Tarot for Self-Care - A Review

Today I'm reviewing Tarot for Self-Care: How to Use Tarot to Manifest Your Best Self by Minerva Siegel.

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
Image Source - Tarot for Self-Care

Author Links - Link
Amazon Book Link
Amazon Author Link
Good Reads Book Link
Good Reads Author Link
My Good Reads Profile
My Facebook Page


Generally I like to start out with a disclaimer. I am an contemporary witch.  I look for the connection between magic and science without the need to search for a creator. I receive no compensation for these reviews and all my links are standard Amazon links and not affiliate links. I am a practicing photo reader and have spent the last 16 years honing my craft.  I offer personal readings by request and have a strong online history that boasts over 429,000 views.



As always I'll begin with a review of the physical book.  This is a hefty book.  I was sent a hardcover to review. The pages are easy to read and have clear plain illustrations.  It has a strong index and takes a different approach to most "How To" tarot books.  The book is divided into three sections, the introductions, self-care and the cards and how to optimize self-care.

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
Image Source - Tarot for Self-Care

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
Image Source - Tarot for Self-Care

The author starts us off with a basic introduction into self-care, leading off with a paragraph dedicated to debunking the buzzwordiness of self-care. She provides a list of the types of self-care currently out there, including mental, physical and spiritual. As we move through the section she continues to provide insight on the methods for creating a magical mood for divination as well as a crash course on reading the cards.  From self cleansing shuffling techniques the author provides a great list of the dos and don'ts for manifesting a strong positive energy for the reader and provides several options for leveling up your tarot experience.

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
Image Source - Tarot for Self-Care

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
Image Source - Tarot for Self-Care

As we move into part two the author breaks down each of the cards for us in great details. She provides a basic interpretation of each card and a list of specific self-care card activities for each. The author also includes (which is often a pain point for new readers) the reversed information as well.

One of my favorite cards is the Star Card.  She tells us the Star card speaks of hope and deep rejuvenation.  She explains that this card reminds us to hold tightly to our ideals and find comfort in them.  She tells us the card is reminding us to have faith that brighter days are head.  She then provides the following self-care activities:

Mind: De-stress by avoiding busy, bustling environments that can overwhelm your senses.  Instead of going to a loud, wild concert, visit an art museum.
Body: The Star calls for rest. Have a movie marathon at home, and give yourself permission to relax.  Pop a bowl of popcorn, invite friends if you'd like an put on a favorite film series.
Spirit: Invite loving, happy feelings into your life with rose quartz. Meditate with this crystal or carry it in your pocket.

The book is filled from cover to cover with this exact set up for each of the Major and Minor Arcana.  From the Fool to the King of Pentacles, each card is represented with the same outline. After 200 pages dedicated to this, the author then moves into part three.  This section helps us look to optimize our self-care practices.

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
Image Source - Tarot for Self-Care

With sections related to meditation, crystal work and working with the shadow self, the author provides the reader with a way to delve into their own psyche and find within themselves the path to a higher existence through positive affirmations, meditations and dedicated self-care.  She provides a section dedicated the card relationship to the zodiac and had this to say about yours truly.

Pisces (February 19-March 20):  The Moon
The Moon tarot card is all about diving deep below the surface to get to the soft, tender heart of things, making it the perfect match for the emotional nature of the Pisces.  Pisces dislikes superficiality and thrives in uncharted waters. Reserved, The Moon represents the Piscean tendency to get caught up in worrisome what ifs and become anxious.

She goes on to talk about the self-care for the Pisces:

The loving Piscean heart is beautiful and something to be treasured, but you often get swept up in emotions and ideas. Other people's baggage, moods, and grief can affect you on a deep level. Setting emotional boundaries will help protect your heart.  Book a rejuvenating Reiki session to balance your energy. You'll feel more centered and in control.

Overall I found this book to be well worth the time to sit down and take a few days to fully review each card.  I took it from the single card daily pull but I can see how using the section on spreads could indeed help one use the tarot as a full fledged life coach.  Each card offering to the reader a way to pull themselves up by the proverbial boot straps, if you will and take each new day as walk to bigger and better things!

Titania's Fortune Cards - A Review

Today I'm reviewing Titania's Fortune Cards by Titania Hardie.

