- Serena 4 Comments

life update | where i’ve been

Hi there, friends! If you’ve been following me for a while, you’ll know that I’ve been unusually inactive as of late. I thought today I’d write a little rambly post about where I’ve been, what’s been going on in my life, and where I hope to go from here!

To start, as you know I moved to Nashville in February and it’s been… a little rocky, to say the least. I found a great job when I first moved down here only to lose it a month later due to circumstances beyond my control. This knocked me down a few pegs and also left me in a tricky financial spot – I’m living with my parents for the moment so I didn’t have to worry about paying rent, but I couldn’t do much at all with no money coming in!

I finally found a new job on a temporary basis and fell in love with it. I also upped my freelance work to try and make up for the financial setback that came with not having a job for an entire month, but this turned out to be a terrible idea. I was exhausted, burned out, stressed, and had no energy whatsoever left over for any of my hobbies. I felt lost, like everything that made me “me” was gone and like I was a massive failure for not even being able to keep up with the things that made me happy. At the same time, though, I felt like my work gave me purpose and I was unwilling to give it up.

This month I finally put my workaholic self in her place and dropped 90% of my freelance writing. I’m still grappling with the ways in which capitalism has made me equate my worth with my level of productivity. I’m trying to embrace the downtime and tend to my own needs instead of forcing myself to constantly create output.

Last week, my temporary position turned into a full-time job, which makes me SO happy. This job is not what I went to school for nor is it something I would have ever thought I’d do, but it makes me feel so fulfilled and doesn’t drain me, so I still have energy to work on my passion projects (like this blog!) Sometimes you really just have to go with the flow and see where you end up.

I feel like I’ve been treading water for months and now, even though the shore is still so far away, I have hope for the first time in a long time that things are going to be okay. I’m writing a bunch of blog posts in advance so I can keep up with my weekly posting schedule, I’m working on a fantasy novel just for fun, I’m devoting more time to reading literature I admire so that I can become a better writer, and I’m making small steps towards breathing new life into my spiritual practice. I’m eating better than I have in a while (I actually went vegetarian in April – would you want to see a non-preachy blog post about that?) and I finally feel like I have some control instead of just getting swept along by the current.

I’m hoping I can move out of my parents’ house and into my own place before Samhain. I’m trying to make time for exercise again and I’m making a conscious effort to spend more time in nature, which always makes me feel better.

I’m not going to lie – there have been many “day ones” since coming to Nashville. So many times I promised myself things would be different, so many times I’ve made a “fresh start,” so many times I’ve failed over and over again at the same small goals. I have no guarantee that this time will be any different, but I feel like my improved circumstances are finally allowing me to give it a real try.

Summer is always a tough season for me, but fall is just around the corner – and isn’t fall when witches feel most alive, anyway? I’m looking forward to what the coming months have to bring, and I hope you’ll stick along for the ride <3

Are there any posts you’d like to see from me? What are you interested in learning more about? Leave me a comment, I’d love to hear your thoughts!

- Serena 2 Comments

spiritual snapshot: my current practice

spiritual snapshot: my current practice

I mentioned a few posts back that I’ve been going through a bit of a spiritual crisis lately. I guess “crisis” is kind of a strong word considering things are pretty okay for the most part, but I definitely felt disconnected from my current practice and it was time to try something new. I’ve been making some changes in my routine for a month or so now and I know a lot of you guys were struggling with similar issues, so I thought I’d talk a little bit about what I’ve been doing and how it’s been working for me!

1. Reading

I’ve been making an effort to read something spiritual EVERY DAY, even if it’s just a few pages. This sounds like it wouldn’t be so hard considering I have an hour lunch break every day at work, but I ALWAYS end up falling asleep in my car instead. ALWAYS. The car nap struggle is real. I’ve been trying to at least read a few pages and make progress on some spiritual books I’ve been enjoying before passing out for all my coworkers to see.

Some things I’ve been reading:

  • Wicca for the Solitary Practitioner by Scott Cunningham: I picked up this book because while Wicca has never really felt right for me, I wanted to learn more about it. I love Wicca’s emphasis on connection with nature and wanted to incorporate more of that into my own spirituality. To my surprise. I’m LOVNG this book! It’s very informative without feeling like a lecture, and Cunningham makes it a point to say that he’s just sharing some of the options that are out there: it’s up to everyone to determine what their own practice looks like. I do feel like I struggle with a literal interpretation of the God and Goddess… I feel like the gender binary is a little unnecessary when talking about spiritual beings and also like maybe I believe more in a metaphorical interpretation – like all of us have the Divine in us, not necessarily that there are two great beings out there calling the shots. Anyone else have thoughts on alternate interpretations of the God and Goddess? I’d love to chat about this!
  • Drawing Down the Moon by Margot Adler: This is an old fave of mine that I’m returning to. I think it does a great job of debunking some of the common myths and misconceptions about witchcraft while still being a book for our people. A must-read for anyone new to the Craft or who is interested in learning more about it!
  • Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer: I mentioned that I wanted to deepen my connection to the earth, and this book is a gorgeous portrayal of the human-nature relationship. I’m not very far into it yet, but so far it’s giving me hope that humans and nature can have a mutually beneficial relationship someday (if we cut all our poisonous crap, that is.)

spiritual snapshot: my current practice

2. Unplugging

This is really hard for me lately but I feel like that’s why I need to do it. It’s so hard to feel connected to ANYTHING when I’m staring at a screen all day. It’s all for work, so it’s not just mindless Internet browsing, but still. I’ve been taking time every day to unplug, even just for a little while – to wash the dishes, to read, to take a bath without any technology involved. This helps me get grounded and gives me time to reflect.

