Toil & Trouble: Discovering Joy Through Crafting – Creating for the Sake of It

Posted on January 13, 2026 by ToilandTomes

There’s a special kind of magic that happens when your hands are busy and your hearts really into it. You’re snipping fabric, shaping clay, knitting a row, painting a stroke and you get lost in the repetitive movement, creations taking shape. Forgetting the world for a moment, it becomes just you and your craft.

In a world that’s always asking for quick results, it can be easy to forget the simple joy of making something just because you want to. Hobbies, especially those crafty ones, aren’t just about producing a thing, they become expression, play, exploration in the space of a moment.

If you’ve been feeling disconnected from your creativity lately, maybe it’s time to come back to your craft, not for perfection, not for productivity, but for joy.

Crafting is Permission to Slow Down (or Rage depending on preferences)

Let’s face it. Life is loud sometimes. It’s overwhelming, chaotic, stressful in the worst ways. In moments where things are topsy turvy, finding your way back to crafting can offer a quiet kind of rebellion. Your own mental peace in a world of noise. It’s a choice to slow down, focus, and create beauty in small, intentional ways. The rhythm behind stitching, satisfying whir of a sewing machine, or the messy fun of balloon painting, the point is to find a moment to pull yourself out of your own head and into the present. And in that present, joy has space to grow.

(Although to be fair, sometimes the best crafts take the chaos and chase it screaming up a hill. No judgement on how you choose to slow down, whether that’s a coloring book or a rage room. Self-expression is an individual’s journey.)

It Doesn’t Have to Be “Good”

One of the biggest joy-stealers is the voice that says, “This isn’t good enough.” Social media can make it worse, turning hobbies into performances. But the bottom line truth is that your craft doesn’t have to be impressive to be meaningful. Nor does it have to be meaningful to anyone but you.

Your mismatched seams, lopsided pottery, or slightly wonky drawings are still valid expressions of you. In fact, those imperfections are often the most human, beautiful parts. You don’t have to sell it, share it, or perfect it. Craft to enjoy it.

When you make something with your hands, you get to witness your own creativity in motion. That process can be grounding, affirming, and even healing. It reminds you that you are more than your job, your stress, your to-do list. You are a maker. A creator. Someone who brings ideas into form, color, and texture.

In hard seasons, crafting can be a lifeline. In joyful ones, it becomes celebration. It meets you where you are.

Craft Without a Goal

Joy often lives in the little things: picking out colors, organizing your supplies, finishing that last row of stitching. These small rituals are tiny acts of care both for yourself and for whatever you’re creating.

Even if you only have 10 minutes, even if it’s not your “best” work, crafting invites joy in the doing, not just the finishing.

Set aside time to craft with no plan and absolutely no pressure. Don’t even aim to finish. Don’t aim to share. Create just to play. Let your hands lead. Make something silly. Make something imperfect. Make something fun.

Because crafting, at its best, is a reminder that joy doesn’t have to be big or loud. Sometimes, it’s found in quiet moments, messy desks, tangled yarn, or the simple satisfaction of using your hands.

Final Thoughts: Keep Creating Joy

Your crafting hobby doesn’t have to be useful or marketable or even particularly “good.” It just has to feel like yours. A space where you get to breathe, explore, express and enjoy the ride.

Go thread the needle, mix the paint, fold the paper, press the clay. Not because you have to, but because you get to.

The joy is already there, waiting for you to return.

Blessed Be.

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Toil & Trouble: Infusing Intention – How to Spiritually Enhance Your Jewelry to Manifest Your Desires

Posted on December 13, 2025 by ToilandTomes

Jewelry has always been more than just decoration. Across the centuries, it’s been a powerful tool of symbolism, energy, and self-expression. But in today’s age of conscious living and spiritual awakening, many are rediscovering jewelry as a sacred tool. A wearable piece that can be utilized to manifest and cultivate our deepest desires and intentions.

By spiritually enhancing your jewelry, you’re not just wearing beauty. You’re wearing purpose. Here’s how to turn your favorite rings, necklaces, bracelets, or crystals into manifesting allies in your journey toward growth, healing, and abundance.

1. Why Spiritual Enhancement Works

Energy is everything. Just as you can charge a crystal or bless a space, you can infuse your jewelry with your focused energy and intentions. When worn regularly, these pieces act like energetic anchors. They remind your body, mind, and spirit of what you’re want to call into your life. Whether it’s confidence, love, prosperity, or protection, your jewelry becomes a sacred talisman.

2. Choosing the Right Piece

Start with jewelry that holds meaning. Whether it’s something you’ve bought with intention, a family heirloom, or a piece that simply feels “right.” Different materials carry different energetic properties:

  • Crystals & Gemstones – Rose quartz for self-love, carnelian for confidence, citrine for abundance, amethyst for calming emotions or spiritual growth, onyx or tiger’s eye for protection.
  • Metals – Gold is associated with divine connection and wealth, silver with intuition and emotional healing, copper with energetic flow.
  • Symbols – Hearts, moons, or religious icons can amplify specific intentions depending on your personal spiritual beliefs.

3. Cleansing the Energy

Before programming your jewelry with intention, you need to cleanse it of any residual energy. While you should cleanse everything, this is especially important for items you may have purchased recently or were gifted. You never know what’s already attached to a piece you bring into your home. I keep some incense and electric lighters, as well as a few selenite bowls, in various places of my home so I can start the cleansing process early. Additional ways you can do this:

  • Placing it in moonlight (especially during a full moon)
  • Cleansing it with incense. Bonus points if you choose an incense that matches the intention you are trying to create – Cedarwood for strength and protection, Lavender for relieving anxiety, Eucalyptus for protection or stress relief, etc.
  • Using sound (like a bell, singing bowl, tuning fork, or even your voice if you are musically inclined)
  • Using a selenite slab or bowl, or including your gems/metals in a bowl with a piece of kyanite.
  • You can cleanse stones in salt or water, but you need to understand how both those mediums affect either your crystal or your metal. Not every gemstone and every metal can be bathed in water for example.

