The meh Tarot or Oracle Spread - for when you're feeling a little meh x

Sometimes you just feel a little bit meh. Not great, not that bad, but just a bit "whatever". On those days you can grab a deck (Tarot, Oracle, Angel, Crystal, Uno, whatever) and come join me in exploring what's going on with your meh mood.

The two positions in this spread that say "Oracle" can totally be interchanged with whatever decks you have. Check out the video below to check it out in action with a little workshop style Tarot reading! :D

If you're feeling a little more than meh, like if you're totally bummed out, you can try the Bummed Out Spread. 

You can find the link to all my other free Tarot and Oracle Spreads here. If you love it just SO, so much you can grab my e-book of spreads here too! 

Why you feel meh

Sometimes we don't really know why we feel meh.

This card will shine a little light on where you're at and let you know what it is you're resisting, avoiding, what blocks are coming up and whatever else might be causing your meh mood.

What's holding you in meh

When we feel meh it can be hard to just "get over it" and turn off Netflix. I mean we've all been glued to The Gilmore Girls with no ability whatsoever to move, unless it's to make tea, and sometimes even that feels like an effort. This card will let you know what's keeping you feeling meh.

How to release your meh

And now some tips on how to release your meh feeling and move on with your life! Yay! 

Action to take

OK, so what do you need to do to get out of meh,  you know, when you're ready. Because it's totally OK to feel a bit meh sometimes, but you can't pitch a tent and live there, K?

Thoughts to change

Very often when we're feeling a bit blah we're not paying attention to our own thoughts.

Are you hustling too hard because you have a belief about how you gotta hustle to win at life and burning out in the process? Are you feeling like a loser because you have a belief that being single sucks?

So many old thought patterns can creep in, even when we think we've totally cleared them for good. This card will let you know what thoughts to change and focus on right now to bring you out of meh.

Oracle for Love and Hugs

This is just a lovely little message from your spiritual team of support, love and etheric hugs!

Oracle for Empowerment

And here's a message from your team to empower you and help you move through this. :D YAY!

If you wanna post a pic of your spreads on Instagram you can use the hashtag #newagehipster or tag me so I can find you! :)

And if your meh mood still won't quit you can always hook up a reading with me and we can sort through it together.

With so much love, light and meh moving vibes!

Vix

x

An Interview with Matt Myers

Matt Myer's Art Nouveau Tarot has a very special spot on my deck shelf. As a big fan of 80's art and Tarot decks (and everything else 80's actually!) I had to snaffle one of these beauties up for my collection. It's an amazing deck with a totally unique vibe and when I randomly met Matt Myers online I knew I had to convince him to pop on over for an interview and a hang out! :D

Your Art Nouveau Tarot Deck is one of my favourite decks ever. Where did the idea for this deck come from?

When I graduated from art school (Ringling College), I had three career goals and creating a Tarot deck was one of them. I already had an interest in Tarot and had been reading cards for myself and some of my fellow friends and students since High School.

Most of the decks I saw were published by U.S. Games Systems, so I did some samples and approached them to see if they might be interested enough to commission a deck from me. They had the idea to do a “Gustave Mucha” deck, but I convinced them to do an “Art Nouveau” deck which would capture the style without mimicking any particular artist of the period.

To be frank, I’m not sure I was successful in that goal – Art Nouveau certainly influenced the design choices I made, but as you can see, there is more of the 80s in the deck than the 10s – and probably more of the transition from Nouveau to Deco than purely Art Nouveau. I think this has contributed to the fact the deck is now out of print. It really isn’t one thing or the other and the title doesn’t really reflect what it is.

The goal for the deck I DO think I achieved is the intensity of color. It has changed a bit now with the huge variety of deck options, but when I began the artwork, other decks I saw were flat and somewhat washed out. I wanted to do something with more brilliance. I think the intensity of color in my deck is its most successful aspect and continues to be unique.

The first time I saw these cards I was blown away by the artwork. How did you get into art?

Like most artists, I drew from an early age and always wanted to have a career as an artist.  Growing up in the American Midwest, artistic careers are not encouraged or even considered a possibility, but I managed to be stubborn enough to attend Ringling College and graduate as an Illustration major. I moved to New York City and gave myself five years to have success in the field. If it didn’t happen, I was prepared to move in a different direction and allow art to be hobby.

The Art Nouveau Tarot was one of my first jobs and helped me to convince myself a career as an artist would be possible. 

All the pips cards in this deck feature couples! Very cool, and awesome for relationship readings. x

How long did it take you to create this deck?

I worked on this deck from 1983 to 1987. I was working full-time in New York, first as an office temp and then as a legal word processor. The deck was my “second job”. Each of the individual paintings are 5” x 9”. There are 81 total – the 78 + a Title card, an Introduction card (which was directed to be a self-portrait) and the design for the reverse. In addition, the lettering was created by hand because the art director was struggling to find authentic Art Nouveau-styled type-faces.

The deck was originally intended to be printed in a larger size with an accompanying book. When it was commissioned in the early 80s, Tarot had become very trendy. By the time the deck was finished, interest had died down a bit so the project was scaled down.

I actually repainted several of the images during the process because my painting ability improved and I switched mediums from acrylic to oil. It’s a bit difficult for me to look at the deck now because I see things I would do differently, being older and a more capable painter. I see the struggle in the work, both in the rendering and in the attempt to communicate an idea. I’m always gratified to read a review where someone “gets” what I was trying to say because, in hindsight, I see how I might have been more successful in capturing the essence of the card.

The minors in this deck are a little different to the RWS and any other minors I’ve seen for that matter. Could you tell us a little bit about how you came at the minors?

I had always been interested in the Rider-Waite interpretations, but I had an idea there should be some connection or progression within the suites with each pip making a progression from what came prior and leading to what came after. The indicated interpretations of my deck are exactly the same as Rider-Waite even though the images are not. I worked to place those divinatory meanings into the context of a story-line and let the plot be driven by those definitions. The stories are briefly covered in the deck booklet and were more fully developed in the unpublished book. It was also important to me the reverse meanings were either different interpretations of the same idea or an alternate choice relative to the same situation.

