The news is seriously freaking me out. I think staying informed is very important, but there are some serious diminishing returns to staying up late, doom scrolling ‘til the wee hours of the morning. How do I find that medium between staying up to date on current affairs but maintaining a level of sanity?—Click Click Doom
Cards: Page of Swords (reversed), Page of Cups (reversed), The Hanged Man (reversed), Justice
Dear CCD,
As someone who recently calculated the cost of flying her dog to Europe on short notice, I resonate deeply with this question. I have the feeling that other readers may as well.
The battle on the surface is between the head and the heart—or, in this case, the Page of Swords and the Page of Cups. As the Page of Swords, you are intellectually passionate, hunger for knowledge, and value it. But as the Page of Cups, you are also passionate about people and relationships and feel things deeply.
To learn all you can may seem like the level-headed thing to do, but all the horrific news will crush your soul because you are profoundly empathetic, and our current administration couldn’t give a fuck about other people. However, you know that putting your head in the sand is not an option either.
The tension between the Page of Swords and the Page of Cups seems like the issue, but it’s not. It’s between The Hanged Man and Justice.
The Hanged Man is a card of beatific sacrifice. He is misunderstood by his adversaries, but still, he doesn’t fight his plight. He knows who he is, and he gave it his all. This is what you’re doing. You know that the doom scrolling is wrecking your sanity, but you are giving into it because you are a compassionate person who must stay informed. You, like The Hanged Man, are a martyr for your cause.
But here’s the thing about martyrs: they’re only good for propaganda. Being dead is the ultimate passive move.
And that’s where Justice comes in.
How much news to read vs. not are both the same side of the passive coin. Like The Hanged Man, you’re stuck in one place. Justice, however, is active. Justice pushes us over the threshold when we’re at the risk of losing ourselves to greed, selfishness, or even fear. It calls upon you to get up and do something, goddammit.So, what’s the antidote to doom scrolling? Go out and fix that injustice instead of reading about it on Reddit. Phone bank, volunteer, fundraise—do something tangible that can actually help people right now. So many local charities and grassroots organizations need very simple help—like someone to flyer a street, collect signatures, or pick up toilet paper from Costco. Find a way that you can help, ideally in the long term.
However, Justice’s scales must be balanced. We need balance in both our actions and lives. Audre Lorde said, “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence. It is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” Martyrdom helps no one. You must care for yourself—mentally, physically, spiritually—to keep fighting.
Also, maybe buy an alarm clock and charge your phone in another room at night. You probably need some sleep.
Best of luck, my dear.
Dear Oracle,
In these dark times, I want to find more of a community. I do have friends but many live elsewhere. What can I do to find my people?—Lost but Looking
Cards: Waning crescent, The Seeker, The Chariot, Page of Wands
Dear Looking,
First, I want to start with the pragmatic answer. With the free-spirited Page of Wands, you’ll find a community by exploring and trying new things. And then, with the full power of The Chariot, you’re going to plow into that community, full steam ahead.
You’re going to show up to that potluck with a dish, you’re going to commit to that cribbage club calendar of events, you’re going to out-stitch every bitch at that sewing circle. You’re going to find what your people are doing and do it all the time, and that’s how you’ll build community. You show up. Consistently.
The tricky part is finding the right community for you. The Waning Crescent is a time of reflection and peace. What you need is not only a community but a community where you can be your whole, vulnerable self without worry. It won’t do to just join a club or team or volunteer and still find yourself masking who you really are and what you feel. Superficial interactions can feel even more draining and depressing than just being alone.
With the Seeker, I think you should focus on finding a community that feeds your soul—something that centers around what you value and what brings you peace. This might be a more traditional spiritual practice, like joining a church or temple. It might be a meditation class, an arts collective, a weirdo film club. It should be something that tends to that spark in you because when you embrace that Chariot power and go all in, that spark will grow into a fire.
That is how you’ll find more meaningful interactions and, hopefully, deeper relationships. As you explore, though, keep in mind that a specific community might be the right fit for right now but if you find yourself outgrowing it down the road, that’s ok too. Not everything is meant for us forever.
However, if you keep honoring that spark, you’ll still be making those connections and weaving your own web of community. It requires a lot of bravery to put yourself out there to meet people and a lot of intention to nurture those connections into friendships. I hope you can find a group of people who let you express your true self, help you feel at peace, and are a joy to be around. We should all be so lucky to have that in our lives.
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This article appears in Feb 6-12, 2025.