The Dressmaker's Magic

14/10/2026

The cards tell a story about someone who is beginning to question everything they once believed about love. Venus retrograde in Scorpio brings the spotlight onto relationships, attachment, desire, jealousy, and the uncomfortable truths we sometimes avoid admitting to ourselves. Mercury retrograde encourages us to revisit the past, rethink our decisions, and reflect on conversations, connections, and opportunities that we may not have fully appreciated at the time. Sometimes, the past comes back into our thoughts not because we’re supposed to return to it, but because there’s something we still need to understand about ourselves. And sometimes, karma doesn’t arrive in the way you expect. Sometimes, it arrives as a mirror.

This is about somebody finally questioning the version of love they’ve been living with. Perhaps they grew up believing that love was supposed to be complicated. Maybe they witnessed arguments, emotional distance, inconsistency, or relationships where one minute everything was wonderful and the next minute the atmosphere changed completely. When you’re raised around a particular version of love, you can unconsciously learn to associate intensity with intimacy. You might believe that jealousy means somebody cares, that arguments are just part of being passionate, or that making up after a terrible argument somehow proves how strong your connection is. When the good times are good, they’re amazing. When the bad times are bad, they’re unbearable. Yet, from the outside, everything can look perfect. The happy photographs, the family occasions, the holidays, the presents, the appearance of a settled relationship. Nobody sees what happens behind closed doors. And when that pattern becomes familiar, you can grow up believing it’s normal. You might even mistake the anxiety, uncertainty, and emotional highs and lows for chemistry. But familiarity doesn’t automatically mean compatibility, and just because something feels natural doesn’t mean it’s healthy.

Venus retrograde asks you to look at what you’ve been calling love and question whether it actually meets your emotional needs. Are you in love with the person, or are you attached to the familiarity of the relationship? Are you genuinely happy, or have you simply learned how to tolerate being unhappy? Are you choosing somebody because your heart feels safe with them, or because they offer the lifestyle, security, finances, or family image you believe you’re supposed to have? These are uncomfortable questions, but they’re necessary ones.

This person may be beginning to understand that they’ve confused having a relationship with having a genuine emotional connection. Perhaps they chose somebody who looked good on paper. Somebody who could take care of the practical things. Perhaps they wanted a partner who would cook, clean, provide, nurture, take responsibility, or fit neatly into the life they’d imagined for themselves. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with wanting stability in a relationship. The problem arises when stability becomes the only thing holding two people together. Because what does it matter if somebody can provide everything materially if you feel emotionally alone beside them? What does it matter if the house is beautiful, the bills are paid, and everything looks perfect to everyone else if you cannot have an honest conversation about how you feel? You can share a bed with somebody and still feel unseen. You can build a life with somebody and still feel misunderstood. You can have everything you thought you wanted and suddenly realise that the one thing you needed most was missing.

Emotional intimacy cannot be replaced by financial security, appearances, or somebody fulfilling a role. A partner isn’t simply a mother, a chef, a cleaner, a carer, or a provider. They’re a human being you should be able to connect with on a deeper level. And this is where the Facade and Settling cards become so important. Someone may finally be admitting to themselves that the relationship they chose isn’t giving them what they genuinely need. Perhaps they chose what looked sensible over what felt meaningful. Perhaps they prioritised what somebody could offer over how that person made them feel.

We all know about the honeymoon period. The excitement, the butterflies, the late night conversations, the anticipation of seeing each other, and that feeling that you cannot get enough of somebody. Eventually, everyday life arrives. Responsibilities increase, routines develop, and the initial rush of a new relationship naturally changes. But here’s the difference: when you have a genuine connection with somebody, the relationship doesn’t have to become emotionally empty just because the initial excitement settles. You can still laugh together. You can still flirt. You can still surprise one another, have meaningful conversations, share private jokes, and create those little magical moments that make you feel like you’re the only two people in the room. Real intimacy isn’t about feeling permanently intoxicated by the honeymoon period. It’s about having a connection that continues to nourish you when the excitement becomes something deeper.

