Happy Full Harvest/Blood Moon in Aries!
.
The 3 of Wands invites you to get really clear on the core parts of yourself, so that you can make decisions that support you. This feels right in line with tonight’s Full Moon in Aries, the “I am” sign.
.
How well do you know your own energy? You have to know your baseline so you can understand how other factors affect you. Take time to check in with yourself in neutral moments and just see how your mind and body feel. It’s like you’re calibrating a sensitive instrument before taking measurements. Then you can say, this food nourishes me, this other one does not. This person lifts me up, this other one does not. This is so helpful in learning to trust your intuition and make good decisions.
.
Another part of the Full Moon clarity is seeing what you’ve learned this year. Tonight marks the time when seeds you planted back in the spring are bearing fruit. So look at how far you’ve come since then. Make a list, look back at pictures, play a song you listened to a lot this spring.
.
You’re at a point of synthesis, where you’re becoming conscious of all the different experiences that have shaped you. It’s from this point where you get to decide where you go next. That core self is the one constant in your life, so the more you get to know it, the more you can let it lead, the more you can do the really important and exciting things you’re here to do.
Daily Tarot: 5 of Swords
Where do we try to be right instead of trying to understand? Where do we treat interactions as something to win at? Where do we avoid our tender feelings by being spiky with others?
.
Something I’ve been working on lately is allowing my feelings, even when they’re so-called “negative” emotions like fear, anger, jealousy. I’ve spent a lot of my life trying to avoid being wrong or feeling vulnerable, and that is a pretty exhausting way to live. There’s no right or wrong way to feel, ever. Discomfort does not mean you did something “wrong” or that there’s another way you should feel. You’re not going to ever be happy all the time. Even too much of what we think we want will end up being uncomfortable.
.
In tarot, the 5s mark a contraction, where everything feels uncomfortable before an expansion. And treating the discomfort like a hurdle to jump to get somewhere else is another another way we avoid being present with it. So if you’re feeling this card, give yourself permission to be in the contraction without fighting it. Just see where it brings you, let yourself be soft.
.
In the 5 of Swords, you don’t want to be the smug asshole up here at the front collecting his winnings (too many swords to even use) and gloating. Sure you won, but now you’re alone, and you’re going to have to feel whatever you were trying to numb out by fighting in the first place.
.
In this card, you want to be the ones crying over there by the water, allowing your feelings. You tried your best, it didn’t work out, you’re grieving that in order to move on. And you’re not too stubborn to accept help.
.
.
Featuring the best breakup/disappointment album ever, Cloudland. It’s on YouTube if you want to listen to it.
Daily Tarot: 3 of Pentacles
A repeat card from last week, so this is an important lesson for all of us. And a very sweet one!
.
You are necessary, you are perfect, you are in the right place, at the right time. You don’t have to wait or train before you can help build a kinder world. The work you do, the way you show up in the world can be an act of service every day. If you’re feeling helpless or hopeless, pull your energy in close and find just one thing you can do right now. Maybe it’s texting resist to 50409, picking up trash on the sidewalk, being patient, speaking up when you hear racist speech, having dinner with a friend. Maybe it’s taking care of yourself by turning your phone off and going to bed early. Maybe it’s asking for help or attention when you need it.
.
Because you’re necessary, and so is everyone else. We’re all here to help people, and that means there are people here to help you. You don’t have to figure out or fix all of the world’s issues. You do what you can, let others do what they can, work together and hold each other accountable. What you do will help the collective, even if you’re not swooping in like an intersectional superhero.
.
For me, this is timely because right now I’m starting to reach out to all of my healer friends about community events to bring our services to more people who need them (dm me if you want in!). I took some time today to ground myself and hang out with my feelings, and watched some Parks and Rec, because earnest teamwork is so comforting. And obvs listening to Breakdown a lot. So whatever way helps you reset, do that and come back to this work fresh.
.
