IN THE DAY OF YOUR SUN

The countdown to my 30th birthday passed slowly, and it also passed with what I felt were last-minute lessons. I felt it looming and edging closer all the while wondering if I had learned everything I needed to from my 20s. I didn't feel confident that I had, but I reasoned with myself and admitted life doesn't wait for you to be ready for it. It just happens to you, and the way you choose to keep reacting to it defines your reality.
I stand today will in rickety shape, like that of a broken down fairground. I've been having a tough time lately, and the more I try to fix it the worse it gets. I don't feel very confident about myself, so in many ways I feel like I am starting my 30s with a slate yet to wipe clean. I still have to clean all this rubble off. I learned the hard way and still feel like there are leftover loose ends to take care of. It all comes with the pressure of entering a new chapter in your life without the knowledge of how well you have prepared for the upcoming obstacles. My responsibilities and stressors keep piling up, and with the days passing I find I have less and less time for myself. Making time to draw is incredibly difficult when I am sapped of my motivation and dragging through a rough day.



Bite





I had a pretty good day when I turned 30. I got up and tried to work a while, went to therapy and introduced my mother to my therapist. That session was eye-opening and brought me into perspective of what the people who have me in their lives feel. I went to have Japanese food for lunch at my favorite ramen place, Daikokuya, and enjoyed some sparkling sake and my mother's company. We kept the food tour going with Ladurée's Ispahan at The Grove. It's so good!
Later that day I passed by my boyfriend's house and saw him for a few minutes. Mom got to meet one of his sphynx cats, and she squealed in delight as she held the kitten. I was extremely moved by her enjoyment of the encounter and only wish I'd have given her more time with him. Then we went to dinner with my mother and enjoyed some Italian food. The wine was my favorite in LA.We went to see A Star is Born after dinner.

On the walk back I made sure to voice appreciation to my mother for dropping her life and meeting me in Los Angeles for a week to catch up. Her support during this time has been a soothing balm, and I can't help but feel choked up knowing she did it all selflessly and because she loves me. She is living an extremely busy life back home and knowing she was willing to set her responsibilities aside to be there for me have moved me very deeply. I'm going to miss her so much now that she's returned to the island.

I sat in my living room after the day was over and contemplated my life. If you asked me what I am the most invested in, it is hands down my relationship. I've gone all in and at times forgotten myself. I feel so intensely for my boyfriend, and I hope he carries this knowledge with him as he carries my key in his pocket. 🗝️🗝️







The next day my friends came to see me at Cloak & Dagger. I was gifted a table (thank you, Michael Patterson!) and got to enjoy the club that has been my sanctuary for the past couple of years.The music was exceptionally good that night with Brian T and Baby Magick spinning. My friends lit up hearing remixes they listened to and loved. None of the people I invited really knew each other but to my delight they all got along really well and said they had a nice time. All that was missing was my boyfriend beside me.

I still can't believe I made it to 30. Although I am not feeling at my best lately, I want to express gratitude for the unconditional love my mother has been giving me. I want to express gratitude for my boyfriend Chris, who I love immensely and couldn't see a happy life without. My friends have all voiced their support and have offered to be there if I need them. I'm so grateful to everybody who has stuck beside me and motivated me to keep going.

The days ahead are looking to be lonely ones. I'm not looking forward to buckling down and concentrating on all the work I have to catch up on, but all good things come to an end. Now all I've got to do is focus and get back to some really serious adulting.

The 8th anniversary of this blog is rapidly approaching on the 31st of October. It's incredible how long this project has been going on for. It has kept its integrity as a life chronicle and as a resource for all those looking to add to their tarot collections. It has documented my growth across what I affectionately like to call my past lives and has brought me many wonderful contacts & clients. So thank you, all my readers from the recent ones to the ones that have been around since this blog launched. Samhain Moon wouldn't still be here if it wasn't for those of you reaching out to tell me you enjoy my reviews or life anecdotes. I wouldn't still be doing this if I didn't feel like it added the signature of the magic inside of me to this world. That is a gift in its own right.



