soda-kazuichi

[soda-kazuichi]

Any tips on how to absorb and retain what you've learn during research since there is so much information?

Any thoughs on information gathering technique and your preferences?

(e.g. handwritten vs digital, draft vs directly doing a grimoire/BoS, one grimoire with all the info vs multiple grimoires, dividing info by subject or by source, etc.)

Wonderful question dear!

How to Take & Organize Notes on Witchcraft

Use what works You'll find with things like if it's handwritten or digital, it's going to entirely depend on the person. Be practical. Be realistic. What are you actually going to use? What is going to help you personally learn? This practice is like 90% studying, especially when you start. You want to make it easy for yourself.

Don't worry about a grimoire I've tried to make a grimoire TWICE now and it just becomes information that's not true, that I longer agree with, or that I won't use. We have reference books for a reason.Those aesthetic correspondence lists won't get you far, I promise. Focus on practical notes. Focus on notes about what you're actually doing. If at some point far down the line you feel you can organize that into some kind of long term grimoire, go for it, but as a newbie doing research? An aesthetic reference book is not what you need.

Use a binder I have yet to see someone mention using a binder for this and someone not go "Oh that's genius! I'm gonna do that" it's also what I use. Wonderful, simple tip. You can exchange out sheets if you don't like them and keep them in an ideal order. You can add new sections as you please. It's ideal.

Focus on a few topics It can be easy when you start to get really overwhelmed and make long lists of things you want to learn. That will come. For now so you can manage it and actually remember, focus on two or three topics at a time. Maybe pick something practical like warding and a couple topics you find really interesting. Remember, keep it fun and easy for yourself because you'll need to do a lot of it.

Highlighters! This might seem boring, or like duh, but seriously. If you've got a wall of text because that's how you had to or prefer to write it and there's something in there you really want to memorize or reference highlight it up. I also have a bunch of different colored highlighters, and when I'm taking notes for reference I like to highlight by very specific color for later. So for example if the usage of an herb is friendship, I highlight that in pink. I have a list of the colors, and what they mean. If I need all the herbs for friendship I have notes on at my finger tips I just flip and look for pink.

How many books to have, dividing, ect

This is going to vary by person greatly so I'm just going to explain how I do it to hopefully inspire you. I have a big binder that's split into two sections. The first section is a grimoire I don't use and will be redoing at some point. Since all the info just kind of came from my brain from studying over time it's more practical to go by topic so I just arranged the topics in the order that made sense to me . Mostly basics first, more advanced and detailed stuff later. The second section is more a book of shadows/journal/recording mad scientist experiments type thing. I've got spells I wrote, sigils I designed, divination readings, intuitive feelings/weird experiences, stuff like that in there. That makes up the majority of it and that's what I would focus on. Reflection is so helpful for perfecting your craft. It is divided by chronological order currently so it's just a mess currently. At some point I will probably even divide that second section into groups too. The spells and sigils will likely become part of that grimoire I'll eventually get onto making. Then maybe I'll have a separate tarot journal. Something like that. You might prefer having 5 separate books, organizing by source, or something else. This was just to spark your inspiration, ideas and preferences.

Details I would recommend keeping in all notes:

Topic/topics

Source

Date

Any thoughts, things to fact check later, ect

Notes ideas for things like spells:

Type of spell

Intent

The time/day/moon phase you did it

Everything you used

Steps/the order you did it in

Any words/chants used

Any substitutions made

Additional notes/thoughts

I hope that helps & addresses all your concerns! The examples you gave were super helpful for getting my brain going 💕

#tips #misc

[soda-kazuichi]

do you have any tips on how to start studying witchcraft? i’m totally new and don’t know what to do:(

☁︎ 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐭

hi, lovely, thank you for asking! i wish you all the luck in the world in your studies. here are a few tips from me.

ideas for how to start studying:

read. when i first started studying witchcraft, tumblr was my only resource because i couldn’t really go out and buy witchy resource books. however, i have a solution for that. this is a link to a cite that allows you to download books for free. yes, it works and it’s safe. guests can download five books per 24 hours, but if you create a free account you can download more. they have lots of books on witchcraft on here—but not all of them. there are also some tumblr posts floating around that have free pdfs of witchy books as well, so keep an eye out for that.

watch youtube videos. there are lots of vloggers out there who make instructional videos on witchcraft, especially at the beginner level. they have videos on all sorts of topics—like things you should research as a baby witch, how to compile a grimoire/book of shadows, how to cast spells, etc.

know that everyone who shares how-tos about witchcraft is biased. yes, even me. what works for me may not work for you. and what works for you may not work for the most revered witch on youtube. that’s okay. you’re not doing anything wrong. follow your intuition and allow it to guide you. that’s the principle here on my blog. i prefer to post about diy witchcraft or do-it-yourself witchcraft, meaning i want to encourage witches to sit down and craft their own information rather than regurgitating someone else’s. however, that might not be your cup of tea. you might not have an issue with the consensus’s definition of magick, and that’s cool. just be sure, as you’re studying magick, you’re able to (1) recognize that you’re learning from one person’s experience and (2) discern whether or not those experiences will work for you.

write notes. anything that jumps out to you when you’re reading or watching videos you should write down. when you’re new, a lot of information will seem enticing, and you want to absorb it all like a big sponge. there’s nothing wrong with that. but, what makes it wrong is when you start to dread or feel uncomfortable by something. for me, personally, i never liked the idea of making my magick religious, and not for lack of trying! everyone and their grandmother on witchblr seemed pagan, so i thought something must be wrong with me if i’m not. i tried to worship deities, but i always felt stupid when i did it because i didn’t believe. i even tried incorporating christianity into witchcraft, but that didn’t feel right either. eventually, i decided i wouldn’t make my craft religious. it does make things frustrating when i’m reading a book, and it’s chock-full of wiccan rituals or pagan spells, but i’ll still read it because the book may cover a topic i’m interested in. tldr; feel comfortable in the idea of taking some information and leaving the rest.

rewrite your notes. the first time you write, i would recommend putting it in a cheap/old notebook where you can be as messy as you want. once you finish, go back, reread, cut out things you think you’ll never use, and rewrite your notes. (preferably in your own words, but i understand that can be difficult.) now, you can choose to rewrite these in your grimoire or a different notebook. doesn’t matter. what you’re doing here is teaching yourself discernment and critical thinking. when you start to cut things out, you’re narrowing it down to the types of magick you do want to practice. (of course, this can change over time, but it’s a good place to start.)

don’t wait to practice until you know everything. because that will literally never happen. there will be a point when you realize everyone teaching these baby witch tips is regurgitating the same information over and over again. that is the point (actually, it’s well past the point) that you need to close tumblr and start practicing. because, at that point, the only person you can learn from is yourself. in practicing your magick you can find out what really works for you, and what’s excessive. don’t feel guilty about cutting down your craft, it’s necessary. (another personal example: i don’t have an altar. I did at the beginning, but it became useless to me over time, so i cut it out of my craft.) start practicing the little things—such as grounding and cleansing—early on. it’s okay if you forget what to do or nothing happens, you’re learning.

use yourself as a resource. yup, i’m back on my diy witchcraft bullshit. i’m going to post about this soon, but you need to use yourself as a resource. you might be thinking, “nan, how the hell do i do that when i’m new?!” well, i’ll tell you. correspondences. there are hundreds of posts about them on tumblr—color correspondence, crystal correspondence, fabric correspondence, moon phase correspondence—are all meaningless if you disagree. see, the color red is commonly associated with love and lust, so witches stress to use a red candle when performing that type of magick. well, what if you think red represents creativity? then go with your meaning. wow, i know, that’s a radical thought, but seriously it personalizes your craft and brings you closer to it.

