Today brings a breakthrough in understanding. Sometimes this Ace feels like a new idea, but today this card feels like finally "getting" something that you've been on the edge of for a while. Truth will just drop in really clearly. It'll be like ohhh THATS what that was!
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That hand pops out of the clouds when you're ready to grab the sword it brings you. And while you can't make inspiration strike, you can at least look up once in a while so you don't miss it, and make sure your hands aren't full of old junk so you can take the sword.
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Your job with Ace of Swords is to free your hands and take what's given you. And you don't have to use it immediately, but you do have to use It well. You're the guardian of this knowledge now.
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I've been having little Ace of Swords moments all day. Probably because I finished up a couple of projects yesterday and was feeling open and curious today.
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Here's one: I was rereading a book about anchoresses that I kept from college, and part of it describes a practice of distinguishing between love and fear that is something I've learned from other sources in the last few years. So this was like finding a missing idea ancestor. It was really cool to feel that click!
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Anyone else have anything suddenly make sense today?
Daily Tarot: 5 of Pentacles
The 5 of Pentacles shows our feelings of lack. This card depicts an internal situation, and here I am speaking to people who are materially ok, like me and probably you. I am not trying to say "just believe in yourself" or some feely nonsense to people who do not have enough resources to survive or thrive. Poverty is real, the poverty mindset of 5 of Pentacles is an illusion.
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It's when we find ourselves saying, I'm not happy because I don't have that THING - job, house, car, relationship, fame, clothes, body type, a million dollars.
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So we project our power outward onto those things. We get used to the idea that we're unhappy because of material circumstances outside our control. We romanticize the struggle.
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And all of that disconnects us from our power. We are not without resources. We can work with what we do have, and ask for help. We can value ourselves no matter what things we have. Happiness comes from inside, banal but true. You can be born rich and privileged and famous and still be miserable, always grabbing for more things.
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If you're feeling like you lack some key thing today, ask yourself if you really need the THING or if you just want the contentment you think comes along with it. If that's the case, do something positive to re-boot. Help another person, or ask for the help you need. Make something, clean something.
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Be gentle, this is a normal feeling. Look at the people out there in the snow, right outside a warmly lit church. That little mouse hoarding his crumbs. Don't you want to be kind to the parts of yourself that feel like that?
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I don't know about you but I really needed to see this today. This feeling of lack is a trip my mind takes me on when I start to claim my power in a new way. That's how I know it's important to keep going. So once you recognize that you're in this state, and you do a little feelings first aid, look deeper and see where you're growing.
Daily Tarot: The Hierophant
This card is here to invite us to step into our own spiritual power.
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Humans and tarot are co-evolving, so in our time this card means something different than listening to an old white dude who says he's the only one who can talk to god.
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To me, it means being a bridge between worlds. Channeling spiritual truth down and sharing it, living it. In imagining the evolved scene of The Hierophant card, I see a big circle of people who each take their turn wearing the big hat and sitting on the throne. Each of us is directly connected to the divine, and has an important truth to share. No one has spiritual authority over another, not even teachers or gurus.
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So with that in mind, two questions for you today:
Where are you clinging to a sense of moral superiority or rigidity, where can you learn instead of judge?
What can you do today to act on your beliefs, to bring more kindness, truth, and connection into being?
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And here is what I'm doing with these questions:
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First, I'm feeling anger and judgement towards Joel Osteen. What is my reaction showing me about me? Am I willing to share my home with displaced people? And honestly, I'm not fully willing. I like to think I would help out if asked but that means that I'm waiting to be asked. That is a place where I can grow, and offer help more. (He's not off the hook, though. We all have to hold each other accountable.)
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Second, I've been thinking that I want to offer special readings to raise money for hurricane relief, but I'm also hitting some fear there, some "who am I to do this."
This card says yes, do it. So I'm doing it.
For the month of September, I'm offering $50 suggested price half-hour readings via skype or in person, 50% of proceeds to Harvey. Please email me at moriah.simmons@gmail.com to book. I will accept any donation you can make, please don't hesitate to ask.
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The Hierophant is not an easy card to work with, but I also find that it shows up when you're ready to do this work. You're being blessed with a stronger connection up to spirit, and out to other people. We are all waking up more, and that is beautiful.