Thanks for looking. Its been an intense, bumpy ride but I'm somehow still moving forward. I hope you all are, too.
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BLACK TIGER SEX MACHINE CEREMONY TOUR

The Black Tiger Sex Machine Ceremony tour hit Los Angeles on September 28th at The Belasco Theater. It was a rough night of aggressive crowds and aggressive music. I arrived close to the end of Apashe's set to catch Substronics' set. Jesse from Subtronics drops the heaviest double drops I have heard. They're really amazing! He has taken the pedestal so to speak and became my favorite Dubstep music producer. Svdden Death and Excision are close seconds. Each producer has his sonic signature, and these are the ones I resonate with the most.




The event was pretty intense. From the moment I started dancing I felt myself breaking into a sweat. I got pushed around and didn't have a set location in the crowd, instead was pushed like a volleyball through the crowd. During the Subtronics set a huge mosh pit erupted around me and I had to run to avoid getting hit. It's pretty brutal when you are on your own, it seems the safest way to go is with a squad. That way everyone can look out for one another. I didn't have that luxury, though.

I got to enjoy all the double drops I went to hear. It was worth all the trouble just to see another Subtronics set. It felt like it went by really quickly, and what came after was a huge treat. I had not heard much of BTSM's music prior to coming to the show, but their set was extremely enjoyable. They said they were taking us to church. Their visuals were really attractive, featuring their big cat masks, reversed crosses and imagery evocative of rave spirituality. It was very entertaining.









My love for aggressive music goes deep. It gets me through it all. What more could I ask for?
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SPIRITSONG TAROT

Paulina Cassidy is the visionary artist behind the Paulina Tarot, Joie de Vivre Tarot and now Spiriting Tarot. She also put out the Witching Book of Spells, and the Faerie Guidance Oracle. Her style is sketchy with what seems to be watercolor washes. The worlds she paints balance between being dark and whimsical.

Paulina Cassidy’s previous artworks are very easy to get attached to and have become some of my primary working decks throughout my psychic career. I love working with them and I get great results. They just get it right.

The Spiriting Tarot draws upon shamanism and the belief of animals as totems. It is believed they lend their medicine, according to the ancients.

Despite you being able to trace this deck back to basic Rider-Waite Smith meanings, I don’t think this reads as an RWS deck. The archetypes the animals represent will either support or clash, and may even carry through as a narrative as well. If you use this deck you will have to learn to piece archetypes together and distinguish which energy comes from where. It will take an objective look into your life to understand why a concept ties into it and how. It may take some time to identify the differences and influences.




Some of the cards have a narrative style of evolution when you place them side by side. Lizards can turn into crocodiles. The evolution of our souls and personalities can be seen in a visual form of storytelling that I find compelling with this deck.



I saw as the moth’s wings grew and as it transformed into a tall dragonfly. A lizard grew in scale and turned into a crocodile. You can see how people change and what their attitude turns them into. After going through pain, the death’s head moth books it as a firefly would. The lizard grew fierce and impatient, not understanding the pain the moth was in. All the narrative symbolism is emphasizing the journey people undertake and I am really feeling it.

I think that this is a really excellent deck to use on the side of a tarot deck if you want a little more information. It could also work as an oracle. I am tempted to trim the cards and use them as totem animal cards. For now, I’ll just leave them as they are and learn to use the deck as it is meant to be used.

The illustrations are quite beautiful. I love the whimsical flourishes adorning the ecosystems the animals are found in It suggests being in a sacred presence, as no doubt the Native American folk would see them in their reverence. I like the idea of animal totems and their influence over a practice that is sacred for many of us. As a spiritual person I can tell you that this deck evokes that mindset, and when I read I will take the cultural beliefs into consideration.

