How to Learn and UNDERSTAND Tarot

Hello All,

I’ve had quite a few people ask me how I learned to read Tarot cards, and to be honest, it was incredibly easy for me to pick up in person with my family back in Puerto Rico or with my second and third cousins.

However, my elders always encouraged writing for understanding. Tarot is not usually used in Espiritismo as the “baraja Espanola” which is almost like a “playing card” set, and inspired the regular 52 cards you play Gin Rummy with. Usually those consist of the “copas”, “espadas”, “oros” and “bastos” (cups, swords, coins, wands) which is the minor arcana in the regular Rider-Waite 78 Tarot deck. They have their own meanings, Zodiac and other correspondences, so for now let’s start with the basics.

When you want to start reading traditional Tarot, I always suggest getting the traditional Rider-Waite Tarot deck (Universal Rider-Waite is okay too), a journal dedicated ONLY to the deck, and a pen you also want to dedicate to this journal. The next 78 days will be your lesson which each card. You will be utilizing the card for its BOOK definition of the card, the Zodiacal & planetary correspondences, the natural definitions and spiritual meanings of what is in the card, colors, DIRECTIONS OF THE CHARACTERS IN THE CARDS, archetypes, ect. But then, you are going to see how the card incorporated to your day-to-day routine. You can add a lesson you learned that day, add an affirmation, or journal as usual about your day. It creates a great habit of knowing yourself as well through “The Fool’s Journey”.

I always tell those learning to get a mini deck or stickers of the Tarot to use for the journal so you can also reference later on and see progression. I also have many books I recommend to read as well that I will list down below for those looking for a more in depth understanding to enhance knowledge and ability to possibly read for others if they wish. The 3 I recommend are:

1. The Watkins Tarot Handbook by Naomi Ozaniec

2. Tarot and Psychology by Arthur Rosengarten, Ph.D.

3. Tarot and Astrology by Corrine Kenner

There are so many great resources out there as well, but always check in with yourself as well and see where you embody the energy of the card as well. Please note any questions as well that you may have with the card for the day you’re working on. Sometimes, you’ll get your answer through that energy.

I won’t lie, I also decided to do this blog because I do see a lot of people who are trying to scam when it comes to the actual practice of reading tarot. I rather my audience learn how to do their own readings versus relying on someone they may or may not connect to in order to perform their reading, especially for an astronomical price. This will always be a fail safe resource!

I hope this blog encouraged you to try it out if you truly want to learn. If you become comfortable, try to read with a person one-on-one and then continue from there on.

Love yall!

XOXO,

Alexx

For the Love of Bees

Hey everyone!

Today’s blog post is focusing around Bees.

Bees are usually a symbol of hard work, teamwork, divine order, maintaining schedules, and prosperity. Bees are not only important to our ecosystem and environments, but they play a vital role in our craft.

Bees have been known to be messengers between the spiritual and physical realm in certain practices. In others, they are a symbol and reminder to align with our purpose & work hard towards it!

Here is how:

1. Bees are also about working in community, creating a village, and protecting the divine feminine. What are you giving back to your community? How are you helping mothers/parents?

2. Alot of rituals, teas, and recipes call for honey, so it’s important to understand that Bees bring in SWEETNESS, kindness, and healing properties.

3. Bees bring in happiness, abundance, good health, and honor into the home as well. They’re great little additions to add to the home to incorporate that energy.

4. Call upon the Bee energy to ask for help in productivity. Sometimes, we need that push and bees NEVER have an excuse to put in the work for overall goal.

5. Bees are great for fertility, resurrection, and revival work. Think of their “buzz” or “hum”. It is rhythmic & signals the LIFE they bring to the hive.

6. The hive itself represents the home, safe space, and resilience of those within. Conversely, the beeswax is the actual structure holding the hive together giving significance to manifestation and creation to build, sustain, and obtain what you want.

7. In baneful work, bees are known to sting, so as long as they are collected ethically, they would be a great addition to swarm and sting when you must do justified protective work.

That’s all I have for now. I hope y’all have such a wonderful day.

Xoxo

Alexx

Santisima’s Lights

Hey all,

Today, I want to speak on Santa Muerte’s lights for her altar.

As we all know, Santa Muerte carries a lantern representing illumination, the openness and willingness to learn, and that even in darkness, there is a light leading the path to Justice, success, and understanding.

I had gotten a message the other day on TikTok asking to talk about why it’s not necessarily a good thing to leave her in the dark. The obvious would say, “Because would you leave her in the dark?”, however it’s deeper than that.

Because Santa Muerte does walk in the darkness, does have a darkness aspect to her & what she embodies, she herself welcomes light. The same way that she is “bone dry” and always needs water on her altar, she encourages the light.

Some devotees only use candles, but it’s always nice to add Christmas lights, holiday lights, battery operated candles, ect. Depending on your space is a big reason to incorporate these types of illumination. For those who live in studio apartments or do opt to have their altars in private spaces, like a walk-in closet, it is NOT advised to leave a candle unattended, even if the glassware is in a bowl of water. Fire safety first!