I’m here to support you, my community in whatever way I can. If you want a reading or energy work or tarot lessons or readings at an event, let’s work together. Thanks for being here. ❤️❤️❤️
Daily Tarot: The Tower, reversed
I'm feeling a lot of ways all at once about the act of terrorism in Las Vegas and the government and media responses, and if you are, too, please know that I’m sending love to you.
.
When I pulled The Tower this afternoon, something else came through about the Emperor energy from last night’s card, and how we can use it in service, in rebuilding.
.
The Tower represents radical change that you as a human have no control over. You can control how you react to it, and what you do after, but that's it. This can be overwhelming, but it clears space for what we need.
.
When the systems don't serve all of us, they come down. That's just how it works. But I'm seeing here in the reversal of the Tower, that we don't have to put our energy into tearing down (or trying to keep it in place) because this shit is falling already. So while gravity does her stuff, let's focus on what we can build right now, and share what we have with each other.
.
As the system crumbles, remember the divine masculine represented by the Emperor is not in any way aligned with the patriarchy, or with guns or violence or any other hallmarks of toxic masculinity. Humans have co-opted this archetype to serve selfish ends. Part of breaking down this system is in reclaiming and healing the divine masculine in all of us. This energy supports us in supporting others, creating structure, protecting, leading, building.
.
I'm also feeling this Emperor and Tower sequence in relation to the full moon in Aries this week. This will be a potent time for all of us to focus on taking back our power personally and as a collective.
.
Please take care of yourself today, as we mourn the lives lost in Las Vegas, and in Puerto Rico, Texas, Mexico, and all over the world. Honor these people's lives by showing up in any way you can in your community, calling reps, donating money and time, and being kind to all of your fellow people. We can start building the world we want right now.
Daily Tarot: The Emperor
Structure, stability, and rules, some of the dullest concepts out there OR ARE THEY.
The Emperor says, now’s the time to stand up and set the pattern for your life. You are the only one in charge of you, and you get to say what stays or goes in your life. You’re the one who gets to decide what kind of structures you want, and how they get built. Now is when you drop the false modesty and step into your power and allow yourself to be seen as the leader you are. That’s really awesome. It’s a lot of responsibility but this card shows up when you’re ready for it. And when you’re ready for it, it’s the most exciting thing in the world.
.
I consider the Emperor the builder and re-builder of the Tower. When it comes down and he’s tossed out the window, he dusts himself off, consults with the Empress bc she’s the creative director of the universe, and then he starts building again, with a better foundation and an improved design. It’s important to have this steady, active, productive energy in our lives. It lets us handle the pressure and workload of leadership, protect ourselves and others, and speak for ourselves in a firm, direct no-bullshit way. And it means we have the stamina to keep rebuilding as old structures come down.
.
When you’re in The Emperor energy, there are a few things to remember: leadership is service, not a personal power trip, so don’t push people around. Use your power wisely, for the good of all. Don’t forget that none of your rules or structures are permanent; be flexible. And you are not alone -ask for help and guidance when you need it. Now get out there and build something awesome.
Daily Tarot: 7 of Cups & Temperance
Thank you to everyone I got to read for at the Red Hook Regatta, and thanks for having me, @pioneerworks! The cards that came up over and over were 7 of Cups and Temperance. So they're our collective message for today.
.
7 of Cups comes up when our attention is divided, we're trying on what-ifs but not acting on anything. Underneath that, the reason we're indulging in distraction, is that we already know which cup is going to keep us full and we're afraid of committing to it. There's something frightening to our ego/lizard brain about how powerful our attention can be when it's totally focused. So when this card comes up, look at where you've already chosen in your heart. Trust that, and act on your choice.
.
Temperance is our lady of casual miracles. She speaks of balancing your human action with miracles and magic that are beyond your power. You do your stuff and then make space for the divine to do its stuff. This is like leaving a chair for Elijah at Passover, or cookies for Santa, or Roman temples to the unknown god. There are lots of ways in our web of cultures where we have tokens of respect for the mystery.
.
