Read the blog
Following the wind
So I’m doing something different today. Listen here.
It’s an audio message, with thoughts on the pandemic, yes, because it’s still on everyone’s mind. But also thoughts on the wind, dust, what ‘HOME’ really means, and how you can set the intention to “move on by the absurd.”
Plus, a little tarot reading.
It’s kind of a random ramble, yet it’s also all connected.
Kinda like the old days – some of you might remember when I used to have a podcast called Key Finding.
Click here to listen.
It’s a YouTube video, but it’s actually just audio. 🙂
Sign up for email updates and get
Foundational Tarot, a free video course!
Hi, I'm Carrie!
I'm a tarot reader and mentor. My purpose is to encourage your expansion. If you're new, start here.
All site content © Carrie Mallon LLC 2017
I am part of Amazon's associate program. If you purchase items linked in this site I will receive a small kick-back.
This space is for you
This was a real delight for me, because as a deck creator I was very concerned (maybe even overly so tbh!) about letting the deck be open to interpretation. When you open the box of our deck, you are greeted with a message that says ‘this space is for you.’ And in the introduction to the guidebook, I invite people to take what resonates and leave the rest, because this deck belongs to you now.
I’m fairly satisfied with the approach I took in writing the Spacious Tarot guidebook. There’s some information about why we chose the imagery we did, but lots of space to project your own thoughts and feelings onto the cards. I basically took the opposite approach from when I wrote my blog posts about the Wild Unknown: in those posts, I went into a lot of detail breaking down the imagery, even what the colors could mean! I analyzed the heck out of those cards.
Interestingly, the reason I was able to do this with the Wild Unknown is that the creator of that deck wrote a pretty sparse guidebook. If she had written a huge manifesto going into all the details about why she made the decisions she did, I wouldn’t have had the inspiration to blog about the deck. And frankly, I probably wouldn’t have felt as drawn to the deck, because on some level I might have felt bound to the creator’s interpretations instead of free to explore my own interpretations. Also: me being me, at the top of every blog post I wrote about the Wild Unknown there’s a disclaimer stating that these are just MY perspectives.
To be fair, some of this is just my own neuroses. A lot of people have requested that I write a more detailed and lengthy book about the Spacious Tarot, and maybe I will someday! There’s certainly a lot more I could say about these cards. And you know what? I would kind of love to write a more detailed book about this deck. But… I’m sure that if I do, I will not be able to stop myself from suggesting that people ignore the things I write that don’t connect with them, and interpret the imagery in whatever way it speaks to them.
There’s an essay by literary critic Roland Barthes called ‘Death of the Author.’ The idea is basically that when you’re interpreting a piece of art, the author’s views/intentions actually don’t matter that much. The work outlives the author, metaphorically and literally. The interpretations of you as the person interacting with the art are what really matters, not who the creator was or what they were trying to convey. Your perception is valid.
There’s obviously a lot more nuanced conversations to be had about this…like if a creator does something truly problematic in their personal life, maybe we can’t always just separate them from their creations. Who am I to say? I’m not a literary critic, just a tarot reader. But I hope that if you own the Spacious Tarot, and you ever see me, the deck creator, expressing an opinion you don’t agree with (IE: I went on an angry rant about current affairs on Instagram last week) or if I do something that you perceive as dumb or troubling, that it will not pollute your relationship with the deck. Forget about me!
The point is: the way I see it, any tarot deck you love belongs to you. Any tarot deck you resonate with creates a space that is for you. You can work with it however you see fit. If the creator has provided a lot of details about their choices, you may find inspiration in that. But maybe you see the cards in totally novel ways and take things in a completely different direction than the creator ever imagined. That’s great, that’s wonderful! That’s the magic of tarot, and that magic is channeled through you.
Sign up for email updates and get
Foundational Tarot, a free video course!
Hi, I'm Carrie!
I'm a tarot reader and mentor. My purpose is to encourage your expansion. If you're new, start here.
All site content © Carrie Mallon LLC 2017
I am part of Amazon's associate program. If you purchase items linked in this site I will receive a small kick-back.
Tender (or tender) tarot
So today, we’re going to do Tender or Tender Tarot. I will use two decks. You can choose the deck you feel drawn to. Either way, the message will be tender, and hopefully give you something soft and kind to carry with you.
Before that, just some raw thoughts: most of us are feeling all the things lately. I am, at least. I’ve talked a lot in my past few messages about feeling grateful, and I still do, that’s a feeling I try to cultivate.
But I also feel a lot of anger. And hope. And despair, then hope again, then frustration, peace, guilt, more anger, witchy as fuck, connected, lonely, alive… it’s a wild ride.
The specifics vary widely, but we are all in a weird place lately. And maybe like me, you’re feeling all the things. So, I’m trying to be tender with myself, and today extend some of that tenderness to you.
Take a moment to sense into which pile you are drawn to. Top is the Gaian Tarot, bottom is The Spacious Tarot. The crystal is cobalto calcite (my favorite for loving vibes).