I would like to point out that I tried to be more balanced with gender roles than is customary. The action in the Swords and Staves is driven by the male while the Cups and Coins have the male in the passive role. Even though the costuming is very stereotypical (and very dated at this point despite my best efforts) I tried to treat the male and female images equally as far as nudity and sexualisation are concerned. This has led many people to look at this deck as a Woman’s deck or a Gay deck. I see why the deck is perceived that way, but my intention was to address and possibly correct what I saw as an imbalance in that area.

I might also admit that one way I feel my deck fails completely is in the depiction of ethnic diversity. I tried to figure out a way to incorporate it, but it interfered with the idea of letting the pips play out as a story with the same repeated characters. I would have had to assign entire suites to an ethnicity. I couldn’t figure out how to do that without implying the certain characteristics of a suite described that ethnic group. So I gave up and made everyone vanilla because that is what I happen to be. And even if I did depict a variety of ethnicities, I would not have been able to represent all, so I decided to leave it as limited as it is. Still, I consider it a failing.

Which card in this deck best describes you?

The Hermit, no question. The Hermit has always been my Significator.

I always judge a deck by it's Tower card. How incredible is this one? :O x

I love everything 80’s, and this deck is just so 80’s! What’s your favourite 80’s movie?

My favorite movie from the 80s actually has nothing to do with the 80s. I saw “The Trip to Bountiful” on a first date (mistake) and cried so freaky hard my date was convinced I was unstable and there wasn’t a second date. The movie is set in Texas in the 40s and is about an elderly woman living unhappily with her son and his wife in Houston. She has the goal of returning to the town where she grew up and raised her family – Bountiful. It’s such a perfect representation of longing and the intensity of desire in the face of opposition and what we become willing to settle for in the process.

If I were to pick my favorite movie that represents the time, it would be “Sixteen Candles” – so totally 80s!

Favourite 80’s song?

I listened to a lot of music in the 80s. At the time, I didn’t own a TV and the stereo was always on. I can’t tell you my favorite, but I can tell you I listened to a lot of Alison Moyet/Yaz, Sade, Eurythmics, Crowded House (anything Finn brothers), the Smiths/Morissey, Bryan Ferry, Kate Bush, Shawn Colvin, Kirsty MacColl – all people I still listen to. I tend to be pretty faithful to my likes.

How do you personally believe the Tarot works? Do you believe that it can tell fortunes and futures? When you’re asking the Tarot questions, who are you asking?

I believe that nature has a pattern. The shape of a tree is similar to a river system or the nervous system of an animal. The earth is shaped like an orange or a drop of water falling through space or an eye. All things in nature repeat patterns that are familiar to each other. I think human nature is the same.

Our behaviour and emotions follow natural patterns. Sometimes we get trapped in the pattern we inhabit and can’t see events in our lives in any other way. We are so accustomed to defining our experience of life in a certain specific manner and are blind to any other way of seeing.

I think the images of Tarot are an attempt to capture the pattern of life and our human experience in a manner that can be held in your hand. When the cards fall the way they do, whether random or with some driving force, they ask us to examine our lives in a different form. “This is your Heart, this is your Head, this is your Home” – now consider these things from the viewpoint of the card that has naturally fallen into that position. Does it give you a new perspective on the way you define that aspect of your life, especially with a Reader who is neutral regarding the subtle, intimate, possibly secret details known only to you. If you are open to considering this new pattern, a new way of looking at your question, you may find a piece of your answer. I’ve sometimes described the cards as a stack of photo slides. You hold up the slide of your question, you overlap it with the description depicted in the card, you look at the new pattern made – does it give insight you didn’t have before because the things you see have altered from the way you had become accustomed to seeing them?

Whether there is a Something directing the answer, I don’t know. It doesn’t really matter to me. I don’t discount the possibility, but I don’t attempt to define it. Some people are uncomfortable with the Spiritual aspect assigned to a reading and I think approaching it from an emotional or practical standpoint is valid as well – whatever helps the Questioner feel comfortable.

Regardless, I do ask for respect for the cards before each reading so the Questioner enters into a state of considerate alertness. It isn’t necessary for them to completely BELIEVE, just that they agree to momentarily somewhat suspend disbelief. I ask them to make an attempt to listen without judgement and consider the reading, not just in the moment (when it can be abrupt or shocking or odd or seem unrelated), but more deeply and thoroughly when they are alone and quiet – because all natural things, including our lives, don’t exist without relationship. I also ask for payment of some sort, something of value (not necessarily money), because the questioner needs to make a gift of some kind to connect to the process. If they must consider a price for the reading, they are forced to become mentally involved – they have tangibly assigned value to the experience which is an important requirement for success.

Something I find interesting is my experience that people who come to a reading with a more practical mindset often experience the most emotional response. Maybe it’s because they are not so accustomed to examining the emotional patterns of their lives. I am also constantly surprised at the frequency of the times where I describe an interpretation which makes absolutely no sense to me but is afterward explained to me by the Questioner. It always amazes me because I have to admit I am a very sceptical, common sense person. But you have to surrender now and again to the experience of seeing the world in a new pattern other than the one you believe you are living. It helps you remember that life is bigger than you and full of things you know you don’t know and also things you don’t even know you don’t know. And it validates the notion that most of life is defined not by some immoveable reality but rather by how we ourselves define it.

The original artwork for the Magician and Empress cards! Amazing! x

What’s your favourite Tarot deck? (Aside from the Art Nouveau deck of course!)

When I started my deck, I was really impressed with the Aquarian Tarot by David Palladini. Now, I really like a lot of the decks published by Lo Scarabeo. They have several decks with historic art styles I find interesting.

Do you have any advice for budding artists and deck creators?

