Weekend Send-Off
This upcoming full moon and eclipse has had me feeling all sorts of loopy. I've either been sleeping soundly or not at all, tackling piles of work with focus or running around distractedly. Variety is the spice of life, right?
I'm also nose-deep in an epic website redesign that's bringing out all my persnickety tics. This mainly focuses around words. What words do I use to describe my business and offerings? (To my left is a spread of notecards with buzzwords on them... and a plate of blueberry pie.)
Amongst all these happenings have been some lovely highlights...
Instagram / @chalametinart
This upcoming full moon and eclipse has had me feeling all sorts of loopy. I've either been sleeping soundly or not at all, tackling piles of work with focus or running around distractedly. Variety is the spice of life, right?
I'm also nose-deep in an epic website redesign that's bringing out all my persnickety tics. This mainly focuses around words. What words do I use to describe my business and offerings? (To my left is a spread of notecards with buzzwords on them... and a plate of blueberry pie.)
Amongst all these happenings have been some lovely highlights...
Artful Exploration - You Are Here at NCMA
I finally got myself over to the North Carolina Museum of Art to catch the last day of this amazing exhibit featuring visually captivating art, most notably an infinity room by Yayoi Kusama that has become the selfie-background du jour. But you know what, it is genuinely gorgeous and should be enjoyed by the masses, so I take back my reflexive judgy tone there! (Also, my insecurity could be stemming from my selfie-ineptitude - I couldn't get the right angle and caved under the pressure!)
Pure Brilliance - Timothee Chalamet in Art
My friend and I watched a matinee showing of Call Me By Your Name in New Orleans. I was not expecting to be filled with indescribable joy at the lush, pure-hearted eroticism between Elio and Oliver while surrounded by very uncomfortable senior citizens, but it was a magical experience nonetheless. And Call Me By Your Name is by far my favorite movie of the year.
So when this instagram account dedicated to images of Timothee Chalamet photoshopped into classical art I nearly exploded. I may or may not have downloaded one of their wallpapers for my desktop, too...
Repeat Tarot Card
This week has been fairly diverse when it comes to tarot cards. No one card has popped up to set the mood which is... interesting. Perhaps a reflection of the big changes coming our way in the eclipse? Mystery abounds!
Listening, Reading, Watching
I finally dove into this collection of stories by Angela Carter. Most famous for her subversive retellings of fairy tales, Carter is an amazing writer. You know the feeling when you pick up a book, start reading, and are lifted to another world? It's indescribably refreshing, especially when the writer has a playful mastery of language and a sense of humor. I didn't know how much I needed this until I picked it up!
How about you? What has been bringing joy to your life this week? And finally, here it is - our card for the weekend.
The Knight of Swords
Message: Follow your ideas, test them out in real time, and find exhilaration in questioning the status quo.
Embrace: Communicating your ideas with fellow seekers (but keep it to your "indoor voice" - this knight can be unintentionally rude and crusading!)
Let Go Of: Absolutes - what might be hidden in even your truest convictions?
Guidance: We can travel so far in our minds, leaping over obstacles and stumbling blocks with creative thinking.
Weekend Send-Off
Wow. We've made it. I'm not 100% convinced it's Friday, though the fact that I'm writing this post is pretty good evidence. It's been a busy week over here, full of lovely people and tarot readings. Not to mention a delightful beginner's tarot course I taught last night. Amidst it all, I was able to squeeze in some adventures. Read below for the details and a tarot card to start off the weekend!
The Color of Pomegranates / Source
Wow. We've made it. I'm not 100% convinced it's Friday, though the fact that I'm writing this post is pretty good evidence. It's been a busy week over here, full of lovely people and tarot readings. Not to mention a delightful beginner's tarot course I taught last night. Amidst it all, I was able to squeeze in some adventures. Read below for the details and a tarot card to start off the weekend!
Visual Feast - The Color of Pomegranates
My partner David LOVES the Criterion Collection. When we first met I made a foolish comment about how I thought it was silly that anyone would buy DVDs in this day and age... Whoops! I obviously wasn't aware that the attractive man next to me had a huge collection himself. Luckily, he wasn't to offended and now I get to enjoy his bounty of tasteful films! The Color of Pomegranates is one of the latest additions. A gorgeous and poetic depiction of the Armenian poet Sayat-Nova's life, this film is full of stunning imagery and rich symbolism that reminded me of the tarot.
Moment of Hilarity - This Might Be The Worst Tarot Deck I've Ever Bought
I was not expecting to snort audibly while reading this amazing review by Jess Carlson. While many decks aren't my cup of tea aesthetically-speaking, I can usually appreciate them as being delightful/useful for someone else. Well. This deck - the TV Tarot - is terribly, amazingly, ridiculously bad. Think deranged Sims artwork that looks nothing like the characters its supposedly depicting. Read if you'd like to have a nice, hearty laugh and scratch your head over some of the more mysterious cards.
Repeat Tarot Card
The suit of cups was all over the place at my class last night. It was pretty fascinating! Our practice reading together was all cups cards and while I hopped around helping people with their individual readings the Ace of Cups showed up twice as well. Clearly we're feeling warm, fuzzy, and in touch with each other these days. Energy I'm always happy to welcome!