4. Programming with Intention

Personally, I determine my intention prior to cleansing any piece of jewelry. I like to hold that intention silently while I am using cleansing each piece. In this way, I cleanse and set the stage for programming my intention at the same time.

Once cleansed, determine how you are going to infuse your intention. Will you hold the object in your hands? Will you charge it in a bowl with other pieces to magnify your desires? Do you want to do a more elaborate ritual to accomplish your goal?

You’ll find that many practitioners navigate this in different ways. Try out a few methods and find one that resonates with you. Paths are individual, so don’t assume something is wrong just because you’ve read different accounts from different people.

A simple ritual would be to close your eyes, breathe deeply, and visualize what you want to manifest. Speak or sing your intention aloud or do it silently to yourself. You can also write your intention and keep it in the same space as your jewelry pieces. Regardless, feel the emotion of already having what you desire. The stronger your visualization and belief, the more powerful the energetic imprint.

5. Wearing It with Purpose

Now, wear your jewelry daily or during moments that align with your goal—job interviews, creative work, meditation, date nights, or even just your morning coffee ritual. Each time you touch or see the piece, reconnect with your intention. Let it remind you to stay aligned with the energy you’re cultivating.

6. Regular Recharging

Intentions and manifestations change depending on where you are in life, so it’s important to understand that your spiritual jewelry needs regular recharging. If you are using your jewelry for interviews, you may need to recharge more frequently. If it’s only for public speaking once every couple of months, you might be able to go longer.

The important thing to remember is to cleanse and reprogram your jewelry regularly. I would also encourage keeping a little notebook for the first couple of times (maybe a few weeks or months) wearing your jewelry. Write down your impressions at the end of the day.

  • Do you feel like the events of the day matched your intended manifestations?
  • Was there anything that surprised you? The interactions you had with others, how you handled situations?
  • Did anything negative occur? Its incredibly important to review both the pros and cons of your day.

Once you can attune yourself to your jewelry, it will be easier to determine if you need to reprogram a new intention or simply recharge a depleted piece.

Final Thoughts

Spiritual jewelry isn’t about superstition, it’s about intention. It’s a simple yet powerful way to make your dreams tangible, to keep your desires close, and to remind yourself that your energy shapes your reality.

In a world that can feel chaotic, wearing intention-infused jewelry brings you back to your center. You get to decide if that center is one that sparkles, breathes calmly or confidently, or creates with joy, using one sacred adornment at a time.

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Book Dragon: 5 Tips for Reading While Traveling – Make the Most of Your Journeys

Posted on November 14, 2025 by ToilandTomes

There’s something magical about reading while on the move. Whether you’re soaring above the clouds, sitting on a train watching landscapes blur by, or lounging on a beach somewhere far from home, a good book can enhance the experience—or even define it. Since the holidays are around the corner, I’m sure you are all planning your next book marathon for that little moment of solitude in the madness of family charades.

But reading while traveling comes with its own quirks and challenges. Packing constraints to distractions to motion sickness, it’s not always as simple as opening a book or turning on that e-reader. Read below for a practical (and tried and true) guide to help you read more (and better) while on the go.

1. Controversial, but let’s be frank here – Digital is, in fact, perfectly fine.

Books are beautiful, but if your TBR shelf is anything like mine, it’s full of bulky tomes. If you’re a frequent traveler (or aspire to be a light packer), consider an e-reader or even an audiobook device. You can bring hundreds of books in a device that weighs less than an average paperback.

Plus, many e-reader models can be used with external chargers and work great in varying types of weather experiences. Audiobooks offer the chance to avoid talking to your plane, train or automobile neighbor. Nothing is worse than being interrupted in the midst of your story by someone asking “what are you reading?”

Tip: Consider loading whatever device you use with a variety of genres. You never know what reading mood your travels may inspire.

Tip: It is worth it to create a “go-bag” for your e-reader or other devices that include travel cords, external charges, or wall charger plugs. Keep it with your normal travel materials. This way you don’t run into the issue where you have left your “normal” cord at home.

2. Download Offline Content Ahead of Time

As I’m sure we all know, Wi-Fi can be both unreliable and, in some cases, ridiculously expensive during travel. If you’re using an e-reader or reading apps (Kindle, Audible, Libby etc) take the time to download everything before you leave home. Definitely, an important note that I include on any “to do” list before I take an extended trip.

Tip: Don’t forget to update your devices and sync your bookmarks in case you’re switching between formats.

3. Don’t Fight Distraction—Plan for It

Travel comes with constant interruptions. Announcements, boarding calls, or simply the need to look up and take in your surroundings can all take you out of that ever important Reading Zone. Choose books that are easy to dip in and out of—short story collections, essays, or fast-paced thrillers work well while you are in between spaces.

If you get motion sickness or just want to rest your eyes while in transit, audiobooks are a lifesaver. They’re perfect for long drives, airport waiting areas, or while hiking or walking through a new city. Invest in quality noise-cancelling headphones to block out background noise and make the experience more immersive (but do so safely!).

Save that engrossing novel for when you have longer periods to enjoy without interruptions. After you are already in the air, your train/boat doesn’t have frequent stops, or at night in your hotel. It is also helpful to choose easier stories if you are travelling places where you still need to maintain a level of vigilance in your surroundings.

4. Be Open to Reading Where You Are

Sometimes, the best book is the one you discover locally. Browse a neighborhood bookstore or a local little library, pick up a book by an author from the region you’re visiting, or even grab something in translation. Reading local literature can add depth to your travel experience and give you a more nuanced understanding of the culture.

5. Creating Rituals and Setting Expectations

Set your expectations early and be realistic. A good rule of thumb is to make sure you are not pressuring yourself to read too much. You’re travelling for a reason, so presumably there are things you want to see and do. The best travelling provides space to experience everything.