When you have your selection,
down
to
find
your
message.
The Priestess has a similar vibe. She exists on the cusp of sea (unconscious) and land (conscious). She asks you to be equally reverent of your inner youth and inner elder. The owl and the fish remind you to value both traditional wisdom as well as your unique intuition. The moon and the sea are both things that ebb and flow around the Priestess. She asks: what ebbs and flows around you? How can you be present with this, without seeking to repress or control it?
A common thread carries through these two cards: the magic of ritual. Ritual could be the answer to some of the questions posed for you here: rituals honor your belonging, your aliveness. Rituals ground and center you through whatever waves come your way. Your rituals can be big, elaborate traditional ceremonies to honor phases of the moon or points on the wheel of the year. Or your rituals can be small and secular: your morning coffee, watering your plants, Zooming a friend. What ritual can you devote to that will serve and heal you at this time? Do it!
If you chose the Spacious Tarot, you have the Explorer of Swords and Ten of Pentacles. The Explorer (Knight) asks what you are really ready to invest yourself in. Your energy levels may be very different than they were a couple of months ago, so it’s important to make sure you’re not rushing to say YES to every request that comes your way. The Ten of Pentacles guides you to make choices that are sustainable, to only devote yourself to building things you really, really want to build.
Not everyone, but some of us have extra time at home right now. There’s been a lot of heated debates online about what you should do with this time. I think we’re all finally in agreement that you shouldn’t be pressuring yourself to write a novel or compose a symphony during a pandemic, but the Explorer of Swords shows that the voice in your head that yells “YOU SHOULD BE DOING SOMETHING IMPORTANT” doesn’t always quiet down right away, even when you know you need to give yourself grace. So be patient if this voice arises, engage it from a place of understanding and nuance, do not let it try to rush you to conclusions.
At the same time, the Ten of Pentacles suggests that maybe you do feel called to build something sturdy, something that will last. So don’t force the things you’re not in a place to do, but also don’t hold yourself back from the work that calls to you. And don’t judge the scale of that work! Maybe you do have the energy to take on a big, long term project. Or maybe it’s just about finishing a puzzle or making a loaf of bread. Either way: be honest with yourself, speak kindly to yourself, and be selective about what you have the energy to build.
That’s it for today, friends.
Take care, be tender, kindness matters.
Sign up for email updates and get
Foundational Tarot, a free video course!
Hi, I'm Carrie!
I'm a tarot reader and mentor. My purpose is to encourage your expansion. If you're new, start here.
All site content © Carrie Mallon LLC 2017
I am part of Amazon's associate program. If you purchase items linked in this site I will receive a small kick-back.
The Paradox of Taurus
I’m always saying I’m not an astrologer, but I am perpetual dabbler. I usually don’t know exactly when things shift, but when I started scrolling through Instagram and saw people posting about Taurus season I was like oh. Yeah, that’s what I’m feeling. The shift into Taurus season. And I welcome it!
If you saw my last message, you already know that last week was kind of hot garbage for me. Even more stuff went wrong after I wrote that, but I won’t go into the gory details except one thing which may be relevant to you: my email stopped working! I think it was related to the issues with my sites going down as they both go through my server.
So many of you emailed me really lovely and thoughtful replies last week. I spent a few hours replying to them all and the next day…I got bouncebacks for every. single. email. So if you messaged me, know that your words were received and appreciated and I apologize that the internet ate my replies.
THE GOOD NEWS: my website is back up! AND my emails are working again. Fingers crossed I’m out of the tech-issues woods for a good long while now.
Anyway: Taurus season is here, and I am grateful. Taurus season is actually one of my favorite times for witchery. Yesterday I sat outside, soaking up the vibes and working through ‘Tarot For Yourself’ by Mary K Greer. Tomorrow I will harvest nettle and experiment with cooking and eating it for the first time (so far I’ve only used it to make tea). During Taurus season, I crave touching the earth, connecting with long-standing traditions, communicating with plants, inhaling flowers, moving slowly but consistently.
We are creatures with bodies that evolved to sense and experience the natural world that sustains us. This is home. We co-create with the natural world. That’s what magic is. We are no more or less important than the trees and the dandelions and the wind.
But at the same time, what everyone keeps saying about this phase of our reality is that it is UNCERTAIN. Being in uncertainty can seem paradoxical with being in Taurus vibes. Taurus is not known for enjoying change, let alone uncertainty.
Here’s a tweet I saw yesterday that hit me like WOAH.
So how can we feel into this paradox of Taurus season? Maybe by finding comfort in traditions without clinging to them. By continuing steadily on the path we have chosen while accepting that we may have to take an unexpected turn at any moment. By tending to an inner sense of worth and enoughness that does not hinge on any external circumstances.
Last night I did a Celtic Cross spread for myself, asking what I need to know as I navigate this Taurus season. It was kind of a mind blowing reading, to be honest. I hadn’t used the Celtic Cross in a while and forgot how much I really do love that spread. It’s a classic for a reason! However, there was one thing that threw me off in the reading, which was the final card. I got the Five of Pentacles reversed.
