Weekend Send-Off: Mysterious Creatures

This week has been a beautiful and strange one over here in Durham. Sometimes the air feels heavy with magic and wonder, and this has definitely been one of those times. Despite being a busy bee, I've been able to squeeze in plenty of time for individual tarot exploration and even came home from the library with a fresh haul of books. 

Below are a few of the things that have brought me joy this week (please share yours in the comments!), concluded with a special tarot draw to inspire our weekends. 

Tarot Discoveries - Fortune's Wheelhouse Podcast

I love listening to tarot podcasts while I bop around the house and yesterday I put on the first episode of Fortune's Wheelhouse while color coding my closet (yes, I am one of those people.) For those of you looking to dive into the esoteric meanings and correspondences behind the cards, this is the podcast for you! Touching on topics from astrology to Kabbalah to Crowley and much, much more, this podcast is hosted by two very knowledgeable readers and will give you more than enough detail behind the cards and their symbols!

Woo Drama - Pinrose's "Starter Witch Kits"

Oo wee, did people get up in arms over these on Instagram! Sephora announced the forthcoming fragrance kit - complete with a tarot deck, bundle of white sage, and rose quartz crystal - this week and let's just say it was not recieved well. (This article from The Wild Hunt gives a good rundown of the whole fiasco.) Pinrose has since cancelled the release of the kit in response to the backlash. 

Repeat Tarot Card - Judgment

I've been thinking about this card a lot lately. As the penultimate card in the Major Arcana, Judgment depicts pivotal moments, and it seems like many of us have been going through this type of experience. In particular, Judgment speaks to listening to a strong inner message, one that might be unexpected and requires us to commit to a path. Intriguing...

Listening, Reading, Watching

I've gotten back into my personal ritual of waking up before dawn and reading before the sun rises. It's my way of stretching out time and feeling connected to myself. Just this morning I started an irresistible and amazing book on octopuses (yes, that is actually the correct plural form of the word! It derives from Greek, not Latin, in case you were wondering ;) Written by naturalist Sy Montgomery, it's called The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonders of Consciousness.

And now onto our card for the weekend...

The Magician

Message: Make big plans that inspire you.

Embrace: Creativity, channeling ideas into action

Let Go Of: Ego trips, limiting thoughts

Guidance: Follow the paths that are the most alluring. Flex your artistic muscles and see how much you can do!

Grounding Techniques for Healers, Intuitives, & Highly Sensitive People

In the early days of my spiritual journey I remember going to an energy healer. I was still quite skeptical about all things woo and had a lot of resistance to the concept. During our first session, as she moved her hands over my body and checked my energetic systems, I remember staring at a wire tree hung with colored glass prisms thinking, "what on earth is going on right now?"

At the end of the session, however, she said something that profoundly changed my outlook and stated me on a rewarding exploration into energy work. And it was pretty strange. She said, "You're completely cut off from your legs. It's like they're not even there."

In all my questioning and skepticism I had to admit she had a point. I never thought about my legs. I felt like they were an immobile pedestal upon which my actual self was perched. I was taken aback. "What, those things down there?" I honestly started my concept of myself from the hips upwards. 

This started me off on a journey of reconnecting to my sense of groundedness. As someone who spends a lot of time thinking, I was clearly comfortable living in my head. But this got me into trouble. I was easily swept away by other people's ideas, feelings, and words. It was easy for me to lose myself since I had no connection to earth - my sense of actually, physically, being here.

For those of us who are drawn to all things intellectual, spiritual, and intuitive, grounding is an essential practice to add to our toolkit. It's an excellent form of self-care and, for those who work in healing professions, it's priceless when it comes to maintaining boundaries and doing our best work. 

Below are some of my favorite techniques for grounding that I've used over the years. I highly recommend them for anyone who finds themselves overwhelmed with emotions, energy, and sensory stimuli and wants to connect to their calm center.

My favorite grounding techniques for tarot and beyond:

1. Use Water

Engaging with water is a quick way to return your awareness to your body. In a stressful or stimulating moment, take a deep drink of water and notice how it feels running down your throat. Imagine it slowly percolating all the way down to your toes, cleansing you and returning you to the present. I like to keep a glass of water next to me during all my sessions so I can reset as needed and deepen my awareness. Added bonus? You'll be wonderfully hydrated.

