The power of a daily practice

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The power of a daily practice: lessons learnt at the painty table

I think it’s no secret that acrylics are my favourite art medium. I love the ability to texture and layer, to leave hidden messages and power symbols buried under layers of luscious paints. These characteristics of acrylics also make them a much more involved medium to work in: I can spend days fiddling with layers and styles; etching and writing; fixing and tweaking. And while I love it, I also wanted to explore the whimsicality of quicker illustrations and fewer layers of paint.Continue reading→

Tarot reading for April 2018

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I have to admit, I’m kinda sad to see the end of March. I absolutely loved the energy of the month, as I spent some time every single day at the painty table. Ah, how that makes my heart sing! I’ve also made excellent progress with my oracle card deck; now, I need to take a bit of a pause and see what elements are missing from making it a cohesive deck. As I put the deck to the test, I thought it would be fun to use them for your Tarot {rather Oracle} reading for April! This month we have a 2-card spread, that tells us what to embrace and what to release.

Remember, this is a general Tarot reading for April, and my intention with this one was: What do my blog readers need to know this month.Continue reading→

Journey of a seeker: Devotion as a spiritual practice

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devotion as a spiritual practice, spirituality

Devotion: what images does the word conjure up for you?

Until about a decade ago, it brought to mind images of the prayer room at home, of the temple I visited as a child, the church I sought refuge in during my teenage years when I was looking for peace.

Over the years, though, this image has changed. Devotion, for me, is no longer limited to prayer; it has become much vaster and deeper than that.

For me, devotion is about the tending of the flame: being deeply aware of my own needs and desires, inner  impulses and self care. Because it is only when I am nourished and looked after on the inside that I can devote myself to the outside.Continue reading→

Making magic: Creating my second oracle card deck

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how to make an oracle or tarot card deckIf you’ve been dropping by here since a while {thank you!}, you may remember that I was creating a set of oracle cards in March last year. You can catch up with that post here, if you missed it.

It was an exciting project, and instead of the 30 cards that I had planned to create, I ended up making a 45-card deck with a fully functional guide book! Kristen is hosting the Create the Oracle Deck Challenge again this year, and I am busy working on my second deck of oracle cards. I would never have believed this last year – that I’d have another deck living inside me, waiting to be born into the world!Continue reading→

Tarot reading for March 2018

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I don’t know about you, but I’m glad to see the end of February! The month has been marked with allergy attacks and a general sense of discontent, but March blew in with a breath of fresh air. Maybe some of it has to do with the fact that the month started with a four-day weekend, most of which I have spent at the painty table! Anyhoo! Without further ado, here’s your tarot reading for March 2018.

Tarot reading for March 2018

Remember, this is a general Tarot reading for March and my intention with this one was: What do my blog readers need to know this month.Continue reading→

Three benefits of keeping a gratitude journal

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Gratitude – it is a simple concept that most of us have grown up with: to give thanks for the many blessings we have in our lives. Be it through prayer or by saying a heartfelt “thank you”, gratitude is something we have been practicing since childhood.

There are also numerous scientific studies outlining the positive effects of regular gratitude journaling, ranging from improved self-esteem and athletic performance, to better relationships and reduced suicide risk, among others. There are websites devoted to gratitude journaling, ecourses to teach you gratitude, special gratitude planners, and a variety of blog hops devoted to monthly and weekly gratitude lists.Continue reading→

On the importance of doing nothing

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winnie-the-pooh-doing-nothing-quotes

So, how often do you do nothing?

There was a time, a couple of years ago, when my standard answer to “what are you doing over the weekend?” was “Nothing”.

Of course, doing nothing is never really nothing. It’s what the Italians call “Dolce far Niente”, which translates to “the sweetness of doing nothing.” It’s not about being lazy, rather, it is the pleasure of savoring moments of idleness. There are a lot of simple things that we do when we are doing nothing – reading, dreaming, taking a nap, going for long aimless walks, watching the changing shapes in the clouds, having a leisurely brunch with friends.Continue reading→

Why You Should Adopt A Playful Approach To Life

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adopt-a-playful-approach-to-lifeI think most of us take life and ourselves far too seriously. We take on the mantle of roles and responsibilities at work and home, and believe that we are indispensable, that the world would collapse if we played hooky from work, or didn’t organize the linen cabinet, or dust the shelves before the guests came over.

“What would people think” seems to be the constant refrain running through our heads as we rush through life, doing, doing, doing. Which often leads to burn out, a growing sense of irritation, and a disconnect from our very essence.

One antidote to this is to adopt a sense of playfulness in our lives.

But, what does adopting a playful approach to life mean?

Continue reading→

Self-love-o-scope Tarot card reading for February 2018

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Let’s kick off self-love February! We start with this juicy self-love-o-scope reading, which sets the tone for the month. And every Monday, I’ll publish an article related to each week’s focus area. I hope this reading and these posts will help you to deepen your self-love and self-care this month!

My intention with this reading is to offer you the self-care actions or tips you need the most at this time, and to see what energies would assist you in each of these areas.

I used a self care oracle card deck that I picked up years and years ago. I’ve lost the original box, so I can’t tell you who the creator of the deck is or even what it’s called! I’ve paired each of these cards with a Tarot card from Doreen Virtue’s Angel Tarot deck. I chose this deck for this reading because its messages are gentler {and sometimes slightly different from the Raider-Waite}, much like most of Doreen’s cards.

I decided to pull four cards – one for each week of this month. Here are the cards:

Continue reading→