{ Magic Monday }

August 28, 2017 Alessandra Dzuba

So, who here is still reeling from all that eclipse energy last week? It was amazing to get to experience it and it felt pretty incredible given the amount of personal change I've been dealing with lately. I've been feeling a little tapped out as a result, maybe you have too? Whether you are feeling supercharged or super-crashed, I think this week's reading can apply to all of us:

- Four of Swords - This card is all about being in a state of rest and recovery - it begs us to withdraw for a while and get more introspective. In this solitude, we aim to heal our spirit and mind, it's also a good time to set boundaries so that you are able to function better in the eye of the storm. Stay calm, stay centered...let the chaos around you churn while you meditate and keep your shit together.

- Eight of Cups - In which Tarot looked at the first card and said, 'I see your Four of Swords and I raise you this Eight of Cups...' It's all well and good to make space for self-examination, but you have been spreading yourself too thin and the sacrifice here is you. Time to stop fucking around - look at the amount of energy you put into tending your relationships, it's a lot, isn't it? It's time to start putting more energy into your own needs. To avoid feeling empty and emotionally exhausted, you need to become a better caregiver for yourself. Honor those boundaries you have worked hard to establish and stop giving your energy away to others.

- The Sun - A card which symbolizes positivity and success in all endeavors, The Sun is representative of the vital energy of your true self. Once you are able to recognize your needs and tend to them, you will be making space for personal growth and happiness to come to you. I love seeing this card, Y'all - good things are on the horizon!

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*These tarot card readings are intended for us all as a community and are therefore broad. If you are interested in a more specific, in-depth reading - we offer individual readings at Oracle as well! If you would like to schedule an appointment for an individual reading, you can do that here or give us a ring at 816.982.9550. You can also join us for one of our monthly Tarot Workshop & Happy Hour events and learn more about cartomancy!

{ Magic Monday }

August 21, 2017 Alessandra Dzuba

Is everyone ready for the Solar Eclipse (Of The Heart)? I'm SUPEREXCITED about it. The eclipse is bringing about some rapid change and it's a good idea for us to be ready to embrace the things which are out of our control (chaos). Adding to that, we have a new moon, making this a good time to let go of the things which no longer serve you and to work with this current of energy rather than try to fight against it. New beginnings Y'all, let's get into it! I pulled some cards to help us navigate through this - check it out:

- King of Swords - Well, good news! For those of you playing at home, the King of Swords was last card I pulled from last week's reading. Today it represents where we are, so it appears that we have been doing our work, so to speak. Sharing information and knowledge ~ while being receptive to the wisdom and counsel of others ~ we are using our intellectual and analytical strengths to come to a place of fairness with others.

- Page of Wands - So, it's super hard to sit still and not act on all the the inspiration and revelations we are experiencing right now. It's easy to get swept up in the impulsive energy surrounding this card - but we still need to slow our roll. The opportunities presenting themselves are just the kind to feed our creative spirit, but we are lacking the experience and maturity necessary to bring these things to fruition. Keep your sense of adventure alive, but don't be too quick to make a move - slow and steady Y'all.

-Six of Cups - By allowing things to slow down, we can better embrace the memory and feelings of more carefree days. This card always talks about feeling connected to the joy, innocence and ease of childhood - I know this is not true for all of us, for many our childhoods can be a memory bank for trauma and hurt. I think what this means is, we can cultivate the feelings of playful ease if we give ourselves permission to experience magic. Did y'all have imaginary friends? Imaginary epic battles? Make potions out of mud and whatever else you could find in the yard? I think all children are pretty witchy and their sense of wonder and magic can get shamed out of us as we get older. Fuck that noise! Time to get in touch with your intuition and really flex your imagination muscles. Try to remember the things which give you real joy and revisit those things!

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{ Magic Monday }

August 14, 2017 Alessandra Dzuba

Hi Y'all! Have you had a good summer? It's been a hot minute since I've been able to write, but I've got a fresh, three-card spread to share with you - perhaps one which will be particularly helpful with Mercury all up in Retrograde again. Let's dig in:

Six of Swords, Knight of Wands and the King of Swords from the Pagan Otherworlds tarot deck by Uusi Design; gorgeous Iris printed pelt by Ash Miyagawa.

