This is the Oracle of Secrets from the Alleyway Oracles by Seven Dane Asmund, used with permission of Publishing Goblin LLC
The Luna Moth symbolizes coming night time dreams and seeking light amid the darkness.
I ‘hear’ (meaning the intuition comes as words, music or sounds rather than mental images) that “the night time is potent” Mystery and magic is in the nighttime darkness. Pay attention to your dreams. The answers often find you there, without you seeking them.
Understanding or “interpreting” dreams is a tricky thing. They are personal and personalized in the extreme. Whatever YOU think it means IS what it means. Dream dictionaries, books, even a professional psychic’s interpretation is only secondary help.
It’s not something I offer professionally, but when it comes to understanding dreams for myself or for coaching someone else with their dream interpretation, I take a hybrid approach.
The first step is deciding if you want to understand it at all. Are dreams just a random function of REM sleep, or can they hold meaning and significance? Is dream interpretation crackpot nonsense or something that is actually, psychologically helpful?
I’m not a huge fan of Sylvia Browne, her writing is way to0 Christianized to be helpful to me. But I did read her Book of Dreams and thought her approach was paradigm shifting and revolutionary. Instead of trying to understand the symbolism for each granular little detail, first understand the type of category of the dream: Stress release, processing the day, hopes and aspirations, sudden insights and so on – or the rarest of them all, the psychic or prophetic predictive kind of dream.
I don’t think prophetic type dreams are really possible. I see it as our mind being freed from preconceived assumptions and social constraints and then being freed to connect small, previously un-noticed details that are really big road signs to the direction events are headed. So-called ‘prophetic’ dreams are really just reading the room, seeing the direction things are headed in a preternaturally clear way that only sleeping intuition can give us.
Once you decide dreams can be meaningful, and which category a particular dream falls into, then you can decide if the individual elements of a dream are literal, or symbolic in a personal way or in a dream-dictionary -ish Jungian collective unconscious sort of way.
If you would like to learn more about dreams and their symbolism, my favorite reads are:
Sylvia Browne’s Book of Dreams by Sylvia Browne
Dream Alchemy by Ted Andrews
Lucid Dreaming by Stephen LeBerge
Thanks for reading! Throughout April I will be primarily posting Tarot inspired Haiku for National Poetry Writing Month. Happy NaPoWriMo everyone!
Some of the usual readings will be sprinkled in too, so please follow the blog so you don’t miss a thing!
Sage Sips is Tarot for your day in the time it takes to sip your coffee. Today please enjoy this behind the scenes look at how I believe long distance Tarot actually works.
Q: The email readings sound interesting, but how can you read me if we aren’t together?
A: The distance between us doesn’t matter because I’m not reading you directly, I’m reading universal energy or spirit for you, on your behalf. This is the same kind of universal life energy that they talk about in Reiki, Tai Chi, qi gong, acupuncture, yoga, etc. This energy is everywhere, and if you are still alive you are connected to it and a part of it. You and I are within that energy field during your reading, no matter how physically separated we might seem or how long our conversation takes.
Star Wars wasn’t far off with “The Force”
Time and space are a connected thing. Modern physics has called it the space-time continuum. Time is as whole and connected as space. It doesn’t matter if our reading together unfolds in real time across a table or in a phone call or if the conversation unfolds slowly though emails or snail mail, the core ideas are the same. Distance Tarot works with the biggest of big pictures. We might be on opposite sides of the Earth and still be in the same energy together. We might write paper letters back and forth like they did a hundred years ago but the reading is still helpful even if takes months to unfold. It is all interconnected and valid.
The words and ideas of any reading are exactly the same regardless of whether I say them out loud, type them into an email or write them on paper.
There are a few differences between distance and in-person readings. The first is the way that you enjoy receiving your message, not in the message itself. It might depend on your mood or personality style. Phone or in-person sessions tend to be light, chatty, and friendly. They are great for when you are feeling outgoing and craving some social conversation. Written readings are private and intense. Written words amplify the emotion and magic of the moment. They are a good match for book lovers and busy, stressed people who need a moment to relax or anyone who just wants a little ‘me time.’