Water can also be used after a healing session, difficult conversation, or stimulating event. This can be via a cleansing shower or bath or, more simply, washing your hands. At the end of each tarot session I like to wash my hands deliberately, picturing all the energies I've experienced being rinsed away.

I finish by making the shape of a triangle with my hands, joining the thumbs and pointer fingers of each hand around the stream of water from the faucet. I picture the water rushing up through the space around me. Whether you think of this as your aura, energetic field, or simply the air surrounding you makes no difference. It's a uniquely energizing way to clear and ground yourself before jumping back into the world. 

2. Touch some dirt!

You can ground yourself by touching the ground? Who would've thought! 

Interacting with the earth is a classic technique for a reason. It reconnects us with our physical being and the solidity of the world we inhabit. Simply make some time to walk around outside barefoot, preferably on some soft grass. Spend time gardening or tending to plants, allowing your stress to fall into the background and dissipate. 

Rocks and crystals are also excellent ways to get in touch with the ground. Carry one with you and hold it when you feel overwhelmed, overstimulated, or as if you're drifting away from your center. Imagine the stone absorbing all this energy. Afterwards you can recharge the stone by placing it outside in the sunlight or moonlight or simply on top of the ground itself. 

3. Visualize

There are many methods of using visualization to become grounded ranging from meditation to spellwork. Have fun researching them and asking around. Almost everyone has special tricks up their sleeves.

My favorite method is to visualize a stream of water exiting at the base of my spine. I picture all the energies I'm experiencing flow through me and then exit through the stream.  We often "hold our breath" energetically, allowing emotions, thoughts, and more to accumulate and build pressure. Simply turning on the tap is a surprisingly powerful way to keep yourself present and free of stress or buildup.

4. Focus on the Feet!

...and legs, and pelvis, and tailbone. You get the gist. Bringing awareness to our lower bodies is amazingly effective (take this from someone who avoided doing so for most of their early life!) 

If you find yourself drifting off, becoming stressed, or too deeply entrenched in another person's energy, think about your feet. Flex your toes, activate the muscles in your legs, and notice the points of your behind touching the chair if you're seated. I even like to kick off my shoes when I give readings.

Like the example above, it can be helpful to visualize energy entering and leaving your body from the soles of your feet. Think of the energy flowing with your breath and expand into all the corners of your body.

5. Get Moving

Think of it like shaking off excess energy. Go for a quick walk, do a little dance, or simply wave your arms and hands around as if flicking off something. 

Squats are an especially effective way to ground oneself, awakening our entire lower body and giving a satisfying sense of truly being here. And don't worry if you're unable or unwilling to do something epic. A quick gesture can be powerful as well. Imagine throwing off the energy, angst, or stress with whichever movement you choose. 

What about you? What techniques do you use to ground yourself? How have you found it useful? Please share in the comments below!

Weekly Forecast: September 3-9

This is a week full of opportunity for us if we choose to reach out and take what's being offered to us. Of course, starting with the Ace of Pentacles is a welcome beacon of potential and promise. Look at this singular, shining coin! And yet taking gifts when they're offered isn't as easy as it may seem. Many of us struggle with accepting good things. Sometimes we're afraid of the spotlight - that we look greedy or boastful - and sometimes we're afraid of growing into something bigger.

We'll be experiencing some of these tensions this week, though not in a paralyzing sense. Rather, we're in a position where we can no longer ignore the magic happening around us. We can work on editing some of these stale and limiting stories because the rewards and support in our lives are too big to ignore.

This ace is appearing to let us know that our actions to date have been accumulating a lot of goodwill and recognition, even if we've been unaware of it, lost in doubts or simply the focus of continuing along a path, one foot ahead of the other.

This is a time to examine our reflexive responses to gifts and kindness. Are we comfortable receiving attention, support, and goodwill? How adept are we at navigating the spotlight? Whether we're feeling ready for it or not, this is a moment where we can launch ourselves into a radically new phase. It's time to get going, abandon any limitations we tend to put in front of us, and let ourselves walk into ease and expansion.