Be prepared to devote a LOT of time. Seventy-eight paintings/drawings are a challenge to complete. On top of that, the requirement to communicate 78 separate ideas plus 78 reversals is daunting. I also found the card I was working on tended to influence my experience of life, so that can be a little schizophrenic – and in the case of certain cards, somewhat dangerous – so beware of that.

I would also consider self-publishing, or at least presenting a publisher with a completed deck. Most of the things I am not happy with regarding Art Nouveau Tarot are things that were “art-directed” by the publisher rather than my own personal expression. And I certainly felt the pressure of the deadline which made some of the cards rushed and not well considered. My contract was also “work-for-hire” which means I surrendered the original art at the completion of the project. If I still retained the originals, I would be able to publish an “improved” deck independent of U.S. Games now that they have chosen not to reprint and the publishing rights have reverted to me. As it is, the lack of access to the paintings means the images in the deck remain as they are and I am content to let it pass.

What are you working on these days? Can we expect another deck from you in the future?

My artistic life took a pretty drastic about ten years ago and I have been working primarily as a Costume Designer. Before that, I had been working mostly for the hospitality industry, doing paintings and murals for restaurants, hotels, cruise ships, etc. I had always participated in theatre and the mural work transitioned into theatrical drops/sets and then into costume. Right now, I’ve begun to do Wearable Art which combines a lot of my interests and abilities. I had always thought my interests were too scattered, but now, all those talents that seemed to take me down different paths have all merged together. It’s been very gratifying.

Sometimes I consider doing another deck, one that is more mature with more depth and complexity. I’ve also considered using Tarot as a theme for Wearable Art. Will I actually do it? I honestly don’t know. It’s such a huge commitment.

How can we find out more about you and your artwork?

I’m currently working on a website for myself. It’s something I’ve know I should have done a long while ago – it would likely have made a difference to my artistic career. But as you might guess from someone who identifies with the Hermit, I have trouble making that outward effort a priority. Once it’s up, the website will be www.mattmyers.gallery. I don’t know if it will include any of my paintings or murals or even anything from Art Nouveau Tarot. Right now, it’s intended to be mostly Wearable Art and costumes, but it will be interesting to see where it goes.

The Art Nouveau is sadly out of print, but keep your eyes out around online and you may be able to find a deck of your own!

Thanks for hanging out Matt!

x

Ghosts of the Past

***This was taken from my Newsletter (with a few edits) that went out on the 31st of July 2016. After I sent it out a lot of peeps were like OMG YES so I thought it would be cool to share with y'all! If you wanna sign up for my newsletter and get stuff like this that I usually don't share on the blog right in your inbox every Sunday you can do that here.

So what's up with the energies out there right now? OMG.

Maybe it's not getting you, and if you're feeling totes high vibe right now that's awesome. You might just wanna click here and go find something else to read.

But for those of us who are going through some mega transition and change energy it's been a hard few weeks.

Some ghosts of my past have turned up lately and I've been like "OMG not you guys again, didn't I cord cut the bejeezus out of you guys in November? And last May? And like, all those other times? Why are you still heeeereeee?"

And the answer is simply that when we're shifting into something new just about everything old comes up as bit of a stocktake. 

Exes will contact you, you'll find yourself slipping into old versions of your thoughts and feelings, you'll want to listen to Alanis Morisette on repeat. This is a clear sign you are levelling up.

I used to think that every time old junk would turn up that I hadn't done the work. That I needed a salt bath and some karmic clearing. But there's only so much past clearing you can do, and sometimes when the ghosts from the past pop up it's for an assessment of the here and now and not a kick in the pants from the universe.

When you clear the past you are not wiping it away, watching it disappear as if it never existed in the first place, you are just letting go of it's hold on you.

Your exes are still out there somewhere and Jagged Little Pill isn't going to go up in a puff of smoke. Thank God right?

I think us spiritual peeps forget sometimes that while sage soap can clear your aura for sure, we don't have to forget and let go of everything that's made us who we are today. When the past pops up sometimes it's just so you remember where you've been, the incredible souls you've connected with (even if they are no longer in your life) and the journey you've had so far as you step up into this awesome new energy. 

Spending the weekend revisiting your high school diaries, stalking past crushes on Facebook and having a big old cry in the shower is not a sign that you're not doing the work. In fact, it may just be a really big sign that you're finally letting it speak, revisiting the lessons and the blessings and making space for you to be moving on. 

If you are really struggling to let go of the past check out the Unlived Life reading or whatever else you need over on the New Age Hipster Store.

With so much love and light,

Vix

x

July Faves x

Making favourites videos is super fun. I love sharing all the cool stuff I've been loving with you guys, but there's other stuff I want to share with you too, like who I've been following, videos and TV I've been loving and other fun randomness.

*DISCLAIMER* This is not in any way about being materialistic. I really don't want anyone to feel like they have to have stuff. It's not my intention here to make you want stuff. Also, a lot of the stuff at the end is free so keep scrolling if you don't wanna see my new smudge stick!

Crystals faves!

Tiger's Eye is like my favourite thing ever right now. I have some bracelets coming to the Etsy store soon! It's a super great stone for success and prosperity, but it's also gonna keep you grounded so you don't act like a knob while you're getting rich and famous.

Amethyst has been a crystal I've worked with forever but this month it's feeling extra powerful. I love my new Amethyst point necklace soooo much. Keep your eyes on the store. They are sold out currently but I'm sourcing more! 

Smudgy faves!

OK, what is this smudge stick? It's a dream, it's not like regular smudge, it's something different, like it has flowery bits on it. 

Sweetgrass is my new addiction. You're meant to sage out the negative and then use sweetgrass to call in the sweet and helpful spirits. It's sure been working for me! This stuff smells like a dream and has me feeling all yay!

This Sweetgrass and Patchouli candle has been coming with me to events this month and all readings have gone well because of it! :P

Deck faves!