#baby witch #masterpost

[soda-kazuichi]

Hi I was wondering, how would someone start if they were interested in learning about Wicca?

Hi,

First I would recommend Witch of Wonderlust on Youtube and Ariel Gatoga

Second I'd recommend you my favorite books for beginners (with links):

Weave the Liminal: Living Modern Traditional Witchcraft

a good introduction to building a practice that works for you where you are. It's less prescriptive ("use this herb to get this effect") than a lot of the usual recommendations but I think it's a very helpful guide, especially for folks starting out.

MASTERING WITCHCRAFT: A Practical Guide for Witches, Warlocks, and Covens

Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner

Also...

[What to start with in] generic eclectic witchcraft:

Candle magic. It's incredibly simple and once you've got the basics down you can easily write your own spells using it alone. Literally any book on candle magic will do, and the 133s in your library should have a book or two on it.

How to use energy. In general, there are two ways, one new and one old. The older way is easier (you simply collect a mass of energy in a magic circle). You can find it in the chapter on magic in Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft. The newer way is more explicit about shaping energy. You can find details in books like Mya Om's The UnSpell Book. (But later read Liber Null and Psychonaut)

Also I plan to write a small introductory book/blog post, wicca 101 especially for baby witches. Anyone would be interested in this?

#baby witch

[soda-kazuichi]

silly witch tip #3

this one *can* be targeted at our lovely neurodivergent witches!

you dont have to close your eyes while meditating. You can zone out staring at a thing, for me it's candle flame :)) 🕯️🔥

correct me if im wrong! :)

#tips

[soda-kazuichi]

#sigils

[soda-kazuichi]

Wood

Alder - weather magick, necromancy, courage, passion

Almond - wisdom, prosperity, love magick, healing, self protection

Apple - fertility, healing, abundance

Ash - protection, healing, prosperity, strength, intellect, will power, justice, balance, travel, wisdom

Beech - binding work, love, friendship

Birch - intuition, creativity, love, healing, protection, grounding, cleansing

Cherry - mental clarity, decision making

Cedar - healing, spirituality, prosperity

Driftwood - protection, energy, moon magick

Elder - healing, protection, banishment, prosperity

Hawtorn - protection, magick sacred to dragons and the fire

Hazel - truth, divination, wisdom, luck

Holly - purity, sun magick, strength, protection, luck

Maple - love, abundance, money, health

Oak - protection, fertility, strength, health, luck, defense, courage, longevity

Pine - healing, fertility, protection, money, cleansing, mental clarity

Poplar - the Crone, astral projection, divination, rebirth

Redwood - “king of trees”, strength, protection, creativity, enlightenment

Rowan - defense, creation, travel, healing, divination

Willow - healing, protection, spellwork

Yew - strength, change, death, immortality, protection

#wood #green magick #nature magick

[soda-kazuichi]

Types of Water Divination

Hydromancy: divination using water

The flow of water speaks to the intensity of current and/or upcoming events. To practice this method, dip a metal ring in water and gauge the movements like using a pendulum for "yes/no," or interpret the answer from the number of ripples that arise.

Acultomancy: divination with needles

Using needles in water or flour, the diviner would interpret shapes and patterns created by the needles in the substance. 21 or 7 needles would be used following the question being asked. The broken line may mean traveling or heading on a new journey. The parallel lines may mean money in the future, either given or taken away. The vertical lines are meant as guided roads to take. The horizontal lines may mean what the fate will be.

Ceroscopy: divination with molten wax in water

Light the candle with your question in mind and allow the wax to drop into the bowl of water. As the wax forms shapes and pattens, use these to interpret an answer to your question.

Quercusmancy: divination with acorns and oak trees

Lovers can drop acorns into the corner of a body of water. If the acorns touch, the lovers are meant to be. Acorns were also carried as lucky charms. If an oak tree shed its leaves, an oath was said to be broken.

Lecanomancy: divination with oil and water

Drop oil or rocks into a bowl of water and interpret the shapes and ripples in answer to your question.

#water magick #divination

[soda-kazuichi]

BASIC WITCHES, THOUGHTS / A VAGUE REVIEW

Just to get it out of the way, no, this book is not really on actual witchcraft or magick. However, I did enjoy reading it and some of its advice. If you want to read this, I'd recommend borrowing it from a friend or library rather than a full-on purchase. I checked out an ebook of it from my local library!

Basic Witches covers the concept of witchcraft from an agnostic and vague psychological perspective—in a perspective of self-care without needing religious belief in what practices are being performed. This book is moreso a self-help book rather than focused on actual religious or spiritual witchcraft. However, although it is not the point, I believe it gives a perspective onto how an atheist might practice witchcraft. It also effectively communicates the self-care involved in witchcraft, if you choose to use it more genuinely. This book does not cover genuine Wiccan or other religious beliefs associated with witchcraft.

Basic Witches is good for very early 'baby witches' and introducing them to the concepts of how witchcraft can be used as well as wonderful uses of modern magic such as clothing, makeup, and more. However, it really does focus more on the self-care, feminist, and "badass" ways to use witchcraft.

One of the major flaws with this book is that it acknowledges witches that aren't female or may be queer in terms of their gender experience but doesn't seem to consistently do this, making it seem not very serious.

There are many critiques on it by witches and those who use magick with a k, however I do find it a great introduction at least to new ideas or ways you might want to practice. I would not take this book with any spiritual intent behind its words. This book is comes across as a teen or young adult self-help book, which I enjoyed.

I would reccomend this book to anyone interested in grasping some uses for witchcraft as well as for easy incorporation of things that might be magick-adjacent for daily life. The introductions in the first few pages making it clear that the author and their friends are not Wiccan, pagan, nor a magick practicing witch.

This book is not for those who do not believe witchcraft can be a broad spectrum. The title is very descriptive yet deceptive—it is about basic witches and forms of witchcraft yet does not cover what many view as legitimate witchcraft.

TLDR; This book does introduce some things about how you might use witchcraft, especially modern ways. However, it is mostly a self-help/self-care book and isn't about actual witchcraft/magick. You will not learn about magick, secular or not secular in it. The art in it is totally charming, though!

I wouldn't call all of the spells in it actual spells, however I think they are totally easy ways for baby witches to do their first magickal steps if they're scared or unsure.

I enjoyed the first 2 chapters for its info, advice, and interpretation on how things like clothing, makeup, and even haircuts can be used to change how you feel through a "witchy" perspective. I did not learn much from other things in the book.