These cards have medium thick card stock, they don't bend much. I find them stiff and sturdy. The cards are also larger than standard size.





♡ What is your most important characteristic?
The Sun. Bringing clarity to us when we are slowed down in the murk of confusion.

Confusion can make otherwise happy days cloudy. If you don’t feel comfortable with where you are at in the present moment, try to make the best of it instead of focusing on everything that could go wrong and that is already going on in your day. There's always a silver lining.

♡ What are your strengths as a tarot deck?
The Tower. This tarot aims to have you understand how much better you will feel when you let go of anything in your life you are resisting releasing. It can bring you clarity, or maybe go as far as to help you have epiphanies. It is possible to have moments of clarity in difficult times from which you walk out of seeing things differently.

Learn to adapt to your surroundings, even as they are changing.

♡ What are your limits?
Five of Wands.
Identifying when to speak up when facing a difficult challenge. Obstacles like these help us learn and grow. We have to stay conscious of our motives and where we want to take circumstances, from the very beginning to the outcome. Being conscious of what you want out of an interaction when you are in it can make the difference between things going south or being able to resolve a conflict.



♡ What are you here to teach me?
Knight of Coins. When we're on a journey we may have expectations of how soon we want to achieve our goals or how soon we want to conclude a circumstance we are living through. Many times we will be able to remain in control, but there will me times where what we want is not in our pool of possibilities. We'll just have to wait.

In these moments, having a positive attitude helps to hold us over while we keep moving forward. We need to learn to trust that we will get there eventually. We can continue our optimism by making every step count.

♡ How can I best learn to collaborate with you?
Five of Coins. Showing your best face in times of adversity. Whenever something doesn't go your way, pause to consider that it's just this one instance. It doesn't mean that you are doomed to fail every time. Let it serve as a motivator to push yourself harder to attain your goal the next time around.

♡ What is the potential outcome of our working relationship?
King of Coins. After a bit of toiling around and facing frustration you'll eventually start to feel more self-confident and comfortable tackling life's obstacles. Experience is a great teacher. Feeling better about yourself or the attitude with which you approach new problems. Building self-assurance can only be good for you.



♡ Which card do you want to show off?
The Star. Whenever we face hard times we lose scope of the whole picture. The tendency is generally to focus mostly on the problem that is bothering us, through which time many other positive aspects of our days may be overlooked. Pause to get back out of your head, breathe. Look around. What's happening around you? Where are you really once you step outside of your head?

♡ How do you see me?
The Wheel. Ever-changing, going around like the seasons. You have just about as many phases as the moon. The depths of mystery, too. Being a dreamer can make you a creative intuitive as well as a neurotic, and you lend yourself to chaos when you resist the general flow your life tries to sway you in. Your stubbornness earns you pain, but more often than not you brave it because you're not afraid of going against the current.

♡ How do you see yourself?
Four of Coins. A young spirit that is sensitive and intuitive. A builder, the type that encourages others to form groups to thrive in.

Fun fact: When I did my first spirit animal meditation it was in 12th grade. The animal that came up to me was an otter. We all have our idea of the perfect pair to strive for and thrive with. Stick to what you're good at and you will come to find all that time you spent observing others will pay right off.



This is an interesting deck to read with. I really like the way the animals were stylized, and the feel they bring to a reading when they are pulled out.
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THE VICTORIAN ROMANTIC TAROT, 3RD EDITION

Let’s keep rolling with great decks to use in the summer. Despite my dedicated use of the Victorian Romantic in winter times, I’m really feeling these new card backs. I feel like it is another great deck to pull out as the summer rages on. The deck is based on original engravings from 19th century artists, and those images have been collaged and repurposed to narrate the Rider-Waite Smith tradition. Using it is much like enjoying the cool breeze on a particularly sunny day. You can apply RWS or freely read what is on the table before you.

When the Victorian Romantic Tarot first came out it was a huge hit. It was voted #1 in the Aeclectic Tarot community forums several years in a row.

