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Isabel V.'s avatar

Learning you read tarot actually made me like your writing even more (something I didn't think was possible)! I tend to use single-card tarot pulls as journaling prompts, and it was so refreshing and reassuring to see someone whose work I admire also using the tarot as a means of reflection rather than prediction. I'm still a rookie so I often use a reference text to check on cards I'm not as familiar with, and your old posts have made it into rotation for thinking and reflecting on the cards before I start writing. If you happened to write a tarot guide, I'd buy it in a heartbeat! :)

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Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

Thank you so much for sharing, and for the kind words! I love hearing about your personal tarot practice. (And I especially appreciate that old posts have made it into the rotation.) I’m actually working on a tarot guidebook of sorts! Trying to figure out the logistics/best way to make it available. But I’ll be sure to keep you posted! :)

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E.L. Zeitgeist's avatar

+1 for a Caroline written Tarot guide!

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Isabel Cowles Murphy's avatar

As I get older I realize that the question asked begets the answer given. I've never done tarot because I've feared some negative certainty. But I love the idea that they are all symbolic reflections of the germ inside. I've learned that my best conversations come when there are invitations to draw out wisdom that already exists. I also believe that our inner reality is reflected back in a co-creative experience with what's around us. So... maybe the cards that show up are what we draw forward, and only we can know why. Thank you for changing my mind on this :)

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Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

Yes! I adore and agree with everything you say here. While some readers surely see it differently, I believe tarot is a wonderful facilitator for deeper conversations, including and especially with ourselves. Thank you.

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Kathy Crabtree's avatar

“Struggle doesn’t make us bad or weak or ineffective. It simply makes us human. And that is a beautiful thing to be.” Sometimes we need to be reminded! I haven’t gotten completely on board with the beauty of it all - but I can attest that humanity’s challenge is often followed by life changing insight. Thanks you Caroline.

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Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

Thank you, Kathy ❤️

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E.L. Zeitgeist's avatar

I received Devil in a reading a few years back and felt a wave of insight telling me that I was addicted to my own victimhood. Completely changed my life. I think we’re all a little addicted to our problems, our trauma, our illnesses (Social media garners us empathy and capitalistic marketing makes it fun to shop for fixes, am I right?) We’re obsessed with anything that keeps us chained down even though the locks are open and we could leave at any time. Back in 2019 I adopted the mantra “Feeling Like Shit is My Superpower” in order to shift my victim mindset into hero mindset. I hold the key to breaking the chains of obsession and moving onward and upward. It’s a constant battle but I get better at it every day (PS I’ve actually been writing and researching this concept all day for a project I’m working on so seeing the Card of the Week tells me I’m on the right track! Thank you, Caroline!)

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Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

Oh, what an amazing insight. (One I very much relate to. Along with your observations about social media and marketing.) And I am very interested in your research and this project!! It sounds fascinating. Thank you for sharing.

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E.L. Zeitgeist's avatar

Sweetness! I’m just really diggin the roads you’ve been exploring lately so please keep challenging us with these tough ones! Oh and the project is an illustrated fiction novel (a thing?) based on this trauma addiction hypothesis. A heavy load but worth the lift!

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Margaret's avatar

This post was a breath of fresh air for me on a (somehow, already) hectic Monday. Seeing the first Devil card in the post initially caused resistance for me - my hackles raise whenever I see climbing the corporate ladder as an inherently evil thing (as an unabashed corporate ladder-climber). As I read on, however, I loved how you set things out - some of my Devils do come in the form of work obsession and perfectionism, and I am only living out my values (which include financial security and freedom) when I work to tame them. This week, I am feeling the Devil on my shoulder in regards to self-compassion (as in, lack thereof), and this was a good reminder to give myself the grace and love that I deserve. - Margaret

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Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

Oh, I’m so glad to hear this resonated with you. Indeed, ladder climbing certainly isn’t inherently evil. (Nor is any path inherently virtuous!) I love hearing the different ways this message speaks to you, and how they play out in your life. Thank you so much for sharing.

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Emily Anna Smith's avatar

This was truly inspirational - there is so much for me to think about, especially in regards to uncomfortable vs. inauthentic. Thank you for your beautiful writing.

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Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

Thank you so much! I’m happy to hear you enjoyed it.

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Nanette Hanks's avatar

This was all so good and helpful. Nurturing in a way I didn’t know I needed. Thank you.

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Samantha Chesler's avatar

As someone who has been on the receiving end of your tarot reading brilliance, I feel all those lessons to be true. You do... do it your way, you do leap enthusiastically towards the unknown, and the mystery, and you do align with your authentic truth. Because of you I have started a practice of pulling a card, often for my daughter, and we discuss it as it prompts self-reflection. As a coach, I can see the parallels between how you read Tarot and how a coaching conversation works. I am sure I speak for many when I say I love the way you use the cards to elicit some human truth that may never have revealed itself any other way. Yes please to a Caroline Tarot book! Sign me up.

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Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

Thank you so much. That means a lot. I love your parallels to a coaching conversation — that’s certainly what I’m going for, a practical exercise with a touch of the mystical. I so loved meeting you! Truly a gift to connect face to face.

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Joyce Ragard's avatar

Oh man, this part: "It’s the endless scroll, the seductive force of advertisements, the siren song of quick fixes, the relentless cycle of “self-improvement” that never reaches an end. It’s the tireless message that we must buy (or buy into) everything in sight, always for someone else’s profit. It’s the feeling of helplessness inspired by the scale of these cycles and how hard they can be to ignore, let alone change." YEP. So well said.

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Nicole Christie's avatar

Love this wisdom - and glad the uncomfortable/inauthentic question is applying broadly for you! It’s such a good one in so many situations indeed. And this perspective on The Devil is gold!!! Will be considering this from now on when that fella makes an appearance.

Once again, a thought-provoking, poetic issue. 😘

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Patty Barrett's avatar

"Things are. We apply our judgments. We assign their value."

What a REVELATION! I'm absolutely booking a reading when more times become available in April :)

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Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

Yes!! I would love that.

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David Roberts's avatar

This post led me to book a session.

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Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

That’s wonderful news! I’m very excited.

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Helen Bennett's avatar

Really interesting Caroline, I loved our tarot reaching ! i felt so comfortable with you which I think was a direct result of you being so genuine and authentic. I’ll be curious with myself when I feel uncomfortable in the weeks ahead.

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Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

Thank you, Helen! I loved meeting you and connecting face to face. And the warmth and openness you brought to the reading created a beautiful dynamic.

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Rebecca's avatar

I've been out of the loop for too long stuck in work, I've finally come up for air and am spending an afternoon sitting in the garden catching up on all your newsletters that I saved for when I'd have the time to really sit with them. I am so glad I didn't just rush to read them in snatches of time, it's been such a joy today to sit with your work and truly have the space in my brain to consider your words. One day I will get over the fear of "not having anything to ask/talk about" and book a reading, because reading this has made me fall in love with your approach (to life, to tarot) all over again.

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Mar 18, 2024
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Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

Yes, exactly as you put it — it’s a fine line between projection and genuine curiosity and sometimes it can be hard (impossible?) to tell them apart. The “interesting choice” type comments drive me bonkers. I hope all works out with the apartment! (Then everyone can have questions about that... 😬)

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