If you like your morning or evening rituals, set aside time to do the same while you are traveling. Mornings in a cafe with coffee, afternoons by the pool, or before bed in your hotel room. This gives your day a comforting anchor and helps you unwind from overstimulation or jet lag.

Travel is unpredictable. While you think you’ll breeze through four or five books, its also equally possible you’ll barely finish a single book. Using e-reader and audiobooks creates less items that you need to move to and from.

Tip: Journaling a few thoughts after each reading session can help you process both your book and your travel experience. Another option is to send yourself postcards from your travels, so you have souvenirs and memories all in one.

Let the Journey Guide Your Reading

The best travel memories aren’t always the ones you planned. Sometimes, a novel picked up at a hostel shelf, a new genre, or an unexpected author becomes the perfect travel companion. So, stay open, be flexible, and let the road lead both your body and your imagination.

Happy travels, and even happier reading!

What’s your favorite book to read on the road? Drop it in the comments below and let fellow travelers find their next great read.

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Toil & Trouble: Colorful Rituals. Infusing Everyday Life with Meaning Through Color.

Posted on October 14, 2025 by ToilandTomes

Color isn’t just something we see, it’s something we feel. It carries symbolic weight, emotional energy, and cultural meaning. By thoughtfully incorporating color into our daily rituals, we can deepen our sense of presence, create intentional moments, and reconnect with the beauty of the ordinary.

Whether it’s the color of the mug you drink from each morning, the outfit you choose for a big day, or the candles you light in the evening, color can transform routine into ritual. As we have officially entered the fall season (in the northern hemisphere at least), take some inspiration from nature. The world around us changes color constantly, and each shift in color represents different moments in time. You can shift your perspectives around color and incorporate these shifts and influences as needed into your own life.

Setting Your Daily Tone



Mornings. Ugh mornings! I don’t like them (definitely more of night owl), BUT I do know that my morning sets the tone for my day. Did I wake up relaxed? Did I lose track of time and end up rushing? Did I oversleep my alarm?

The way you start your morning and move throughout your day is directly tied to your energy. Choosing certain colors can influence your mindset for the day ahead:

  • Blue. Perfect for a peaceful start or a day full of meetings. Pair it with neutral earth tones like beige and brown and you can set your sails for calm and clarity.
  • Yellow. Joy, optimism, strength. Sunflowers, citrus fruit. Yellow is bright and sunny, ideal if you need a boost during any dreary weather ahead, or if you want to be a little light in the darkness for yourself and others.
  • Green, and really any other earth tones are great for balance, grounding and renewal. Are you starting a new project, a new job, a new adventure or hobby? Try incorporating some green into your day to herald that new beginning.
  • Red. A lot of people associate red with love, but its also confidence and passion. Do you have a big presentation and want to make sure you don’t blend into the crowd? Add a pop of red to your outfit. Got a big date, red again stands out. Want to project confidence, or even protect yourself from others, add some red.

Think of color as your first choice in how you want to feel today. You also don’t need giant swathes of color to bring a little color magic into your life. Try incorporating these colors through your clothing, your jewelry, a yoga mat, the pen you use throughout the day, or even the shade of your breakfast smoothie.

Enhancing Focus and Creativity in the Workplace




Color affects productivity more than most people realize. Adding color to your workspace doesn’t have to be drastic—a few elements are enough to shift the energy:



  • Orange is a more powerful color than most people realize. Its creativity, enthusiasm. It can also overlap with red in the passion category. Think of a match that was just lit. What color is that flame in your mind from the start? That spark, that is what orange brings into your day.
  • Teal. Who doesn’t love a good teal? Teal is great for focus, clear thinking, emotional balance. Lying in the mid-space between green and blue, it provides the perfect resting spot for clarity and grounding to intersect.
  • White is very simple. But it’s also crisp and clean. It’s a blank canvas or piece of paper. Use white when you need a boost to think outside the box, grasp that creativity and create something a little extra from nothing.

Even the color of your desktop background, sticky notes, or notebook can make a subtle but significant difference in how you experience your workday.

Nourishment Beyond Taste (or Convenience)

Food rituals are among the oldest forms of honoring daily life, and color plays a big role:

  • A colorful plate often reflects a balanced, nutrient-rich meal. Honestly, the more colors the more vitamins you are consuming. Take a look at your next meal and really pay attention to the color palette.
  • Using color-coded dishes or placemats can distinguish mealtimes (ex. red for energizing breakfast, blue for calming dinner).
  • Try mindful eating by thinking about what you are eating throughout the day. Do you have an important meeting in the afternoon – a heavy drab lunch is probably not the way to go. But a vibrant sandwich and smoothie combo. Perfect!

Celebrating color in your meals can transform eating from a task to a moment of accomplishment.

Color as Motivation in Movement

If you practice yoga, dance, walking, or any form of movement, color can enhance your experience:

  • If you want to take advantage of some spiritual focus, grab some purple on your way out. Whether it’s your gym shoes or your headphones, purple can help raise your energetic level and awareness.
  • Next time you are walking outdoors, take a closer look at the natural world. Catalog the colors that you see and how they make you feel. Do you gravitate towards one more than the other? It could be a sign that you are lacking an influence in your life, and adding a bit of that color can help you on that journey.

Matching movement with color helps turn physical activity into a more emotionally connected practice.

Winding Down Your Evening with Warmer Hues

As the day winds down, color can guide you gently into rest:

  • Soft amber or candlelight for warmth and tranquility.
  • Lavender or pale pink for emotional release, softness and stress relief.
  • Avoiding bright whites or blues in the evening can help signal your body it’s time to relax. Hence the advice to turn off any devices at least 30 minutes before you are ready to catch some zzz’s.

