- Serena 4 Comments

how to find more time in your day

I think anyone who works, even if they’re self-employed or work from home, could tell you that it’s really hard to balance a job and basic living and still find time for hobbies. Every New Year I find myself making promises such as “I’ll read more this year!” or “I’ll go for more walks!” but as the days go by, it’s easy to find yourself not making the changes necessary to make this happen. And sometimes it’s not easy to figure out what needs to change in the first place – you wake up, you go to work, you come home, cook dinner, and it’s practically time for bed again. How are you supposed to squeeze more stuff into your already-packed day?

This was definitely a big issue for me this month, as I had to find a way to juggle working 40 hours a week at my full-time job, looking for an apartment, packing up all of my earthly possessions and moving them into storage, growing my tarot business, blogging, and trying to still do things like exercise, run errands, and occasionally have a social life. Suffice to say, it’s been a busy month!

There’s that basic trick I was taught in college – make a schedule of your average day, marking out all of the hours from midnight till 11 pm, and fill in your commitments, coloring in the blocks of time they’d take you to complete. Then color in all of the things that AREN’T commitments but you still usually do, like watching TV or surfing the web. Sometimes this IS a really great way to see where you have free time and what things are negotiable, but what if your schedule still looks pretty booked?

I feel like I’ve found some pretty solid ways to make time for some of the basic things I see people putting off. There’s no one answer that works across the board – different things take different amounts of time, energy, and resources to get done. So let’s start by breaking down what it is you’re trying to make time for:

1. Reading

This is one I hear so often – “oh, I wish I could read more, but I just don’t have the time!” And you know, I’m guilty of saying this, too! I was such an avid bookworm in my childhood that I didn’t even notice how infrequently I read as an adult at first. The trouble with reading, for me anyway, is that you can’t multi-task while doing it – it’s so hard for me to focus on a book when I know there are a million other things I should be doing. Here are some ways I’ve found have helped me get more reading done lately!

  • Read on your lunch break: You have to eat lunch anyway, and while it’s not a great habit to eat and read at the same time, I find that this is a perfect time for me to read; there’s not much else I could be doing on my lunch break, anyway, and it’s a nice mid-day reset to take my mind off of work.
  • Read in the bath: I think the perfect way for me to unwind is to curl up in a hot bath with a good book. Leave your cell phone in another room, light some candles, and just unwind for a while! For some reason I don’t feel guilty about reading if I’m also taking a bath, because I know that the bath is doing my tired bod some good so it’s kind of killing two birds with one stone. Plus, like I talked about in my post about anxiety, it’s super hard for me to just be alone with my thoughts when I’m stressed out, so reading a book actually helps me relax more since it takes my mind off my troubles for a while!
  • Listen to audiobooks: For me, audiobooks don’t quite replace the experience of actually reading with my eyes, but they’re SO great if there’s a book I want to read in a hurry (like if the movie is about to come out or something like that!) I have so much downtime during my commute that I’d otherwise just be spending listening to the radio, so if there’s a book that’s on my list but I don’t SUPER want to read it, I’ll use something like Audible or Amazon Kindle Unlimited (you can get a 30-day free trial if you sign up through my link ;D) and just listen to it instead. It’s a great way to get the experience of the book without having to read it, and you can listen to it while you’re at the gym or doing dishes, too!

2. Exercise This is a tough one, because it’s not just a matter of making time for exercise – you have to also make time to change into workout clothes, drive to the gym (if that’s your thing), work out, then shower afterwards… It’s kind of a big time commitment and that can be overwhelming if you don’t already make a habit to include it in your schedule. Here are a few ways to make it a little easier!

  • Do a little at a time: If you don’t have time to squeeze in an hour-long exercise session all at once, do a little bit at a time! You could do a little when you wake up in the morning, a little on your lunch break, and a little before bed if you wanted to. As long as you’re gettin’ that heart rate up it’s better than nothing at all! If you’re someone who’s been put off from starting incorporating exercise into your lifestyle due to a lack of time, this might be a good way to finally get started.
  • Exercise right before you were going to shower anyway: A lot of times for me the thing that puts me off from exercise is something like “ugh, I have time to work out, but I won’t have time to shower afterwards!” The idea of sitting around sweaty isn’t a good one, nor is the idea of running errands and going places directly post-workout. If you can, plan your exercise around times when you were already planning to shower – for most people this is probably the morning or night. That way you don’t have to worry about also squeezing in shower time and you don’t have to stay sweaty!
  • Do other things while exercising to distract you: I have a confession to make: I HATE exercise. I hate it. Everyone always says “oh, you come to love it after a while, it’s like an addiction!” That never happened for me. I hate sweating, I hate exerting my muscles, I hate everything about it. The only thing that gets me through my workout routine is doing other things to distract me. I’ll be on social media on my phone, watching TV or YouTube videos, or playing cell phone games – literally anything to take my mind off the fact that my body is in motion. If you’re one of those people who loves working out, more power to you! But for my fellow lazy babes, this is seriously a game-changer. The time goes by so quickly when you’re focused on other things!
  • Buy an exercise machine: This definitely isn’t for everybody, but the $300 I dropped on an elliptical for my apartment was the best money I ever spent. I hate just about every part of going to the gym, and after work all I wanted to do was go home and curl up in bed, not go somewhere else and sweat. With the elliptical in my place, though, I COULD take some time and decompress, eat dinner, whatever, then immediately work out as soon as I was ready. I’d make a deal with myself that I could only watch TV if I was also on the elliptical and I was working out every day in no time! It seems really inconvenient and expensive to buy your own machine, but you could get one relatively cheap (even cheaper if you go to a used sporting goods store!) and you’ll find room if you have to – mine was just in my bedroom and it totally was an eyesore, but it did the trick!

