A Chaotic Homemaker Reflects on The Major Arcana
I’ve been reading Tarot on and off for a few years now, and what started off as an activity my friend recommended (she thought I’d be good at it), has now turned into a way of life.
It’s my ChatGPT so to speak. I ask Tarot everything.
But it has only recently that I decided to use Tarot specifically on my journey to becoming a better homemaker.
The Tarot is made up of 78 cards, 22 of them being called the Major Arcana, which highlights major life themes by portraying The Fool’s (first card of the Major Arcana) journey.
So just as a creative exercise, I decided to journal about my journey as a homemaker using the Major Arcana. It helped me realize that in the 10 years I’ve been a homemaker, I’ve learned a lot more than I realized.
And because of that, I thought ‘Why not share?!’
How to complete this exercise
- Pick a tarot card
- Define/find out its meaning
- Write about how you relate to it
That’s it.
It doesn’t have to be perfect. This exercise is simply for you.
In case you are curious, this is what I found when I reflected upon the cards from the lens of a homemaker.
0 – The Fool – Beginnings
Sometimes it feels like I don’t know shit about homemaking.
But between YouTube tutorials, Pinterest, and my stubbornness, your bet your ass I’m going to go for it anyway.
1 – The Magician – Manifestation
Look at that collection of tools on the Magician’s table. They remind me of the cleaning appliances and tools I use to manifest a clean home.
And I know the Magician is saying ‘as above so below’ but their pose reminds me of the little boogie I have to keep from cleaning getting too tedious.
2 – The High Priestess – Intuition
While I really feel like I have no idea what I’m doing, The High Priestess reminds me to take a minute and really listen to myself.
This usually results in me making a list. It’s surprising the amount of chores and things to do around the house I’ll come up with.
I might not how to do it, but I know what needs to be done.
I guess that’s a good step one.
3 – The Empress – Abundance and Nurturing
She’s the Mama I want to be.
As well as being a feminine force to be reckoned with and brimming with nurturing love, like The Empress, I too, want to sit on a fancy sofa in a lush field wearing a fancy dress.
Please take note of this if you know me in real life and plan on buying me gifts for birthday/Christmas/because I’m fabulous.
4 – The Emperor – Authority
Does following Martha Stewart’s homemaking advice count?
Honestly even if it doesn’t , I’d follow her advice anyway.
I’d probably follow her into war.
5 – The Hierophant – Tradition and Guidance
As a homemaker, I imagine the Hierophant is who Betty Crocker would be if she was a real person.
As a Witch, the Hierophant is all a combination of all the witches that came before me, who acknowledged and practiced Hearth and Home Witchery, and were kind enough to share their knowledge.
Either way, I’m grateful for the people, mostly women, who came before me whom I’ve been able to learn about homemaking from, whether in person, in a book, or on a website.
6 – The Lovers – Choice
Homemaking is full of prioritizing and choices.
The people always come first, but like FlyLady says, nothing says I love you like a clean toilet when you are sick.
Might be unconventional, but trying keeping a clean organized home is a way I let my family know I love them.
Having said that, my home gets messy a lot. So I guess it’s my subconscious way of saying that they irritate me sometimes, but I really do love them.
7 – The Chariot – Determination
Extra curricular events, play dates, seasonal sickness, SLEEP REGRESSION, sudden appliance breakdowns all make getting home and hearth clean bloody difficult.
But it has to get done. Chariot energy means facing obstacles head on and being determined that you will gain control again somehow.
It might mean getting a little creative, and redefining goals and what you consider a win. But the Chariots determination will see it through.
8 – Strength – Courage
Courage means a lot of things as a homemaker.
It might mean taking a deep breath and finally tackling the doom pile. On a more serious note, this card may be highlighting the strength it takes to ask for help. It has taken me almost 10 years into my homemaking journey to finally ask others to help me.
This card might also mean the brute physical strength I find to single-handledly rearrange furniture when I want to refresh a room.
Either way, homemaking ain’t for the weak hearted.
9 – The Hermit – Introspection
Given a couple of hours alone, I can practically get this whole house clean.
Homemaking can feel like an isolating experience at times, but I find there is also so much peace in solitude.
