Still no, but in a good way

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

On Fridays, I want to get back to writing “Weekend Oracle” and draw an Oracle card to get a feel for the weekend energies and maybe get a hint how to best navigate this liminal time. Not everyone gets a work break on the weekends, and they may enjoy the same heads up the rest of us like on Mondays. Plus, with the vast majority of folks on a weekday schedule, weekends have a different vibe, they are the space between work week for the majority of us. Weekends have a different vibe, and a touch of that liminality where magic lives.

I started to do that today, but still got the intuitive ‘nope’. Halloween last night might have been a pressure valve. The collective energy here in the US may have taken a deep breath, a long drink of a cold beer and a hefty dose of chocolate last night, but things may re-ramp up as we sprint to the finish line with this election thing as far as the actual voting goes.

So nope.

I’m still going on meatspace sabbatical for collective energy readings. Y’all on your own with whatever coping skills you already have on board (reaches for coffee and emotional support Doritos)

Private readings, however, are a whole different story.

I’ve been doing those all along, and last night was the first time in a while they layouts weren’t all supercharged with big time major arcana energy. There were major arcana cards all around, so no stagnant or stuck-energy messages, but nothing over the top either. All very pleasant and positive, actually.

Encouraged by that, I drew a “weekend update” Tarot card this morning for myself rather than the collective. It may apply to a broader audience – In fact, I hope this is a collective reading even though I’m not inclined to really read it that way.

Eww – no – still too sticky mess melange of right wing-y nazi-ish nastiness out there, despite it being a sunny, cool, pleasant morning where I am…

So still no on the collective energy read, but in a good way.

The card was the Sun which is about as all-good as Tarot gets. It is a card of happiness, optimism, joy, success and all of those things we like to hear. I’m not so overly optimistic as to think of this as a good omen for the election outcome, but it is going to be OK between now and Tuesday.

There is just as much chance of happiness as there is of anything else.

Thanks for reading! See you at the next sip!

October / November ’24 Announcements

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

Private Readings are OPEN

Even during the holidays. There may be some off and on delivery delays between now and New Year. It’s just me, by myself, doing this part time, so you’ll have that. For the most part if you order a reading, it will be in your inbox within 24 hours of my receiving the order. I’ll email you to confirm the order has arrived and give you any updates.

TaoCraft Tarot is OPEN

Call it the re-grand opening. TaoCraft Tarot’s online “grand opening” (basically changing the name on everything from Modern Oracle to TaoCraft Tarot) was October 2018. It’s perfect to come back home to that name in October 2024. The blog & substack is still “Sage Sips” but everything I can think of with “Sage Words Tarot” on it is back to TaoCraft. Why? Because I like it. It tells you who I am and the kind of Tarot reading you get with me. Mostly. A little cagey mysteriousness isn’t necessarily a bad thing in this business.

The New-New Stuff

I’ve re-worked the old five card reading to honor YOUR path and YOUR choices even more than before. The old layout is available 60% off until Halloween (a return to TaoCraft treat for you). The new TaoCraft Path layout will be available by email and zoom / phone for the same price as the old five card layout.

Meatspace Sabbatical

I don’t know how you are feeling, but the collective energy here in the US has gotten pretty radioactive lately. Every single private reading I’ve done for the past two weeks has been major arcana dominant to one extent or another. Private readings are definitely OPEN, but I’m taking a break from collective energy & social media readings until after the election results are in. If you need a reading you can order HERE. Otherwise I’ll be in my corner rage knitting and having stress doritos (this is WAY beyond popcorn, people!)

And above all, US eligible people, VOTE

Like Tarot? Vote Harris/Walz.

Like having civil rights and bodily autonomy? Vote Harris/Walz? Like the idea of not going extinct due to climate change? Vote Harris / Walz. Like access to healthcare? Vote Harris/Walz. Like basic human decency? Vote Harris/Walz.

See you on the other side.

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

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

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!

