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Dear Beautiful Souls,

I wanted to sit down and write a little update from my heart.

Over the last few years, things have slowly shifted with the shop. Sales have become fewer and farther between, and over the past year I’ve had to really slow things down behind the scenes. Many of the items currently on the website won’t be restocked once they’re gone, unless they are staple pieces. And to be honest, the days of being able to bring in specialised collections of magical treasures just aren’t what they once were.

Costs have risen dramatically over recent years, especially these past few months, and it’s becoming harder to sustain things in the same way.

I find myself being drawn more towards sourcing pre-loved decks and books. There’s something really special about giving these treasures a second life and helping them find their way into new hands and homes to continue their journey.

To those of you who have continued to support my little business ever since I started on that blessed day of the 8th of February 2018 — thank you. Truly.

Every order, every kind message (I actually have a folder where I save these messages), every share, every workshop booking… it all means more than you probably realise. You’ve helped me keep this dream alive for far longer than I ever thought possible.

There have been many moments where I’ve sat down to write a goodbye letter and close the website completely. But each time, I just couldn’t do it. I genuinely love this work, and I’m not quite ready to let it go.

So instead of walking away entirely, I’m allowing things to evolve.

I’ve been returning to my artist’s path — painting, pottery, and creating with my hands again. I’m also about to begin creating my own deck, something I’ve dreamed about doing since 2006. It feels both terrifying and deeply exciting.

If you’d like to follow along with this more personal creative journey, I’ve started sharing over on Instagram at @gumboots_and_herbal_tea.

I also have two beautiful in-person gatherings coming up here in Whanganui, because connecting face-to-face and sharing magick together is still one of my favourite things to do.

Introduction to Tarot Workshop

A day where I get to share all the things I wish I had known when I was first gifted a tarot deck nearly 30 years ago.

Saturday 13th June | 9:30am – 3:30pm
An intimate group of 10 only
$170 — includes an RWS deck, book, and journal

Payment plans are available — just get in touch and we can arrange something that works for you.

Click here to book your seat

Winter Solstice Gathering

Together we will journey through an evening of ritual, magick, and rekindling your inner flame.

Sunday 21st June | 4:00pm – 6:00pm
An intimate group of 10 only
$33 — including a lantern you’ll create and take home

Click here to book your seat

And perhaps, beautifully timed with all of this, we also have the rare Blue Moon in Sagittarius arriving on Sunday 31st May — a moon of reflection, truth, release, and new vision.

A Blue Moon reminds us that some things don’t come around often. It asks us to pause and really look at what matters, what is sustainable, and what still holds meaning in our lives. Sagittarius brings honesty, wisdom, and the courage to follow what feels true in the heart.

In many ways, this moon feels deeply aligned with where the shop is sitting right now — changing, simplifying, letting go of what no longer works, while still holding onto the spark and love at the centre of it all.

So if you’ve been meaning to grab something special that has been calling to you, this may be the time. Once many of these pieces are gone, they likely won’t return.

And for those of you who continue to support this little magical space, please know how deeply grateful I am.

Thank you for being here through all the changing seasons of this journey.

With love,
Denita x

P.S. I’ve attached a Blue Moon in Sagittarius tarot spread you might like to do this weekend 

There’s something so sweet about this little creature, pausing in wonder at something so small—a flower, a ladybird, a quiet moment of magic. It reminds us that not all blessings arrive loudly. Some are gentle, easily missed, and yet carry the exact energy we’ve been needing.

Today is about noticing. The tiniest moment, the softest beauty, the simple presence of something that makes you pause… this is where your blessing lives. And in allowing yourself to truly see it, you open the doorway for more.

Click on the sound bowl and allow yourself to receive the energy of the Universal Mother.

https://hayhouse.com/crystal-cadence-oracle-19

Let the vibration move through your body, softening your heart, expanding your breath, and gently holding you in a field of nurturing and support. This is an energy of unconditional love—steady, kind, and always available.

Affirm: I am fully nurtured by the Universal Mother and bathed in her unconditional love. She supports me in all that I am and all that I am becoming. Her love holds me steady. I belong. She shows me, showers me with kindness and compassion.

Today is gentle. Notice the small things. Let them land. Let yourself be nurtured by what is already here. You are supported. You are held. You belong.

After endings, there comes a quiet turning. Sometimes we do not notice at first that the heaviness has begun to lift — only that something in us starts to soften. What once felt dense and uncertain makes room for sweetness, and the path ahead becomes lighter beneath our feet.

Yesterday’s card, When All Things Ended, spoke of closure and surrender. Today, the next messages arrive as a gentle continuation: And Yet, The Path Grows Lighter and Divine Light Embodied. Together, they feel like a sacred reminder that after every ending comes renewal, and after every release comes the invitation to remember who we truly are.

Even in times of transition, we are never walking alone. Wise company travels beside us, quietly encouraging us to trust that the lightness of life is worth returning to. The heaviness we have cast away has created space for hidden treasures to rise within us — resilience, tenderness, wonder, and renewed trust in the unfolding path.