They are fairly inexpensive at your local dollar store, but they add a vibe to the altar no matter the color Santa Muerte statue and robe you have. I love the ones that are like flowers, roses in particular. Although batteries can add up, always just buy in bulk for SOLEY her altar and then for other household necessities.

You can also get really creative with the Christmas lights/holiday lights. You can layer them to give different effects. I’ve also seen people get lava lamps, disco lights, or even use lights from snow globes as a multipurpose offering & illumination tactic for her altar.

Again, be creative! She appreciates the effort & it does not need to be EXPENSIVE or potentially UNSAFE.

Love y’all!

Xoxo

Alexx

Consecration of La Santa Muerte

Hey all!

I had a very interesting question from one of my girlies who wanted to know how I PERSONALLY consecrate my statues.

However, it’s a trick question. All her different aspects get a totally different method of consecration due to a number of things:

1. Is she fixed & solid statue?

2. Does she have fabric or covered in a material that cannot get wet?

3. How heavy is she?

Now, some people like to give Santa Muerte a bath, some just like to spritz her down with Siete Machos or Holy Water with prayer over her, and some like to do the full blown 9 day method.

I do the full 9 day method when I FIRST GET MY NEW STATUE, then I re-consecrate every month I do an altar reset. However, because I do the same prayers DAILY, I feel like shes consecrated everyday.

I have a very specific ritual of invoking “God” or the higher power as I am a practicing Catholic, but please modify as you need. If you use an Emparo, say their corresponding prayer as well…example being St. Michael the Archangel.

I say, IN SPANISH, the “Our Father”, then the “Hail Mary”, I stop and ask permission using the sign of the cross to invoke La Santa Muerte, and attached is the prayer I use for her. I do this daily, but for consecration I also utilize a white tea light candle for 9 days.

For my solid Santa Muerte statues, I do bless them in Holy Water or Florida Water, avoiding their attachments, as they are usually solid and fixed. I bless her and her removable hands & scythe with a specific Devotional Oil made specifically for her.

For my VESTIDAS, or “dressed” with fabric Santa Muerte statues, I spritz her with Siete Machos, Holy Water, or Florida Water. I get a bottle from the dollar store to do so. It won’t mess up her fabric or create an unwanted mold situation. I HAVE SEEN THAT HAPPEN! I again bless her face, scythe and hand with her specific devotional oil.

MY MONEY SANTA MUERTE is the only one who has a totally different consecration method because of how she is wrapped in “money” material. She is not spritzed down, she is not bathed in any waters or Siete Machos, she ONLY RECEIVES DEVOTIONAL OIL ON HER FACE, SCYTHE, and HAND! Again, we do not want to ruin her body with what may create a mold situation.

Again, everyone has a different method, this is how I do it. I make sure every altar refresh, she gets refreshed too. Her tools & offerings switched out, water refreshed weekly.

I hope this helps you all gain a better understanding.

Xoxo

Alexx

It’s Been A While!

Hey all!

It’s been such a long time, but I am back and running at 100%. So much has happened from job changes, becoming a mom, moving 3 times, ect. But I’m still the same old Alexandra.

Due to recent social media events, I feel like it’s important to explain my boundaries & rules as Santa Muerte has shown me a significant scythe in betrayal drom those closest or almost close to me. I figured, let’s just make a whole blog post first about them.

New rules for all my pages:

1. No one under the age of 25 & even that comes with discretion.

2. All interactions must be on Instagram and will be through voice memo or through my actual email lalobadeariestarot@gmail.com. There is also a spot on mu website to contact me.

3. New devotees, please see the playlists. I will not help you at all for any reason wirh your devotion. I am not your elder, I will never be an elder. I never claimed to be one. I’ve posted so many times on this and y’all don’t do the work to scroll back on people’s pages. Otherwise, find someone more inclined to help.

4. No new friends. Not looking for them. Don’t want them. Especially if you’re not a parent or from the Tri-state area. Y’all don’t get the lingo, nor do you understand the regional culture.

5. Do not associate me with anyone I was in the past. I have cut off most, if not all connections. I don’t care, I don’t know them. If they say they know me, no the fuck they don’t.

6. If you stood on THAT side of the aisle and believed people’s bullshit, then stay over there. Keep me blocked if you don’t like me.  Everyone is a non-factor.

7. I check EVERY PROFILE NOW. I don’t care about my numbers. I will block if I don’t care for the user name, see if you are anything under 25, or have no profile photo.

8. Context is not an excuse y’all just wanna be right vs use your listening skills to actually hear and see what’s going on.

9. Anymore drama, I don’t see or know about it. Keep my name out of your mouth. Even in reference. I am what I am, I’ve always been who I am. Whatever comes to my desk I will address on my OWN time.

I hope all of these are easy to understand & moving forward will be enforced.

Love you all,

Alexx

I’m fed up.

Learning, but it’s not learned.

Teaching, but it’s not taught.

Loving, but it’s not loved.

Too much about who is right and who is wrong, never about that last goodbye before you walk out the door.

What if it’s my last one? What if it’s yours?

Guess it doesn’t matter when “I love you” is like pulling teeth.

The crime never fits the punishment.

I’m in a space where I have to be okay that I can’t see the rest of the mountain as I climb…I just have to trust I will reach the top.

This plateau cannot last forever.