All of my distance Tarot readings include a follow-up email to answer any questions you might have.
The best suggestion I have is to give it a try. My five card readings would last close to an hour in person, but only cost what most psychics charge for 15 to 30 minutes.
Starting January 2025, the business portion of TaoCraft Tarot that offered in-person, party, phone and live online Tarot readings has closed.
Email readings are still available at very affordable prices and no appointment needed. Private readings, ko-fi memberships and ko-fi virtual coffee all support this blog, this website and the Substack newsletter to keep these Tarot readings free for you to read without paywalls.
Sage Sips is Tarot in the time it takes to sip your coffee
Think of any question that is on your mind, or think of the weekend ahead. This “Weekend Oracle” is the premier of my newest layout, TaoCraft Taijitu.
Inspired by the famous yin yang symbol, this three card layout shows yin (energies you are pulling in) yang (energies you are pushing away) and harmony (a way to be at peace and flow with all of these energies)
As usual, I read the cards right to left. This disrupts the deeply ingrained, logic-driven pattern of reading English left to right. That small cognitive shift helps to improve intuition and keep thought-habits at bay.
Of course, if your native language is Arabic, Hebrew, Chinese or other language that reads right to left, then reading Tarot left to right would make more sense.
With today’s cards we get:
Yin, The World. The World from the major arcana is a very positive, hopeful energy. It points to the big picture, the Gestalt, the everything. This is the energy you are drawing in.
Yang, Seven of Swords. This is energy that is moving away from you, or better still, energy you have been empowered to release and push away. The Seven of Swords card is associated with mischief by others and self-serving deception. In the picture a man is stealing away with swords. I intuitively ‘hear’ the old song “Steal Away” – I forget the artist, it is so old.
But in any case, there is a validating energy. You have been taken, deceived or a general victim of our collective chaotic circumstances just as much as you thought.
Harmony, The Fool. Traditionally the very first card of a RWS Tarot deck, this symbolizes fresh starts and new beginnings.
Taken as a whole, the message seems to be very hopeful: Things have been as bad as you thought, but are getting better holistically even if the changes in any one area of life seem very small. To be at peace and to help this transition along, look for any opportunity to start new .
Sage Sips is Tarot for your day in the time it takes to sip your coffee
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Left (the current situation or energy) Four of Pentacles: Hoarding out of fear vs budgeting, taking care, setting boundaries. Does the real-world part of life triggering fear or does it need a little practical management right now? Diane Morgan read the four of pentacles as “secret treasure” Sometimes our greatest treasure is to ground ourselves, move past fear and work through the fear.
Right (what to do next, a good next step) Nine of Swords. Whenever the right card is a swords card, the reading is in the title. Swords symbolize action (among other things) Avoid toxic positivity. It is ok to not be ok. There will be dark times. Actively manage your stress. To manage stress or worry or anxiety or any problem, the first step is to acknowledge it exists. That acknowledgement may feel hopeless and overwhelming, but it is just the first step in solving the problem.
Here, my mind is drawn to some of the panic and anxiety management techniques I’ve seen on social media lately. Both cards point to that kind of energy and action today. If you are worried or anxious, ground yourself in the present moment and your environment. Send yourself a clear message that you aren’t in life or death danger in this specific present moment.
Dan Harris, one of the most practical, accessible, down-to-earth, meditation advocates I’ve ever read describes mindfulness as the capacity to notice. Those social media anti-anxiety techniques draw on exactly that. Use your ability to notice. Try naming five things that you can see. Try naming a pleasant sensation you can experience right now (a soft shirt, a cool breeze, the feel of your feet on the floor, the smell of your coffee…anything) Think of one thing that is going right that you can be thankful for (my coffee is still warm, a glimpse of blue sky, a song on the radio…anything) Think of someone, anyone, and mentally wish them well. Think of yourself and wish yourself peace and safety. Buddhist meditators call those last two Metta practice.
Noticing is an action, albeit a mental one. That still counts. Action decreases anxiety.
Pause the video and think of your question or the week ahead. Choose your card, left or right. Restart the video to see the reveal and get your free tarot reading below.
