A feminist and a tarot reader walk into a bar. March 2025

My hands skimmed over a deck of cards, the tingle of magic was unmistakable; the call of something ancient had my skin erupting in goosebumps. The importance of this moment is cemented in an intimate move between me and the moon, that cheeky girl.
I knock on the cards.
Shuffle.
Knock again.
The earth trembles, ready to break open and whisper the answers I crave.
Deep breath.

“Should I dump him” Ten of Swords. The devil. Four of cups.
“Will I be rich?” Wheel of Fortune. The Moon. Seven of cups.

Every pivotal moment in my life has me reaching for a stack of cards that direct me to reflect on their meanings. I asked them to reinforce every decision I was scared of making and —

I was 29 before I realised they begged me to ask better questions.

I'm not sure why I didn’t find it odd that every person I knew who danced with plant medicine or frequented a shaman seemed to arrive at similar, very individualized results.

No one was being guided to volunteer at homeless shelters. To champion NFP. To vote Greens.

No one was being called to organize mutual aid networks, advocate for prison abolition, or redistribute their wealth.

No divine messages urged them to push for policy change, to fight for worker’s rights, to show up at refugee support centers. The visions rarely led to planting community gardens, running harm reduction programs, or mentoring underprivileged youth.

Somehow, the medicine spoke in whispers of personal transformation, quit your corporate job, move to the forest, raise your vibration, but never in the loud, urgent cries of collective responsibility.

Well, until today.

Cards Against the Patriarchy.

Knock. Shuffle. Knock again.

What aspect of patriarchal deception needs my attention this week?
Two of Wands

Ah, the Two of Wands, the card of strategy, expansion, and big-picture planning. But here’s the catch: under patriarchy, who gets to dream big? Who gets taught to stand at the edge of possibility, surveying the world like it’s theirs for the taking? (Spoiler: It’s not women, queer folks, or marginalized communities.)

The deception here is who is taught to wield power and who is told to "stay in their lane." The system thrives on making us believe that ambition, leadership, and ownership of our futures are things we need to ask for rather than things we can just take. The Two of Wands reminds us that power is not something we wait to be handed; it’s something we claim. So this week, challenge the ways you’ve been conditioned to play small. Are you waiting for permission? Are you hesitating to take up space? The patriarchy’s biggest scam is convincing you that you have to be invited to the table. You don’t. Drag your own damn chair over.

What steps can we take to topple the patriarchy this week?
Three of Cups

The Three of Cups says: we do this together. Overthrowing oppressive systems isn’t a solo gig, it’s a collective effort, a community affair, a revolution built on shared strength. This is your sign to organize, uplift, and celebrate each other.

It’s easy to feel like dismantling the patriarchy requires some grand, solitary act of rebellion, but in reality, resistance thrives in connection. Maybe that means gathering your people for deep, honest conversations about power structures. Maybe it’s finding ways to support women-owned businesses, mentoring younger feminists, or simply reminding the people in your life that their voices matter. Whatever it looks like, the message is clear: solidarity is our superpower.

Also, a bonus note? The Three of Cups is a party card. The patriarchy hates when women find joy, when marginalized folks celebrate themselves; when we come together to love and uplift one another. So this week, let joy be part of your resistance. Laugh. Dance. Scheme. Throw a dinner party. The revolution will have snacks.

What stands in our way?
Eight of Pentacles

The Eight of Pentacles is all about effort, mastery, and—let’s be real—grind culture. And wow, doesn’t that just hit home? One of the biggest things standing in our way is the never-ending expectation to work ourselves into the ground.

Capitalism and patriarchy are besties, and they collude to keep us exhausted. The more we’re overworked, underpaid, and emotionally drained, the less time and energy we have to question the system. We’re told that our worth is tied to our productivity, that rest is lazy, and that we must constantly prove ourselves to be “deserving.” And what happens when people are constantly tired? They don’t rebel, they comply.

So, this week, pay attention to where exhaustion is keeping you from pushing back. Where are you working twice as hard for half the recognition? Where have you internalized the idea that rest is something you earn rather than something you deserve? If the system is banking on your burnout, then resting, slowing down, and reclaiming your energy is a radical act of resistance.

TLDR;

Stop waiting for permission to take up space
Find your people, liberation is a team sport.
You don’t have to hustle to prove your worth.

Okay, let’s get to it, the patriarchy isn’t going to dismantle itself.