Weekend Oracle: The Ring

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

The Ring is actually from the Lenormand Tarot, in this case it is from the Magpie Lenormand by Grosjean Rozen via the Alleyway Oracle of Secrets, used here with permissions from the publisher, Publishing Goblin LLC.

Much like the Two of Cups in the RWS Tarot, the ring often has to do with romantic commitment, or long-term relationships between two people by any definition.

The energy is broader than that today. I ‘hear’ the word “posse” in the contemporary sense of a circle of close friends. (‘hear’ meaning the intuition comes as mental words, music or sounds rather than mental images)

It makes a lot of sense in the context of the long holiday weekend here in the U.S. It’s Labor day, which pretty much functions as summer’s closing night after-party. Holiday or not, the energy is right to connect with people. Touch base, check in, say hello in whatever capacity feels natural, whatever fits your groups particular flow. It’s about the heart to heart connection, not the outward form of communication.

Happy weekend everyone!


Private Tarot readings by email are OPEN all holiday weekend – order HERE 24/7 no appointment needed. Most orders arrive in your inbox within 24 hours.

Summer’s Zombie

I don’t like August weather with all of that sunshine and heat and humidity and whatnot.

Late August is summer’s zombie. School is back in session, trees are duller but few showing a tinge of yellow, goldenrod and ragweed are everywhere. My face itches just thinking about it. Summer is shambling and groaning along, well past its welcome. Those of us who prefer the Fall vibe are well and truly ready for it.

Speaking of summer shambles – Zombie Cat yes/no readings are still available by email until the Autumnal Equinox on September 20th. After that, it’s back to the usual three layouts on the Readings menu, with discounts for Sage Sip members.

My basic coping strategy this morning is to close the curtains, pour a cup of pumpkin spice coffee and think about a Fall schedule.

The operative word is THINK about it. We both know that in reality, it will all adapt and change and roll with the flow as the season goes on.

Tarot, intuition, spiritual guidance, personal growth…all that sort of thing …by definition follows the flow of energy. It follows the nature of things, not defines or controls the nature of things. Which is why the philosophy of Tarot and Taoism are so complimentary. And that is, once again, why I’m Taoist at heart.

But that is another story. For now, pull up a chair, pour yourself a cup of something cinnamon and I’ll show you what I’m aiming toward. It’s not so much making a plan as it is making the thing that will wiggle and dance when the squirrels of life start the rave.

Private Tarot readings:

Email readings are always open. Order HERE anytime, 24/7, no appointment needed. Most readings get to you within 24 hours. Live phone and in-person readings are by appointment only. Please contact me for details about those.

Sage Sips Blog:

Three ways to read!

  • on the main website
  • on Ko-fi
  • on Substack

Three days for regular (ish) posts

  • Monday – Choose Your Card (your individual intuition is part of the online reading!)
  • Wednesday – midweek musings / behind the scenes / Q&A
  • Friday – Weekend Oracle

Plans. Plans within plans.

Sage Sips membership on ko-fi is still $5 per month and INCLUDES free private one card Tarot readings by email on request, discounts on larger layouts, occasional special offers and exclusive content.

I have an idea for a new layout, inspired by David Skribbens’ mystery novel Eight of Swords. Look for a chance to get a free email private reading with this new layout. Instead of being a test-knitter for a new pattern, anyone interested in being a test-sitter for a new card layout?

It’s coming up on two years, and the whole cozy-comfy Sage words thing has not gotten the traction that TaoCraft Tarot had. Sure, “Sage Words” is easier to explain, pronounce and spell, but I miss the meaning that TaoCraft holds for me personally. The less I think about marketing, the better things seem to be. The more true to me I am, the BETTER the readings I can do for YOU.

I like “sage sips” for the blog, and I’m keeping the pen-name Sage, but am thinking about going back to TaoCraft for the website / private readings /social media name. What do you think? Constructive comments are welcome. You know my spam & troll policy, delete & block.

Turn Stuck Upside Down

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

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