Amanda Reads: Issue 37

Your reading recommendations and tarot reading for the week of 3/27/23

Hello again, friends! We’re a handful of days into April, and there are birds everywhere. Since we bought our house in winter, my husband and I are both eagerly looking forward to seeing how the place looks with everything in bloom. A few green and colorful things are popping up here and there, and Azula cornered a groundhog in her fenced-in area one evening (she is fine, the groundhog is fine, and I have recovered as well).

With all that spring energy, this week’s book rec may seem a bit out there. But I can explain, and I will. Let’s get to it!

Book Rec of the Week

This week, I’ve been thinking a lot about Katherine May’s Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times. This book explores what it means to lean into the energy of winter, whether it be the season itself or our own personal winters. Time of grief or change or illness, where we have to slow down. I told you it would seem a bit weird, what with me prattling on about spring in the intro.

But, last week was a personal hibernation period for me personally. I have a chronic pain condition, which tends to flare up around my cycle. This has been the most intense cycle I’ve had in recent memory, and of course, it came with a pain flare. As I huddled on the couch, I found myself feeling guilty for my body’s need to slow down, to rest. I felt I should be productive, I should do do do.

Wintering is a welcome ode to the importance of rest, the invitation that winter sends to the natural world that we humans under capitalism like to pretend doesn’t apply to us. It is a healing reminder that we, too, have our seasons. It’s okay to winter every now and again, if you need to.

Tarot Reading of the Week

Card of the Week: Three of Strength

Deck Used: Dungeons & Dragons Tarot (in honor of the release of Honor Among Thieves)

This week’s card reminds us of the strength in connections. Now is a time to be open to expanding your circle and communicating your ideas with those you already know. Basically, this card is pro-networking, which makes my little socially anxious heart feel a bit sick. Nevertheless, connections are important, and this week is asking you to pay them a bit more mind.

Words from the Web

Ugh, I’ve been hibernating again. Spent much more time watching Wellmania on Netflix this weekend than I did reading anyone’s words online or writing my own. I did really enjoy book blogger Witty and Sarcastic Book Club’s Dungeons & Dragons themed book tag, which you can check out here.

As for me, I did manage to make a few words last week, exploring my inability to really get invested in any sitcoms for the last few years. This essay focuses primarily on ABC’s Not Dead Yet, which should’ve been a new favorite for me but somehow hasn’t grabbed me like I hoped.

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That’s all for this week! I hope you have a great start to the week and that you winter if you need to, or soak up the spring if that’s more your vibe this week.

Don’t forget that the monthly overview came out last week, as well. If you missed it, you can still get the whole month’s outlook in Tarot and plenty of new book release highlights here. You can also subscribe to make sure you never miss another (free) newsletter again!