don’t have to be used for just divination, they can also help you explore your subconscious. If you struggle to understand your thinking, find a hard time making decisions, or knowing what you feel about a situation, this can be an excellent way to give you those answers.

Using these tools can help you understand more how you feel instinctually about a situation, if the surface feels murky. This works by using these tools to present you with an answer, and being mindful of your immediate response to that answer.

I use this technique all the time with coins. Think “heads vs tails” when making a decision. Do I go to Restaurant A or B? If it lands on heads, you go to Restaurant A. And likewise, if it lands on tails, you go to B. The coin lands on heads. You will have a visceral reaction that you cannot control. Do you suddenly feel exhilarated or excited? Do you feel your mouth watering? Do you automatically get a smile on your face? Or the opposite — perhaps you feel some begrudging feelings, disappointment?

This is how I use coin flips. If I feel stuck between two choices (or use dice, cards, etc. for a larger list of choices), I don’t go with the result of the coin flip, I go with my reaction to the result.

You can use this with small day-to-day decisions, or bigger ones that have more life impact. Using this method can give you a better understanding of what direction it is you actually prefer, and can be a great way to help train yourself in paying more attention to your mind and body to understand more your preferences and way of thinking.

This isn’t always cut and dry, however. There are definitely times where I weigh my decisions, and regardless of the result, I still feel in between. But I have some methods to still help there.

Try again with whatever tool you are using, or purposely force the opposite/different result, then gauge how you feel once more.

If weighing multiple options, do two at a time and gradually narrow things down.

Journal (or ideally free-write, where you write without thinking and just let words pour on the page) your thoughts after you get your result.

Discuss the options with others for their input, then try again with your tool of choice. Don’t let someone completely convince you of one way or the other, but be open-minded to the outside input and alternate perspective. Especially if the matter is personal, our judgment could get clouded.

Likewise with the above, discuss the results and your feelings with your therapist or professional, who may be able to additionally guide you to finding the answer.

If all is truly equal, and the decision is rather insubstantial (like my restaurant example), you can journal your thoughts after you’ve followed through with whichever choice, and see how you feel about it then. Compare it to a hypothetical of you choosing the other option, really visualize it. You’ll have a better understanding of your preferences going forward.

It’s a fun way to engage with these tools while also giving you another method of getting to know yourself.

Have you used divination tools this way? How has the result been for you?

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Thank you for reading! I hope to continue to blog about tarot, mental health, and similar topics. Feel free to follow, or support me on Ko-Fi.

-LR🐇

[littlerabbittarot]

How to Read Tarot for Your LGBTQ+ Clients

Edit: I will add that this article is based off my own experiences, from what I've read/heard from other's experiences, and what I've seen from beginner or inexperienced readers. This doesn't apply to every reader, everyone's style is different. As I stated, this is not an end-all-be-all to this discussion, and if you have more to add, please do so!

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I know what you may be thinking: “Oh no, the Queen of Swords came up, but my client is trans masc!” or, “My client is non-binary, but my Lenormand deck only has the standard depictions of the man and woman cards!” or even, “I’m reading for a gay couple, and my Lovers card is a het couple!”

Take a deep breath.

If we had all the money and resources in the world, we would all have decks for everyone to feel represented in. But unfortunately, most of us have to deal with a variety of limitations where that isn’t possible. And that can make things awkward or uncomfortable, for the reader and the client! But with those limitations, we still have the opportunity to make readings inclusive, and your client feel welcomed.

While I am a member of the queer community, do note that I am but one voice of countless others. My experiences and beliefs don’t represent everyone’s, and there is always more to learn, even for me — nevertheless hopefully I can give you a start on how to navigate this issue.

Many of my decks are non-inclusive in some fashion. Using labels like “queen” or “king”, having clear gender representations of only the binary, are all young and beautiful, all white, all able-bodied, etc. As I work to build up my library of options to fit my variety of clients, I strive to give the best I can with what I have. How do I do that? With an alteration of mindset, use of language, and my specificity to match the client I am working with. It takes practice, but I promise it is practice that will pay off. 

