"Minds don't rest; they reel and wander and fixate and roll back and reconsider because it's like this, having a mind. Hearts don't idle; they swell and constrict and break and forgive and behold because it's like this, having a heart. Lives don't last; they thrill and confound and circle and overflow and disappear because it's like this, having a life."
Kelly Corrigan
(I read this the year my mother passed. And it resonated with me in its empathetic matter-of-fact-ness)
Just joining here after todays Cup of Jo post (LOVE your voice Caroline and this site and what you have to say is coming at the most PERFECT time for me). Victoria, I will write down this quote by Kelly Corrigan and frame it and hang it on my wall. It's THAT good. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for the post, thought-provoking. My goal for this year is to enjoy the "sweet" moments of life- cliché as it sounds, I hustle through all the "normal" moments and don't enjoy them, but will long for those moments during the "sour" or difficult times. My goal is to enjoy grocery shopping, hosting friends, and perhaps being bored and laying on my living floor.
This was the most beautiful post. The most. Grounded and ethereal—a freshness to ancient wisdom and a perfect energy for the season. I love this quote from Sue Monk Kidd’s Q&A she did for The Book of Longings: “…I, too have female friendships who awaken, support, inspire, and transform one another…three friends and I have gathered annually for a week and shared our stories and blessed the ‘largeness’ in one another.”
I’ve thought often—what would life look like if we did this? Blessed the largeness.
(p.s. Pagan Otherworlds deck was the first and only deck I’ve purchased for myself! I waited a very long time to find one with imagery I connected to, but looking back was probably a harder deck to learn on because of the sparser scenes. When did you acquire it in your tarot journey?)
Thank you, Jasmine! And thank you so much for sharing that quote. I agree, that is such a beautiful sentiment. If only it was something we all put into practice.
As for Pagan Otherworlds, I love that you have it, too! It's so beautiful, like pretty much everything Uusi designs. I especially can't believe the cards were created from oil paintings — oil paintings! I bought my deck around two years ago, and though I was well on my tarot journey by then, I still found some of the images required extra thought at first. But such evocative scenery, and well worth it!
!!! I somehow didn’t know they were created from oil paintings! But makes total sense as they look like something out of the Renaissance. You’re right—Uusi’s aesthetic is beyond. I actually bought their Supra Oracle deck at the same time cause it was so gorgeous. Question: how do you use the moon phase cards that are part of the Otherworlds deck? Do you keep them in the deck and shuffle all together or do you keep them separate and use as supplemental?
I've found I tend to be a purist when it comes to tarot decks. If the artist includes extra cards beyond the typical 78, I'll fish them out and use them as bookmarks or put them on display somewhere. Occasionally I'll use them in readings. In this case, the moon cards are so pretty, I sometimes prop them up on the bookshelf to match whatever phase the moon is in. But that's just me! How have you been using yours?
I just keep them in the deck, but honestly they don’t show up much. I will say, my practice is only a fraction of what I imagine yours to be and if it was more often, I’d probably take them out too and then use them for clarification on timing. Okay, I must ask, when’s your part memoir, part tarot book coming out?😂 Something like your journey with tarot, spreads you’ve drawn, guidance you’ve gleaned and how specific spreads have played out in your actual life(with lots of plot twists, of course)—I’d read it!
"An overexamined life is not worth living" - Colum McCann, Let the Great World Spin; last and favorite book of 2021 because it brought humility and beauty to the human experience as one that is mundane, at times arbitrary, but wholly magical because everyone is spinning on this axis together, in ways that are intertwined whether we know it or not. It reminded me to not sweat the small things and "overexamine" what has already passed or what may lie ahead because the present is a whole lot more worthy of our feelings, the good and the ill and between
Thank you so much for sharing these beautiful words. My resolution is to spend 1000 hours outside with my toddler, and also to know it’s a win even if I fall far short of that goal. :) My word of the year is self-respect. Inspired by Didion: “To assign unanswered letters their proper weight, to free us from the expectations of others, to give us back to ourselves, there lies the great, singular power of self-respect. Without it, one eventually discovers the final turn of the screw: one runs away to find oneself, and finds no one at home.”
"Minds don't rest; they reel and wander and fixate and roll back and reconsider because it's like this, having a mind. Hearts don't idle; they swell and constrict and break and forgive and behold because it's like this, having a heart. Lives don't last; they thrill and confound and circle and overflow and disappear because it's like this, having a life."
