I'm really enjoying journaling lately because it allows me to have space in my mind to reflect on things that's going on in my life. This is one of the prompts that I wanted to really spend time thinking about, and fortunately I had some spare hours today to sit down and pour my thoughts out. 💖 And so I got my handy dandy Kindle Scribe and wrote it away! ✏️✨

The full moon, which is the peak phase of the lunar cycle, symbolizes an outpour of energy and celebration for the wins that we have achieved so far. It is an ideal time also to reflect on the direction we want to pursue for the rest of this cycle. The spread that I did for this reading is different from the ones that I have done in the past. For this one, it is a six-card spread that complements with the full moon phase. 🌕✨

The first card represents what is being illuminated in my life right now. I got the Nine of Pentacles. Pentacles symbolize the tools and resources we possess, such as money, time, and connections. For this card, I see a confident woman surrounded by pentacles. The full moon phase and its energy seem to convey a message that I already have all the resources that I need at this moment. This actually aligns with some of my recent readings, making me realize that hey, there a lot of good stuff that are within my reach right now, and all I have to do is go and get 'em and use them for their purpose.

The second card I got is The Chariot, which represents what I am ready to release. This card highlights the habits, emotions, or situations that no longer serve me. This card always represented freedom and my thirst of adventure for greener pastures in places faraway. This actually compliments the first card. Why go to other places when all you need are already here in front of you? 😉I think I need more time to reflect on this message.😅

The third card represents what I have manifested. This card reflects the results of my efforts and what I have brought into reality. And the card is the Six of Pentacles. Just with the imagery, I immediately thought of the fact that I'm providing now the kind of life that I wanted for our pet cats -- being kittens for life! Having our female cats spayed really played a huge role. I'm always so happy to see them livin' the life! 😻Reflecting further in terms of the pentacles suit, well I manifested a lot of material things that I only dreamed of before 🎹📘🎮. And I am very thankful because of that.

The fourth card is: what truth do I need to acknowledge? This card highlights an important insight or truth that requires my attention. And I got the Ace of Wands. Wands represent skill and passion. This card is telling me that I must recognize that it is up to me; I am in control of my destiny (in a way? 😀). I have to recognize the truth that making a decision or taking action truly impacts how things flow in my life. This aligns with a lesson I learned today in an online course I took this afternoon regarding the concept of internal and external locus of control. To cultivate a growth mindset, one should possess an internal locus of control. 

The fifth card represents the energy I should embrace. and I got the Knight of Swords. I am a knight, and I possess the skills that I need to go on. I am holding one sword, which means I should approach tasks one at a time. I should avoid overthinking and concentrate on just the task at hand, pouring all my energy into it until it is completed. This card is reminding me to do things one step at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed and burned out (which tends to happen to me 😅). Breaking down tasks into smaller, manageable parts will help. Before I know it, I will be able to finish everything I need to accomplish. This is the energy I need to embrace. Lezzgo! ❤️‍🔥

The sixth card represents the next steps in my journey, and for this spread I got The Tower. I feel like the card is sending me this message that I just have to continue with pursuing my goals. "It is better to be a soldier in a garden than a gardener in a war." I can't remember where I read this quote but the message really struck a chord in me. I always had it in my mind, which also became the driving force for me to work harder.

I drew a seventh card to provide additional insight on how I can move forward, and I got the Ten of Swords. This card may be warning me not to burn out and to pace myself. I have a tendency to overexert myself and to overload my to-do list for the day, even knowing that I may not have the energy to complete everything. 😅 I often expect a lot from myself, and this card serves as a precaution to avoid that, allowing me to preserve my mental health. This is a reminder that, as much as I want to motivate myself to accomplish many things and improve, I must prioritize my mental health. I need to learn how to pace my tasks and always leave room to breathe to avoid shutting down and experiencing burnout. This is a very valuable reminder, and I will strive to do this. 🙏

TLDR; I need to recognize that there are many things within my reach that are useful, so I don't really need to go anywhere. I have already accomplished many things over the years, and a lot of what I once dreamed of is now a reality. I must acknowledge that I have control on how things flow in my life. There is power in the decisions I make regarding how my life unfolds. I just need to pace myself, take things one step at a time, and continue moving in the direction of self-improvement while keeping my eyes on the goal. ✨

Happy full moon in Gemini! 🌕

After my latest local trip, I wanted to relax and recharge myself and so I booked an appointment at Nuat Thai during the first weekend after coming back from the trip. Also I got this idea from my latest moon reading. I'm not really a "massage person" so this was a new experience for me to do this. 🙂 I chose their Premium Massage + Ventosa package. It was also my first time to experience Ventosa massage (those with suction cups). Since I really don't do massages regularly (and most of them I had in Lasema), I was feeling excited on how this would go.

The first thing I noticed was that the rooms were dimly lit to create a relaxing environment, and there were curtains for privacy. However, I quickly realized that I could hear the other customers beside me. At first, I found it a bit odd, especially since the customer next to me was male, and I could hear the small comments exchanged between him and his masseur. While I was not uncomfortable, I did find it a bit strange. I would think that they would separate the males and females in the massage area, which is what is being done in Lasema, by the way.