Try ending the day with a ritual of light by using dimmed lamps, colored salt lamps, or a soft-hued blanket to wrap yourself in.

Small Acts Create Big Meaning

You don’t need a ceremonial space or an elaborate altar to create rituals with color. Sometimes, it’s as simple as:

  • Choosing socks in a color that matches your intentions for the week.
  • Carrying a colorful object that grounds you.
  • Using jewelry or nail polish to carry the vibe with you throughout the week.
  • Keeping a fresh flower of a specific hue on your desk to remind you of something you’re working toward.

Color turns the invisible into something tangible, whether that is emotion, intention or energy. When we use it deliberately, our days take on a little more meaning, rhythm, and beauty.

Live in Full Color

Your daily rituals don’t have to be complicated to be powerful. By weaving color into the fabric of your everyday life, you invite magic, mindfulness, and personal expression into every moment. So tomorrow morning, when you reach for your cup, ask yourself: What color do I want to carry with me today?

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Book Dragon: Finding Solace in Stories – The Healing Power of Reading During Divorce

Posted on September 16, 2025 by ToilandTomes

Divorce is often described as one of life’s most emotionally turbulent experiences. Whether it comes after years of struggle or hits suddenly, it can untether even the most grounded among us. During this period of upheaval when routines are broken, identities questioned, and futures uncertain, reading can offer an unexpected kind of therapy.

Why Reading Matters During Divorce

Books don’t fix a broken heart. They won’t finalize custody agreements or soothe every sleepless night. But they do offer something just as vital: perspective, escape, companionship, and sometimes, a mirror.

Reading has been grounding in a world that feels like it’s shifting. The quiet focus required to follow a narrative act as a pause button for the mental noise. In the pages of a book, I can momentarily step away from pain, reflect on my own experience through someone else’s lens, or even laugh when laughter feels impossible.

Reading as Escape and Reflection

Sometimes, you just need to get away from the pain, the arguments, the paperwork.

Fiction, especially genres like fantasy, historical drama, or mystery, provides a sanctuary. Escaping into another world where problems don’t exist can be a powerful way to give your heart a break. There’s a reason stories have comforted humans for millennia.

Memoirs and essays by those who’ve walked through their own divorces or losses can help you feel less alone. They offer honesty, insight, and the sense that survival and even joy is possible. In reading others’ stories of heartbreak and resilience, we often begin to reframe our own.

Reading as a Companion

Books don’t judge. They don’t interrupt. They don’t tell you to “just move on” or “stay strong.” They sit with you in the quiet. In the early mornings when anxiety wakes me up, or late at night when loneliness creeps in, books are my steady, loyal companions.

Even rereading childhood favorites or comfort reads, stories you’ve visited a dozen times, can provide a soothing familiarity in the chaos.

Tips for Reading Through the Pain

  • Start small. If you can’t focus on a novel, try poetry, essays, or short stories.
  • Avoid what triggers you. If romance feels too raw, skip it. There’s no rule that says you have to read anything that doesn’t feel right.
  • Consider audiobooks. Letting someone else carry the narrative can be comforting, especially when energy is low.
  • Use reading as routine. A few pages every morning or before bed can become a gentle ritual, something that’s yours, and only yours.

You’re Not Alone

Reading can’t erase divorce, but it can help navigate it. It can remind you that grief is not forever, that healing is possible, and that reinvention happens one page at a time.

Whether you’re diving into a novel, finding strength in someone else’s memoir, or just rediscovering the magic of language, reading is a quiet act of hope. A small step forward. And in moments when it feels like everything is falling apart, that’s more than enough.

Have you found comfort in a particular book during a difficult time? Share your story in the comments, we heal a little more when we tell our stories, and when we listen to others.

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Toil & Trouble: The Restorative Power of Nature – Why Going Outside Heals More Than You Think

Posted on August 15, 2025 by ToilandTomes

In a world of constant screens, noise, and deadlines, the simplest remedy for exhaustion might be right outside your door. Nature has profound restorative power whether it’s a sprawling forest, a quiet garden, or even a patch of sky between buildings. It’s not just poetic or nostalgic. It’s science, instinct and survival.

But most importantly, and the part that we can forget on occasion, nature is healing.

The Science Behind the Calm

Many studies show what many of us feel intuitively: time in natural settings reduces stress, lowers blood pressure, eases anxiety, and improves cognitive function. This concept, known as “nature therapy” or “ecotherapy,” isn’t a luxury, it’s a form of medicine. It’s why people recommend fish tanks for your house or even as a screensaver. It’s been proven time and again that just sitting back and watching fish swim gently back and forth can relax your entire being.

Natural environments activate the parasympathetic part of your nervous system. This part of your body’s ecosystem is responsible for rest and digestion. In other words, stepping into green space helps the body relax, restore, and repair.

Restoring Your Attention and Creativity

Urban life demands constant focus: emails, traffic, multitasking. Over time, constantly focusing on the things around you can fatigue your brain. This is why after particularly rough weeks with your work or personal life, you can feel exhausted from your head to your tippy toes. Nature on the other hand engages your attention and your senses in different ways. It’s almost effortless for your mind and body to become attuned to the surroundings. It’s called “soft fascination,” a kind of gentle focus we experience watching leaves flutter, clouds drift, pets play, or waves roll.

This type of engagement gives the brain a break and allows resources to replenish. That’s why even short walks in nature often lead to clearer thinking, better problem-solving, and renewed creativity.

Healing Among the Trees

Beyond physical and cognitive benefits, nature offers emotional grounding. A quiet forest walk can help process grief, frustration, or confusion. Watching the horizon can reduce feelings of being overwhelmed. Gardening can offer a sense of purpose, organization and connection.

Nature doesn’t judge. It doesn’t rush. It simply is.

