Tarot for Hard Times
Some updates, some big deals on readings, & how to get through the shit storm...
Hey, friends.
As I’m sure many of you have noticed, it’s been a minute since I’ve sent out the weekly newsletter. For those of you who have used it as a helpful guide & empowering resource, I’m so sorry for my absence over the past few months. I’ve been going through some stuff. The short version is- the last bunny in my trio of fluffball family members, Buttercup, tragically passed away after an emergency surgery in August. As a veteran animal rescuer & caregiver- I’m no stranger to loss or grief. But losing Buttercup so suddenly under those circumstances- somehow paying $10K for emergency surgery just to remove a fucking hairball, & having so much hope when she was recovering for a week in the hospital, then not being able to see her because I got Covid at the most perfectly awful time, to getting that horrible phone call one morning that she had suffered a seizure & died- the experience buried me. If you donated to the GoFundMe campaign to help with her massive vet bills, thank you so fucking much. (We are still in need of donations, if you missed the chance to contribute towards the fundraiser earlier). The support & love Andrew & I felt from our families & community kept my head above water when everything felt impossible to survive. I still haven’t been able to bring myself to get rid of her things, to clear out the room that was her own space to hop around in, or to even bake the little clay imprint of her paws that the veterinarian team gifted to us after she passed away. I have been mourning, & feeling lost, stuck, sad, & scared. The election has affected me probably about the same as it has also affected you. It’s been a mind fuck, & I’m trying not to freak out about the future of democracy here in the US. I’m full of rage on behalf of my trans friends. I’m scared for everyone I know & love who will be affected by abortion bans & limited access to reproductive health care moving forward. I can’t believe we are still sending weapons to Israel after what has happened in Gaza. I’m an optimist at heart, but I take reality seriously & I don’t shy away from the truth- even when the truth is terrifying or mindblowingly cruel & violent. Like many of you, I imagine, I’ve really been going through it lately. On top of all that- there’s more normal adulting trash fires I’ve been trying to navigate, like the car breaking down, & getting another colposcopy, & feeling very broke since taking so much time away from work. I also don’t think turning 40 recently has been very helpful for my mental health over the last few months. I keep having these intense & annoying anxiety attacks about how I’m not living the life I wanted to create for myself, & why am I such a fucking mess of a human right now, & how do I fix it when it feels so hard to just get through the day?
Can anyone relate?
There are things I’m proud of myself for, though. I’m proud that I’ve been doing a pretty great job at keeping up with a lot of healthy habits. My running practice is still growing, I’m getting outside & going on long walks through the old growth trees, & my daily yoga practice helps keep me grounded on most days. I started the Artist’s Way again for the first time in many years, which has been it’s own emotional roller coaster (but in a good way). I’m finally meeting up for coffee dates with friends, again. Looking forward to social events. Brainstorming ideas about what I want to create next. Maybe the biggest change that’s happened since Buttercup died, is that I kind of let myself & my daily routine fall all the way apart for a while. And what came out of that experience was a fierce desire to start baking a ton, & also a pretty respectable obsession with fantasy football. I have no business knowing so much about nearly every wide receiver in the NFL, but here we are. My grief needed something to distract itself with, & the distraction, apparently, is perfecting cinnamon roll recipes & passionately complaining about Tyreek Hill.
What comes next feels scary for me.
With the slow crawl up out of the depths of depression comes forward action & I still kind of feel like hiding. But I’m a purpose-led kind of person, & staying mostly isolated while eating pumpkin muffins & checking daily NFL injury reports is helping no one- including me.
What comes next is some tough adulting stuff I don’t want to do. Like getting a day job for the first time in 5 years so my poor partner doesn’t have to keep paying the rent all by himself. I have a feeling I’m entering my baking & bartending era. I’ll keep you posted on where you can visit me in Seattle, if I start pouring drinks somewhere.
What comes next is also tending to deferred dreams, which is the scariest thing of all. I am starting to get rather angry with myself for still procrastinating & holding back on ideas I’ve had for years now. So, I’m going to just start doing shit already. I’ll be leading a 30 day challenge in January to help folks go vegan, & I should be officially launching the Vegan Things Substack newsletter soon- with a podcast not far behind. I have at least half a dozen creative projects related to “vegan things” that I’m also itching to start at the same time, so if this interests you at all- please, subscribe to the forthcoming newsletter to stay informed.
And also what comes next is getting back to doing readings for you fine folks. I remember telling myself last year during The Holidays that no matter what- I would take time off between Thanksgiving & New Year’s, at least. I was so tired, & The Holidays have their own special way of destroying me, even during a good year, so. I’m running a big huge sale on readings, but they’ll all be booked for 2025. If you’ve been wanting to get a reading, now’s a great time to pay for one while it’s heavily discounted. For now, as I just start easing back into things, we’re going old school with Venmo & Paypal, & scheduling a date via email or messenger. Here’s what I’ve got for you:
Friends & Fam discount is for everybody through the end of the year- $150 for a small custom reading. They usually last about an hour & a half, & we usually pull about three cards. We can focus the reading on whatever you like. Might I suggest a Tarot for Hard Times sesh? Up to you… let me know whatever is weighing on your heart & mind, & we’ll go from there. I got you.
Big fat discount on Year Ahead Spreads. These only happen once a year, & you should definitely do one- whether you pull your own cards or want me to guide you through a reading. Last year, full price was $777. Right now, they’re the old school price of $325 from way back when I was a baby profesh tarot reader. In December, the price will go up to $555, & they’ll be full price again in January. If you want a Year Ahead reading, now is the time to book it. It’s a 13 card spread, one card for every month of the upcoming year, & an overall card representing your year as a whole. It usually takes about 2.5 to 3 hours to do the reading, & I’ll send you a guided reflection ahead of time to help you integrate lessons learned in 2024, & to clarify what you want to work towards next year.
If you want to book a reading, please send me a message or email me at awildlifetarot@gmail.com. I’ll have more formal buttons for you to press to make this whole process simple & smooth by next week. Remember- all readings will be scheduled for January or later. Also- all the income I’ll be making from readings this month will go directly to our vet bill fund, so you can feel extra good about being an awesome person & supporting your favorite microsanctuary while you soak up some tarot magic <3
Finally, in other tarot news- I’ll be starting back up with more familiar weekly newsletters starting next week. With the holiday season, & the impending transfer of power in the US, I’ll be focusing all the collective weekly readings around the theme of Tarot for Hard Times in the newsletter until at least the New Year. I hope these readings will offer you hope, comfort, strength & solidarity to help you through whatever comes up during the next several weeks. This little newsletter is almost ready to celebrate it’s One Year Anniversary, & we started out together with daily Tarot for Hard Times readings to help us all get through the dark days. I hope this year’s card pulls bring just as much support as they have in the past. I also plan to get back to doing Tarotscope readings when Capricorn season arrives, so that’s another tarot treat to look forward to.
Sending you all lots of strength, courage, hugs, & baked goods- in spirit- to help you navigate whatever little trash fires might be causing you stress. Please, remember- you are not alone.
Love, Maddie
Please accept my condolences for your loss.