Spring is the time of new beginnings, starting afresh, getting out and about, longer days, warmer weather and nature waking up from its long winter slumber.

How can we make the most of this get-up-and-go energy?

Here are 22 Spring self-care ideas to nourish your soul:

1. Get up earlier in the morning to watch the sunrise and listen to the dawn chorus.
2. Open the windows more often to let fresh air into your rooms.
3. Buy yourself spring flowers like daffodils and tulips.
4. Plan and book a holiday or short break for a change of scenery.
5. Declutter and spring clean your home.
6. Consciously eat more fruit, veg and salads.
7. Create a music playlist on Spotify that makes you spring into action.
8. Exercise outdoors.
9. Feed the birds – they need it now while raising their young.
10. Reorganise your wardrobe. Put your winter jumpers away to make room for your spring and summer clothes.
11. Burn citrus or apple essential oils to invigorate your senses.
12. Start a creative Spring journal – list your goals, plans, new seasonal recipes, photos, vision boards, inspiration, tarot spreads and journal prompts.
13. Sow seeds in your garden or in pots on your window sill – flowers, veg, herbs.
14. Go for nature walks more often. Explore.
15. Meditate outdoors.
16. Take up a new hobby or learn a new skill. Learn Tarot!
17. Spend less time on social media and live more in the real world.
18. Meet up with a friends for breakfast or afternoon tea.
19. Be more spontaneous.
20. Change or tweak your same old routines to make them more interesting or exciting again.
21. Read a new inspirational book or magazine.
22. Start a regular savings account for a minimum 12-month term and watch your money grow.

Colours of Spring: green, yellow, white, soft pink and turquoise – good to know if you want to freshen up your home, wardrobe, crafty projects etc. with some seasonal colour magic

What’s your favourite spring self-care practice to nourish your soul? Please do let me know. I’d love to hear from you.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane 

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The post 22 Spring Self-Care Ideas To Nourish Your Soul appeared first on Cosmic Spirit Tarot.

Always.

Even at times when you think nothing is happening and your path ahead seems clear, change is on its way.

My life is constantly changing, most often in subtle ways.

It’s those little things that can have the most profound impact.

“One new perception,
one fresh thought,
one act of surrender,
one change of heart,
one leap of faith
can change your life forever.”
Robert Holden

Having worked with the Tarot for so many years, it used to be tempting to catch a glimpse into the future by pulling a couple of cards, but not anymore.

I have learned to accept the unknown.

Uncertainty can be scary, but once you can overcome that fear, there is no need to consult the Tarot to answer questions such as

“Will it go well?”
“Will I be okay?”
“Is everything going to work out?”

To be honest, I don’t want to know. That’s the beauty of uncertainty.

Ignorance can be bliss, so your vision isn’t clouded by cryptic messages from the cards, which can often lead to more confusion.

What really counts is the journey forward.

Each step you take. Progress you make.

The outcome will always be unknown depending on the actions you take along the way.

Of course, sometimes fate can deal us some painful blows out of the blue, and perhaps the Tarot would give an indication, which in many cases is only recognised too late in retrospect.

But then life goes on, and we are the masters of how we want to proceed.

Change, uncertainty, the unknown and impermace an all be deeply unsettling.

The feeling of being out of control prompts many of us to seek some kind of reassurance.

But I don’t want any reassurance. I don’t want to know in advance, if all goes well or not.

I just want to embrace uncertainty and enjoy the ride.

At this moment in time, it feels good.

As long as it feels good in the present moment, I am happy to choose this path regardless of where it might lead.

At this moment in time, I don’t need any more clues.

Although not everything is clear, I know that as time goes on, everything will unfold as it’s meant to be.

Before you rush to have a reading about your future, I invite you to consciously embrace uncertainty.

Will you get married and have children? Will your marriage last? Will your new job be your best career move ever?

Just be okay with not knowing.

Be prepared for all possibilities including the not so happy-ever-after ones.