Kelly Corrigan
(I read this the year my mother passed. And it resonated with me in its empathetic matter-of-fact-ness)
Beautiful. Thank you for sharing, Victoria
Just joining here after todays Cup of Jo post (LOVE your voice Caroline and this site and what you have to say is coming at the most PERFECT time for me). Victoria, I will write down this quote by Kelly Corrigan and frame it and hang it on my wall. It's THAT good. Thank you for sharing.
I loved this so much, Caroline. I know I'll be reading it multiple times.
Thank you so much.❤️
Thank you for the post, thought-provoking. My goal for this year is to enjoy the "sweet" moments of life- cliché as it sounds, I hustle through all the "normal" moments and don't enjoy them, but will long for those moments during the "sour" or difficult times. My goal is to enjoy grocery shopping, hosting friends, and perhaps being bored and laying on my living floor.
Thank you for sharing, Jess. Sometimes laying on the living room floor is truly the best.
This was the most beautiful post. The most. Grounded and ethereal—a freshness to ancient wisdom and a perfect energy for the season. I love this quote from Sue Monk Kidd’s Q&A she did for The Book of Longings: “…I, too have female friendships who awaken, support, inspire, and transform one another…three friends and I have gathered annually for a week and shared our stories and blessed the ‘largeness’ in one another.”
I’ve thought often—what would life look like if we did this? Blessed the largeness.
(p.s. Pagan Otherworlds deck was the first and only deck I’ve purchased for myself! I waited a very long time to find one with imagery I connected to, but looking back was probably a harder deck to learn on because of the sparser scenes. When did you acquire it in your tarot journey?)
Thank you, Jasmine! And thank you so much for sharing that quote. I agree, that is such a beautiful sentiment. If only it was something we all put into practice.
As for Pagan Otherworlds, I love that you have it, too! It's so beautiful, like pretty much everything Uusi designs. I especially can't believe the cards were created from oil paintings — oil paintings! I bought my deck around two years ago, and though I was well on my tarot journey by then, I still found some of the images required extra thought at first. But such evocative scenery, and well worth it!
!!! I somehow didn’t know they were created from oil paintings! But makes total sense as they look like something out of the Renaissance. You’re right—Uusi’s aesthetic is beyond. I actually bought their Supra Oracle deck at the same time cause it was so gorgeous. Question: how do you use the moon phase cards that are part of the Otherworlds deck? Do you keep them in the deck and shuffle all together or do you keep them separate and use as supplemental?
I've found I tend to be a purist when it comes to tarot decks. If the artist includes extra cards beyond the typical 78, I'll fish them out and use them as bookmarks or put them on display somewhere. Occasionally I'll use them in readings. In this case, the moon cards are so pretty, I sometimes prop them up on the bookshelf to match whatever phase the moon is in. But that's just me! How have you been using yours?
I just keep them in the deck, but honestly they don’t show up much. I will say, my practice is only a fraction of what I imagine yours to be and if it was more often, I’d probably take them out too and then use them for clarification on timing. Okay, I must ask, when’s your part memoir, part tarot book coming out?😂 Something like your journey with tarot, spreads you’ve drawn, guidance you’ve gleaned and how specific spreads have played out in your actual life(with lots of plot twists, of course)—I’d read it!
Well, first of all, thank you. I would love to write that book. And you will be the first person I'll tell!
Another beautiful newsletter. xxx
Thank you, Angelique.❤️
"An overexamined life is not worth living" - Colum McCann, Let the Great World Spin; last and favorite book of 2021 because it brought humility and beauty to the human experience as one that is mundane, at times arbitrary, but wholly magical because everyone is spinning on this axis together, in ways that are intertwined whether we know it or not. It reminded me to not sweat the small things and "overexamine" what has already passed or what may lie ahead because the present is a whole lot more worthy of our feelings, the good and the ill and between
Such a great line from a great book. And an excellent sentiment. Thank you, Yudi
Thank you so much for sharing these beautiful words. My resolution is to spend 1000 hours outside with my toddler, and also to know it’s a win even if I fall far short of that goal. :) My word of the year is self-respect. Inspired by Didion: “To assign unanswered letters their proper weight, to free us from the expectations of others, to give us back to ourselves, there lies the great, singular power of self-respect. Without it, one eventually discovers the final turn of the screw: one runs away to find oneself, and finds no one at home.”
Thank you, Joyce! I love both your word and your resolution. (And I’m sure your toddler does, too :)
All of these quotes you've chosen are perfect to be read aloud. I'm here via Cup of Jo, then Instagram. I love your voice, Caroline.