Micro-Doses of the Outdoors

Despite the general tendency of a lot of people, you don’t need to “unplug” for days on end. You don’t have to lavishly “plan” your time in nature by disappearing for a week. In fact, a small amount of time, like 20 minutes in a park, can make a measurable difference in mood and stress levels. Here are a few simple ways to bring the restorative power of nature into your everyday life:

  • Start your morning with sky-gazing from a window or balcony.
  • Take a daily “green break”—a walk through a nearby park or tree-lined street.
  • Bring nature indoors with plants, natural light, and organic textures.
  • Listen to natural sounds—birds, rain, or flowing water to calm the nervous system.
  • Grow something—a succulent on your desk or a small herb garden on your windowsill.

Nature as a Mirror

Perhaps one of the deepest gifts of nature is its ability to reflect back to us the natural rhythms of life. If you have a small natural space near you, try spending a little time there during each season. The seasons teach us about cycles: growth, decay, rest, renewal. Trees teach us resilience. Rivers teach us about flow and letting go.

When we feel broken or scattered, nature offers a pattern, and a peace we can fall into. In a world that often demands constant motion, nature reminds us that stillness can also mean restoration.

Go Back to What You Came From

We are nature. Bones made from minerals, oxygen from trees, heartbeat synced to the rhythms of the earth, cycles related to the moon, and our daily schedules related to the sunrise and sunsets in your area.

So when you feel overwhelmed, exhausted, or disconnected, take a deep breath and step outside. The goal isn’t to escape the world but become more attuned to a different aspect of the world that exists. Let the wind be your reset. Let the forest be your pause. Let the sun, the soil, and the sky bring you home.

Find a space to just be.

Blessed Be.

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Toil & Trouble: The Cards Called – Discovering an Unexpected Interest in Tarot

Posted on July 15, 2025 by ToilandTomes

I didn’t expect to suddenly find myself interested in learning tarot.

But one day, I found a deck, and then I found another, and another. Now I find myself the happy owner of a dozen different decks, that I have discovered an unexpected love for using in my everyday life. They have beautiful illustrations, and something about them all tugged at my curiosity in completely different ways. I didn’t know what I was looking for when I found each deck, but I knew I wanted to listen.

These small impulses cracked open something new. What began as curiosity quickly became a quiet, personal practice, something between reflection and ritual, intention and intuition. I wasn’t just learning to read tarot. I was learning to listen to and, most importantly, challenge myself to examine and reflect within both joy and shadow.

Not About Telling the Future—But Telling the Truth

Tarot isn’t about fortune-telling (at least not for me). It’s not about predicting my romantic partners, or problems at work, or relationship rollercoasters. It’s about presence. It’s about discovery. About asking better questions, harder questions. Taking intentional time to understand the layers of what I am feeling, thinking, fearing, or hoping for.

Each card is like a mirror. Sometimes it reflects something obvious. Other times, it reveals something I didn’t know I was holding. Either way, it invites me to look, really look at my life, my choices, my inner world.

Starting Simple, Staying Curious

I started in tarot after the death of my brother. It was something simple to do daily where I could process the myriad emotions that myself and those around me were experiencing. I kept a journal, I kept notes. I wrote my brother letters about the literal meanings, and what I thought it meant in the grander scheme of changes in my life. I listened. I grieved. I embraced.

There was no pressure to interpret it “right,” just an invitation to reflect. Some days the card felt spot on. Other days, I would be left in confusion. But, I pulled cards, and I wrote letters. Over time, I learned which decks were fluffy and would give me answers that required a lot of emotional reflection, thought, and introspection. I learned which decks were like a punch to the gut and gave me no room for wriggling out of looking deeply at myself and my actions.

But, I’ve learned to notice the patterns. I noticed how often I pulled certain cards when I was struggling. I noticed how my own thoughts and emotions shaped the way I interpreted what I saw. I noticed the areas where I seemed to excel, and the shadow-work I am still working on.

The Magic of Symbols and Stories

Part of what drew me in from the start was imagery. The symbolism. The tiny stories packed into each card. The Lovers. The Tower. The Queen. Death and transformation. These archetypes aren’t just abstract—they’re deeply human. They speak to our cycles of growth, challenge, risk, and renewal. They speak to shared history, shared mythology, shared intellectual discovery.

Learning tarot has felt like learning a new language. Not a language of strict definitions, but one of emotion, intuition, intentionality. But, it requires me to be open. It requires a melding of shadow and light in ways that I previously have never explored.

The beauty of tarot is that it grows with you. It evolves as you do.

A Tool for Reflection, Not Rules

Tarot didn’t give me answers so much as it helped me ask better questions:

  • What am I avoiding?
  • Where am I being called to grow?
  • What energy am I carrying today?
  • What do I need to let go of?

It became a gentle check-in. A way to pause, breathe, and get honest with myself. It doesn’t replace therapy, or journaling, or meditation but it adds something unique to the mix. In fact, I enjoy the act of pulling a card and then keeping a tarot journal at the same time. I routinely use it in my own therapy as a way of self-reflecting and planning. It brings in a bit of wonder. A bit of ritual to my every day.

Final Thoughts: Follow the Tug

If you’ve ever felt drawn to tarot, even just a flicker of interest, I say follow that tug. Being an expert is not necessary. I also do not subscribe to the notion that your first deck must be gifted. I do subscribe to the thought that following your intuition in finding your first deck is an absolute must.

You don’t need to believe in fate. You just need a deck, an open mind, and a willingness to explore your inner landscape.

Because tarot isn’t about the cards knowing you. It’s about you learning to know yourself. And sometimes, that’s the most magical thing of all.

Blessed Be

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Book Dragon: Finding My Way Back – Life After a Reading Slump

Posted on June 17, 2025 by ToilandTomes

For a long time, I thought I’d lost it.

The love, the pull, the quiet thrill of cracking open a book (or turning on the kindle) and falling in. I’d sit with a novel and feel… nothing. My mind would wander and refuse to focus. I’d reread the same paragraph three times. I’d pick up books I should want to read—books I’d been excited about once—but they just sat there, collecting dust on my nightstand.

