Tarot, Resolutions, And Real-Life Magic
Authentic witchcraft rarely looks like movie scenes. It sounds like Rachel from Desert Roots Apothecary describing a practice built on intention, tarot, moon cycles, and the small rituals that fit inside a busy life. She grew up Catholic, noticing the overlap between altars, candles, prayers, and chanting, and later traded dogma for direct connection. That honesty sets the tone: being a witch is not spectacle, it is a way of noticing, choosing, and naming. When she calls witch “a spicy word for spiritualism,” she points to something accessible and grounded. Her story is less about rebellion and more about alignment; less about aesthetics and more about meaning.
The heart of her craft is tarot. Not as fortune cookie novelty, but as a mirror that reflects patterns and possibilities with crisp accuracy. Rachel lights up when skeptics watch the cards map their lives, not because she wants to win an argument, but because that click of recognition gives people permission to trust themselves. She keeps many decks but reaches for one or two, notably the Ethereal Visions Illuminated Tarot by Matt Hughes, whose art and tone match her approach. Alongside tarot, she practices moon magic and carries crystals, including a matched selenite piece she and her sister chose when they launched the shop. The point is intention over clutter: fewer tools, clearer focus, better results.
Time and anxiety are real obstacles. Rachel works a day job, runs a shop, and plans a move, so she admits she sometimes procrastinates until the last minute. That candor matters; spiritual life must live inside real schedules. Her fix is simplicity. Early spells were chaotic, stuffed with every herb and crystal she could find, even boxed afterward because she couldn’t bear to toss the remains. Now she chooses clean, effective actions: blow cinnamon through the door for New Year wealth, light a candle with purpose, pull a spread that answers one question. Intention is the container; minimal tools are the accelerant. Magic works when it fits your life.
Another thread is community. She tells a story of a stranger’s kindness in a college bathroom, a small act that reshaped how she shows up for others. She argues that witchcraft deserves normalization outside occult spaces, because many people practice quietly and wait for a sign it’s safe to say “me too.” Her influences came from a coworker who casually owned her altar and from her sister Evelyn, co-builder of Desert Roots Apothecary. Shared language and ordinary solidarity—over booths at markets, Pride events, and casual nerd dinners—create cultural cover for spiritual honesty. Normalize it, and more people can practice without flinching.
Together we sketch a “resolution refresh” spell with desert pragmatism. Creosote for perseverance and resilience, because it thrives where others fail. Chicory for unblocking and momentum, a nudge like morning coffee. Tiger’s eye for focus and balanced drive during change. Hold the goal clearly, speak it once, and anchor it with breath. No robes, no labyrinth of steps. The magic is the aim and the follow-through: a weekly check-in, a single next action, and a candle you’ll actually light. If you need a sign to recommit two weeks into the year, this is it. Keep it small, keep it honest, and let ordinary tools do extraordinary work.
