There! I fixed it for him.

Sage Sips blog is Tarot in the time it takes to sip your coffee

I am LOVING this cooler weather, which means its cool enough to fire up the oven and bake something.

​Believe it or not life isn’t all Tarot and out there in the world is where the rubber meets the road with intuitive and psychic learning. What’s the good of it if it doesn’t make everything else a little better? And Tarot can’t make other stuff better if there is no other stuff in the conversation. 

I promised you occasional exclusive content, and I want to make good on that promise…with some non-Tarot fun stuff. This month’s “ko-fi challenge” is to share things that give you creative joy. You already know the creative joy of Tarot. Now I’d like to share some of the other little things that bring joy – creative and otherwise – to life for me. It may bore you to tears, and it certainly isn’t the right thing for everyone. I’m sharing these things not because you should do them, but as a little incantation – a little wish that you find the things that bring the same joy to you whatever that joy-bringer is for you. Today, my joy-bringer is baked tater tot hot dish

Y’all know my politics, especially if you follow me on Threads (also reverted to the @TaoCraft handle) And if there is any way on earth to entice me to donate to a political campaign it would be to offer a recipe in return. So who am I to turn down a chance to peep Tim Walz’ hot dish recipe. 

Not disappointed in the donation one bit, but the recipe needed a little work. Sorry Tim, but if I have beer in the house Imma drinking it, not boiling onions and brats in it. But it does have plenty of cheese which is the important thing.

Every time I hear them give a speech or see them interact with the public, the more I appreciate, respect both Vice President Harris and Governor Walz. I mean listen to them and LOOK at their eyes and faces. This is real deal compassion and leadership. Governor Walz is amazing and does a million things super well, but I suspect cooking isn’t one of them. Hopefully Kamala will sort that detail out. I am 100% down with her turkey roasting method that went social media viral in 2020. Put those two in charge PRONTO.

All politics aside (sort of – vote Harris/Walz!!!!) here is my tweeked-up practically unrecognizable version of his hot dish recipe available on https://store.kamalaharris.com/tim-walzs-new-ulm-hotdish-recipe-digital-download/ 

Please donate if you can while you are there. It truly is existential. If you have any regard for spirituality or Tarot or ANYTHING other than authoritarian white Christian nationalism, you are in their culture war cross hairs.  It is my deepest wish that we all have a happy, healthy, prosperous, well-fed future from this present moment on.

Join Sage Sips on Ko-fi to read more, including my slightly tweeked-up recipe

Members recieve:

  • Up to three FREE on demand one card email Tarot readings per calendar month for the price of one
  • Reduced prices on all larger layouts in the private readings menu
  • Random special offers and exclusive content

Sharing Tarot AND recipes with Sage Sips members brings me #KofiCreativeJoy

Solitude doesn’t have to be lonely

Sage Sips blog is Tarot in the time it takes to sip your coffee

“There is a difference between solitude and loneliness”

Maggie Smith

“There is a difference between solitude and loneliness” – Maggie Smith

The source wasn’t cited, but recently on social media someone posted a meme that said something along the lines of “Loneliness is the price you pay for personal growth.”

Yes and No. 

On one hand, it is a very common thing that I’ve seen time and time and time again in Tarot clients – and have experienced myself…

When you heal or grow as a person, old connections often fall away. Sometimes you simply outgrow old friends or family members. Sometimes you all are growing in lovely, healthy, beautiful ways – but in entirely different directions. Whatever the reason, that change can feel very lonely. 

Your path to wisdom, autonomy, and emotional maturity is uniquely your own so yes, your spiritual path is one you by definition must walk alone. 

But no, it need not be lonely. Not at all. 

“There is a difference between solitude and loneliness.” We walk our spiritual paths alone, but it can be a journey of peaceful solitude rather than painful loneliness. 

As old friends fall away, we can hold space for new ones to come along. When we are true to ourselves and learn to make peace with our path, we often find ourselves in more company than we expected. “Your vibe calls your tribe” as the saying goes.

If our path is lonely rather than peaceful solitude, it begs the question of who are we lonely for? Are we lonely for other people or are we lonely for a happier version of ourselves? Being at peace with outer life can only begin with accepting and making friends with our inner selves. When the Hermit on the card holds his lantern up to a mirror, what does he see? 

The beautiful part of walking a solitary path is that it is still progress. If you don’t like what you see in the Hermit’s mirror, change it. In the words of Alan Watts “You are under no obligation to be the same person you were five minutes ago.”

This kind of change is well within your power to do, but it has risk. 