3. Talking to the Universe

The word “prayer” leaves a bad taste in my mouth due to my own personal experience with organized religion, but I guess that’s sort of what I’m talking about. Usually when I’m in the car, I take some time to talk out loud to the powers that be. I feel like I’m addressing my spirit guides, but I don’t know who they are or anything about them so it’s sort of just an out-loud chat with whatever’s listening. I express my gratitude for the things that I have and ask for help wherever I need it. It feels good to make those things known, and I’ve honestly noticed that whenever I ask for help, I get it. Make of that what you will!

spiritual snapshot: my current practice

4. Eco-Consciousness

This one has been hard for me. Part of deepening my connection with nature has been accepting the part I play in her destruction. Of course I recycle, but being eco-friendly was never really a goal of my household growing up. We never really thought about the impact things like our cleaning products and trash had on the environment. Now that I have my own household to care for, I downloaded the Think Dirty app and was GROSSED. OUT. to see the kinds of toxic chemicals that are in things I took for granted before, like window cleaner and dryer sheets.

These things don’t just end up in my system, but when the packaging ends up in landfills and the chemicals get into the air, it hurts the environment, too. It’s scary and hard to think about overhauling the things we buy and use, but even taking one step is doing something.

This was one of the many reasons I signed up with Young Living – they don’t just do essential oils, they have a WHOLE LINE of natural cleaning supplies. Basic things like dish soap and laundry detergent that you probably don’t think twice about using, but natural, harm-free versions. Last month I ordered their wool dryer balls (because did you know that dryer sheets contain LARD? Ew!!) and this month I’m ordering their laundry detergent, all-purpose cleaner, and dish soap. It’s not much, but it’s something. I’m looking forward to learning more about what I can do to help the environment and use more natural products in my everyday life!

I made a whole page about essential oils if you’d like to learn more <3

If you’re interested in Young Living, you can buy a Premium Starter Kit through my link! You’ll get access to Facebook groups full of resources to help you use these products AND I’ll send you a copy of French Aromatherapy for free <3 As always, if you have any questions about Young Living or essential oils you can ask me any time!

5. Tarot

Tarot is still a huge part of my spiritual practice! I read for others, yes, but I read for myself as well. Most recently I used the cards to work through a difficult career decision, but I also like to use them to choose an intention to focus on for the day. Tarot is great for journaling – it helps you get to the heart of a situation and to better understand yourself. My favorite deck of the moment is the Pagan Otherworlds tarot – it’s gorgeous!

Side note: do you guys have any questions about tarot that you’d like a blog post about? I’m trying to brainstorm but I can’t think of many things that haven’t already been written to death! Let me know in the comments if there’s something you’d like to see 😀

spiritual snapshot: my current practice

6. Moon Rituals

To be honest, my rituals are suuuuper simple right now. This is an area I’d like to work on, but I’m currently swamped with projects and don’t have much time for a big, detailed ritual. It’s okay to have quiet rituals, too! Mine currently involve lighting candles and some incense and sitting with them for a while, focusing on my intention for the moon cycle. Then, before the candle an incense burn out, I like to take an action. If I’m trying to manifest a new job opportunity, for example, I’ll fill out an application, or if I want to let go of past emotions I’ll get rid of something that reminds me of them. By pairing your intention with an action in the hear of the moment, it signals that you’re serious and willing to do the work!

And that’s about it for right now! I might post an updated update in a few months after I’m done with my day job and have time for a steadier routine <3

What are some spiritual things you’re doing lately? Books you’re loving? Tarot decks I need? I’d love to hear!!

- Serena 7 Comments

ch-ch-changes

amethyst - crystal affirmations deck

Things have been a little quiet over on this blog lately. It’s not for lack of passion for the blog itself, that’s for sure – I’m busy brainstorming like crazy behind the scenes and I think you’re going to love what I have planned for you this year!! It’s more like lately I’ve been feeling a disconnect between what I want this blog to be and what I feel pressured to make it into, and it’s hard to get fired up about writing a blog post every week when it’s not quite what I want to write about.

When I created this blog, I had actually intended for it to be really personal – a way to share my own spiritual journey, like an online journal. But then I made the mistake of reading too many blogs about how blogs are “supposed” to be, and it made me too shy to share much about my life at all – what if no one cares? what if it’s TMI?? what if – GASP – personal posts don’t do well on Pinterest?!?!

It’s hard because I genuinely would love to turn this blog into a business someday. Who wouldn’t want to make a living doing what they love? But you can TOTALLY tell when that’s a blog’s sole motivation and it makes me feel gross. Not that I’ve ever been less than genuine with you, but for example… I took a survey of this blog’s readers last year (and thank you so much if you participated!), and it was clear that the content you guys were most interested in was tarot-related. I could definitely find more ways to work this into my posting schedule, but I also know that while blogging about tarot all the time might be the quickest way to find my “niche,” it’s also only one of the many, many things I’m passionate about. Posting all-tarot would probably be a great way to build a tarot business, but it would feel forced to me, since there are so many other things I love to see in a blog than just plain old information!