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
Photo Source - Book

Amazon Book Link
Amazon Author Link
Good Reads Book Link
Good Reads Author Link
My Good Reads Profile
My Facebook Page


Generally I like to start out with a disclaimer. I am an contemporary witch.  I look for the connection between magic and science without the need to search for a creator. I receive no compensation for these reviews and all my links are standard Amazon links and not affiliate links. I am a practicing photo reader and have spent the last 16 years honing my craft.  I offer personal readings by request and have a strong online history that boasts over 429,000 views.



As always I'll start with a general review of the physical book.  The card pack I was sent had a few issues.  First, the book was directly attached to the box for the deck. This makes it hard to read in my opinion.  I would have to rip it off the glued box in order to read it as a book.  Folding the box in 1/2 to read the book is nearly impossible as the spine is extremely wide and does not fit in the hands well. Secondly the deck fits into a slot cut in the left side of the box cover.  When you open the box the deck is sitting on top of the book, instead of being nestled safely in the cover.

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
Photo Source - Book

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
Photo Source - Book

 Two things in my opinion that hurt the overall presentation of this deck.Though a small deck in comparison to other decks I have reviewed, this deck only has the image on the card which means the reader will need to commit their meaning (as outlined in the book) to memory.  There are no written words on the card to trigger the memorization so as opposed to many decks that offer an idea based on the scene in the card; here you'll need to read the book a few times to be able to successfully read the cards.  A note should be made here the type face in this book is extremely small.  Most of the cards definitions take up 1/2 a page so I'm confused as to why the decision to make the font so small was made.  If I were to release an updated version, I would increase the font size to ease in legibility.

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
Photo Source - Book

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
Photo Source - Book

The book begins with an explanation of Madam LeNormand's famed cartomancer of the 19th century. The author provides us with the impact it had on their lives and then jumps directly into the card layouts. The Cross, 7 & 9 and even a 19 card layout are provided along with examples of how to read them.

There is a quick overview section that provides a thumbnail view of each of the card's face and a brief sentence on each.  Each offers the "see also" that directs the reader to the full description of each card.

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
Photo Source - Book

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
Photo Source - Book

Each full description card page includes information on how to interpret the card based on how it falls in the spread as well as its meaning. The Cross card for example is said to be the card of destiny. It goes on to say that you are looked after and your road is in the hands of the gods.  If it falls by the heart, you're destined for love; if by the garden destine for a job.

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
Photo Source - Book

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
Photo Source - Book

Over all an interesting deck with meanings that are only revealed in the study of the book. The images are muted but legible and offer the reader the opportunity to learn what the pairings are telling them.  Not my favorite deck but not the worse I have seen by far.

I found several YouTube videos dedicated to this deck.  Here's a couple to choose from.

I also found this introduction as well.

Heal - Discover Your Unlimited Potential And Awaken the Healer - A Review

Today I'm reviewing Heal: Discover Your Unlimited Potential and Awaken The Powerful Healer Within by Kelly Noonan Gores.

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
Image Source - Heal

Author Links - Link
Amazon Book Link
Amazon Author Link
Good Reads Book Link
Good Reads Author Link
My Good Reads Profile
My Facebook Page


Generally I like to start out with a disclaimer. I am an contemporary witch.  I look for the connection between magic and science without the need to search for a creator. I receive no compensation for these reviews and all my links are standard Amazon links and not affiliate links. I am a practicing photo reader and have spent the last 16 years honing my craft.  I offer personal readings by request and have a strong online history that boasts over 429,000 views.

Starting with the physical book I can say that this is another great one to toss into a bag or purse to read on the go.  It is small but the font was chosen well so that these elder eyes can read them without too much trouble.  The cover is smooth and contains no illustrations.  It does not have an index but does offer a section called "Meet the Experts" where the contributors images and brief bio can be found in its place.  We are also provided a further reading section with three pages of recommended books by those same experts, related to the topic of healing. 

The book is broken down into seven chapters which lead the reader on a journey of discovery. It covers what exactly our health actually is as well has how to work with food, nature and dealing with things such as the subconscious mind and the placebo effect.

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
Image Source - Heal

The book contains and assortment of quotes from health professionals and those who have overcome adversity to create a place of learning and growth for the reader.  Each chapter has a summary at the end to help the reader understand what they experienced and how to connect with the information on both a physical and spiritual level. Understanding, in chapter one for example, the role that stress plays on the body and how we possess the power to heal ourselves completely, if we simply allow that process to occur.