I was in a reading slump. And if you’ve ever been there, you know how frustrating it can feel—especially if books used to be your refuge, your favorite escape.

The good news, most slumps aren’t forever.

Slumps Happen (And They Don’t Mean You’re Not a “Real” Reader)

Let’s get this out of the way: taking a break from reading doesn’t mean you’ve failed at being a book lover. Life gets noisy. Our attention gets pulled in a hundred directions. Sometimes we’re mentally or emotionally tapped out, and even the most beautiful book can feel like another thing we “should” do.

That doesn’t mean you’ve stopped being a reader. It just means you’re human.

The Book That Opened the Door Again

For me, the turning point wasn’t dramatic. I wasn’t “inspired” to read again. I just… reached for something light. A book that felt like comfort food. Not a literary classic. Not the buzzy bestseller that dominates my social media.

And to my surprise—I found my way back. Not because it was the “best” book I’d ever read, but because it reminded me of something simple: reading can be fun. It can be kicking your feet and giggling cozy. It doesn’t have to be deep or life-changing or educational all the time. Just a story that promised and delivered laughs, ease and comfort. I devoured four books by the same author in a single week. I pre-ordered her next book (which was delivered in April and promptly read in a single evening).

Tips for Easing Back Into Reading

If you’re in a slump and want to find your way out, here’s what helped me:

  • Check in with your old favorites. We all have them. Or at least I assume we all have at least one. Go back to a book you know you love. There’s comfort in familiarity. Your brain loves the familiar.
  • Don’t be afraid to DNF, or put it down and try something else for a while. If a book isn’t working after a few chapters, let it go. No guilt. Alternatively, maybe that book isn’t for you in that moment. I’ve put books away for a month or two and then revisited later on.
  • Romanticize the moment. Brew your favorite tea, grab the comfy, cozy pajamas and your favorite reading spot. Put your phone in another room. Reading is sometimes easier to get into when it feels special.
  • Curiosity FTW. Skip the “should-reads.” Read what calls to you—even if it’s a children’s book, a romance, or a graphic novel. I fell down the rabbit hole of recommendations last year, and DNF’d more books in six months than I had the decade before. It was intense. It was disheartening.
  • For those of you that like them – you could also try short stories or novellas. Sometimes full-length novels feel too big and too involved. The effort when you are in a slump almost doesn’t feel worth it. Shorter works can reignite your attention span.

Remember Why You Loved It in the First Place

Reading isn’t just a hobby—it’s a way of connecting. With stories, with characters, with emotions you didn’t know you needed to work through or recognize. When you find the right book at the right time, it can feel like someone reaching out a hand and saying, Here. I understand.

Let Reading Feel Like Joy Again

There’s no prize for reading the most books, or the hardest ones, or keeping up with every new release. There’s just you and the page—and when you’re ready, the connection returns.

If you’re in a slump, be gentle with yourself. If you’ve recently come out of one, celebrate that spark. Because rediscovering your love of books feels a little like finding your way home.

And the best part? There are so many stories still waiting for you.

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Toil & Trouble: When the Rituals Feel Empty – Navigating Spiritual Struggles

Posted on May 15, 2025 by ToilandTomes

There’s a quiet kind of heaviness that comes when your spiritual rituals start to feel hollow.

You light the candle. You say the thing. You meditate, you sing, you chat, you sit quietly in silence depending on your ritual design. But, practice can feel like a rollercoaster with its incredible highs and disappointing lows. You can feel yourself going through the motions— almost like you are on the sidelines of a play where you’ve forgotten why the scene matters. And it can be disheartening and hard to talk about it.

For those of us who practice any form of spirituality—be it prayer, journaling, meditation, chanting, reading sacred texts, or any kind of ritual—there’s often an unspoken expectation that we should feel “something.” Peace. Connection. Clarity. But sometimes,  you just feel tired. Or distracted. Or doubtful. And you wonder: Is this even working anymore? What am I doing wrong? Why?

I’ve been there more time than I care to count in my life and my spiritual journey.

The Guilt of Not Feeling “Spiritual Enough”

For me, it’s easy to fall into self-judgement. I am great at building up those around me, but I am absolute garbage at being kind to myself. Thoughts of, “Maybe I’m not devoted enough, maybe I’m not trying enough, maybe if I gave MORE, I’d feel connected. If I were more disciplined, I’d feel divine presence. If I really believed, this wouldn’t be so hard.”

I know these thoughts are heavy, and very unfair not just to myself as a person, but also all the journeys I’ve been on so far and continue to move toward. Intellectually, I know that I am being unkind to myself, but I struggle with realizing that I’m in these negative cycles sometimes. I’m sure many people can relate.

Because spirituality isn’t a constant emotional high. Sometimes it’s just about showing up. And, I keep showing up. Through every turn in the rollercoaster – the joyful, the sad, the enraging, the calming. I show up through every single one.

The Myth of Perfect Practice

We imagine the spiritually “advanced” as people who float through their rituals with unwavering grace and joy. But most traditions speak to this very struggle. The dry spells, the dark nights, the internal and external doubts. The silence.

Practice is not performance. Ritual isn’t about achieving a mood—it’s about creating space. Sometimes what comes into that space is joy. Other times, it’s resistance. Or grief. Or nothing at all.

Redefining the Purpose

Maybe the goal is to be with whatever is there. Even the boredom. Even the frustration. I think a lot of spiritual practice is less about the overall or long-term experience, and more about turning up with honesty in all it messy rollercoaster glory.  A lot of times, this can mean bobbing through in maintenance mode rather than energetically. So what does maintenance look like for you?