The Linestrider Tarot is just blowing my mind. Seriously. Check out the unboxing I made of it here.

And then Seeds of Shakti Oracle is amazeballs. I made a deck review you can check out here.

Book faves!

Moonology by Yasmin Boland is so freaking good. Yasmin basically breaks down the whole working with the moon thing.

Dorothy Must Die is my new favourite YA series. Distopian Oz where Dorothy has turned evil and the protagonist is a chic with pink hair from a trailer park? YES.

Kindle! :O ZOMG! How did I ever live without this thing? I love books, #booksnifferforlife but being able to carry around a whole library in your handbag certainly has advantages!

Hair Faves!

So I just found out that Superdrug is certified by the leaping bunny! :D That means no bunnies are ever harmed in the making of anything Superdrug brand. I've been using their Pro Vitamin conditioner, it's also totally vegan! :O

Another fun hair fave is the Palmer's restoring conditioner. It doesn't hurt bunnies and it also smells like chocolate mint! :O

TV Faves!

OK, I can NOT get enough of Stranger Things. I mean, I could not. I finished the series in just a few days because it was so freaking good. Set in the 80's, kids controlling shit with their minds, and Winona Forever.

I've also been laughing my butt off at Bojack Horseman. I mean, he's a horse.

I caught the I am not your guru doco about Tony Robbins and it was AWESOMESAUCE. If you haven't seen it yet, make sure you do. Totally inspiring.

Following Faves!

Rob Bell came across my radar this month and I LOVE his vibe. He's a former church pastor who now spreads a big message of Love and Light through the teachings of Jesus. Amen preacher! #hellanddamnationfree

My gorgeous friend Naomi from Nandora has started doing weekly healing sessions over on her YouTube channel. you have to check these out!

Jenny Ford is a freaking legend. Step aerobics is like my current fitness obsession. If you have a step at home or you just want to work out with someone super fun and cute check her out! 

Lemme know if you enjoyed the faves this month, and let us know what you're loving too! :D

With love and light,

Vix

x

When spirit guides go quiet

Sometimes your spirit guides go quiet.

You're doing all the right things; meditation, journalling, sleeping (you know, in case they contact you in your sleep), but nada. Zip. 

You can start to feel like you've lost your magic, you've lost your team and that you're suddenly all alone in the world.

Well, you're not. But I know that doesn't really help when you feel like you are.

So here's some thoughts on what's going on and what you can when your guides go quiet.

Why do guides go quiet?

I did a reading recently for a beautiful soul who was wondering why her guides were quiet. It turned out a big reason her guides had gone quiet was because she was in a major transition in her life. Now you'd expect your guides to be louder than ever, leading you through, but was actually happening for her was that her guides were also in transition. Many of her old guides were transitioning into new roles, preparing to incarnate and moving on in their own journeys. Their work had been done and now it was time to train up some new guides who'd be the brand new energies to take her through the next chapter in her life. 

I think this is happening for many of us right now. We've come a long way, and some of the guides who have led us to where we are now have completed their tasks and are now onto bigger and better things. And so are you. 

Sometimes guides go quiet to let you work things out for yourself.

Many times when faced with a decision we call on our guidance and get really clear answers. Sometimes we don't, but it's not because they aren't helping you, it's because there's more for you to learn and more growth for you to do by working things out on your own at times. They still have your back and are there to catch you if you fall, but remember:

your spirit guides are just here to guide you, not to make all your decisions and live your life for you.

Sometimes it's not them it's you.

If you're struggling to hear your guides take a look at what you're doing to hear them. Are you making sure you have quiet time? Are you meditating and journalling? Are you actually calling on them and asking for help? So many times people are like OMG can't hear my guides, and I'm like, well are you asking them questions? And the person's face goes o_O 

I do it all the time. Honestly. I always forget to ask for help. I even had to put up a card on my wall to bloody well remind me to ask for answers and to ask for help. 

It's easier to get help and answers when you ask.

What you can do about it

When the guides you usually connect with go quiet it's a great opportunity to connect with someone else.

Whether it's calling on your Guardian Angel, The Fae, Jesus, Ganesha, the Goddess, or any other divine being or deity. It can be a great chance to connect with some energies you wouldn't have otherwise. 

Also it's a really great opportunity to connect with your own self. 

Working with spirit guides is very much about connecting with other beings to help you, but what if you looked within and started trusting your own self even more?

Perhaps that's the real reason spirit guides go quiet is because they want you to connect with your own intuition, higher self and your own soul. 

If you would like to meet, reconnect or connect even deeper with your spirit guide/s check out The Spirit Guide Reading! :D

With so much love and light!

Vix

x

What is a lightworker?

Last week one of the #highvibejuly instachallenge prompts was #lightworker.

So many people were like "I don't know if I am one", or "I had to Google Lightworker" and so I thought I'd pop down some of my personal thoughts on what a Lightworker is, just to help y'all out if you have nfi what one is, or whatever.

First of all, I just wanna preface this post by saying that if you don't resonate with the term "lightworker", no problemo. Some people like it, some people don't. No biggie. 

Personally I like it, and so I use it. That is in no way any disrespect to those who call themselves shadow workers, duality workers, or people who just effing hate labels full stop.

I have seen a lot of hating online towards those who call themselves Lightworkers because there is this idea that we're ignoring our shadow, ignoring the darkness and just dancing around in sequins and pigtails throwing glitter at everything. Which, although sounds kind of wonderful in a way, is not exactly what it's about. For me anyway...

What is the definition of "lightworker"?

We all have different definitions, and yours may not be the same as mine. Just like when someone calls themselves "spiritual" it has like a bajillion different meanings to everyone.

A lightworker is just anyone who wants to make a difference and wants to make the world better.

Being a lightworker is about helping others, helping the planet and basically being a nice person.

Some people say you have to be "spiritual" to be a lightworker. I don't know about you, but I've met some damn fine people shining bright and helping the planet who do not resonate with spirituality at all.