Not too long ago, I did a reading for the collective and talked about how it’s been a very Five of Pentacles time for us lately. Even so, it’s not a card I really welcomed seeing in my Celtic Cross, especially in the final position. This position is traditionally read as “outcome.” I use a modified Celtic Cross as usually read this position as “closing messages” which feels less prediction-y to me.
The rest of the reading had clicked into place right away, but I had to really sit with this last card. Eventually, I remembered something I read a long time ago about this card which has stuck with me: sometimes the Five of Pentacles comes up when you’re too focused on the material plane and neglect the spiritual plane.
Then today, I referenced the book ‘Understanding the Birth Chart’ by Kevin Burk to read up on Taurus, and there was a bit of synchronicity in there that connected to my reading last night and helped me make even more sense of that Five of Pentacles, and how it might relate to Taurus energy specifically:
“When Taurus becomes too attached to the physical, it begins to identify with the material plane, rather than with its true self. Taurus’ sense of self-esteem and self-worth becomes dependent on its appearance. It becomes obsessed with the accumulation of things in an effort to build up its sense of self-worth and to protect itself, and the pursuit is entirely pointless, because nothing on the physical plane is lasting. Taurus must learn that its true worth, its true identity, has nothing to do with physical trappings.”
So! Trying to bring this all together: that was the closing message from my own spread, and it’s the message I’ve been trying to share with you here today: we are capable of living in paradox, and learning from the experience. Uncertainty is okay, because certainty was never real. Stay grounded in the material plane, but honor the spiritual plane. Hold steady, make magic consistently, and even if the turns knock you side ways know that you’ll eventually find your way back to center.
Sign up for email updates and get
Foundational Tarot, a free video course!
Hi, I'm Carrie!
I'm a tarot reader and mentor. My purpose is to encourage your expansion. If you're new, start here.
All site content © Carrie Mallon LLC 2017
I am part of Amazon's associate program. If you purchase items linked in this site I will receive a small kick-back.
Dusting off the Wild Unknown
Today is one of those days where I really feel like the Universe is testing me. I have had to bust out several of my most effective spiritual practices just to keep myself from having a mini-breakdown! I am sure you can relate, because the stress level of the world in general has amped itself right the fuck up lately.
But, as I told my husband this afternoon, I am determined to stay as centered, calm, present and MAGICAL as I can. Not today, SATAN.
Here’s why I’ve been so stressed today: my website (carriemallon.com) and the deck’s website (thespacioustarot.com) were both taken offline by my hosting company. They gave me no warning, and I had to talk to five (5) different tech support people before I finally got to someone who SORT OF helped me understand the problem.
Soooo, the bad news is, it was a stressful day and as I’m writing this the sites are still down. But the good news is, it’s starting to seem like maybe/hopefully between myself, tech support and my husband (who is much more technology-literate than I am) this is something we can resolve.
Another bit of good news: this reminded me that people do, in fact, use my website. I’ve gotten lots of emails/DMs on Instagram from people notifying me the site was down and telling me they use my posts on the Wild Unknown deck daily. Which is pretty neat to think! Let’s all put out good vibes for the site to be restored as soon as possible.
Even before my relatively minor in the grand scheme of things tech woes, I’d been finding it necessary to re-devote myself to the spiritual practices that are the most powerful for me. This is why we practice. This is why we do self-care. This is why work magic. Because these things give us a way to return to our power, and presence, and reverence when everything seems sideways.
Last night on my Instagram stories, I mentioned that GRATITUDE has been one of my major touchstones lately. Gratitude is a spiritual practice. People talk about it enough that it starts to sound trite, but my friends, trite it is not.
Here’s the type of gratitude I’m not about: the type of gratitude that is forced, that is non-specific, that is about bypassing real issues and “just being positive.”
Here’s the type of gratitude I AM ABOUT: the type that is deep, specific, and viscerally felt. Gratitude like this isn’t about forced positivity, but it is about challenging your ego’s tendency to focus on complaining about dumb shit instead of really noticing the magic and beauty everywhere. Gratitude can coexist with a desire for change. Gratitude can coexist with acknowledging what is wrong or painful.
Instead of bypassing the tough stuff, gratitude gives you an anchor into something deeper, something primal and mystical, a force that keeps you afloat amidst the tough stuff. Gratitude is about noticing all of the tiny miracles that surround you in each moment and amplifying them. Because it’s true what they say: what you focus on expands.
So! The Wild Unknown tarot. As I mentioned earlier, my posts about this deck are definitely what gets the most traffic on my website. And hopefully they will be restored soon. But in the mean time, in case you don’t already know, I do have a PDF on offer which contains the text from all of these posts. You can click HERE to download the file via Dropbox – just make sure to save it to your own device.
Oddly enough, despite these posts being one of the things I’m “known” for, I actually don’t use this deck too much myself lately. It happens. Some decks stick with you for a lifetime, some come along and teach you what they need to teach you and that’s that. I try not to force it. If I feel called to work with a deck, it comes out to play. If I don’t, it stays on the shelf. And the Wild Unknown has been on the shelf for a while.