3. Hobbies

How many times have you thought you might want to learn how to do something, only to never get started due to a lack of time? Or you have a hobby already, like writing, but then one day you realize it’s been weeks since you’ve actually written anything? Maybe your hobby isn’t anything that constructive – I love playing video games, for instance, and they really help me unwind! It’s hard to justify finding time for hobbies when you have a busy schedule, but it doesn’t have to be a big time commitment. Try these fixes:

  • Set weekly goals: This could be as simple as “look up art classes in my area” or as specific as “write 3000 words” (if you wanna learn more about setting and keeping goals, check out my post How to Keep Your Resolutions: 3 Steps to Success!) Even a little progress is better than none, and this is a concrete way to make sure you’re moving forward, however slowly. You can even make the goal of “play one hour of Pokemon this week” to make sure you find time to have fun!
  • Schedule it: Take a look at your schedule, whether you have a planner, use your phone, or just write down to-do lists. No matter how full it seems, chances are you have a free spot. Maybe that spot is just before bed when you usually surf the Internet or maybe you’ve only got a few minutes while dinner is cooking, but write down your hobbies on your to-do list or in your planner to be done in that amount of time. Doing this not only helps you visualize when you can work on your hobbies, but also gives them as much importance as the other things you wrote down – because hobbies ARE important, and if you neglect them you’ll feel guilty and frustrated. Move plans around if you have to, but make some time in your week for your hobbies.
  • Make it a priority: This one is easier said than done, but honestly, you have to make it a priority. I know that things like hobbies are usually the easiest to put off or cancel if you’re busy, but in the long run, as I mentioned, you’ll end up feeling unfulfilled if you don’t nurture the things you’re passionate about. Try canceling one of your other plans every once in a while, or making the next day’s dinner so that you’ll have that extra time to devote to you. Whatever you have to do, if it’s important to you, you have to treat it that way. Give your hobbies the respect they deserve.
  • Get a buddy: Finding another person to learn the hobby or to do it with you holds you accountable, but also can make it a lot more fun! Sometimes things that require practice can feel like a chore, so the time will go by faster with a friend there with you. And if it’s something like watching rom-coms or playing MMOs, making a regular hangout night with a friend to do that thing is a fun way to make sure you’re cutting loose a little.

I hope some of these tips were helpful – they’ve definitely helped me! My schedule usually looks like: daily tarot draw in the morning while waiting for my tea to cool, go to work, read on my lunch break, audiobook on my commute home, catch up on e-mails and Tumblr while dinner’s cooking, work out while browsing Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram or playing my 3DS, take a bath and read some more, and journal before bed. My boyfriend has his own business, so sometimes if I have a lot of blogging stuff to catch up on but I’d still like to see him, I’ll bring my work over to his place and we’ll just work on our own stuff together – it’s still a good way to spend time together and we can even bounce ideas off each other as we go along! Whew! It’s definitely not good to be nonstop all day every day, but sometimes when you’re super busy it feels good to still be able to do the things you like!

What do you find yourself putting off? How do you make time for it?

- Serena Leave a comment

6 ways to pamper yourself

Valentine’s Day is this Sunday! While I’m super excited about it, it might not be for the reasons you think. I’m all about self-love these days and I think you should be, too. What better day to practice it than V-Day, the holiday that’s already about all kinds of love? Whether you have a significant other or not, you can still practice these 6 ways to show yourself some love this Valentine’s Day (and every day, if you want!)

1. Take a bath

If you end up reading this blog for any length of time, you’ll soon realize that I really, really like baths. Baths are my solution for everything. Feeling sad? Take a bath! Broke your leg? Take a bath (but be sure not to get the cast wet)! Fought with your significant other? Take a bath (maybe together?)! To me, baths are the epitome of pampering. They’re great if you’re spending V-day in, but they’re also a good way to prep for a date later on! Light some candles, toss in a bath bomb, pour yourself a glass of vino (or just keep the bottle by the tub for easy access – I mean what, who does that?) and soak away your stress while reading a good book or listening to music. I sometimes use this time to catch up on YouTube videos by propping my laptop up on a chair by the tub – the sky’s the limit!

2. Do a face mask

If you have one you love already, that’s great – do it! If not, here are a few options! Raw honey is amazing if you struggle with acne – it’s a natural anti-bacterial, plus it’s a humectant which means it seals moisture in your skin. On top of that, raw honey is filled with nutrients and antioxidents that are super good for you! Make yourself a cup of tea and honey to sip on while you do it (but be sure you’re not just reaching your grubby hands into the honey jar – you’re not Winnie the Pooh!) If your skin is dry or irritated, I cannot say enough how incredible plain Greek yogurt feels on the face. It’s cooling and soothing and was my go-to when I had hella sunburn this summer. For store-bought options, my faves are this super cheap one from Queen Helene (good for unclogging pores) and this MIRACLE product from Soap and Glory – Soap And Glory The Fab Pore Facial Peel 2 In 1 Pore Purifying Mask And Peel *(I cannot say enough about this stuff. It’s a little harder to find, but my skin looks bright, fresh, and new after I use it!)