#witchcraft #magick #basic witches #Basic Witches How to Summon Success Banish Drama and Raise Hell with Your Coven #Jaya Saxena #Jess Zimmerman #baby witch #witchcraft books #book review #witchblr #beginner witch #witch tips #kazuichi reviews #kazuichi posts

[soda-kazuichi]

WELCOME !!

Heya! I'm Kazuichi! (Not a screen name or delusion, I am an introject.) We have been unsuccessfully trying to get into witchcraft and magick for nearly a decade. A while ago, we started this sideblog to try to help, but not much came of it. I'm revamping it and trying again! Please use xie/xiem, zie/zir, and he/him pronouns for me. I am not a man, but I am not female either. I relate to my femininity and womanhood through witchcraft. You don't have to read everything on this post, but please just read the Do Not Interact!!

Before you follow !!

I will frequently use fictional imagery of magick, witchcraft, the occult, etc. This is not because I view magick as fictional or to be taken lightly, but simply because I experience my world through fictional and other interests due to my autism. Using imagery such as that can help me maintain my interest and practice.

I AM AUTISTIC!! This heavily affects everything I do! I'm not self-aware of that when it happens, though!

I am dating Gundham Tanaka, so I use a lot of his photos here! I'm also in a queerplatonic relationship with Sonia Nevermind, so I'll use her here, too! I got interested in witchcraft because of Gundham and Sonia, but it's difficult for me to admit that. I will rarely use imagery of myself. (Yes, I understand that they and "me" are fictional characters. I am capable of discussing my source material. However, I genuinely have lives with them.)

I am an incubus and hyena therian. This is otherkin, however, Gundham genuinely believes me to be an incubus.

I'm a rather eclectic witch, however I especially enjoy anything that is with more "solid" objects (i.e. tarot cards, mechanics, plants, candles, etc). I also love incorporating common things or daily things into witchcraft such as bathing, clothing, and makeup.

I have been vaguely studying for almost a decade but have never been able to cast any spells besides one and actually really get into magick. It might not be for me, but I want to keep trying! This is one of my many attempts.

I can tag triggers if needed but I cannot tag anything from the video game series Danganronpa (as in the game and characters) and I cannot tag Gundham, Sonia, or Gundham and I's relationship.

I am okay with people who practice whatever types of witchcraft they want. Even if it's "evil". Their life, not mine! As long as they're not doing stuff like harming animals or using closed practices.

My Gundham is @azuremist 💕💕!!

Do not interact !!

You are a TERF, radfem, or anything similar in any shape are form. Trans women ARE women and are fully welcome in the craft.

You are a transmed/truscum, gatekeep trans people, etc.

You are a queer exclusionist.

You don't believe people can reclaim and widely use queer if they wish to. (I use being witchcraft with being queer a LOT. My magick is inherently related to being queer.)

You believe witchcraft is exclusive to those born into it or by lineage

You use closed practices of cultures or groups you are not a part of

You believe witchcraft is exclusive to women, females, those who are fem-aligned, and/or femmes (that isn't to say it doesn't have a strong focus on feminism, womanhood, etc., just that you can be a witch no matter your gender).

You don't support "different" or modern types of magick. Magick is a very broad practice and adapts and changes. Magick does not have one definition and is a personal journey to every person. You do not have to understand someone else's way of doing magick to respect them. Some examples are: emoji spells, technology/websites, and makeup. I don't understand emoji spells at all, but it means something to other people!

You support cringe culture! I love many "cringey" things and am totally proud of it!

You ship Sondam (Sonia x Gundham). Neither Sonia nor Gundham are in a relationship with each other outside of queerplatonic, which Sonia is also in with me. It's extremely triggering for me!

TAGGING SYSTEM BELOW CUT !!

#kazuichi crafts : original posts that pertain to putting out magickal information (spells, correspondences, etc.)

#kazuichi posts : any original posts at all!

#kazuichi reviews : magick book reviews!

#general : general posts about witchcraft that don't really have a category

#misc : misc posts about magick/witchcraft (funny posts, art, etc.)

#[type of magick] magick : posts that pertain to a certain type of magick like green magick or kitchen magick

#masterpost : masterposts

#baby witch : posts meant for or are useful for baby witches

#tips : magick tips!

#correspondences : correspondences in magick!

#divination : posts about divination (like tarot)

#basics : basic information!

#spells : any sort of things that are spells or instructions , even if they aren't spells

#potions : potions!

#ingredients : things that can be used as ingredients

anything else is given pretty basic tags of what they are like #crystals , #enchantment , or stuff like #honey

#pinned #gif warning

[soda-kazuichi]

Poems for Beginning Witches

Masterpost for the complete series of poems so far, designed to aid learning for beginning witches. Most are theory, and a one or two are conceptual. The reason for this masterpost is that they’re all poorly tagged

Moon Phases

Color Magic

Water Magics

Charging Objects

Herbs

Fire (element)*

Quartzes*

Witch Tools*

Divination*

Kitchen Witchcraft*

Air (element)*

Tea Magics*

Salt 

Wheel of the Year (Sabbats) requested by @fish-egs

Cleansing (an area) requested anonymously

Calling Circle requested by @dragonrhapsody

Spell Types requested anonymously

*with thanks to @lazywitchling, who helped inspire the second wave!

If there is something you would be willing to see in poetry form, send me an ask or drop me a message! As of 10/3/17, I am all out and no more are queued. 

#baby witch #masterpost #poetry #general #misc #basics

[soda-kazuichi]

A Witch's Routine

Many practitioners in the community have started sharing their daily/weekly/monthly routines, so I've decided to join in on the trend. I think this is a great way for beginners to get a sense of where they might want to start, and may get more casual practitioners to consider attempting a more regimented routine. Either way, here's what I do regularly!

Daily

Meditation, visualization, and breathwork for a minimum of 20 minutes, though lately I've been trying to go for 60 minutes.

I give an offering to one of the gods, my ancestors, Agathos daimon, genius loci, or other spirits depending on the day of the week/month.

I read a book on the occult, witchcraft, paganism, or other related topics for a minimum of 30 minutes.

I say a prayer or read a hymn to the gods

I give myself a quick 1-3 card reading and check the current astrological conditions

I cleanse myself and my protective jewelry

I do an energy work exercise or practice my energy healing techniques on myself

Weekly

I cleanse my house and check/adjust my wards

I create lesson plans for my upcoming classes, spending several hours on research and practice per class

I do a longer prayer at least once a week

I normally do a deeper self-cleanse and energy healing once a week

Monthly

Write and lead a full moon ritual for myself and my group

Other assorted seasonal rituals and rites

What's your witchcraft/magic routine?

If you enjoy my writing on Witchcraft and Spirituality, please consider supporting me at

patreon.com/nightshadeandroses or

ko-fi.com/nightshadeandroses!

