Current Obsessions

Learning Sesame Street style tarot, making out with books, burning hats, fear of holes, lymphatic drainage, and more!!!

Occasionally, I go through periods where I have so many ideas for things I want to write on here that I don’t have enough time and energy in a week to write them all. I went through one of those periods for a few months recently, and it felt so great. I thought I sent myself some of the unused ideas so that I could write them at a later date when I hit a period of “What the hell am I going to write about this week?” Well, I didn’t. And now, I have no idea what the hell to write this week.

I tend to enjoy sharing lists of things I enjoy. And I find I tend to get some good feedback when I do. I think the lists might be easier to digest than my big long essays or lessons. I know I wrote one of these back in May, but heck, that was two months ago and I already have some new obsessions. Is it too soon to write a new list for you? I don’t know—let me know what you think in the comments I guess!

Without further ado, some of my new fave things and the unnecessary personal details about why!

1 - Kippi’s Kwest - As some of you may remember reading in previous months, I was signed up to go to a reiki and tarot retreat this June. As most of you don’t know, I had to cancel that trip. My health has been too poor for me to successfully make that kind of travel happen. I was beyond devastated, and am extremely disappointed in missing out on learning what I wanted to learn there.

The good news is that my reiki teacher is teaching me a lot remotely, and I am getting the reiki training I was hoping for. The sad news is that I did miss out on the tarot learning portion of it. As such, I am continuing the journey of learning tarot on my own as best I can.

I keep finding that the information is not sticking very well, no matter what resources I use. However, I have found a couple of things that seem to work better than others. And this is one of them—Kippi’s Kwest YouTube channel!! I saw a comment on one of his videos that said something along the lines of, “This is like Sesame Street teaching me tarot.” And I found that to be very true.

These videos are so in-depth, well thought out, full of information, and funny. They use a lot of different tactics to help it stick. I like how the videos are scored with sections so you can skip over the segments that you don’t find useful. I am finding the “Intro”, “Tallula’s Zodiac” (later dubbed “Correspondences”—but it is only a small section of that section), “What Does It All Mean?”, and “Reversals” sections helpful. Since I am so well-versed in astrology, I find that the associations with astrology for each card are a good way for me, personally, to retain the info a little better.

Currently, this is the card I most relate to and comes out the most the most in my readings that is representative of me. Nine of Pentacles. Look at this luxurious, bougie bitch in a fabulous mumu adorned with a stellar head piece and hanging out with a fancy bird. What a vibe! Love this journey for me. She corresponds to Virgo and Venus. And while I don’t have any strong Virgo placements, I do have Virgo in my 5th house of creativity, pleasure, romance, hobbies, etc. So, that makes sense. And Venus is my ruling planet since I am a Taurus rising, so that makes even more sense.

2 - The Always Sunny Podcast - This one is pretty simple. I love the TV show, and I enjoy watching their podcast on YouTube. It’s fun to hear the behind-the-scenes stories and see their real personalities come out and how those inform their characters and the show. If you like the show, I recommend the podcast. If you don’t, then I don’t recommend. LOL!

3 - Tinctures & raw, local honey that is dripping out of a honeycomb in my tea - I’ve been on a lymphatic drainage kick. In thinking about how I don’t sweat, and how this keeps toxins in my body that most people’s bodies clear, I researched how to help with that. Lymphatic drainage was a big one.

I dry brush my whole body and gua sha my face 3 nights a week. Then I take a shower that alternates between hot and cold temps. And then I drink detox tea and put some herbal tinctures in it. All of that is for lymphatic drainage and the local raw honey for taste (plus some benefits listed below). I also sometimes just do the tinctures directly under my tongue. They are bitter, but it’s good to get them sublingually.

The tinctures I currently have and use are: calendula, cleavers, witch hazel, ashwagandha, black elderberry, milk thistle, and dandelion. Not all of these are specific to lymphatic detox but they all support the immune system in one way or another.

Despite my trypophobia (fear of holes - hahahaha), and the fact that honeycomb freaks me out because of this, I am still enjoying the taste, and I am ignoring the holes. I bought some local honeycomb at a market recently and have been using the honey from that and it is soooo good!

Here is what Google had to say about honey and tinctures:

Tinctures and raw honey: medicinal uses and applications

Tinctures, concentrated herbal extracts, and raw honey, a natural sweetener with medicinal properties, can be combined to enhance therapeutic benefits and improve palatability. This combination can be particularly effective in addressing various health concerns, including immune support, respiratory ailments, and stress relief.