Sometimes, people overlook that because they’re chasing the next thrill. They mistake novelty for compatibility and attention for affection. They believe somebody else might be more exciting, more spontaneous, more financially secure, or more capable of giving them the life they imagine. But what happens when the excitement fades with the new person, too? What happens when the relationship they chose becomes ordinary, and they begin to notice everything that’s missing? That’s when the comparisons start. That’s when the memories return. That’s when they might begin to wonder whether the person they left behind offered something they cannot easily find again.

This combination of cards makes me think of a missed opportunity, a decision that someone may now be questioning, and the possibility of looking back at a connection through completely different eyes. Perhaps this person had a choice between two people. Perhaps they were exploring their options, weighing up what each person could offer, or wondering whether somebody else might be a better match. Maybe they believed the grass would be greener on the other side. They might have convinced themselves that there was something better waiting for them. More excitement. More money. More attention. More freedom. A different lifestyle. Or perhaps they simply weren’t ready to appreciate the connection they already had. Whatever the circumstances, the energy of these cards suggests a period of reflection in which somebody begins to question the road they chose. What if I got it wrong? What if I walked away from something genuine? What if the person I overlooked was the person who understood me best?

Mercury retrograde is symbolically associated with revisiting old conversations, memories, and unresolved matters. Venus retrograde brings attention to what we value in love and whether our choices reflect our true emotional needs. Sometimes, the purpose of looking back is to recognise what we failed to see the first time. And those letters spelling almost MISSED? They make me think of someone wondering whether they missed out on a once-in-a-lifetime connection. Perhaps they are remembering the conversations, the laughter, the chemistry, the way they could talk about their dreams and feel genuinely understood. Perhaps they are remembering how natural it felt to be themselves around someone who didn’t need them to perform, pretend, or become somebody else. And now they’re comparing that experience with the reality of the relationship they chose. What once looked like the better option may no longer feel so appealing.

The True Love card speaks symbolically of a relationship that feels meaningful, while the Twin Flame card invites reflection on an intense connection that can act as a mirror, bringing both our strengths and our unresolved patterns to the surface. What did this person experience with someone that they haven’t been able to recreate elsewhere? Was it the emotional understanding? The effortless conversations? The patience? The sympathy? The feeling that somebody could see past their defences and understand the person underneath? Sometimes, the things that matter most in a relationship aren’t the grand gestures. They’re the smaller moments we barely notice until they’re gone. Someone remembering the little details. Someone listening when you speak. Someone understanding your dreams instead of dismissing them. Someone being patient when you’re struggling to explain yourself. Someone making you feel seen without you having to fight for their attention. That kind of connection can be difficult to appreciate when you’re distracted by what you think you should want. And sometimes, you don’t realise how much those little things mattered until you’re experiencing life without them.

The Nine of Cups is traditionally associated with satisfaction, wishes, pleasure, and getting something you’ve desired. But in the context of this spread, I’d look at its shadow side, too. What happens when you finally get what you thought you wanted and discover that it doesn’t fulfil you in the way you expected? Perhaps someone believed they had made the right decision. Perhaps they felt confident that another relationship, another lifestyle, or another person would give them more of what they wanted. From the outside, their choice may have looked successful. They might have felt pleased with themselves, convinced they’d made the better decision. But emotional fulfilment is different from getting your own way. The Nine of Cups asks whether the wish was genuinely aligned with the heart or whether it was driven by ego, comparison, or the desire to prove something. Sometimes, the very thing you chased loses its appeal once you have it. You realise that what looked impressive from a distance doesn’t necessarily make you happy up close.

