46 Comments
User's avatar
Hannah Levy's avatar

Love your definition of magic. Recently my daughter asked me if I believed magic was real and I said absolutely yes, but that it didn't look like what you see in movies — no electric sparks coming out of my fingers. I told her I believed in the kind of magic that lives inside us, the magic that makes us spin around a star, that made life form on planet earth. The magic that gives us the ability to love even when we feel despair, even when there is evil, even when unspeakable tragedies strike. There is always love, and that is proof enough for me 🤍

Expand full comment
Eileen's avatar

I wasn’t expecting the card readings when I signed up, but I’ve come to look forward to them. I grew up in a conservative Christian household where card readings were seen negatively. It has been fascinating to see how your readings related to what’s currently happening with me or on my mind. Even the fact that this was the same pull as July is pertinent. So let it rip! I’m here for it!

Expand full comment
Jenny's avatar

Love every single sentence that you write! I knew very little about tarot before your newsletter, and I love reading your interpretations each week.

I love how your writing invites self reflection. Each story resonates, I can’t help but look inward and kind of have my own aha moment as I process your words and wisdom.

Expand full comment
Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

Thank you, Jenny! This makes me so happy to hear.

Expand full comment
Jackie (she/her)'s avatar

"The Seven of Pentacles would like us all to stop comparing our harvest to anyone else’s—including our past selves, who may have had a different outlook, not to mention a different idea of reality. That’s mean! You don’t deserve that. And neither does this lovely thing you’ve worked to produce." Thank you for this. Exactly what I needed to hear today.

Expand full comment
Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

❤️

Expand full comment
Kenneth Mills's avatar

Thanks for the memory magic. I also didn’t sign for the tarot, but v much enjoy its complement to your writing.

Expand full comment
Lauren Neufeld's avatar

Great article! Loved the part about investments, this one landed for me. I’ve taken on more household roles to support my partner through a hard time and I’m looking at all my efforts as the investments for the future. Patience and persistence. 🤍

Expand full comment
Holly Ramey's avatar

7 of pentacles feels so right on for this weeks new moon in Virgo / mercury stationing direct! Just a little patience and persistence 🌿🌿

Expand full comment
T Van Santāna's avatar

My 7 yo glanced over my shoulder, saw the photo and said, "I like that kid. She looks like me." So I opened it and said, "Oh, I don't think she is now. I think that's from when she was 8." And he goes, "Oh, so not like me." I said, "Well, she was back then." And he said, "But she was 8 and I'm 7." 😄

Expand full comment
Meg Wardle's avatar

This was a beautiful piece of writing ✨

I find your tarot readings to be sublime. All your writing is filled with your own special brand of magic. I’m so here for it!

Expand full comment
Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

Thank you, Meg!

Expand full comment
Anne Marie Basquin's avatar

I love this. Your words are beautiful.

Expand full comment
Charlotte Stephens's avatar

It really surprised me to read that people don't subscribe because of the tarot element of your newsletter. I must admit I sometimes skip the tarot section if I'm short on time (sorry!) but always read the essays that come before it. There's so much to gain from being a part of this space, and I hope those people that can't currently look past the cards find it in themselves to do so, because they're missing out on so much

Expand full comment
Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

Thank you, Charlotte. I appreciate that. There’s a reason I put the card at the bottom — I realize it might not resonate with everyone, or as you say, someone might be short on time (especially if the essay that week runs long!). It’s easy enough to skip. The other thing that drives me bonkers is people will repost and say, “I loved the essay but not the tarot nonsense.” And I’m like, thank you for the repost? I guess?

Expand full comment
Charlotte Stephens's avatar

So incredibly rude!

Expand full comment
Bianca Dămoc's avatar

A word that I struggled with for a very long time is "prayer"

In part because of its religious connotations. In part because of my own personal experience with the word.

It's taken me years but I've finally given it my own definion.

Expand full comment
Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

Oh, that's a good one.

I had a similar experience with the word "faith." But eventually I realized it can have so many meanings, and landed on what works for me.

Expand full comment
Bianca Dămoc's avatar

That's such a good way to go about it ❤️

Expand full comment
SA's avatar

I didn't know Tarot much before I subscribed - but I found them warm and enlightening. And I liked that it gave me a new perspective to thinking. It doesn't mean that I abandon my beliefs - if I did, then perhaps those beliefs were not really true to begin with. Thank you for all that you write and share ♥️

Expand full comment
Alyssa's avatar

This essay found me just in time. And it might be my favorite of yours yet! 💜 “the magic is you” became my mantra on a day where I needed one.

Expand full comment
Claire Marie's avatar

I'm so glad you included a picture of the collared shirts, because I was trying to picture such an outfit on a small child. And a briefcase! My heart feels for young Caroline.

Years ago I lived on a property in rural northern California, while I was attending college in a very hippie-ish area. The property was affectionately called "The Ranch," so you can imagine the vibes. There were a bunch of us who lived there, and we had all sorts of fun, messiness, entanglements, you name it. After a particularly intense period there, I was ready to move out one fall. Before leaving, I threw out a bunch of seeds next to the little cottage I had. I returned to visit the next spring, and was struck by how much gorgeous, bountiful chamomile had bloomed next to the little cottage. Then I remembered that I HAD PLANTED IT. I had forgotten all about the seeds! I didn't do a single thing to help them grow! But grow they did. It's still one of the most magical moments of my life.

Sometimes we don't even know that we're casting magic. Sometimes it isn't intentional; we just have to let life move around, and nurture our choices, never knowing which ones will sprout.

Expand full comment
Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

What a gorgeous visual! And a perfect metaphor, too. We don’t always realize what we sow. Or the beauty we leave in our wake. Thank you so much for sharing. ❤️

Expand full comment
Susan Goldberg's avatar

"The air is hot, the sea churns, the future is ever unknown." Beautiful!

Expand full comment