Because we have two Major Arcana cards springing from the Ace of Pentacles. Both point towards expression, growth, and support. Taking a gift, gesture of support, or windfall and running with it is leading us to bigger places. 

The Hierophant lets us know that we have incredible resources to draw on. This card speaks to mentoring figures in our lives. Who in our circles or their peripheries inspires us? Who can guide us on our path and offer us sage advice as we stretch our wings? We're onto something here and reaching out to those who've been down similar roads will both add to our knowledge and help galvanize us. This week is a time to reach out and connect with the people who inspire us. 

Bringing our dreams to others is a magical way to stay accountable and dedicated to their realization. Left alone we can abandon the path and nobody would be the wiser.

And that would be a shame since The Sun, our final card, shows us walking towards a beautiful burst of self-expression. The Sun shines so brightly that we often take it for granted. It's difficult to squint into its light and see how much energy and work goes into its output. Being a beacon, living our truth, and sharing that truth with the world is a true labor of love. It's a wonderful thing to behold, but it also requires being active, present, and, in a sense, vulnerable.

We may be feeling some anxiety this week about being seen fully, our ambitions and dreams visible to all around us. Wanting things and then pursuing them means that we're putting ourselves out there. Make room for that naked feeling while focusing on the freedom that comes with it. So what if we have big dreams and are working to make them real? When we become our own suns we don't need to worry about the opinions of others or even the bumps along the road. 

Our vision for change and connection to ourselves will always be shining above any clouds. 

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Weekend Send-Off: Hustle & Bustle

Fall is my favorite season and I'm feeling so invigorated by the small changes creeping into our still-hot North Carolina home. The dragonflies are buzzing everywhere, leaves are juuuust starting to change, and some white cranes even made a quick stopover in our pond. I feel a little bit like an intrepid squirrel running around collecting acorns for the winter.

And there's a lot to prepare for! I'm getting married in three weeks, it's almost October aka Halloween - the busiest time of the year for a tarot reader, and I'm redesigning my website. For more info on these changes be sure to sign up for my newsletter - this upcoming one is quite epic and features my experience of The Tower in relation to my wedding (hint: it's far from the usual interpretations!) 

For those of you in the triangle who'd like a quick reading or just want to say hi (please do, I'd love to meet you!) I'll be at the Patchwork Market at Fullsteam Brewery in Durham tomorrow from 12-4. 

Otherwise, here's some of the joys and discoveries from the week, as well as a card to center and inspire our weekend.

Tarot Discoveries - "The Cadillac of Tarot Readings"

I'm always all ears when tarot great Mary K. Greer has anything to say on tarot so when she posted about this spread from Jean-Claude Flournoy I got very excited. This spread uses all of the Major Arcana and seems to be very comprehensive, indeed! I'll be trying out for myself as a treat this weekend. 

Beautiful Words - The King of Cups

I loved this piece by Sabrina Scott at Little Red Tarot: "Public feelings & dark days with the King of Cups."  It's a beautiful meditation on the power of rethinking "mastery" and feeling our emotions freely. 

Repeat Tarot Card - The Lovers

The Lovers has been popping up in its more complex iteration. What does it mean to embody love and how to we hold space for our individual selves while being in relationships with others? It has me thinking a lot about this often wished for experience and the complications that can spring from its reality.

Listening, Reading, Watching

I've been booping around a lot this week and haven't found myself with much free time to read. Such sadness! But there's a time for everything. I did, however, pick up a new tarot book from the library, Tarot Beyond the Basics by Anthony Louis. I'm really looking forward to diving into this one as it focuses on astrological correspondences and numerology. 

How about you? What has been bringing joy to your life this week? Now without further ado, the card for the weekend.

The Hermit

Message: Get cozy and tune into your deeper needs and messages. 

Embrace: Solitude, rest, regeneration.

Let Go Of: External pressures, chaotic social situations, productivity.

Guidance: Take a time out from the hustle and bustle of everyday life so that you can stretch out into the experience of just being yourself. Create a sanctuary and see what insights come to the surface.

Exploring the Minor Arcana: The Knights

In this series we'll be diving into the world of the Minor Arcana. Each segment will group the cards by number where we can engage in their themes and differences. For all the posts in the installment, click here.

