Miss Divine, feel better! I've been battling a cold for just over a week, and am finally starting to feel better. I took a sick day from work today, just to rest up and sleep in a bit.
I think it's great to see so many of us taking advantage of the Daily Draws thread. I'm still trying to figure out what method of journaling works best for me (a blog, using an actual journal program like Penzu, or a print journal), but until I find out, the Daily Draws thread is a good spot to jot down daily cards when I pull them. Even if I write something short, it's a good routine for me to get into. Plus, it's interesting to pick up on reoccurring themes. I've said it in the past, journaling can be such a personal experience and I'm not sure if a public blog is the best option for me.
I love my Moleskine notebook, but I want the flexibility of being able to tear out pieces of paper easily. On the hunt for something else...
kalliope, thanks for the Dropbox recommendation. I use it for work, so I may set up a personal one. As much as I hate typing on my iPhone, if I'm on the go and want to post a Daily Draw with an image, I would be able to this way. I'm really trying to train myself to do those or post reflections from an actual computer. My free your mind time
.
How many of you use a handwritten journal versus a digital one (blog, computer)? I'm really drawn to keeping a handwritten one, largely due to the fact that it will force me to write in print again. But keeping a digital one is more convenient for me. Oh, the dilemma...
Alamaris, welcome back! To you and kalliope, I'm yet to post in the Study Group about the II and won't be able until late March. It's hard to do when you are busy and it takes up extra time. Right now, I'm focusing on handling my deck every day (which I have been doing), pulling daily cards or spreads when I need to. As far as documenting these, I know I need a better system (see above about my journaling quandary).
I'm having a problem with my daily draws in that they aren't pointing out anything new - they're just confirming things that I already know (which I know is supposed to be a good sign - I guess I need to ask more than, "What do I need to know?")
Maybe instead of 'reading' every day, you just draw a card to contemplate. Just examine the imagery, think about it. Daydream with it. Or maybe just look through the deck seeking common elements and contemplate those. I don't 'read' for myself every day with Thoth, that would be exhausting, plus I find daily readings don't work for me.
I don't use a position for my daily draw, and I also keep it to one card. I take this card as a message, lesson, or even a reaffirmation. I try and tell a story with the card and how it applies to me. It all depends on the card. I also may not draw a card every day, maybe every other.
Do what's best for you, but try to avoid forcing a meaning out or pulling a card or spread every day, just to do it.
I love reading everyone's posts in this thread. It's great that so many of us are really getting in touch with our Tarot roots and learning so much not only about the decks, but ourselves and our lives! The Daily Draws thread is also insightful, I check it a few times a day. So far I've managed to write up a daily draw every day, even though I don't always post them right away. Finding that "me-space" and "me-time" to shuffle, draw the card, contemplate it, and write about it is really refreshing even (especially?) on the busiest day!
I agree! I just posted about finding me time Re: Tarot and it's become a valuable part of my day. Even if it is just a few minutes.
Maybe at the end of the month I'll take a look back on the "statistics" - how many Majors, how many of each suit, how many courts, how many of each pip number - just to see if there's some overall message or underlying theme. (Also because I'm a nerd and like to make spreadsheets!
)
This is why the Daily Draw thread can be a helpful tool as a record of what I posted and what cards I pulled. But I really need to come up with a good solution off of the forum too.
Oh, this is the longest period of my Tarot life that I've stuck to one deck. A month! I made it a full month
. I really love the International Icon Tarot. It goes everywhere with me too, when I can carry it along.