A Wild Life Tarot ~ Weekly Newsletter 7.16.24
Tap into your inner strength...
Hey, friends! Happy Tarot Tuesday! Soooo, how is everyone doing?? Are you staying hydrated? Are you getting enough good sleep? Are you reminding yourself to unplug for at least certain chunks of the day instead of just constantly refreshing the feed & doom scrolling until you feel nauseous? Deep breaths… we will get through this, probably. In the meantime, Andrew & I are daydreaming about moving to Berlin & I’m re-downloading the Duolingo app on my phone to start learning German. (If you didn’t know- Germany has long been considered the most vegan-friendly city in the world. It was only recently edged out by London. If you are also an American considering the ex-pat life, consider this list of mostly foreign destinations to get your plant-based long term life-planning on).
I took last week off from tarot biz activities to celebrate my 40th birthday! Woohoo! I’m big on honoring important milestones & taking quality time to reflect & integrate lessons from the past. The multiple celebrations last week with the fam were rather chill & low maintenance- nothing fancy or super adventurous, which I kind of prefer anyway. But I realized that my project surrounding rest, reflection, & realigning with my purpose will be ongoing throughout this upcoming year.
Have I ever told you about the meaning behind the name of my business- A Wild Life Tarot? I have always felt compelled to follow my heart & live a lifestyle rooted in freedom more than anything else- a “Wild Life,” if you will. I have always admired others who share this tendency, & I’ve always wanted this kind of existence for others who feel trapped in a “normal” life- if it feels oppressive, unfulfilling, & like something is always missing… I have always embodied a strong sense of wanderlust (which I rightfully blame on my Sag Moon). I have often felt like I end up on the fringes of certain communities or social circles because of my need to live outside the box- always craving change, growth, & transformation. When I write my memoir someday, the chapters will be easy to delineate between different careers, geographical locations, & relationships. & lately, I’ve been feeling the itch for another deep season of personal evolution. I feel myself outgrowing this past life chapter that started near the beginning of the pandemic, & it’s actually taking me quite a bit of self discipline not to throw everything up in the air, or burn everything down to the ground, which is usually how I transition into new beginnings. I’m trying to practice endurance, grounding down, digging deep, finding comfort in stability & commitment & long term goals. This is outside of my area of expertise. But it is the change I am now seeking. I’m sharing this with you for a couple of reasons… first- I like sharing things with you. I’m an autobiographical writer by nature, & I find meaning & connection in telling stories about my life, my struggles, my real feelings, & my dreams. Second, I’m honestly not sure about what the future holds for this little tarot biz of mine. The reasons why I started it aren’t as relevant as they were five years ago. The amount of time & energy it takes to make a living at this is all-consuming & not directly aligned with my purpose anymore. I love my clients a lot, but business has slowed significantly since the beginning of the year, & I’m feeling myself being drawn to other projects that spark my inner fire a lot more. As much as I love change, I also tend to resist it when I know I’m craving something that will require me to move outside my comfort zone & radically metamorphize my daily life. (Is metamorphize a word?) I’m in the gooey cocoon phase of figuring out who I’m in the process of becoming as I enter into this new decade of my life. I feel scared, & excited, & emotional, & hopeful, & anxious, & dreamy, & impatient, & full of self doubt. I know my first lesson of my 40s will have to be about learning how to survive a massive ego surrender. I have a few cute little life trash fires that need tending to, & I’m going to need to do things I don’t want to do in order to extinguish them. I will have to face certain limiting beliefs, character flaws, past mistakes, vulnerabilities, & areas where there is “room for improvement” in my life. I will also have to engage in hard conversations, take action steps that feel like I’m temporarily moving backwards, & ask for support- which are all activities I strongly dislike. My goo cocoon will involve a lot of discomfort before I emerge as the version of myself that I would like to evolve into now. & I’m willing to ride that roller coaster, because the only thing that sucks more is staying stuck & never growing. Is it dramatic at 40 to start seriously thinking about what I don’t want to regret when I’m on my death bed reflecting back on my life? If so, so be it- my birth chart is full of valid excuses for behaving dramatically from time to time.
Soon, I will be launching a new writing project called “A Different Kind of 40.” It’s mostly for me- to use as a way to share & connect with others over how I feel about this transition that the boomers used to call “being over the hill.” But it’s also for you, if you are interested in stories & conversations about pivotal life changes & feeling different than others because you don’t “act your age.” As I process what it means, for me personally, to grow older while feeling ever-attached to an unconventional lifestyle- I hope it provides you with some solid entertainment, some opportunities for deep introspection, & some solidarity if you share similar feelings, experiences, or aspirations. Popular topics will probs include- choosing to be intentionally child-free, still having never been married & feeling skeptical about the institution of marriage (even though I very much love my partner & plan to share many future decades with him), & feeling kind of repulsed by the idea that I should try to make my body look young for forever. I care a lot more about the health of my insides than I care about how I appear on the outside. Also, just my blatant refusal to accept old-timey platitudes like, “that’s life,” when faced with challenges & reality checks- instead of forever chasing my dreams. Essays on “A Different Kind of 40” coming to your inbox, soon!
There are also other life plans & projects I’m working on, but it felt right to go with one announcement at a time.
If you’re an elder of mine & have any sage wisdom for how (or how not) to transition into your 40s, please share your insights with me by shooting me a message! I might ask you to collab on a future piece of writing, so let me know if that interests you!