During the start of the massage, I didn't right away catch the question that my therapist was asking me. She was inquiring about my preferred massage level, which can be light, moderate, or hard. I chose moderate because I was unsure. It is common practice to communicate with your therapist if you want lighter or harder strokes, but perhaps the introvert in me took over. s😅 There were parts that felt a bit painful but tolerable, so I let them be. This was especially true when my massage therapist was massaging my calves. I just bore with the pain because with what I recall with foam rolling, if the massage feels painful, it means that the muscles are tight. Experiencing that pain is actually beneficial, according to the foam roller instructors I watched online, as it helps to loosen the muscles and improve overall well-being. That was my mindset, which is why I didn't comment on the massage pressure. 😆 I remained silent for most of the massage process.

The Ventosa cup massage was also an interesting experience. I felt the cups sucking my muscle and felt the pressure during the first several seconds, then after a while I didn't feel anything anymore. When I got home, I actually checked and saw that I did have circular marks on my back. 

My therapist placed warm cloth on your shoulders and lower back when I rolled on to my back, which I found to be very relaxing. After the massage, I was given ginger tea, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I felt renewed and energized again!

Because of this experience, I now recommend doing this -- after a trip, go get a massage! Travel fatigue is real and so this is your way of pampering and reenergizing yourself. I would be interested to return to Nuat Thai, given that they handed me a loyalty card wherein I can get a discount after a number of visits.

I am glad I jumped on the gun and went to a massage! 

The new moon for this month happened in the Sagittarius constellation, which was perfect as it is my star sign and this phase happened on the first day of the month. The new moon phase symbolizes new beginnings and self-reflection, which aligns well with the things I wanted to give focus on during this time. I am now writing this in retrospect, and during this period I was actually in a trip with friends wherein I really took the time to let go of all my responsibilities (grateful I have work that allows me to do this 🙏✨) so I really had the time to do some reflections while listening to the sounds of nature (the wind, the rush of the ocean waves, the tweets of birds 💖). 

Aside from those moments of self-reflections, I also got to experience a lot of new things through the adventures that we did during the trip. We did a lot of exploring, walking, and eating! I exchanged good energy with my friends and also with strangers during this trip.

I also was able to honor my physical body (especially my knees, that were able to endure all the walks, swimming, and climbing those stairs to the waterfalls😅). I am thankful that my body allowed me to enjoy those experiences. I was able to insert in my schedule a body massage (which was my first time to do it my own in a new place). It was my way of honoring my body for being strong throughout the trip. Although I have to admit I needed several days to recover (and as of this writing I am still recovering physically and mentally), I'm listening to what my body is feeling. I believe these were what the new moon taught to me.

I did my new moon spread during the first night of our trip. Good thing we had separate rooms for that night, because it would have been awkward for me to do the spread while they were there in the room. 😅

For this reading, I was still using the same spread that I have been using for my previous readings. Here's what the cards had to say.

The Problem is represented by the Four of Wands. The wand suit describes all the special talents and abilities that a person possesses. This is presented as a problem for me because I am experiencing a lot of guilt and self-doubt regarding my value in this world. And it was true, going into this trip, I felt like I was going into some kind of existential crisis. I feel as though I was not contributing enough to make a difference in this world.

The Root Cause is The Chariot. I interpreted this as my tendency to always chase after success. Because I am not satisfied with my current achievements, the thirst for recognition and awards just feels deeper and stronger. Because of this, I feel restless most of the time, and this fuels the problem, which is the self-doubt that I always carried with me.

The Contributing Factor is The Two of Swords. This card represents a feeling of being stuck in my comfort zone and feeling left behind compared to my peers. The Other Supporting Card is the Two of Wands.  I'm feeling a lack of self-motivation to take action, and I have many hesitations about pursuing the things I truly want to do in order to achieve some of the long-term goals I have been targeting for the last several years. 😔

The Solution is represented by the Eight of Wands. I need to make a concerted effort to upscale myself and find a mentor who can motivate me. This mentor should be someone who is already in the position I aspire to reach, allowing me to learn from their experience as I work towards my goals in life. Another Solution Card is the Ace of Wands. It is noteworthy that both solution cards belong to the Wands suit, indicating that I am already aware of my passion and what actions to take. I simply need to convert my ideas into action and seek opportunities to utilize them effectively, not only for my benefit but also for the benefit of others.

The Obstacle card is the Page of Swords, which represents perseverance and resilience. I must confront my inner struggle in being consistent with my actions that align with my goals. I need to  practice self-compassion during these times. I want to continue reinventing my system to discover which process works for me as I continue progressing in the right direction towards my goals.

The Outcome is The Sun. I don't need to fret because I will be able to see the difference I am making, and will make, in this world. Things will unfold in the best way possible. I do not need to worry about it; I just have to focus on doing my best each and every day.

The Future is represented by the Four of Swords. This signifies that I will be able to move forward with strength and dignity, pursuing all the goals I aspire to achieve. I will succeed not only for myself but also for others and for the community as a whole.

How others perceive this struggle is represented by the Page of Swords (which is a repeat card, because I was using a digital Tarot deck during the reading). This card represents the ongoing obstacles that I am facing. People recognize my struggles and come to help me in various ways that might be obvious or not to me. This actually aligns with my previous readings, serving as a reminder that there are individuals willing to help me, so I do not have to have this mindset that I need to face these challenges alone. I must acknowledge and recognize that there are friends, mentors, and colleagues who are capable and willing to help me. I have to remind myself of that.

I feel like my recent readings surround this theme. Maybe I really need repetition because there are lessons that I'm still not learning. I'm all ears, Universe. 🦻