Karen Mahony and Alex Ukolov of the Baba Studio worked on what would be formally the third edition of their Victorian Romantic Tarot deck. You’d think they’d have settled for it being perfect already; they have a somewhat cult following of readers that are passionate about the art. Some readers went as far as to collect all of the available versions of the deck. I am one of them.

The second incarnation of this deck was absolutely stunning with metallic gold edges and blue-green brocade backs. I fell in love with it when I saw its new royal blue backs contrasted with alabaster whimsy. It’s stunning! And the card illustrations were much improved.




I am so impressed with this deck. I looooove how the details come to life thanks to the metallic overlay. The color on the cards turn to jewel tones when the sun goes down and you light a candle. I thoroughly recommend you try this to get the most enjoyment out of your cards. It can make the colors really pop and the act of reading your cards feel more special.

The changes made to the deck are the kind we can unanimously agree benefit it. The card backs are now royal blue with white whimsical flourishes outlined in gold. Emblazoned with the abbreviation of its name in the center of the card backs. The backs are fully reversible, so you won’t be able to tell which one is in the reverse. They fan out fine and the card stock is thin but sturdy. It’s somewhat buttery matte card stock that feels like skin. It’s my favorite kind of card stock; I find it lasts the longest.

Enjoy some time poring over the cards in gentle candlelight, allowing the Victorians to whisper prophecy and advice. Delight in a deck that all the professionals in the field of divination love madly and swear by. Get lost in scenes of clear and tempestuous weather, and look at the narrative qualities the weather can suggest. It offers an illustrative aspect of the deck for me that points out to how clear or how heavy the feelings of the people involved are. Its great for figuring out somebody’s current state of feeling or mindset. Try it and tell me how it works for you.

Get to know the characters whose personalities and state of feeling become clear due to body language and facial expression.





♡ What is your most important characteristic?
Justice. Fairness. Don't expect to be tipped to extremes or rash decisions. Work with this deck when you have time to sit down and contemplate the options you are presented with and how to apply them to your life. Come prepared with clarity of mind to do some of the real work. No bs, no added color.

♡ What are your strengths as a tarot deck?
The Lovers. One of the strengths in this deck is that it points out when you are being idealistic and viewing life through rose-colored glasses. If the situation you find yourself in is one-sided, you will soon know. Anything lackluster or any dissatisfaction gets highlighted with grace. In other words, prepare to swallow the bitter drink you’ve been running from.

♡ What are your limits?
Strength. The question got echoed by a card that can signify restraint or self control. The deck can be gentle but forceful in its delivery of messages. If you’re not ready for the truth, perhaps think it over before you ask. This deck won’t be sugarcoating the situation for you.



♡ What are you here to teach me?
Three of Swords. This deck can teach us how to handle grief when hurting over someone or something we love. I would identify is as the faithful companion at his owner’s heel. A hand that lands on your shoulder when you most need warmth. Your reality will remain the way it is and it will still be harsh, but you’ll have a balm of support until the pain dissipates. Grit your teeth and keep going. It gets better eventually.

I’m impressed at how often the Three of Swords has popped up as the answer for this question throughout all the years I have been reviewing card decks.

♡ How can I best learn to collaborate with you?
Six of Swords. You can best learn to connect the use of this deck and your life by being less attached to the outcome. Be mindful of the process in this journey you are on. Letting go of circumstances that don’t benefit you can be harmful, but you waste less time and effort if you are conscious of them. In this life what we are most guaranteed is change, and this card beautifully illustrates the transience we feel when we are at a turning point or in the midst of a big, previously unforeseen change.

Accepting that life will continue to push forward and change is part of the equation and something we need to accept seeing as we can’t always influence it or the direction we turn to.

♡ What is the potential outcome of our working relationship?
Eight of Wands. You’ll be in for an exciting time. Sometimes your options will be right within your grasp, other times you will realize you have rushed head first into falling passionately for somebody. Eventually your circumstances slow down and you’ll have more time to consider what is in front of you.