To start with, let’s focus on gender. As we know, it’s a spectrum, and varies across cultures. What is considered a ‘man’ or ‘manly’ in Mexico may differ quite a bit from India or Benin. It’s important to start becoming flexible with how you view gender, including terms like “queen/king” in tarot, “man/woman” in Lenormand, etc. And instead, consider switching your mindset to “queen/woman” = “feminine”, and “king/man” = masculine. All of us have some traits stereotypically associated with the feminine — patience, nurturing, empathy; and the masculine — resilience, courage, leadership. Even more so, we know there are overlaps between the two. Someone can have a courageous feminine nature, or a nurturing masculine one. And the impressions we get on those terms can vary culture to culture, person to person. (Which is why tarot is so interesting, you can bring your own uniqueness to your readings!)

The issue comes when, in readings, we associate the gender represented on the cards as the gender of the client, or the gender of someone the client knows, when instead, we could view those genders as more abstract representations of ideas or vibes. Perhaps the client is a trans man who needs to open up to his feminine side? Perhaps the client is a bi woman who shouldn’t be afraid to dress in her desired masculine way? Maybe the client is agender, but needs the boost of courage to still use he/him pronouns? If the reading is addressing another person, maybe “The Empress” isn’t representing a woman in the client’s life, but someone feminine, or who is more in touch with their feminine side?

There is so much variety that could be had once we release the original strict representations and meanings of these cards. Opening the door to these possibilities gives us a chance as readers to explore what these terms all mean for us, and help us better relate to our clients. Especially when these terms can be uncomfortable for some — perhaps the client is a trans woman, and is triggered when seeing a king appear in in the reading as a card that represents her — we can use this knowledge to assuage those fears, and properly help our clients get the answers they need, without the weight of the gender binary (or whatever it may be) attached to it. That king could just be a stand in for leadership, and maybe she is meant to take on a more authoritative role at work. Authority isn’t gendered.

Something I’ve worked into my own practice, and have noticed conversations to go much smoother from it, is that I refer to every card, no matter the gender represented on it, as “they”. I found it can ease up any tension a client may have upon seeing a gendered card. If a queer couple has heteronormative cards come up, I can assist them in being able to view themselves in these cards, and help them understand how the concepts apply to them specifically. It can be a nice way to more quickly lift the label and turn the cards into something more neutral.

Of course, being up-front with your clients, letting them know that while you don’t have an inclusive deck, but that you do read inclusively, can help a lot with easing the tension and discomfort they may have. (And if you do have the option to use a more inclusive deck, you can offer them the choice as well!) Communication with your clients is important, and can let them know they are welcomed and cared for.

And lastly, keep having these discussions! I learn a lot from these conversations; it helps me grow my practice into something more open for everyone.

What about your practice? What advice would you give to those seeking to make their clients more comfortable with their readings?

— 

Thank you for reading! I hope to continue to blog about tarot, mental health, and similar topics. Feel free to follow, or support me on Ko-Fi.

-LR🐇

[littlerabbittarot]

Hello There, I'm LittleRabbitTarot 🐇

Hi, I'm Little Rabbit, or LR for short. I've been passionate about tarot for over a decade and love how much of an impact it can have on one's life. Mental health has always been an important topic for me, so being able to use tools like tarot has been such a gift for me. One I'd love to share.

I do believe that there is much to gain from activities like tarot card reading. Using a prompts to meditate on, spur new thoughts and ideas you hadn't considered, and challenge you to face your fears. Tarot can be a powerful tool, and I'd like to use this blog as a way to explore it, my journey, and share any advice or wisdom. 

We're each on our own journey, and I try to encourage others to love, heal, and grow as they can. There will always be new avenues to explore, undiscovered joys, more depths of understanding yourself, and challenges to overcome. It won't always be easy, but I hope we can find inspiration to keep going, no matter what stage of our life we are in.

My goal is to make my readings empowering and productive. I want you to feel able to take action and overcome any stagnation or blocks. Working with your intentions or goals, I want to help organize your thoughts and perhaps open doors to ideas you hadn't considered. No matter what circumstances you're dealing with, I want you to know you have options, and that I'm here to help you.