In short, the messages I get from this deck had always been sort of aloof and to the point, but for a long time that was something I admired about the deck. It cuts to the chase. It’s mystical, but very practical in the way it gives messages. It has a sort of Queen of Swords vibe as a whole. Know that I’m speaking here only of *my* relationship to the deck, the vibes I get from it. It could very well be different for you, we all have our individual connections to our decks.
But at some point it just started to feel like the deck was being cold and snarky with me, so…it has stayed on the shelf for some time.
But heck. Today’s been *A Day* and I feel like I can handle anything, so I took the deck off the shelf. I’ll pull a couple cards to offer a message for myself + anyone who reads this. If we get a cold and snarky message, we can handle it, right?
It’s a Hermited time for many of us, as it is necessary to remain apart from other people as much as possible due to the pandemic. The Hermit is typically a welcomed card, but I think it’s important to acknowledge that it can, in fact, be a challenging card. Confronting your own thoughts, being away from distractions and really LISTENING to your inner workings is not always easy! But it IS always rewarding.
Coupled with Strength, we have a reminder that we can do this. If we allow this time to be illuminating, it can be. There’s a sense of patience with both of these cards, as well. The Hermit knows that inner wisdom only has to lead you to the next right step. You are not asked to solve complex problems overnight, on your own. You are only asked: what next? No matter how small that step may seem, it is vital. The lamp leads you forward, but it only illuminates one step of darkness at a time.
Alongside the message of patience, Strength also reminds us to reconnect with our DEVOTION. We need to be absolutely resolved to stay on our path, to find the way to be gentle with ourselves and others while also insisting that we show up fully, as the lion is in the sun rays. And with that Hermit energy, we need to know the difference between going within and hiding. It is not a time to hide. Make space for sanctuary and retreat, but stay in the light. Face forward. You can do this. We can do this.
~~~
Okay, my people. Thank you for being present with this message today. Take care and stay in your magic.
Sign up for email updates and get
Foundational Tarot, a free video course!
Hi, I'm Carrie!
I'm a tarot reader and mentor. My purpose is to encourage your expansion. If you're new, start here.
All site content © Carrie Mallon LLC 2017
I am part of Amazon's associate program. If you purchase items linked in this site I will receive a small kick-back.
The Tower, synchronicities, Who Am I (a spread to try)
This has become my greeting for everyone I talk to lately: I hope you’re doing as well as possible with the current circumstances.
Last week I did an Instagram live and talked a lot about the Tower. It’s a card I’ve been thinking about a lot lately and it’s come up a few times in my recent daily draws. It certainly does feel like we’re in a Tower moment, collectively.
And I don’t have to tell you that being in the energy of the Tower isn’t exactly fun. It’s jarring, and scary, and chaotic.
I also talked about how I’ve been finding inspiration from Martha Beck lately. In her book Finding Your Way in a Wild New World she outlines four ‘squares’ we go through when dramatic change happens. Right now, we’re in square one. That’s the part when, well, shit is basically falling apart and you’re like WTF.
But here’s a weird fact about me: The Tower is one of my favorite tarot cards. Because as much as it represents breakdowns, it also represents breakthroughs. As Martha Beck says:
“This is a time when familiar things are crumbling—but as they do, rigidity gives way to fluidity, and inspired new ways of living can emerge.
There are many things we can’t control. However, we can make conscious choices that will move us from fear to courage, from despair to creativity. We can reimagine this moment as an unprecedented opportunity to bring positive change to our world.”
By the way – these quotes are from a free masterclass Martha hosted a couple of weeks ago which you can watch by registering for her email list here if this sounds interesting. I’m not an affiliate, just passing along something that resonated with me.
In my last post I mentioned that it feels important for me to be even more devoted to my witchiness lately. One of the most reliable ways to connect to your witchiness is to notice synchronicities. Meaningful coincidences. And I’ve noticed a few of them in the past week.
First, the synchronicity between Martha Beck’s words I quoted above, and the fact that I keep seeing and thinking about the Tower.
Another synchronicity: in the masterclass, Martha talked about a tsunami as a metaphor for dramatic change. Then, this week, I started reading Little Universes, a brand new YA novel by a client + friend Heather Demetrios. The story centers around two sisters whose lives are upheaved when their parents die in…a tsunami.
Heather’s book is officially out today (I was lucky to receive an advanced copy!) and of course, she didn’t know that a global pandemic would be creating chaos when her book came out, but… it’s kind of the perfect book to be reading right now, which is yet another synchronicity. Because although the circumstances are different, the characters are navigating drastic and sweeping change.
One more big synchronicity: I haven’t gotten to this part in the book yet, but Heather told me that somewhere in her novel there’s a reference to something that reminds her of the Hanged One card from my deck, the Spacious Tarot.
