Letting Go of Shame
Shame is such a hard emotion to get through and let go of. When it comes up, it is like a shock to my system. I freeze. My face turns red. And I say some really stupid things. But I am getting better at letting go of shame! Here is how.
The Connected and Free Oracle, and The Binary
(Content warning: talk of sex organs, slightly nsfw due to art of naked bodies) There are a lot of things I love about The Connected and Free Oracle by Lauren Aletta and Tegan Swyny. The card stock is nice and thick meaning that they will wear less. The book shows a photo of the card along with the meanings. The backs of the cards have an interesting yet minimal design. The artwork really stands out. The borders on the cards are thin. And I love having additional cards. The Connected and Free Oracle, and the Binary However, I am disappointed in the addition of these two cards- Masculine and Feminine.…
Why I don't Smudge
In New Age, metaphysical, and spiritual circles, you have probably come across the practice of smudging. Many people in these communities burn sage bundles, sometimes also called smudge sticks, and walk around their space or waft it over themselves. But did you know that more than likely isn’t smudging? Why I don’t Smudge Smudging is a specific practice used by multiple First Nations groups. One specific practice, as was taught to me by Saginaw-Chippewa tribal members (for educational understanding, not for the passing on of tradition), involves multiple herbs, burnt with specific intentions, bringing in spirits, and spoken with specific words. All of this varies based on the situation and…
Moving Beyond the Binary: My Experience with Masculine/Feminine Energy
This post is not to rail against people who prefer to label their personal energy using the feminine/masculine dichotomy. The intention of this post is to provide an alternative look on energy and present my reasoning for why I don’t subscribe to the binary. TW: mention of menstruation. Moving Beyond the Binary: My Experience with Masculine/Feminine Energy Energy is a part of everything. We, humans, have energy systems. So do plants, animals, cosmic bodies, the universe, spirits, etc. How we each feel and interact with those energies differ. As a cis-woman living in the culture of the United States, I was told (explicitly and implicitly) that I am worth less…
Why I don't use the G-word
Look. Sometimes there are words that mean more than we think they mean. Or they enter popular culture and they change, gaining meanings and stereotypes. Gypsy is one of those words. Why I don’t use the G-word. What do you think the G-word is? Take a moment to think about it. What do you think it is? If you guessed Gypsy, you would be right. Many of us in the United States may hear the word and think free spirit, fortune teller, magical. Those in and around Europe may know it different because of the cultural and legal differences. For those of us in the US, may not know that…
10 Tips to Reading Tarot
Tarot can be a complex system of symbols, keywords, and intuition making it an overwhelming art to learn. As a reader myself since about 2004, I can say that it will get less overwhelming and easier as you learn and practice. Don’t worry though, I have your back with ten helpful tips to reading tarot! Deck pictured: Universal Tarot by Lo Scarabeo 10 Tips to Reading Tarot: Record your readings. They can be useful reference to come back to, writing can help meanings stick in your memory better, and later you can see how far you’ve progressed! Don’t neglect your intuition. Your intuition can be a valuable tool in reading…
ShelbyMelissa's Guide to Building a Relationship with Your Deck
Sometimes when we get a new deck, we just don’t click right away. If you are in this situation, you may be wondering, “How can I build a relationship with my deck?” But don’t worry. I’ve got you covered with my Guide to Building a Relationship with Your Deck! ShelbyMelissa’s Guide to Building a Relationship with Your Deck Looking to build a relationship with your new deck? Or have one that you just couldn’t seem to work with? Here are some ideas! Drawing a Card a Day (Alternatively a Spread a Day) One of the most common pieces of advice is to simply draw a card every day. Not only…