Here's how tinctures and raw honey interact and can be utilized:

1. Honey as a solvent and carrier

• While honey doesn't act as a solvent in the same way alcohol does, it serves as an excellent carrier for the active compounds extracted from herbs in tinctures.

• This allows for the easier absorption and delivery of the herbs' medicinal properties into the body.

2. Synergistic effects

• Both honey and certain herbs in tinctures possess anti-inflammatory properties. Combining them may offer enhanced relief from inflammation.

• Similarly, the calming effects of some herbs can be amplified by honey, potentially aiding in better sleep and reduced anxiety.

3. Benefits of combining tinctures with raw honey

• Improved palatability: Honey's sweet flavor can mask the often bitter taste of tinctures, making them more enjoyable to consume, especially for children or those sensitive to strong flavors.

• Enhanced immune support: Combining immune-boosting herbs like elderberry or echinacea with raw honey's inherent immune-supporting qualities can provide robust defense against seasonal ailments.

• Respiratory relief: Infusing herbs beneficial for respiratory health, such as hyssop and elderflower, with honey can create soothing remedies for coughs, colds, and sore throats.

• Digestive aid: Honey is known to soothe the digestive tract and promote gut health. Infused with herbs that support digestion, it can offer a gentle solution for indigestion or other digestive discomforts.

• Stress relief: Certain herbs, like lavender or valerian, are known for their calming effects. Mixing their tinctures with honey can create a relaxing elixir to help manage stress and promote relaxation.

4 - The fact that deep MAGA are burning their hats because they are finally realizing that Trump is a fucking rapist and pedo who paid Epstein a shit ton of money - that’s it. That’s the whole obsession.

5 - Having a baby pool in the backyard - to take cool dips on a hot day. I still go do my old lady water aerobics at my aunt’s pool nearby (which is also still an obsession—my fave workout to keep gentle activity in my life for my illness). But sometimes, when it’s really hot and you just wanna cool off ASAP, then a baby pool does the trick!

6 - Lilith - I mentioned this in my May post about my current favorite things, but I was recommending it before I finished it. I have since finished it and I am still obsessed and still recommending it. Otherwise, I haven’t been a huge fan of any of the other books I am currently reading. So, if you have any suggestions, drop them in the comments. (And, in general, I would love to hear from you in the comments about anything you are currently obsessed with!)

This book is beautifully written and really made me feel something. There were moments of laughter, tears, rage, and triumph that I felt deeply. When I was finished with it, I literally closed my eyes and held it to my chest for a few minutes. And then I kissed it. I have never done this with a book before. It’s not my all-time favorite book. But it stirred something in me that was enough to cause me to make-out with it.

It is the retelling of Adam’s first wife—before Eve. The woman who was created equally and then cast out of Eden. Unfairly demonized in history and really fucking bad ass. Her empowering journey to reclaim her rightful place in paradise.

And right as I finished writing this, I remembered, I am quite overdue for a segment of my Life with Long COVID series and have been meaning to write one. I will try to remember that for next time!

Shameless Self-Promotion

** If you enjoy my blog, please consider upgrading to a paid subscription. You get almost twice as many posts, and I write even more personal and intriguing things on the paid posts—including a fiction book I am working on. A subscription is just $50/year, so a little over $4/month. I receive about $43 of this, and every little bit helps. Or there are monthly subscriptions available for $6 a month if you don’t wanna commit to yearly. I usually reinvest it back into having my book edited. (If you would like a paid subscription but prefer not to do a recurring one through Substack, email me at woo.woo.wellness.writer@gmail.com and I can help you out.)

** I am 203 subscribers and 1.3k watch hours away from being eligible for monetization on YouTube (if it happens by the end of this year.) If you aren’t subscribed and/or watching them, I would love for you to check my channel out and consider doing so!

I have really been enjoying the shift in my Celtic reiki videos since receiving my level 2 attunements. There is a new vibe and energy happening and I love it. Here are a few of the new videos that people seem to be enjoying!

** As always, if you wanna book me for an astrological reading of any kind, hit me up and let’s talk astrology! I can do a variety of different types of readings, so let’s discuss what works best for you! Prices dependent upon service and will communicate them upon your request. Email me!