Last night, Kat and Ging had a very special Witchy Night. Witchy Nights usually involve one or two other people and it’s a mixture of asking questions and reading Tarot or working with other Oracle cards and sharing various interpretations and view points. Last night there were two usual suspects, although they’ve never attended together, Amalia (Mali) and Oscar, and the very special addition of Angela Economakis from Cyprus, who graced our evening with ceremonial cacao and witchy interpretations.

After many rounds of tarot, out came bone throwing. Ginger, Kat and Mali love throwing bones and reading the symbols together. Their energies and magick combine for a potent experience with aspects of playfulness. The Geminis discuss trusting in that combination of energy rather than forcing it or trying to make something happen when the other magicks aren’t there. They share how having Mali, a woman in her 20s, in the mix of their lives adds a youthful exuberance and lightness. They also respect the volumes of sage wisdom she carries. Let’s bow down to the beauty of cross-generational relationships where we can all learn from each other.

In true Gemini fashion, the conversation gets around to vaginas and how listening to the messages of our physical bodies can help us with emotional processing and release. The body can pave the way for us to dig below the physical experience and talk deeply about what challenges are arising. Sharing vulnerably opens pathways for others to do the same.

The Gems wrap up by talking about the magick of setting clear intentions and advise people to let go of ideas about timing. Let magick do its work. Life goes at the speed we can handle it. It’s our fears that hold us back and slow things down. A lot of magick is recognizing it when it shows up — you have to have the eyes to see it because it never looks the way we imagined unless we look below the surface to the intention. Then we can see the gift….. sometimes being ready to receive is the biggest challenge.

Here are links to some resources Kat and Ginger mention in this episode:

Amalia Scott, The Hare in the Moon, tarot and astrology

Oscar Pérez, Tending the Fires, spiritual alchemy for men

Lucky Mojo

Throwing the Bones: How to Foretell the Future with Bones, Shells, and Nuts by Cathryn Yronwode

Kim Krans, The Wild Unknown

21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card by Mary K. Greer

The Gems take a few types of quizzes and share the results. Along the way they also talk about how this information helps with self awareness and can improve communication in all types of relationships. It's about showing up and relating to others. Knowledge can be the pathway to deeper connection if used well.

Taking a quiz does not mean something is wrong. It's an inroad to self knowledge, especially for two very curious Geminis.

Here are links to the quizzes we took and other resources mentioned in this episode:

Myers Briggs: free personality test

5 Love Languages

Erotic Blueprint by Miss Jaiya

Ayurvedic Dosha quiz (disclaimer: we randomly found one on the internet; we each had evaluations with practitioners)

The Desire Map by Danielle LaPorte

Re-Wild Yourself podcast by Daniel Vitalis: 2 specific episodes with Miss Jaiya:

#37 Your Core Erotic Blueprint

#116 Erotic Blueprint, What's Your Type?

Ginger explains gaslighting and shares times in her life when she's experienced it. The sad realization comes that she's given into it, laid down her power and even killed off parts of herself in these situations. This moving discussion isn't about victimization but rather about creating awareness so this doesn't happen again. Or, more importantly, developing a deep sense of trust in oneself. The type of trust that you listen to. How can we have deep, beautiful relationships with ourselves so we trust those subtle squirmy gut feelings and call them out when we don't even know what they mean? The Gems talk about patterns of "intellectualization" of traumatic situations versus actual processing and doing the work.

Kat and Ginger watched the movie LaLa Land, which brought up more conversation around making choices. It raises a lot of questioning, which can be uncomfortable, but ultimately we're all making the best choices we can in any situation. But can we surround ourselves with people who help to challenge us and explore various options while also deeply tuning in to our feelings (and trusting them)? And are we telling ourselves the truth? The Gems dig into triggers and how to keep relationships in healthy communication even when each person is being triggered.

As this conversation unfolds, the Geminis touch on various resources that can help on the path of conscious awakening and how their work is leading them to new resources, which means more uncomfortable new territory at times but it digs into the question of healing versus holding patterns that can happen along the way — do we really believe what AA teaches? Once you're an alcoholic [insert any label], you're always an alcoholic and can't be trusted to stay sober without the program. The Gems believe it's possible to level up by peeling back the layers of the issue and doing the work. We're on a path to wholeness here. Through self awareness we can use tools as needed but aren't setting up a system of crutches.

