Had to share this one with you all (and I'm also riding high on its potent buzz right. now. 😂). Inspired by a very expensive drink at our local coffee shop, this one is easy and cheap to whip up at home.

All you need is:

• - Cold brew coffee (I got mine at costco haha)

• - Orange blossom water (can be found at most middle eastern grocers)

• - Sweetened condensed milk

The technique is this: mix a few teaspoons (or tablespoons, you choose!) of condensed milk with a splash of warm water and stir to combine at the bottom of a tall glass. A pro tip from a friend (hey, Jordan!) is to use any leftover hot coffee from the morning if you have it. Add ice cubes, pour over cold brew, top with a splash of orange blossom water, and stir gently to combine. You can also drizzle a little extra sweetened condensed milk over the top to finish - I did!

Experimenting with a new practice, a miniature weekly forecasts of sorts, where we pull a card to see how best to work with the month's reading in the following seven days. 🗓 ✨

This week, we're gifted with the intrepid, dare I say adorable Page of Wands. Well, maybe precocious is a better word... Either way, we have some pep in our step this week that puts us in a wonderful and enjoyable position to explore some next steps.

You may remember that our opportunity card this month is the Three of Wands and our opportunity for last month was the Two of that same group. I have an inkling, then, that this week may be when we discover (or stumble upon, co-create, realize) an important next step in a creative path we've been pondering.

(To do the tarot math: 2 of Wands + Page of Cup with their 1 wand = 3 of Wands aka this month's opportunity.)

This can extend to many areas of our lives - work, relationships, personal practices - but whatever it is, it's animated by true passion and excitement. Since it's the very beginning of the month we don't have to go wild when it comes to actualization, approaching the new opportunity that emerges with curiosity and loose expectations. We have the whole rest of the month to hone in on the details.

The Page of Wands reminds us that experimentation and enthusiasm are powerful tools. Don't let yourself be forced into pretend seriousness; in fact, joy and playfulness are signs we're truly onto something authentic and meaningful.

YES to...

• - exploring options

• - playing with newness

• - being boisterious

• - wearing your heart and ambition on your sleeve

• - lots of physical outlets

• - prioritizing good sleep

NO to...

• - self-seriousness

• - downplaying your dreams

• - asking for too many opinions

• - excessive caution

Hi, I’m Bethany—a practical mystic, healing artist, musician, and guide in sonic exploration. I live in Portland, Oregon, where my work weaves tarot, astrology, sound, movement, ecology, and somatic practice.

Choosing a favorite tarot card feels nearly impossible, but The Moon 🌙 remains one of my deepest companions: mystery, dreaming, intuition, creative transmission, and learning to listen within changing light.

Right now, I’m being guided by The World, The Hermit, and the King of Pentacles as I attune more deeply to the Earth body 🌎 🌱

I also love collaborating with Gina on our Elemental Explorations, attuning to our elemental bodies through shared inquiry and practice 🌊🔥🌱✨

My animal companion is Cinder Proud Tail, our beloved cat and highly independent earthling 🦁🐱

Let's get to introducing ourselves!

A little format to get things going (very optional):

- Your name & location

• - Your favorite tarot card

• - What tarot card you actually feel like right now

• - Your animal companions (bonus points for pictures)

I'll start!

I'm Gina, the creator/owner of Alchemag and Incandescent Tarot, and I'm making my home in the woods of Durham, North Carolina. My favorite tarot card (why did I suggest this?? it's torture!) ...right now (ha, workaround) is The Star. It's our environment card for the month and I feel like I'm entering a period of deepening my relationship to the archetype. The tarot card I actually feel like right now is the Five of Pentacles: cold (for some reason sitting at the desk over the air vent), boo boo-ed up with a headache, and at the midpoint of the day. Emotionally, I'm the Ten of Cups, though! Ecstatic about this new space and the people in it. 🌈 As for creatures, I'm joined by a 11 year old border collie/cattle dog mix, Ruth, four as of yet unnamed goldfish, and two hives of honeybees.