The Two of Wands is about decisions, future possibilities, planning, and standing at a crossroads. It reflects somebody looking back at their choices and considering the alternative. Perhaps they once believed they had endless options. Perhaps they were curious about what else was available, convinced that they didn’t need to commit to the connection in front of them because something better might come along. Now they may be looking at their current circumstances and wondering whether they made the right choice. What would life have looked like if they’d chosen differently? What if they’d invested in the person who offered emotional understanding rather than chasing what appeared more attractive on paper? What if they’d been more honest, more patient, or more willing to work through their fears? The Two of Wands doesn’t guarantee that the road not taken was the right one. Sometimes, we romanticise the past because the present isn’t giving us what we hoped for. But it does ask us to take responsibility for our decisions. You cannot explore every possible future and expect to know what each one would have become. At some point, you have to recognise that every choice comes with consequences. sometimes, the most painful part isn’t simply losing somebody. It’s wondering whether you lost them because you failed to recognise what you had while it was still yours to nurture.

Temperance is the card that talks about emotional maturity. It represents balance, patience, moderation, healing, and the process of bringing opposing energies into harmony. In a karmic interpretation, it asks us to consider how our own behaviour contributes to the experiences we encounter in relationships. Perhaps somebody once kept their options open while expecting another person to remain available. Perhaps they enjoyed receiving attention without considering how their actions affected somebody else’s feelings. Perhaps they were inconsistent, avoided difficult conversations, told half truths, or assumed that the person who genuinely cared would always be there. And now they may be experiencing uncertainty from the other side. The person they’ve chosen might be exploring their own options. They might be giving attention elsewhere, questioning the relationship, or making this person feel the very insecurity they once caused. Perhaps somebody younger, more financially secure, more spontaneous, or simply different has caught their partner’s attention. Whatever the circumstances, the symbolism is clear: it’s a very different experience when you’re the person waiting for reassurance rather than the person deciding whether to give it.

Relationships can reveal our own behaviour in ways we never fully understood before. When you have experienced the hurt you once dismissed, you may finally begin to understand its impact. When somebody treats you with the same inconsistency you once showed another person, you may recognise how exhausting it feels to question your place in someone’s life. And when you discover that being chosen isn’t the same as being cherished, your priorities can change. Temperance asks whether this experience will lead to greater emotional maturity or simply another cycle of resentment and blame. The real lesson is learning to become the kind of partner you once needed, rather than repeating the patterns that hurt you.

Venus retrograde in Scorpio brings a powerful symbolic theme of looking beneath the surface of attraction, attachment, loyalty, and desire. Scorpio doesn’t want the pretty picture if the truth underneath it tells a different story. It wants honesty. It wants depth. It wants to understand what is really happening behind the facade. And when you combine that symbolism with Mercury retrograde, you have an opportunity to reconsider the stories you’ve been telling yourself about your relationships. Perhaps somebody once believed that having options meant having power. Perhaps they thought they could walk away and return whenever they wanted. Perhaps they assumed that a genuine connection would wait indefinitely while they figured out what they wanted. But people have feelings, boundaries, and lives of their own. A person who once waited patiently may eventually choose peace over uncertainty. A person who once offered endless understanding may reach a point where they no longer want to explain their worth. And a person who once hoped for reconciliation may eventually decide that moving forward is healthier than reopening an old wound. That can be a difficult reality to face when you finally begin to recognise what the relationship meant to you. Sometimes, karma isn’t about getting somebody back. It’s about finally understanding what you did, what you lost, and what you need to change. The ego can struggle with that realisation. It can be easier to believe that the other person was the problem than to acknowledge your own contribution. It can be easier to chase a new relationship than to sit with the discomfort of an old one. But eventually, the distractions may stop working. The excitement may fade. The comparisons may begin. And the questions you avoided may become impossible to ignore. This is where I see the possibility of an ego death in this reading: not necessarily a dramatic breakdown, but the collapse of an old belief system. The belief that love should be chaotic. The belief that somebody’s loyalty means they’ll tolerate anything. The belief that you can always find something better. The belief that appearances, status, money, or attention can replace emotional intimacy. When those beliefs begin to fall apart, a person has an opportunity to heal.