Heather was so kind as to share a tarot spread she created, and I’m going to share it with you, too. She uses this spread to get to know her characters, but she’s also used it for herself. The spread was inspired by Rumi’s quote: “you are not a drop in the ocean, but the ocean in a drop.” It’s called ‘Who Am I’ and it’s shaped like a wave.
Perhaps you’d like to give this spread a go?
The synchronicities just keep coming, because I feel like I really need this spread right now. Just as the outer world is changing, I feel like I’m changing as well. As within, so without. I thought about doing the spread for myself and sharing it here, but I think this is actually one I will do privately, for now. I have a feeling it’s going to bring up some stuff I might not be ready to share publicly yet!
If you have thoughts on the spread or anything else I’ve shared today, come chat with me in the comments.
And if you’re looking for something to read that’s both a distraction from our current reality, while also being strangely resonant with reality; and that blends themes of mysticism and science and sisterhood and loss and self-discovery, definitely check out Little Universes.
Sign up for email updates and get
Foundational Tarot, a free video course!
Hi, I'm Carrie!
I'm a tarot reader and mentor. My purpose is to encourage your expansion. If you're new, start here.
All site content © Carrie Mallon LLC 2017
I am part of Amazon's associate program. If you purchase items linked in this site I will receive a small kick-back.
Being present with the mystery
I’ve hardly posted on my personal Instagram account lately (@carriemallon), as I’m more focused on the deck account right now, but going live the other day gave me a bit of new inspiration. Some of you might remember when Periscope was a thing (that lasted a hot minute.) I used to do lives pretty regularly for a while there, and this seems like as good a time as any to host another livestream or two. So I’m going to do an impromptu live on my personal account tomorrow, Wednesday April 1 at 11am MST. So come say hi if you’re around? We can pull some cards. Maybe talk about the Fool, since it’s April Fools Day? Wherever the wind may go.
Anyway, at the end of the Spacious Tarot livestream, I offered to pull a card for the collective. The High Priestess jumped out as I was shuffling (which hardly ever happens to me, so I will usually incorporate the card into the reading if it does), then I drew the Hermit.
What a pair.
I was rambling through my initial thoughts on these cards, slowly circling around the heart of what I wanted to say about them, when…
We reached Instagram’s one hour time limit, which I did not know was a thing and will be useful to know for future livestreams, and the stream came to an abrupt end before I could finish my thoughts.
I’ve been thinking about this draw a lot since then, and so I want to talk more about it here.
First, we have two majors. That’s already an attention grabbling pull. And we have two majors that both deal with themes of introspection, the unconscious, dreams, intuition, self-discovery.
The High Priestess came out reversed (I turned it around for the photo) and the reversal made me think that perhaps some of us are having resistance to this energy lately. Maybe some of us are reaching outwards for illumination, listening to other people’s hot takes, waiting for someone else to come in and say THIS is why this is happening, and THIS is what it means.
There is space for us to address those questions collectively. But maybe collective understanding has to start with individuals who are able to be in a different paradigm. In other words, that’s us: the mystics, the witches, the weirdos. Especially if you’re having resistance to magic and self-exploration right now…. that’s a pretty good sign that these ways of being are even more important than ever.
What is it that unites you with your inner Hermit and High Priestess? What practices help you connect with your unconscious self? What atmospheres coax out your inner wisdom? Now is not a time to let resistance disconnect you from these things. It’s a time to commit to your path in an even more expansive way.
The Hermit is also a little on the nose when a lot of us are spending as much time as possible inside. Maybe it’s a little affirmation that even if there are real challenges to this, it is still a good and wise thing.
And here’s the other part that feels really important with these two cards:
We aren’t even really called to pinpoint specific answers right now. We are called to be present with the mystery. Feel into the murkiness. Explore this space not with urgency, but with curiosity. Let things ebb and flow and be ambiguous like the moon and the waves, instead of trying to force things to stay still and be understood.
This is actually a poignant aspect of how I view tarot as a tool. We turn to tarot when we are uncertain. Sometimes, the cards give clear answers and detailed direction. But in many circumstances, tarot actually doesn’t give us the answers our ego wants. Instead, it gives us what our soul needs. Tarot gives us things which are ultimately more powerful than answers, like: new perspectives. Reframes to our stories.
Tarot teaches us to be present with the unfathomable, the vast, the deep… the sacred mystery.
Sign up for email updates and get
Foundational Tarot, a free video course!
Hi, I'm Carrie!
I'm a tarot reader and mentor. My purpose is to encourage your expansion. If you're new, start here.
All site content © Carrie Mallon LLC 2017
I am part of Amazon's associate program. If you purchase items linked in this site I will receive a small kick-back.
A spacious tarot spread
It feels like it has been a year since I last wrote you, but the Gregorian calendar informs me it has only been one week. Hmm. Time is weird like that. And I don’t have to tell you that this time is particularly weird. You know.
I wish I had some deep and useful thoughts to share. But I’m just gonna ramble a bit. Then later, we’ll do a tarot spread.