Listening, Reading, Watching
I think I spent most of this week in the car, so naturally I have some podcasts to share here! Listened to my first episode of the Witch Wave podcast and it was so wonderful. In-depth interviews combined with ruminations on witchcraft and responses to listener's questions.
How about you? What has been bringing joy to your life this week? And finally, here it is - our card for the weekend.
The Moon
Message: Listen to your dreams and extend them into your waking life. Rest, relax, and enjoy what's unfolding.
Embrace: Hidden messages, symbolism and mythology, intuitive messages.
Let Go Of: The need for clarity, hiding behind practicality, making big decisions.
Guidance: What can happen when I treat my everyday life as something magical and mysterious?
Weekend Send-Off
This week has been a wild and wooly one. I found myself swept up into a flurry of activities - lots of readings, get-togethers, and a few adventures to boot. Let's just say I'm happy to have some time this weekend to catch my breath and rest! Here are a few things that made my days sweeter as well as a card to frame our next two days.
Garden blooms from this week
This week has been a wild and wooly one. I found myself swept up into a flurry of activities - lots of readings, get-togethers, and a few adventures to boot. Let's just say I'm happy to have some time this weekend to catch my breath and rest! Here are a few things that made my days sweeter as well as a card to frame this weekend.
Life-Affirming Tear-Fest - Won't You Be My Neighbor?
My fiance and I casually strolled into this movie expecting to feel some cozy childhood nostalgia and uplift. Well. Let's just say there wasn't a dry eye in the theater. Please go and see this movie even if you have just the slightest twinkle of curiosity. It's full of gorgeous insights into the human experience that (unfortunately) still sound radical today. I never realized how much I needed to cry freely in a theater full of strangers. It's nice to celebrate the special tenderness we all share.
Everyday Joy
Planning my next epic ritual bath. I don't take baths often, but when I do it's an occasion. I especially like to take on during full and new moons. New moon in Cancer? It's ritual bath time! All week I've been having fun playing around with ideas for it. What essential oils will I use? Herbs? Milk? I'm even toying around with adding a splash of rosé - what can I say, I'm feeling decadent. But someone did leave a bottle at my house from our last party...
Repeat Tarot Card
This Two of Cups has been showing its wonderful, tender self a lot lately, particularly when it comes to the giddy spark of mutual attraction. It reminds us to approach people and situations that make us blush with excitement, even if they seem intimidating. New relationships need extra tending, but they can grow into something strong and majestic over time.
Listening, Reading, Watching
I'm still deep in Drawing Down the Moon (it's quite the tome at 500+ pages), though I have been dipping back into Benebell Wen's classic book Holistic Tarot for inspiration while working on some tarot spreads. For those of you learning tarot who want a "one-stop shop" kind of book, I highly recommend this one. She also includes ethical and helpful tips on reading for clients and going pro, among many other things!
In the fun realm, I'm listening to the podcast The Habitat. It's a true story about six volunteers who pretend to be astronauts on a mission on Mars. I'm interested to see how the close quarters affect the group psychology (and I've been surprised to learn so much about the logistics of going to the bathroom in space... fascinating!)
How about you? What has been bringing joy to your life this week? And finally, here it is - our card for the weekend.
Queen of Wands
Message: Let your energy and inspiration flow freely. The world wants to see you in all your splendor. Prioritize your creativity and passions.
Embrace: Socializing, talking up your projects and passions, being proud of your accomplishments, special signs from the universe.
Let Go Of: Minimizing what you've created, energy-sucking tasks and relationships.
Guidance: What can I do to celebrate my creative powers? What makes me feel electric?
Weekend Send-Off
Did anyone else get turned around by the Fourth of July? I almost forgot to write this post - such is the power of having a national holiday smack-dab in the middle of the week! Luckily, I caught myself just in time. So, without further ado, here are some of the things that brought joy to this first week of July. Please share yours in the comments below.
A quiet moment in the studio / Photo by Hill Honeck
Did anyone else get turned around by the Fourth of July? I almost forgot to write this post - such is the power of having a national holiday smack-dab in the middle of the week! Luckily, I caught myself just in time. So, without further ado, here are some of the things that brought joy to this first week of July. Please share yours in the comments below.
Big Discovery - Drawing Down the Moon by Margot Adler
Despite seeing this book recommended by so many people whose work I enjoy I hadn't picked it up until this week. And let me tell you it's a gem! A scholarly approach to the Neo-Pagan movement with the tact and respect of someone with firsthand experience. I was especially surprised to see how much Adler's early experiences being drawn to witchcraft mirrored my own. Read this if you're curious about modern witchcraft and are looking for a reputable and engaging book.