Life is a gamble. As long as you follow your heart, you will enjoy the journey and create the life you want to live along the way.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

Autumn is the perfect time to reflect, dream, explore, and open up to new possibilities. It’s not too late to grab my Autumn Divination Kit to connect with your inner muse and get 20% off until the end of November

The post Embracing Uncertainty appeared first on Cosmic Spirit Tarot.

Autumn is my favourite season, which probably explains why I’ve been writing about it so often, combining creative autumn journaling with the Tarot.

Now that Autumn is approaching yet again, I thought I’d share with you a compilation of my best bits, which are dotted around on this website.

If you would like to immerse yourself into some serious autumn journaling, then check out the following links:

Autumn Equinox – Embracing the Dark Season

Autumnal musings with a 3-card tarot spread

Creative Journaling in Autumn

Lots of ideas and a printable freebie

22 Equinox Journaling Prompts to Balance your Life

My popular Equinox divination tarot game, which you can use not just in autumn but also in spring

The Autumn Divination Kit

I’m so proud of this magical kit. Loads of autumn journaling activities and printables including an oracle deck and healing cards. Don’t miss the 20% discount I offer on Patreon

Finding Direction in your Life with the Tarot

Autumn is Hermit season…insightful spreads to help you choose your path ahead

Enjoy your Autumn explorations

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

Follow my Minimalist blog on Medium

Subscribe to my FREE Substack

Buy pre-loved Tarot books and decks in my UK Shop at bargain prices

The post Creative Autumn Journaling with the Tarot appeared first on Cosmic Spirit Tarot.

Yes, time can play tricks on you for sure. The older we get, the faster time seems to fly by.

The other day I was looking at old photos and realized that 30 years have passed and yet those moments captured in the images felt like they just happened yesterday.

Here I am navigating midlife and wondering how quickly the upcoming years will pass.

How can I make them feel as endless as my childhood summers?

Over the years I have learned that the secret to slowing down time is to rediscover and cultivate childhood traits (embracing your inner Pages ) that we left behind when we transitioned into adulthood.

As children we were inexperienced and learned something new every day. The world was huge, and there was so much we didn’t know.

Everything was full of wonder and our imagination was running wild.

Our enthusiasm and curiosity to try out new things and explore new places was boundless, and we learned new lessons every day.

We spent hours immersed in play, creative activities and learning at school.

It was natural for us to be fully present regardless of whether we were having fun or feeling bored.

When we are fully present, time seems to slow down. This is because being present helps us to tune out distractions and focus on the task at hand.

Our brain is in a state of flow.

This state of flow is linked to time perception and can create a feeling of time dilation, where time seems to slow down or speed up.

In our adult life we apply our knowledge rather than learning something new every day.

We tend to have a daily routine, which includes more or less the same tasks and activities.

When we follow the same routines on auto-pilot for a long time, our brain just tosses all those days into a mushy pile of blurry life soup that tastes the same every day and makes time disappear when you look back.

So it looks like the secret to slowing down time is to shake up your days, and as a first step tiny simple changes to your daily routine can work wonders.

Here are my favourite mindful activities that can help you slow down your time:

1. Get out of your comfort zone

There is no such thing as a risk-free life. Children don’t know that, so when they learn to walk, they’re not scared of falling. They fall, but then they get up again. They don’t want to be stuck with crawling on the floor forever.

As adults, we sometimes need to take risks to truly feel alive.

Venturing into unchartered territory like starting a new job, moving to a new place, or living a more authentic life without worrying about what people think can be invigorating.

2. Live intentionally

Living with intention every day means paying attention to your actions, thoughts and your environment.

Look around your familiar surroundings, what do you actually see? What has become a habit that is holding you back? How can you do things differently? How can you give your living space a boost?

Living intentionally also means questioning the status quo and explore ideas how and where you can implement improvements.

This can include overhauling your diet, integrate exercise into your life, look after your health or sort out your finances.

When I decided to embrace minimalism as the way I want to live, it has transformed all these areas in my life for the better. It took time, but what counts is taking one small step each day to make a difference.

3. Become a mindful consumer

Our society is built on shopping, and most of us have grown up with this habit.