The world awakens differently after sorrow. It can feel as though we are seeing beauty for the first time. Drink it in as the bee gathers nectar from the blossom — slowly, reverently, receiving sweetness as medicine. Let yourself develop a taste for joy again. You have travelled far in this life, and there is still so much more ahead. You have the strength, the stamina, and the wisdom for the road before you. Blessings await along the once-untravelled path.

And beneath this returning sweetness comes a deeper remembrance: the light we seek is not outside us. It is already alive within.

Divine Light Embodied reminds us that we are made of vibration, breath, sound, energy, and sacred radiance. We are not separate from divine light — we are carriers of it. When we choose love as our vibration, when we allow joy, wonder, and innocence to return, we become living expressions of that sacred light.

This card is paired with a crystal singing bowl meditation from Jeralyn Glass’s Crystal Sound Healing Oracle, offering a beautiful way to receive the message not only through words, but through vibration and sound. If you would like to experience the sound healing connected to this card, you can listen here: https://hayhouse.com/crystal-cadence-oracle-01⁠

Close your eyes. Let them roll gently upward, then soften downward into stillness. Feel your breath moving through the central channel of your body — inhale from the root, exhale through the crown.

Now imagine breathing in light from two feet above your head, drawing it down into every cell of your being, and affirm:

I am divine light embodied.
I am radiant inside and out.
I am grounded in wonder and delight.
My mind is clear.
I am strong, anchored in earth and connected through my breath to Spirit.

This is the invitation now: Walk the higher path. Choose love as your vibration. Anchor your radiant light. Trust the sweetness ahead.

You are loved. You are pure. You are divine.

from Into the Loney Woods Oracle deck by Lucy Cavendish

When all things end, we realise how carefully we have sculpted our lives into familiar shapes. Over time, we create patterns, stories, and rituals around these forms, each one built from the beautiful moments that make up our days. These shapes become the architecture of our lives, giving us meaning, comfort, and a sense of belonging in the world we have made.

Yet sometimes, through no choice or decision of our own, that world comes to an end. What once felt solid and enduring begins to dissolve, and we find ourselves standing at the threshold of change. This may be such a moment for you—a moment when all that once was is quietly becoming the past.

What is no longer becomes memory, and the kingdom that once stood so firmly is no more. Even so, you remain, still standing in truth. There is something profound in that: the recognition that while circumstances, relationships, and identities may fall away, the essence of who you are continues.

Every living being exists in a constant state of flux. Beneath the visible surface, life is always moving through cycles of birth, growth, decay, and renewal. To live is to change; there is no life without transformation. Though endings can feel disorienting, they are part of the natural rhythm of existence.

Take a moment to look upon what once was. Honour it for what it gave you. Allow yourself to grieve it, to thank it, and to say goodbye. Endings deserve witness, just as beginnings do.

Then, when you are ready, begin to step—however uncertainly—into the mysterious unknown. Though the path ahead may feel unclear, it is also the place where new shapes will form, where new stories will emerge, and where the beautiful future waiting for you will slowly begin to reveal itself.

This post continues the path we have been walking together.

From The Hanged Man, where we were asked to pause, surrender, and see life from a new perspective… to Temperance, where we gently restored balance and began integrating what we had learned… to The Devil, where we were invited to look honestly at what was holding us back, and begin reclaiming our power.

And now… something within you begins to rise.

This is where Judgement enters the journey.

Judgement card come from Scadowscapes Tarot by Stephaine Law

There comes a moment when you can no longer unknow what you now feel. The awareness you have gained, the truths you have uncovered, and the quiet shifts within you begin to gather — rising gently but steadily to the surface. And from within that space, something calls.

Not loudly, not forcefully… but clearly.

Judgement asks a simple yet powerful question: Are you ready to step into your truth and show your authentic self to the world?

This question does not come from pressure or expectation. It comes from within you — from a place that already knows the answer, even if you are still finding the courage to follow it.

At times, this card can appear when you feel judged by others. The weight of expectations, opinions, or imagined perceptions can begin to shape how you move through the world. You may find yourself holding back, editing your truth, or questioning your own path.

But often, the deepest judgement is not external.

It is the voice within.

The quiet thoughts that ask if you are ready, if you are enough, if it is safe to be fully seen. And when this voice becomes strong, it can keep you in a place of hesitation — even when part of you is ready to grow beyond it.

Judgement gently brings awareness to this space.

In many depictions, the trumpet symbolises a call — a signal that something within you is ready to awaken. It is the call to speak your truth, to express your authentic voice, and to step forward without shrinking yourself to fit what is comfortable or familiar.

This expression does not always need to be spoken aloud. Sometimes your truth moves through your creativity, your work, your presence, and your energy. The way you show up in the world carries your voice in ways that words cannot always capture.

Like the butterflies often seen within this card, transformation brings a quiet sense of freedom. It is not always dramatic or immediate. Sometimes it is a soft unfolding — a shift in how you see yourself, a release of old fears, a willingness to choose differently.

As you begin to move away from the fear of judgement, and towards self-acceptance, something within you starts to lighten. Your confidence grows, your energy shifts, and you begin to feel more aligned with who you truly are.