Everyday Joy
Drumstick ice cream cones. An oldie but a goodie! I bought a gigantic pack of these for our Fourth of July cookout and they were nothing short of revelatory. I'm pretty pleased that we didn't finish them all - I just had one as a mid-afternoon snack ;)
Ridiculousness
My friend sent me this hilarious hipster lorem ipsum generator and it is pure gold if you need a quick laugh or pick-me-up. Instead of using the old faithful "lorem ipsum..." as placeholder text in your designs enjoy the gems on this site. Case in point: "Vaporware green juice knausgaard, meh literally fixie narwhal. Distillery readymade master cleanse cred fingerstache." Enjoy!
Repeat Tarot Card
This week was all about the Nine of Pentacles. A truly rich and resplendent card, this nine is all about showing up fully in life with generosity, abundance, and good intentions. We can see it in all the important actions people are taking to help one another through these difficult times, the space we're holding for joy and connection, and the desire to shape the world to match ideas of inclusivity and hospitality.
Visual Magic
I love me a good house tour. Add New England seaside charm with vague mentions of ghostly activity and you have yourself a true winner. Check out this tour of John Derian's home in Provincetown, Massachusetts for gorgeous historical interiors and beautifully peeling wallpaper.
Listening, Reading, Watching
I just finished the podcast The Gateway on the internet guru Teal Swan. It's fascinating, disturbing, and very difficult to listen to without speeding through all six episodes.
As far as books go, I've been working through Michelle Tea's wonderful book Modern Tarot. I love checking out new resources for people just starting to learn about tarot and this one combines card meanings with super-helpful firsthand experiences from Tea's own tarot practice. I might write a full-on review on this one, but until then definitely check this out if you want a down-to-earth look at each card in the deck. (Plus, she includes wonderful spells, too!)
How about you? What has been bringing joy to your life this week? And now without further ado... the card for the weekend!
King of Pentacles
Message: Live it up this weekend! Be decadent, loving, and generous and enjoy the life you've built.
Embrace: Good times and sensual pleasures. Yes, I'm talking about food, sex, enjoyable activities, and the magic of the so-called little things in life.
Let Go Of: Stinginess, shame, pretending to be less than you are.
Guidance: How can I celebrate and enjoy the fruits of my labors with others?
Weekend Send-Off
Hello my peaches! I'm so excited to introduce a new regular feature here on the Incandescent Tarot blog. Each Friday I'll be sharing some of the things that have made my week brighter - books, films, resources, and tarot happenings. Not to mention a one-card reading on what to expect for the weekend ahead. I hope you enjoy and share what's been making your world extra-magical in the comments below!
My new happy place: Gunter's Greenhouse in Durham, NC
Hello my peaches! I'm so excited to introduce a new regular feature here on the Incandescent Tarot blog. Each Friday I'll be sharing some of the things that have made my week brighter - books, films, resources, and tarot happenings. Not to mention a one-card reading on what to expect for the weekend ahead. I hope you enjoy and share what's been making your world extra-magical in the comments below!
I know, what a time to start a positive column like this one. This week has been fairly soul-crushing when it comes to current events. I'll be posting more about this in the next few days; until then, I'll be doing what I can to support organizations like RACIES, the ACLU, and others, and you can bet your butt that I'll be marching in Raleigh tomorrow.
Still, there have been some lovely bursts of light amidst all this madness. Now more than ever the importance of kindness, beauty, and community is coming through loud and clear.
Big Discovery - Hannah Gadsby
I hadn't ever heard of Gadsby's work before watching her netflix stand-up performance Nanette. And oh my, I was seriously blown away by her radical honesty, hilarious comedy, and stunning insights. Go watch it now and cry tears of happiness for the utter magic that happens when we let our true selves shine freely.
Everyday Joy
I got back in the swing of making a new batch of iced tea to sip throughout the day. I'm terrible at hydrating until I remember that it makes my skin infinitely better (yes, vanity is my prime motivator). My favorites are fresh mint with honey and lemon, hibiscus chamomile, and ye olde green tea aka what I will continue to assume is healthier and morally superior caffeine.
Repeat Tarot Card
I love seeing what card makes the most appearances in my personal and client readings. This week was all about the pages, especially the Page of Wands. It's a nice card to have during these tumultuous times. For me, this intrepid page is reminding us to stay fired up and take baby steps forward, trusting that we'll learn all we need to succeed so long as we stay engaged and motivated.
Special Gratitude
I'm feeling incredibly mushy about the friends and community I'm blessed to have in my life. Even when I'm furiously hermiting away, lost in my thoughts, and surprised that they're still there when I peek my head back above ground! That and the reliable decadence of sugary pastries.
Listening, Reading, Watching
This week I finished another gorgeous book, Fair Play, by Tove Jansson, creator of the Moomins. She's also an incredible writer and this thin volume (you could read it in a day) touches beautifully on art, creativity, and nature. Though I just checked the amazon reviews and a fellow named "Jason G" strongly disagrees with me and chose to title his review "I would rather put sand in my anus." Thanks for the evocative image, Jason. Guess we'll just agree to disagree!
I've been listening to Sam Evian for some chill summer jams after having the pleasure of seeing him live a few weeks ago. That and the wonderful and entertaining podcast Pairing by my dear friend. Check it out if you like all things wine and art!
How about you? What has been bringing joy to your life this week? And now without further ado... the card for the weekend!
Knight of Pentacles