7 of Cups: Choices are important and may feel stressful and overwhelming. Start with logic, but if all practical things seem equal, let your intuition and instincts lead the way. The up side of this is that multiple choices exist – at least you aren’t painted into a corner with few choices at all. When there are many options, especially when they all seem equal, it can all be very overwhelming. Sometimes being the one to have to make a hard choice alone is an overwhelming burdon, even when the choice seems clear. Choices and options can be intimidating in any combination of circumstances. If you are facing a big choice or have too many options, your head and heart have to work together. If logic fails, let your heart lead the way. In the end, clarity is crucial however your sort it out. Focus on the end. Choose your destination and the way to get there will become more clear.
King of Wands: Wands have to do with the fire element. King cards speak to leadership. Good leaders start with compassion and wisdom, but kings can’t rule without a kingdom. King cards often represent protecting and providing for the place where they rule. Wands can also symbolize your relationship with yourself. Remember your agency over your own life. Own it, mistakes and all. This is a good week to tap into as much main character energy as you can muster. Write your own story, lead your own inner kingdom. Combine wisdom and compassion with confidence and skill. Set boundaries and enforce them.
Thanks so much for reading! See you at the next sip!
Today is the kind of day this new layout is all about. Action dissolves anxiety. Making an action plan helps. Doing the plan helps even more. Action dissolves (or at least decreases) anxiety. Many thanks to Dan Harris for sharing that concept with everyone. I heartily recommend his Substack and social media
Today’s energy has a genX meme, “suck it up buttercup” feel to it. It’s time to put on the big kid britches and do the thing. Today needs practical action. Be as level-headed, logical, and practical as you can be. Go with what you already KNOW. Just for today, put intellect ahead of emotions and head over heart as best as you can.
Be kind to yourself if you can’t. If emotions get the better of the situation, step back, cool off and try again later. It’s ok.
It’s ok to be kind to yourself even on the days when your self is a bubbling hot mess.
Be a cool headed as you can, and bandage up the rest later.
There are reasons why the horse is standing still and strong on the knight of pentacles card. Rock on, but rock steady, one logical step at a time. The King of Swords is all about cool, cutting intellect and decisive leadership. Good leaders know when to get help and look for resources.
It isn’t easy. It isn’t about perfection. It is about step by step making it through.
Choose your card Tarot reading: Pause the video. Focus on your question or guidance for the day(s) ahead. Restart the video to see the reveal and get your reading below.
Sometimes when there is a strong general, public energy the two cards in the interactive reading are closely related. Sometimes when the general energy is quieter, more personalized energies can step forward. In these quieter times, the two cards can seem almost opposite, like today.
When dichotomies and contradictions like this turn up in reading, especially in one of the larger card layouts, it can get pretty confusing. Over the years, I’ve learned that the best thing to do when this happens is to shift focus. Instead of looking for granular detail, look for the bigger picture. Look for the biggest gestalt picture that you can and then try to connect the seemingly opposite dots within the big picture. When you think of it as using a wide angle Camara lens instead of a zoom lens. When you look at the big picture, often your opposite-seeming cards are really just different parts of a larger whole.
Different, sometimes conflicted cards within the same Tarot reading are like the parable of the blind men describing an elephant. One touches the trunk and says elephants are a lot like snakes. Another touches the leg and says that elephants are just like tree trunks. Yet another blind man touches the elephant’s side as says elephants are just like a big wall. Individually they are each wrong, but in the big picture, they are all right.
Of course, that only really applies to multiple card readings. In a one card daily meditation like we are doing here, all you have to do is follow your instincts to the card that is right for you today. The other card might still apply, even though it seems very different from the other. Follow your intuition to the one that is asking for your attention the most today. The other card might apply to you too, but in the background or on another day.
But for now:
The Fool: Alan Watts famously wrote “You are under no obligation to be the same person you were five minutes ago.” New beginnings can happen at any moment. Take all of the happy memories and life lessons you want moving forward, but take care not to bring old emotional baggage into a new beginning.