I love when blogs offer a snapshot into someone else’s life. I love when posts are genuine and come from the heart. I DON’T love when every single post on a blog is “5 easy ways to solve this or that problem!” There’s a time and a place for those blogs and posts, but that’s not what I look for when I want to read one. I want to feel a connection with a human being, not just read some info and skedaddle.

With all that said, I’ve decided to steer this blog back towards what it was originally meant to be – a blog about living a magical, everyday life. What does this mean for you? Well, not a whole lot. I still will be making informative “5 ways to whatever” posts, because I do think they can be really useful! But I’ll also be sharing a little more lifestyle-y posts, like witchy DIYs and recipes, sacred space home decor, personal rituals, witchy hauls, and book reviews – the kinds of things I love to read about. To be honest, my DIY flower crown for the summer solstice was probably my favorite post I’ve ever done, so prepare to see more fun little things like that! I’ll be talking a little about my personal spiritual path, because I somehow never end up talking about this part?? You might not be interested in every post, and that’s okay, because I’ll be interested in all of them and that makes it worthwhile.

I’m also planning on upping my posting schedule this year, which means TWO blog posts a week! This way I can still include the informational posts that you guys enjoy while sharing some of the more personal posts I want to write. Gonna conquer this editorial calendar like a boss!!

So basically just prepare yourself, because there’s a whole lot of awesome stuff coming your way. I’m super pumped to make this into the kind of blog I really want it to be, and I can’t wait to share it with you! <3 As always, thank you for sticking along for the ride. The most rewarding part of having a blog is getting to connect with so many magical, incredible people. So here’s to even more magic (and possibly some crafts) in 2017!

- Serena 4 Comments

all the ways I dropped the ball in 2016

how I dropped the ball in 2016
This is the time of year that everyone is posting things they learned and accomplished in 2016, and while I want to jump on that bandwagon and write SOME kind of conclusion to that hell of a year, I feel like it’s kind of amazing to me how much I DIDN’T accomplish in 2016 that I set out to.

2016 was a very strange year for me. I had so many highs and did so many fun and amazing things, but there were also some very extreme lows, not just personally but on a global level. That’s probably why it’s so easy for me to see clearly what I didn’t do that I meant to, how many things I let slip through the cracks. A lot of my goals were simply too lofty for me to complete – I’m a big-time dreamer, but a lot of times I forget about the little things and the whole operation falls apart. Other goals I just got lazy with, quite frankly, or pushed aside in favor of other things.

I’m not sharing this to be hard on myself. Actually the opposite – I think it’s important to look back on our failures and learn from them (and in some cases, laugh at what I thought was feasible while working full-time and traveling practically every weekend and also trying to have a social life every once in a while.) It’s hard to build a blog and a business and still be a functional human and honestly, truly, sometimes you just have to let a goal go for the time being rather than let every other area of your life suffer in order to achieve it. So without further ado, here are all of the goals I set in my personal and professional life that I DIDN’T meet in 2016!

Things I Dropped the Ball On in 2016:

  • weight loss (in fact, I met my weight loss goal and then gained it all back. Whoops.)
  • reading 20 books (after spending all day everyday reading work stuff, it just wasn’t that appealing to read even more afterwards. I read a lot of blogs, does that count?)
  • write both a novel and an eBook (I did neither)
  • send out a newsletter every week (LOL)
  • starting a YouTube channel
  • tarot readings (did you guys even know that I sell those? my advertising strategy kinda sucks.)
  • blogging twice a week (try “once a week maybe if I remember”)
  • visiting Seattle
  • going to a blogging conference
  • meditating every day (unless naps count)
  • yoga every day (unless stretching to reach the peanut butter on the top shelf counts)
  • going all-out for the Sabbats (I nailed Beltane and Mabon though!)
  • having a savings account (no comment)

It’s easy to see a huge list of failures and feel a little defeated. But there were good times, too!

how I dropped the ball in 2016

Things I Nailed in 2016:

  • road tripping all over the Midwest
  • moving out of my parents’ house and into a perfect apartment, and my boyfriend moving in with me a few months after that
  • launching my first e-course, and then another one later in the year (!)
  • dyeing my hair BLONDE (a lifelong dream) and then discovering red is my best color after all
  • growing my Instagram from 0 in January to almost 2k followers now (THANK YOU, everyone!!)
  • writing my first guest post
  • making so many amazing friends
  • landing my first freelance writing job
  • starting a book club despite my social anxiety
  • successfully switching from Blogger to WordPress through blood, sweat, and tears
  • sticking with this blog for a WHOLE YEAR despite everything else going on in my life
  • connecting with YOU, who is reading this RIGHT NOW

The moral of the story is that you can’t measure a year by what you did or did not accomplish. It’s both of those and more – the things you accomplished but felt bad about, the things you let slide but realized you were better off without, the goals you set but then laughed about later and the achievements you made that you didn’t expect at all.

If you’re looking at all of those 2016 reflection posts and feeling bummed that you didn’t achieve your goals, don’t. Don’t beat yourself up about what you meant to achieve last year but didn’t. Look at all of the marvelous things that happened to you anyway!

Happy New Year. Let’s kick some buns in 2017. ♥ What do you want to accomplish this year? Let me know in the comments!