3. Eat yummy food

If there’s ever a day to indulge, it’s Valentine’s Day – I mean hello, holiday of chocolate and wine. Whatever you love to eat, have it and don’t feel guilty about it (even if it’s mozzarella sticks ON a pizza. You go live that dream. And invite me over.) Seriously, sometimes all it takes for my mood to spike through the roof is a bag of potato chips, because as much as I claim through gritted teeth that I LOVE these dried seaweed snacks that I paid too much for at Whole Foods, ya gotta give in to the cravings sometimes. (To be fair, I DO like those seaweed snacks, but when the choice is between that or some Salt n’ Vinegar chips? Come on.) Calories don’t count on Valentine’s Day, because I make the rules and I said so.

4. Watch a movie

You can do this while doing all of the other things! Some of my favorite love-y movies are Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Practical Magic (it’s not just for Halloween!), Penelope (a movie with a great message!), The Proposal (maybe I just like this because I am also an editor who loves Wuthering Heights, but it’s worth it for Ryan Reynolds shirtless, at any rate), Crazy Stupid Love, and Dan In Real Life (not your traditional romance, but adorable.)

5. Buy yourself something sexy
It doesn’t have to be lingerie (although heck yes, new lingerie! do it!) I always feel SUPER confident when I’m wearing a new outfit that I feel fab in. Even if you’re not going on a date, you can still treat yourself to something awesome – then when you DO have a date, you’ll knock it out of the park fore sure! Don’t have the budget for a brand-new outfit? I get the same thrill from a new lipstick, even one from the drugstore! This red from Revlon,*
I’m convinced, looks good on everyone and lasts ALL day. It’s always in my purse. Seriously. I’m linking to it because you’d probably gag if I took a picture of the gross one in my bag right now.

6. Indulge in a hobby

Take some time to do something you love, even if it’s something you do every other day. I find that sometimes I need a special occasion to give myself an excuse to make time for the things I care about, as sad as that is. Who has time for writing when I have a full-time job, two side hustles, a relationship, an attempted workout regimen, and the need for a shower every once in a while?! The truth is that even when I find time to dedicate to my pasisons, I never have time to tend to all of them – I love reading, writing, tarot, blogging, going for walks, watching the occasional TV show, surfing the Internet, finding cute animals to Instagram, and a whole lot of other stuff. Inevitably those get prioritized and I tend to do my favorites over and over again, while the others fall neglected to the wayside. Dedicate some time to that thing you’ve been wanting to learn but keep putting off, or that thing you know how to do but want to do more often. You’ll thank yourself later!

If you wanna buy yourself some more nice V-day-themed things, I suggest you check out my gift guide post and snag some of that stuff! I also recommend Gala Darling’s new book, Radical Self-Love: A Guide to Loving Yourself and Living Your Dreams*
– I keep talking about it because I’m only halfway through it and I’m already in LOVE.

A photo posted by ? Dana ? (@alavendermoon) on Feb 9, 2016 at 1:19pm PST

I hope you have a lovely and wonderful Valentine’s Day, and remember that love isn’t measured in flowers or boxes of chocolate. Don’t feel down if you don’t have a partner! It’s just a silly holiday, and anyway you know that I love you so we’ll just be valentines if you’re lonely, no big deal. Smooches! xx

(links marked with a * are affiliate links – they’re not sponsored, but I get paid if you buy ’em! win-win! and of course, all opinions are honest and totally my own.)

- Serena Leave a comment

valentine’s day: gifts for your witch (or yourself!)

valentine's day: gifts for your witch (or yourself!)

It’s almost Valentine’s Day, and if you’re like me you probably put off your gift shopping until the last minute! If your significant other is a little on the witchy side, I’ve got your back – as a certified person-who-likes-things, today I’m here to share some gift ideas just for you! All of them have links to where you can buy them, but of course feel free to just use them as inspiration, as well!

And if you’re going to be single on V-day? Treat yo’ self! Seriously, there’s no better time to show yourself some self-love. Last year I was single and had the most lovely pampering day all to myself, and let me tell you, it’s hard to be sad about your single status when you’re drinking wine in a relaxing bubble bath. But anyway, back to the gift ideas!

1. Crystals

Let’s be honest, witches love crystals!! Rose quartz is the obvious one for love, and a little heart-shaped palm stone would be a really cute way to show you care. But if rose quartz isn’t their jam, some other stones that often are associated with love are aventurine, rhodonite, and rhodochrosite.

2. Candles

I’ve been admiring the candles from this Etsy shop for over a year now. There are some darker, more traditionally witchy ones if pastel isn’t your jam, but it’s MY jam, sooo.

3. Bath products

How CUTE is this bath bomb?! It looks just like a cupcake!! I think you really can’t go wrong with giving bath products as gifts (unless your significant other doesn’t have a bath tub, in which case, some cute handmade soap would do just as well!)

4. Beauty products

Once I wander in to the beauty section of Etsy, it’s game over. This stuff makes your skin all shimmery, like the goddess (or god, or general ethereal being) they are inside!

5. Jewelry

You know I had to include the most basic V-day gift idea (next to chocolate and flowers, that is!) Raw crystal jewelry is pretty, unique, and – luckily – costs WAY less than going to Jared’s or whatever. Plus, even if they have one rose quartz necklace already, no two are alike! ♥

A photo posted by ?Black and the Moon? (@blackandthemoon) on

6. A new deck

If you know your significant other is into tarot and oracle cards, surprise them with a new deck! This one by Black and the Moon is #1 on my wishlist right now – the Arcana of Astrology. Isn’t it pretty?! Don’t worry, the cards aren’t all pink!

And remember, if you’re low on funds or just plain uninspired, the best thing you can do for your significant other is make a beautiful memory. Bake something together, or make them something handmade – candles are super easy with materials from the craft store!