My readings are a safe space for anyone, including the queer community (of which I am a member). Please know that you are loved. ❤

I don't ever mean to suggest working on one's mental health is easy, but I nevertheless hope my thoughts and ramblings can help inspire you to be more kind to yourself. It takes work, but day by day, little by little, we can get there. So please, if this sounds up your alley, join me. Get inspired. Let's heal and grow together.

Thank you for reading! I hope to continue to blog about tarot, mental health, and similar topics. Feel free to follow, or support me on Ko-Fi.

-LR🐇

[littlerabbittarot]

What Can You Control? — Finding Wisdom in Powerlessness

Using cards can be an excellent tool to aid you in both examining and challenging yourself to help you learn and grow. Sometimes we need to ground ourselves and remind ourselves what we can and cannot do.

In this post, we’re going over control, and learning what to let go of and find balance in our lives. (See my previous spreads: analyzing your ‘normal’, healing your inner child, or curbing your anxiety.) Feel free to read through and save it for later, or take this time to breathe, make space, get out your journal, cards, and explore.

Regardless if you follow along with your cards, I do highly recommend using a journal, one that is for your eyes only. That way, you can feel free to be as open and honest as you need to be.

Inspired by the ‘Serenity Prayer’: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference,” this spread has us challenge what we think we know.

I think an easy example we can all understand is the weather. Sometimes it rains when we need the sun, sometimes we’re wishing for even just a drop of water. We’re planning for the perfect day and a snow storm keeps you trapped indoors. None of us can control the weather, but we can control how we react to it, and how we adapt to these changes outside of our control.

Let’s walk through an example reading with this spread. If these cards spur something in you, by all means pause reading and journal your thoughts.

What can’t you control? — Nine of Swords

The cards with this spread really wanted to be literal, haha. The ‘Nine of Swords’ I feel sums what it’s like when things are out of your control — and it’s a long list! External forces can have us feeling trapped inward, full of fear and confusion. A card of sleepless nights, endless anxiety, and like the figure in the card, it seems to come from all angles.

Life will throw curveballs at you. Maybe you just lost your job and you can’t rest not knowing where the next stream of income will come from. Or your loved one has gotten hurt, and you can’t stop panicking about if they’ll be okay. Maybe you stayed up all night studying for an exam, and your body keeps twitching as you’re waiting for the results.

Sometimes it feels like it’s never-ending stress, one thing right after another. You can’t control the fact that you got fired. You can’t snap your fingers and heal your loved one. And you can’t time travel into the future to get your test results back sooner. Worry worry worry, that’s the ‘Nine of Swords’’ message. All that lack of control can be overwhelming, which can really take a toll on your mental and physical health.

What can you control? — The Sun

But there is light in the dark, and hope to be had yet. ‘The Sun’ is, at its most basic meaning, happiness. This card is all about rainbows and sunshine, well, sunshine at least. ;) With positivity, success, and joy — this card speaks quite well with what we can literally control: our thoughts and emotions.

Easier said than done, but with practice, we can learn to not only see the bright side of things, but to better appreciate them too. We have the ability to search for the good in the bad, the lessons to be learned, and our hopes for the future.

You can’t control that you got fired, but maybe this time off gives you the break you needed to mentally recover from the grind. You can’t control your loved one being hurt, but maybe this gives you both a better appreciation of each other and the time you have. You can’t control when you get your test results, but you can take this opportunity to relax and explore your hobbies to pass the time more enjoyably.

‘The Sun’ wants you to shine a light on everything, good and bad, and see the whole picture. To not sink into a depressive spiral, but to appreciate the view.

How to find peace with this knowledge? — Death

A perfect card for this, ‘Death’ asks us to let go and embrace change. As hard as change is, it can transform us into something stronger or more beautiful than we were before. Just as this figure may be collapsed on the ground, there is a glowing light at their center, suggesting that there is more to come.

‘Death’ here is not literal, but metaphorical. We cannot control everything in life, we must release that mindset, as it is no longer serving us. We must grow into the person who loves and accepts what they can control.

Again, this is a process. ‘Death’ is a process. There are waves where we will be more or less challenged, and we must ground ourselves each time with these new experiences. ‘Death’ is not easy, letting go isn’t easy, change isn’t easy, but it is something we can do. Someone we can be — someone who knows what they can and cannot control.

