3.10-3.16.2026: Big Black Trash Bag Energy
The final weeks of Winter are here and Spring is nearly upon us (so says the calendar—Mother Nature may have other ideas). As the ground slowly begins to thaw and a new season draws closer, you may be feeling a shift in energy. Your own personal state of hibernation may be coming to a close as you stretch and shake off the metaphorical (or literal) cobwebs. Some of you may even be experiencing the urge to purge, or what Kendra Adachi refers to as “Big Black Trash Bag Energy.” That’s right, folks. I’m talking about SPRING CLEANING. I can’t say that I’m personally there yet, but it’s at least on my mind. In fact, at the time of this writing, I’m just coming off of hosting a Spring Cleaning-themed Storytime (fun fact: I’m a Youth Services Librarian in my day job). Reading books like Bathe the Cat and Dust Bunny Wants a Friend lent themselves well to many a self-deprecating joke about the state of my home: “Dust Bunny can find plenty of friends to play with under Ms. Katrina’s couch.” 🤭
Whether or not you're feeling the Spring Cleaning energy, I know many of you can relate to the experience of diving headfirst into an organization project with a spring in your step and a copy of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up tucked under your arm—ready to ruthlessly weed what no longer sparks joy, tackling the closet first because it feels like low-hanging fruit. Fast forward several hours later and you find yourself emerging, haggard and hangry, from those three iconic piles: KEEP, DONATE, TOSS.
So although I may not be ready to deep clean the house, I am excited to debut my first ever Spring Cleaning Tarot Spread.
KEEP - The Sun (XIX)
Keep turning your face towards the sun. Keep finding the glimmers. Keep listening to and honoring your inner child. Keep being insufferably optimistic. Keep being kind—to yourself and others. Keep believing there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Keep being that light. Keep showing up for yourself. Keep standing in the spotlight. Keep taking up space. Keep living with childlike curiosity. Keep following what sparks joy (see what I did there?).
DONATE - The Star (XVII)
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: The Star is one of the most hopeful cards in the entire 78-card deck. I like to think of it as a wink from the Universe, a sign that you’re on the right track. That you aren’t naive to shoot for the stars. That your wildest dreams could, in fact, come true. From where it sits in the Donate pile, the Star asks you to dream enormously not only for yourself, but for your community as well. Envision your best life possible but don’t stop there. Let your hope be contagious. Let your bold ideals for a matriarchal society rub off on someone else. Dream up the best possible life for your friend group, your neighbors, the single mom at the grocery store, the veteran in a wheelchair holding a cardboard sign. Share that vision widely. And work towards creating it. Fill your cup so full that it overflows—and don’t stop until it fills someone else’s too.
TOSS - Ten of Wands
Last weekend, I was lucky enough to provide Tarot readings at an event hosted by Achelois Wellness, in honor of International Women’s Day. 100% of the proceeds were donated back to the Achelois Healing Fund, which helps provide therapy and other wellness services to women who might otherwise not be able to afford it. In the three hours I was there, this card showed up several times. And let’s be honest: is it really a surprise? Overwhelm. Responsibility. Burden. Burnout. Doing it all. Carrying it all. Feeling unsupported. These themes unfortunately run rampant among the event’s target audience: Women. Mothers. Caretakers. The sandwich generation. It’s time to take stock of all the things you are carrying. What feels heavy? What have you been holding for too long? What are you lugging around that is actually someone else’s responsibility? What was really never yours to carry in the first place? Who can help shoulder the load? What can you drop and pick up at another time? What will you set down for good? Time to toss out whatever is not yours to carry.