Are you doing anything fun for Valentine’s Day?

- Serena 16 Comments

10 tarot blogs you need to be reading

10 tarot blogs you need to be reading

Hello friend! Mercury turns direct again today – whew! I’ve had about enough of retrograde to last me quite a while. Of course, it wasn’t all bad – I probably have Mercury to thank for reconnecting with an old friend I haven’t spoken to in a decade!

Today I thought I’d take a minute to share some of the tarot blogs I’ve been reading (and LOVING) lately. They’re all great resources and are run by super-amazing, super-talented tarot readers! I’ve learned a lot from all of them and I hope you will, too.

I’m always looking for new ones to read, so if you have any suggestions let me know and I’ll check them out! 😀

1. The Tarot Lady

I am a HUGE Theresa fangirl. She’s got it all figured out: witty and relatable writing, seriously helpful resources, and a social media strategy that’s to die for – seriously, she’s on just about every platform and consistently killing it. Theresa has decades of experience in the business and her blog is an essential read if you want to become a better tarot reader.

2. Ethony

Ethony is consistently creating amazing content (which she often shares for free), interviewing other amazing players in the tarot community, being a business boss, and doing it all with grace and style. Her deck reviews are super useful if you’re looking to make a new purchase, and if you take her free personality test you get a free ebook full of resources catered to your exact reading style!

3. Benebell Wen

Benebell’s blog is a great resources for those who want to take their tarot readings to the professional level! She offers business advice for tarot readers (sometimes even inspired by the cards) and thorough deck reviews in case you’re wanting to make a new purchase.

4. Modern Fortune Teller

Formerly known as Fiona Benjamin, over on Modern Fortune Teller Fiona blogs about the tarot, from beginners’ resources to tips on going pro. She also is behind the creation of the gorgeous Lunar Fire tarot deck that’s due to be released this summer!

5. Little Red Tarot

Beth’s blog is amazing. I can’t get over how gorgeous her writing is – she’s so insightful! She’s currently living in a caravan on the Isle of Skye. Like what? It doesn’t get much dreamier than that. You’re definitely gonna want to follow along with her adventures!

6. Spirit-Centered Awakenings

Shelby has really put a beautiful blog together – the layout is so calming to look at! Currently she’s working through the gorgeous cards of the Lumina Tarot in a series on their meanings, so you should definitely check that out if you want to understand the deck better or just have a case of decklust!

7. The Woman Who Married a Bear

Okay, so this one isn’t exactly a tarot blog, but Milla does read tarot and talks about it sometimes! Mostly it’s about her and her husband living what’s basically my dream life on an island in the Pacific Northwest. Come for the tarot and stay for the gorgeous prose, dreamy pictures, and the feeling of belonging in a place you’ve never been.

8. The Cackling Moon

Rose has turned her YouTube channel into a seriously amazing resource for beginners and more advanced readers alike. She does video readings as well as informational tutorials showing you things like how to cleanse your deck and how to learn the meanings of the cards. I love her witchy haul videos!

9. Happy Fish Tarot

Carrie shares tarot spreads, deck and card analyses, and general tarot positivity over on her blog! She’s got some super great resources over there (and some really unique blog post topics, like the use of lines in the Wild Unknown tarot!)

10. Gala Darling

This is super not a tarot blog, but Gala does blog about tarot and witchery sometimes! Mostly it’s a lifestyle blog jam-packed with inspiration and her take on Radical Self-Love. If you want to put a little more magic into your life, you have to check her out.

Of course this isn’t anywhere NEAR all of the amazing tarot blogs out there in the world – these are just a few that I’ve been loving to read lately! I’d love to hear which ones you love to read – like I said, I’m always looking for new blogs to check out! (And if YOU have one, please let me know and I’ll definitely look at it!)

P.S. If you like MY blog, you should totally follow me on Bloglovin! It’s the best way to keep up with all my latest posts 😉

I hope Monday is being good to you!

- Serena Leave a comment

serenity now: my top 12 tips for overcoming anxiety

serenity now: my top 12 tips for overcoming anxiety

I’ve struggled with anxiety my entire life – I can even remember being kept awake at night as a young child, thinking about worst-case scenarios that were out of control. It only started really getting to me in recent years, though. Stress, life changes, and lack of sleep had turned a once-manageable condition into panic attacks and anxiety so strong it would prevent me from doing simple things like driving at night or going out with friends to a new place.

I had to find ways to manage my anxious moments, and while some of these tips might be the sort you see anywhere, some of them I’ve had to modify so they worked for me. Here are 12 things that I do when I’m feeling anxious or panicky, and I hope they work for you too ♥

1. Break the thought cycle by getting wrapped up in a book/movie/TV show.

Part of the reason my anxiety is so out of control is that once I start having anxious thoughts, it’s hard to stop myself! Getting lost in something entertainment is enough to give my brain a break, and I can come back to thinking about whatever I was worried about later with a clearer head.

2. Play a distracting game on your phone.

I’ve heard Neko Atsume is great for calming down, but the one I love is called 1010 – it’s like Tetris except the pieces don’t fall from the sky, you have to fit them together like a puzzle! I didn’t explain that super well, but just check it out – it’s free in the iTunes app store. I love it for taking my mind off of things.

3. Take a relaxing bath.

I love taking a bath and doing something pampering like a face mask or a manicure to calm myself down! Unfortunately, sometimes being alone in the bath with my thoughts is NOT helpful, so I usually combine this with #1 above and read or watch Netflix while I soak 🙂 Sometimes a glass of wine helps, too… but I definitely don’t encourage drinking your anxiety away – it’ll just be worse when you sober up!

