Tarot and Ritual for Summer

In the time before the written word and civilization itself, we innately understood the power of ritual. Ritual was how we processed incomprehensible things. Through ritual, we remembered what was passed down to us, and through ritual, we decided what was passed on to the next. 

We did not need to incorporate ritual into our lives, ritual was life.

It still is. We don’t always realize it. 

“Rituals are a good signal to your unconscious that it is time to kick in.” — Anne Lamott

4 Rituals For Depression Relief This Summer

We don’t always feel happy in the summertime. It turns out that no amount of blistering heat nor overwhelming humidity can actually cure major depression. Pity. 

What actually helps with depression is having a strong set of rituals, routines, and schedules that you can rely on no matter how your depression is weighing you down. 

These are ours:

• Restrict Screentime In The Hour Before Sleep. Good sleep hygiene is one of the most unexpected ways I have fought my depression in the summertime. Unfortunately, good sleep hygiene means leaving my phone plugged into the wall in another room because otherwise I fall asleep with it in my hands. This has decimated my ability to watch YouTube Shorts, but I also have to admit that I feel better rested and less depressed.

• Text Your Friend Each Morning. I’ve seen friends do this by exchanging poems. Other friends feel more comfortable sharing things they’ve heard or read, than writing something wholecloth. The real relief in it comes from staying in touch with people you love in a way that feels authentic to you.

• Go For A Walk When You See The Sun Get Low. There is a world outside our minds, outside the homes we’ve arranged, and outside the complications of expectation. It’s actually waiting just outside our front door, and we can access it anytime we want. We just have to go on a walk for the pure doing of it. They call it the golden hour for a reason. Go for a walk during the bright but fading dusk, and do it any time you remember to.

• Take A Shower And Change Your Clothes Every Day. How much of your overwhelm is your genuinely held emotions, and how much of it is overstimulation from wearing the same crusty underwear two days in a row? You can’t really know for sure. Are you starting to feel overwhelmed by emotion at home? Lovingly, now’s the time to change your clothes and take that shower, buddy!

4 Rituals For Anxiety Relief In St. Petersburg, FL.

Rituals don’t just help us regulate our emotions. They are powerful tools for dealing with the stress and anxiety that live in our bodies. 

Anxiety arises when we are uncertain or afraid of what will happen next. Ritual allows us to take control of the unknowable future in a reasonable and achievable way. 

• Pick A Yoga Class And Make It Your Ritual. The classroom setting is excellent for establishing a new ritual because it has all the elements that make cementing a new routine easy: the eyes of other people (who would notice if you were gone), the commitment of resources before attending, and the body relief that comes from doing something genuinely good for you. At Integrative Counsel, we’re St. Pete natives, so we like to practice yoga at The Body Electric. 

• Have A Park Day. If you’re a stay-at-home parent like me, this one is pretty self-explanatory. When you have a kid, every day is park day. And when you live in a city like St. Petersburg, you deserve to have a favorite park and time carved out to go there. And if you’re looking for a place to start, I’d go to Flora Wylie Park and take the sidewalk all the way down to Albert Whitted Airport.

• Add An Extra Meal To Your Schedule. There’s no rule that says you have to eat exactly three times a day. In fact, it’s better for our bodies to eat more frequently than not at all. If you feel hungry, it’s important that you eat. So if you needed a sign: this is it. Eat Second Dinner.
• Make Flexibility Part Of Your Routine Too. This might sound like a contradiction. If ritual is so important, shouldn’t we stick to it no matter what? Not necessarily. The point of ritual isn’t to become another impossible standard you beat yourself up for failing. The point is to have something that lovingly calls you back to yourself.

“Rest is not idleness… and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer’s day… is by no means a waste of time.“ — John Lubbock

Summer Tarot Spread From A Spiritual Therapist

Tarot isn’t a divine image of exactly what your future will be. It doesn’t require an intense spiritual practice, and you can do it with any amount of magical ability, and yes, that includes “None / I Don’t Believe Magic Is Real.”

Some people experience tarot as divination. Others experience it as psychology. We think it can be both, neither, or somewhere in between. At its best, tarot creates a conversation between your conscious mind and the quieter parts of yourself that don’t always get the microphone.

“Each season has something beautiful and profound to teach us. Nature is constantly reminding us that life isn’t meant to stay the same. We move through cycles of growth, rest, release, and renewal, and when we pay attention, those same rhythms can become guides for our own lives. Summer reminds us that life isn’t only about productivity. It’s about being present, playing, exploring, creating, connecting, and remaining connected to your authenticity. 

Here is a three-card tarot spread that can help you connect with yourself:

• Card 1: What does my authentic self most want to express?

• Card 2: What fears, beliefs, or habits are blocking my authenticity and freedom?

• Card 3: What is my summer intention?

There are no “right” or “wrong” cards to pull. Instead of looking for predictions, approach your reading with curiosity. Notice the emotions, memories, symbols, and ideas that arise as you reflect on each card that you pull.

I also like to use Elliot Oracle as a resource for interpreting my card pulls.” Alli Cravener, Spiritual Therapist 

How Can You Use Herbal Tea As DIY Therapy?

There is something beautifully ordinary about making tea. It’s something humans have been doing for thousands of years, virtually unchanged. 

Boil water. 

Put things inside. 

Wait.

And in the process of doing these simple but important tasks each day and every day, a profound piece of wisdom is given purchase: you deserve to have a nice cup of tea.

We asked local herbalist and ritual expert Madi Flynn about the best tea blend they use to invite ritual and spirituality into their life. This blend will help you act on that ancient and true wisdom held by all tea drinkers and give you the nice cup of tea you deserve.

“This hydrating blend supports the nervous system and lifts the spirit, helping you ease into the present moment.”

✨recharge your magic✨ summer tea blend 

2 tsp hibiscus

2 tsp holy basil

1 tsp lemongrass

1 tsp orange peel 

1 tsp rose 

How To Do A Therapeutic Tea Ritual In 4 Steps

1. Bring 2 cups of filtered water to a boil. 
2. Pour boiling water over herbs, cover, and let steep for 10-15 minutes. 
3. Strain tea into a mug or over ice. 
4. Enjoy mindfully. 

 

If you’re feeling stuck on your healing journey, you don’t have to navigate it alone. Our intake specialist will take the time to understand your needs and connect you with a therapist who is the right fit. Schedule your free 15-minute consultation.

 

Sunny Ebsary is an educator, multi-modal artist, and writer specializing in the intersection of myth and mental health. Sunny’s writing walks the line between poetic and logical, giving readers a chance to interface with the mind and imagination. Sunny’s been putting pen to paper since he was a child, writing everything from albums, novels, and plays, to essays, interactive games, and of course, many articles! While studying both psychology and writing, he realized his real passion in life was helping others unlock their creative spark. Whether he’s leading a D&D game, directing a production, or diving deep into the brain, you can be sure Sunny will be ushering you toward finding meaning in your life.