I enjoyed the section related to understanding that holistic medicine considers a personal mental, emotional and lifestyle factors, not just their physical symptoms. I can say with confidence, after addressing the issues that I had across all facets of my life, I was able to improve not only my physical self, but also my sense of self.  Understanding that the more time I spent focusing on negative self talk and self abuse, the more negative I felt.  Those things all weighed heavily (both figuratively and literally) on my body.  As with the experiences of the journey of those in the book, I found that my ability to awaken my own positive thoughts brought back my bodies own desire to be healthy and to thrive.  I continue that practice today with mindful meditation, exploration of spirituality and healing and the desire to reach a place where I can reflect on the world without anger.  My desire is to feel only compassion instead of feeding the negativity in this life.

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
Image Source - Heal

On page 57, the author beings a discussion on forgiveness.  For years, I have been of the mindset that while I did not dwell on the past, I was not required to forgive those who wronged me. When I read the following statement, it finally clicked.

I always say that all forgiveness is self-forgiveness because with resentment, unforgiveness, or rancor I may hold towards another, all of those thoughts are happening within me.

Recently I have started studying Buddhism, and I believe that the statement above is directly related to that type of mindset. When I get angry at someone, I hold that anger inside me. That anger eats at me. It has no impact on anyone but me. I feel the pain of it constantly. While I may not think if it all the time, there are reminders, such as seeing someone's face or a memory that pops into my head, that triggers that same feeling each time.  With forgiveness, I'm not approving their behavior.  I'm not giving in. I am however, allowing myself to say, this no longer has the power to make me sad. This no longer has the power to cause me pain because I forgive this behavior and I remove this behavior from having power in my life.

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
Image Source - Heal

Chapter six has to be my favorite chapter of the book because it takes a subject that I hold near and dear to my heart into the limelight. It address how Food and Nature are medicine. It provides healing tips as well as quotes around how to use food to heal the body.  We are provided with a discussion on Epstein-Barr, Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and other autoimmune illnesses that can be treated with food. 

Frozen wild blueberries are the most healing fruit on the planet and far superior to larger cultivated blueberries.  They pull heavy metals out of the brain and aid in the recovery from neurological problems.

The final chapter talks about Tapping the Intangible with a quote from Carl Sagan.

Science is not only compatible with spirituality; it is a profound source of spirituality.

It goes on to provide examples of spiritual steps from meditation to prayer that has caused positive health changes in the lives of those practicing. The author invites us to imagine illness to wellness with an exercise on using our brain to literally change the way our body feels.  Ancient practices such as yoga are a way to reset or bring our body mind connection back into balance. As a student of yoga, I have been focusing these last few weeks on strengthening my connection to the simple breath as a way to continue to create a healing environment for my body. With dietary changes and listening to my body when it needs to rest, I have been able to reverse several serious inflammatory diseases that were creating havoc in my body.  Using gratitude, visualizations and meditation, I have been able to make significant changes in my overall health and well-being.

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
Image Source - Heal

If you're looking for a book that outlines the basic steps you can take right now to create positive change in your life, I would say this is the book for you.  I'm not big on books that promote Christianity as it has done so much harm in our world today, I will give the author a pass on the quotes from the Christian Bible.  The ability to provide alternatives to prayer, such as meditation was enough to make the book something that I would recommend for others.

Overall, the book offers a positive way to work with the natural world of food and thought as a healing mechanism for what ails ya!


If you're interested in learning more about my journey of self healing I encourage you to follow my Facebook Page - Real Rations.  I share information on healing the body with medicine and mindfulness.  A process that has resulted in a 135 lb weight loss for both my husband and I as well as curing a range of illnesses from Fibromyalgia to High Blood Pressure.

Renee Olson

                                                                                                        

Elijah Olson

Revolutionary Witchcraft - A Review

Today I'm reviewing Revolutionary Witchcraft A Guide to Magical Activism by Sarah Lyons.

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
Image Source - Revolutionary Witchcraft

Author Links - Link
Amazon Book Link
Amazon Author Link
Good Reads Book Link
Good Reads Author Link
My Good Reads Profile
My Facebook Page

Release Date - November 5, 2019

Generally I like to start out with a disclaimer. I am an contemporary witch.  I look for the connection between magic and science without the need to search for a creator. I receive no compensation for these reviews and all my links are standard Amazon links and not affiliate links. I am a practicing photo reader and have spent the last 16 years honing my craft.  I offer personal readings by request and have a strong online history that boasts over 429,000 views.