#general

[soda-kazuichi]

some truths about tarot

- reading tarot & understanding every meaning completely is a life long process

- tarot is for guidance & we must be open to deciphering what it means for us individually 

- every tarot deck is different & therefore meanings won’t be the absolute same for every deck (especially when one factors in the art used for the cards)

- tarot decks can have minds of their own & develop personalities that often match the reader 

- free will tends to influence whatever events, situations etc  the cards may pick up for you 

- tarot cards can be difficult to use for yes, maybe or no questions but always do research on which cards represent yes, maybe or no

- having elevated intuitive ability helps massively when reading tarot 

#tarot #tips

[soda-kazuichi]

🔮A Huge Tarot Master-Post🔮

Hello~ I figured I’d make my first master-post about Tarot! This is my interpretation, so I don’t ask that you just go by my word. It’s your path! I’m just here to try to help.

This will be VERY in-depth. So I apologize in advance for the lengthy post, but I hope it will help. 

What is “Tarot”?

Personally for myself I see Tarot as a tool. I use it to help myself and others with some guidance with their lives; however, when it comes to Tarot, don’t let it rule over your decisions in your life. It is a tool but that does not mean that you should only go by what it says.

Types of Readings

There are two types of readings when it comes to Tarot: Question readings and Open Readings.

Question Readings

Just as the title says Tarot involves answering questions. Yes or No questions aren’t meant to be answered by Tarot. When it comes to Yes or No questions pendulums are used with their corresponding charts. Like I stated before, you shouldn’t use Tarot to make decisions but to guide you to help you make the decision yourself. The way a question is stated is important for Tarot readers. Here’s a few tips on what you should look out for:

🔮 Keeping your options open: If you already have an answer for your question, then you’re not really letting yourself allow the cards to guide your decision.  Asking how you could encourage your mother-in-law to move out, as opposed to asking how you can get along better with her, is narrowing the scope of the true question by answering it before you even get started.

🔮 Details: Your question should be focused, but not overly detailed. Rather than looking at one particular aspect of a problem, find a way to look more broadly at it. For example, rather than asking how you can make your home life less chaotic, ask how you can better balance work schedules and school schedules. That is a focused question. But do not go so far as to ask how you can coordinate baseball, soccer and karate schedules and still have family time – that’s too detailed. Only include the minimum level of detail needed in order to express what you want to learn from the cards.

🔮 Focus on Yourself: If the reading is for yourself, make sure your question focuses on you rather than on someone else who you think may be the root of your problem. If you’re wanting to help someone, for example, ask about what you can do to help them.

🔮 Stay Neutral: Basically be unbiased. Don’t come off with the notion that your POV is the “right” one. Asking why you’re always the one getting yelled at between you and your parent(s) isn’t neutral; instead, ask how you can prevent future arguments with your parent(s). That’s neutral!

🔮 Be Positive: When it comes to Tarot, and anything really, you’ll want to always try to be positive. Instead of asking why a specific event didn’t happen, ask about what you can do to make that event happen. Positivity is always great!

Open Readings

These are also known as “General” readings. They address the larger aspects of life rather than a question or a specific area. I’ve found that Past, Present, Future readings are very popular since it talks about people’s lives. They’re always eager to see if the cards can truly tell about their life! You can also direct the General readings towards a basic “genre”. Career, Health, Finances, Love, etc.

The Tarot Deck

There are many varieties of Tarot decks, and there is no standard number of cards across all decks. While the types of cards, the suits and their meanings are the same, the illustrations vary greatly. Decks are based on various themes such as nature, animals, fantasy, dragons, etc.

When it comes to finding a deck of your own, don’t just choose one based on the design. Focus on the connection between you and your future tool, your future guide. I have the Tarot Draconis Deck that called to me. It’s a beautiful dragon based deck that has connected with me. The bond we have today is inseparable!

I say “bond” because each deck has it’s own personality. That’s why Tarot readers do interview “spreads” to help them get to know their decks a bit better. I’ll explain spreads more thoroughly later on in this post. When it comes to their personalities, some decks are blunt, some are meant for giving other people readings and others could be laid back.

The Major and Minor Arcana

When you look through a Tarot Deck, there will be two different sets of cards: Major Arcana and Minor Arcana. Let’s look at the Minor Arcana first. You’ll find that like regular playing cards there are four suits; however, instead of hearts, spades, diamonds, and clubs there are Wands, Pentacles (Circles), Cups (Chalices), and Swords. Each of these represents an element.

Each suit has meaning regarding a specific approach to life. The cards within these suits are numbered one through 10 and also include the court cards – the king, queen, knight and page (knave). The Minor Arcana cards represent the more minor, practical daily ups and downs in life.

The Major Arcana are not associated with the suits. They include the picture cards that represent principles, concepts and ideals. They are numbered one through 21, with the 22nd card (the “Fool”) marked as zero. The Major Arcana cards represent strong, long-term energy or big events in some area of life.

Minor Arcana and the Four Suits

As I stated before, each of the Suits represents an element. Let’s talk about each one and break down what they mean, as well as the cards within them. Then we’ll move on to the Major Arcana!

When it comes to the different cards, there are negatives and positives. When a card is upside-down, the term being “reversed”, then it represents negative attributes of that card. When it’s upright then it represents positive attributes.

For myself, I don’t read reverse cards. I base it on my intuition. I’ll explain how your intuition is used with tarot later on in this post.

Suit of Pentacles

🌱Also known as Coins, Disks, or Circles.

🌱Represents the element Earth.

🌱Covers material aspects of life including work, business, trade, property, money and other material possessions.

🌱 Pentacles deal with the physical or external level of consciousness and thus mirror the outer situations of your health, finances, work, and creativity. They have to do with what we make of our outer surroundings – how we create it, shape it, transform it and grow it.

🌱 On a more esoteric level, Pentacles are associated with the ego, self-esteem and self-image.

🌱 The positive aspects of the Suit of Pentacles include manifestation, realization, proof and prosperity.

🌱 The negative aspects of the Suit of Pentacles (i.e. when the Pentacles cards appear reversed) include being possessive, greedy and overly materialistic, over-indulging and not exercising, not effectively managing one’s finances, and being overly focused on career to the detriment of other life priorities.

Often what is required to counteract these negative aspects is a return to nature to ground oneself and rediscover what is truly important. In addition, there may be blockages in being able to manifest ideas and plans resulting in a lack of success. Better goal-setting and planning is required.

🌱 When referring to timing in a Tarot reading, the Suit of Pentacles traditionally represents Winter or years.

🌱 In a deck of playing cards, Pentacles corresponds to Diamonds.

