The Hit List - Neat - The Tarot Lady

I’ll never forget the humiliation I felt in second grade when my teacher turned my desk upside down in front of the classroom. My cheeks burned crimson red and I struggled not to cry as the contents came spilling out all over the linoleum floor. Mrs. Larsen was unmoved.

She was determined to teach me a lesson and make me an example to the rest of the students who never seemed to have trouble keeping their desks neat and clean. Mine was always a tornado, stuffed to the gills with papers and pens, which enraged her.

The snicker of the other girls rang in my ears as I scrambled on my hands and knees to pick up the chaos and put my desk back together.

Needless to say, that order didn’t last and it wasn’t too long before I had to endure the desk drama with the teacher all over again.

The truth is, I’ve always been messy. I’m a hygiene freak so my chaos is never filthy but clutter follows me wherever I go. There was only one time if my life when my possessions were minimal. But even then, my lone suitcase was stuffed to the gills.

Learning how to be neat and clean has been a life lesson.

It shouldn’t have been. My mother was an exemplary housewife. Our home was orderly as can be (except for my bedroom, of course). My siblings followed her lead and their homes are spic ’n span with everything arranged in a sensible way.

Why didn’t I get this bug?

Perhaps part of the reason is that I despised the whole notion of cleaning since I was the only one who was forced to help out with the housework. My mother was a sick woman so someone had to get in there and lend a hand. I would have rather been occupied with a book but since I was the oldest daughter, I was assigned the caretaker and cleaner role. My brothers never had to help because it was “women’s work” and my little sister was “too young and needed to play.” So I got stuck with those duties – and resented the hell out of it. Being messy was a way to rebel!

I have tried every single thing to declutter. Heck, I even have a stack of books on how to declutter! Talk about ironic. What’s bizarre about this is that my work is managed down to the fine details. Everything is rigidly scheduled, checkbook balanced to the penny, and papers perfectly filed (I don’t have paper clutter at all). I run a tight ship. Why can’t I get this house running the same, efficient way?

Something changed recently.

I, like many folks, got hooked on Tidying Up, the new Netflix series featuring Marie Kondo, a tidying expert. I have her books (no surprise there, eh?) but I never employed her method. It seemed too complicated. But once I watched the show and felt her joy, I “got it” and began decluttering in earnest. My husband got in on it too (he’s a neat Virgo but he’s extremely clutter-y too.)

Our clothes are now streamlined and perfectly organized. My tarot dresser and stationery drawer are totally in order. Things are coming together. Next up is the kitchen and books. Considering I have about 200 cookbooks, this will be a chore. But I am determined. I want to spark joy, dammit!

Perhaps there is hope for this disorderly girl after all. Mrs. Larsen would be proud.

The cats hate the clutter!

Other stuff:

Great list from Mat Auryn: Eleven Books to Enhance Your Spellcasting.

I love Mystic Medusa: A field guide to the next Mercury in retrograde in Pisces.

YAY: ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’ Star Kiki Layne Does Tarot Every Damn Day.

I’m so excited to see my friend Anna Zahn on the Goop 15: The World’s Best Coconut Water, Next-Level Earphones, and 13 Other Things We’re Talking About.

Are you a creative or a writer? Jeanna Kadlec has a new astrology newsletter subscription service you might want to check out: astrology for busy bitches.

How to Compensate Black Women and Femmes on Social Media for Their Emotional Labor.

Why Aren’t More Women Having Kids? Ask Us About Our Student Loans.

A great, thoughtful post from Coming Out Tarot: Queer scrutiny is the need to trust.

The groundhog says we’re getting an early spring. He better be right!

‘The man who attacked me works in your kitchen’: Victim of serial groper took justice into her own hands.

Decluttering wisdom from Denise Duffield Thomas: How decluttering leads to more money.

I love Rachel True: The Craft’s Rachel True Gets Real About Racist Convention Bullshit.

I’ve got a whole bunch of tarot info for you: tarot card meanings.

Corey Booker throws his hat in the presidential race.

The Settler Fantasies Woven Into the Prairie Dresses.

Lisa Boswell teaches what the King and Queen of Swords mean when they come up in a reading together.

How Each Planet’s Astrology Directly Affects Every Zodiac Sign.

Vote with your pocketbook: 5 Easy Ways to Use Your Wallet to Create Real Change.

In the latest Tarot Bytes, I’m teaching you how to choose significators by elements and astrology signs.

I asked the Department of Education to fight for black girls. They ignored me.

Which tarot cards indicate buying a new home?

Ellen Page Wants People To “Connect The Dots” In A Powerful Statement On The Trump/Pence Administration And Hate Crimes.

Definitely on my list: Say It Now: 33 Ways to Say I LOVE YOU to the Most Important People in Your Life by Sherry Richart Belul.

I love books like this: Wishwork: Make a Wish, Do the Work and Watch It Come True by Alexa Fischer.

I can never get enough crystal books: The Crystal Fix: Healing Crystals for the Modern Home.

My current fave crystal book: Everyday Crystal Rituals: Healing Practices for Love, Wealth, Career, and Home by Naha Armady.

Oooh, Tori Hartman, has a new deck coming out: The Chakra Wisdom Tarot: 78 Cards with Illustrated Guidebook.

Check out this Mermaid Tarot dropping next month! WOW!

Wanna learn tarot but don’t know where to start? The Tarot Coloring Book is the easiest way to “get it.”

Preorder Tarot For Troubled Times – a book about tarot, shadow work, rituals, activism, and courage.

Classes:

Join photographer Danielle Cohen and yours truly for this amazing Tarot + Photography workshop: Through a Tarot Lens. Date: March 9th. Location: Costa Mesa, California.