{ Mentat Monday }

Hi Y'all, I hope you had a great weekend! Are you ready to dig into this week's focus card? It's a good one....

Ace of Swords

In Tarot, Swords always represent the intellect and mental process of the querent. Our rational minds provide us with the necessary tools to discern between illusion and truth and the Ace of this suit is indicative of the beginning of that clarity. 

We are approaching a 'break-through' of with our insight and perception. Ace of Swords suggests that we hold steady, to better know - and therefore speak - our truth. 

We have great intellectual potential and mental capacity, Y'all. Let's do this thing!

 *These tarot card readings are intended for us all as a community and are therefore broad. If you are interested in a more specific, in-depth reading - we offer individual readings at Oracle as well! If you would like to schedule an appointment for an individual reading, you can do that here or give us a ring at 816.982.9550. You can also join us for one of our monthly Tarot Workshop & Happy Hour events and learn more about cartomancy!    

{ Mother's Day Monday }

Yes, it's the day after Mother's Day, but who am I to miss out on a perfect alliteration when opportunity presents itself? In the spirit of honoring motherhood (in all the forms this archetype can represent), I decided to choose a card deliberately today. Our focus card for the week is none other than the ultimate 'Mother' in Tarot, The Empress.

The Empress represents all things nurturing, including the experiences of conception, gestation, birth, guidance and the care needed to facilitate growth. Qualities associated with this card are patience, creativity, fertility, nature, wisdom, abundance, beauty and the capacity for giving and receiving love. 

When the Empress turns up in your reading, she is usually there to herald a time of directionless, explosive creativity. While the directionless part is a little scary, I always take this as good news, as my old ass can always use some youthful energy with my visionary rebirth. And how do we apply the lessons of the Empress? Baby your ideas, give them patience and care - cultivate a healthy environment for them to thrive in and then watch them develop into something good. Remember to be receptive to this type of fertile energy when you feel it, and don't be afraid to get weird, y'all - the Arts and Sciences (and all of us other weirdos) need you. 

 *These tarot card readings are intended for us all as a community and are therefore broad. If you are interested in a more specific, in-depth reading - we offer individual readings at Oracle as well! If you would like to schedule an appointment for an individual reading, you can do that here or give us a ring at 816.982.9550. You can also join us for one of our monthly Tarot Workshop & Happy Hour events and learn more about cartomancy!    

{ Sustainable Fashion In Kansas City: A Guide }

I don't usually go shopping, but when I do, I endeavor to either, A: Support a local artisan or maker by spending my money on handmade, high-quality pieces of clothing; or B: purchase used or vintage apparel. It's a blend of high and low that keeps me from supporting 'fast fashion' (I won't get into it here, but if you are interested in learning more about the political aspects of apparel, there is no shortage of depressing information out there about how environmentally taxing, damaging and wasteful this practice of consumerism is).

If you are also interested in supporting sustainable fashion, I've put together a guide for how to support some wonderful shops and creators here in Kansas City! Check it out!

- Hadley - I have loved designer Hadley Clark's exquisite garments for years. Hadley recycles beautiful materials made from natural fibers (such as silk kimonos and African indigo textiles) and creates the most beautiful and comfortable pieces, I feel like an actual High Priestess when I wear her clothes! It's also worth noting that Hadley is offering sewing lessons, workshops and textile tune-ups in her shop to educate and empower others to repair and tailor pieces they already own for their personal wardrobe. She's an incredible artist and her activism through apparel is badass! You should follow her instagram account if you don't already, you won't be sorry. 

Amazing dress by Hadley Clark.

- Donnas Dress Shop -  This shop is a jewel in Kansas City!  I have found more treasures at Donna's than I can count, my favorite, one-of-a-kind, vintage pieces have all been found here! Donna and her staff are also super supportive of local artists and designers, Donna's Dress shop is always hosting pop-ups and creative events - it's a treat to visit her delightful shop! Aaaaand, if you are like me and are mostly a mole person who rarely leaves her hermit cave, do yourself a favor and follow Donna's awesome instagram account - no joke, the last three purchases I made there were because of her instagtam photos!

Donna's Dress Shop.

- We Are Sincerely Yours - Danielle Meister has created a charming boutique with hand-selected vintage items, one of a kind jewelry, TADEJ leather goods and beautiful Hadley Clark original pieces. Danielle's affinity for natural fibers, interesting textures and timeless design make her apparel offerings so special, and, she often collaborates with my other favorite vintage seller, Wunderhub Vintage! Danielle and Leslie both utilize instagram to reveal new finds and sales, so I highly recommend following them here and here. 

We Are Sincerely Yours. 

- Dear Society - Oh man do I love this shop.  This lovely space offers beautiful vintage and new garments as well as home decor items. It's absolutely worth the visit, aaaand their instagram is full of PRETTY - check it out, here! 

Dear Society.

{ Mingledingle Monday }

I felt like this week really called for one of those loud and clear kinds of messages, so I went to my beautiful Scrying Ink deck for guidance. This week's focus card is really keeping in theme with our last couple of card pulls (Hanged Man and Nine of Swords), hold on to your butts because this week I pulled.....