Daily Tarot: Knight of Pentacles
There's no substitute for practice, for experience, for hours sunk into a something. Some people think the Knight of Pentacles is boring, I think he's a mothersnugglin genius, here's why and here's how we're invited to embody this energy today.
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This is a card all about our conscious bodily experience. How we choose to show up to our work. Not necessarily our job but to our path of growth. The Knight of Pentacles is dedicated, dependable, determined. But he's not just grinding away at some boring 9-5. He's putting that focus into integrating his bodily lived experience into his mind and soul. He is trusting and cultivating body wisdom, and living in reverence to nature, knowing that every seed is a miracle. He is fully a part of the mystery and nuance of earthly existence.
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So for us, we're invited to see the big potential in the small things. And we're asked to show up with focus and trust, to each day we have in our bodies. The abundance here isn't just flat money, it's the richness of nature. The more we can befriend and listen to our own bodily wisdom, the more we can feel our connection to the rest of the earth. We're the best tech and tool and we've got. Being fully embodied and present is the most magical thing we can do.
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Sidebar: Our innate biology/body tech is so fascinating to me. I think cybernetics and mechanization and mass production are cool as ideas but also redundant in an evolutionary way. It would be better to work with the existing biological and energetic technologies of nature and the human body to continue progressing as a species. Communication = resonance/empathy. Production = cell division. Automation = instinct. I love reading about the science of the mind and body.
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I'm clearly still feeling that Page of Swords idea fun today, putting some Knight of Pentacles work into it. How about you?
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Found this 50 yen coin this morning. 💰
Big ol pile of cards
Big ol pile of cards for me.
I don't usually pull more than one or two cards for myself, but sometimes I like to get a really thorough check-in.
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I've been feeling like something has changed in me, but haven't been able to pinpoint it yet. I'm being shown here (among other things) that it's still in formation and is basically not available for understanding yet. But it feels like an upgrade in the way my body senses and holds energy. I've been feeling super sensitive lately, like almost too much. And I'm in the process of a lot of career/ life work development that is almost but not quite ready to change. This change is out of my hands, I've been getting that message for a while, but I have some tasks in the meantime, so that makes the waiting more bearable.
In case you wondered, I don't think I have everything figured out, or even many things. 😂 I'm in here doing the homework like everyone else.
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Anyway! Feel free to read these cards for me if you see anything.
And I'm booking now for September if you want me to read for you!
Daily Tarot: Page of Swords
New ideas are so exciting! Page of Swords is the kid with their hand up, almost falling out of the chair because they're so eager to get called on and say their cool idea out loud.
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After a dive into the Cups energy this weekend we're coming out with feelings translated to thoughts. We understand something! We want to act on that, and we want to act now! Exclamation points!!
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I'm not going to tell you to chill that out in any way. That eagerness is refreshing and regenerating and you need it and you can put it to use.
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Today's card is a reminder that no one is going to call on you but you. You're the one who gets to say yes to your idea and make it happen. Don't let your enthusiasm fizzle out at the prospect of working on your idea. That can be just as fun because it'll keep generating more new ideas out of the original idea.
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As you start to explore this idea, check yourself on any perfectionist tendencies. This sword may be a little awkward right now in your unpracticed and overeager hands, but don't let that stop you from working with it and getting to know it. Ground that air with a bit of steady earthy showing up. Your idea is new, it may not be perfect yet (or ever bc perfect is not real), but if you stick with it, it can be amazing and real and just what you need it to be.
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Happy Monday, I hope you're all having fun with your ideas today!
Daily Tarot: Queen of Cups
Today you're invited to tap into your inner Deanna Troi empath alien healer self and feel your way through whatever comes along.
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I'm bringing Troi into this not only because I watch tons of TNG, but because of how valuable your intuition can be if you give it a place on the bridge and listen to what it tells you as you travel. (In this metaphor you are both Troi and Picard. Just go with it.)
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Because today you can get in touch with some deep knowing, and it'll help make sense of a situation you've been thinking about but haven't been able to understand logically.
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In this deep water energy (this card, plus moon in Scorpio), it's important to support your intuition and empathic knowledge with structure. I find that writing impressions down helps bring the two sides of your brain together. Get it all down first before you start analyzing. How do you feel when you think of a situation or person or option? What emotions or images come up? Do you feel anything in your body? Does it bring up a memory or a smell, a song, a time of year?