So go ahead, write in your journal. Take inspiration from this example reading, use your own cards, or free-write. But write!

Ask yourself: How can you remind yourself of what you can control?

— 

Thank you for reading! I hope to continue to blog about tarot, mental health, and similar topics. Feel free to follow, or support me on Ko-Fi.

-LR🐇

[littlerabbittarot]

Sale ☆ Tarot Deck Pouches

To clear out some of my stock, I'm running a sale on my deck pouches! (They can of course, be used for things other than deck storage, haha.)

Get 15% off for the rest of this month with code: PRIDE

Shop here ❤

[littlerabbittarot]

📅Get organized and focused for the year ahead, no matter the year. This planner is all about keeping in touch with yourself and finding space to breathe.

My new yearly planner is able to work with any year and be started at any time. No need to wait for January, get going now :)

While there are spreads in this planner, they are purposely written to be freely used with or without a deck.

Customize it to fit your needs. Get organized, stay focused, and be mindful.

Find it at rabbit.cards ❤

[littlerabbittarot]

A Tarot Reading for Choice Overwhelm

When many options lay at your feet, how can you know what’s the right path to take?

The ‘Seven of Cups’ speaks of opportunity, but simultaneously — limitation. Human brains are just not good when it comes to having too many choices, and if you’re staring down multiple paths or carry multiple interests, it can cause you to feel overwhelmed. Maybe you sit and fantasize about each one, stuck in a daydream. Or maybe you freeze up after feeble attempts at jumping from thing to thing, unable to make a call.

There is a lot to consider, and it’s important to not feel stuck to the point of inaction. So let’s take a moment to analyze where we’re at and where we’d like to go.

As this is a general reading, take what resonates with you and what you need to make the final call.

What you want to believe is true: The Moon

Breaking through illusions, seeing the fantasy for reality, ‘The Moon’ is a tricky card — literally. There is a lot shrouded in darkness in the night, and the moon can only illuminate so much. Sometimes those shadows can be deceiving, and what may seem like the perfect choice, in reality, that may not be the case. But if you’re caught up in the dreamland of the night, your vision only able to see so far, you might find yourself wishing that thing were true, rather than seeing it for what it really is.

Your short term thinking may be working against you. What may feel worthwhile in the moment may not be for the long term. And your goals for the long term may be clouded with biased judgement. With an active imagination, anything could be true, but that doesn’t mean that it is.

This is a time to explore more in that darkness, and not take things at face value. Perhaps wait for the sun to rise, to shed light on it. Or get a second opinion from someone not blinded by the light of The Moon.

What you know is true: Nine of Pentacles

A card of creature comforts, the ‘Nine of Pentacles’ is reaping the rewards of your labor, and celebrating yourself in your efforts. Of course, we’d love it if every choice we made lead us in this direction of satisfaction — a lovely place to call home, plenty of money to throw around, not an ounce of stress-induced back pain, haha. But we know it isn’t all rainbows and sunshine.

We need to accept that some choices may be more optimal for giving you a safer and more comfortable life. Properly planning for the long term, to make sure you’re secure. This card warns of over-indulgence. Spoiling ourselves beyond our means. If the choice you want to take costs too much (not just money, but maybe time, energy, etc.) that you can’t afford to risk right now, this may be a sign to put it on hold. That isn’t to say it’s a ‘no’, but just to really consider all of what it means to make that choice. (And of course, you can always change course later!)

Conversely, if you’ve spent all your time working, this could be a sign for you to take a break! If you’ve been deciding on taking a vacation, I’d say that time is now. If the choice you’re weighing on involves more self-pampering than you’re accustomed to, this card is giving you permission to go that direction! Taking care of yourself, diving in to a relaxing hobby (especially one that gets you in touch with your body, like yoga, or nature, like jogging or meditating outdoors, or maybe something physical with your hands, like wood carving or finger painting) is something you know to be healthy and valid decisions. (And also fun!)