As you gain confidence you will pick up your pace, and in the process you may find the thrill energizing. Move forward in your life with assertion.



♡ Which card do you want to show off?
Six of Coins. Something that helps you plenty is to accept reality as is, as the two sixes present in the reading imply.

Even if the guise is glamorous, expect humbling and grounding readings. You won’t be sugarcoating and adorning reality, but faced with the more gruesome aspects of it.

♡ How do you see me?
The Star. Vulnerable, at times naive and idealistic. Well intended and delicate in feelings. In search of better times and new chapters. Expressing your feelings freely, and exploring new experiences with coy zest. Still healing, although slowly.

♡ How do you see yourself?
Ten of Swords. As a source of support in times of despair, defeat and emotional exhaustion.



A bit of a brisk reading, but what else could you expect from the Victorians?

If you'd like to see more of their work, check out my review of the Alice Tarot. Thanks for reading!
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TAROTWAVE

This summer has been for Pokémon Go, more sunshine than I am used to absorbing with my skin, happy buzzing with my lover, dancing, Synthwave, palm trees, massive heat, and lots of tarot readings. With the trees in full color and the sun burning down our necks, but a great time to be had anyway.

Today I want to talk about a deck I pre-ordered earlier in the spring. It is called Tarotwave, made by Kenna Calabro. It was inspired by glitch, space art and Vaporwave.

I think the most attention-calling aspect of this deck is its festive card backs. We have a holo sheen, scan lines, palm trees and sunset skies. Go down the rabbit hole into a fantasy world dominated by pink, purple and minty hues. A real delight for any Synthwave and Vaporware fan. I love the neon, scan lined collages reinterpreting the tools I have used and loved for 19 years of my life. They completely freshen up how I read and break me out of my comfort zone.

I was surprised with the card stock used for Tarotwave. It's thick matte cardstock, fans out easily enough, but if you'd like an extra slip I'd recommend using some fanning powder. I might just to help with the shuffling and breaking them in. The cards are standard size and they come with a lovely two part box that is sturdy enough to keep them in permanently. I thought the box was rather stunning!

Even though human presence is minimal in the deck, it really doesn’t affect how this deck reads. If anything it mixes the traditional RWS scenes with pips in just the right amount. When I was reading with it, I found this didn't upset the balance of my readings as it has in the past with decks excluding live human figures. All this does is encourage you to tune into your intuition to deliver a different reading every time. This deck is full of feel good vibes which you will find will make you smile. I find this deck to be both easy to read with and non-intimidating to people who aren’t quite comfortable with the tarot. All I can foresee is delight over how beautiful the cards are.



The fantastical aspects to Tarotwave are quite stellar. I could easily see myself navigating through a fictional cyberspace in which these elements all come to life and interact with one another. If you are a writer and you want to break out of a writing funk, this deck is certainly for you. Just let your imagination run as you dream up a crazy cyberpunk alternate reality, somewhere in a world no one could even fathom how to arrive at without a secret pass code or a hidden key.

Tech and Tumblr witches love this deck already. I could see the cards being worked into amulets for iPhone and iPad screens, discrete enough not to be noticed by people who are not in the practice of the craft. It's so useful for this! As if we needed another reason to purchase this deck...

If nothing else, these are 78 exceptional art pieces to delight your day in an affirmative way with their retro tones. I got very positive vibes from the deck as I was reading with it, and the fact it doesn't have any really scary scenes makes it less intimidating for people who are reluctant to seek readings.

This deck arrived in the perfect time to enjoy it. With its vivid colors I feel like it is a deck I will reach out to use every summer especially. It can really be enjoyed all year round if you like. It’s just so full of life, I'm delighted pairing this deck with the current season. Sit out in the garden, have your pet with you, sip on something cool as you fan our 78 steps for where your next day will go.