Whether it’s listening to a podcast, audiobook, or just pottering around with nothing but my thoughts, The Hermit reminds me that while help would be nice, I am capable of accomplishing so much alone too.
10 – Wheel of Fortune – Cycles
Is today going to be the day where I complete everything on my to-do list?
Or will the day end with me crying to my husband that we need to get take out because his children (both of whom I birthed) are driving me insane today?
Who knows? Certainly not me.
11 – Justice – Fairness
Sometimes fairness means telling the kids Mama is going to turn off the kids music and play 90s pop, and that’s we are going to dance to the Backstreet Boys instead of listening to Kidz Bop again.
Mama’s need a break too, and taking a well needed break makes me a better homemaker.
12 – The Hanged Man – Surrender
Sometimes your kids will complain so much that you just surrender and end up playing Kidz Bop anyway.
13 – Death – Transformation
DEATH TO ALL THE DIRT AND CLUTTER (just for the evening though, the kids will bring it all back when they get up in the morning)!
But on a slightly more serious note, re-framing preconceived notions about homemaking can be transformatively positive experience.
Sweeping becomes less about clearing crumbs, and more about refreshing the energy in your home. Laundry becomes less about getting clean clothes, and more about protection spells and shields for your family.
We get to choose our attitude towards it.
14 – Temperance – Moderation
Making a mess is okay, I sometimes even encourage it, because it’s a sign that my kids are having a lot of fun, and it’s a sign of life.
Just please, please, please clean up after we are done.
15 – The Devil – Control
I know this card is more associated with illusions, but it really makes me think of control.
Who is in control here?
My cleaning to-do list?
The beautiful tyrants I birthed?
Because as the homemaker, I know it seems like it is me, but it sure doesn’t feel like it sometimes.
16 – The Tower – Upheaval
A couple of months ago, a dry erase marker got melted in our oven (don’t bother asking). A few weeks before that, I accidentally melted my Instant Pot lid.
The Tower is this kind of upheaval. It’s the ‘if you don’t do what needs to be done, Spirit will gladly step in’.
And Spirit does not care about being gentle.
Spirit will get shit done.
As a Homemaker, the Tower reminds me that I need to stop running on fumes and autopilot, because if I don’t I’ll keep making dumb mistakes with potentially disastrous outcomes.
Tower moments are the breakdowns that force breakthroughs: clean the oven, reset the routine, and stop pretending I can juggle it all perfectly.
17 – The Star – Hope
The Star is that spark of optimism I get while sipping my morning coffee, pulling a card, and telling myself this will be the day I finally conquer the laundry mountain.
Which, lol, as if.
But The Star reminds me that hope itself is fuel (even if the house wins in the end), that little shimmer keeps me going.
18 – The Moon – Illusion
The Star fills me with hope, but The Moon loves to yank the rug out.
Under her light, the house looks dreamy. Until sunrise reveals dust in every corner, crumbs in the couch, and toys that apparently multiplied overnight.
The Moon reminds me that homemaking illusions are everywhere. Perfection doesn’t exist, and chasing it will only make me howl.
19 – The Sun – Vitality
Despite my complaining, I really do enjoy being able to stay at home with my kids and be a homemaker.
I thrive with all the creative challenges homemaking presents me with. It really does fill me with joy.
Still want everyone to clean up after themselves though.
20 – Judgement – Awakening
Is Homemaking my calling?
I’m not entirely sure. I’m definitely not a Trad Wife, but I excel at taking care of other people. So why not my family?
I think about it this way. If I was laying on my deathbed, would I be thinking ‘I’m so glad I worked in project XYZ at work’ or ‘I’m glad I was able to contribute to my family and spend as much time as I could with my kids?’.
I’m not saying there is anything unworthy about prioritizing a career outside of homemaking and/or parenting. I’m just saying I don’t think it’s for me right now.
21 – The World – Completion
One day.
One day my whole house will be clean.
But until that day, I’m just going to accept that there will always be something to do.
If my family and I have a roof over our heads, and food too, we are already blessed beyond measure.
I’ll take that over an impeccably clean house any day.
Do you agree with these interpretations? Or do you have different associations to them? Let me know below!
You can also find me on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok with the handle @cozymagichome and let me know what you think there.
Until the next magical mess,
Amrita