You do not have to have a spiritual job or even be spiritual at all to be a lightworker. Some of the coolest lightworkers I know are total Agnostics. 

I LOVE this definition of "light"! x

How do you know if you're a lightworker?

Here's a lightworker test:

1. Do you try to be a nice person? 

2. Do you want to make a difference?

3. Do you want to help this planet?

If you said yes to the above, you are a lightworker.

Always doing the lightwork. x

The lightworker mission

"Hey Vix, you're cool with going down and helping planet earth for a while right?" 

"Sure, no problem! Earth is heaps pretty and I love hanging out with all my bezzies in human form! :D"

*Gets to Earth like OMG what is happening down here?*

A lot of lightworkers feel a huge amount of pressure to work out what exactly we're supposed to be doing and to get it done like yesterday. There never feels like enough time to complete the mission, we never actually really know what the mission is (apart from "to help") and so it can feel pretty daunting and frustrating at times. 

Connecting with your own inner guidance can give you a much better idea about what you're meant to be doing...

It's important to remember that just being a big bright light, being nice, standing up for injustice and generally doing your part to be a good human is pretty much enough. 

What's the deal with lightworkers and shadow work?

Shadow work is basically about working with the duality of both your light and dark. 

Although nothing brings me more joy than pulling Angel cards and sending love and light to the world, I am very aware that I am human and so I have an ego. As much as I try to bring light into my life, I know darkness exists, within me and around me. I just prefer to focus on the light. That doesn't mean I'm ignoring my shadow. It means when I discover something I don't like about myself or within myself I work on it, but I don't dwell on it.

I prefer to put my focus on what lights me up, and that's why I like the term lightworker.

Being a lightworker is not about being perfect. It's about choosing the light and choosing to do what's right and working on your stuff.

(Again, no disrespect if you prefer the term shadow worker and feel like it suits what you do. We're all doing the same thing just in the way that resonates for us right? Fist-bump)

Just in case you forget. x

Lightwork

When I do readings I'm doing lightwork.

When I'm sending reiki or love and light to others I'm doing lightwork.

When you meditate you're doing lightwork.

When you light a candle and pray for peace you're doing lightwork.

When you are nice to the person who makes your coffee, you're doing lightwork.

Angelic + Starseed connections

Many lightworkers also resonate with the idea that they are either incarnated angels, earth angels or starseeds (and we can talk about if these things are even different later). 

In a nutshell an incarnated angel is someone who has spent their time pre-this life hanging out in the angelic realms in angel form. 

In a nutshell a starseed is someone who has spent previous lifetimes and perhaps their soul also originates from another planet.

For many people the lightworker mission is not just about "helping out" but also making sure the planet survives, spreading peace, gaining information and understanding to take back to our own planets later, research assignments, and spreading love and light to help Earth evolve into it's next chapter in which we're all good to each other. 

Lighting up! x

So what do you think? Are you a lightworker? What's your definition of a lightworker? 

If you wanna chat more about being a lightworker, or anything woo woo, head over to the Spiritual Journey Pitstop group on FB or let us know in the comments below.

With so much love and light!

Vix

x

Winter Solstice Spread for Self Love and Self Care

K, so this is weird. 

Usually I'm in the northern hemisphere for Solstices and these sorts of things, but right now I'm in Australia.

I'm going to be flying back to the UK on the 21st, which is pretty much the Solstice, and so I'm kind of going to get more Winter Solstice than Summer Solstice, which is why I made a Winter Solstice spread in the middle of UK summer.

I always feel a bit meh during winter. Especially in the UK. There's no sun for months on end and so I think it's super important for us to be kind to ourselves with warm slippers and cups of cocoa. That's why this is a self love + self care spread.

Weirdly though, it's actually been sunnier and nicer in Melbourne than it has in the UK for the last few weeks.

So yeah, what's going on? It's winter, but it's sunny.

But anyway!

Here's a Winter Solstice spread for y'all to try, whether it's winter or not, who cares, it's a great spread for self love and self care on any cold day, or anytime of the year anyway.

1. Reward Yourself

This card will let you know what you've done awesomely that needs a reward. Like, what can you reward yourself for, and how can you do it?

I got the Fool reversed. Time to reward myself for all the times I got out of my comfort zone and said "screw it" and jumped. I trusted the universe, I could trust it more, that's true. But mostly I'm gonna reward myself for the adventures I've taken and probably reward myself by planning another jump.

2. Rest Here

They always say "don't rest on your laurels", but actually, this is exactly what you should do right now. What are your laurels to rest on?

I got Four of Swords reversed. Ha! This is like yes Vix, this means you too. Hahah.

3. Seeds to Sow

The Winter Solstice is more about sowing seeds than making stuff happen. What are some seeds for you to start sowing, or think about sowing?

I got the Eight of Cups. Time to sow some serious seeds for mindset shifts and work on some overwhelm issues!

4. Love Yourself

Everyone is always banging on about self love and loving yourself, but WTF does it even really mean? This card will give you some guidance on how to love yourself.

I got the Ten of Pentacles. A bit of a "it's OK to be successful and be looked after financially" message. Loving yourself is about accepting all the gifts the universe throws at you, not being a martyr. 

5. Your Inner Light

What's lighting you up? What's keeping you bright?

I got the Tower reversed. OMG this reading is killing me. Haha! OK, so actually, right now I'm being lit up by the idea of creating my life and my biz from the ground up. A lot of stuff had to go, but it's OK because actually, rebuilding stuff the way you really want it is super exciting.

6. Awesomeness Potential

Oh yeah baby! It might be cold (or not really if you're in parts of Aussie) and you might not feel like doing much right now, but babe, you will, and when you do, this is the cool stuff that may come up for you.

I got the Nine of Wands reversed. A great message about releasing some old junk here, especially "what others think of you" and generally letting down your guard. 