For good or for bad, other people might not like the changes you make. The change, like the Hermit’s lamp, brings the problems to light. Those who never respected you in the beginning, those who take advantage of you or project their issues on to you are probably the only ones falling away. The unhealthy relationships are the first to go. The people who need you to be at your worst are often the first to fade away when you are at your best.

Alone need not be lonely. Sometimes alone is freedom. Time alone often gives your spirit the space to heal. No one can do that for you. The key to transforming loneliness into peaceful solitude is not other people. It’s you, making peace with you.

Loneliness isn’t a call to fill an empty spot with another person. Loneliness is a call to fill the emptiness with the best version yourself. 

You Choose Card of the Week: 30 Sept 24

Choose your card. Pause the video if you need more time to think. Restart for the reveal, then get your Tarot reading below.

High Priestess: Shadowy energies ahead can make clear understanding difficult. Don’t rush to judgement. Understand with heart, mind and spirit before cutting ties or burning bridges. Mysteries abound.

Strength: Life is often a circus. It takes great strength to know when it’s not your circus and not your monkeys and just sit back and enjoy the show. You don’t always have to be the strong man doing all of the heavy lifting.

Alleyman’s Tarot deck used with permission of Seven Dane Asmund and Publishing Goblin LLC

Get a personalized, private one card Tarot reading by email for only $5 HERE

Sage Sips blog is Tarot in the time it takes to sip your coffee

Tarot Soup

Sage Sips is Tarot in the time it takes to sip your coffee

Like books? Like to read? My email private Tarot is a reader’s reading. No appointment needed. Order HERE.

Good soup has layers of flavors. The best soups build over time. You start with root veg and aromatics. Then meats, spices, seasoning and garlic. Then broth. Save any added salt for later – you get the idea.

Tarot readings have layers too.

Just like a well stocked spice rack in your kitchen lets you create a delicious meal, having a variety of Tarot layouts at your disposal lets you create a satisfying reading perfect for the time and question at hand.

I like to combine traditional layouts with some that I’ve written to create my Tarot spice shelf, so to speak. Choosing the best layout for the question is the beginning. Looking at the pattern of the cards and the layout as a whole is the base. The individual position meanings within the layout is one layer of meaning. Each individual card’s meaning is another layer. The connection, the way a position can subtly direct our attention and modify the card meaning adds depth and complexity to the reading. Using pure intuition throughout the reading and to summarize at the end is like the pinch of salt that brings the whole soup together in the delicious end.

I had hoped to post a “you choose” video yesterday, but clearly I’m going to have to shift gears again and adapt a little bit. For the next two weeks, I’m going to focus on how-to and behind the scenes posts. THEN we’ll get back to general audience and interactive Tarot readings.

Please subscribe to this free blog, or follow me on ko-fi, Substack, Threads, Facebook or Instagram so you don’t miss anything. Please visit tomorrow and we’ll start taking a deeper look at all of the layouts and more. Stay tuned!

Private readings are OPEN. There might be a few delivery delays around the weekend of September 27-29

Sorry about the splash

The squirrels are raving! Everybody daaaance!

The squirrels are raving! Everybody daaaance!

Private email readings are OPEN but my have unexpected delivery delays – might take me a couple of days to get it to you instead of the usual less than 24. I’ll be in touch and give you updates and estimates as we go a long. If that is cool with you, you can order readings HERE. My prices are still flat rate for the whole reading, from $5 to $30 for email distance (my specialty)

I’m a writer-type of psychic, so if you like to read books, if you are busier than I am and need maximum convenience, if you need an affordable first reading, then these are the readings for you!!

The blog, however, is anybody’s guess. Posts will be erratic, but the rave should settle by October 7 or so. Part of it is private family stuff, with a busier than usual fall kick off at the non-Tarot day job.

IN THEORY will have a you choose card of the week on Monday. See you then!

Sage Sips blog is Tarot in the time it takes to sip your coffee

You Choose Tarot Card of the Week: Work and Ponder

Watch the video. Choose your Tarot card for the week. Pause if you need a little time. Get your Tarot reading in the post below.

The ko-fi page is back to TaoCraft Tarot!

Three of Pentacles: “Team work makes the dream work” is cliche and cringe, but this is a good week to be open, give a fair listen to other ideas. Inspiration can come from anywhere. Adaptability can help you thrive. 

Ace of Wands: Inspiration CAN come from anywhere, but for you, Don’t forget to filter,  use discernment. Look at other ideas in the firefight of your own passions. 

Alleyman’s Tarot deck by  Seven Dane Asmund  used with permission

You Choose Tarot: your choice, your card, your reading is below

Interactive Tarot: use your intuition to make your card choice and get your Tarot message for today

High Priestess: Read between the lines. Look for the mysterious wrapped up in the obvious. Know the real story before snapping to judgement or jumping into action.

