Not all is fun and games in women’s retreats and oracle readings. In this video, I discuss why self-shadow work is necessary for relationships to work. I also touch upon how I tried to shove and ignore the two shadow cards back in my deck, like I never saw them, but oh, I saw them alright.
Sometimes wisdom on our shadow side comes in bite sized messages, that opens us up to huge possibilities when one takes the time to dig deep and heal. In my case, I had to look my ego in the eye, swallow my pride and realize that I have been a little one sided and selfish.
Where in your life do you need to shed light on your shadow self?
Everyone needs and deserves a retreat at least once a year. This video was filmed last Wednesday, September 6th, and I was hitting the road to go on women’s retreat. After attending a couple of women’s retreats, I’ve made the decision to go at least once a year and it is one of the best ways I express self-love.
The women’s retreat I attended was found through my spiritual organization, but there are plenty for non-spiritual folks to choose from (just Google “retreats near me” and you will be amazed!). There’s a retreat type for every person.
Here are a few reasons why a retreat should be your next getaway:
You get a chance to get a break from the monotony of life. A retreat takes you out of your comfort zone and plops you into a place of tranquility and serenity. A change of scenery offers the senses a chance to play in a new area, which allows us to recharge and to grow.
You can do as much, or as little as you’d like on your retreat. Most retreats offer several workshops during the course of the days you’re attending. During my first retreat, I attended every workshop. I skipped workshops on my second retreat because it was more important for me to recharge in solitude than to do lots of group activities.
The hustle and bustle of life falls away and you get back to your own internal clock. My one wish for the retreats I attended was to serve breakfast later in the morning because I wanted to follow my own internal wake up clock.
This is a time to get inspired. I used my oracle and tarot cards as journal prompts. I created all sorts of crafts in our retreat’s craft temple. I meditated on what how my business could grow. Inspiration was found in the conversations with other women and in my own conversations with myself. I learned I actually am crafty and now I can take that back to my regular life, as a tool to decompress when need be.
Unplug. Hopefully where you retreat there will be no cell phone service. If there is, turn your phone off. Retreat means to pull back from the world. Let the world miss you for awhile.
We all need to retreat, to go within and to sit with ourselves. Even if it means creating your own retreat by booking a hotel room or cabin for a long weekend – invest in your mind, body and spirit. You are so worth the the time, money and effort and your sanity will thank you later for it.
I was able to get my hands on the Heal Yourself Reading Cards by Inna Segal from Amazon by way of Book Depository and the publisher Rockpool Publishing. The United States will not be releasing this deck until October 1, 2017, according to Amazon http://a.co/i3H67wi.
I am thrilled my Etsy shop at https://www.etsy.com/shop/AbundantLifeShop is now open and ready to sell tarot and oracle readings. My full list of tarot/oracle readings can be found here https://abundantlifetarot.com/readings-and-adviser-services/ but in case you’re shopping on Etsy, keep a lookout for my store AbundantLifeShop.
Not only will I offer tarot and oracle readings, but other metaphysical tools, such as crystals, oils and sprays, Palo Santo sticks, and metaphysical goodness for you and your home. For now, the latest Happy Birthday Reading is offered at $10.00 off the original price. 20% off will be offered for a limited time from September 11, 2017 to September 18, 2017 on all readings on Etsy. The coupon code is “GRANDOPEN20.”
Abundant Life Shop and Abundant Life Tarot is your place to tap into your dreams and to co-create with Spirit, implement a divine action plan and follow the necessary steps to reach them. Work with me and you will gain the answers you’ve been searching for. It is time to make *you* a priority and gain some clarity about your life’s path. Each reading will be tailored to you and your needs.
~Readings will resume after my women’s retreat on September 10, 2017~
What decks go on the road with you when it’s time to go on vacation? I am off to a women’s retreat in the gorgeous coastal Northern Californian redwoods and I need some divine tarot interludes while I’m away.
My decks that are coming with me on the retreat.
Dreams of Gaia, and the Triple Goddess appeal to my nature side and the beauty of the lands I will be traveling to. The Stretch Tarot and The Steampunk Tarot, both are representative of vintage and yesteryear, a throwback to what once was – like the rustic cabin I will be staying in while I am retreating with my soul sisters.
My go-to oracle decks for this trip is Earth Magic Oracle Cards, Sacred Creators Oracle, and White Rabbit Oracle. They each will give me different sources of inspiration and play nicely with my chosen tarot decks. In the video I indicated I was bringing my brand new, micro Mildred Payne’s Secret Pocket Oracle, but after much thought, decided to pass, as I would be heartbroken if I’d lost one of its tiny cards so far away from home.
My impromptu reading for my Women’s Retreat. Triple Goddess Tarot and Earth Magic Oracle.
As a fun send off, I decided to throw a couple of cards down from the decks that are coming with me. The Crone or devil card from the Triple Goddess tarot indicates I need to release myself from the restraints of daily life, indulge in some healthy activities, and free myself from my addictions to worry and stressing over everything. The four of swords from the same deck reminds me to know when to rest my body and mind. This is a time of grounding, centering, peace, respite, and to contemplate my life. Finally, the Earth Magic Oracle’s Dragonfly Emergence card indicates that once I attend this retreat, I am on the verge of emerging quickly into the next cycle of my life. The rest and respite of the four of swords makes way for the emergence of my new self to be revealed.
Say yes to #selfloveSeptember and look up ways you can retreat in your own life. Go on an actual retreat or create your own weekend getaway, with the sole purpose in mind to deepen your connection with yourself and your dreams. We all need a moment to pull back, hang with spiritually connected beings, center ourselves, so that we are ready to emerge into the next cycle of our lives.
I own five Doreen Virtue oracle decks and I have no plans to rid myself of them. Why? Because I still like her decks and because her beliefs do not belong to me. I understand people’s pain and frustration over her turning away from tarot and oracle, and even pissed if they had purchased her certification program, but in the end Doreen Virtue does NOT make the oracle reader. What she does on her own path is her business.
Many of us have turned away from Christianity, while others are turning to it. Just because she has changed her mind on how she wishes to believe, doesn’t mean her tools will no longer work for the person divining for insight. She created the cards, but she is not the cards themselves. She is like the author of a book who has now changed his or her path and the book that was once a labor of love, is now no longer a representation of where the creator is in life. Does the new readers of that book no longer glean insight and knowledge? No!
The certification program also does not make the reader – unless the reader makes their existence and experience all about said certificate. The certificate is only a “worthless piece of paper” if the oracle reader believes it to be so. Instead of looking at it like money wasted, look at how that experience has enriched your life and how you actually benefited from the knowledge Doreen shared in her coursework. Again, her personal belief changing should not have anything to do with you or me. It has everything to do with her personal spiritual path.
I do not plan on getting rid of my Doreen Virtue decks and recently bought my fifth (and likely final) deck from her. I resonate most with her Goddess Guidance Oracle and the Butterfly Oracle. I enjoy the newest Abundance oracle and the Romance Angels oracle is helpful in summing up love readings.
Doreen Virtue Decks Goddess Guidance Oracle Angels of Abundance Oracle, Romance Angels Oracle, Messages From Your Angels: What Your Angels Want you to Know, and The Butterfly Oracle.
I am not sad she is moving on in her path, in fact, I wish her all the best on her journey. Now, can we all get back to light and love in the Tarot/Oracle community already?
What are your thoughts Tarot Peeps? Do you feel like you have to now rid yourself of all Doreen Virtue decks and products? Do you embrace her change? Why or why not? I would love to hear from you in the comments section below.