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Remember that everyone else is feeling more sensitive today, too. If someone is snippy, let that flow past you. Avoid wallowing or making everything about you - Queen of Cups is also an excellent listener. Take responsibility for your own emotions. Don't use your intuition or empathy to snoop or manipulate. Use your powers for good!
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Starring my literal queen of Cups from @objandtotem 🔘🔘
Ace of Pups
Happy #nationaldogday to Hudson aka Ace of Pups aka @henryhudsonbarkway.
#tbt or whatever when this lil guy wore a raincoat that could not contain his ears.
Daily Tarot: Page of Cups
The Page of Cups is your inner child, your inner light, your constant source of joy and hope.
Let today be soft and free.
This day is a safe container for this gentle part of you to express itself.
What is the most fun, silly, open-hearted thing you can do today?
Do something that 5-year-old you would have loved.
Let your play be a love letter to the world.
Be open to beautiful surprises.
Go play!
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Card from the lovely @smallspells tarot 🖤
Daily Tarot: King of Wands
This dude, Shaman of Wands in the Motherpeace, is fire plus fire. Grounded, embodied fire.
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Today, own your fire. Take action that aligns with your truth. You've been doing a lot of work on balancing ambition vs hubris and passionate vs pushy. So now you know what really fires you up in a sustainable way, and you're ready to go for it. As always, be sure to act on clear intentions because this is a long-burning fire. You don't want to start off with anything less than total clarity. But you do want to start now. Go get em!
Daily Tarot: The Lovers
Today I pulled The Lovers reversed as our collective daily card, which says that we're avoiding opening up with other people. So please just check in with yourself and how you're showing up in your relationships.
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All you're being asked to do is be open today, especially when you want to avoid it. Especially if you think it'll be a hard conversation. No matter what you're holding back, trust that the other person can handle it. Let them hold that part of you that you've kept hidden. There are parts of yourself you can't see, except through the mirror of another person.
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In any relationship there's always 3 parties: you, the other person, and the relationship you create. The way I see this card, is the middle figure isn't some Cupid shooting darts, it's a magical manifestation of the relationship between the two human figures. That's what happens between you and your boo, or friend or neighbor.
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Each connection you have with someone is totally unique and beautiful, and can take on a shape of its own. But you're never going to see what happens until you're really in. No more showing up halfway. Be willing to be vulnerable, let yourself be seen and held. And see them, hold them. Openness and compassion feed a relationship.
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Venus squares Uranus today, a relationship check-in feels very timely. As you're opening up, you are supported by ~the stars~ if that helps to think about.
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Love y'all. 😘
Daily Tarot: The Hermit
The Hermit is kind of the grandpa of the Wands. He's mastered all of that fire and ambition and steps away from the world to take his energy education to the next level.
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He understands that some answers are only inside you, or maybe all answers, and the only way to find them is to give yourself space and time away from other influences, so you can go deep without interruption.
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He's solitary but still part of humanity, shining a light to show other people that way. He's sharing his wisdom with all of those Wands-y grandkids struggling and striving and trying so hard to figure out their fire. He shows them the way to own your fire is to go within, bring it out, and make it a beacon.
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Today we are invited to go within and meet up with our inner wise elder, who can show us how to own our fire and work with it. This inner elder is not going to coddle you, though. They're uninterested in appearances, excuses, or the societal ideas of success. But they are 100% here for you, and will help you be more you. Carve out some quiet space today to listen to their advice.
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The Hermit is also associated with the sign of Virgo, so your season is off to a good start, Virgo friends!
Birthday!
Birthday beach weetch finds magic circle in sand, a gift from the following aspects of the goddess: wind, seagulls, and Belinda Carlisle.
Daily Tarot: 3 of Wands
This is a really fitting card for the day after the eclipse, and the day Leo switches over to Virgo.
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Now that you've covered some ground, what do you want to do next?
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This particular 3 of Wands card feels like a tendency towards stability. The figure here is almost serving as the 4th wand himself. Which says to me, we can structure our actions to make the most of our energy. And the only place you can take action is in the present. Here you can structure both the energy you've already put into the past (structure as download and assessment) and your future energy (structure as planning and intention). And this seems like a very sustainable method: checking and course adjusting rather than acting on impulse or doing the same thing over and over out of stubbornness or inertia.
