Everyday Woo (Volume 6)
How to deal when you're just not feeling spiritually in tune. Plus, a way to strengthen your intuition using imagery and
Everyday Woo is a place for the woo curious to learn a little more about tarot and spirituality in a not-too-serious way. Here’s what I’m thinking about this week…
✨ True Life: I’m Not Always Spiritually “On”
In October, I had to hit my tarot cards with the “it’s not you, it’s me” conversation. I needed a break because, well, I just wasn’t feeling connected to the practice. Every time I tried to connect to source, I felt blocked. No matter how many crystals I clutched or cleansing rituals I tried, every time I tried to channel or work with my cards, it felt…wrong.
I have had times in my life where I felt like I was so in tune with myself and the universe. The clarity I felt each time I pulled cards was unparalleled. In those moments, I was a confident, compassionate reader—exactly who I want to be.
But then, I wasn’t.
For many reasons. I received a mental health diagnosis that threw me for a loop. I began to feel the crushing loneliness set in after the departure of my partner. This school year has been worse than the last. Whatever energy I had left after dealing with these difficulties, I couldn’t bring myself to use it to connect with my guides. In many ways, I felt like I had lifted the veil at one point to peer into the spiritual realm, but now, it had been lowered once again. Once you’ve seen behind the curtain, it’s hard to go back to where you were before. I wondered if the intense connection I had felt was fleeting…or worse, if it was all in my head.
It’s weird to even admit this because, if you’ve spent any time perusing the social media feeds of woo influencers, you’ll know that being “on” and present is a big part of their brand. After all, who would want a tarot reading from a self-described “spiritually inconsistent” person? You want a reading from the confident, well-spoken person with a perfectly-balanced grid of aesthetically pleasing photos. Duh. If they have their shit together, they can help you get yours together too.
But guess what? I DON’T HAVE MY SHIT TOGETHER.
Whew. Glad I got that off of my chest. And my honesty with myself and you about this might just make me a better reader. After all, if you have walked through darkness like everyone else, you understand how to handle it when it comes up in a reading.
Society tells us that only a few are spiritually gifted. I mean, it feels way more special that way, right? But I believe that everyone (yes everyone) has the ability to see beyond the veil in their own unique way. But not always. And not consistently.
Doesn’t that take a load off of your shoulders? Wherever you are in your spiritual journey—whether you just bought a tarot deck or if you’re an experienced practitioner, I always, always think it’s worth noting that we are spiritual beings having a human experience. And sometimes, that human side of things can get in the way of our clarity. And that is OKAY.
Spirituality, like most things in life, is constantly changing. We as a collective go through energy shifts that manifest in different ways in different people. But when we feel “off” or disconnected, we can take comfort in the fact that, in these times of separation, we have the opportunity to examine the day-to-day patterns that may not be serving us. We can interrogate the parts of ourselves as human beings that we’d like to change. We don’t have to fake it until we make it. We can take breaks without severing our spiritual connection. Thankfully, it’s not an all-or-nothing situation.
So my advice for when you’re feeling spiritually “off”? Well, I don’t know if this is the earth shattering info you were hoping for, but I think it’s best to just take it day by day. You don’t have to slap up the perfectly curated Instagram post that shows you in a diaphanous white dress, holding a sunflower in your hand with a pithy caption about leaning into the light if you’re not there. People appreciate authenticity above all, and this will come through in your practice, especially if you’re reading for others.
And as for me? I’m feeling my way back into things. I’m learning to see the gentle fluctuations of my spiritual journey as evidence that I am continuing to grow and change. And that, my friends, is a very good thing.
🧡 Easy Ways to Strengthen Your Intuition
I’ve written before about my “informed intuitive” style of tarot card reading, but lately, I’ve been pretty interested in exercises that help strengthen my intuition. I teach yoga as one of my many side hustles, and as a trained fitness professional, I know that repetition increases the efficacy of certain muscle groups. So, shouldn’t I just be able to do some intuitive exercises and become The Most Intuitive Person Ever (TM)?!
Ha. No.
As I explored above, I do think intuition fluctuates and is affected by outside influences. But, happily, I do think that regularly tapping into your intuitive side can really grow your confidence in that area. For me, the hardest piece was to trust myself. Often, a message would come through loud and clear that didn’t immediately mesh with the cards on the table. But little by little, I am learning to tune out the louder noise of “what if I’m wrong?” and listen in to the smaller voice of “but what if I’m so very right?”
With that in mind, here are a few “trust fall” exercises you can do to help you confidently lean into your intuition, using your tarot deck to help:
Energetic Shuffling: Grab a tarot deck. Hold it in your hands while you ground yourself. My favorite method is to simply take a few deep breaths with my eyes closed and to feel into your third eye space.
As you continue to breathe, ask your guides to give you a word. Just go with it, even if it seems weird. Hold it in your mind.
Shuffle the deck in a way that feels good for you, keeping your eyes closed if you can. Notice where the energy is in your hands and if your intuition is guiding you as you move the cards. You may feel a tingling sensation in your fingers, or maybe a warmth in the center of your palm. Pay attention to how this energy changes as you shuffle. When the energy is at its peak, stop shuffling and turn over a card. See how it fits with the word that came up during your meditation and interpret it with this in mind.
Intuitive Journaling: Everyone has a different relationship with writing, but I love putting pen to the page as a way to see what’s hiding underneath all of the outside noise. First and foremost, decide how you want to write and be sure to pick writing tools that feel comforting. If you feel at home with your computer and a blank Google Doc, that’s what you should use. A well-worn composition notebook and a pen from the junk drawer? That works too. Make peace with the fact that this writing will not be polished, pretty or even legible. Spelling definitely does not count.
Grab your tarot deck again, and pick a card. Keep it face down.
Close your eyes. Flip over the card. When you open them, notice where your eye goes first.
Focusing on that aspect of the card, begin writing. If you’re not sure where to start, simply describe this section of the card. Notice colors, details, and feelings that come up as you look at this part of the card closely. Set aside traditional meanings as you feel into this energy.
As you write, draw concentric circles out from where your eye rested at first, adding on details and information as you continue to write. See if you can begin to storytell, working in relation between the smaller section of the card to the bigger picture (and traditional meaning).
Stop when you feel like it. Reread what you wrote, but look for patterns, themes or ideas that emerge. And if it seems different than the meaning of the card that’s printed in the guidebook? That’s okay! That’s your intuition piping up, asking you to take a new angle and take on the card.
I recommend turning to a new page after this exercise and succinctly capturing what you’ve discovered with two sentences:
At first, I thought this card meant…
But now, I see that it could mean…
Try this practice out when you’re feeling kind of stale in your interpretations when reading tarot. You’ll be pleasantly surprised how helpful it is!
I want to hear how you’re strengthening your intuition! Give me all the deets.
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