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I have such a soft spot for the Knights in tarot. They have so much verve and energy! These are not a group of cards interested in concepts or abstractions. They want to get down and dirty, engaging with life in the hands-on, adventuresome style of someone on a mission. While the Pages are eager students, the Knights might be someone who lists "School of Life and Hard Knocks" on their facebook education section. They want to learn by doing and they're already diving into the task at hand.

I often refer to the Knights as the teenagers in tarot. They have the same headstrong conviction and, like any rebellious youth, this attitude is also masking an endearing tenderness. Not fully formed as people, the Knights still have a lot to figure out, which is why these cards can also represent foolhardiness, irrational decision making, and risk-taking.

While the Knights can get themselves in a pickle by jumping the gun - saying something in anger or frustration, committing to a task they can't finish, or living in an idealized fantasy world - they also bring an incredible amount of energy and enthusiasm to any situation. Look to the Knights for the galvanizing force behind a big leap or the passion needed to get things going and inspire others. 

Each of the Knights comes with their own unique flavor. Let's explore their wild, engaging, and impetuous world below:

The  Knight of Wands is quite the handful. Just think about the combination of teenage energy + fiery wands! This card might possibly be the most charismatic of the deck. It brings with it passion, energy, and the desire to leap in and get things done.

For the Knight of Swords is much more cerebral. This is a card where the conceptual and the real come together for the Knight of Swords is all about testing out ideas. What might this theory look like in real life? How can we act on our principles or communicate our thoughts? This can sometimes get tricky since sharp swords are in the situation, but the intention is usually well-meaning.

The Knight of Cups is the romantic of the bunch. Think of the emo guy writing poetry in the back of class. This Knight has a way with words and imagery, loves art and poetry, and will sweep anyone off their feet with romantic promises. When it comes to real life, however, this card balks at anything less than glamorous and perfect and can become sullen and withdrawn.

Last but not least, The Knight of Pentacles brings the energy of the Knights back down to earth. The most practical of the bunch, this card is all about slow, deliberate, action. Concerned with cultivation and making plans into reality, this card can get stuck in their ways and become resistant to change. Is the path they're going on what they really want?

What about you? How do the Knights show up in your tarot practice? How do you relate to them personally? Share in the comments below, and be sure to do something bold and adventurous today in celebration of these zesty cards.

Explore In-Depth Minor Arcana Meanings

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Weekly Forecast: August 27-September 2

The Knight of Wands is a charming character. Like all knights, they carry with them a sense of adventure, but this one in particular has the passionate zest of the wands behind them: their ideas are energizing, their enthusiasm is irresistibly contagious, and they promise change and distraction from the ordinary. 

Is there a catch to all this flashy brilliance? Why yes, there is, and this week we're seeing this card enacting both sides of its nature. First comes the alluring invitation to adventure. Knights represent youthful energy, and it's not the guileless innocence of early childhood. Instead, these cards are willful, idealistic, and impulsive. 

We might experience this card as a sense of restlessness, spiritual itchiness, or dissatisfaction in our lives. Wands are the suit of fire, so we can be sure that we're looking for quick fixes and immediate solutions that have an air of romance about them. We're finding ourselves entranced by ideas of escape from the ordinary like quitting our day jobs to travel the world or abandoning a project that's gotten difficult to take up a new opportunity. This could also show up in our love lives as we start to look at our partners, new or established, with a critical eye. The overarching message? We feel edgy so we should do something about it now!

Not so fast. While the Knight of Wands' message might be galvanizing, it runs the risk of fizzling out when put into action. In other words, we're using a new venture to run away from something that's already working for us. Maybe the reality of the situation feels boring, or we feel hemmed in by the commitment. Starting something new is the perfect way to distance ourselves, but we might be side-stepping what we really want and need.

The Two of Wands illustrates the escape fantasies that can come with boredom or over-familiarity. Looking at the card we can see that the main figure is living a life filled with riches. They're caressing lush feathers while standing on a castle parapet wearing luxurious finery, for goodness sake! Then why are they staring wistfully off into the horizon?

This card is a cheeky reminder that our fantasies are just fantasies. Instead of propelling us out of a tricky situation they're cheating us out of enjoying what we have. Are we growing bored with our fancy clothes, the beautiful castle we've built for ourselves, and the relationships that take place within its walls? 