Tips and Tricks for the Struggle Wagon

Here’s what I’ve found to be helpful when rituals lose their spark:

  • Remember to be gentle with myself.  I’m not failing, I’m human.
  • Change it up.  When something feels stale, its time to try a different approach. Go outside. Walk. Listen to music that nourishes you. Light a candle with no agenda. Breathe.
  • Sometimes the shorter rituals are impactful in the long-term. Maybe it’s your morning cup of tea. Could be the 5 minutes you take intentionally picking your clothes or jewelry for the day. Maybe its tarot pulling every Monday at 6am. A five-minute, heartfelt and honesty action is more powerful than a forced hour-long session.
  • Community. Sharing your struggle with a trusted friend or mentor can be grounding. You’re not alone.
  • Take the time to rest. Rest is healing. Rest is how our bodies are hardwired to recharge. Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is take a break.

The Sacred in the Struggle

Struggling with your spiritual rituals doesn’t mean you’re disconnected from the sacred. It means you’re real. It means you’re in it. A ritual that feels dry today may blossom next week—or next year. Or, and sometimes more importantly, there are lessons in the dryness.

What matters is that you keep listening. Not just upward or outward—but inward.

Blessed Be

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Book Dragon 2024: DNF’d Titles, Ratings, and Future Reading Goals

Posted on July 12, 2024 by ToilandTomes

I am not going to lie, 2024 has not been my year for books so far. To date, I have already DNF’d four. Usually, that is my total for the year.

I am definitely behind schedule on my reading for 2024. It’s been a busy couple of months, and I have just been too tired. I really should add reading into my daily “self care” routine, but first, I have to find a routine that sticks. 🙂 As always, I have lofty goals of posting to this blog more regularly as well, still trying to build that habit too as you can plainly see (lol 🙂 ).

Since I am already losing the race in terms of my reviews, here is a snapshot of all the books I have tried and/or read this year:

Academy of Protectors – 3 stars. This was meh. I mean I get it, but it’s another Mortal Instruments/Vampire Academy style narrative. Honestly, I got the series because I found the premise interesting enough. I’m planning to read the second book, but I’m not 100% sure I will be sticking with the series.

Uprooted – 4 Stars. Fantasy rooted in folklore. The pacing changes throughout the story, which meant that I picked it up and put it down multiple times. I’m glad that I stuck with it though, because it really grabbed my interest by the end. I have the second book Spinning Silver on the TBR shelf.

Wretched & Twisted – 5 stars. Fairytale retelling. Once again, I love these. I devour these books, and I already have Scarred and Crossed on my TBR shelf.

Mysteries of the Sea – 4 stars. Its really short, so a quick read. As mysteries go, nothing was surprising or unknown. The information is out there. But, the collection itself would be a great introduction to someone who is interested in maritime history/mythology.

To Kill a Shadow – 3 stars. I read the first half of this book really quickly. The narrative was attention grabbing and easy to fall into the world. It changed a little on the second half of the book. It felt like it was to add drama, and a little more mystery to the world, but the change in pace was weird for me. I plan to read the second book to see if anything turns around.

Gods of the Wyrd Wood – 3 Stars. Finished it. Slow to start but picks up as the author moves through the story and you get some of the character backgrounds and interconnections. As fantasy novels go, this one took a second for me to really dive into, there was A LOT going on. I had to reread a few pages where world building information was given to understand that narrative setting. I have yet to decide if I will be continuing this series.

The Dream Thief – 1 star. I was very disappointed in the second book for this series. I absolutely LOVED The Smoke Thief . The world building is incredible, but the characters/heroine did not draw me in to this one. I made it about half way through the novel before I gave up and added it to the DNF list for the year.

Forest of Vanity and Valour – 1 star. I had such high hopes for this one. I love a good Robin Hood-esque theme. However, I DNF’d this one. The narrative did not grab my attention and I found the main characters unlikeable to the point where a redemption arc would not have changed my mind. Seriously, I was rooting for the other guys the entire time.

To Carve a Fae Heart – 1 star. So slow to start. I couldn’t get through the book, and this was another one I DNF’d before finishing. The characters were not developed properly whether they were primary or secondary to the story. Nothing about it capture any interest or desire for me.

Made from Magic – 1 star. I DNF’d this book about 60% of the way in. It felt like a Mortal Instruments meets Motherland (tv show), but badly cobbled together with bits of whatever someone could find.

Bound by Prophecy – 1.5/2 stars – I really wouldn’t bother. It was short, but it was a first draft at best. I read this earlier in the year, and I have no desire to dive back into this world at all.

Wolfish Charms – 4 stars. Fairytale retelling. YES PLEASE. This is rapidly becoming a series I very much enjoy, and I’m looking forward to hopping into the next book.

What the River Knows – 3.5 stars. I like the world building and the inclusion of mystery, adventure, mythology. That being said, I’m not sold on the character development. The heroine is incredibly naive, and convinced she is intelligent and knows what she is doing. The background characters however add some depth. At least enough for me to read the second book in the series.

Court of Shadows – 3 starts. Finished it. I liked it enough that I plan to read the second book. I found the book pacing to be somewhat disjointed, and I feel like it could have tried a little harder to build characters/the overall world. I have a lot of questions.

Promised in Fire – 2.5 stars. I finished it, but it definitely read like a first draft. Technically, I have the next book in the series on my TBR list, but I have yet to decide if I will be diving back into this world.

As I mentioned, it’s been a tough year with books so far. Definitely not super impressed with the quality of novels I have been grabbing lately. However, I’ve got a number of books that I am currently working my way through, and the second half of the year seems to be turning things around. We will have to see what the next series of reviews brings to the table!

One of the fun things I did for myself last year was join OwlCrate. It is one of the book-y subscription boxes that comes with all the weirdly amazing trinkets inside, along with a new book to add to the ever-growing pile on my floor of TBR. I find it fairly economical, its less expensive than some other subscriptions on the market and you are charged every 3 months. No sponsorship or selling benefits for me, but if you are interested in checking it out, here is the website: https://www.owlcrate.com/

In addition to expanding the bookshelf, the subscription box kicked off a serious addiction to glasses with bamboo tops. (LOL). I lost count of how many exist in my cabinets now. My dog also thoroughly enjoys tearing up the box after I’ve unpacked everything. So, really, it’s fun for the whole family!