Here are links to various resources mentioned in this episode:

The Kin of Ata Are Waiting for You, by Dorothy Bryant

10 Things I’ve Learned About Gaslighting As An Abuse Tactic, article by by Shea Emma Fett

LaLa Land movie

TwinStar Podcast Episode 009: Trust

Oscar Pérez on little suicides and letting go of heroes and victims as roles

Kim Anami on juicy creative flow

The Faeries' Oracle deck by Brian Froud

Toastmasters International

Myers Briggs free test on 16 Personalities take the test! We'll be talking about our results on the next episode.

The current political climate in the US is raising lots of "what do I do?" anxiety. The Geminis remind us all that it's early yet. We will all have our ways to show up. It's a matter of awareness and being propelled into action when your heart is called. Everyone has a different role to play. Some are watch dogs, eating up every bit of news as it happens. Others raise their voices and come together to march. Kat and Ginger talk about being in a more subtle role, providing spiritual support, guidance and rejuvenation for those "first responders" and generally looking more big picture.

We must trust in ourselves and in our contributions. Stop comparing ourselves to what others are doing and recognize the space we are holding. This type of consciousness opens dialogs and keeps us from judging others. Cult of Gemini runs under the tenet "all are welcome here," and the Geminis mean it and live it. This can be challenging, but we can't be selective about "acceptance." This feels vulnerable and raises fears even though it's the path of love and the very foundation of community. No one is thrown away.

Ginger and Kat mention a couple of things in this episode that are linked below:

Cult of Gemini newsletter: Going Against Our Inclinations

NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio's Promise to ALL New Yorkers #AlwaysNYC

If you've never been to the Cult of Gemini brick and mortar store in Grass Valley, California, it's quite the experience. Ginger and Kat forget that they don't approach retail the way other stores do. They build a store experience, and then they rebuild and recreate it every 2 months! They do this around themes. These themes inspire the windows and spark creative in-store installations, and they are more than that. They pave the way for what magick will be created and released out into the world at this time.

This episode is recorded the day a theme change is taking place. The Geminis will be leaving Hearth and heading into Siren's Call, so they discuss the various aspects of Sirens and what this theme means to the two of them. Ginger shares the dark lore of sailors dashing themselves against rocks to their deaths and compares it to work we may need to do in letting parts of ourselves die in order for us to truly follow our heart's desires. These two air signs discuss the challenges of releasing overthinking and questioning while opening to curiosity and the willingness to try. Listen. Trust. See what comes up. Where might the heart lead you? Possibly on a path that we can't see or understand. It's going to be quite a journey.

Both Gems share times in their lives — from military to cheerleading and track — where unexpected paths opened them up to new challenges and revealed undiscovered skills that built depth of character.

Gothic Rose Antiques

Rori Raye, Have the Relationship You Want

Deepak & Oprah Meditations

Danielle LaPorte

Oscar Perez, Helping Men Find Their Purpose

Witch Skewl with Birch

Ginger's daughter is officially launching into the world, leaving her feeling sad and teary. These emotions lead to a bunch of other emotions (anger, embarrassment) that then triggered some release. The complexity of the situation — all the different expectations and relationship dynamics — adds to the load that leads to collapsing under the pressure of perfectionism. Ginger also talks about cultivating personal relationships and how to be more present and connected by doing less. Being is often enough.

Since this episode was a bit awkward and abrupt, the Geminati recorded an update 1 week after the first segment. Ginger shares how her perspective has shifted, and then the Gems talk about initiations in our society and how the process benefits the entire community. It's actually a crucial part of societal evolution.

Here are a few links to resources Ginger and Kathy mention:

Martin Prechtel on grief and praise

Access to Power book

The Geminis record this episode on the first official day of Winter after their Winter Solstice celebration and fiery release from the night before. After a recap of their retail holiday shenanigans, they each do a deep share on their personal journey sessions done with spiritual alchemist (and fellow Gemini tribesmate) Oscar Pérez.

The Gems talk about the different facets of darkness and shadow and how those things can show up. Ginger opens up about some of the darker, soul-eating parts of her past with a former relationship. We not only witness the hurt but also hear about how some deep, deep healing is happening and radiating out to help heal other wounded relationships in her life. She shares how she's feeling in the weeks after the deep purge of her session, and how she's feeling lighter and stronger.

Kat's session is less about grieving and more about breaking ties to old ways of being. Her session with Oscar was triggered by dating scenarios that were driving the desire to find a new sense of herself. She's having to to let go, cut cords to what's holding her back, and step into the unknown mystery of who she is becoming. She shares the visions she had in her session, and we hear the seeds of her word for 2017 — Initiation.