Many people spend money without thinking too much about it and sometimes get themselves into debt for stuff they don’t really need.

When going shopping, even for food, be mindful about what you really need rather than want. Challenge yourself to spend less but better.

Examine what makes you fall for impulse buys or embark on retail “therapy”. What are you trying to compensate for?

4. Learn something new

When I began to change my diet, I learned about nutrition every day. And apart from that, I have always loved to learn new skills, which also included training for various different jobs and occupations over the years.

Learn to play an instrument, a new language, a craft, learn to read tarot cards – the possibilities are endless. Find your passion and have fun.

5. Find joy in the little things

Living in the present moment can also help you appreciate the small moments in life and find joy in the little things.

This can lead to a more fulfilling life, as you begin to find happiness in the here and now, rather than waiting for something in the future.

6. Create your life

We are all conditioned to follow a certain pattern in life – go to school, university, job, marriage, kids, career, retirement, death.

But if this pattern isn’t your scene, then boldly choose your own path.

Have the courage to be different, be a trailblazer, an explorer, maverick, artist, whatever it is you really want to be.

By living your life on your own terms, you are truly free.

7. Be curious

People ask “Is that it?” I say, only if you want it to be. Always be curious about possibilities. What else is there? Go and find out.

8. Live slowly

Living life in the fast lane can seriously make your life pass by in a flash. By adopting a slower pace, you allow yourself time to enjoy the scenery.

It’s about paying attention rather than being distracted by speed.

Slow living means you appreciate what you have, reduce stress and anxiety, and prioritise your wellbeing.

9. Allow growth

Over the years you gradually change. Your body changes, Your attitudes, opinions and beliefs change. Your hobbies change. Relationships and friendships change over time.

Be mindful about these changes and reflect on their impact on your life. What do you need to let go of to allow for these changes to turn into growth?

By allowing growth your life becomes richer. How have you grown over the years? Explore the changes and their causes you have experienced over the years to appreciate the person you are today.

10. Practice Self-Reflection

Rather than drifting unconsciously through life until retirement, make self-reflection a regular practice. Take stock. Assess where you are and where you want to be.

Look into the mirror and describe what you see, the person looking back at you.

Keep a journal. Record your dreams and aspirations. Explore how you can make positive changes in your life. Take action.

As you can see, once you have become aware of years passing too quickly, you can take inspired steps to slow down time and living a happier and more fulfilled life.

It’s never too late to start afresh, embrace change and and make the most of your precious time here on earth.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane 

Follow my Minimalist blog on Medium

Subscribe to my FREE Substack

Buy pre-loved Tarot books and decks in my UK Shop at bargain prices

The post The Secret To Slowing Down Time appeared first on Cosmic Spirit Tarot.

This means saying goodbye to buying a new journal every year, but let’s face it: sometimes you need to have a change of cover design

So here is my latest design, which reflects the global year card, The Chariot, for 2023, and you can download it for free by clicking on the PDF link below.

There’s even no sign-up required, just a free and easy download.

The Chariot inspired tarot moon journal cover reflects the global year theme around breaking free from restrictions and moving forward into unchartered territory.

Leaving behind what we know and keeps us comfortable but ultimately restricted.

Rather than continuing what we’ve been doing for so long, it is time to explore new possibilities and take responsibility for our lives.

The choices we make today shape our future.

Humans thrive on change, even though it can feel unsettling and disruptive at times, which often stops us from taking the plunge to let go or taking a risk.

Because of this discomfort, many people only tend to navigate change, when it is forced upon them, but the trick is to initiate change for personal growth.

Along the way, you are strenghening your resilience for those times when you have to confront the unexpected that is out of your control.

The Chariot is a symbol for a rite of passage. Plucking up the courage and determination to travel the winding rather than the straight path ahead.

Not knowing what is beyond the horizon but eager to find out.

Travelling lightly, leaving excess baggage behind.

Your guiding lights are your values, skills and experiences that encourage you to refresh and invigorate your life.