♡ What is your most important characteristic?
Death. I can get you to accept radical changes that you have no control over. Where letting go starts out as an obstacle for most, in your experience with this deck you will come to realize why letting go is important. Sometimes we take our problems too seriously and then later come to see it’s all in our heads.

Stop living inside your head. Get out there and live to see yourself achieve you full potential. Don’t hold yourself back.

♡ What are your strengths as a tarot deck?
Six of Cups. I’ll give you a thorough understanding of events from your past that used to confuse you. You can look in hindsight with more clarity to reach acceptance of reality, or aspects of it you might be in conflict with. A reality check to keep you from viewing reality through rose-colored glasses, if you will.

♡ What are your limits?
Temperance. Some events require patience for time to pass before we can have our turn to influence our circumstances. Despite our intentions we cannot always be behind the wheel or somehow in control of the next direction we are going in. Controlling impulses is a challenge in self-mastery, and it is something that is also accomplished over time. We need to learn to work with what we have until more is made available to us. With that said, keep this in mind and you will suffer less.



♡ What are you here to teach me?
Nine of Cups. It is possible to be happy even if not everything turns out the way you wanted it to. Part of what frees us of our constraints is when we accept reality for what it is, without being bothered by the things we have no control over. It feels like true happiness is achieved when we find ourselves grounded in present time, appreciating the little gestures that give our life light and color.

There is so much to enjoy right in front of us, and we can lose the perspective easily when we focus on that one small thing we don’t have. In hindsight, the things we want won’t necessarily present a radical change in our lives. Once we sate our thirst for something we’ve been in search of, something new becomes the object of our desire. Be happy with what you’ve got in the moment and you’ll be free of the stress of not having.

♡ How can I best learn to collaborate with you?
Three of Wands. Use these cards to identify steps in your journey. These steps are opportunities for turning points or trying new things. Find the highlighted alternative routes and you will then find the options are numerous. We spend a lot of time waiting on and actively seeking to act to make our dreams come true.

♡ What is the potential outcome of our working relationship?
Justice. Finding a balance for our lives is a tricky task to undertake. It can take numerous attempts until we find the way to achieve progress. Each new boundary surpassed is an achievement and should keep us motivated. By being mindful of where we want to go, we shape a clearer path for ourselves. It makes navigating through life easier, and difficult choices manageable to make.



♡ Which card do you want to show off?
Three of Coins. This card shows off some computer monitors and an outrun style city scape.

We are in the midst of a hive. There are countless lives coexisting all around one another, working towards the accomplishment of their own goals. Chasing our own dreams can take up a lot of time and energy, but that’s what we are all in the quest of. There is an underlying current beneath it all. As we concentrate, the silence we leave in the environment around us speaks for itself. As we are occupied working on what matters to us, all the problems that distract us from our best selves melt away. This is a key moment, where we take the present time and claim it for our own, working on something that matters to us and validates our existence.

♡ How do you see me?
Three of Cups. Full of life, thriving when connecting with others. Despite how draining social interactions can be for introverts, you bask in the love of your close circle of friends and loved ones. They are your pillars, keeping you sane in times of stress and celebrating with you when you’re enjoying the pleasures life has to offer. A smile is contagious, and so is genuine laughter.

♡ How do you see yourself?
Page of Coins. Brand new to the world, published recently. This deck offers a refreshing look into the world of tarot. If you let it sway you along, you could find yourself breaking free of traditional meanings and into new grounds. You surprise yourself when you allow yourself to be led by the clues. Using this deck with others can set a safe environment in which they can open up to you and not feel intimidated by the cards that fall on the table.



This deck arrived with a “wish you were here…” postcard. The finishing touch for a kiss of summer, wouldn’t you think?

I am very surprised with the results I got when reading with this deck. Definitely give it a try, you won’t be disappointed.

There you have it. Hope you're enjoying the summer!
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