7. How to Stay Shiny

Sometimes when it's cold and dark it's hard to stay shiny. But this card will help you find a way to stay shiny, even in the dark. For more help with this check out my totally free e-book How to Stay Shiny!

I got the Four of Pentacles. I can stay shiny by letting go, surrendering and letting it happen rather than focusing on and forcing myself to be shiny at all times!

I hope this spread helps you, wherever you are, whatever the season or the weather.

You can come talk about your findings in the Tarot Nerds or Spiritual Journey Pitstop group and be sure to hashtag #newagehipster on Instagram so I can find you!

With so much love, light and warm winter solstices,

Vix

x

The Empath Spread

Being an Empath certainly has it's challenges. I dunno, I think we're all Empaths really, but some of us are hiding our Empath-ness under a bunch of other stuff and some of us aren't so much. If you're reading this, you're probably an Empath.

Empath in a nutshell: someone who picks up energies from other people, places, situations, whatever and is affected by them, OFTEN in a negative way.

E.g. if you hang out with grumpy people  you get grumpy. You can pick up all sorts of junk when you're an Empath,

but if you want to, you can totally clear it, protect yourself and use your Empath powers for good!

If you're somebody who's super sensitive to energies, this spread is for you!

Come hang out in Tarot Nerds if you wanna share or ask for help with your spreads or hashtag me #newagehipster on social media so I can find you!

Your Heart

This card is all about who you are without all the energies of everyone else, and everything else around you. What's really going on in that heart of yours? Where's your heart at? What's in your heart when you take away all the other hunks of energetic junk around you?

How to Ground

This card will give you some info around what's the haps with your grounding. Are you grounded? If not, what can you do about it? How can you get grounded? As an Empath you gotta get grounded babe. 

Who/What is affecting you

This is what is majorly affecting your energy right now. Could be what happened today at work, or on a bigger scale - like some big stuff going on that's been wearing you down for ages. This card should help you make sense of it.

How to Clear

When you're living life as a Empath clearing your energy is everything! This card will give you some insights into what/how to clear away that gunk!

How to Protect

Protecting yo pretty self from bad juju is imperative guys. Your protection bubble is your best friend here sweet pea, so check out what this card has to say about protecting your energy.

Moving Forward

So now that you know what's going on with your energy and what's affecting you, where do you go from here? What do you need to be aware of? What do you need to take action with? Being an Empath is no excuse for not living a freaking awesome life, so get out there and make it happen! Rarrr! This card should inspire you to do so, or at least give you some ideas on how to get there.

Now check out the video if you wanna see this spread in action! :D

With so much love, light and empath hugs!

Vix

x

PS - if you wanna share this spread around social media and your blog it's all good with a credit to New Age Hipster. x

An Interview with Josh LaFayette, creator of the Food Fortunes deck

Any New Age Hipster worth their weight in Amazonite has been eyeing up the Food Fortunes deck by Josh LaFayette.

When I first cracked this deck open I was like - OMG the art is freaking incredible! Then I was like - OMG it's pizza on a Tarot card! Then I was like OMG how do I read this thing, like does this actually relate to RWS (Rider-Waite Smith) symbolism or what the actual heck is going on with this deck? So I made a video about that, basically like "what are you doing with this deck, Josh LaFayette?" along with my awesome interpretations of the Knight of Sides card (it's about following your mashed potato dreams, obviously).

When Josh popped up in my inbox with some of the answers, I was like OMG Josh is like the coolest Tarot deck creator ever! And then I thought I should probably get him on the blog and share these answers with you because maybe you've also been sitting around trying to make your pizza match up with your Magician or your banana split with your Wheel of Fortune. 

But never fear Tarot Nerds! Josh is here to explain it all! 

Josh, all the New Age Hipsters are loving Food Fortunes, it's such a cool quirky and fresh new take on the Tarot, where did the idea come from?

Thank so much, Vix! I drew a version of “The Slice” back in 2013 as part of my Daily Drawing series. My original idea/concept was to take something deeply mystical and revered and strip it of all that by making it about food. Tumblr loved it lol. Katy Perry posted it on her Instagram account (with no credit obvi!) and that’s when I thought “dang, people might really be into a full deck?”

Are you actually into Tarot and woo woo stuff? Or was this more of an art project than a spiritual one? (Obviously art is spiritual, but you know what I mean)

I had to look up “woo woo” if that gives you any idea! :) I was raised in a New Religious Movement in the Southeastern U.S. that was an offshoot of a Christian sect called The Shepherding Movement (I abandoned it in my 20s). As a kid, I was shielded from all things even remotely related to occult practice/imagery or witchcraft or clairvoyance or anything. But, I was raised with a heavy emphasis on numerology and spirituality and meetings with prophets and stuff, so I guess I basically just got one end of the spectrum and was “sheltered” from the rest. I was always taught to look for symbolism in the things around me and to take meaning from things that most people might otherwise ignore (also I went to art school and that’s basically what they teach you lol). All that to say—once I set myself free to explore all mystical imagery (not just Christian), I really fell in love with the RWS deck around 2012/13.

How long did it take you to create the deck and how many of the cards are based on your actual dinners?

As I mentioned, I drew the first card in 2013. I drew about 10 more that year. All for my own pleasure. Then in 2014 I started grad school for an MFA in Illustration and I used those 10 illustrations (and the concept of a full deck) as the focus for my thesis. In late 2014 Chronicle Books in San Francisco reached out and developed an interest in publishing a full deck. I worked on the 78 proper Food Fortunes cards from about October 2014 to July 2015.

I definitely put a lot of my favorite foods in the deck! Also, I hid a lot of easter eggs in the cards based on my personal experiences—words in Arabic, Latin, Italian, Japanese, and Turkish, old hobo symbols, alchemical symbols, a drawing of my childhood home, and the name of my wife, Lou. I really had a lot of fun doing all of that!