4. Practice some breathing exercises.

I’ve read that if you inhale through your nose for four seconds, hold your breath for seven, and then exhale through your mouth for eight, and then repeat that a few times, it’s supposed to calm your body down. I think that you can sort of also do this by just taking deep breaths and really focusing on your breath, not the thoughts!

5. Meditation/Mindfulness

Similar to the breathing, meditation can do wonders for calming some of the physical symptoms of anxiety and panic disorder! I sometimes find it even harder than usual to meditate when my mind is whirling with anxious thoughts, but I know it works for a lot of people so I had to mention it. I have the Calm app on my phone and it’s nice for guided meditations. You could also try one of those mindfulness coloring books – I personally have this one (that’s an affiliate link, by the way) and it really does put you in sort of a calm, brain-turned-off state of mind!

6. Go for a walk outside.

Fresh air really can be a miracle worker sometimes! Not much else to say about this one 🙂

7. Take a nap.

This might not make your worries go away, but sometimes for me it serves as a reset and when I wake up I can come back to whatever I was worried about with a clear look.

8. Use some essential oils.

Whether you put some in your bath, rub them on your skin (be sure you’re using the kind that’s safe for that and you’re not allergic!) or put them in an oil burner/diffuser, there are some essential oils that are great for soothing anxiety. Lavender is of course the most well-known one, but some others are frankincense, chamomile, and ylang ylang.

9. Tidy your space.

A cluttered space can sometimes make you feel even more anxious! Tidying up always helps me relax – I can think more clearly in an organized space and the mess isn’t stressing me out.

10. Talk to a friend.

Even if I’m freaking out about nothing and I know my concerns sound silly, sometimes just talking it through with a friend is enough to calm me down! It’s like “ahh, okay, someone else knows that I’m worried about this.” It feels like you’re sharing the burden a little, and sometimes your friend can help you realize that your concerns are just your anxiety blowing things out of proportion.

11. Write it all down.

Make a list of everything you’re thinking about. This could be in journal form or bullet points, but writing down all of the worries you have helps me relax a little – it’s like I don’t have to keep those things whirling around in my brain because they’re all on paper where I can see it.

12. Make a plan.

So much of my anxiety comes from situations that feel like they’re out of my control, but what helps me a lot of the time is planning out what I would do if my worst-case scenario actually DOES happen. Finding little things I can do to eliminate risks or make things go more smoothly makes me feel less scared, and sometimes thinking “okay, so what would I do if this DOES happen?” helps me realize that really, even my worst-case scenario isn’t the end of the world!

P.S. I’m running a giveaway for a snail-mail tarot reading over on Instagram – check it out!

 How do you deal with anxiety or anxious feelings?

- Serena 5 Comments

my tarot deck collection + faves!

My tarot deck collection + favorites!

I get asked a lot about what decks I own and which ones I like the best, so today I thought I’d share with you my deck collection and which decks I work with the most! My setup isn’t ideal since there’s not enough room for all of my decks to comfortable fit on the shelf I have them on, but I’m pretty happy with this setup for now – I used to keep them in a box, but then I couldn’t see them easily!

My tarot deck collection + favorites!

From right to left, my decks are:

The Cosmos Tarot and Oracle

The Victorian Fairy Tarot

The Halloween Oracle

Oracle of the Mermaids

(those next two black things are guidebooks, not decks)

Magic and Manifestations Oracle

The Rider Tarot Deck

Witchlings Deck

The Wild Unknown Tarot (first edition – it’s sold out now)

The Wild Unknown Tarot (second edition)

The Lumina Tarot

The Prisma Visions Tarot

Connected & Free Alchemist’s Oracle

The Linestrider Tarot< (it’s just a pre-order right now!)

The Earthbound Oracle

The two in front are the Starchild Tarot: Akashic Edition (purple-ish box) and the first edition (mint green box – this one is sold out).

On top, we have the Nomad Tarot (in the little cloth bag), the Tarot of Mermaids (blue box), the Shadowscapes Tarot, and the Wooden Tarot. Whew!

It was REALLY hard to narrow down which decks were my favorites because really, I love and work with them all. But I finally managed to whittle it down to the decks I use most often for my own readings.

My tarot deck collection + favorites!

It really felt like trying to pick a favorite child since I really have a connection with all of my decks! But in the end, these are the ones I’ve been reaching for most lately. Below is a picture of a card from each of them so you can see the art style:

My tarot deck collection + favorites!

(clockwise from far right: Prisma Visions, Lumina, Starchild: Akashic, Magic and Manifestations, Earthbound Oracle, Wild Unknown, Linestrider, Connected & Free Oracle)

I’ve included links to where you can purchase each of these decks if you’re interested! The Amazon links are affiliate links, which just means I get a commission if you buy one (but doesn’t affect the price for you!) I know that many of them are pretty pricey, but I’m planning a blog post soon featuring some of my favorite lower-end decks that are out there right now so don’t worry ♥ There are amazing decks for every price range!

What decks are your favorite?

- Serena Leave a comment

no more bad days: 4 ways to make any day better

no more bad days: 4 ways to make any day better

Back on September 11th of last year, I had a bad day. I mean a really bad day. You know it’s bad when you can remember the exact date even months later, right? This day was so bad that I took the afternoon off work to go and clear my head. And yet, while I can remember how bad this day was – how frustrated I felt, how it seemed like one thing after another was going wrong – I really can’t remember all of the things that were bothering me at the time.


