The Hit List - In times like this, we’re all Six of Pentacles

In tarot, the Six of Pentacles is usually associated with charity as well as lessons around giving and receiving. With so many people struggling during the coronavirus outbreak, we’re all living out the Six of Pentacles daily.

Sometimes we’re the one doling out the help…other times, we are on the receiving end. Others are learning to ask for help for the first time, ever.

Crisis often reveals how much we really need each other. No one person can function without the assistance of many people. We rarely think about that fact until the chips are down, the supply chains cut off, and suddenly an outing to the grocery store feels like a scene out of Mad Max.

But here we are. This is our new – albeit temporary – norm. It’s time to reach out and lend a hand…or ask for assistance.

I don’t have a massive list compiled of resources (CNN did a great job of that here) but I do have a few suggestions on how you might be able to channel the Six of Pentacles and help a few folks out as well as ideas on how to find support if you’re the one in need.

If you are able and want to help:

Give generously to your local food bank. Many people are turning to food pantries to feed their families now. You can donate goods but cash might be wiser because these organizations know what is needed the most. (Psst…it’s not those old cans of beans and soup you had stuffed in the back of your pantry.)

Donate to relief organizations for various causes such as Doctors Without Borders or UNICEF. These organizations are stretched to the limits right now – and need your support.

Give to Planned Parenthood. They’ve been on the front lines of reproductive health for years. Plus they provide cancer screenings, mammograms, STD testing, and more.

Consider donating blood. The Red Cross desperately needs healthy folks to give blood now.

Volunteer. Not sure how or where? Check out VolunteerMatch. They can pair you with the right organization.

Shop local. Keep your local businesses running – order curbside, purchase gift certificates for future services, leave kind reviews. Your support might help small businesses survive. Be sure to shop at businesses run by BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and other marginalized folks as much as possible.

Pay your service people – hairdressers, cleaning people, fitness instructors, child care workers, etc. Many of these people are out of work. If you can continue to pay them, please do.

Before you make panicky money decisions, read this post from Susan Hyatt. It’s so wise.

Look out for the homeless in your community. They can – and do -fall through the cracks when times get tough. Donate to local organizations that offer support. If you come across someone who is panhandling, please don’t judge them. Instead, give them a few coins or at the very least, a kind word or two.

Stay in touch with your loved ones, especially your elders who may be shut-in. A phone call, letter, text, or email could brighten their world and make them feel less lonely.

If you need help:

Career One Stop will direct you to the unemployment resources for each state.

Take on a side hustle or new gig. Walmart and Amazon are hiring (I know – ugh – but sometimes you gotta make a pact with the devil to get food on the table). You may also be able to create some income through Etsy, Fiverr, or Tutor.com. If you have access to a vehicle, food delivery services such as Door Dash and Instacart are always looking to hire people. Also, the 2020 Census is hiring too.

If you can’t pay the bills, contact the bank, landlord, utilities, credit card companies, or student loans to see if you can defer payments or work something out. Some companies are willing to waive fees or negotiate at this time.

If you’re unable to purchase groceries, find a food bank in your area. This website will show you where the closest ones are located.

If you are a senior and stuck at home, sign up for Meals on Wheels. Volunteers deliver meals right to your door. Also: the National Council on Aging has covid-19 resources for seniors.

If you’re struggling mentally, contact the Crisis Text Line or 7 Cups. They have volunteers on staff 24/7 to listen.

This is a small list but my hope is that it helps during this terrible time. I know we’ll all emerge from this wiser, kinder, and ready to do our part to rebuild once this is over. In the meantime, don’t be afraid to ask for help – and by all means, give where and when you can. Because like that Six of Pentacles, we will all play one of those roles at one time or another. If we take good care of each other, we all rise.

I posted this pic last week but am posting it again: this awesome sign is made by a company called The Thank U Store. I love it so much! You can get one here. Show our helpers how much we appreciate them!

Other stuff:

I got a small nod in Yoga Journal: 4 Tarot Card Readers to Follow Now.

From Bustle: Daily Paper X David Alabo Is Inspired By Tarot Cards & Afrofuturism.

Heroes amongst us: They lived in a factory for 28 days to make millions of pounds of raw PPE materials to help fight coronavirus.

YUP: We Are Living in a Failed State. The coronavirus didn’t break America. It revealed what was already broken.

Does your family dismiss your tarot passion? In the latest Tarot Bytes, I discuss how to handle that.

This Balenciaga Model Wants to Unlock Your Astrological Secrets.

Over at My Modern Met: The Spellbinding History of Tarot Cards, From a Mainstream Card Game to a Magical Ritual.

Great question: How Do I Focus on Work When Everything Happening in the World Is so Stressful?

Isolation Manifestation: How To Use That Tarot Deck You Bought Ages Ago.

There’s still time to win a digital copy of Bewitching the Elements.

The Myth of Planning Your Pregnancy – Trying to Conceive During the Coronavirus.

A little bit of calm: Essential Chakra Yoga: Poses to Balance, Heal, and Energize the Body and Mind.

Necessary reading: We Need to Talk: How to Have Conversations That Matter.

If you’re having trouble making decisions, check this out: The Next Right Thing: A Simple, Soulful Practice for Making Life Decisions.

This new goodness from Amy Zerner and Monte Farber should be on everyone’s must-have list: The Creativity Oracle: Visions of Enchantment to Guide & Inspire Magic Makers.

This new book from Jen Louden is so frigging good: Why Bother: Discover the Desire for What’s Next.

Oooh: Wild Mercy: Living the Fierce and Tender Wisdom of the Women Mystics.

Shaheen Miro created a beautiful tarot deck: The Uncommon Tarot: A Contemporary Reimagining of an Ancient Oracle.

Coming September 1st:Tarot: No Questions Asked: Mastering the Art of Intuitive Reading. SO excited!

The Tarot Coloring Book is the perfect quiet activity when the news is getting on your nerves.

Tarot For Troubled Times was written for times like this. If you want to learn how to cope – and make a difference – this is your tarot book.

Not sure what astrologers mean when they talk about your rising sign? Check out Astrology for Real Life: A Workbook for Beginners (A No B.S. Guide for the Astro-Curious) and get in the know!

Events:

May 2-8, 2021: The Tuscany Tarot Intensive. Where: Italy! A full week of tarot immersion. Due to the Coronavirus, we moved the event to next year. Good news: the dates allow for a few extra seats which means you can join us next year! Yay!