Nonya’s Nonsense Newsletter for January 2026

Hello Beautiful Soul!!

I sent out some updates at the end of last year, but I realized that I haven’t sent out a newsletter since July! I am now aiming to send one out twice a month. However, this will be the only one for January.

I was recently diagnosed with Lyme disease that had gone untreated for some time. This was actually a huge relief, as I thought my already difficult health issues were in rapid decline.

I am now almost at the end of my antibiotics, so I’m feeling much better! However, like any chronic health issue, overdoing it will cause flares. Forget work, burnout causes me to be unable to do the most basic of personal tasks.

I have been struggling to create a sustainable workflow since the start of Half-Cracked Guru, and that struggle only intensified last year. However, I believe that I have created a system that will help me to show up for you while being kind to myself.

I’m sure there will be plenty of tweaks as I continue to implement new processes, but I can’t even begin to convey the relief I felt after planning it all out!

What’s in this issue:

My AI Disclosure – How I use AI for Half-Cracked Guru

I’d like to start this off by saying that AI is a tool that can be used ethically – at least as ethically as just about anything else these days. It’s a tool, like any other, that can be used properly or not.

It’s also an incredible tool of accessibility for those of us with chronic health issues and neurodivergent noggins.

It has been a game-changer for me! It’s a most excellent brainstorming partner and valued assistant. It helps me to organize my overactive thoughts, and I’ve created a “Ruthless Editor” to help me improve my writing, piece by piece.

It’s a bit of an “idiot savant,” but so am I! It has learned to tell me jokes or give me strange facts when I am frustrated with it or trying to finish work when my body and brain have called it quits for the day.

Here’s how I use AI for my content (I use Gemini):

1. Writing (General)
   I have it give me suggestions for things like intros and conclusions. I have a tendency to ramble, so I often have it give me suggestions for general arrangement and formatting. I regularly use it for things such as titles, tags, excerpts, and social media blurbs for when I share my content. Almost nothing that it gives me is used as is – I review and edit everything.
2. Messages From the Universe
   I may ask for help with a conclusion, arrangement, or title once in a while, and always use it for the back-end stuff. The rest is all me (and the Universe, of course!).
3. Blog-based social media videos
   I feed it the text of my finished post and have it give me a “blurb” based on parameters I’ve set for it. Once I approve the blurb, I’ll use it to create the videos. I use templates I’ve created in Canva for this and add my voiceover. I also had it save my signatures, tags, etc for each platform for easy copy/paste.
4. Daily Draw videos for social media
   I created these as something I hope to be valuable to my followers, while requiring minimal effort from me. Gotta please the algorithm gods, but I want my focus to remain on more important things, so this is my most AI-heavy content.
   
   I take photos of my cards (about a month’s worth), log the cards and stones into my database, and feed it to Gemini. Gemini will then give it back to me with the forecast for each section (overview, relationships, singles, etc.). I then take the completed spreadsheet and use Canva to bulk-create videos using a template I created.
   
   When I’m ready to work on them, I review and edit each one, add my voiceover, then download and schedule, usually one week at a time, but I’d like to try to do more.
5. Product
   Product descriptions and titles are my least favorite thing to do, so I use Gemini to help with them, again, based on the information and parameters I feed it. Product photos are 100% mine, with edits only to brightness and warmth because my lighting is always bad.
   
   I’ve also been learning a lot about marketing differently from the way that was drilled into me when I was in corporate. It’s always felt unethical to me, so we will be working together on implementing what I’ve learned.

I’d love to know what you think about my processes and AI in general. I understand that this may be a deal-breaker for some, and that’s ok 🙂

Half-Cracked Guru Updates

I’m in the midst of a lot of big changes for Half-Cracked Guru, most of which I’ve detailed in this post from December.

The biggest change is my decision to close down my website, which will be finalized before October, so many current changes will be in relation to this.