I thought about that the last time I was having a bad day, and I realized something – it wasn’t that the day was bad. It was my attitude about the day, the fact that I was almost looking for things to go wrong so I could say “oh, GREAT! another thing!!” But that’s not a very healthy outlook, and it certainly didn’t do anything to make my day better!


So that day, I decided to turn things around. I didn’t want to have my whole day ruined just because some things were going wrong. Here are the 4 tips I’ve learned – from practice! – that since then, have managed to turn all of my “bad days” around!


1. Take yourself out of the situation. 

Whether this is a few minutes during your lunch break or a whole evening, give yourself some time away from whatever it is that’s stressing you out. I have the Calm app on my phone and if things get overwhelming during the work day, I head out to my car at lunch and do their five-minute guided meditation. This helps me refocus my mind and interrupts the cycle of “oh no! oh no!!” that usually goes through my head when things start going wrong. Depending on how much time you have, you might want to read a book for a little while, take a nice bath, or – if you’re really in a rush or stuck in a certain location – take your phone to the bathroom with you and surf the Internet for a few minutes. (Just be sure you’re not in there too long, or people will start to worry about you!) Personally, I have the game 1010! on my iPhone and I find it really calming and a healthy distraction! Of course your problems will still be there whenever you return from your happy place, but even a few minutes of “me time” can change your mood for the better.

2. Focus on the good things.

When I really thought about my “bad day,” I realized that really there had been good things happening all day right alongside the bad ones – I was just too preoccupied with my grumpiness to notice them. Traffic was super breezy on my way back from work, I had a really yummy lunch, and I had time to take a nice nap. Take a minute to write down all of the things in your life that are going well, things you’re grateful for, or things you’re looking forward to. Taking a second to tally up all the good things that had happened to me that day, even simple ones, made me realize that really the good things (or even neutral things) really outweighed the bad things. Really, the only thing making it a bad day was my own bad mood. But sometimes it’s hard to shake a bad mood, and sometimes the bad things really are quite bad, which leads me to #2:

3. If there are no good things, make some.

Treat yo’ self! Whoever said you can’t buy happiness has never been to the mall after a long day. I’m not saying to go crazy, but we all have things we love and get excited about buying. For me, it’s lipstick and clothes – I always feel great when I know I look great! If you’re strapped for cash, there are other ways to treat yourself – cancel a plan you weren’t thrilled about and do something you love instead, cook yourself a delicious meal, have a yummy snack, or change into some fuzzy socks. Sometimes something small makes all the difference. And when all else fails, remember:

4. You can start over any time.

Some days it’s just really hard to escape the suck, but you don’t need to wait for a new day to have a fresh start. Days are a really arbitrary measure of time! Do something kind for yourself and make that your new day. It’ll automatically be off to a good start! Don’t write it off as a “bad day” just because bad things have happened. It’s just a day. And chances are, the bad things are only a tiny part of all the glorious things that make up a day in your life. Shine on, friend!!

Note: I know the last thing anyone wants to hear when they’re having a rough day is “just be positive!” but I promise I’m sharing this because it really changed my outlook. It’s totally okay to have days when you just want to wallow, and it might even be healthy to just let yourself feel all the things every once in a while! And of course, sometimes truly awful things happen that are beyond fixing with a nice cup of tea. But if you’re riding the crap train and you want to try and get off at the next stop, I hope this post can help a little 🙂


How do you deal with a bad day?

- Serena 2 Comments

how to keep your resolutions: 3 steps to success

 

how to keep your resolutions: 3 steps to success

New Year’s resolutions – did you make any this year? I did, but I feel like whenever I ask someone about theirs, I’m met with a scoff. I think that when people think of resolutions there’s automatically this assumption that people are all talk – and that when it comes to actually holding up the resolution, we’ll just quietly abandon these goals somewhere around mid-January and that will be that.

In 2015, my resolutions were to journal daily, to get my body back (I had gained 40 pounds through over-indulging during 2014) and to try wearing less makeup in an attempt to start loving my natural face. I’m happy to say that I managed to keep every one of them! Every entry in my daily journal is filled out, I lost that 40 pounds, and while I still wear and love makeup, I can now go without it if I want/have to – before I wouldn’t even go get the garbage cans without a full face of foundation.

It was tough to keep all of these goals for an entire year, but I found three key steps along the way that really helped me maintain my focus and kick major butt during 2015 – and they’re all pretty easy to do. (Click here to see my look back on 2015!) Are you ready to make 2016 your year? Get ready, ’cause here we go:

Step 1: Set the right kind of goal.

A lot of the time, the problem with resolutions is that we use the New Year as a chance to declare all of our big dreams for the year ahead. There’s nothing wrong with taking stock of those dreams, but often they come in the form of “I want to lose weight” or “I want to do better in my career.” These are fine goals to have, but they’re so vague that it’s hard to tell what success looks like or how to get there. Make sure your goals are specific and attainable. If you want to lose weight (not that this is an accurate measure of health or beauty, mind you, so please be sure you’re doing it for the right reasons!) you’ve got to set a realistic goal for yourself. Instead of saying something like “I want to lose 100 pounds this year,” which is an awfully big goal to set, maybe say “I want to lose four pounds per month in 2016” or, even better, “I want to exercise three days a week.” With the career goal, you might say something like “I want to learn one new task pertaining to my job per month” or something along those lines. Give yourself some leeway – you can always do more than you planned, but you’re not likely to suddenly do something daily you’ve never done before if it’s going to be a lot of effort. Once you have a specific, measurable goal in mind, it’s much easier to hold yourself to it long-term!

