Welcome to Cast Iron! A weekly newsletter that talks fitness, tarot and current events that hits inboxes every Monday. Each issue features a workout based on a tarot card, a tarot pull related to current events and, sometimes, a blog post or journal prompt. You’ll also find a list of my current favs at the end of each email, so be sure to check those out if you’re low on inspiration or energy. If you like my work, connect with me on Instagram and Twitter @byAlissaSmith or visit my website.
The Fool marks the very beginning of something. They are hopeful and ready to take on the world despite not knowing exactly how to move forward or what obstacles they’ll run into along the way. As such, this workout is for the beginners among us, whether you’re just getting back into a workout routine or haven’t seen the inside of a gym since elementary school.
Please keep any injuries or health issues in mind when attempting this workout. Sharp pain means stop, dizziness means stop, feeling lightheaded means stop. And, when in doubt, check with your doctor before starting any new workout program.
This bodyweight circuit will up your heart rate while helping you gain strength. Ready?
Now that we have a plan for how to exercise our bodies, it’s time to exercise our minds. I’ve had several people ask me to pull cards on current events, political figures and even celebrities. I’m not sure how versed you are in the world of tarot but you can find out more about how I approach the cards here. I don’t believe in fate or in the cards foretelling a concrete future — though it would be nice if they did. I believe tarot is a way to gain insight and understanding. Let’s dive in.
If you’re a tarot reader, you probably already know what this is about. We’re starting this newsletter off with a reading about the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the U.S Supreme Court’s second female justice. Ginsburg died Friday of complications from cancer, according to news outlets. She was nominated to the court in 1993 by then-President Bill Clinton and was “an architect of the women’s rights movement,” according to The Associated Press. Though not beyond criticism, the first Jewish female SCOTUS justice was widely renowned for her work in defense of women and minorities. In later years, she was known as “the Notorious RBG,” a play on rapper Biggie Smalls' nickname.
The first card, Temperance reversed, represents her death. This is a major arcana card, which means Ginsburg’s death will have wide-ranging and long-term impacts. I love that Ginsburg is represented by a card that values objectivity, equity, balance and the dance of new information informing new opinions. Unfortunately, in this spread, Temperance reversed means that Ginsburg’s death will cause a loss of balance that leads to the Tower, another major arcana card.
The Tower is a card of sudden upheaval and the collapse of systems and relationships that were already precarious. I questioned including this reading in this email because of how dramatic this all sounds but the Tower is a card that says we already knew the system upturned by Ginsburg’s death was not sustainable. Regardless of our work and efforts, the Tower’s shoddy foundation was going to crumble at some point.
The collapse of the Tower left us in the Nine of Wands reversed, which means that we are overwhelmed, panicking and hopeless. The Nine of Wands reversed is a dark night of the soul and forces us to ask what’s the point of all this fighting. The wands represent passion, creative pursuits and the things that keep the embers alive in your soul. At this moment, we feel drained and defeated. But that’s OK. The next few cards show that we’ll get up again.
To move forward, the Six of Pentacles says you need to ask for help from your community. You need support, and you need to offer your support to others. This is a card of being generous and helpful with whatever resources you have, whether that’s time, money or energy. The reversed Fool warns that you shouldn’t allow cynicism to block the potential positive impacts that your community and you can create. If you give too much weight to the potential pitfalls, then you probably won’t take part in the Six of Pentacles and will instead linger in the dreaded Nine of Wands reversed.
The next thing you need to do is embody Strength, a major arcana card that represents internal fortitude and wisdom. Strength bleeds diplomacy and self-discipline. It speaks of using our wisdom to interpret our animal instincts and get what we desire without losing control of ourselves. Will screaming get us what we need or do we need to try something else? The Ten of Swords reversed says that stepping into Strength requires you to look at the horizon and know there will be another sunrise, another day that you can better through your actions.
As RBG said, “hope springs eternal.
“If I lose today, there’s hope that tomorrow will be better.”
Things I’m loving:
Is Rape a Crime?: A Memoir, an Investigation, and a Manifesto by Michelle Bowdler
Yeah, the title of this book threw me for a loop, too. It’s actually why I picked it up! If you immediately said “yes” to Bowdler’s question, then pick this book up. If you said “no,” please preemptively turn yourself over to the authorities.
The Multi-Hyphen Life by Emma Gannon
I tend to read multiple books at the same time because I’m not always in the mood for the same flavor of knowledge. I picked this up because my diverse skills and interests were making me feel scattered. This definitely made me feel better about how I approach my career and life!
Snap Judgment’s Spooked
This is the only podcast I will sit in a hot car to finish. Spooked is a first-person narrative of spooky and unexplainable events told by the people who experienced them. If that doesn’t hook you, the host, Glynn Washington, has the best voice for the topic and you should hear him speak at least once.
This week’s deck is The Linestrider Tarot
This was the first deck I ever bought myself, and I still absolutely love it. If you’re into video games, you might recognize the character on the Five of Swords card!
How can you support Cast Iron?
Share this newsletter and leave a comment below! Tell me what you liked, didn’t like, want to see, etc. I want to know how to make this newsletter the best thing about Mondays.
How can you support me?
Hire me for your freelance writing gigs. As you know, I have a bit of a background in fitness and tarot. You can find some of my clips here.
Schedule remote tarot readings and/or personal training sessions with me.
Buy a copy of COVENTRY, a secular witchcraft zine run by me and my friend, Megan Castro, an Atlanta-based artist. Our newest issue about problematic ideas perpetuated in Western witchcraft circles (e.g. The Secret) has to be my favorite so far.
Going to be looking forward to this every Monday!