When they say great things come in small packages, they were referring to this book.  While the size of the book is small, the content within is larger than life.  The cover is a mixture of a hard/soft cover and the short stature makes it easy to toss into a purse or backpack for reading on the go. The author has provided not only a healthy index but also a hefty appendix that goes on in great detail on spell books, rituals and even a new way to look at the wheel of the year. The illustrations are fantastic and show a representation of witches of color in an inclusive way. This reaches directly into the heart of the current life we're seeing in magical workings for social justice.

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
Image Source - Revolutionary Witchcraft

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
Image Source - Revolutionary Witchcraft

The books begins with an introduction to activism and the place that a witch holds in that fight. The author defines magic, politics, witchcraft and the history related to how magic was used in our ancient past. As she continues through the chapters, the author provides direction for connecting with the ancestors as well as instruction on shaking off this mundane and delving deeply into the craft for the betterment of all beings.  I would note there is at least one mention of the Bible in one of the chapters and it seems to lean to the side that witches are predominately female. While I understand that for most of the world the word witch equates to someone who is female, I would loved to have seen the author set aside that particular notion and allow a non gendered view or allowing space for those who may identify as male, masculine or any other gender variant to be included in the discussion.  That being said, I would like to acknowledge how the author said that they felt that witchcraft was a verb and not a noun.  To me, witch is a title. It isn't a title like Mr. or Mrs. but more like Doctor.  Note, it isn't specifically said in this book that only witches can be female, it is just what I perceived to be implied by the context of the book.  This was my opinion and your mileage may vary. 

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
Image Source - Revolutionary Witchcraft

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
Image Source - Revolutionary Witchcraft

This is one of the first modern witch books I have read that directly calls out to sitting public officials. In the section on Revolutionary History, the author specifically points to the 2016 election as being the catalyst for political witchcraft. To me this has two possible implications.  One, it flies into the face of "be silent".  If I want to work my magic, I want to do so in secret. I want to make sure they have no idea that I'm coming.  There is also an old tale about saying a person's name gives them power. Case in point, many today some 3 years after taking office, still refuse to use the word President as it related to Donald Trump. I'm assuming the opinion is, not saying it removes its validity. We would need to examine his actions and the impact they have had on society as a whole in order to see if that is actually the case. But I digress...

As we move through the book, the author takes us through initiation, journeying, dreaming and soul flight. Reminding us that as witches we are stewards of the land. The section on Standing Rock, I found particularly moving. Many books have lofty goals when it comes to recommending what witches can and cannot do.  This book actually provides real world examples of how to get involved in local politics, creating an organization and working with allies of all activity styles. From creating sigils and working with crystals to joining protests and working on access to voting this book provides ways to actually get involved with your community to create positive change.

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
Image Source - Revolutionary Witchcraft

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
Image Source - Revolutionary Witchcraft

Finally, I wanted to call out one part of the appendix that I found pretty amazing and have added to my magical practice.  As a witch (a River Witch) I spend a great deal of time directly in the path of the water. My home sets on native land stolen by colonizers, and homes and families destroyed, a great people were pushed away and nearly destroyed. Today, they are still being attacked at the highest levels of our government.  On page 141 the author provides a statement to the land, acknowledging the rightful ownership of the first peoples to inhabit this nation and face subsequent attack by those coming in and destroying their world. The statement is as follows:

We honor and acknowledge the land we stand on. This is occupied territory that was once called (NAME) and is the home to (Tribe/Nation). We acknowledge that this land was stole by settlers, and that the mistreatment of its first people continues to this day. While we live in a world that settlers created, we promise to work on building a better world with the help and leadership of the land's original inhabitants. We honor this land and thank you for the many gifts you give us each day. Thank you for allowing us to fight on, with and for you.

Photo Credit  - Renee Sosanna Olson
Photo Location - Seven Springs, NC

My personal statement:

I honor and acknowledge the Catabwa and Tuscarora  people who lived here on this land I now occupy. I want to thank them for allowing me to be here and to continue to grace my visions and my ritual with their energy.  I acknowledge that my direct ancestors stole this land and claimed it as their own and are now know as the founders of this place called Seven Springs. I live today in a world created by that carnage and can only hope that my promise to work towards a better world will allow the land here to begin to heal from this heart break.

Photo Credit  - Renee Sosanna Olson
Photo Location - The Cliffs of the Neuse State Park

Overall, this is a pretty powerful piece of work.  It was written in a very straight forward easy to read language. It is modern and yet still holds on to those basics that most witches will be able to see right away. I was skeptical at first, but I must say I was/am pleasantly surprised by the depth of the book and appreciated the author's guidance on inclusive speech, healing speech and open honest dialog about how our nation needs to heal from colonization.