Step 2: Figure out what’s kept you from doing it before.

Often our resolutions are things we’ve wanted to accomplish for a long time but have either failed at or not begun in the past, so now we’re using the brand-new year as a chance to finally Do The Thing. However, if you haven’t been able to do this thing before, chances are there’s a reason why. Figure out this reason and then work with it, not against it. I had wanted to lose weight for my own reasons for a long time, but I HATE going to the gym. I would come up with every excuse under the sun not to go. In the end I realized that the part of me that hated the gym was stronger than the part of me that wanted to lose weight. So I bought an elliptical for my apartment. I didn’t really have the space, so I crammed it in my bedroom, and it was definitely a half-a-paycheck kind of investment, but I knew in my heart that if I got one I would use it – and I did. Sometimes rather than trying to make yourself overcome whatever’s getting you in your way, you have to acknowledge and learn how to fit it into your goal. If you’re trying to get ahead at work but keep getting sucked into Pinterest, cutting out social media altogether isn’t gonna make you happy. Instead, give yourself quick social media breaks throughout the day to keep you satisfied. Want to eat better but can’t stop bingeing on chocolate? (Been there, my friend.) Buy pre-wrapped chocolates or portion some out so you know you can have a piece every now and again without eating an entire Hershey’s bar. And don’t be embarrassed – you’re not “slipping up,” you’re working toward your goal one step at a time. Go you!!

Step 3: Give yourself incentives.

While of course your end goal is the best reward of all, sometimes we need more than just that to keep us going when motivation wanes. Sometimes we’re too tired to exercise after work, or sometimes we’d rather watch TV than take that walk we’d planned on earlier in the day. First of all, let me preface this by saying there’s absolutely nothing wrong with giving yourself a break if you need it. Some days life is just too much and the last thing we need is to stress about our personal goals! But with that in mind, you’ll need to learn the difference between “can’t” and “don’t want to.” If what you’re ACTUALLY feeling is that you just don’t want to, this is where we need a little compromise. This could be “I’ll only work out for 20 minutes tonight” or “I only need to write one paragraph in my journal instead of a whole page.” The important thing is that you get in the habit of working towards your goal, not necessarily that you’re giving 100% output every time – that’ll come on its own if you’re persistent. It’s also important to give yourself longer-term incentives, too, like “I’ll buy myself a new shirt when I lose 10 pounds” or “I’ll treat myself to a new bag when I’ve journaled for a month straight” or something like that. Having little rewards to look forward to at little milestones help the bigger milestones not seem so far off, and it’s important to treat yourself every now and again anyway! 😉

I hope these tips are helpful – this is seriously how I managed to accomplish my resolutions in 2015. For 2016, my resolution is to meditate three times per week – this might seem like a small goal, but I’m so awful at meditating regularly even though it makes me feel so nice! I’d also like to spend one night per week writing in my tarot journal, which I currently only use sporadically when I’m doing readings. I’ll keep you posted on how these are going later on! 🙂

What are your New Year’s resolutions?

P.S. It’s not too late to get your 12-month forecast reading from my Etsy! If you order now the first month will be February and it’ll take you through the beginning of 2017 – perfect if you like to be prepared 🙂

- Serena 9 Comments

top 10 tips for the tarot beginner

top 10 tips for the tarot beginner

When you decide to learn how to read tarot cards, it can be tempting to just plunge into the millions of resources out there right away – and by all means, go for it! The world of tarot is exciting and magical to discover, and if you’re lucky you’ll end up learning about yourself along the way, too. But with so much information out there and so many people with their own ways of doing things, it can be hard to know where to start or what to do. I’ve brainstormed the top 10 things I wish someone had told me when I was first starting out, so I thought I’d pass them along to you!

top 10 tips for the tarot beginner

(these party animals believe in you!)

1. Get a deck that you love.

As much as it would have made my life easier to start with a Rider-Waite-Smith deck, ultimately the reason I stuck with tarot instead of getting bored is because I loved the deck I had and I wanted to get to know it. The symbolism can vary either slightly or entirely from deck to deck, so make sure you know what you’re getting into before you buy one! But you can always learn the “traditional” meanings of the cards even if you don’t have the RWS. It’s more important that you connect with the cards you have.

2. That said, don’t get hung up on memorization.

The cards do have meanings that are widely recognized, but nothing is set in stone. You’ll hear all the time from tarot readers that you should trust your intuition and it’s true! Your initial feeling when you look at the cards is just as important, if not more important, than the definitions that have been traditionally assigned to them. It’s certainly helpful to learn these traditional meanings, but at the end of the day anyone can memorize some keywords and call themselves a tarot reader. To truly know the cards is to go deeper than just that, and in some cases the vibe you’re getting from a card might be totally different than what it’s “supposed” to mean. Trust your gut!

3. Go at your own pace.

It can be frustrating when you’re starting out if you feel that everyone else already has a mastery of the cards, but there’s no need to compare yourself to others – take your time! It’s okay if it feels like it’s taking you forever to remember what the cards mean or to feel confident doing a reading without consulting a guidebook. Everyone learns at their own pace, and if you do it right then you’ll never stop learning since there’s always more to learn. It’s okay to not be a tarot pro right from the start – no one is. Every tarot reader out there has had to start from zero at some point, and whether you’re five or fifty when you start learning, the important thing is that you DO start.