We're all super interested in how the cards relate to the Rider Waite Smith symbolism, or like, if they don't? I've been clawing my eyes out trying to find the symbolism between pizza and the magician (pizza is magic?), please explain! 

Haha I love seeing you and all the New Age Hipsters striving to make the connections! So, Food Fortunes is only related to the RWS deck superficially through imagery. When I started working with Chronicle to make the deck a real thing, I studied the RWS like crazy. I fell in love with Pamela Coleman Smith’s illustrations and with the thought of A. E. Waite basically rethinking tarot and making it something he wanted it to be. Tarot is such an old tradition with so many lasting concepts and guidelines, that I knew I didn’t (and still don’t) understand it all. Instead of taking years to familiarize myself with the interworkings of tarot, I decided to make something new (this is why the word “tarot” never appears anywhere on the deck/box/booklet). But I didn’t want to completely leave RWS behind, so I borrowed/appropriated/referenced imagery from the deck. The meanings of the cards don’t overlap—not intentionally anyway. I have heard some good arguments for how they do coincide, though! Maybe the Universe had deeper plans than me :)

My main hope is that this deck will help “regular” people decide what to eat. But after hearing so much from the tarot community, I hope that Food Fortunes can help card readers sharpen their intuition and deepen their practice in a not-so-serious way. 

What deck/s did you check out while making your deck? Do you have a favourite tarot deck?

My main source of inspiration and study was the RWS—I bought that deck right away when I had the idea and I bought and read books about RWS to learn as much as I could. I’d have to say it’s my fav. I did look at a lot of other decks to familiarize myself with the tradition and make sure that I gave myself context before I started. I looked at a lot: The Épinal Tarot, The Marseille Tarot by Charles Cheminade, The Marseille Tarot by Jean Dodal, Oliver Mundy’s Tarot (which I believe is contemporary), Il Tarocchino Bolognese, Il Tarocchino Lombardo, The Aquarian Tarot (1970), The Black Power Tarot (a majors-only novelty deck), The Major Arcana by Oliver Hibert (another majors-only novelty deck); I also followed the creation of the art for the forthcoming Modern Spellcaster's Tarot by Melanie Marquis and illustrated by (my friend!) Scott Murphy, and the forthcoming Everyday Witch Tarot by Deborah Blake and illustrated by Elisabeth Alba (Scott Murphy’s partner).

Your art is pretty awesome. How did you get into it?

Thank you!! My mom would buy me sketchbooks and markers very frequently when I was a kid. I honestly didn’t grow up thinking that drawing was something unique to me—I thought everybody drew the same way everybody watches T.V. or eats or whatever. Art classes weren’t offered in the public schools I attended, but I went to college for a BFA in Graphic Design and really fell in love with expressing ideas through design. In 2012, I transitioned from design to illustration in my personal practice and now I’m magically an illustrator. In July 2016, I’ll have a big piece of paper that says I’m a MASTER of illustration and it’ll have a gold seal and everything on it so it’s super official, and that’s cool :)

Do you have any advice for people who might want to create art but think they suck at it? (I'm just asking for a friend)

I used to suck at art. It was nearly impossible for me to translate what was in my head onto the paper (this is even after I transitioned into calling myself “an illustrator”). I started a daily drawing project in 2011, so I’ve done over 1000 daily drawings and that is how I became “good at art.” If you want to be good at anything all you have to do is practice it over and over and over and over and talk to other people who are practicing the same kind of thing over and over. I think there are certain people who are born with a natural ability to do something and that’s great. But most normal people suck at everything and we just have to try and fail one million times until we’re good at it. I find no shame in that whatsoever!

What else do you do when you're not creating art? 

I’ve been writing/recording music and playing in bands since I was 16, and I think that’s something I’ll always do! Going to listen to bands, going to look at art, and playing with my son are some of my favs. I also love to eat (obviously!!)

Which card in this deck best describes you?

Ooo that’s a tough one! After much thought, I think I have to say for who and where I am right now it’s The Refried. It’s not my favorite card in the deck, but it feels so somber and introspective. There are two suns, which I find disorienting—and there is green grass beyond the sand/dirt landscape, but it’s upstream and there’s no clear path to get there. I’m juggling a lot right now in life and work and I find myself feeling confused frequently—but at least it’s bright outside and I’ve got plenty of water. Also I love beans :)

What's your favourite pizza topping?

I haven’t always felt this way, but after living in Italy with Lou for a while in 2009/10 I gotta say just gimme fresh mozzarella! Nothing beats a proper pizza margherita!

Do you actually keep your deck in the kitchen to help with meal planning? And can you provide us with a printable meal planner to go along with the deck? :D

Yes! Sometimes we use it to help decide which restaurant to visit and sometimes we use it as a list of ingredients for a meal to cook. It has actually been really helpful for us a number of times! Haha I already provided a meal planner—it’s called Food Fortunes! :D

Do you have any tips for vegans, vegos or pescatarians on how we can substitute some of the meatier cards?

Yes! So, my family and I are definitely omnivores, but we eat vegetarian/vegan often because, really, it’s better all-around for the earth and our bodies. I think when you’re in the veg mindset, you sort of develop an intuition that helps you quickly know what to substitute in for meat/eggs/dairy. For example, the King of Mains is a huge steak. But if I’m in the veg mindset and I pull that card, the first thing I think of is a big ol’ grilled portobello mushroom—yum! This is making me hungry. 

Do you have any plans to create another deck? If so, what themes are you considering?

I’m glad you asked these last two questions together because while I was drawing Food Fortunes I kept thinking that it would be so great to have a vegetarian or vegan version of the deck. I would personally love that. Sometimes planning a vegan diet is exhausting, and I forget what I’m able to eat and I just end up eating tons of sweet potatoes and lettuce. Having a handy deck of 78 vegan ingredients would be super helpful! We’ll see what the future holds—maybe I’ll have to sign up for a genuine New Age Hipster reading and find out whether that’s a good route to pursue! :)

Thanks Josh! It's been so awesome to chat with you and we're all eagerly awaiting the next deck! :D

And now you're going to wanna check out Josh in all these places:

website: joshlafayette.com 

collection of Food Fortunes promo images and links: joshlafayette.com/foodfortunes

@joshlafayette on twitter and instagram.

tumblr: joshlafayette.tumblr.com

facebook: facebook.com/joshlafayette.biz

And make sure you grab this deck for all your meal planning and culinary intuitive needs!

