A New Tarot or Oracle Spread for Self-Care

with a little help from the Ancestors

I’ve been watching an Instagram account

of a 60+ year-old woman who has more than three-quarters of a million followers. Each post (reel) garners more than 500 comments and approximately 40,000+ likes. Although I know she has followers of all ages, I can tell from the comments that many are in their 20s or 30s. What’s the appeal? An older woman (maybe granny) telling you that life sometimes goes sideways. That you’re going to be okay. That you’re loved.

So what does granny give us that we struggle to give ourselves?

I’m pretty sure you know the answer.

I wondered if tarot or oracle cards

could help with silencing that nasty little voice that tells us we won’t be okay, or that we aren’t loved. For some of us, the concept of radical self-care is about as foreign as speaking Martian. Years, or even decades of settling for a life or a love or a body that doesn’t quite fit is a tough one to overcome.

But I wanted to try. And I wanted the Ancestors’ help.

The Spread

Shuffle and lay out five cards in any formation. The positions are:

Card 1: The Root
This represents the foundation of self-love and acceptance. What ancestral energies or wisdom can guide you in building a strong and nurturing relationship with you, i.e. your life, your body, your job.

Card 2: The Trunk
Represents the ancestral strengths that contribute to your resilience. What ancestral qualities can you draw upon to cultivate strength?

Card 3: The Branch
Symbolizes the aspects of your lineage that encourage personal growth. How can you align with this energy to foster your own growth in whatever area you need radical self-care?

Card 4: The Leaf
Ancestral guidance on self-care practices. What rituals or advice from your Ancestors can enhance your self-care?

Card 5: The Blossom
The potential for blossoming love and appreciation for YOU. What guidance from the Ancestors can inspire you to embrace radical self-care?

I wanted to see how well this spread

worked using basic RWS tarot, my Ancestral Magick cards, and Camelia Elias’ Red Tarot - probably because I’m not sure all decks work well with all spreads. You can tell me what you think (comments below).