4. Define your mindset.

What does tarot mean to you? Do you believe in divination, or do you want to use it as a tool for meditation and self-exploration? Maybe you want to use them to contact spirits, or maybe you just see them as playing cards. There are so many ways to use the tarot, and although it might not be immediately obvious to you what you want to get out of them, it is important that you take the time to think about it at some point. If you’re using them to predict the future without really believing they have the power to do so, you’re going to be wasting your time. If you’re only using them for self-reflection when you think they can do more, then you’re not getting the full experience. See what feels comfortable for you, but really do take a moment to figure out why you’re using the cards to begin with.

5. Don’t feel pressured to read for others.

As soon as you bring up tarot in conversation, people are going to ask you for a reading. It’s pretty much guaranteed! Reading for others is a great way to test yourself and can be incredibly rewarding for all parties involved – there’s no better feeling than helping a friend work through a jam because of your mad divination skills. But you never have to say yes. For one thing, if you read for others before you feel ready or comfortable doing so, it might leave a bad taste in your mouth and prevent you from trying it again in the future. For another, reading the cards takes time, effort, and energy, and a lot of the time friends and family will expect you to do it free of charge! There’s nothing wrong with that and they probably don’t mean any harm, but it’s a service and it’s your choice to perform it or not – and you’re within your right to gently state that you don’t do free readings if you don’t want to.

6. Carry your cards with you.

When you’re first learning to read tarot, I really recommend carrying them around with you as you go about your day-to-day life. It’s a great way to form a bond with your deck, and you never know when they’ll come in handy! You can do a quick one-card draw to see what you should focus on at work that day, study up on the cards on your lunch break, or maybe even read for a friend who needs it if you’re comfortable doing so. My cards have started plenty of conversations and I always make sure to have a deck with me just in case!

7. Connect with a community.

When I joined Tumblr, I found an amazing community of tarot readers that proved to be an indispensable resource. Not only will you meet like-minded people and hopefully make friends, but you learn so much from bouncing ideas off others and seeing how they’ve learned what they know! If Tumblr isn’t your thing, there are other ways to engage – check out the #tarot tag on Instagram, for example, or stalk Twitter and Facebook for people and pages. Of course, it’s totally cool if you’re more of a lone wolf kind of reader, but there are so many great resources to take advantage of if you pick someone else’s brain every once in a while!

8. Have others read for you.

Whether in-person or online (there are plenty of Etsy and Storenvy shops where people sell their tarot readings, like mine!), I think it helps to see how others deliver their readings and interpret the cards. If you do join Tumblr, people often offer free readings in the “tarot community” tag, so you don’t even have to pay a dime if you don’t want to! Sometimes seeing others’ reading styles helps you form one of your own.

9. There is no right or wrong.

At the end of the day, there’s really no right or wrong way to read tarot. It’s so subjective and so much of it depends on the reader, the deck, the client, or some combination of all of them. You could give two tarot readers the same card and they could interpret it in completely different ways, and that’s part of what makes tarot so great! Don’t be afraid to say what you feel is right, even if it might be different than what the norm might think. Whether it’s something like not reading card reversals or not wanting to do certain types of readings, what matters most is what works for yourself. You’ll get the most out of your readings if they’re true to you.

10. Don’t get overwhelmed.

My last piece of advice is this. There’s an infinite amount of knowledge and resources out there about the tarot – don’t feel overwhelmed by it all. It can feel impossible at times to be able to remember all the information you need or to read every good book/website/whatever that’s out there, but you don’t HAVE to do all that. Take it step-by-step and you’ll be where you want to be in no time. Don’t let frustration or fear keep you from being a part of the wonderful world of tarot!

Do you have any tips for a tarot beginner? Let me know if mine were helpful!

- Serena Leave a comment

tarot spread: a light in the dark

I came up with this spread because, as the days grow shorter, darkness is something we all have to face. As we’re nearing the end of the year, this is a great time to think about the darkness within us all – and how to use it to our advantage. After all, no one is all light all the time, right?

I use the word “darkness” a little liberally here – it’s not that there’s anything inherently negative about the dark, but I think when we refer to our “inner darkness,” we’re referring to the parts of ourselves that we don’t like to show anyone, the things we’re trying to hide or run from. If you’re uncomfortable with the connotation, feel free to change up the wording to fit your needs!

For an example interpretation of this spread, see below!

So for this spread I’m using the Prisma Visions tarot. In this case, you could break it down like so:

1. What is the darkness I’m avoiding? Four of Swords – an inability to slow down and be still; I always have too many things going on.

2. How has it been affecting me? Five of Chalices – I’m too busy flying through life to take note of the things I have, and I tend to not realize their importance until it’s too late.

3. How has it been affecting others? Ten of Chalices – there is a lack of harmony between myself and those around me, and in my rush I neglect to maintain the relationships that are important to me.

4. What about it can I use to help me? Death – it’s easy for me to create a fresh start for myself, as there are always so many new things to do

5. What has the potential to hurt me? Nine of Pentacles – without taking time to relish my accomplishments before moving on to the next thing, I’ll never be content with anything I do

6. How can I heal myself? Page of Swords – I need to start consciously using my mind and being present in my current task; by devoting my mental energy fully to one thing at a time, I can become more present.

7. What light can I use to balance out the darkness? Seven of Pentacles – I can use the enjoyment of reaping the rewards of a completed task to my advantage; instead of moving on right away to my next task, I can take a moment to appreciate the one I’ve just finished.

That was a bit of an abbreviated interpretation, but it rings really true for the things I’m going through at work right now – the weeks fly by, but I never really feel like I’ve accomplished anything because I’m so focused on my infinite to-do list! I hope that helped you get an idea of how you can answer some of the spread’s prompts!

What’s your inner darkness at the moment?