• Leaving a familiar place behind
• Letting go of stuff and downsizing
• Trading security for adventure
• Changing jobs
• Leaving a job simply to have a break
• Ending a relationship
• Ditching old habits for healthier new ones
• Changing your mindset
• Embracing new challenges

The essence of The Chariot is personal to all of us, and perhaps you are already looking towards 2023 with new ideas and aspirations.

This isn’t about new year’s resolutions but simply exploring and following your inner urge to enhance your life by tweaking your habits, attitudes and beliefs.

The Tarot Moon Journal cover 2023 is meant as an inspiration to dream and act upon your dreams, to be brave and bold in your approach to make shift happen and embark on the journey without the destination in sight.

Grab your inspirational Tarot Moon Journal Cover 2023 and other journaling goodies here:

Tarot Moon Journal Cover 2023 (PDF)

Buy the Tarot Moon Journal ETERNAL edition

Download the 2022 Tarot Moon Journal cover on my Patreon

Buy Cosmic Spirit notebooks on Redbubble

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

The post Tarot Moon Journal Cover 2023 (free download) appeared first on Cosmic Spirit Tarot.

Greetings from the Nine of Swords!

For many, life has become hard due to imposed poverty of corrupt, inept politicians on top of all the other scary developments around the world.

But it is easy to find yourself sucked into this hive anxiety.

The fact is all that is happening is beyond our control, and we can only do little to soften the blows.

And yet, despite all the upheaval, there is joy in the world and in your life right now.

It’s time to tap into it and make the best of a lemony situation.

How can you be and feel more in control? Here are some ideas I live by:

1. When you consciously give up control, you actually achieve more control

By accepting possibilities we don’t like but cannot influence, life becomes easier.

Amidst all the beauty and wonder of life, it can also be tough sometimes to navigate the setbacks, struggles and existential crises.

It’s all part of life.

Adjusting and surrendering to constant change makes you over time more resilient.

2. Good thing, bad thing. Who knows?

The pandemic has been widely regarded as a terrible disaster. And indeed, people died and their loved ones are grieving.

But the pandemic has also resulted in millions of people questioning their career choices, level of consumption and their values.

A revolution in workplaces has taken place, with people quitting and changing their lives, demanding to work from home and taking time off to enhance their work-life balance.

When nobody went to the office during the lockdowns, something new was created. People were waking up from their corporate slumber.

Just think of the Tower in the Tarot – destruction, but new possibilities to rebuild better on firm foundations.

3. We have control of how we perceive our life experiences

While we can easily feel like passive victims of other people’s power, we can also choose to feel like survivors, pro-actively dusting ourselves off while not losing sight of what makes us happy and content.

The richest person in the world is the one, who doesn’t desire anything, who feels that they have all they need, even if it’s not much in terms of money or possessions.

That doesn’t mean though that you shouldn’t have goals or aspirations.

Set a goal, and then forget about it. Let it work in your unconscious and take meaningful actions over time to achieve that goal.

Don’t force the issue, don’t fret over it. Let it unfold naturally and allow your goal to evolve as you grow.

For in-depth Autumn and Winter Journaling, please check out my Autumn Divination Kit and download bonus Spirit of Autumn Message cards on my Patreon.

If you like my artwork and would like some cards, posters and even notebooks, then hop over to my Redbubble shop for some magical product designs.

Last but not least, if you live in the UK, please check out my Cosmic Spirit Shop, where you can find all sorts of magical goodies, including handmade notebooks, crystals, fair trade accessories and homeware.

Best wishes,

Christiane

The post How To Be In Control During Uncertain Times appeared first on Cosmic Spirit Tarot.

I’ve written about Death in the Tarot many times before, and I have always tried to balance the love n light positive with the inherent uncomfortable aspect of this card.

Now I’m in a position, where I am actually living through a year, in which Death is my annual growth symbol.

The year isn’t over yet, so anything can still happen, and I am prepared for whatever crazy and mind-boggling stuff is hurling my way.

But so far, 2022 has already been quite a rollercoaster ride of flux and change.

The pandemic has a lot to answer for. It was the harbinger of my year of Death transformation.

And with the war in Ukraine, I realised that the world as we knew it pre-pandemic, has changed forever.