Sometimes, the person you overlooked was the person who understood you the most. The person who offered something that couldn’t easily be measured by money, status, appearances, or what they could do for you. Maybe you thought you had time. Maybe you assumed they would always be there. Maybe you believed that if you changed your mind, you could simply return and pick up where you left off. But feelings change. People heal. People learn to stop waiting. And sometimes, by the time you finally understand the value of a connection, the other person has already made peace with losing it and they find someone that reciprocates their effort. That’s the bittersweet message I take from the combination of cards.

It’s about recognising the difference between a relationship that looks good and one that feels emotionally fulfilling. It’s about questioning whether you chose from genuine love or from fear, ego, familiarity, or the desire for something better. It’s about understanding that chemistry alone cannot sustain a relationship, but neither can a comfortable lifestyle without emotional connection. And it’s about learning that a person who genuinely cares for you isn’t somebody you should take for granted simply because they make loving you look easy.

Were you genuinely in love with the person you chose, or were you in love with the life you thought they could give you? Because eventually, the appearance of love can no longer hide the absence of it. And when you finally see the difference between what looks good and what feels real, you may discover that the greatest lesson wasn’t about finding somebody better. It was about learning how to recognise genuine love in the first place. 🖤✨

Time 11:01
11:11

13/10/2026

Re- visit that dream ✨❤️ 11:11 🧚🦄

12/10/2026

11/10/2026

Have you felt someone around you over the last couple of days? Someone who has passed away, perhaps? 👼 Maybe you’ve experienced those sudden cold chills, almost as though somebody has gently touched you. Have you noticed doors opening or closing, lights flickering, feathers appearing in unexpected places, or repeated numbers such as 333, 555, or the number 5 or 3 catching your attention?

The message today is about unseen possibilities, intuition and the feeling that there is more to life than what we can physically see. If you’ve been thinking about someone who has passed, you may find comfort in the memories, dreams and little reminders that bring them to mind. Sometimes a song can bring somebody straight back into your thoughts. Know that you’re being helped. You don’t have to have every answer right now. If you’ve been feeling uncertain about your next move, take a moment to consider the people, experiences and inner strength that have helped you get this far. Listen to your intuition. Listen to the idea that keeps coming back into your mind. What have you been thinking about doing but haven’t quite had the courage to pursue? Have you been considering applying for a new job? Starting a business? Going for a promotion? Booking that trip you’ve been dreaming about? Or finally putting an idea into action? Sometimes, we already know what we want to do. It’s the fear of getting it wrong that keeps us standing still. You cannot keep moving forward if you’re still holding on to everything that belongs in the past. A chapter may be ending, but that doesn’t mean your story is over. You may simply be reaching a point where you need to think differently, make a decision and allow yourself to grow. Release the stress, self doubt and emotional baggage that has been weighing you down. You don’t need to carry yesterday’s worries into tomorrow’s opportunities. Make space for a fresh perspective. Sometimes, the biggest change begins when you stop telling yourself why you can’t do something and start asking yourself how you can.

The Travel card speaks of an upcoming journey that could bring positive changes, new experiences and opportunities for personal growth. For some of you, this could literally mean booking a holiday, travelling for work, attending an event or going somewhere that opens up a completely new direction. For others, the journey may represent stepping outside your comfort zone and entering a new chapter of life. Don’t dismiss an opportunity simply because it takes you somewhere unfamiliar

The ladder card is all about progress, ambition and moving up in the world. If you’ve been waiting for a breakthrough in your career, this is your reminder to start putting yourself forward. Update your CV. Apply for the position. Make that phone call. Send the email. Put your business idea out there. You cannot climb the ladder if you never take the first step.

The Ant reminds us that success comes through persistence, preparation and consistent effort.
You don’t need to have everything figured out before you begin. You just need to be willing to do the work. Every small step counts, even when you cannot see the bigger picture yet.