🌱 Court Cards // 1 - 10 🌱

King of Pentacles:

Upright - Security, control, power, discipline, abundance

Reversed - Authoritative, domineering, controlling

Queen of Pentacles:

Upright - Practical, homely, motherly, down-to-earth, security

Reversed - Imbalance in work/ family commitments

Knight of Pentacles:

Upright - Efficiency, routine, conservatism, methodical

Reversed - Laziness, boredom, feeling ‘stuck’

Knave/Page of Pentacles:

Upright - Manifestation, financial opportunity, new job

Reversed - Lack of progress and planning, short-term focus

10 of Pentacles:

Upright - Wealth, inheritance, family, establishment, retirement

Reversed - Financial failure, loneliness, loss

9 of Pentacles:

Upright - Gratitude, luxury, self-sufficiency, culmination

Reversed - Over-investment in work, financial setbacks

8 of Pentacles:

Upright - Apprenticeship, education, quality, engagement

Reversed - Perfectionism, lacking ambition or focus

7 of Pentacles:

Upright - Vision, perseverance, profit, reward, investment

Reversed - Lack of long-term vision, limited success or reward

6 of Pentacles:

Upright - Generosity, charity, giving, prosperity, sharing wealth

Reversed - Debt, selfishness, one-sided charity

5 of Pentacles:

Upright - Isolation, insecurity, worry, financial loss, poverty

Reversed - Recovery from financial loss, spiritual poverty

4 of Pentacles:

Upright - Control, stability, security, possession, conservatism

Reversed - Greed, materialism, self-protection

3 of Pentacles:

Upright - Teamwork, initial fulfilment, collaboration, learning

Reversed - Lack of teamwork, disregard for skills

2 of Pentacles:

Upright - Balance, adaptability, time management, prioritisation

Reversed - Disorganisation, financial disarray

Ace of Pentacles:

Upright - Manifestation, new financial opportunity, prosperity

Reversed - Lost opportunity, lack of planning and foresight

Suit of Swords

🌫️ Represents the element Air.

🌫️ Associated with action, change, force, power, oppression, ambition, courage and conflict.

🌫️ Action can be both constructive and/or destructive, sometimes resulting in violence.  This suit can also mean hatred, battle, and enemies, and of all the suits, this one is considered to be the most powerful and dangerous. 

🌫️ The Suit of Swords deals with the mental level of consciousness that is centred around the mind and the intellect. Swords mirror the quality of mind present in your thoughts, attitudes, and beliefs.

🌫️ Swords themselves are double-edged and in this way the Suit of Swords symbolises the fine balance between intellect and power and how these two elements can be used for good or evil. As such, the Swords must be balanced by spirit (Wands) and feeling (Cups).

🌫️ The negative aspects of the Suit of Swords (i.e. when the Swords cards appear reversed) include anger, guilt, harsh judgement, a lack of compassion and verbal and mental abuse.

🌫️ When referring to timing in a Tarot reading, the Suit of Swords traditionally represents Autumn (Fall), or months.

🌫️ In a deck of playing cards, Swords corresponds to Spades.

🌫️ Court Cards // 1 - 10  🌫️

King of Swords:

Upright: Clear thinking, intellectual power, authority, truth

Reversed: Manipulative, tyrannical, abusive

Queen of Swords:

Upright: Quick thinker, organised, perceptive, independent

Reversed: Overly-emotional, bitchy, cold-hearted

Knight of Swords:

Upright: Opinionated, hasty, action-oriented, communicative

Reversed: Scattered thought, disregard for consequences

Knave/Page of Swords:

Upright: Talkative, curious, mentally restless, energetic

Reversed: All talk and no action, haste, undelivered promises

10 of Swords:

Upright: Back-stabbed, defeat, crisis, betrayal, endings, loss

Reversed: Recovery, regeneration, fear of ruin, inevitable end

9 of Swords:

Upright: Depression, nightmares, intense anxiety, despair

Reversed: Hopelessness, severe depression, torment

8 of Swords:

Upright: Isolation, self-imposed restriction, imprisonment

Reversed: Open to new perspectives, release

7 of Swords:

Upright: Betrayal, deception, getting away with something, stealth

Reversed: Mental challenges, breaking free

6 of Swords:

Upright: Regretful but necessary transition, rite of passage

Reversed: Cannot move on, carrying baggage

5 of Swords:

Upright: Conflict, tension, loss, defeat, win at all costs, betrayal

Reversed: Open to change, past resentment

4 of Swords:

Upright: Contemplation, recuperation, passivity, relaxation, rest

Reversed: Restlessness, burn-out, lack of progress

3 of Swords:

Upright: Painful separation, sorrow heartbreak, grief, rejection

Reversed: Releasing pain, optimism, forgiveness

2 of Swords:

Upright: Indecision, choices, truce, stalemate, blocked emotions

Reversed: Indecision, confusion, information overload

Ace of Swords:

Upright: Raw power, victory, break-throughs, mental clarity

Reversed: Confusion, chaos, lack of clarity

Suit of Wands

🔥 Represents the element Fire.

🔥 Associated with primal energy, spirituality, inspiration, determination, strength, intuition, creativity, ambition and expansion, original thought and the seeds through which life springs forth.

🔥 Wands deal with the spiritual level of consciousness and mirror what is important to you at the core of your being. 

🔥 They address what makes us tick – our personalities, egos, enthusiasms, self-concepts, and personal energy, both internal and external.

🔥 Wands are also indicative of all things that you do during the day to keep you busy, be it working at the office, home or the great outdoors. 

🔥 Wands have to do with movement, action and initiatives and the launching of new ideas. 

🔥 They may be indicative of a never-ending ‘Ideas List’ or ‘To Do List’, whereby the client has many projects on the go to keep them busy.

🔥 When referring to timing in a Tarot reading, the Suit of Wands traditionally represents Spring or weeks.

🔥 In a deck of playing cards, Wands corresponds to Clubs.

🔥 Court Cards // 1 - 10  🔥

King of Wands:

Upright: Natural-born leader, vision, entrepreneur, honour

Reversed: Impulsiveness, haste, ruthless, high expectations

Queen of Wands:

Upright: Exuberance, warmth, vibrancy, determination

Reversed: Shrinking violet, aggressive, demanding

Knight of Wands:

Upright: Energy, passion, lust, action, adventure, impulsiveness

Reversed: Haste, scattered energy, delays, frustration

Knave/Page of Wands:

Upright: Enthusiasm, exploration, discovery, free spirit

Reversed: Setbacks to new ideas, pessimism, lack of direction

10 of Wands:

Upright: Burden, responsibility, hard work, stress, achievement

Reversed: Taking on too much, avoiding responsibility

9 of Wands:

Upright: Courage, persistence, test of faith, resilience

Reversed: On edge, defensive, hesitant, paranoia

8 of Wands:

Upright: Speed, action, air travel, movement, swift change

Reversed: Delays, frustration, holding off

7 of Wands:

Upright: Challenge, competition, perseverance

Reversed: Giving up, overwhelmed, overly protective

6 of Wands:

Upright: Public recognition, victory, progress, self-confidence

Reversed: Egotism, disrepute, lack of confidence, fall from grace

5 of Wands:

Upright: Disagreement, competition, strife, tension, conflict

Reversed: Conflict avoidance, increased focus on goals

4 of Wands:

Upright: Celebration, harmony, marriage, home, community

Reversed: Breakdown in communication, transition

3 of Wands:

Upright: Preparation, foresight, enterprise, expansion

Reversed: Lack of foresight, delays, obstacles to long-term goals

2 of Wands:

Upright: Future planning, progress, decisions, discovery

Reversed: Fear of unknown, lack of planning

Ace of Wands:

Upright: Inspiration, power, creation, beginnings, potential

Reversed: Delays, lack of motivation, weighed down

Suit of Cups

🌊 Represents the element Water.