With the old and established order slowly but surely desintigrating, millions of people are affected by a new sense of insecurity.

There is a lot of evaluation going on in terms of living your best life and making the most of life and the time you have left.

Hence the Great Resignation and massive shift in the way people demand new ways of working, including remote working and the introduction of the 4-day week.

So while the old order is dying, something new is emerging.

On a personal level, I came to a point in February, when I realised that I had been running my tarot biz for more than a decade.

I had noticed for a while that I needed to take a break from it, simply to recharge my batteries, so I could gather new ideas and inspiration.

I decided to put my Patreon on hold, so I no longer needed to post new content every month.

While I never had a break from creating lots of content, the last three months of my Patreon journey started to put pressure on my creative flow.

So I put Patreon on hold.

One of the reasons why I haven’t resumed is that I had the urge to return to the commercial world after twenty years of absence.

I am currently working from home for a large retailer serving customers in Europe. God bless the internet, online shopping and the digital nomad revolution.

My current role however is a contract limited until the end of January 2023, but in the meantime, I am already working on transforming my online presence on this website and elsewhere.

You see, while Tarot has been a massive passion of mine for so many years, it has also nudged me into exploring new possibilities.

In recent months, I have virtually abandoned all social media and only post occasionally on Instagram.

I let go of all the toxic social media and the damage it has caused and will cause in time to come.

I’m at a stage in my life, where I no longer need to earn a living from Tarot. I want to continue creating content at my leasure for fun.

That’s why I have also put on hold all personal courses and mentoring, but my self-study courses and ebooks are still available.

If you need help with any of these, please don’t hesitate to leave a question in the comment box on the product page or send me a message.

But wait, there is more…

A couple of weeks ago, there was a serious health scare in the family.

When a loved one is taken to hospital with a potential life-threatening illness, it’s hard to keep focused and cool.

Thankfully, the suspected heart attack has turned out to be “just” an inflammation of the heart, which was caused by Covid, and with the current medication has the chance to be healed.

It’s still serious, and it has again made me think about life, what is important to me and what I want to do.

As you can see, I am in transition on a road to somewhere.

The metamorphosis is in progress. It feels uncomfortable, but at the same time there are rays of light and illumination.

When Death is your year card, be prepared for anything.

But watch this space. Endings bring new beginnings.

“You have to die a few times before you can really live.” – Charles Bukowski

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

PS: You can still sign up to my Patreon to download all the goodies I’ve posted there. You will only be charged once.

The post When Death Is Your Year Card appeared first on Cosmic Spirit Tarot.

There used to be a time, when Ukraine and Russia fought each other with silly songs at the annual Eurovision Song Contest.

Today, I am struggling to accept the loss of this naff decatent triviality, which was light-hearted fun rather than a tsunami of blood, death and tears.

I am struggling to come to terms with the enormity of what is currently happening in Europe.

Unless you are a master of ignoring the signs of the insane possibility of World War III breaking out, you are probably struggling, too.

But after the initial shock we know that the best we can do is keeping calm and carrying on.

Keeping calm, because

• life goes on, at least for now
• being consumed by fear prevents us from making the most of the time we have left
• it helps to make rational and sensible choices rather than getting sucked into the conspiracy rabbit holes
• we cannot choose the times we are living in
• we have to accept what we cannot change

Carrying on

helping – loving – creating – planning – dreaming – enjoying – doing your best – showing kindness, compassion, courage

After years of division and polarisation, perhaps this is the time when we all get back together again.

To be strong in unity against the menacing bully in the East.

For freedom, peace, democracy and our liberal values we have to fight even though we don’t want to fight. But it has to be done.

There is no more I can say, except

May you be safe. May you be supported. May you be strong.

Be prepared for all possibilities.

Despite the dark storm approaching on the horizon, don’t lose your sense of humour.

Remember to embrace moments of joy and simple pleasures.