This is a card that focuses on you and your needs. This is a good time to check inventory with yourself and what’s around you. How is your health? How is your environment? How do you feel about it? Make notes of the good and the bad, and be realistic, but non-judgmental. We are observing our reality and reflecting on it, not scrutinizing it. Just look at what is true.

What’s in your heart: Queen of Cups

And finally, the heart of the matter, and how fitting for the suit of cups to appear! (The suit of cups deals with emotions.) The ‘Queen of Cups’ is here to remind you that how you feel about the decisions matter as well. To be mindful of your intuition and trust your gut. If something excites you, even just a small bit more, that one may be worth exploring. 

Your emotions are just as important, you don’t want to sacrifice too much to where you spiral into depression, or neglect things that matter. 

The Queen is a leader in her own right, one that knows balance is key. Opportunity may ebb and flow like the waves at her feet, but she is undisturbed. She can calmly and cooly observe and see first how she feels before she acts. Unlike the brashness of the knights in tarot, the queens know patience, and sometimes it’s okay to go through your thoughts and feelings before finally saying, “This is it, this is the one!”

It’s okay to fantasize a little, as long as when it comes time to make the decision, you can realistically weigh your options in ways that not only are mindful of the effort involved, but also how you feel about it.

— 

Give yourself permission for five more minutes. (Or more if you can.) Take the time from reading this article, and take a deep breath in, letting it out slowly. Give yourself the space you need to journal your thoughts out. What are all of your options? Then ask yourself the questions above for each one: What do you want to believe is true about this choice? What do you know to be true? And what is in your heart?

What wisdom have you gained from previous decisions? What wisdom do you think you can gain from this one?

— 

Thank you for reading! I hope to continue to blog about tarot, mental health, and similar topics. Feel free to follow, or support me on Ko-Fi.

-LR🐇

[littlerabbittarot]

Fiction vs Reality — Curb Your Anxiety

Using cards can be an excellent tool to aid you in both examining and challenging yourself to help you learn and grow. Sometimes it’s not only important to understand where you’re coming from, but to push back against it.

In this post, we’re taking a peek at our fears and worries, and finding ways to become calm. (See my previous spreads: analyzing your ‘normal’, or healing your inner child.) Feel free to read through and save it for later, or take this time to breathe, make space, get out your journal, cards, and explore.

Regardless if you follow along with your cards, I do highly recommend using a journal, one that is for your eyes only. That way, you can feel free to be as open and honest as you need to be.

‘To spiral’ or ‘spiraling’ is the term associated with your thoughts, emotions, or actions going in an endless feedback loop of negativity, often getting worse the longer it goes on as each thing piles up on one another — and can happen in the blink of an eye! With anxiety, especially those of us with a disorder, this can be a frequent, and difficult to control occurrence.

One moment could be fairly typical of a very normal event — perhaps you need to pick up groceries. But there are some looming clouds. What if it starts to rain? What if it’s a downpour and visibility is low? What if you get into an accident? What if you need to go to the hospital? What if your insurance doesn’t pay? Etc etc. It can go on forever if you don’t find a way to stop it, and bring yourself back to reality.

Let’s walk through an example reading with this spread using the scenario I already laid out above. (So if it made you anxious, keep reading, and hopefully it will help calm you down!) If these cards spur something in you, by all means pause reading and journal your thoughts.

I thought I’d use an oracle deck this time, to make this exercise feel more approachable. Use whatever deck calls to you, or no deck at all!

Deck: Urban Crow Oracle

What is the absolute worst case result or scenario? — Upheaval

I swear I shuffle my cards, haha. But certainly this feels like a disaster waiting to happen. Perhaps that car crash is a multi-car pile up! The medical bills could be overwhelming, you may end up deep in debt that takes decades to pay off, if you ever do. Gosh, and the impact to your family, with it already being so hard to stay afloat before, how could you manage now? Your life will be turned upside down with no one to blame but you! (See how these thoughts keep building and building, growing worse and worse? But keep reading!)