Seven of Wands: Life isn’t all smooth sailing. Conflicts happen, so this card is as much about HOW you handle them, not if they will happen. When the inevitable hiccup happens, handle it with compassion, humor, and style. Bring the logic, kindness and all the rizz you can muster.

The website might be a little redecorated, BUT email private Tarot readings are OPEN. Private Tarot readings by email are my specialty and I have 30 years of Tarot experience to bring to YOUR private reading.

Order HERE 24/7, no appointment needed. Most readings get to your inbox within 24 hours.

Sage Sip Members get FREE one card email readings at your request (up to 3 per calendar month – $15 value for $5 monthly membership) PLUS discounts on larger layouts and exclusive ko-fi blog content.

Things are already looking a little different.

It’s 9-9, September 9th. I read somewhere that 99 is a good fortune number in multiple different traditions. In numerology, someone wrote that it combines “inner wisdom and endings.” And naturally where there are endings, there are also beginnings. It would make sense that is why the Death card from the major arcana is actually symbolic of change.

Change is one thing you can count on.

Adaptability is a survival skill. Only dead things don’t change, which is kind of ironic given that the Death card from the major arcana is all about change.

The old you must cease to exist if the new you, your new life, can come into existence. Change is the only way anything can get better. Sure, it might get worse, too. That’s the chance you take with this crazy squirrel rave we call life.

Sometimes change means a heart rending good-bye to something you really, REALLY wanted. Other times, like this one, it means happily, gleefully, joyfully long-distance punting a stupid mistake into the stratosphere.

Sage Words Tarot was a relapse into masking and smoke-screening from the evangelicals and their ilk. No more. I won’t go back.

Returning to TaoCraft Tarot is an incantation, a spell to manifest a universe of safety where we can all be our authentic selves. I am reclaiming my time and my web name. My website is reverting to its original address and the Facebook page is set to change its name to reflect the blog “Sage Sips.” I’ve added a TaoCraft Tarot page back to Facebook too. That one might have a little bonus woo woo content on it.

But in any case, hi! I am Sage, and I write Sage Sips Blog on www.TaoCraftTarot.com

PS Tumblr you’ll get your turn soon.

Back Up and Start Over

Sage Sips blog is Tarot in the time it takes to sip your coffee

You can do anything you want.

Sure, there are consequences to our decisions, but you can choose anything if you are willing to deal with the fallout.

Unless you are a physician, health care professional, public safety first responder, military commander or one of some very special people, we typically don’t make irrevocable life and death decisions in our daily life.

Some decisions change us forever. The old version of ourselves is forever changed; Birth, death, marriage and more

The simple passage of time changes everything. Every moment is new. Every moment is forever gone after its brief spark of existence.

And there are some decisions that just don’t matter all that much. Wear one shirt today, wear the other tomorrow. Have whatever for lunch, have the other thing tomorrow. The ability to adapt and change – including changing your mind about things – is an essential skill. Adaptability is a survival skill.

In the big picture of things, the name of a side-business is a trivial thing.

You all know me, my work. I want it to reach new people and thrive. Sage Words just isn’t getting the traction I’d hoped and honestly, I just like the name TaoCraft better.

I made a bad choice, so now I’m rolling it back. Sure, it isn’t the best idea from a marketing or business standpoint, but that isn’t why I do Tarot. I read because I enjoy it, I’m good at it, it’s fun to do something you’re good at doing. If Tarot is some measure of comfort or entertainment for other people – double bonus!

And yes, I want the money. I’m earning it honestly through the writing skill, high level of professionalism and Tarot reading experience that I bring to your readings. Plus, I like being able to buy food and stuff, so getting paid for my time and work comes in mighty darn handy. Especially when it’s that web hosting bill time of year.

As the frosting on top, I just plain like the TaoCraft Tarot name better. It makes me happy. I don’t care that it sounds odd, or that I have to spell it for people all of the time. Taoism and witchcraft have brought joy to me over the years. It’s not cultural appropriation to honor that, as this name is intended to do.

I’m rambling on and on about names again because over the next few weeks I’m reclaiming my favorite one.

The writing name and blog name is staying though. I like those.

Just wanted to let you know to expect a gradual un-rebranding over the next several weeks. If you want a reading, and a link is broken or you can’t find what you want, please don’t hesitate to email directly to TaoCraftTarot@gmail.com OR to SageWordsTarot@gmail.com (both will work for a long time moving forward)

It’s still me, it’s still all the same quality, the same policies, the same coffee-loving blog metaphor.

And Zombie Cat yes/no readings are still on the main reading menu until 9-21-24

See you at the next re-re-branded sip!