Photos from a fam trip I took to Guam in November 2017

First a long story before I get into the tarot content (I promise, it’ll show up later in the post).

Working freelance isn’t always fun and games, but occasionally, a travel assignment lands on my lap and makes all the hard work worth it. The first time I got sent abroad for work was on a Guam assignment three years ago. Their tourism board was trying to boost themselves as a shopping destination, so I joined a group of web and newspaper writers and hopped on a plane to see what was up (for Filipinos interested, going to Guam is like going to Subic… if Subic were an entire island all on its own).

Fast forward a couple of months later and I’m well into Practical Magic, I release the PM starter deck, and I start interacting with other Filipino tarot readers on Instagram (who also order my deck—thanks everyone!). One name—Therese Aseoche—kind of stuck out because it sounded familiar; I see her a lot on Instagram through her journaling + tarot account, Musings and Magic. I loved her account because of how clean everything is and I LOVE JOURNALS, specifically Hobonichis, so her content really spoke to me.

I didn’t realize until months later that Therese, who is the Entertainment Editor for When In Manila, and I were actually together on that Guam trip—what are the freaking chances, right? I remember her distinctly because we went to a mall together… she was on the hunt for a PlayStation (am I getting this correctly, Therese? lol), which turned out to have an amazing price drop, thus proving to all of us on the fam trip that Guam is indeed a shopping destination. Therese is also a gamer, and a Terrace House and Bon Appetit fan.

I’m so inspired by Musings and Magic and all the creative stuff that comes with it. Therese also does tarot readings, so I thought she’d be perfect to feature on this blog.

Hope you learn a thing or two from this Musings and Magic Q&A!

PM: How’d you get into tarot?

THERESE: I got into tarot when I was young, after purchasing a tarot book and a deck from a bookstore. At the time, I wasn't interested in doing readings with it (I wasn't aware that you could do it, I think), I just liked marveling at the art and learning about the meanings and making a story out of it with my own characters. Eventually, my interest waned until years after when I stumbled upon your Instagram during work. It was the first time I met a fellow Filipino who did tarot readings, plus I wanted to support local, so I bought the deck and began my tarot journey!

PM: What about planners?

THERESE: I've been obsessed with being organized my whole life (Ed’s note: SAME! —PM) and it's hard for me to function without a pen and paper that lists down the things I need to do and when I need to do them. I started using planners in High School to help me manage my extra-curricular activities and responsibilities as a leader of my school organizations. I've used a variety of planners throughout the years, but my favorite ones right now are the Hobonichi Techo (for journaling) and the Kokuyo Pat-Mi Diary (everyday scheduling). Japanese planners are the best! I also use the monthly planner I made, which you can find here.

PM: What’s your personal tarot practice like and how do journals / planners fit into your routine?

THERESE: I do personal tarot readings every weekend to start off the week with a clear mind, or whenever something big happens in my life wherein I need guidance and clarity. I also do Oracle readings every Wednesday, and New Moon and Full Moon readings for Instagram! I also get the help of the cards for the weekly horoscopes I write for WhenInManila.com. Usually, I journal my personal readings especially when the message is so strong or when it's too complicated to digest.

PM: What inspired you to create Musings and Magic?

THERESE: I wanted to put my tarot content in a separate space from my personal account because, at the time, I wasn't sure if my friends would be open to seeing frequent posts from me about astrology and tarot. (I was so wrong about that though, haha!) I also wanted to truly learn how to read for other people and creating Musings and Magic was like a promise to myself that I'll take this passion project seriously. Other than that, I wanted to make it a place for people to learn more about tarot and astrology in a less intimidating way.

PM: How has it been reading tarot professionally vs for your personal practice?

THERESE: I'm still learning, but it's really fulfilling when clients send me good feedback! I know I have a looong way to go, but it fills me with joy to be able to provide clarity to people and help them arrive at the answers they seek.

PM: What do you wish people knew about tarot and planners / journals that is often overlooked?

[For tarot], it's not a way to predict the future and provide you with definite answers. It's a way to help you realize things you already knew, give you a chance to self-reflect, to open your eyes to all the possibilities of the world, and give you clarity on what to do about them.

[For planners and journals], you need to find one that works for you! Don't buy something just because it looks pretty or because everyone else is using it. Find out first what your planning style is (if you're a functional planner or someone who likes to journal daily) and then take time to research the different options available. Also, don't be obsessed with making "monthly mood trackers" and such like other Instagram accounts do—you'll most likely forget about it after a month and feel bad about yourself... Just do you!

PM: What are your top 3 favorite decks (oracle or tarot)?

Practical Magic - My first deck! I just found it one day and knew I had to have it. Imagine my surprise when I eventually found out that it was made by someone I went on a media trip to Guam a year prior. Nowthat's fate! It’s beautifully made as well—I've always had a soft spot for collage art because I used to do it too. (Ed’s note: Huhu, this means a lot! —PM).
Joe Sparrow Tarot - Aside from the beautiful art style, the imagery used can help beginners understand what the tarot card means. It has helped me read intuitively because of it!
Quiet Mystic Oracle Deck - It just reads so well for me. It always knows what to say, no matter what my question is.

PM: What is a practical and magical life to you?

THERESE: It's understanding that you may not know all the answers and what's to come, but—

Taking control of your life and doing everything that you can to make it as fulfilling as possible, while trusting that the universe will lead you to where you're meant to be.

Find Therese on her website—she’ll be releasing some blog content soon! You can also find her on Instagram.

Tarot Tag: Therese Talks Musings and Magic

First a long story before I get into the tarot content (I promise, it’ll show up later in the post).

I’m so inspired by Musings and Magic and all the creative stuff that comes with it. Therese also does tarot readings, so I thought she’d be perfect to feature on this blog.

Taking control of your life and doing everything that you can to make it as fulfilling as possible, while trusting that the universe will lead you to where you're meant to be.