- Six of Swords - This is where we are now. I'm not one bit surprised to see this card, which was the last card I pulled for us in June (a 'no shit, Tarot' type of card if there ever was one...) which represents a change for the better after a period of uncertainty. Through our own introspection, we may be seeing things a little more clearly and finding a new awareness. This card can also signify a journey for some, but is always a reminder that our transitions are cyclical and our experiences are transitory.

- Knight of Wands - BUT! We may be feeling restless, impatient - eager to get this change of scenery (be it mental, physical or both) over and done with. Our sense of courage and desire for adventure is a useful tool for us here, but it can be causing us to act recklessly if we don't take some time to really contemplate our best steps forward. In short, we must slow our collective roll.

- King of Swords - If we are able to measure our desire for change with rational guidance - and this type of thing takes time, patience and thoughtful evaluation - then we will be coming into our new passage with wisdom and fairness. It's about taking the higher road these days - no easy feat, not ever - and seeking out counsel when we feel unsure. The exchange of knowledge is one we can all benefit from so don't be too proud to seek it out and by all means share what you know!

*The beautiful tarot cloth I am using is a printed rabbit pelt created by none other than our own Ash Miyagawa, who has opened an incredible shop wherein you will find botanical illustrations, prints and beautiful, unusual goods! You can visit this shop, here!

{ Mentat Monday }

May 22, 2017 Alessandra Dzuba

Hi Y'all, I hope you had a great weekend! Are you ready to dig into this week's focus card? It's a good one....

Ace of Swords

In Tarot, Swords always represent the intellect and mental process of the querent. Our rational minds provide us with the necessary tools to discern between illusion and truth and the Ace of this suit is indicative of the beginning of that clarity.

We are approaching a 'break-through' of with our insight and perception. Ace of Swords suggests that we hold steady, to better know - and therefore speak - our truth.

We have great intellectual potential and mental capacity, Y'all. Let's do this thing!

{ Mother's Day Monday }

May 15, 2017 Alessandra Dzuba

Yes, it's the day after Mother's Day, but who am I to miss out on a perfect alliteration when opportunity presents itself? In the spirit of honoring motherhood (in all the forms this archetype can represent), I decided to choose a card deliberately today. Our focus card for the week is none other than the ultimate 'Mother' in Tarot, The Empress.

The Empress represents all things nurturing, including the experiences of conception, gestation, birth, guidance and the care needed to facilitate growth. Qualities associated with this card are patience, creativity, fertility, nature, wisdom, abundance, beauty and the capacity for giving and receiving love.

When the Empress turns up in your reading, she is usually there to herald a time of directionless, explosive creativity. While the directionless part is a little scary, I always take this as good news, as my old ass can always use some youthful energy with my visionary rebirth. And how do we apply the lessons of the Empress? Baby your ideas, give them patience and care - cultivate a healthy environment for them to thrive in and then watch them develop into something good. Remember to be receptive to this type of fertile energy when you feel it, and don't be afraid to get weird, y'all - the Arts and Sciences (and all of us other weirdos) need you.

{ Mingledingle Monday }

May 8, 2017 Alessandra Dzuba

I felt like this week really called for one of those loud and clear kinds of messages, so I went to my beautiful Scrying Ink deck for guidance. This week's focus card is really keeping in theme with our last couple of card pulls (Hanged Man and Nine of Swords), hold on to your butts because this week I pulled.....

BROOM

Ah yes, Broom. In traditional Lenormand decks this card is presented with the Whip, but this particular deck takes that message one step further by being even more specific. Broom is indicative of clearing away, separation, dissolution and truth - it also signifies a time for some fresh starts. Unlike the argumentative nature of Whip, Broom is more of a cleansing card, sweeping away lies and unhealthy situations to give way to a new beginning.

Lenormand Broom (Whip) is represented by the Jack of Clubs (AKA Page of Wands) in cartomancy, which means this is also a time that is ripe with opportunity. It's good for us to embrace this change with positivity and enthusiasm, but to keep our impulsiveness in check. Change is not easy, Y'all. I know some of you may be experiencing some difficult or uncomfortable transitions right now and it might be hard to keep your chin up about it. Broom here is letting you know that you are making room in your heart for things which truly enrich your soul, and you will come out of this a happier, healthier person.

We have been working on changing our perspective, on breaking our bad mental habits and now we are being asked to really clear the air and make space for those new possibilities that are opening for us. Let's do this shit!