The thing with Temperance (and where it picks up where the 7 of Cups leaves off) is that when you trust your intuition and act on it, you are working in flow with the divine. That opens up the way for everyday magic in the form of synchronicity, good timing, and connections. Temperance says, when you choose your true cup, I keep it full. When you're paying attention fully to where you are right now, you are tapping into the part of you that is divine, and letting it work through you. That's why so much magic/spiritual practice is about developing focus. It is incredibly powerful.
.
I want to share an experience with this card from a reading today. As the boat race announcer was counting down 5 4 3 2 , right at 1, this card blew off the table and the querent (bless him) ran after it and caught it. Then we had a laugh about the universe butting in with messages. Temperance is like, idgaf what you call me, as long as you recognize that I'm here. I'm the mystery right in your face every day, let’s dance.
Tarot at the Red Hook Regatta
Tomorrow I’m reading tarot at the Red Hook Regatta!
This is probably the coolest event I’ve read at, the annual @pioneerworks DIY mini boat race at the beach at Valentino Pier in Red Hook. Come see me, I’ll be there from 1-5.
.
Image: some of my favorite water-themed cards.
Daily Tarot: The Hanged (Wo)man
One thing that occurred to me in writing this is that maybe it’s important that this card is usually called the Hanged Man because we’re seeing a suspension of masculine/outward/active energy. This card invites to fully surrender control and activity, and learn to be still, vulnerable, receptive.
.
Vulnerability is pretty much the hardest thing ever, at least for me. Anyone else feel this?
So we have The Hanged Man archetype to show us how to be present and willing in the moments when all of our layers of ego and self-protection are stripped away and we have no choice but to be vulnerable because that’s all we have left. I guess in these moments we could choose to struggle or shut down, but the better choice is to surrender. You’re stuck here, wait it out, smoke em if you got em, but sage, not cigarettes.
.
Held still, turned upside-down, totally unable to move in our usual way, we begin to see differently. Maybe the world is clearer from that perspective, maybe we are bringing our mind closer to the earth, maybe we sense with our open heart. Whatever it is, it’s something we wouldn’t have come to in any other way. Often, this figure is shown with a radiant halo, some say to represent the enlightenment found in surrender. Another thing that occurs to me about the halo is that even at your most raw, mortified, humiliated, suffering, you are still perfect and divine. Maybe we only notice that in moments of stillness.
.
So don’t struggle to stay in action right now, let yourself be vulnerable and soft. It might be uncomfortable but you’re safe. And discomfort means you’re in a good place to connect to some deep wisdom.
.
.
Card from the Mortality Impulses Tarot by Rebecca Sutton
Daily Tarot: 10 of Wands
Where are you putting energy into distraction, splitting up your own attention, purposely burning out a little so you don’t have energy left to do the one thing you’re avoiding? Where are you using self-inflicted exhaustion as an escape, and using avoidance as an attempt at control?
.
Ten of Wands is the end of the road on these particular coping strategies. You’ve reached the end, you’ve burned out. So now that you’re out of distractions, you can rest, gather your energy, and do that one thing you’re avoiding.
.
Really, no judgement here, I’m doing it, too. I have been hella distracted all day, doing a bunch of stuff all at once but not actually facing the important stuff. Sometimes it goes this way, because we’re learning to come into balance, rather than swinging between the extremes of not enough and way too much. Each time we hit the wall with 10 of Wands, it’s a little different, we learn something else, and we get a little more skill in managing our energy. Sometimes a lesson involves a scraped knee, you know? That doesn’t mean anything bad about us or the lesson.
.
Eventually we can pair our actions with the understanding that we can’t ever avoid the things we need to face, these things can’t hurt us, and that we don’t need to scrape ourselves up trying to avoid or resist the lessons. So here’s the reset button. Rest up and tackle that thing.