If you’re new around here, take a quick sec to subscribe so you can get the weekly tarot newsletter, info about this new writing project, & other regularly scheduled tarot treats delivered straight to your inbox as soon as they’re posted. Leo Szn starts next week, which means a fresh batch of Tarotscope readings and the Leo Szn Self Care Kit will be headed your way this weekend! Subscribe below for free, & upgrade to paid if you want to support my work (THANK YOU) & receive some awesome extra perks <3
If you want to book a one-on-one reading with me: I’m offering these Mid Year Check-in Tarot Sessions throughout the month of July! If you also want to do some self-reflection & realign with what matters most to you, or tend to areas of your life that you’ve been avoiding, neglecting, or feeling out of balance with- I made this for you! Here’s a quick description of the reading:
“This Mid Year Check-in Tarot Sesh is to help you reflect on your goals, celebrate your progress, move through your blocks, & realign with the path forward… Life is always full of surprises & distractions. Things don't always go the way we expect them to. Shit happens. Adulting is exhausting. We stay committed to our stubborn habits & routines, & true change can feel like a monumental task. Our priorities shift due to our circumstances, & so do our plans. Our goals & dreams change & evolve. Even when we stick to our goals like glue, we might conquer them & then find ourselves still searching for something more. We reach success, & then ask "what's next?" No matter where you land on the spectrum of growth & progress, this reading is centered around helping you clarify how you want to FEEL by the end of this year- a perfect theme to explore during Cancer season! During this tarot reading, we'll take our time to explore what your updated goals & desires really are. We'll figure out what blocks & challenges are holding you back from manifesting what you want. We'll chat about a practical plan that will get you where you want to go, & we'll determine the next right step you need to take to make some progress in the right direction.”
If this reading sounds like a good fit for you right now, follow your intuition & book a session so I can pull cards for you! Get more info & book a time to meet with me below.
Alrighty. Without further ado, here’s your tarot reading for this week. I love it when the deck delivers actual magic. This is the most perfect card to usher us into Leo Szn next Monday! Also, it is the most fitting energy for this collective moment. Enjoy <3
FOR YOUR WEEK AHEAD ~ July 16th to July 22nd
Card for the Collective: Strength
Notes: The Strength card represents the choice to use inner emotional strength in uncertain or challenging moments, versus relying on dominant force to control other people or external circumstances. This card is a call to action- to embody courage & calm confidence in the face of adversity. Whatever you are personally struggling through right now, resist the temptation to use rage, intimidation, verbal assaults, emotional manipulation, or any form of violence in order to move forward. You may have to embrace a bit of an ego surrender, practice tolerance, tame some reactionary instincts, or otherwise namastè your way through moments of fear or intense frustration right now. Breathe. Slow your heart rate down. Listen to your intuition. Allow yourself to soften. Trust that you are powerful, & you can apply that power best through acts of generosity, gratitude, & compassion. Give yourself & others grace this week. We’re all going through our own shit, collectively & individually. Letting your bloodthirsty side take over in order to prove your point, or get what you want, or even to defend yourself, is going to create even more hardship & chaos for you & those around you. Lead with your heart. Practice patience. Stay focused on the next right step. This card is an invitation to integrate all you’ve learned throughout Cancer season about emotional intelligence. The info below is compliments of a quick google search, but I encourage you to look up additional resources to better understand emotional intelligence, if this reading resonates with you:
Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to manage your own emotions and understand the emotions of others. It's an important skill for good interpersonal communication and can be used in many ways in daily life. Some key elements of EI include:
Self-awareness
The ability to recognize and understand your own thoughts, feelings, and emotions, and how they impact others. This can help you build trust, improve communication, and maintain strong relationships.
Social awareness
The ability to understand the emotions of others, and empathize with them. People with high social awareness are often more attuned to nonverbal cues like body language and facial expressions.
Empathy
The ability to understand other people's feelings and see things from their point of view. This involves recognizing another person's emotional state and understanding why they are experiencing it.
Other aspects of EI include:
Self-regulation
Motivation
Relationship management: The ability to communicate clearly, maintain good relationships, work well in teams, and manage conflict
Some ways to practice EI include:
Accepting criticism and responsibility
Moving on after making a mistake
Saying no when you need to
Sharing your feelings with others
Solving problems in ways that work for everyone
Having great listening skills
Not being judgmental of others
We are meant to incorporate this information into our daily lives in order to set ourselves up for success during Leo season, & throughout the rest of this astrological year.
Think about why mastering emotional intelligence will be beneficial to you in different aspects of your life. Reflect on how this will also benefit the collective- the people around you in your family, community, & social circles both online & IRL.
I always see the Sun shining down on the lion in this card as a sign that the Universe has our back. We are being nourished & supported by a higher energy that we all have in common. No matter what comes your way this week, tap into your inner power & navigate the situation in a way you can feel proud of that aligns with your core values. Stay true to yourself & keep your integrity intact. You have the inner strength you need to get through whatever life throws your way right now. You’re always being guided by your own intuition. Trust your highest self & act accordingly.
Affirmation: “I choose to face the things that make me feel frustrated, anxious, afraid, or enraged by knowing that my power comes from trusting my intuition, practicing compassion, & staying in alignment with my core values & integrity.”
Self care action item: Here’s a free yoga practice to help you embody strength & harmony <3
Community care action item: A bit random, but this showed up on my feed today, & it’s a really helpful community resource for those who want/need it. This is a list of doctors who will provide tubal ligation surgeries (aka sterilization, or “getting your tubes tied”) without requiring you to be of a certain marital status or age, & regardless of your current family size. Please, share this with your fam, friends, & community members to support folks looking for doctors who provide shame-free tubal ligation surgeries <3
Sending tons & tons of love & strength your way this week. You’ve got this & I’ve got you.
We make our own magic,
xoxo Maddie