Know that you are loved. Always.

gET INspIrEd

Please meet and support my Russian friend Ana, Siberia Inside, a wonderful YouTube channel about minimalism, mindfulness and creativity

My current favourite graphic novel Promethea, which takes you on a trippy journey through the magical cosmos

Can’t get this song out of my head:

Listen to the WALLIS Radio Playlist full of fun and interesting songs

The post On Keeping Calm And Carrying On appeared first on Cosmic Spirit Tarot.

Our state of mind is complex and fragile. Most of the time we are focused on DOING and (OVER-)THINKING rather than BEING.

We don’t allow sufficient time to just BE, but now you can manifest change with my printable Permission to BE Cards.

Uncomfortable feelings, emotions and perceptions are often blocked out as we find it hard to face the pain they often cause.

Healing takes place, when we face the discomfort and sit with it for a while, so we can learn to accept and move forward.

Sometimes we are deeply entangled in acting in a particular way, because we feel obliged to live up to other people’s or society’s needs and expectations.

This may include working too hard or keep going in a job or relationship that no longer serves us.

We sometimes are up against prejudice and obstacles because of our gender, race or ideas and opinions.

We then need to challenge those obstacles within ourselves to break through and beyond.

Then there are the barriers and limiting beliefs we have cultivated ourselves, often because of the way we were brought up and as a result of trauma.

Self-Exploration

Drawing a card every day (or as often as you are called to do so) encourages you to question your ingrained habits, beliefs, attitudes, perceptions, and insecurities.

The prompts are intentionally open to interpretation to allow deeper exploration by generating questions and find solutions.

Some are very vague and meant to be humorous to encourage you to BE less serious and more light-hearted, having fun even when life seems a struggle.

This is a printable mindful activity card set for personal development, healing and transformation.

Simply print, cut out the cards and the mini reading mat, and draw a card.

The Permission to BE Cards Set contains

• 108 cards
• six blank cards for your own choices that are meaningful to you
• mini reading mat
• brief instructions

It comes as a 5-page PDF document that you can easily print on your favourite colour cardstock.

Exclusively available on my Patreon

February Offer: $3.33

From March 2022: $8.88

Grab your set and start exploring TODAY

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

The post NEW! Permission To BE Cards appeared first on Cosmic Spirit Tarot.

Tapping into the energies of your tarot year card can help focus on areas in your life that need attention.

These energies may also indicate issues and situations that you may have to face and suggest lessons to be learned in the months ahead.

The global year card in 2022 is The Lovers, and your personal tarot year card is based on your date of birth. Learn how to calculate it here.

It is best to explore your year card throughout the year. Set aside a journaling session once a month to take stock and dive a little deeper.

Be creative with your tarot year card.

It is your personal growth symbol for 12 months, so enjoy the process of getting to know and embracing it, even if it’s a card you don’t like (mine is Death this year) – this could be a confrontation with some shadow aspects you have been putting off or ignored.

And sometimes, life can be brutal, and we have to get through dark times, too. With the help of your tarot year card, you can emerge on the other side with wisdom and renewed strength.

So here is how you can enjoy exploring your tarot year card in 10 steps:

1. First impressions: keywords and phrases that come into your mind when you see the image. Also, any feelings that come up.

2. What to do / action to take: something practical and doable; active steps that can help following your aspirations, goals and plans for the year.

3. What to avoid: personal traits / habits / beliefs that could hinder a desired development or outcome. Perhaps giving up a bad habit relating to this card.

4. What to look out for: something that is hidden; opportunities, obstacles, internal blocks

5. What needs attention: this could relate to a skill you need to develop, people around you, work, relationships, lifestyle… a specific area in your life.

6. Power word / Motto: a catch phrase, mantra or just one single word that will guide you along the right track a towards achieving your desired outcome.

7. Affirmation: a positive statement to help you shift your mindset.

8. Find quotes that relate to your year card that inspire you

9. Create a playlist of songs that reflect the positive essence of your year card

10. Write a poem / haiku based on your year card

You can download the image of these 10 steps on my Patreon and print it for your journal.

Enjoy!

Christiane

The post Exploring Your Tarot Year Card In 10 Steps appeared first on Cosmic Spirit Tarot.