What is the absolute best case result or scenario? — Direction

As the crow is bursting with light, guided by it’s knowledge that not only will the ride there be smooth and safe, with nothing but green lights getting you from your home to the store, there will be no distractions in your wake. Those looming clouds will change their course, leaving you focused on the goal at hand. Once you arrive, as you traverse each aisle, your hand will immediately reach to every item you need — and wow, it’s on sale! Everything is discounted! With that money you saved, you can easily afford that birthday gift you really wanted to get your spouse, and then some! (See how these thoughts build and build as well? To the point of absurdity. What could possibly be every fantastical thing that happens? But keep reading!)

What is the most likely & realistic result or scenario? — Freedom

And for the real deal, we have ‘Freedom’. Freedom to leave your house and drive to the grocery store. It may involve some red lights or traffic, but you’ll still get there. You are certainly ‘free’ to pick some music or a podcast to keep you entertained and relaxed. Maybe it will rain, but you have the choice to take it slow and safe. You have the freedom to pick and choose your selection of food, of course to a point within your budget. Maybe you do happen to find at least one thing on sale. And maybe you decide to pick up a pint of ice cream for dessert. (Or breakfast :P Who’s to say?) Armed with the knowledge that no matter how anxious you may feel, you have the wings to fly to another place of mind — to peace of mind. (See how mundane this was? How ‘boring’ or simple it feels? Real life is not so extreme, find a healthy spot in the middle.)

I hope you’re feeling better now ;)

So go ahead, write in your journal. Take inspiration from this example reading, use your own cards, or free-write. But write!

Ask yourself: How can you remind yourself of what’s real?

— 

Thank you for reading! I hope to continue to blog about tarot, mental health, and similar topics. Feel free to follow, or support me on Ko-Fi.

-LR🐇

[littlerabbittarot]

What We Can Learn From ‘The Devil’ — Tarot

As one of the most popularly misunderstood tarot card in pop-culture and in the general population, ‘The Devil’ card showcases a frightening image of a demonic monster (the Devil, of course, or Baphomet) looming over chained, nude and exposed human figures, with a dark black background and unsettling symbols. It’s easy to see how this card has the reputation it has.

But is this card only what we see on the surface? Or is there more going on than what we see at first glance?

Well, as you can probably assume, yes, ‘The Devil’ isn’t all that it seems. Let’s take a dive into my perspective on the card, and give it more of the love it deserves.

To start, ‘The Devil’, even among tarot readers, is more often than not, viewed as a negative card. When it pops up in a spread, oh boy is there trouble afoot.

Our vices, addictions, shame, and unhealthy habits are all out on display here. For as simple as eating that extra spoonful of ice cream when you’re working on your diet, succumbing to feverish shopping trips and buying more clothes than you can ever wear — or more complex and dark, spiraling from a lack of control over your addictions, feeling trapped and manipulated by those around you, or blinded by obsession.

Quite the powerful card, with equally powerful imagery, seeing this can feel intimidating at best, and like a punch to the gut at worst. No one likes their dark sides exposed, and ‘The Devil’ loves to bring it into the light for all to see. Just as the figures in the card are nude, so to do we feel exposed and vulnerable when this card appears.

But ‘The Devil’ is also a trickster, making you think you’re bound to their whim with no way out — but it’s an illusion. The figures in the RWS deck’s traditional imagery have an important detail, the chains around their necks are loose. At any time, they are free to release themselves from temptation, to escape back to the light, but they choose not to. It’s their choice to stay, their decision to live with their vices.

Of course, that’s a very simple way to describe it. Not every vice is so easily escapable, but I think it’s still important to acknowledge that it is possible. Perhaps the chains are loose, but heavy. Maybe they’ll take more than just one’s own strength to remove them. But don’t feel as if they can never be removed.

But…should you always want to remove them? Perhaps let’s now discuss the positives of what ‘The Devil’ brings. After all this, you may be surprised to hear me describe good things about ‘The Devil’, but I hope I can convince you that this card is more than looking at one’s shadow or attempting to have hope. I, instead, want you to be able to embrace your shadow, put hope aside, live in the moment, and find joy and pleasure with what ‘The Devil’ has to teach us. ;)

We all have our guilty pleasures. That movie you love to hate. Having a random fling or doing something new in the bedroom. (This card can be quite sexual! It’s all about humans in our raw form.) There are times and places where it can be enjoyable — if not exhilarating — to dip your toes into the taboo. Playing hard to get or living life on the edge. Booking a flight to a country on a whim where you had never been, or never even considered going to, all because you can. The thrill of adventure. Staying up late and watching a horror movie to get your heart racing.