Thank you - donation roundup
THANK YOU to everyone who’s booked a tarot reading or reiki session with me so far this September. You have made it possible for me to donate just over $300 to people in need. At the beginning of the month, I was planning to donate everything to Harvey relief but there’s so much going on and so many people who need help, that I chose to spread it out. I’m sharing this so you can see what I’m doing, to stay accountable, and maybe to inspire you to donate what you can when you can. There’s a lot of suffering going on, and we’re more aware of it now than ever, with the 24hr news cycle and social media. It can be overwhelming, but it helps to focus on what you can do to help, rather than how massive it feels. (For me, anyway.) I can’t do everything, but I can love everything, and take action as my resources allow.
Going forward, I want to continue to donate a portion of income consistently. I’m looking into ways to do that in a more organized way, and I’d appreciate any feedback from other people doing something similar.
And again, thank you all so much for your support of me and all of our fellow humans.
Daily Tarot: 3 of Pentacles
The 3 of Pentacles says you are enough exactly as you are, and you are needed right now. Get out there and do your work, and remember it’s not going to look like anyone else’s work and your success will not look like anyone else’s success and that’s really cool. You’re not supposed to do everything alone, or like anyone else does stuff. It’s impossible and frankly, not fun. So do what you can do, and let others do what they can do. There’s a role only you can fill, and the rest of the team needs you so all of you can bring through something amazing, something bigger that each of you could on your own. Think of some of the coolest stuff out there in the world, there’s a verrry slim chance that any of it is the sole production of a single isolated human. Remember that when you feel like you’re not enough or doing enough. If you haven’t yet done the work you want to do, try making it a team project.
.
.
This puts me in mind of something @swoonhq wrote recently about learning to accept help to realize her visions. Scroll back through the feed to find it, it’s good reading.
.
For more on the 3 of Pentacles, @blind_stallion_space_wizard pulled it yesterday, and came through with some lovely insight on the creative impulse. .
.
photo: Untitled, 1938. Alexander Calder.
Daily Tarot: Ace of Pentacles
Ace of Pentacles says that a new earthly gift is being offered to you now. A seed. Will you take it and help it grow?
.
This earthly life is a gift. You have the amazing opportunity to grow and change and learn and heal, and that can only come through your body. Bless your body. It is your home and your antenna and your teacher and your intuition. Your body is raw magic, its feelings affect your mind and soul.
.
Your specific life here is a gift, not just to you, but to everyone you touch. What would it feel like to believe that? How would you act? Try it on. Let that idea be a seed you start to grow. Show that you appreciate your gifts by making wise and joyous use of them.
Rainbow sun dogs!
Daily Tarot: King of Swords
Heck of a start for the week. I kind of want to congratulate the collective on getting here.
.
Because I've been hanging out with the Queen of Swords so much this year, the 2 things I notice first about the King of Swords are that he's facing straight out of the card, his sword tilted. The Queen sits in profile with a perfectly straight sword. This brings up a theme of personal vs universal truth. The King is slightly more concerned with honesty and open communication than precision and truth, the reverse of the Queen's priorities.
.
He invites you to give your life force energy expression through your words.
.
You know how tough Swords lessons can be, we just worked with 9 of Swords yesterday. The King has been through all of that. He's here to show you that when you deal with your mind kindly and honestly, you get somewhere good. You get better at it, or it gets easier, or both. And you get to know exactly what is your energy and what isn't. You know how strong you are and what really matters to you.
.
Then you can use your mental powers not just to survive but to thrive, to show up and share what you've experienced to help other people. Your words may not always be the most polished, but they are as complete a rendering of YOUR truth as you can get in human language. King of Swords can be very persuasive, because people can feel that he really believes what he says. There's something Chris Traeger- like about him. Sure it's not strictly possible for everything to be LITERALLY his favorite, but he really means it when he says that.
.
When you're tapping into this King of Swords energy, you are empowered to speak your truth. Get it all out there. Just make sure you cast an eye to universal truth once in a while and don't convince yourself that yours is the only truth. And don't use your words just to get what you want or stir people up. A leader has to take care of other people first. If you have any power you've gotta use it on behalf of all people, that's the rule.
Daily Tarot: 9 of Swords
Quick intro cause I don't think I've said this lately: there are no "bad" cards. They're all invitations, medicine, lenses for understanding ourselves.
