Book review: Watch Over Me by Jane Renshaw

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Watch over me by Jane Renshaw book reviewI don’t know about you, but I love me a good psychological thriller. What makes the characters tick, the way they set up and plot crimes, their motivations and fears and hopes. All of it makes for a very interesting – and dare I say thrilling – read.

Watch Over Me: Book blurb

Flora always dreamed of the day she’d become a mother. But some dreams turn into nightmares.

Flora and Neil are happily married, but they can’t have children so decide to adopt. And when Flora meets little Beckie it’s love at first sight. Deep in her heart, she knows they’re meant for each other, destined to be mother and daughter.

When Flora officially becomes Beckie’s mum, it’s like a part of her that’s always been missing is finally in place. She is complete, every day filled with purpose and joy.
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January 2020: Tarot spread for the new moon in Aquarius

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Tarot spread for the January 2020 new moon in Aquarius

The January 2020 new moon falls in the sign of Aquarius. The independent, free-thinking Aquarius archetype encourages us to examine our inner wild self and celebrate everything that makes us unique. It is the archetype of the reformer, the idealist who strives for tolerance, unity, and a better and brighter society. The one that strives to raise awareness, consciousness, and enlighten. And despite these rather lofty ideals, the Aquarius archetype isn’t afraid to get in there and get its hands dirty. So you may feel an urgency, an excitement to just get in there and act on your plans already.

Spiritually, the Aquarius archetype teaches us how to be true to our own voice, to listen to and follow the calling of our own heart and soul. By learning how to tune in rather than out, by being true to the things that make us unique, we undertake the journey to individuation.Continue reading→

On my art table: Desolate Hope

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On my art table desolate hope

I call this: desolate hope.

It’s a painting for our times. For the strife and the hatred; the othering and the brutality; for the climate apathy and the ringing of the bells of war.

For the coming together in solidarity and love; for saying enough, no more, not in my name. For holding our leaders accountable; demanding climate action and social justice; holding out for peace and love and equality and brotherhood.Continue reading→

My year of depth: A framework for my 2020 depth year

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My depth year framework for 2020

Last year, I decided to undertake a depth year – an entire year where I didn’t start any new hobbies or acquire new possessions that I did not need. You can read this post for more information on what a depth year is; I’ll wait!

And though I did not achieve everything I set out to focus on, and slipped up in some areas, the overall experience was pretty darn good. Which is why I’ve decided to do another year of depth – and I’m incorporating some of my learnings from last year when it comes to designing my depth year framework for 2020.Continue reading→

Art journal flip through: 2019

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Art journal flip through to inspire your creativity

If you’ve followed me for any length of time, you’d know that I’m a moon baby. I tune in to the cycles of the moon to do some journaling and throw down some tarot or oracle cards. I also use the moon phases to create some art. Specifically, I create art on each new and full moon.

This is a practice I started way back in 2015, based on a (then) free ecourse offered by Effy Wild.Continue reading→

January 2020: Tarot spread for the full moon in Cancer

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Tarot spread for the January 2020 full moon in Cancer

The January 2020 full moon falls in the sign of Cancer. The Cancer archetype is emotional, intuitive, nurturing and healing. It also symbolizes “home” and all the things that home represents – not just our physical home, but also our emotions, energy, body, and the spiritual hearth of our souls.

Spiritually, the Cancer archetype is one of compassion, of recognising that people act to the best of their abilities, limited by their education, upbringing and current awareness. The Cancer archetype knows that love and forgiveness are the best way to respond to destructive behavior.

The January full moon also highlights our belief systems, the acquisition of knowledge and wisdom, and more importantly, what we do with that knowledge. There’s an expansive quality to this moon, and as the first full moon of this decade, it can have potentially far-reaching consequences.

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The Word: 2020

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word of the year for 2020

I’ve been choosing a word of the year since five years – this is my sixth – and it has been an intensely transformative journey. Which is somewhat magical, really, considering that the very first word I chose for myself five years ago was Transform.

Words, after all, are spells. They have an inherent magic and power that can work in ways you may never have anticipated to bring you the exact medicine you need at any point of time. And Transform is a spell that’s been woven into the very fabric my life, impacting it far beyond just one year.

Which is why I don’t take the word of the year practice too lightly. I need to be clear on at least some aspects of what I’m drawing towards me with the word that I choose. perhaps for this reason, it was much harder for me to tease out the word for this year.Continue reading→

December 2019: Tarot spread for the new moon in Capricorn

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Tarot spread for the December 2019 new moon in Capricorn

The December 2019 new moon falls in the sign of Capricorn. Symbolized by the  mountain goat, which maintains perfect balance while it climbs over precarious rock ledges, the Capricorn archetype is one of disciplined and dogged determination towards the attainment of our worldly desires.

Spiritually, the Capricorn archetype teaches us about integrity and helps us to harness the ability to plan our work, and stick to it, no matter what. In these times of 24×7 consumption culture, it’s easy to be addicted with shiny object syndrome and forget about our goals and plans. Capricorn teaches us about the meaning of integrity: to align ourselves with our highest ideals and actualize our potential. Continue reading→

Looking back at 2019: Reflections on Flourish

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Reflections on flourish

Flourish. That was my word for the year. It felt like the perfect combination of growth and ease after the very gentle energy of Bloom in 2018.

And a perfect combination it has been. So much has happened in 2019, that I’m still wrapping my head around it all.

Flourish helped me to deepen and expand my art practice.  I spent much more time at the painty table – even during the summer, which used to be my leanest art period, and my artistic voice and vision grew louder and deeper.Continue reading→

A year ahead tarot spread

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Year ahead tarot spread

I have a love-hate relationship with year ahead tarot spreads. While I love sinking into some dream time with planners and tarot cards, I find that the traditional 12-card tarot spread – one card that represents a theme for each month of the year – just isn’t very useful for me.

For a while, I used Joanna Powell’s year-ahead spread. While I did like that one a lot, it felt too spare for a year-ahead reading. I wanted something gloriously big and expansive, yet practical and actionable/usable.

So I pulled out my decks and came up with a gloriously big, messy, juicy year ahead tarot spread. This one combines oracle and tarot cards, and can be easily tailored to your tastes and your own unique oracle card collection.Continue reading→