‘The Devil’ has a lot to teach us about our shadow side. There are hardships and pain there, but also pleasure too. And always plenty to learn and grow from. It tells us to face failure without fear, to find a healthy balance, accept ourselves for who we are, feel liberated, and set boundaries in our life. While it is important to not always stay down in the dark alley of the Underworld, it’s also okay to enjoy yourself while you’re there.

While at face value, this card can seem dark and unnerving, but it actually has a lot to offer. I hope you give it more of a chance the next time it makes an appearance in a reading. ;)

How do you feel about ‘The Devil’? What do you think you can learn from it?

If you enjoyed this article, you might enjoy my discussion of ‘The Tower’, and what we can learn from the destruction it brings it its wake.

— 

Thank you for reading! I hope to continue to blog about tarot, mental health, and similar topics. Feel free to follow, or support me on Ko-Fi.

-LR🐇

[littlerabbittarot]

Why I Don’t Read Tarot Every Day

As a mental health tool, tarot can be pretty powerful. It can break us out of fixed mindsets and take us down paths we didn’t expect. It can surprise us, hurt us, hear us, and heal us. The things it says to us can be a lot to process depending on what we ask it. For how much it can do, you’d think you’d want to whip out the cards every day, no?

I used to do readings like this daily. To get familiar with the cards and their meanings, I would start or end my day with a card, and reflect on it in a journal entry. Mundane questions or ones that don’t hit deep, like ‘What should I keep in mind for today,” can often work out well enough to be done every day to a certain extent. And while learning how to read tarot, simple daily one card readings like this can be nice.

“What should I be mindful of today?”

The King of Swords encourages you to be confident of your decisions. To take your experience and understanding of things, and be assured that you have the answers already. If there are many choices to make, take a deep breath, and take things one at a time.

Gradually, however, I felt that it started to be a bit much. I had days where I wanted the readings to carry over to the next. Perhaps the King of Swords was nice on a Monday, but then I wanted extra time to practice and reflect on that advice on Tuesday too. And if I were to pull another card for more advice on that same Tuesday to keep up with every day pulls, well, then it gets to be confusing, as my focus and attention get split.

Not only that, but what about days where I do deeper readings? Reflecting on and seeking advice in relation to my shadow, or important decisions? That’s a LOT to deal with, and the results of those readings may need to sit for some time.

While tarot is certainly no replacement for therapy, it does sing a similar tune. There’s a reason you wouldn’t see your therapist every day (perhaps apart from rare exceptions). The mind needs time to digest things, to have concepts sink in and weave their way around in our brain, to be processed consciously and unconsciously. (Ever think about just the right thing to say hours after a conversation? It’s like that!)

I may go weeks without a reading, or I may have weeks of daily readings. It’s all about paying attention to my needs, being mindful of where I’m at, and asking myself if or why I need a reading. Maybe I just want to do one for fun, and not have it be anything more than that? That works too! The important thing is to not pressure myself into feeling like I have to read every day. Instead, I focus on when I want or feel I need to use the cards.

That said, you don’t always have to read for yourself, or even real people! Another good way to practice or explore with the cards is with fake clients. And I have just the resource for that. You can check out my free PDF querent practice worksheets here.

How often do you do tarot card readings? What are your favorite types of questions to ask?

— 

Thank you for reading! I hope to continue to blog about tarot, mental health, and similar topics. Feel free to follow, or support me on Ko-Fi.

-LR🐇

[littlerabbittarot]

To celebrate Pride, I made Pride themed deck pouches for tarot decks. I thought they worked up so beautifully! All of them are available for sale in my Ko-Fi shop or find the link through my website, Rabbit.cards ❤🐇

[littlerabbittarot]

Sometimes even when having a hard time, the cards give you hard messages. How do you interpret them?

Read the full story here.

Deck: Green Glyphs Tarot

[littlerabbittarot]

Which decks do you use? Tarot vs Oracle 😉 Don't make me choose! 😭