Two of Swords: This is a liminal time, a portal between worlds and experiences in a way. It is like those seemingly impossible stacks of Zen rocks. There is a pause, a truce between forces, a delicate balance that is easily disrupted. All is connected. This fleeting moments of balance are delicate but powerful times that can tip the balance of things in any direction. Use your influence and the power of cause and effect wisely.
Thank you so much for reading! Please like and subscribe to get future posts sent for free to your inbox.
I feel like there are a thousand other things I should be doing, but if you can’t follow your instincts in a Tarot blog, where can you? There is no reason for this post other than to say hello and hopefully reconnect with the whole blog and newsletter thing. It’s been a weird winter for me and this newsletter hasn’t gotten the energy and attention it deserves. That whole “Sage Words Tarot” thing was a huge detour. TaoCraft is home and I’m back. I hope to hear from you moving forward. 2025 is still young and my website has an easy to use contact form for any questions or comments that you might have. That includes questions for a free Tarot reading of some sort in the public blog. It’s a fair trade, I think. You get a free sample-size reading and I get writing inspiration. Deal?
In the meantime…
There has been a weird, strange, surreal energy during the holidays right through until now that reminded me of 2020. Don’t get me wrong – I’m NOT predicting a pandemic an you should listen to science about all of the bird flu, flu-A, RSV and measles worries out there. Not to mention the slow moving juggernaut of an utter political catastrophe unfolding in America right now. Compound that with some epic personal stress, and the time since Thanksgiving has been, well – unproductive. High levels of BLAH mixed with high anxieties is the best way I can describe the feel of it.
Stepping out from the psychological fog leftover from this winter, I wanted to say hello and tell you how thankful I am to have you all as readers and Tarot clients. It is so very appreciated!
On the outside chance there is anyone new here, I’ll add a little to the hello so you can know who is behind this whole Sage Sips Substack.
Hello! My name is Sage, I read Tarot, write things and knit stuff.
Sage is a pen name to try to provide privacy for both of us. It is inspired the double meaning the word sage has in English. It can be a plant with remarkable aromatherapy properties; comforting, negativity clearing, uplifting and empowering. It also means wise advice or a person who is wise. I believe Tarot is all about exactly those things. Tarot can lead us to wise advice at the same time as it calms anxieties, inspires us, and empowers us. It’s always an honor to be part of that process for someone. But like I always say…
“Tarot isn’t about predicting what will happen in life. Tarot helps you figure out what to do when life happens.“
What I do –
Tarot readings by email (and phone by special arrangement – contact me for details and scheduling)
What I don’t do –
Predict the future.
How I do it –
Transparently, conveniently and privately. All of my policies are TaoCraftTarot.com for the world to see.
All of my prices are for the total reading – not per minute. Your reading gets all of my attention, however long it -no clock watching – which is one of the many advantages of working by email. There are no time constraints or appointment needed for email. No hidden fees. No spam.
If you want a reading, you have to let me know. I don’t have the time or energy to contact anyone individually and offer readings. If you get that, it ain’t me. Did I mention, no spam is tolerated here or on the website, incoming OR outgoing?
You can purchase an email reading from my ko-fi page, no appointment needed. There are several different layouts to choose from, which let’s YOU choose the layout (and price) that fits your question (and budget) the best. I use ko-fi because the check out is PayPal secured and lets you send me your topic or question for the reading all in one easy transaction…no more delays while I ask for your question / permission for an open reading.
Email readings are perfect for busy schedules –
You don’t have to set aside travel time – the reading comes to you. You don’t use one drop of expensive gasoline.
In addition to being super convenient, email readings are extra private. No one sees you going to a psychic. You open and read your email in a time and place that is right for you.
Phone readings work by contacting me. We will set up an appointment time. Then I’ll send you a secure PayPal invoice and you call the phone number provided at your appointment time. All the details about appointments are on the policy page.
What a reading looks like:
All of my readings follow the same basic format. It starts with a photo of your real world layout. Then there is a “general pattern” section where we talk about the layout as a whole. That’s followed by a card-by-card discussion. Then it all wraps up in a “psychic summary” that includes any other impressions. It might relate to the cards, or it might be pure intuition. This part often includes aromatherapy and crystal recommendations but this final summary is very attuned to your personal message and there is no guarantee what it will or won’t include.