🌊 Also known as Chalices.

🌊 Deals with the emotional level of consciousness and are associated with love, feelings, relationships and connections.

🌊 Cups are about displays of emotion, expression of feelings and the role of emotions in relation to others.

🌊 The Cups Tarot cards indicate that you are thinking with your heart rather than your head, and thus reflect your spontaneous responses and your habitual reactions to situations.

🌊 Cups are also linked to creativity, romanticism, fantasy and imagination.

🌊 The negative aspects of the Suit of Cups (i.e. when the Cups cards appear reversed) include being overly emotional or completely disengaged and dispassionate, having unrealistic expectations and fantasizing about what could be. 

There may be repressed emotions, an inability to truly express oneself and a lack of creativity.

🌊 The Suit of Cups traditionally represents the west and Summer. If using an ordinary deck of playing cards,

🌊 Cups are represented by the Suit of Hearts.

🌊 Court Cards // 1 - 10  🌊

King of Chalices:

Upright: Emotional balance and control, generosity

Reversed: Emotional manipulation, moodiness, volatility

Queen of Chalices:

Upright: Emotional security, calm, intuitive, compassionate

Reversed: Emotional insecurity, co-dependency

Knight of Chalices:

Upright: Romance, charm, ‘Knight in shining armour’, imagination

Reversed: Unrealistic, jealousy, moodiness

Knave/Page of Chalices:

Upright: A messenger, creative beginnings, synchronicity

Reversed: Emotional immaturity, creative block

10 of Chalices:

Upright: Harmony, marriage, happiness, alignment

Reversed: Misalignment of values, broken home or marriage

9 of Chalices:

Upright: Wishes fulfilled, comfort, happiness, satisfaction

Reversed: Greed, dissatisfaction, materialism

8 of Chalices:

Upright: Escapism, disappointment, abandonment, withdrawal

Reversed: Hopelessness, aimless drifting, walking away

7 of Chalices:

Upright: Fantasy, illusion, wishful thinking, choices, imagination

Reversed: Temptation, illusion, diversionary tactics

6 of Chalices:

Upright: Reunion, nostalgia, childhood memories, innocence

Reversed: Stuck in the past, naivety, unrealistic

5 of Chalices:

Upright: Loss, regret, disappointment, despair, bereavement

Reversed: Moving on, acceptance, forgiveness

4 of Chalices:

Upright: Meditation, contemplation, apathy, re-evaluation

Reversed: Boredom, missed opportunity, being aloof

3 of Chalices:

Upright: Celebration, friendship, creativity, community

Reversed: An affair, “three’s a crowd”, stifled creativity

2 of Chalices:

Upright: Unified love, partnership, attraction, relationships

Reversed: Break-up, imbalance in a relationship, lack of harmony

Ace of Chalices:

Upright: Love, compassion, creativity, overwhelming emotion

Reversed: Blocked or repressed emotions

🔮 - If a Tarot reading is predominantly made up of the Minor Arcana Tarot cards, you are dealing with day-to-day issues which will not necessarily having a lasting influence on your life. 

These issues are passing through, presenting you with an opportunity to learn from these experiences (look to any Major Arcana cards to identify and understand these lessons and how they may impact your life in the long-term).

Major Arcana

The Major Arcana Tarot cards (also known as the trump cards) form the foundation of the Tarot deck and consists of twenty-one numbered cards and one unnumbered card (the Fool).

They represent a path to spiritual self-awareness and depict the various stages we encounter as we search for greater meaning and understanding. In this way, they hold deeply meaningful lessons.

The Major Arcana Tarot card meanings illustrate the structure of human consciousness and, as such, hold the keys to life lessons passed down through the ages. The imagery of the Major Arcana Tarot cards is filled with wisdom from multiple cultures and esoteric traditions, including the Egyptian, Buddhist, Hindu, Sufi, Hebrew and Christian religions.

The Cards

0 // The Fool -

Upright: Beginnings, innocence, spontaneity, a free spirit

Reversed: Naivety, foolishness, recklessness, risk-taking

I // The Magician -

Upright: Power, skill, concentration, action, resourcefulness

Reversed: Manipulation, poor planning, latent talents

II // High Priestess -

Upright: Intuition, Higher powers, mystery, subconscious mind

Reversed: Hidden agendas, need to listen to inner voice

III // The Empress -

Upright: Fertility, femininity, beauty, nature, abundance

Reversed: Creative block, dependence on others

IV // The Emperor -

Upright: Authority, father-figure, structure, solid foundation

Reversed: Domination, excessive control, rigidity, inflexibility

V // Hierophant -

Upright: Religion, group identification, conformity, tradition, beliefs

Reversed: Restriction, challenging the status quo

VI // Lovers -

Upright: Love, union, relationships, values alignment, choices

Reversed: Disharmony, imbalance, misalignment of values

VII // Chariot -

Upright: Control, will power, victory, assertion, determination

Reversed: Lack of control and direction, aggression

VIII // Strength -

Upright: Strength, courage, patience, control, compassion

Reversed: Weakness, self-doubt, lack of self-discipline

IX // Hermit -

Upright: Soul-searching, introspection, being alone, inner guidance

Reversed: Isolation, loneliness, withdrawal

X // Wheel of Fortune -

Upright: Good luck, karma, life cycles, destiny, a turning point

Reversed: Bad luck, negative external forces, out of control

XI // Justice -

Upright: Justice, fairness, truth, cause and effect, law

Reversed: Unfairness, lack of accountability, dishonesty

XII // Hanged Man -

Upright: Suspension, restriction, letting go, sacrifice

Reversed: Martyrdom, indecision, delay

XIII // Death -

Upright: Endings, beginnings, change, transformation, transition

Reversed: Resistance to change, unable to move on

XIV // Temperance -

Upright: Balance, moderation, patience, purpose, meaning

Reversed: Imbalance, excess, lack of long-term vision

XV // Devil -

Upright: Bondage, addiction, sexuality, materialism

Reversed: Detachment, breaking free, power reclaimed

XVI // Tower-

Upright: Disaster, upheaval, sudden change, revelation

Reversed: Avoidance of disaster, fear of change

XVII // Star -

Upright: Hope, spirituality, renewal, inspiration, serenity

Reversed: Lack of faith, despair, discouragement

XVIII // Moon -

Upright: Illusion, fear, anxiety, insecurity, subconscious

Reversed: Release of fear, unhappiness, confusion

XIX // Sun -

Upright: Fun, warmth, success, positivity, vitality

Reversed: Temporary depression, lack of success

XX // Judgement -

Upright: Judgement, rebirth, inner calling, absolution

Reversed: Self-doubt, refusal of self-examination

XXI // World -

Upright: Completion, integration, accomplishment, travel

Reversed: Lack of completion, lack of closure

Tarot Spreads

Now that we’ve talked about the Minor and Major Arcanas, let’s talk about Tarot spreads! Before any Tarot reader does a reading, they shuffle their cards. This allows them to transfer their energy into the deck.