If Judgement is showing up in your life, it may be inviting you to pause and reflect with honesty and compassion. You might ask yourself if you are judging yourself more than anyone else, where you may be holding yourself back out of fear of being seen, and what truth within you is ready to be expressed. You may also gently explore what it would feel like to support yourself more fully, and who you are becoming as you begin to step forward.

You do not need to have everything figured out. You only need to be willing to listen.

This is not a process that needs to be rushed.

Judgement is not here to criticise you. It is here to awaken you.

It invites you to release the expectations that no longer fit, to move beyond the versions of yourself you have outgrown, and to step into your life with honesty and trust. You are not being asked to become someone new, but to return to who you have always been beneath the layers.

And when you begin to support yourself… to believe in yourself… and to honour the truth rising within you… something begins to shift.

Not all at once. Not perfectly.

But deeply.

Because once you hear the call… a part of you will always answer.

Judgement Tarot Spread

This spread is designed to help you gently explore what is awakening within you, release self-judgement, and step forward with clarity and trust. Answering the call and stepping into your truth.

Card 1 — What Is Awakening Within Me?
The truth, calling, or energy beginning to rise to the surface.

Card 2 — Where Am I Judging Myself?
The inner voice or belief that may be holding you back.

Card 3 — What Truth Is Ready to Be Expressed?
What wants to be seen, spoken, or embodied more fully.

Card 4 — How Can I Support Myself Through This Shift?
A grounded, compassionate step you can take to move forward.

Card 5 — Who Am I Becoming?
The version of yourself that emerges when you answer the call.

This post continues the path we began with The Hanged Man, where we were asked to pause, surrender, and see life from a new perspective. From there, we moved into Temperance, gently restoring balance, integrating what we had learned, and returning to a place of harmony within ourselves.

But clarity has a way of revealing more.

When we slow down… when we rebalance… when we truly begin to see, we also begin to notice what still feels out of alignment. The patterns that linger. The habits that hold. The quiet ways we may still be giving our power away.

This is where The Devil enters the journey — not as something to fear, but as an invitation to look deeper, and to reclaim what has always been yours.

The Devil card is from The Modern Spellcasters Tarot

There are moments in life where you can feel it clearly — something isn’t quite right. Nothing may appear dramatically wrong on the surface, yet something within you is asking for change. You may notice patterns repeating, even when you know they no longer serve you. Habits that feel comforting, yet leave you drained. Thoughts that keep you small, uncertain, or looping. Attachments that feel difficult to loosen, even as part of you is ready to move forward.

The Devil speaks into these spaces, not with judgement, but with awareness.

In tarot, this card is often misunderstood. It is not about evil or punishment, but about attachment, conditioning, and the illusion of being stuck. In many depictions, figures appear bound by chains — yet those chains are loose enough to be removed.

This is the quiet truth at the centre of this card: you are not as trapped as you feel.

Often, what binds us is not something external, but something deeply familiar — fear, comfort, old beliefs, or patterns we have carried for a long time. And what has been learned can be unlearned. What has been held can be released.

The Devil acts as a sacred mirror. It reflects, with honesty and without judgement, where you may be giving your power away, where fear is influencing your choices, where comfort is replacing growth, and where you are holding on, even as something within you is ready to let go.

This is not about shame. It is about seeing clearly.

Because the moment you truly see something for what it is, you are no longer unconsciously bound to it.

There is a quiet strength in this kind of awareness. You do not need to force yourself into sudden transformation, and you do not need to have everything figured out. The work of The Devil is gentle, even if the truth it reveals feels strong.

It asks you simply to notice… to acknowledge… and to begin choosing differently, one small step at a time.

Each moment of awareness loosens the chain. Each conscious choice returns a piece of your power. And over time, what once felt fixed begins to soften, shift, and release.

If The Devil is showing up in your life, it may be inviting you into deeper honesty with yourself. You might begin by gently asking where in your life you feel stuck or restricted, what habits or patterns feel difficult to release, and what you may be holding onto out of comfort, fear, or familiarity. You may also explore where you could be giving your power away, and what freedom might look like in that space.

You do not need to change everything at once. Awareness is the beginning. Choice is where your power lives.

The Devil does not come to trap you. It comes to show you where you have been unconsciously holding yourself, and to remind you that you have the power to step free. Because once you see clearly, you cannot unsee. And what is no longer aligned cannot hold you in the same way it once did. 

This is where the next shift begins. Not through force, but through truth. And when truth breaks through, it clears the way for something new to rise.

The Devil Tarot Spread

The Devil tarot spread can support you in this process, offering a way to gently explore what is holding you in place and how you can begin to shift it.

Card 1 — Where Am I Feeling Most Stuck?
The area of life where restriction or heaviness is present.

Card 2 — What Is Keeping Me Bound?
The habit, belief, or attachment at the root of the pattern.

Card 3 — What Am I Afraid to Release?
The fear or resistance connected to letting go.

Card 4 — How Can I Begin to Reclaim My Power?
A gentle, practical step toward freedom.

Card 5 — What Becomes Possible When I Let Go?
The energy, clarity, or expansion that opens when the pattern shifts.