- Serena 7 Comments

the w word: what witchcraft means to me

the w word: what witchcraft means to me

For having a blog about spirituality, I sure have done a good job of tiptoeing around what my spirituality actually is.

I mean, you can probably guess. I’ve alluded to it before, always stopping just short of saying “this is it!! here I am!” I usually refer to it in joking terms, partly because I don’t take myself too seriously but also because I guess I take myself a little too seriously, too. You can’t just throw around the word “witch” without people having some kind of a reaction, whether it’s “me too!” or “um, you think you’re Harry Potter?” Some people object to the term (and the witches, for that matter) for religious reasons, and honestly I didn’t want to make anyone feel awkward or unwelcome on my blog because they don’t agree with my particular path. Some things are universal and I like to think that many of my posts can be applied to any spirituality without conflict. But I feel like it’s at the point where I’m limiting myself on purpose because I don’t want to push people away and well, sometimes you gotta just risk the pushing.

So, witchcraft. It’s a term I struggle with too, really, both in real life and online. There are so many connotations, so many preconceived notions and mental images of warty green women cackling around a cauldron that it’s hard to take someone seriously when they call themselves a witch.  Obviously I am not one of these warty green women – I think I’m pretty normal in the grand scheme of things. So then what is witchcraft and why does it even matter?

Well, another reason I’ve avoided labeling myself publicly as a witch is that I don’t have a good answer for those questions. It can be so many things, and at the same time it doesn’t have to be any of them. It can mean believing in auras or energy, it can mean communing with spirits, it can mean meditation, tarot, crystals, herbs, yoga, spells, paganism, incense, candles, you name it. And at the same time none of these things necessarily mean that you’re a witch – in fact, people from all walks of life and all religious backgrounds use some of these things in their spiritual practices without it being weird at all. It can also mean Wicca, which needs its own explanation; for my purposes we’ll just say that while I dearly love my Wiccan brothers and sisters, that’s not how I would define my practice.

To me, witchcraft is owning your place in the universe and knowing that you’ve changed the world just by being in it. It’s believing you’re worthy of good things and recognizing that you have the power, through your intentions and your actions, to bring those things to you. It’s being in tune with nature, respecting the planet, celebrating the changing of the seasons and reflecting on how far you’ve come. It’s getting in tune with your higher self, sometimes using tools such as tarot or meditation, and listening to your intuition instead of fighting it. Some witches use wands, some have altars, some cast circles or dance naked under the moon – and some simply think good thoughts into their coffee and call it a day.

There are so many different ways to be a witch that it’s impossible to name them all, but at the end of the day I think it all comes down to knowing your power and making things happen instead of letting life happen to you. You don’t have to do it every day. You might not need your practice all the time. You might do all or none of the things I’ve described and that’s completely fine. But there’s a strength that comes from knowing who you are and I gotta say, I’m feeling that way more than nerves about publishing this post right now.

To my friends who are traveling a different path, I promise I’ll never try to isolate you. I respect all beliefs and I feel that they can all coexist, that WE can all coexist if we focus on what we have in common. I think a lot of the things on this blog are relevant to many different spiritualities, and heck, even if yours doesn’t have a name you might be able to relate – no pressure to label! But I also understand if witchcraft is too weird for you and you need to bow out now. No offense will be taken – I thought all this stuff was hella weird when I first found out about it, so I feel that.

Most of you are probably like “omg you have not been subtle about being a witch at all and everyone already knew all this,” but I think it’s important for me to put it all out there so we’re all on the same page – and so y’all know a little more about what I mean when I talk about my practice! I’m planning a lot of posts that are more true to my path and hopefully you like them – I’m pretty pumped to start digging a little deeper.

If you want to learn more about witchcraft, be careful. A lot of the more mainstream books and authors contain a lot of cultural appropriation, misinformation, and opinions presented as fact. I would actually recommend that you make a Tumblr blog and browse through the “witchcraft” tag and similar ones! While of course you always need to check your facts when you just read stuff on the internet and of course there are some not-so-nice folks out there, my experience has been hugely positive and I’ve been exposed to SO many different kinds of witches – the possibilities are endless! And of course, you can always drop me a line. I’m far from an authority, but I can probably help talk you through some stuff and direct you towards resources that are specific to what you’re into.

If you’re sticking around, I love ya. Thanks for being the actual best. I won’t pressure you, but I’d love to hear a little about your spiritual path – does it have a name? how did you find it? Leave a comment if you don’t mind sharing!

- Serena 2 Comments

a look back: june 2016

a look back: june 2016

Holy crap! Where did June GO?? I feel like the month whizzed by while I was too busy to even notice what day it was. Here we are ready for July now, how crazy is that? You may have noticed it’s been a little quiet over here since the Solstice – I’ve been pretty dang busy these past two weeks, but it’s all coming to a happy close now. I’ll be back into the regular blogging routine soon, but not quite yet as I’m planning to celebrate the heck out of Fourth of July weekend first 😉

June was a really good month for me, although it was super busy! Mars was still retrograde for most of it and therefore ruining my life, I’ve fallen behind on literally every aspect of my business, and I’m cutting it realll close to a freelance deadline right now, but such is life. The good things definitely outweighed the bad this month, and I’m entering July with the weight off my shoulders! Let’s take a look at my month.

a look back: june 2016
Some of my biggest challenges this month were:

  • Exhaustion. I’ve been pretty pooped, between work and stress and all the adult nonsense people have to do like going to the doctor or picking up groceries. For some reason it all hit me hard this month, but there were good times too!
  • I’ve always been pretty sensitive, but I feel like this month in particular left me absorbing other peoples’ stressful moods more than usual. There have been days when I’m totally drained and it’s not even because of my own issues! Gonna have to work on strengthening the defenses for July.
  • Learning to manage my finances… the hard way. Don’t wait until you’re broke to figure out how to budget, people. Really grateful for the lessons I’ve learned this month, and for getting used to a more frugal lifestyle (aka no Starbucks every day!!)
  • Social media. Hiiii, remember me? I’m that girl you used to talk to all the time until she dropped off the face of the planet. I’m trying to get better about it again, but whew, if it wasn’t for automation I would not have survived!!

a look back: june 2016
Some of my successes this month were:

  • I conquered my social anxiety and volunteered this month all by myself! It’s usually really hard for me me to go places alone,  but I had a blast and I feel totally confident that I could do it again in the future.
  • This has been my biggest month for tarot reading sales yet so far! I was SO excited that my solstice sale was a big success. I even got to read for one of my tarot idols, Rose from The Cackling Moon, which was HUGE for me! ♥
  • I’m super happy with the way my flower crown tutorial came out. I’ve been wanting to branch out into tutorials forever and I finally did it! Would you like to see more tutorials? I have some things up my sleeve, but I’m so happy to hear suggestions if you have any!
  • I did a little money manifestation ritual this month (see my financial challenges, above) and DANG it worked! If you focus your intention things will HAPPEN.
 a look back: june 2016


Some things that made me happy this month:

  • I was finally able to go swimming! I’ve been trying to get my butt in a pool since about March, and this month I finally did it. Hello, mermaid vibes.
  • I went to a Scottish festival with some friends and had a BLAST! We drank really good beer, had really good food, and watched burly men throw heavy stuff over a pole. Plus, bagpipe music always gives me chills – I loved hearing so much of it at the fest.
  • I got a haircut and I hated at first but now I am in LOVE. Getting serious T Swift vibes every time I look in the mirror!!
  • I’m the most self-conscious person I know, but I wore a crop top for the first time this month and DANG, I was feeling it. Isn’t it weird how sometimes we feel most confident in things we never thought we’d wear?

Things I’m looking forward to in July:

  • I’m taking a spontaneous one-day trip to Michigan this weekend, and then in a few weeks I’m heading to Nashville to visit my folks! This Sag is happy for the chance to travel (and to take vacation days, woohoo!)
  • THE FOURTH. I’m not the most patriotic person, but damned if I don’t love me some fireworks. Plus, that red-white-and-blue combination always puts me in a crazy summery mood!!
  • Going to the Renaissance faire!! I’m not sure yet that this is going to happen in July, but I’m going to be hopeful about it because I’m itching to go.
a look back: june 2016

Some things I’ve been loving this month:

  • According to Theresa Reed’s monthly horoscopes, my month is gonna be smokin’. I’m definitely not complaining!
  • This month’s Goddess Provisions box was ON POINT. How cute is that little spirit quartz in the picture above?? I can’t wait to see what’s in the July box!
  • Are you reading The Witch of Lupine Hollow? You should be. I love everything about this blog.
  • Northern Lights Witch has a Summer Reading Coven going on while she’s abroad, and some seriously badass ladies are taking part (me included, cough cough!) Check back throughout July for posts about books that have changed us in some way.
  • On my to-read list: Daring Greatly by Brene Brown (affiliate link). Two different people recommended this to me in June, and I can’t wait to get started!

How was your June? What did you do? I want to know! ♥ 

- Serena Leave a comment

a look back: may 2016

a look back: may 2016

Whew! I feel like for the most part the months have been going by pretty slowly so far this year, but May was here and gone in a flash. I can’t say I’m sorry to see it go – while I’ve had some truly amazing experiences this month, it was also incredibly hard for me in many ways. If you want to take a look at what I’ve been up to this month, read on!

a look back: may 2016

Some of my biggest challenges this month were:

  • Where do I even begin?? As you might have gathered from reading this post, I haven’t been in a great place emotionally this month. I’m happy to say that I feel much better now, but I spent most of May in a weird funk (due in part to all those planetary retrogrades going on – hello, did not need Mercury adding miscommunications into the mix!)
  • My parents moved 8 hours away from me this month, and it hit me pretty hard. I’m an only child and I’m fortunate enough to be very close with my parents, so it’s going to be tough not getting to see them all the time!
  • My productivity definitely took a big hit this month, partially due to the weird place I’ve been in but also due to a lack of time – I took two trips this month and also began a little side project, and all of that meant way less time dedicated to this blog and my tarot business! But there’s a season for everything, right?