.
So! 9 of Swords looks pretty grim across most decks. The import thing to remember is that with Swords, we're talking about a mental experience. This represents a nightmare image, not a literal pile of skulls and chains (Halloween decor aside).
.
The thing about nightmares is, they speak in metaphors about our hidden fears. Once you face the root fear, no more nightmare (or maybe more like, if the nightmare comes back you know it's time to face another layer of that fear). 9 of Swords is a beautiful opportunity in a creepy package. It's like your brain shooting up a flare to show where it needs help.
.
And then you get to help your brain! 9 of Swords is an invitation to patiently, thoroughly look at your patterns of fear and worry. It shows you how to be responsible for the power of your mind rather than letting your mind run you ragged. It shows you when you're trying to control the future through worry, and offers you a chance to come back to the present. If you're feeling a lot of worry, pull yourself back to the present by moving your body, getting outside, talking to a friend, doing a grounding meditation. This is where your power is, and it's from here that you can act, and start healing the parts of you that are signaling for attention.
.
.
We're entering peak shadow work season, so this is a really good card to get us started. If you'd like support via a reading or energy work, please reach out and I'd love to serve you. 🍂🖤🍂
Daily Tarot: The World
This card speaks of completion, cycles, balance, and integration. It's also the last of the major arcana, so while it's an ending, it makes space for a new beginning. Or it carries the seed of a new beginning.
.
The World shows up when you have fully integrated a karmic lesson, and it's part of you now. Its something that you embody, you have the knowledge of this lesson in your muscle memory, and you don't ever have to go back to this lesson in the same way again. You did it, you graduated from this level of life school!
.
The World is really really good and important, but doesn't always "feel good," like most endings it's bittersweet. That's because it's whole, you get the bitter and the sweet.
.
The World also can appear when it's time to put to use the lessons you've learned, as a way of moving into the next spiral. Because it takes time to integrate experiences, and you may not be ready to move to the next thing right off the bat. (This is how it's showing up for me with this pull.)
.
Whatever changes you're going through, they are always lessons, and they always have something that makes you stronger and helps you understand yourself more. Trust yourself and your timing and remember to give yourself credit for how far you've come and how much you've learned.
Daily Tarot: The Moon
We are invited into the darkness with the Equinox today, and the Moon card. From here on out the days will get shorter as the nights get longer. The Moon reminds us that there is nothing to be afraid of in the dark. We'll only find more of ourselves there. Our urges, instincts, ancestral knowing, unconscious images, and formless feelings. We may not understand any of it, but that does not mean it's "bad" or we need to "get rid" of any of it. It's necessary to balance the light. This is what connects us with The Mystery.
.
I love the dark weird parts of life—the moon is sexy and romantic and inspiring—but the dark also makes me uncomfortable on a very human level. Like today I've kept myself running around and busy so I could avoid sitting with my feelings and dark inner stuff. I didn't set out to do that, but I recognized what I was doing. And The Moon card likes to show up when unconscious stuff is ready to be made conscious. So after I post this, I'm going to just hang out with myself and see what's up with the unedited primal me, cause she has a message to deliver. If you're feeling like you're avoiding yourself, I encourage you to do the same - ask your unconscious what it's trying to show you and write until whatever message comes out. This is also a good time for dream work, so write down your dreams when you wake up.
Happy Equinox and Blessed Mabon, everyone.
Daily Tarot: Ace of Cups
The Ace of Cups shows that you're in a place where you can start loving yourself in a new way. Clean slate in your self-relationship. You get to skip to the last 10 minutes of Groundhog Day, where you're Bill Murray and all the other characters at the same time, and you're just kind and gracious in every instance.
.
Love yourself like you've never been a dick to yourself or self-sabotaged or self-punished. Love yourself like you are as worthy of your own love as everyone else. Love yourself like you're not embarrassed about loving yourself.
.