I’m not doing the best. I’m kind of just proud of myself for doing the basic stuff I need to do to keep surviving (a little work, a little exercise, taking vitamins, spiritual practice). Sometimes you just need to meet yourself where you are.
Y’know the saying when it rains, it storms? This week, on top of the global crisis we are all facing, we had an earthquake here in Utah. I have had anxiety about earthquakes for a long time but this was the first significant one I’ve experienced (5.7 magnitude). It was scary and unnerving, and intensified the frazzled energy people here were already feeling.
So yeah. Global pandemics. Earthquakes. 2020 didn’t come to play.
HOWEVER.
I can say this in all honesty: the main thing keeping me going right now (besides watching Bob Ross and playing Animal Crossing) is gratitude. I’m not quite sure how to explain it without speaking in platitudes (I try to avoid platitudes, but I’m not sure what my success rate is). The best thing about gratitude is that it can live along side feelings of discomfort, and things being wrong, and things that you want to change.
Gratitude does not mean rolling over and accepting the status quo. It means digging deep and finding the part of you that is shiny and alive and unbroken, even when the world around you is literally and figuratively shaking.
And to me, gratitude means perspective. Which is a tricky thing sometimes, because even though there is always someone who has it worse, you’re still allowed to feel not great about your current circumstances. But at the same time, you don’t want to blow things out of proportion and dwell in misery. So you’re allowed to be like “THIS SUCKS” but at the same time, can you find the bits and pieces that don’t suck and that may even, possibly, be good? Wondrous? Magical?
I’m grateful that there was no major damage or deaths from the earthquake. I’m grateful for everyone following physical distancing protocols to slow the spread of the pandemic. I’m grateful for those who can’t stay home because they are doing essential work to help society. I’m grateful to see neighbors helping neighbors. I’m grateful for cats and dogs (and all the other critters too, of course). And even though I’m very frustrated about a lot of the stuff happening at a global level, I’m grateful that a lot of other people are also frustrated because it means many people care and want to support each other and make things better.
I thought today I’d share a simple little spread I created for The Spacious Tarot guidebook. This spread is for exploring whatever space you’re currently experiencing. You can approach this one of two ways: the first option is to keep it open ended, and consider ‘space’ as a broad theme in whatever way speaks to you. The second would be to chose to focus on a particular type of space (such as mental, physical, spiritual or emotional space).
I do hope you’ll try the spread for yourself, but also I’m going to offer my interpretation of this spread for the collective, looking at the broad concept of our overall shared energetic space. You are welcome to take anything that resonates here and leave the rest. I will be using The Spacious Tarot.
In this deck we have a muddy hill. An injured wolf painstakingly makes its way forward. Collectively, there is weariness. The wolf hints to me that many of us may be feeling lonely. Like it’s just you out here, by yourself, making your way up that hill without companionship. This is likely compounded by the fact that due to social distancing, many of us are uprooted from normal interactions and support systems.
It is said that misery loves company, and there is some truth to this. Especially if you have been feeling alone in your struggles, this card affirms that you are not the only one feeling this way. You are allowed to reach out and vent. Give yourself permission to commiserate. Everyone is experiencing some level of difficulty at this time, and you are NOT alone. This isn’t about dwelling on or amplifying struggles, it’s about validating them and then finding a viable way forward.
The message here reminds me a bit of what I rambled about earlier: it’s okay to be like “THIS SUCKS!” But even as we acknowledge what sucks, we need to look around for what resources are available to us. They may not look like the old resources, but new modalities are arising. The stones on the horizon could represent new structures, new resources, an as yet undefined sanctuary. Be gentle with yourself, but keep going and know that we are working to build a new reality together.
The Guardian (Queen) of Swords gives further messages about the lessons of this space. We are learning to embody certain traits of this guardian. Most notably, we are learning to listen. Some of this is happening as you’d expect: listening to experts. Listening to friends and loved ones.
But there’s also a spiritual dimension to the ways we are learning to listen.
It may seem paradoxical, but now is a time to listen to the realms that are more than human. In fact, we are learning to practice discernment in our listening, because perhaps there are many things in the human realm we have been listening to for too long when what we really needed to do was clear them away. We have been listening to too much noise. Now is a time to listen to what really matters.
Listen to the trees. Listen to the wind. Listen to your ancestors and maybe even listen to those who come after you. Listen to the moon and the sun and the stars. Sit still and listen. At first, it may seem only like cold silence. But with practice, you notice even silence has textures and whispers. And with patience, messages emerge. What do you hear?
The Elder (King) of Wands gives further advice. The Elder of Wands is a restless character, yet s/he channels this restlessness into something meaningful. Instead of just making you frazzled, perhaps some of the restless energy within you can be focused to create your version of fireworks. This doesn’t necessarily mean you need to write the next great novel or complete some type of magnum opus (though if that is your calling, embrace it).
Instead, we are advised to simply bring some consciousness about how we are channeling our energy. There are many things we cannot control. And a tricky thing here is that this restless energy might come forward as acute stress, which is not useful individually or collectively. So, it’s the tried and true advice to focus on what you can control. There is such a thing as good stress, so let’s look for ways to channel our restlessness not destructively, but creatively. As much as it is available to you, bombard the darkness with big bold light and audaciously vibrant vibes.