Relationship readings:
I do lots of those, but mine are probably different from what you’ve had before.
My readings focus totally on you. I follow the same professional ethics as holistic health providers. I don’t read other people’s energies without their permission. That means relationship readings won’t predict who you will marry or if you’ll get back together with your ex or if your crush loves you back. Relationship readings are for any kind of relationship and simply give advice to help you give your best in your part in the relationship.
Wealth and money readings:
Wealth and money readings tend to focus on your career and what you can DO to find your best path forward in your career or in any part of the physical realm. I’m not a career counselor, or a financial advisor – and did I mention that Tarot can’t predict the future?
Medical, pregnancy and legal questions:
Nope.
I won’t answer those. Tarot is terrible with those kinds of questions. I’m not wasting my time or your money on a question that is best left to other professionals. We should spend our time on the things Tarot that does very well: Easing troubled emotions, finding inspiration, creative problem solving, stress reduction, diversion and entertainment.
Sage Sips is the name of my blog and Substack. I love coffee. I love pithy Tarot advice. Sage Sips is Tarot in the time it takes to sip your coffee.
TaoCraft Tarot is the name of my website and the book I plan to write about how to read Tarot. It is a reflection of the philosophy behind my 30 years of Tarot and intuition development.
And that is pretty much it in one big omnibus nutshell.
Your turn!
Feel free to say hi in the comments or in the contact form.
I’m also on Bluesky if you want to say hi there. It’s the one social platform where I’ll actually talk to people instead of just like and repost.
As a member you never pay for one card Tarot readings by email. All you have do is DM me on ko-fi or email TaoCraftTarot@gmail.com to request your reading. Please don’t use the readings/commissions menu to order your one card readings, or it will charge. Non-member price is $5 per one card reading.
BUT as a member you ALSO get a discount on all larger readings.
NEW: the discount applies to video and pen and ink readings too
ALSO NEW: A 30% discount is automatically applied to all readings for members! No code, no separate listing…just order and POOF members get 30% off of their order.
Sage Sip Members receive:
Free one card Tarot readings by email available upon request
30% automatic discounts on all larger layouts available on the commissions / readings listing
Random other special offers
Exclusive content on the members-only blog on ko-fi.
Think of a question, a topic, or just the next few days to get general guidance. Choose your card. Pause the video if you need time, then restart to see the reveal. Pick a card and get it’s message for you below.
The theme, the “meta-message” that came through repeating cards over the course of multiple readings during the holiday season seems to continue. The calendar may have turned to February, but the energy hasn’t turned in a new direction quite yet.
Dire things are still happening in the US. That is a dark, stressful energy that is like low lying dense dark smoke underneath all of the rest. There is still a sense of chaos continuing as the ‘new normal’ for a while, which explains why the Hanged Man major arcana card is still, ahem, hanging around. The Page, generally speaking, resonates with the bizzarre-feeling, surreal nature of it all.
But if you pull away, focus on a higher level above the blanketing clouds of fear, there are glimmers of a more hopeful individual message:
PAGE OF CUPS: There are deep lessons to be comprehended. From the weird to the sublime, life is trying to tell you something that is ordinarily hidden or very “out of the box” Be patient, be good to yourself. There is a hard lesson to learn here, but give yourself whatever measure of grace that you need to learn what life has to show you and to deal with the emotional fallout of whatever comes to light.
HANGED MAN: Buckle up and settle in. Things are going to hang this way for a while. Expectations and attachments can make things that are outside of your control feel worse.
In The Tao of Pooh Benjamin Hoff writes about busy-ness and constant striving. We are very conditioned to that in the modern world. Not everything has to be constant movement. It is important to be still and incorporate things we’ve already done, things we’ve already learned. It may seem like stagnation to the “Busy Backsons” as Hoffman call it, but life and the universe may still the journey until old lessons are fully set. You can’t walk on a new sidewalk until the cement is dry.
Sage Sips / TaoCraft Tarot 
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