With love, light and dinners done,

Vix

x

Why isn't my manifesting working?

We do everything they tell us to do. We visualise, we burn letters, we call on the Angels of Abundance, we surrender, we journal, but sometimes, no matter how many things we are doing "right", our manifesting just doesn't seem to be working. 

And when that happens we go into freak out mode - this stuff doesn't work! Rarrr! And throw our cauldrons across the room. Or we scream at the universe "when is it my turn?!" We make demands, get furious at ourselves for being terrible manifestors, give up, cry, decide that this damn stuff doesn't work at all and then we try just one more guided meditation for abundance! 

There are so many reasons manifesting doesn't work, and most of them aren't because you're just a shit manifestor. So before you run out and buy a new set of prosperity candles because obvs the ones you have are duds, check out these reasons for why your dream man/woman/job/house/whatever hasn't turned up yet.

It's just a timing thing

Things don't always manifest on our timeline. Maybe your dream man is still getting out of a relationship he needed to have so he'd have learned some soul lessons and be ready for you. Maybe your house is still being built. Maybe you think you're ready for that book deal, but actually, you're kind of not. 

The universe doesn't (usually) deliver according to your iPhone calendar. If it's taking ages, it's probably for your best and highest good, so sit pretty, pretty one!

keeping the faith

Do you actually believe what you're doing is working? If you don't think your manifesting is working, guess what? It's not going to work. 

If you don't believe you deserve that new job, you probably won't get it, no matter how many manifesting tools you use. Or, you will get it and then fall into a heap of like "OMG I can't do this! I'm not good enough!"

Maybe the problem is not that you don't believe in the powers of manifesting and the universe, you just don't believe you deserve great stuff, which is a totally different blog post (watch this space).

what your heart really wants

Oh this is a corker. Sometimes when we try to manifest things we saw in the Urban Outfitters catalogue instead of from our hearts it's not always in alignment.

Now some people have huge successes manifesting fancy cars, huge wads of cash and hot outfits. Not me though. I find manifesting from my heart means it's way more likely to come into being.

I manifested New Age Hipster because I followed my heart. I manifested Taylor Swift tickets because I love her (and I love my friend Toni who had a spare ticket!). I manifested a uni scholarship because I loved the subject I wanted to study. I manifested my partner because my heart wanted him. When I look at what other people have and get into a place of manifesting what they have, that never works. Or, sometimes it does, and it teaches you a lot. 

Just chilling out last summer in Hyde Park, London with my mates Toni + Tay Tay x

gratitude for what you have

Being in gratitude is one of the best ways to manifest more awesome.

But you can't do it because you want more awesome right?

If you're keeping a gratitude journal just because you want to manifest more stuff that's not totally a great energy right there. Keep a gratitude journal because your life rocks and you want to remember that every single day. With no agenda! It's like when you ask for some big birthday present, and then you get it, you open it and are like oh YAY! But then you turn around and start wondering where the other presents are. That person who gave you that big present might be like - eesh! and not totally dig your vibe. 

Have gratitude for your life, just because, not because you want more stuff.

being too specific

If you want to feel freedom in your life stop asking for more clients, a better job, a chance to travel or a horse.

If you want a horse, ask instead for the feeling of freedom in your life. If you want to feel loved don't ask for a husband who looks exactly like Rupert Grint, just ask for a partner who makes you feel loved, supported and happy!

Manifesting works better for me when I manifest for how I want to feel, the kind of life I want to have rather than the make and model. 

being too vague

I do readings for so many people who say to me that they don't know what they want. After talking to them for less an hour we've uncovered exactly what they want and some ways for them to start moving towards it! 

Don't be vague with the universe. If you want to own your own 1950's diner with turquoise chairs and a vegan menu don't answer the question "so what do you want to do with your life?" with "oh, I'm not really sure, maybe something with food." If you want those turquoise chairs damn well say that's what you want! 

I had a white cat and a tabby on my vision board for ages before I got Zorro, but I never had the intention he had to be white or tabby! I just really wanted a cat in my life. Good thing too, because I love his black splodges so much! x

It's not part of your soul's purpose

Sometimes things just aren't part of our purpose.

If your soul came here to experience a simple life out in the country you may not have much luck in manifesting that massive penthouse in London, or you will, but it won't make you happy and you'll head back to the country anyway. If your soul wanted to travel the world maybe you just won't be able to manifest that corporate job that sounds awesome, but is going to keep you tied down for the next twenty years. 

You can totally manifest things that aren't in alignment with your soul, but it doesn't usually make you feel as awesome as you thought it would. 

It's a lesson

Oh it's always a bloody lesson right? But there is so much growth and learning to be had in not getting what you want. Do you just wanna just be handed every single thing you want on a plate, like today? Like some miserable princess or prince sitting in a tower snapping their fingers and having it all done for them?

Those characters are never very interesting or happy in those stories. Your story will be much more interesting if you have some challenges, some highs and lows, joy in finding the right person to spend your life with after so many disasters, disappointment in not landing that dream job, but finding something else that makes your heart pop that you never even thought you wanted!

Still working on manifesting a couple of these... x

Manifesting is pretty awesome, but so is being open to all the magic life has to offer you that you can't even imagine, let alone find pictures of for your vision board!

I'd love to hear your manifesting stories in the comments below or over on the Spiritual Journey Pitstop group! What amazing things have you manifested in your life? And what do you do when your manifestations aren't working?

With love, light and magic manifesting,

Vix

x