Some of my successes this month were:

  • I figured out a schedule for this blog that works much, much better for me. Instead of two posts per week, I’m sticking with one and doing my best to make sure it’s what I want it to be, rather than rushing to throw something together at the last second. I think it’s definitely better to have slightly less content if it means it’s of a better quality!
  • That might be it. Wow, that’s not very impressive, but whatever. We all have slumps sometimes, right?

a look back: may 2016

Some things that made me happy this month:

  • I’m officially a blonde! I’ve been slowly lightening my hair over the past three months, trying to get it blonde after years of dyeing it dark. I love the way it looks!
  • I took an impromptu trip to Nashville in the middle of the month and it was AMAZING. My parents have just moved to the area, so I’m excited to get to know it even better as time goes on! I went down with my boyfriend this month and we ate breakfast at the Loveless Cafe, wandered around the gardens at Cheekwood, and hit up the honky tonks on Broadway. Overall an amazing trip – if you live in the area and have any suggestions for things to do, let me know!
  • Being outside. I’ve never been much of a sun bunny, but I’m so pumped to wear shorts and enjoy the warm weather after that long, dreary winter!

Things I’m looking forward to in June:

  • The official start of SUMMER! I can’t wait to break out all of the swimsuits I’ve been hoarding since, oh, December or so.
  • I’m pretty sure I’ll be going camping some weekend in June, which is really exciting! It’ll be fun to kick back in nature for a while.
  • I’ll be rolling out a new tarot spread for summer this month, and I’m really loving how it’s turning out so far. There are so many possibilities when it comes to summer time!

How was your May? What kinds of things did you do? ♥ 

- Serena 6 Comments

a day in the life of a blogger with a full-time job

a day in the life of a blogger with a full-time job

I’m always surprised to hear what the folks in my online communities are up to outside of our little social media bubble. Many (if not all!) of you have other jobs, other hobbies, and other interests that are in a totally different genre than things like tarot and spirituality! I certainly don’t mean that in a bad way – I’m one of those people, after all. I work full-time as an editor, I like reading romance novels and watching anime, and I spend a lot of evenings having a beer with friends or hanging out with my boyfriend – not exactly the most mysterious lifestyle. But I realized that people might not necessarily know that about me – I spend most of my online life talking tarot, after all!

Because of that, I thought it would be fun to break down a typical weekday in my life. You can see the places I try to squeeze in the things I like to do and how I spend my time when I’m NOT blogging or reading tarot! Weekends are a totally different story, of course, but my weekday routine looks a little something like this:

a day in the life of a blogger with a full-time job

5:30-6:30 Wake up and get ready for work. I shower, make tea, and do makeup when I feel like it. If I have time, I’ll do my daily tarot draw and maybe take some pictures for Instagram in the morning sun.

6:30-7 Morning commute. This isn’t usually too bad – I have a favorite morning show I listen to on the radio!

7-11 Work. I like to start the morning with catching up on e-mails (even though some pros recommend NOT doing this!) because I feel like I don’t have to use too much brainpower to read and reply, and it makes me less anxious when I start the workday with an empty inbox!

a day in the life of a blogger with a full-time job

11-12 Lunch. I usually eat something small for lunch, like some healthy snacks or a salad, because if I have anything heavy then I am falling asleep at my desk for the rest of the day. I’ll usually spend my lunch break in my car with the windows open, reading a book! It feels nice to get out of the office even if it’s just to sit in the parking lot. Sometimes I’ll treat myself to Starbucks or a green juice because it feels nice to have something at my desk to sip on for the rest of the afternoon!

12-4 Work.

4-5:30 Evening commute. This is honestly the worst part of my day. I am an angry driver so I spend this whole time frustrated, and above all feeling like I’m wasting my life away sitting on the expressway!

a day in the life of a blogger with a full-time job

5:30-6 Get home, make and eat dinner. Nothing I cook takes more than 10 minutes to prepare because I’m usually pretty hangry by this time. My go-to dinner is TONS of broccoli, a tiny handful of pasta, and meatballs, all tossed in pasta sauce. It satisfies my cravings for carbs without me actually eating that many carbs at all!

6-6:30 Nap. I’m usually so drained from the workday and annoyed because of traffic by this time. A short nap serves as a reset and helps me feel more awake and recharged for the rest of the evening.

6:30-8 Side hustlin’. I do freelance editing work on occasion in addition to the tarot readings I sell, and if I don’t have any of those to work on then I’m working on my blog! I’ll write posts, schedule social media, read through other blogs for fun and inspiration, and build my newsletter if I have one that week. I also use this time to read tarot for myself – I like to pull a card for guidance and take some time to journal about it. There’s always something more to do!

a day in the life of a blogger with a full-time job

8-9 Exercise. I have an exercise bike in my bedroom, so I’ll prop up my laptop and watch YouTube videos, anime episodes, or a TV show (-cough-OUTLANDER-cough-) while I exercise. I also use this time to scroll through Instagram and like/comment on pictures, because the less I have to think about the work my legs are doing, the better!

9-9:45 Bath time. Baths are my happy place. I’ll put in some Epsom salts and read a book. Sometimes I just sit and think for a while, too – I do my best thinking in the bath! I’ll usually put honey on my face as a mask during this time to kill the workout bacteria and do whatever other magic honey does to your face. It’s a lifesaver.

9:45-10 Get ready for bed. I have a pretty intense face routine that takes some time, since the products need to sink in between applications!

10-11 This is my wind-down time. While I usually end up having to use this time to finish up work from earlier, I’ll dim the lights and my laptop screen and start getting cozy. I know they say blue light keeps you up or whatever, but I sleep like a rock and am always tired so I don’t have that problem! If it’s a light work night, I’ll read a book. I also use this time to journal. Around 11, I shut things down for the night and fall asleep.