BROOM

Ah yes, Broom. In traditional Lenormand decks this card is presented with the Whip, but this particular deck takes that message one step further by being even more specific. Broom is indicative of clearing away, separation, dissolution and truth - it also signifies a time for some fresh starts. Unlike the argumentative nature of Whip, Broom is more of a cleansing card, sweeping away lies and unhealthy situations to give way to a new beginning.

Lenormand Broom (Whip) is represented by the Jack of Clubs (AKA Page of Wands) in cartomancy, which means this is also a time that is ripe with opportunity. It's good for us to embrace this change with positivity and enthusiasm, but to keep our impulsiveness in check. Change is not easy, Y'all. I know some of you may be experiencing some difficult or uncomfortable transitions right now and it might be hard to keep your chin up about it. Broom here is letting you know that you are making room in your heart for things which truly enrich your soul, and you will come out of this a happier, healthier person. 

We have been working on changing our perspective, on breaking our bad mental habits and now we are being asked to really clear the air and make space for those new possibilities that are opening for us. Let's do this shit!

 *These tarot card readings are intended for us all as a community and are therefore broad. If you are interested in a more specific, in-depth reading - we offer individual readings at Oracle as well! If you would like to schedule an appointment for an individual reading, you can do that here or give us a ring at 816.982.9550. You can also join us for one of our monthly Tarot Workshop & Happy Hour events and learn more about cartomancy!    

{ TAXIDERMY SALE }

Taxidermy has been having a trendy moment of late, recalling it's glory days during the Victorian and Edwardian eras when it was considered a means to display one's worldly elegance and education to bring taxidermy and framed specimens into the home for beautiful decor. The art of taxidermy has come a long way from it's humble beginnings, when hides were tanned out of simple necessity for protective clothing and shelter. Eventually, scientists sought to preserve animal skins for ease of transport to facilitate their study - with little regard for artistic or anatomical integrity, these skins were stuffed with cotton, saw dust, rags, etc. The resulting pieces bore little resemblance to the actual animal and looked, in the vernacular of our times, busted.

The process became more involved and refined with innovations in tanning and technique, such as creating anatomically correct body molds from wood and wound string, and making extensive drawings of the animal for detail references and tracing exact outlines of the carcass for scale. During the Victorian era it was in vogue to bring the wilderness into the home to showcase tokens of exotic travel, so taxidermy made a move from exclusive museum display into the houses of the aristocratic families.

We are down with this, as you can see, because we are also well-traveled and fancy. 

Because we love bringing natural science specimens into the home and believe that everyone who loves taxidermy should be able to do so, we are running a huge sale throughout May on ALL OF OUR TAXIDERMY, up to 50% off!! We have new freeze dry taxidermy pieces, shoulder mounts and full mounts, as well as part of a private collection from a former home zoo with beautiful custom-made glass and wood display boxes for the specimens! This is a great time for you to add to your own collection, or develop a taste for bringing the outdoors inside!

Martha Ann Maxwell, pioneer in taxidermy and lifelong vegetarian. 

{ May Day Monday }

Happy Beltane Y'all!! Got any awesome bonfire plans? Want to see which card I pulled for us to focus on this week?

You are probably not going to die from shock when I share with you that the card I pulled is none other than the Nine of Swords. Again? You may be asking, but bad habits are tough to break, y'all. This card has come up quite a lot for us recently and seems to be needling us to get out of our negative thought processes (and, therefore, out of our own way). If we took time last week to let some of our thoughts and ideas really germinate, we may have also let some of those neggy little voices shout louder during this time of repose. 

The Nine of Swords likes to remind us to listen to others (which makes sense, as last week we were reminded by the appearance of The Hanged Man to see things from another's point of view), that our ideas are a part of the world - but not all of it. This is about finding illumination through a deeper spiritual practice which can be reached when we let go of our old mental habits. 

How can we use this card to move forward this week? If we are able to break away from a mindset or pattern that has failed work for us, we are making room for actual clarity. Putting our focus on positive outcomes and directing our thoughts towards what we seek, want and hope for - rather than on the things we wish to avoid or nightmare scenarios - allows us to intellectually set our intentions for progress. It's not as easy as it sounds. Habits are super hard to break from, and it takes practice. I often have to catch myself from going full-martyr in my head - or worse, vilifying people, environments and dogmas that I am distancing myself from to make myself feel justified and validated for bugging out.  What I (WE) really need to do is say NAH BRUH to all that horseshit and put our mental energy and focus on our victories and positive attributes - feed THAT wolf instead of the one that acts like a jerk. 

 *These three card readings are intended for us all as a community and are therefore broad. If you are interested in a more specific, in-depth reading - we offer individual readings at Oracle as well! If you would like to schedule an appointment for an individual reading, you can do that here or give us a ring at 816.982.9550. You can also join us for one of our monthly Tarot Workshop & Happy Hour events and learn more about cartomancy!