Once the cards are shuffled and the deck has been cut, the reader lays out the cards in a pattern called the spread. Each position in the spread has a meaning, and there are many different types of spreads, ranging from those that incorporate a single card to spreads that include all 78 cards of the deck. Which spread is used is up to the reader and the specific type of question or reading. Some spreads focus more on a specific type of information. For example, one spread might focus more on emotional matters, while another might bring in more information about the influences of others. One of the most common spreads is the Celtic Cross.

Interpreting the Spread:

Once the cards are laid out, their meanings are interpreted based on their positions and their neighboring cards. Let’s look at the Celtic Cross spread:

Begin by looking at the Circle/Cross section. The cards in this position represent what is happening in your life at the time of the reading.

Next, look at the first six cards in pairs. These cards paint a picture of your immediate situation. The cards in position 1 (the central issue) and position 2 (the secondary issue that can either be opposing or reinforcing) will identify the central theme of the reading. The cards in position 3 (the root cause that can be an unconscious influence or deeper meaning) and position 5 (your attitudes and beliefs, a conscious influence, your goal or an alternate future) represent things that are going on within you at different levels. And, the cards in position 4 (your past, a receding influence or something that has been resolved) and position 6 (the future or an approaching influence or unresolved factor) represent how people and events are flowing through your life.

Next, look at the Staff section of the spread, again considering cards in pairs. Looking at the cards in position 7 (as you are, as you could be, as you present yourself and as you see yourself) and position 8 (your outside environment, someone else’s point of view and you as others see you) tells you about your relationship with your environment.

Finally, look at the card in position 10 (the outcome-overall, your inner state, your actions or effects) to see the projected outcome.

Ask yourself how you feel about the projected outcome. What does it say to you?

Go back and review the cards that led up to that outcome, and see if there is a card that stands out as they key to that outcome. Then, look back at card 5 to see if the projected outcome is also shown as an alternate outcome there. Look at the card representing the near future in position 6 to see if it supports or contributes to the projected outcome. Finally, look at the card in position 9 (guidance, key factors, hopes and fears or overlooked factors) to see there is any relevance there.

This is one of many different spreads. You can even make your own spreads! Ultimately, start small and learn as you go. Spreads are very easy once you get the hang of it.

Intuition

Last but certainly not least, we’re going to talk about Intuition!

What is intuition?  A thing that one knows or considers likely from instinctive feeling rather than conscious reasoning.

When it comes to Tarot cards, and giving out readings or doing one for yourself, intuition is key. Witchcraft in general involves intuition 9 times out of 10! For example, when I do my readings for people, I don’t just go by what the cards mean. I trust my intuition about what it means, with my gut feeling. If I feel it’s something to do with family, I go with it. If it has something to do with an important event coming up in the future, I trust it.

You may not get it down right away, and that’s perfectly okay! It’ll take some time to get it down pat. Just don’t forget to listen to your gut!

There you go! I hope this Master Post helps you guys learn a little more about Tarot. I’ll be posting another one later for in-depth descriptions of all the cards!

Brightest blessings!

[🔮] all-things-witchcraft [🔮]

#tarot #long post #masterpost

[soda-kazuichi]

🌟Tips for interpreting Tarot🌟

1. The most important clues may be in the background! 

In the Rider Waite Smith deck, many cards show a figure with a number of significant items behind his or her back. What happens behind one’s back is, for oneself, something unseen, shadowy, something to which one has no conscious access. This could point to the idea that the figure in the foreground is unaware of the nature or scope of their issues. You can’t grasp what you cannot see, and that can reveal a lot about the nature of the card’s meaning.

2. The color of the sky reveals a lot!

Again referencing the Rider Waite Smith deck, the color of the sky on a given card often leads to a simple but important clue for its interpretation.

3. Pay close attention to proportions!

In the image of the Four of Wands, the figures are depicted much smaller than is the case in other images; they fall short. Or perhaps they are of normal height and are painted so small in order to emphasize the comparatively huge size of the wands. This sort of thing can be found in many other cards. 

4. Court cards represent developed personalities or facets of oneself!

The Queen: impulsive, an initiator, an investigator (water type)

The King: thorough, intensive, consolidating (fire type)

The Knight: magnifying, expanding, a drawer of consequences (air type)

The Page: makes something tangible out of or with the element in question (earth type)

4. Pay attention to numbers!

Numerology can play a big role in your interpretations of the cards, especially in the Minor Arcana:

Ones (Aces): Something new with vast potential is indicated when you have many aces in your readings. They are pure energy without form - and it depends on you to shape it and bring the opportunities that they represent into fruition. Because they are raw, they are also unstable, and can very quickly overwhelm if not taking care.

Twos: Coming together in pairs is the theme of the twos, and all the complexities that this union represents. We leave the individuality of the ones, and the twos are a taste of union. 

Threes: Group dynamics rule the threes in the tarot, and they depict different outcomes that can occur when a group comes together - whether they are groups of individuals, or groups of ideas. Because it is also symbolically thought of as completion (the first polygon, the holy trinity, etc) it also indicates an initial completion of a first phase of some sort.

Fours: The fours usually indicate that some foundation has been created and is ready to grow and evolve. To grow and evolve is the key here, because though the foundation is created, there is some disappointment indicated sometimes because things may not have progressed entirely as hoped for - thus, the fours are also the universe’s way of pushing us to grow and move forward.

Fives: Change, fluctuations and conflict are represented by the fives. After the fours, the fives are amplifications of that same energy. When that energy explodes, the fives ask us to look within ourselves for a deeper reason of why to progress. To move forward and beyond these instabilities, we have to push forward.

Sixes: While the fives represent conflict, the sixes represent the movement away from that conflict into a solution, whether they are internal or external, whether that means reconciliation or letting go. They are the cards of overcoming suffering, light after the dark.

Sevens: When seeing many sevens in a reading it usually indicates that it is a time to step back and introspect. The sevens ask us to assess, and reevaluate whether the path that you are taking is what is best for you. Sometimes this is a lonely pursuit, but this period is needed to go forward with your authentic desires.

Eights: A completion of a second phase is indicated with the eights, and usually corresponds to some sort of achievement, whether in the worldly sense, or in an emotional sense. Growth either way is indicated here, and sometimes it can take place in a form where we least expected it.

Nines: Nearing completion is indicated by the nines, and this can take the form of entering a plateau of some sort. What looks like the finish line, may actually be just a transitory stage. While the feeling of completion is here, it is usually just a pause before the final part of the cycle comes.

Tens: In the tens, we see the actual completion of the cycle, that something has come to a full circle - it indicates that from this point forward, we can move towards a new beginning.  ✨🔮✨ Sources: Biddytarot, The Ultimate Guide to the Rider Waite Tarot by Johannes Fiebig and Evelin Burger, Understanding Tarot by Liz Dean

#tarot #tips

[soda-kazuichi]

🔮 Introduction to the Tarot: Masterpost 🌌

Warning: This is a longer post

The Tarot is arguably one of the most iconic symbols of witchcraft. It’s been used in books and movies for decades, it’s talked about extensively online, and it even has its own section at Barnes & Noble.