The theme of excitement, enthusiasm and something that gets you feeling alive again is being prepared for you. Perhaps an opportunity arrives when you least expect it. Perhaps somebody mentions a job, a trip or an idea that suddenly makes everything click. Whatever the opportunity looks like, don’t let fear make the decision for you. If you’ve felt the presence of somebody you’ve lost over the last couple of days, this reading may feel particularly personal. Perhaps you’ve noticed feathers( specifically black and white), experienced unexplained chills, doors opening or closing, seen repeated numbers or had little moments that reminded you of them. These experiences can feel more significant when you’re approaching a major decision or a new chapter in life.

There is a strong message here about taking action rather than waiting for the perfect moment. That idea you’ve been sitting on? Explore it. That job you’ve been thinking about applying for? Put your name forward. That trip you’ve been dreaming about? Start looking at the possibilities. That change you’ve been afraid to make? Give yourself permission to consider it. You don’t have to know exactly how everything will work out. You just need to be willing to take the next sensible step.

You have spent long enough thinking about what could go wrong but What if it goes right? What if the application leads somewhere unexpected? What if the trip changes your perspective? What if the idea you’ve been carrying around is the beginning of something wonderful? Remember, you can honour the people you’ve lost while still allowing yourself to live, grow and embrace new opportunities. You don’t have to wait for a sign to give yourself permission to move forward.
Sometimes, the opportunity is right in front of you. The question is whether you’re ready to take it.

🦋 Trust your intuition. Recognise the opportunity. Do the work. Take the next step. ✨

Extra confirmation that this message is for you -
Seeing 🕰️ 3:33 - 5:55 11:11 on the 11th - seeing a black and white feather 🪶 - seeing magpies over the past couple of days - 🌼buying yellow flowers - buying birthday cake - 🎂 buying new boots in an unusual colour - speaking about sensing someone that’s passed away - visiting a church within the past week - buying art work - taking up a new hobby / painting - buying celebrations 🍫 seeing squirrels 🐿️ - monkey nuts 🥜 - “muddy paws”🐾 seeing antlers 🦌 - buying a new lamp- buying new tarot cards - visiting a bakery 🧁 - watching a football match at the weekend - someone getting asked for ID - 🪪- new passport / new suitcase - 🧳

10/10/2026

10/10/2026

Happy new moon
12:12 🪶

09/10/2026

✨Pick a card guidance ✨

08/10/2026

Cassandra was a woman from Greek mythology who was given the ability to see what was coming. The problem wasn’t that she couldn’t see it. The problem was that nobody believed her.

According to the mythology, Apollo gave Cassandra the gift of prophecy and then cursed her so that, although her predictions could be true, people would not believe them. She could see the danger coming, warn people about it and still be treated as though she was imagining things. It represents what happens when somebody repeatedly experiences something, notices something or recognises a pattern and the people around them continually tell them that they’re wrong. Eventually, the person doesn’t just question everybody else. They start questioning themselves. “Did I imagine that?” “Am I overthinking?” “Maybe I’m being dramatic. “Maybe it really was just a coincidence.” That is where invalidation becomes psychologically damaging.

Something I’ve noticed over the years is that many of the people who come to me for readings already have a very strong intuitive life of their own. They’ve had experiences they couldn’t explain. They’ve had dreams that later seemed significant. They’ve had incredibly strong gut feelings. They’ve noticed patterns before other people did. They’ve walked into situations and immediately sensed that something wasn’t right. They’ve had ideas appear almost fully formed. They’ve experienced what they describe as psychic downloads, synchronicities or a feeling that they somehow knew something before they consciously understood why. sometimes they’ve had spiritual experiences that they interpreted as communication with something beyond the ordinary. But instead of being able to talk about these experiences safely, they’ve been laughed at. Dismissed. Gaslit. Or told: “It’s all in your head.”

Imagine as a child that you’re being repeatedly ridiculed by someone that you look up to simply because their experience doesn’t fit your own worldview. There is a huge difference between saying:”I don’t know what caused that.” and saying: “stop being weird, that didn’t happen.”

One reason I find this particularly interesting is the connection I see between some of these people and neurodivergence. A number of people I’ve worked with have either been diagnosed with autism or ADHD, or have questioned whether they may be neurodivergent. That doesn’t mean autism or ADHD automatically gives somebody psychic abilities. But neurodivergent people can have distinctive ways of processing information, noticing detail, making connections and approaching problems.