Ginger and Kat remind us that this is the season of rest, darkness, going inward and breaking down. It's time to power down and just be. Let go of analyzing and give in to this season for a couple more months. Magic can be uncovered and revealed with the Spring Equinox come March. Till then, rest in the peaceful mystery.

The Gems love Christmas and love working retail at Christmas.... so much so that they go to the mall together for fun! Their budgets are tight, though, so if you want to sponsor a witchy wardrobe budget, do reach out!!

This episode is recorded 1 month in to Kat's new living situation of trailer life and communal living. Ginger, Kat and David have a polyedible dinner that careens out of control, so the Gems do some analyzing about masculine and feminine energetics. The juicy stuff comes up when they talk about those self-applied labels that people often apply to downplay themselves. How can we let go of those to be in the now and just be seen for who we are in the moment?

Despite their jam-packed schedules, the Gems made space for a full moon ritual. It's important to make space outside of work for other priorities — use what time you have. Ginger and Kat share some details about their ritual and some of their magickal approaches for spiritual housecleaning.

Here are some links to things the Geminati discuss in this episode:

Kat Von D makeup

Olympus digital recorders

The Way of the Superior Man book by David Deida

Caroline Myss

The 5 Love Languages book

Many Moons Workbook (contact us: we have some in stock!)

Honey Mama's paleo chocolate bars

The Gems are being their multitasking selves — they are doing their hair and sitting by the fire for this recording, so there are some interesting background noises. Ginger just listened to Oscar Perez's The Making of Men interview on KVMR (see link below), so the Gems discuss masculinity, the caricature of machismo, and that the idea of "men" and "women" is more about emotional maturity rather than the adolescent ideas of what men and women are. Our society has a lot of "advanced-age boys" and "advanced-age girls" as it is obsessed with staying in the light, although development and maturity are achieved by doing the deeper work and getting broken down in the darkness.

Ginger is in a dark abyss right now, and she shares a bit about moving through it, embracing it, and enjoying the work. (Sneak peek: in upcoming episode 21 she shares more specifics).

As it is the holidays, Kat and Ginger do talk about mistletoe, but the conversation quickly turns to masturbation. The ladies discuss stoking the fire in yourself and doing that with a lover. What are things we can do to be in a juicy space? How do you romance yourself? Only we can keep ourselves in a juicy, creative space.

In typical Gemini fashion, there are many references in this episode. Here are links to help connect the dots:

The Making of Men, conversation between Oscar Perez and Elisa Parker of See Jane Do (scroll down to the link on Oscar's website front page)

Witch Skewl with Birch

Tarot and the Journey of the Hero book

I Am Not Your Guru, Tony Robbins documentary

ReWild Yourself podcast with Daniel Vitalis

Episode #116 Erotic Blueprint, What's Your Type? with Miss Jaiya

Kim Anami

The Geminati jump in and talk about magick. Ginger and Kat share their different paths and approaches. Ginger is in Witch Skewl this year and is interested in a path of initiation to deepen her knowledge. Kat's resistance to a deep dive in magick is due to spiritual studies and dabbling in divination. She's wary of "religion," but seeing where her curiosity leads. Ginger has been on a conscious magickal path for much longer than Kat, and she confesses (ha!) her love for Catholic ritual and ceremony. The Gems talk about the downside of religion turning people into sheep, where they turn off and regurgitate rather than continually question and grow.

Ultimately the Gems discuss doing good things in community to bolster rather than segregate it. What does this look like? How do you do good? There are so many ways including volunteerism and one on one connections. It often comes down to drilling into you and doing deeper work. In magick they suggest getting your ritual to tap into deeper currents to discover what's really important to you. Do the work to open yourself to new channels of information to come through and undo programming, then step outside yourself and help someone at least once a week! However it shows up or any way you can. You'll be surprised how this feeds you and deepens your sense of community and connection in the world at large.

We touch on a lot of different things in this episode. Here are some links in case you want a deeper dive:

The Serpent Mythos of the Gemini written by Erin Adamski, Griffin Queen

Doctor Strange movie

The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn

Witch Skewl with Birch Tree of The Sacred Grove, Freak Phil on YouTube

Zeitgeist movie

Empty Bowls program; we actually meant Gratitude Bowls

Wild Kuan Yin oracle deck by Alana Fairchild

The Matrix movie