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The point is, you're set up really well to take the next step on your path. Trust yourself.
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And yes, I built my own three of wands on the beach today, just for you. 😂
Eclipse day
✨🌑🎱🖤🕸🕳
(no daily tarot on eclipse day, we've all got enough info to process.)
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This morning at the hotel pool I met someone who grew up on Dikeman Street in Red Hook, Brooklyn. He said he was a weather witch and would move the clouds so we could see the eclipse clearly.
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At the forest where we went to watch the eclipse, a nice lady let me try her colander projector.
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I walked into the woods alone and found a triangular spider web.
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The sky went dark and birds and insects sang. When the light came back, all the people cheered.
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Animals I saw today: spider, raven, cicada, pelican, fish.
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I was in the warm ocean at sunset with my good friend @abigailgullo.
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I'm in a comfy bed with @lousywiththespirit now, about to fall asleep.
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I'm so grateful for this little hoard of memories.
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I hope you all had good eclipse days, however you chose to spend your time.
Eclipse view 1
Little sun slice reflected from the inside of eclipse glasses
Total Solar Eclipse Today
Happy Eclipse Day! 🌑☀️
I'm in South Carolina to get a better view from the very mystical-sounding path of totality.
Some people have asked me what the eclipse means or what it's going to bring, and I don't know. I feel that it'll be a chance to start living more from the heart, and shining in service to the collective, but I think that'll be different for everyone. I really like what @chaninicholas and @jessica_lanyadoohave written about the eclipse. And read @she_is_of_the_woods post, because it's important to remember that not everyone is looking at this eclipse as a cosmic party.
This is happening right on my sun (29 degrees Leo), and it's touching my ascendant and moon and other stuff in my natal chart, too. I feel a lot happening that I can't put into words. I can't help taking this cosmic event a little personally, but I know it's more like seeing personal growth match a bigger cycle. I'm willing to take whatever chances I can to grow and be of more service.
I hope this eclipse heralds beautiful, necessary changes for each of us personally, and for all of us as a planet.
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Amazing balloons from the Charleston airport rental car desk.
Daily Tarot: 10 of Cups
This is the 4th time I've pulled this card in 3 weeks.
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What came to me this time was, if we can see a rainbow and feel love, joy, and connection, is the inverse true?
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Can concentrating on feeling love and connection bring more rainbows into being?
Can we hold a feeling so clearly that we can bring the physical manifestation of that feeling into existence?
And can we let love drive our powers of manifestation rather that greed?
Can we pair manifestation and mundane work to create systems of compassion and equality?
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I believe that we can do all of this, and that this is pretty much the point of life as far as I can understand and articulate it right now.
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(Posting suuuuper late in the day, but I hope this is a nice nightcap.)
We must always take sides
"We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.
The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference.
There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest." - Elie Wiesel
Daily Tarot: Strength
Remember how I was planning to not post these on weekends? Neither do I. 🙃Let's just see what happens going forward.
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Strength has come up a bunch in the last couple days, and she very much wanted to be today's card of the day. Who am I to say no to my girl?
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Strength says, get up close and personal with your shadow. It is safe for you to deal directly with the parts of you that scare you. Directly, but gently. A brash approach will make them seize up and resist. Approach your shadow with love and not fear.
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And because this is Mercury retrograde and eclipse season in Strength's sign, Leo, we're reviewing lessons we've already covered. We're going another layer deeper. This is facing your shadow parts AND being accountable for them. You're set up to do whatever you need to heal them, so they don't control you anymore. Which is great, because we are totally no longer able to sustain this cycle of hurt people hurting more people.
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We keep being shown ways of approaching and healing our beliefs and wounds. I definitely have this on my mind a lot because I'm working through my own internalized bullshit and general life trauma. But I also feel that the cards I'm pulling are all touching on this topic. Like the last couple of weeks could all be one big reading for the collective.
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I offer these readings in service. Take whatever you need, leave the rest. I'm here if you need more. Those of you going to vigils or rallies today, thank you. I hope to see you at Washington Sq Park after I finish work.