Sooooo…. yeah! That’s what I have for you today, and maybe there’s something from the reading you can carry with you. Please do comment to share thoughts if you have them.
Sending light,
Sign up for email updates and get
Foundational Tarot, a free video course!
Look up.
Hello fellow humans,
I know you’re probably oversaturated with the news of the world right now, so I’m going to do two things with this message today.
In the first part, I’ll be talking about the big world news. I’ll try to do so in a calm and centered sort of way, but if you are inundated with this and don’t want to hear about it right now, that is valid.
If you’d like to scroll to the bottom of the email, I’m gonna share some miscellaneous stuff which is bringing me joy lately (music, TV shows, etc) so you can just scroll on down to the big bold text announcing ‘UNRELATED STUFF’ if you want to. It’s underneath the picture of The Sun.
First, I want to talk about what’s coming up for me personally right now. Above is a blackout poem I made a few years ago, which feels very relevant for me once again.
Look up.
This is the message that keeps coming through to me from the universe. I’ll be out on a walk worrying about this global pandemic, and the trees seem to whisper:
Look up.
I’ll be scrolling through my phone reading endless news articles and something within me calls…
Look up.
We can’t deny the gravity of this situation. It’s bad. People are sick and dying. Others pass the sickness along without knowing they are doing so. People who are already at a disadvantage due to their line of work, health, age, etc are now in an even worse spot. There’s economic uncertainty, parents scrambling to care for kids who are out of school, anxieties are running high. This is all real stuff that we can’t ignore or spiritually bypass.
Alongside all of this, there is the call.
Look up.
It makes me think about one aspect of the Wheel of Fortune in tarot that is very important to me: you can’t control everything. Sometimes terrible things happen and they evade our understanding.
I’m kind of going to the dark place here, but you know… bad stuff happens. Bad stuff has always happened, and always will happen. Some people believe everything happens for a reason, but that is not my personal belief. I think some things are just random.
Humans like to find meaning in things. We are meaning makers. Story tellers. And maybe in time, we will find individual and collective stories that help us make sense of the coronavirus pandemic. Maybe you believe that this is some broader working of the universe that fits into a bigger plan. Or maybe you don’t. Either way of being is okay.
It may sound counterintuitive, but for me, giving myself permission to stop looking for a reason and meaning behind everything has been very freeing.
It’s okay if things feel random. It’s okay if stuff doesn’t make sense. Especially when you’re right in the middle of the wheel’s motion, as we are now.
“The Star shows you that there is no need to be anything other than exactly what you are. You don’t need to be perfect, and you don’t need to respond to tragedy in any one right way. Even when times seem dark, there is an invitation to a moment of peace. This isn’t in an attempt to ignore or negate the reality of suffering, but rather to give you a broader perspective.”
This goes back to the recurring theme.
Look up.
Even in the bleakness, there are magical things happening right now:
People are choosing to keep physical distance (not spiritual distance!) to slow the spread of the virus. In Italy, people sing from balconies. In my neighborhood forums people are offering each other all sorts of assistance. Some people are finding space to reconnect with creative and spiritual practices.
And maybe I’m being overly optimistic here, but as a society we are being forced to acknowledge (and hopefully, find ways to mend) the flaws in our healthcare and economic systems.
Where I live, spring is slowly emerging. Going outside is still allowed, and it is necessary medicine. Put the phone down. Look up, and maybe you’ll see birds. Buds. Clouds. Signs of life and movement and sensuality and presence. Like we talked about with the Wheel of Fortune, bad things do happen, and always will. But wonderful things will always happen, too. So I’m not gonna stop looking around. But as much as possible, I’m going to look up.
A few posts I’ve written over the years with more thoughts on times of uncertainty:
Five Tarot Cards to Meditate On For Tough Times
I Hope, I Despair, I Hope
How To Stay Informed Without Losing Your Shit
Here are a few things which are bringing me joy and keeping me sane lately:
Listening to Harry Styles. I am a little bit in love with him, it’s fine. I was too old for One Direction but his solo stuff is real good. A few songs to try depending on your mood: feeling emotional about the state of the world? Sign of the Times. Want a bubbly, Vampire Weekend-esque song that matches the vibe of The Sun card above? Sunflower, Vol 6. Want a chill groovy song which is better live than on the album and also shows how great not only Harry is, but his band is? Lights Up. And my favorite HS song just for good measure: Ever Since New York.
PBS Passport. I mean I get that Disney + is all the hype right now but don’t sleep on PBS, people. I joined passport a couple months ago, gives you access to stream many PBS shows. My favorites right now: Antiques Roadshow and America’s Test Kitchen.