While I have really enjoyed OwlCrate so far, I am been debating on whether to switch to a different subscription box for 2025 to change things up. If you have any recommendations, send them my way!

That’s all readers! Until next time!

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Book Dragon: 2023 In Review

Posted on April 9, 2024 by ToilandTomes

 

I continue to tragically hope that one day I will magically find that I remember to post often, but alas so far that is still a dream. That being said, its time for a book post of some kind so here goes nothing!

Every year I challenge myself to read a certain number of books. For the last couple years, I have set the goal at 40 which I track through Goodreads. Now normally, I read a few more than that, but it seems to be the sweet spot so to speak. I’ve tried bullet journals to track my process, but honestly, I find journaling in general tedious.

Since I am so wonderfully behind on my book review posts, here is picture-tastic update of everything I read last year! No ratings, no comments. Feel free to comment if your curiosity peaks and you are absolutely screaming to know what I thought about any of the below books. 🙂

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Toil & Trouble: 5 things I wish I knew as a Baby Witch.

Posted on March 23, 2023 by ToilandTomes

I have seen other practitioners chime in the last year. Not one to let a perfectly balanced wagon go by, here I am! Let’s fly right in, shall we?

Covens and Groups are not for everyone!

This took me a while to figure out. Covens, drum circles, “relaxed” groups, “organized” groups, churches – whatever you want to call them. The bottom line is that they are not for everyone 100% of the time.

It took me some trial and error to realize that every religion/belief system has it outliers. Every belief has its zealots, its naysayers, its gatekeepers to balance out the leaders, the inspirations, the laughter, the community. Do what is best for you.

As a long-time solitary and eclectic practitioner, it took YEARS for me to practice my own way. I struggled in my faith over and over, and I forced myself to try different groups. While I have made some great connections and friendships from those experiences, I am still a solitary witch. I passionately hate people who drill rules and regulations into my rituals and spell work. I am freeform. I have a strong foundation knowledge that I spent years accumulating so I wouldn’t accidentally bind myself to a deity or spirit that would do me and others harm. I study continuously. If you are uncomfortable in groups, really analyze the reasons why. Maybe they just aren’t for you at this stage of your journey.

Closed Practice vs Open Practice

I really suggest doing your research on this one. There are closed practices, but there are also numerous open practices. Beware of self-expressed gatekeepers who want to make themselves seem greater by belting you in the face with unwanted criticism. Social media is an especially dicey area for this.

DO your research! Really analyze where your knowledge is coming from. Does the person have credentials of some kind? Are they certified or experienced in the knowledge they are sharing? Are they part of the culture and/or community?

I did not have this as a baby broom, and my experiences with “Covens” added to my confusion. I had to learn new ways of practicing and unlearn others. Keep growing, keep searching, and most importantly respect your practice as much as you respect others.

Herbal Magic

My mother has the biggest black thumb. She is great with tomatoes but struggles with pretty much everything else, I am late to herbs and herbal magic. But, I have lofty fantastical dreams of being a Green and Kitchen Witch to the depths of my soul!

In recent years, I’ve discovered I have a knack for growing herbs and garden plants. Very exciting! I love being able to grow a plant and use it in my kitchen. I don’t have a lot of time to truly dedicate to full blown rituals, so I tend to things when I am cooking and cleaning. Using plants from my own garden is one small way to add magic to my home, life and practice every single day.

That being said, your spice cabinet is a GREAT place to start. (Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!). If you are short on financial resources, hit up your local dollar store. YES, they sell spices! I struggle with the desire to be a Green/Kitchen witch without the space to have a fantastic, amazing, fantasy garden or the time to devote to one. Dried herbs, flowers, and other plants remain my go-to items to this day., and I supplement with my few small herb and fruit/veggie pots during the right seasons.

The slippery slope of “Love and Light”

Let’s be honest here. NO ONE is sunshine and rainbows every day of their life. The idea that all you can think, say, and do must be positive is incredibly toxic. Yes, the energies you put out there have an effect on your life and those around you. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t feel/express the negative as well.

I tried love and light, and every time I had a bad day I felt like I was failing. I felt like I wasn’t enough because I couldn’t manifest the “right light.” Which is where the toxicity comes in. Light has a dark, love has a hate – that’s just part of human nature. I 100% work to bring positivity into my life, but to understand where I need positive influence, I also need to understand how negativity affects me as well.

Research and invest in some shadow work. I LOVE shadow work. Understanding the light and the shadows is worth it to feel whole and balanced. It is also incredibly helpful to learn what makes you tick on each side of the scale. The key here though is to understand that shadows are tough. They aren’t meant for you to understand other people, but to understand your own gray areas, your own darkness and experiences. It is difficult though! Be prepared for some hard moments.

It’s cliché, but prepare yourself for a journey

Twenty years has had a lot of ups, downs, and more wrong turns than I remembered to count. I’ve been stressed out, elated, doubted myself, successful and everything in between.

Your journey is going to be bumpy. There will be times when you will feel like you are zooming ahead, and times when you are going nowhere. I’ve stepped away from my faith many times over the years, just because I felt stagnate. I’ve learned that the moments where I feel stuck, are also the moments where there is something trying to grab my attention. Most recently, it manifested in a desire to learn a little about tarot – which I’ve never been interested in before. The time before that, it was ways to make my cleaning supplies more magically infused.

Small changes are still change. Everything does not need to be giant leaps forward and great revelations of the 21st century. Give yourself leeway as you are learning.

That’s it my fellow broomies!
Until next time! I’ve been able to keep up with my reading this year and am excited for a few witchy reviews!

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