And the bigger question beneath all this is, what feelings, desires, or wishes are we avoiding with all these plans and daydreams? 

The Queen of Cups is a reassuring and insightful card to end with and it shows us how we're actually sitting on top of a huge well of intuitive knowledge. We know, in our heart of hearts, that the situation isn't calling for wandsy action. Instead, this is a time to step back into our personal inner sanctum, that quiet space where we consult ourselves and then listen quietly for our own response.

Because we're not at a Knight's phase in this moment. And we don't want to initiate distracting change and get lost in new ventures. We're actually well on the way of a slower journey. We know ourselves better, and can identify, accept, and lovingly re-direct our anxious, eager reactions. The Queen of Cups shows us that underneath it all, we know where we're going, and our sense of direction is based on an indescribable knowing. We're feeling our way forward, not rationalizing or justifying it to anyone. 

Clarity is coming our way towards the end of the week, so all we need to do is recognize our eager, impatient Knight of Wands selves while making space for the insight of the Queen of Cups. And while we're at it, we can enjoy the wonders of our actual lives, returning the romance and value to what we've worked so hard to cultivate. There' so much to enjoy and treasure. 
 

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Weekend Send-Off: Back in Action

I'm back from a rejuvenating vacation and happy to be blogging again! Though in honesty, it's quite the transition going from leisurely beach walks to the ins-and-outs of my work schedule. I've been talking with so many people about the healing magic of being near the ocean. Durham, for all its warmth and wonder, isn't quite close enough for my tastes, so being at my family's home in Cape Cod was a huge pleasure.

And yet it's also incredibly energizing to be diving back into the tarot world. I have so many plans that I'm cooking up: changes to this website as well as new offerings and events for the fall. It's a lot to wrangle, but loving what you do is a huge help.

In the midst of it all I've been making time to enjoy the shifts in the season (fall is on it's way, hallelujah!) and other simple pleasures such as...

Kitchen Delights - Fettuccine and Clams

One of my favorite things to do in Cape Cod is clamming. Armed with special rakes and wire baskets, you wade out during low tide and comb the sand feeling for hidden mollusks. It's meditative, peaceful, and oh so easy. Plus, you get to come home sunswept, salty, and armed with a delicious catch for dinner.

The day before we left I went out during an extremely low tide and filled a basket with my father, who also happens to be the Deputy Shellfish Warden (the post comes with a badge and very jazzy hat!). He packed the clams safely in a cooler for my drive down South and I cooked them up with fettuccine for an epic clam dinner with friends. Is anything better? I've linked to a recipe from Smitten Kitchen, but you really can't go wrong with clams, onions, wine, butter, and lots of chili flakes. 

Why Not? - Beach Tarot

One of my treasured beach rituals is doing surprising things while basking in the sun. I usually eschew zippy beach reads for heavy Russian novels (what can I say, I love contrast!) and even bring my tarot cards for some quick personal readings. My Rider-Waite-Smith in a tin works especially well. Just make sure you're vigilant or they'll get blown away by the sea breeze...

Repeat Tarot Card - Two of Pentacles

Now here's a card I love to see! The Two of Pentacles was all over the place this past week. A wondeful depiction of juggling work and projects with aplomb, this card shows that we've been on our toes and loving every moment of it. 

Listening, Reading, Watching

There's nothing like a long drive to get deep into podcasts and audio books. I was so engrossed with the true crime podcast West Cork that I hardly noticed my travels from D.C. through New Jersey - high praise, indeed! 

I've also been listening to the audiobook version of the David Lynch biography-autobiography hybrid, Room to Dream. It's fascinatingly structured with one chapter by a biographer followed by a segment written (and in this version narrated) by Lynch himself.

How about you? What has been bringing joy to your life this week? Now without further ado, the card for the weekend.

The King of Swords

Message: Take charge and go after what you want knowing that your perceptions are on-point.

Embrace: Decisiveness, healthy self-interest.

Let Go Of: Controlling others, power trips. Holding back your opinions.

Guidance: Is there something you really want and believe in that you haven't been allowing yourself to pursue? Now is a wonderful time to step into this new direction with confidence!