Here are some of the short-term changes you’ll be seeing from me:

1. Emails & Substack
   I’ve changed the name on this publication from Nonya’s Nonsense to Half-Cracked Guru and am in the process of cleaning up my Substack to prepare it for the move. Your emails from me will have slightly different details now, and I will likely create a new publication for the non-Guru stuff.
2. Reinstating the newsletterI am aiming to get a newsletter out to you twice a month, on Thursdays, though this may change as I continue to implement new systems for myself.
3. Pick-A-Card Tarot Readings are returning with changes!
   I so love doing these, but they take a lot out of me, so I will be doing them once a month. They will now also include an additional love & money reading for my paid subscribers.
4. Scheduled product drops
   Listing and sharing my product has always been something I’ve done as it was ready, so it’s always been additional work rather than part of my routine. I am now incorporating the whole process into my regular workflow.
   You can expect to see new product drops or sales once a month, with a lot more thought behind how I share them with you. I went from zero to daily promotion last summer, so I’m aiming to promote myself in a more balanced and thoughtful way.
5. More social media platforms
   I started sharing my videos on TikTok last fall, and just started sharing them on YouTube as well! I am sharing the same short-form content on most social platforms, so picking one won’t have you missing out on others. I’ve got all my socials on my Linktree if you’d like to check them out.

What I’m Creating

I had a period of several months where my ability to create was limited due to Lyme disease intensifying my arthritis and migraines. I somehow still managed to make a few things, though! I plan on releasing them into the wild in mid-February.

Here’s a little sneak peek:

Recent Posts

• The Dark Side of Spirituality (Guest post on “Things I Shouldn’t Say”)
• A Season of Expansion: A Message From the Universe
• Speak Truth, but Stay Grounded: A Message From the Universe

Media Recommendations

What I’m Reading

I’m having a hard time focusing with my eyes, but I’ve always got at least one audiobook on tap!

Currently, I’m on another journey through Stephen King’s “Dark Tower” series. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve joined Roland and his Ka-Tet on this quest! If you like dark fantasy, you’ll love this!

Recently finished:

• “You Like it Darker” by Stephen King. (Short story collection)
  I liked it alright, but I’m kicking myself for wasting my credit, as I tend to reserve them for stuff I know I will listen to over and over again. This is not one of those books.
• “Life of Pi” by Yann Martel
  The movie was just magical, so I had to get this one as an audiobook! Unlike the previous book, I’m quite happy with this decision!
  
  IMDB’s short blurb:
  A young man who survives a disaster at sea is hurtled into an epic journey of adventure and discovery. While cast away, he forms an unexpected connection with another survivor: a fearsome Bengal tiger.

What I’m Watching

Most of what I’ve been watching is well-known and love-worn in my world, so I can keep my focus on what I’m creating.

I let familiar shows play in the background as I create something new or work on back-end stuff that requires a lot of wait-time. I do, however, try to have at least one night per week to watch new movies or catch up on a show.

• Outlander – series on Starz (historical romance & time travel)
  I loved the books, and the series has done a wonderful job bringing these characters to life! I am currently re-watching all 7 seasons in preparation for the final season in March. There’s a spinoff called Blood of My Blood that I’d like to watch at some point as well.
• Spartacus: House of Ashur – series on Starz (action and so much more lol!)
  The original series ended in 2013 so I was thrilled to hear they were coming out with more last December! If you haven’t seen the original series, I would definitely watch that first. Warning: this show is filled with almost ridiculous over-the-top sex, gore, and cheese factor. It’s so good though!
• A Knight of the 7 Kingdoms – series on HBO/Max (Game of Thrones Spinoff)
  The first episode was just released last Sunday, and it seems like it’s gonna be great! I’m looking forward to watching # tomorrow!
• The Magic Flute – movie on Prime (musical fantasy)
  I’m obsessed! This is a movie from 2022 that’s basically a reimagining of Mozart’s final masterpiece. I will be watching this one quite regularly 🙂
• IT: Welcome to Derry – series on HBO/Max (horror)
  I loved this one! If you’re a fan of IT, I’m sure you’ve seen it already or have plans to do so- definitely worth it!

Music I’ve Got On Replay

• F**K Being a Princess – Esme Rose (Official Audio) [Explicit]
• Under Your Scars – Godsmack
• Taylor Swift – CANCELLED! (Visualizer)
• Violent Femmes – Kiss Off (Live) (Official Audio)

Are you still with me?

If so, you are seriously awesome! Thank you so much for reading my novel 😂😂😂 I am truly grateful for you!

Take care of yourself, beautiful soul, and take care of your neighbors 🩵

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