If it’s a night I’m seeing my friends, my parents, or my boyfriend, then it’s the same until about 6:30 when I’ll head over to wherever I’m going. Those nights I usually get back around 11 and am in bed around 11:30 or 12, just because I never want to leave! I’m trying to find room to still get some exercise in on those days – I’m thinking I might try walking on my lunch breaks, because I definitely can’t give up my little naps without being grumpy the rest of the night.

I don’t really feel like this schedule is the best or even really sustainable in the long run – I’m always tired and drained from one job or another. But I’m still figuring things out, so I think it’s fine to have for now as long as I make sure not to overdo it!

What does your day typically look like? What do you wish you had more time for?

- Serena 2 Comments

8 books that changed my life

8 books that changed my life

You can tell a lot about a person by their taste in books.

I don’t mean that in a snobby way at all – believe me, basically everything I love in the world is something other people would consider a “guilty pleasure.” Hello, mac and cheese and wine and trashy romance novels. But books are an investment, and what books are worth the investment to people says a lot about them. You can’t just snap your fingers and be finished with a book. It takes time to read, to put yourself in another world for a while, to learn the lessons a book has to offer you. And often we read because we want something – healing, fun, an escape, a laugh. The kinds of books we read says something about the things we love, the things we need in life. I think that’s pretty cool.

Picking a favorite book, for a book lover, is probably one of the hardest things to do. The truth is that different books have filled different needs for me throughout my life – how can I choose between the book that got me through a breakup and the book that got me through my childhood? There’s really no way to compare them, or the effects they’ve had on my life. But I still love to know the kinds of books that people love, so today I’m sharing mine!

I’m not starting this list with any number in mind. Instead, I will be sharing the books that have inspired me, that have changed my perspective, gotten me through hard times, made me laugh, and made me think. These are the books I couldn’t live without, and reading them has, in some way, made me the person I am – no matter how far-from-high-art they may be. Without further ado, and in no particular order, here they are!

8 books that changed my life

1. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

Otherwise known as “the book you probably hated in high school,” Wuthering Heights, to me, is a unique treasure. The first time around I, too, loathed the book – loathed Cathy and Heathcliff and their awful decisions, (rightfully) scoffed at people who glorified their romance, insisted to anyone who would listen that it was Not A Love Story. The book followed me through college, though, and when I re-read it again, something changed. It completely immersed me – I could almost feel the chill of the windswept moors and hear the tapping of a ghost girl at my window. I fell in love with the descriptions first and then, to my surprise, the characters. Maybe it’s not the love story you want to model your wedding off of, but it IS a love story – a twisted love, obsessive, but love all the same. Whenever I read Heathcliff’s heartwrenching monologue as he learns of Cathy’s death my eyes fill with tears. I can see so much of myself in these characters – they live out loud the deep, dark thoughts we all have, the jealous impulses, the pettiness, the arrogance, the lust for justice against those who have wronged us. They’re no role models, but they’re honest, and it’s almost refreshing to read about characters so unforgivably awful. It’s certainly no cheery read, but on a gloomy day with a cup of tea, it can transport you to another time and place.

2. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (not pictured because my copy is beat-up as heck)

I read The Hobbit under duress in the fourth grade after several unsuccessful attempts on the part of my father to force it on me. It was an old copy, my dad’s, the one with the ridiculous 70s cover that kind of scared me at the time (and also still does.) I had opened that book countless times before, determined to see what he saw in it, but was put off by the musty smell and the big (for me, at the time) words. Now when I open those pages all I see is pure magic from the first line: “In a hole in the ground, there lived a hobbit…” This book started me on an adventure, and while I also love the Lord of the Rings series, they don’t have the same simple charm for me that The Hobbit does. It’s an easy read that makes me feel warm and safe, and every time I re-read it I’m taken back to the comfy old armchair in my childhood home where I first read it 15 years ago.

8 books that changed my life

3. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

This is also sort of a “historical romance novel,” but it is SO much more than that. This book has time travel, hot dudes in kilts, violence, sex, and the kind of love that endures the test of time. The protagonist, Claire, had my heart from the first time she swore on the page, and the series has only cemented a place in my life as the books go on. Seriously, download a preview of this book and give it a shot. I would never have guessed when I picked this up at the bookstore that it would become one of my favorite books of all time, but here we are. I love it.

4. Mistress by Amanda Quick (not pictured because idk where it is??? somewhere hopefully)

This was the first romance novel I’ve ever read and to this day, it’s still my favorite – and I have read a LOT of romance novels. It’s on this list not because I have that much to say about the story itself (it’s a pretty standard historical romance novel), but more because my introduction to that genre has has a total effect on my life. I’d always loved writing, but it wasn’t until bingeing on 27 historical romance novels one summer (yeah, it was a lot) that I thought “hey, maybe I could write one of THESE!” Writing romance is now a passion I’d love to share with the world one day. For now, though, my half-finished novels are just a happy, if not always successful, reminder to make time for the things I love.

8 books that changed my life

5. A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki

This book saved me. Around this time last year, I was trapped in a dark, deep depression. I was wandering the aisles at Barnes and Noble desperate for salvation and the brightly-colored cover caught my eye. I recognized the name as a book I’d read a blurb about and added to my “to-read list” on Goodreads long ago and bought it on a whim. It ended up being exactly what I needed. So many parts of the story resonated with me, and so many little things – like the Japanese pop culture references and the tiny northern island where the protagonist lives – fit in with my interests in ways too strange for it to have been a coincidence that this book found me when it did. When I finished reading, I felt passionate again. I dove into my interests and was determined to build a life I was happy with – and I did. I think that a lot of the reasons I loved it are specific to my own life, but it’s a wonderfully written book with a compelling story that other people would love, too.

6. Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell (not pictured because I dropped it in the bath)

Please don’t watch the movie version of this book. If you already have, please don’t hold it against it. This book was a strange and magical experience. It contains six storylines and while some of them, not going to lie, were like pulling teeth for me to read (especially since the others were so interesting and I wanted more of those!) it was well worth it for the way the whole book ended. I can’t really describe it except to say that if you like and appreciate literature, it’s a great (and challenging) read. If you just want a little light reading, though, stay away. I’ll end this with my favorite line: “My life amounts to no more than one drop in a limitless ocean. Yet what is any ocean, but a multitude of drops?” Basically, no life is too small to make a difference. Chills.

8 books that changed my life

7. In the Kingdom of Ice by Hampton Sides

I have this weird fascination with the world’s polar regions and the expeditions to explore them before we knew what was up (or down) there. This book is about one of the expeditions to the North Pole and it was fascinating. I learned so much about what life on a ship was like back then, and the story of the crew’s struggle for survival after the loss of their ship was absolutely riveting.

8. The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle (not pictured because it was an eBook)

This book was pure poetry. I loved the movie as a little girl but didn’t read this book until college, and WOW. Peter S. Beagle’s prose is enchanting. I’m glad I waited to read this until I had more of an understanding about what it means to be in love – the story hit me that much harder. If you love fantasy, pretty writing, unicorns, magic, or all of the above, this is a must-read. It’s really quick but it will stay with you long after you close the book.

What are some books you love, and why?

- Serena 2 Comments

a look back: march 2016

a look back: march 2016

**Quick announcement: I’ve decided that from now on, my newsletters will go out just before the new and full moons! I always want to talk about the moon phases on the blog but I never have enough time, so I think this will be a good way to space them out so it’s not inbox spam and also talk a little about some new things! So instead of tomorrow, the next one will go out next week. Thank you for your patience 🙂 **

It’s almost April! It’s still a little chilly here in Chicago, but I can tell that the days are getting lighter and warmer little by little and that’s what matters for me. So many things happened in March, but they were almost all good things – I feel like this has been the happiest month of the year so far! I had a fortune cookie over the weekend that said this year would bring me much happiness and I 100% agree. ♥

a look back: march 2016

Some of my biggest challenges this month were:

  • You know, this month was actually not that challenging. Or maybe it’s more like my successes and happy things outweighed the challenges so it didn’t seem as bad 🙂 I guess getting organized was my biggest thing – I moved into a new apartment and unpacking has been super tough! But I’m getting there!

a look back: march 2016

Some of my successes this month were:

  • I launched my first e-course, 7 Days to Social Bliss, and it was so much fun!
  • I stuck with my two-blog-posts-per-week schedule! February threw me off a little but now I’m back on track.
  • I hit 900 followers on Instagram. Holy crap! I never, ever thought I would hit such an amazing milestone. If you follow me there, thank you SO much – honestly, the community on Instagram makes me so happy every day 🙂 If you don’t follow me, let’s be friends! I’d love to see what you’re up to! 😀

a look back: march 2016

Some things that made me happy this month:

  • I started the process of dyeing my hair blonde! It’ll take a few rounds until it’s as light as I want it because I’ve been dyeing it red for years and that’s hard to get out, but I’ve wanted to try out blonde hair for my whole life and I love that it’s finally happening 🙂 I’d share a selfie but honestly it’s still pretty red and it’s hard to even see a difference in pictures, haha! Stay tuned!
  • I went to the Chicago Comics and Entertainment Expo! It was really exciting to go to a convention like that. There were so many people in really cool costumes! I’m going to Anime Central in May, as well, so if you’re going to be there you should let me know! 😀
  • The Passion Planner, for helping me get organized – I’m planner-OBSESSED, but having just one planner for my day job, my blog, my tarot business, and my freelance work was not cutting it. Now I can leave my day job planner at the office and use this one to balance everything else! I got the undated version in case there’s a week I don’t want to use it or something. I love that it has a monthly reflection at the end of each month, and guidance throughout to help you reach your goals!
  • The book Go With Your Gut by Robyn Youkilis. It’s a hybrid nutrition guide and cookbook, and I love it because it offers options for all of the recipes – like if you don’t like one vegetable, it recommends other ones that will give you the same benefit! Admittedly I haven’t done much to change my eating habits since starting to read it, but any lifestyle change takes time, right? I think becoming aware of my bad eating habits is the first step!

a look back: march 2016

Things I’m looking forward to in April:

  • I’m planning on taking a road trip to Milwaukee with my boyfriend! I really like visiting Wisconsin so it’ll be fun to see.
  • The next installment of Theresa Reed’s Star School. I love learning new things about astrology!
  • OUTLANDER SEASON TWO. Need I say more?? I absolutely love, love, love that show. It’s the only one I watch so I end up giving it all of my fangirl love!
  • Round 2 of my blonde-ification process! This time I’ll show a before and after pic for sure 😀

What fun things happened to you in March?