Weekly Forecast: August 20-26

Sometimes it's tiring being rational, or at least occupying a rational standpoint 100% of the time. This week we're willingly sacrificing the need to be right so that we can open up to new sources of knowledge, namely our feelings and intuitions.

This is no small shift, and the fact that we're coming at it from the authoritative stance of the King of Swords shows just how conscious and responsible we are for this choice. And this is good news! We know we need more and we're taking the vulnerable and brave step to move towards it.

In this case, we're choosing to experience a Death of sorts. How can we step down from our thrones of certainty and embrace the complicated magic of everyday life? 

Though we may be moving into some confusing territory, these cards indicate that we're ready for a change. Maybe we're tired of feeling in control all of the time, isolated in our positions of power. Maybe we'd like to step down from our roles as arbiters, deciders, and experts, if only just for a while.

As you may have noticed, though, Death carries with it some pretty irrevocable consequences. So while we may be leaving the King of Swords' throne (and carrying with us his intellectual prowess and experience), we won't be quite the same when we return. 

This is an excellent time to consider what about our current position is feeling itchy or empty. Have we backed ourselves into a corner, suddenly realizing we've been positioning ourselves as someone with all the answers? Are our words feeling hollow or lacking inspiration?

Well, this dynamic leap through the Death card is certainly about to change all that. We're catapulting from the solid, academic remove of the King of Swords into the wishy-washy, imaginative wonderland of the Seven of Cups. Now how's that for contrast?

Towards the end of the week we'll find ourselves feeling radically different. Awash with exciting visions and possibilities, we'll be in the mood to let our minds wander freely, thinking magically instead of pragmatically and theoretically. 

While the Seven of Cups can be a tricky card, one where alluring options can become distracting and even paralyzing, it's a wonderful follow-up to Death. It shows us processing our change and reacting to it with joy and expansion. Death is a long process and thinking creatively in all directions - dreaming up possibilities and alternate futures  - offers us both the space and activity to move through the transition.

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Weekly Forecast: August 13-19

How nice is it to hear that taking a bit of a reckless chance will pay off richly? This certainly isn't a message that comes out frequently, but leave it to the action-packed suit of wands to lead the way this week. We're certainly feeling all fired-up and ready to make moves. Fortunately, our sense of readiness is justified. The time to act is now.

Because we're dealing with wands, this is likely in an area of our lives that requires creativity. So often we disqualify ourselves from the term, thinking that creativity only refers to artistic pursuits. I can't tell you how many people come in for readings and balk at this side of the wands."I'm not a creative person," they say.  And yet how can we be human and not be creative? 

Just look at the Knight of Wands. What better card to represent our need to think on the fly? Each day we have to navigate a sea of choices and options and this requires us to, yes, think creatively. We must pivot on the spot, cobble together solutions, and follow our instincts. I don't say this to take away the glamor of creativity, but to add a sense of excitement and respect for all the things we're required to do. Even the mundane can be given that shininess with a simple shift in thinking.

That being said, we're past the point of thinking this week. Whether we're being creative in an artistic or more general sense, it's not a time to deliberate or agonize. That will only make us feel restless and hemmed in. Knights bring with them an influx of energy and purpose. Of course, this can be hot-headed and foolhardy, so it's a good idea to look before we leap to make sure we're not going to step on any toes. In this reading, however, that threat is small because we have the Three of Wands as our central card. 

This card is telling us that we've laid the groundwork for our plan, giving the ambitious Knight in us a well-thought-out path to ride. If anything, we may have to make sure we're starting out on that path in the first place. The Knight of Wands is facing to the left, away from the Three of Wands. Are we being led astray by another enticing project instead of moving towards a more long-held goal? In that case all we have to do is reign in our horse and get back on track. Once we do this we'll find our passion and motivation unchanged. When we work with the enthusiasm of the Knights, giving them structure and direction, we can get so much done.

The Nine of Cups is a welcome addition to this array. Too much fire can burn things to a crisp. Our creative plan, however, isn't just action for action's sake. We're also seeking connection and community through our work. What we do is creating links with others and providing us with the means to give back to our communities. Taking moments to reach out, share our joy and plans, and provide ideas and advice to others is leading to a deep sense of satisfaction. 

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