The Hit List - How to help folks in Texas

This past week has been brutal for folks living in Texas. I’m sure by now you’ve heard about the treacherous snowstorm, which caused the power grid to fail, putting many people in the frigid dark without water.

It’s easy to sit back and say “well, this shouldn’t have happened.” But it did. The ones in charge failed. I’ve also heard quite a few people make smug remarks about how folks in other states “know how to handle this cold weather.”

While that may be true, does that attitude help this situation? How are smarmy remarks serving anyone, especially those who are suffering while you’re sitting pretty in your heated home sipping your cocoa and scrolling through the news? Nothing pisses me off more than useless commentary in a time when people are enduring great hardship.

Instead of clucking your tongue, here are some constructive ways to actually help your neighbors to the south:

1. Reach out to your friends and family who live in the affected areas. Make sure they are okay. Stay in touch so no one gets left behind.

2. If you live in one of the hardest-hit parts of Texas and have access to a vehicle, please check on family and friends – especially elders or shut-ins who live alone. With the power and cell service being spotty, some folks may not have a way to contact the outer world. A quick visit could prevent a tragedy.

3. Animals are suffering too. Donate to animal shelters and be sure to leave food out for the wild animals and birds. If you encounter a stray cat or dog, do your best to get them to an animal shelter.

4. Research the locations of shelters and warm places as well as food banks. Share that information wherever you can or where it’s needed.

5. Donate donate donate. CNN has a list of places that need your support.

As the weather warms up and the ice melts, we can hope that the people in charge make the necessary changes so this never happens again. But in the meantime, we need to do our part to provide help in whatever way we can without the snark.

Mercury stations direct today and we’re all here for it! Yay!

Other stuff:

Fight this: Anti-Trans Legislation Is in the Works Across the Country.

The Washington Post asks: Should the rich pay for the pandemic? Argentina thinks so. Other countries are taking a look.

Here’s a great tarot spread from Meg Jones Wall: Let’s Get You Some Perspective: A Tarot Spread & Reading to Close Aquarius Season.

Yes: Thank Black Women for the Best Bops on Your Playlist.

From Cosmo: This Part of Your Birth Chart Knows What You Need to DTR.

Pisces season is here: We’ll All Feel More Sensitive During Pisces Season.

Awww: Yellow penguin sighted for ‘first time ever’ in South Atlantic.

How She Shreds Is Helping Women Of Color Heal (And Learn Guitar) During A Pandemic.

How the party started: How a Trinidadian Communist Invented London’s Biggest Party.

Some of my faves are in this post! Your Horoscope Says To Give These 8 Black Astrologers A Follow.

An interesting take on it: Astrology isn’t a science, and that’s the point.

Eww. I was one day old when I learned about “fatbergs.”

Learn about the Moon through the houses in the natal chart.

Check out this post over at MindBodyGreen: Tarot Readers Share How To Interpret The Lovers Card.

This looks helpful: How to Do the Work: Recognize Your Patterns, Heal from Your Past, and Create Your Self.

More goodness from Chris-Anne: The Sacred Creators Oracle: A 67-Card Oracle Deck & Guidebook for Your Creator Soul.

Need: The Body Is Not an Apology, Second Edition: The Power of Radical Self-Love.

How come I didn’t know about this: Sacred Rebels Oracle: Guidance for Living a Unique & Authentic Life.

I love her: Norma Kamali I Am Invincible.

Martha Beck always delivers interesting books: The Way of Integrity: Finding the Path to Your True Self.

I adore cookbooks: Cook This Book: Techniques That Teach and Recipes to Repeat.

Curious about this book: A Radical Awakening.

What we all need right now: Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess: 5 Simple, Scientifically Proven Steps to Reduce Anxiety, Stress, and Toxic Thinking.

Wonder if you can read tarot? I’m here to say YES. And all of my best lessons are in this book: Tarot: No Questions Asked: Mastering the Art of Intuitive Reading.

The Uncommon Tarot: A Contemporary Reimagining of an Ancient Oracle is the latest tarot deck from Shaheen Miro (and yours truly).

Stuck inside? Grab your crayons, a big blanket, hot coffee, and The Tarot Coloring Book. You’re all set!

Feeling scared? Dealing with too much stress? Tarot For Troubled Times is like balm for the soul – a tarot book focused on healing, empowerment, and self-care.

I’ve often heard people say that “astrology is way over their heads.” I’m here to say a loud “NOPE” to that. Astrology for Real Life: A Workbook for Beginners (A No B.S. Guide for the Astro-Curious) is a simple yet thorough guide to understanding the basics of astrology.

Classes

Join my Patreon Community! I am serving up extended card of the day interpretations, astrological tidbits, community tarot practice, political astrology, early sneak peeks to horoscopes….and more. Higher tiers get access to live classes, replays of previous classes, mentoring, and more.