And act with love. Give yourself good food, rest, time outside, time with friends. Forgive yourself when you mess up. Don't say mean stuff about yourself. Be honest with yourself. Basically, treat yourself like a person you love.
.
If you feel uncomfortable about this, that means it's extra important for you right now. Something that can help is a tiny bit of brain bait and switch. Think of a person or animal you love, and feel love beaming from you to them. Then keep the beam going, and swap in your own image. See what that feels like for you.
.
One of the points here is to begin to recognize that the love you feel for others is coming from you. You are the ever-flowing source of love. Only your own love will ever fill your need for love.
.
.
This is kind of a benevolent state of dissociation, and it's making me think of @bunnymichael Higher Self project. They're amazing and I recommend following them and supporting them on Patreon if you can.
.
.
ALSO I just learned that The Ace of Cups was one of the first all-female rock bands, formed during 1967's Summer of Love.
Daily Tarot: 6 of Pentacles
I'm getting to know the old Marseille deck I found this summer. Today's draw was with this deck, and I thought I'd share a bit of my process of learning cards and building my tarot mind palace. I'd love to hear what you think and how you work with a new-to-you deck, or if you have questions.
.
1️⃣First I look at the card and notice stuff without trying to interpret it. (Two sets of 3 coins, like one pyramid balanced on another.)
2️⃣Then I let some sensory or memory associations come in. (Reminds me of some space nonsense I read as a teen, maybe Stargate or Illuminatus Trilogy, where the Earth pyramids were built as pedestals for spaceship pyramids.)
3️⃣Bonus round: I cross-reference it to what I see in the same card from other decks. (RWS: balance, hierarchy. Small Spells: giving with love. Motherpeace: equals, healing, body. Wild Unknown: abundance, ripeness. Thoth: symmetry, facets, beehive.)
4️⃣Then I look over all of these observations and what's important to know right now will rise to the surface, and begin to form a message.
⏩What I'm getting is the importance of balancing giving and receiving. There's enough to go around. You have to give some away to stay balanced. You have to let some flow away from you to keep receiving.
🔄
.
I've been feeling really loved and supported by my various overlapping communities lately, and I'm so grateful to know all of you lovely people.
I've mentioned how I've been feeling like I have an increased capacity for service, which corresponds to an increased capacity to receive. That's the harder part for me, accepting help, support, compliments, attention. But receiving completes the circuit, makes the whole process come to life. We're not exchanging the same thing over and over like a sitcom fruitcake. As we share, the energy changes form, it might even get bigger. Loaves and fishes, right?
This energy is endless, that's what abundance is about.
.
Mantra for 6 of Pentacles:
"I'll always have enough when I share all I have."
Daily Tarot: Judgement
Another repeat card from last week. This is a big lesson for all of us.
.
Judgement feels like the exact card we need for today's New Moon. It's in the sign of Virgo, which represents the self in service to the collective. The new moon is a time of introspection and intention. Judgement is waking up to your soul purpose. All of these elements work together to help us find practical ways to live in service.
.
Judgement brings up the idea of a soul path, the work we're here to do and how we do it. We talk about stepping onto our soul path, but it's important to recognize that *you are already on it* now, and always have been. You may not always be in the middle of the path, sometimes you're dragging your feet or getting distracted, but you're on it. Not one moment of your life has been a waste. So if you're buying into some fear story of how you're not good/experienced/happy/powerful enough to live your soul purpose, you can leave that here in the dark of the moon. Then pick a new story as an affirmation. Practice telling yourself that you are enough. Practice showing yourself that you're enough by helping people. Each day as the moon grows fuller, you'll believe it more. You'll feel yourself shifting to match what you're here to do. Make it an intention tonight (whatever day you're reading this), then in the morning put the intention into action. There are a lot of people who could use your help in the form of a donation, calling reps, showing up at protests, volunteering, listening, speaking, or receiving their service. Intention plus action, that's how you change the world. And you are here to change the world. Now that you're awake, it's time to take action.
.
.
.
My heart is with the people of Mexico, Dominica, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico tonight.