DOPE 4 Bird Personality Test. I have a thing for personality tests and this one delights me to no end. The concept is based around four types of birds: Dove, Owl, Pigeon and Eagle (hence DOPE), each exemplifying different traits. I got really excited about this when a friend described it to me, and I exclaimed :I want to know what bird I am!” Without skipping a beat, she said “oh, you’re a dove, hun.” Sure enough, I took the test online and I am, indeed, a dove. Take it for yourself.
Video games. My husband and I have been playing a fair amount of Mario Kart. We have many of them but 8 is my favorite. I need Nintendo to release a new one like, yesterday. I’m finally getting around to playing Final Fantasy 15 but not sure if I like it. I’ve also started replaying my favorite game of all time EarthBound – such an underrated classic. It’s funny! Has great music! It’s just phenomenal. And although I’ve never played Animal Crossing, I keep hearing about it everywhere lately and I’m thinking about getting the new one that comes out this week.
That’s it for now. Sending lots of love and chill vibes to all. If you have thoughts on anything shared here, please do leave a comment.
Sign up for email updates and get
Foundational Tarot, a free video course!
Hi, I'm Carrie!
I'm a tarot reader and mentor. My purpose is to encourage your expansion. If you're new, start here.
All site content © Carrie Mallon LLC 2017
I am part of Amazon's associate program. If you purchase items linked in this site I will receive a small kick-back.
Tough or Tender Tarot
It’s been a while since the last round of Tough or Tender Tarot, so let’s remedy that today.
In case you haven’t experienced this before, here’s the idea: tune into yourself and ask which would be better for you: some TOUGH love, or some TENDER wisdom. If you choose tough, I’ll channel my inner Emperor and offer a message which is firm yet constructive. If you choose tender, I’ll channel my inner Empress and offer a message which is sweet yet sincere.
I’ll also be using two different decks today: the Hayworth Tarot (tough) and Playful Heart Tarot (tender).
If you haven’t already, take a moment to choose:
TOUGH
or
tender
Then
scroll
down
for
your
message.
If you chose TOUGH, you have the Five of Swords + Ten of Wands from the Hayworth Tarot.
If you’re wasting your precious energy debating your aunt’s coworker on Facebook or arguing with randos on Twitter (or even just lurking and watching online debates without actively participating!!) it might be time to walk the f*ck away because there are no winners here. There’s some shadow stuff to consider, because if you’re honest, this isn’t really an instance of fighting for something you believe in. You might be telling yourself that’s what you’re doing, but is it? Or are you just trying to win for the sake of winning, for the thrill of seeing someone else be wrong?
Last bit of advice here is that if you really need to continue this conversation, bring it face to face. So much is lost when we talk to each other behind screens (inflection, body language, etc). The last thing this world needs right now is more faceless disembodied entities hiding behind screens, screaming at clouds.
If you chose tender, you have Judgement + the Nine of Cups from the Playful Heart Tarot.
Look at all these happy, celebrating creatures! You are in a phase of growth and blooming. Declare this to be true! This lines up really well especially for those of you in the northern hemisphere, as we are preparing to enter spring. Especially if you’ve felt dormant for some time, a welcome shift is now available to you. Don’t shy away. Know you deserve this and embrace this.
Joseph Campbell said that when you start moving towards your bliss, doors will open and hands will help you. This sounds easy breezy and for some of you it might be, but Judgement shows that moving towards your bliss is an active process. Your task is to release resistance and expectations. What feels blissful to you now may be new and unexpected and different from the goals you’d previously been chasing. This is why it’s so important to release expectations. At this time, joy is found in the unexpected, as long as you let it move through you.
The Nine of Cups is traditionally associated with wishes. In this deck, the Nine of Cups is populated with all kinds of creatures, not just one individual. You are called to deepen your empathy and compassion, and you’re learning that joy does transcend the individual. Moving towards joy and bliss is not about being selfish. At this time your primary intention could be “may all beings be happy.” All beings – yourself included, because a rising tide lifts all ships.
So there you have it! I hope your message resonates, or at least gives you something interesting to think about. If you have thoughts to share, please do leave a comment.
In other news…
Soon, I will be participating as a student in Pull Pen Paint. Pull Pen Paint (PPP) is a collection of teachers presenting info about all things magical (tarot, oracle, journaling, art, all kinds of great stuff). The program is organized by Kiala Givehand, and she’s really brought together some amazing teachers… in fact, I will be making a special guest appearance as a teacher at the PPP Deep Dive level! 🙂
Overall, PPP is about strengthening your intuition, connecting to your creativity, and deepening your spiritual practice. You can learn more + register here. That’s my affiliate link – I’m honored and proud to be part of this program! Maybe I’ll see you there?
Take good care,
Sign up for email updates and get
Foundational Tarot, a free video course!
Hi, I'm Carrie!
I'm a tarot reader and mentor. My purpose is to encourage your expansion. If you're new, start here.
All site content © Carrie Mallon LLC 2017
I am part of Amazon's associate program. If you purchase items linked in this site I will receive a small kick-back.
Carrie Mallon
Header art from The Spacious Tarot illustrated by Annie Ruygt
All site content © Carrie Mallon LLC 2014-2019
Sign up for weekly updates