Think about what happens when somebody naturally notices things that other people don’t notice. To somebody else, it can look like: “Where did you get that from? You’re crazy!” To the person experiencing it, it can feel completely obvious but the other person can’t get their head around the idea.

So these abilities can be both a gift and a problem Because if you’re constantly noticing things before everyone else, you can spend a lot of your life feeling like you’re living slightly ahead of the room. Sometimes seeing into the future means that you can see where an idea is going before everyone else understands it. A person sees a problem that hasn’t become obvious yet. They imagine a solution nobody else thinks is practical. They create something that looks strange, ridiculous or completely unnecessary. Then twenty years later, everyone wants it.

Imagine being the person who always notices the pattern. You notice the relationship isn’t healthy before everybody else does. You notice somebody’s behaviour doesn’t match their words.
You see where a business is going. You have an idea that seems completely ridiculous to everyone around you. You create something that isn’t fashionable. You think differently about relationships. You question the rules everyone else simply accepts. And people tell you: “You’re weird.” “That’s never going to work.” “You’re imagining things.” “Get in the real world”

So eventually you learn to shut up. You stop telling people what you’re thinking. You stop sharing your ideas. You stop talking about the strange experiences you’ve had. You become isolated because it’s easier to keep your thoughts to yourself than constantly defend them.

There is another characteristic I find interesting in connection to this. People that relate to the Cassandra complex cannot pretend. They can’t manufacture a friendship because it looks socially convenient. They won’t get into a relationship because it looks impressive to others. They struggle to smile and make polite conversation with somebody they fundamentally don’t trust. They can struggle with the idea of maintaining relationships purely because “that’s what you’re supposed to do.” They can have an extremely strong sense of justice. If something feels fundamentally wrong, it is very difficult for them to pretend that everything is fine. That can be interpreted as being rude, difficult, intense, antisocial or just stuck up 😂 But sometimes what you’re actually looking at is somebody who has an extremely low tolerance for pretending. That can make life complicated Because society often rewards people for being socially comfortable rather than necessarily being honest.

This is also why the Cassandra metaphor isn’t only about psychic experiences, tapping into past life information and communicating with ancestors and spirit guides. It’s about creating a masterpiece that nobody understands and twenty years later that aesthetic becomes fashionable. Or having a completely different approach to relationships and dating that doesn’t fit the social mould then decades later people start talking about relationships in exactly the way you were already thinking. You might invent something nobody understands. You might build a business around an idea everyone thinks is strange. You might see a cultural change coming before the people around you notice it.

The guidance message here is to not let people destroy your confidence every time they disagree with your way of thinking.

People who identify strongly with the INFJ personality type may recognise some of this, particularly the feeling of seeing patterns, thinking deeply about people and society, having an internal world that isn’t always easy to explain, and sometimes feeling out of step with the people around them because You can spend years feeling like you’re too early. Too strange. Too intense. Too imaginative. Too unconventional. Then suddenly the world catches up and the thing you were doing becomes fashionable. The idea you were talking about becomes normal. The business model you were imagining becomes successful. The artwork you were creating becomes desirable. The relationship structure you were questioning becomes accepted. And you realise: “I didn’t get the credit that I deserved.”

One thing that I’ve noticed when you have an unusual way of thinking is that people what to feed from that energy. People will pick your brains so that they can take your ideas and gain the recognition. Sometimes the person who laughed at you eventually uses the exact idea they told you was ridiculous. And sometimes the world doesn’t catch up at all.

For anyone that’s questioning your ideas today, Don’t automatically disbelieve yourself just because somebody else doesn’t understand you. Question yourself. Check your evidence.
Stay grounded. Listen to other perspectives. But never hand somebody else complete ownership of your reality because they are too small minded to see what you see. Remember, there are people who spend their entire lives being told that the way they see the world is wrong so they never even try.

“Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it”