I hope you had a wonderful Fourth of July weekend! Whether you spent it with family, out in nature, or simply enjoying a slower pace, I hope you found a little time to have fun and recharge.

I spent part of my 4th at a local artisan market. One of my favorite parts of doing markets is watching people interact with the little Daily Wild mystery card vending machine. Visitors get a token, turn the crank, and out comes a surprise animal from the deck. I never know which card they'll pull, but I always enjoy watching their reactions.

When somebody pulls a Turtle, they smile. An Otter? Even better. But every now and then, someone pulls the Snake. There's almost always a pause and occasionally they'll laugh and ask, "Can I pick another one?"

Most of us have been taught to see snakes as something to avoid, but the more I learned about them while creating The Daily Wild deck, the more I realized they have an incredible story to tell. And this week, I think it might be exactly the story some of us need to hear.

- El

For thousands of years, snakes have been feared, misunderstood, and cast as villains in countless stories. But they've also been symbols of healing, wisdom, transformation, and renewal. It's amazing that one animal can represent so many different things depending on the story we're telling.

When I was researching the Snake card for The Daily Wild deck, one detail about this animal really stuck with me. A snake doesn't shed its skin because it wants a fresh start. It sheds because the old skin literally no longer fits. Unlike us, a snake can't simply stretch what it's already wearing. As it grows, its outer layer becomes tight, dull, and restrictive. Eventually, the only way forward is to leave it behind.

But here's the part that fascinated me even more. A snake doesn't simply slip out of its old skin. First, it has to find something rough like a rock, a log, or a branch to create enough resistance to tear the old skin. Then, inch by inch, it works its entire body free. Without that resistance, the old skin stays exactly where it is. Whoa... wait. You mean letting go doesn't happen without resistance?

How often do we find ourselves pushing against something uncomfortable? A difficult conversation. A season of uncertainty. A change we didn't ask for. We usually spend so much energy wishing it would go away that we never stop to wonder whether it is just something we've already outgrown.

Maybe that's what the Snake is here to remind us: one way forward is to shed what no longer fits.

Sometimes it's literally the pile of clothes in your closet that no longer fits your body or your style. Sometimes it's the project you've been avoiding because your heart isn't in it the way it once was. Sometimes it's the expectation that you have to keep doing something simply because you've always done it. And sometimes it's something even deeper, a belief, a fear, or an identity that once served you but no longer belongs in this season of your life.

The snake doesn't cling to the skin that once protected it. It doesn't carry it around just because it used to be useful. It leaves it behind because growth made it necessary. And remember, this isn't a frictionless process. Resistance is a natural part of letting go.

Maybe there's something in your life that's become a little too tight. And that's not bad... it's just no longer the right fit.

I'm thrilled to finally say yes, you can now order The Daily Wild animal inspiration card decks them from the website. Whether you’re grabbing a set for yourself or looking for a meaningful gift, they're designed to encourage curiosity, confidence, and a little more connection to the world around us.

As we build this community, I would love more than anything to hear from you. What’s landing? What did you notice this week? What do you want more of? Just reply to this email and let me know.

I am really loving it when you share your daily card pulls with me - I’ve been seeing more of these come through Instagram. Tag @yourdailywild! It never gets old and always makes me smile to see the animals that are calling to you!