Some people are inexplicably drawn to the symbolism and aesthetic of the cards, and some people avoid them like the plague (mostly due to the same superstitions surrounding ouija boards, seances, and all other forms of divination). My goal with this post is to demystify this beautiful form of magic and to hopefully help some of you out there to take your first step into the world of the Tarot.

🔮 What is the Tarot?

The Tarot, simply put, is a special deck of cards. They can be the size of a tablet, they can be small enough to fit on a keychain (pocket-sized tarot decks are adorable in my opinion), but most are about the size of a cell phone. These cards are used in a type of divination known as cartomancy: divination using playing cards.

Tarot cards are not to be confused with standard playing cards (though, types of cartomancy using regular playing cards do exist). Tarot cards should also not be confused with Oracle cards.

All three of these decks can be used for cartomancy, though, and you’ll have to gauge for yourself which type of deck works better for you as an individual. To clear this up now:

Playing Cards - Originated in the 1300s in Europe (though many historians argue that they were used in the Middle East for centuries before that) consisting of four suits and 52 cards. Each suit contains cards numbered 1-10, plus three more cards denoting a Jack, a Queen, and a King. Primarily used for card games, but also used for divination in some types of folk magic.

Oracle Cards - originated in the 1700s in France. These are special decks of cards used for divination, and each deck is unique to the person who designed and created it. These cards have no set number of cards, no set suits, and no set meaning that is standard to every deck. The creator of the deck will develop their own meanings and symbols that they attribute to each card.

Tarot Cards - originated in the 1400s, arguably either in France or Italy. A tarot deck consists of 78 cards, each with its own specific symbols and meaning. The cards are the same among every tarot deck, no matter who creates it; only the artwork changes. Tarot is almost exclusively used for divination.

🔮 Origins of the the Tarot

The Tarot deck’s beginnings are just as obscure as its symbology. No one is completely sure when or where the Tarot came about. Historians claim the first accounts of them appear in various letters and documents dated in the 15th and 16th centuries. Back then, though, it seems that Tarot cards really did begin as nothing but a card game.

Back then, they were known as “triumph” cards, a word that eventually led to the English phrase ’trump card’. They were used in a game known as Tarock in Germany, Triumph in England, Tarocchi in Italy, and Tarot in France.

These decks consisted of the same standard for all card decks - four suits with ten cards each, plus court cards for each suit. However, the triumph decks also incorporated 22 additional cards that represented different medieval archetypes (The Magician, the Fool, the Emperor, etc.).

In the original game, two people would take turns laying down cards in a way similar to Uno. If your opponent laid down a card, you then had to lay down a card of the same suit or number. If you didn’t have one, you had to lay down one of the 22 ‘triumph’ cards. The first person to run out of triumph cards lost the game.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, people began to play a different game with these cards, though. In this newer game, a player would lay down several ‘triumph’ cards, and then their opponent would have to create a short sonnet describing a story told by those specific cards, kind of like a 'create your own adventure’ game, or an Ad-Lib.

At some point after this new game was invented, historians begin to see accounts of players taking the game a step further and actually using the game to tell the fortunes of the players.

Before long, tarot divination was running rampant throughout most European countries, though mostly done behind closed doors. However, it was a very well-known practice, and there are even accounts of many royals and noblemen visiting 'tarot readers’ to have their fortunes told.

Occultists became fascinated with the Tarot throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, claiming that the symbolism in the Tarot held ancient knowledge of magic and the universe. Some even claimed that it was the only surviving 'book’ from the Library of Alexandria.

In the late 1800s, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn deeply studied the symbolism within the Tarot, and eventually released the infamous Golden Dawn Tarot deck. This was the first deck to attribute Kabbalistic, astrological, and elemental associations to the cards.

Since then, hundreds and hundreds of decks have been created by witches and occultists all over the world, each one throwing their own spin on this divinatory tool.

🔮 Parts of a Tarot Deck 

A tarot deck consists of 78 cards, divided into two groups: The Minor Arcana ('Lesser Secrets’) and the Major Arcana ('Greater Secrets’).

The Minor Arcana is made up of 56 cards that are pretty standard. There are four suits (typically Wands, Swords, Coins, and Cups, though newer decks use Pentacles instead of Coins). Each suit has cards numbered 1-10, as well as a Page, Knight, Queen, and King. In Tarot divination, the Minor Arcana represents minor events in a person’s life, such as day-to-day activities.

The Major Arcana is made up of 22 trump cards, each with its own unique meaning. The Major Arcana symbolically tells a story of a person reaching spiritual fulfillment, beginning at Card 0 (the Fool) and ending at Card 21 (the World). In Tarot divination, the Major Arcana represents large and important events in a person’s fate, usually signifying a new 'chapter’ in someone’s life or a life-altering decision. These cards are:

0 - The Fool

1 - The Magician

2 - The High Priestess

3 - The Empress

4 - The Emperor

5 - The Hierophant

6 - The Lovers

7 - The Chariot

8 - Strength

9 - The Hermit

10 - The Wheel of Fortune

11 - Justice

12 - The Hanged Man

13 - Death

14 - Temperance

15 - The Devil

16 - The Tower

17 - The Star

18 - The Moon

19 - The Sun

20 - Judgment

21 - The World

🔮 How is Tarot able to tell the future?

This is one of the most speculated questions among witches and occultists. Simply put, it depends on what you believe.

Some practitioners have a specific spirit or deity that they work with, such as their ancestors or a personal deity. They use the cards as a tool to channel the voice of these entities, and rely on the knowledge of the spirit or god to predict the future.

Some practitioners believe that the Tarot itself has a spirit that lives within the cards, and this divinatory spirit will reveal hidden knowledge through card readings.

While both of these can totally be true - and while Tarot decks are a perfect tool to communicate with spirits and gods - I have found that my Tarot decks will give accurate readings even if there are no spirits around, and even if I sense no spirit in the cards themselves.

This leads me to one of the more new-age beliefs, which I’ve heard circulated in many chaos magic circles. There is a wonderful book called The Chaos Protocols by Gordon White that talks about this theory extensively.

Basically, the theory states Tarot cards are not the ones telling the future: you are. While humans are very much earthly creatures that exist in this material world, we also possess a consciousness or spirit that exists in higher dimensions. In these higher dimensions, constructs like space and time are less concrete and more fluid. Many astral travelers describe experiences where they are able to see through time while in the astral dimensions, and this Tarot theory builds off of that.

In this theory, the Tarot cards are nothing more than a way for a person to tap into their subconscious mind (the 'higher self’), and their higher self relays information about the future through the card reading.

Whatever way you practice, whatever you believe, the Tarot is a deeply spiritual and personal tool, and I would advise learning its secrets directly from the cards themselves.

🔮 How to Read the Tarot

In reality, there is no wrong way to read the Tarot. The bond between a witch and their Tarot deck(s) is typically very personal, and many readers find that individual decks have their own personalities and prefer to be read in a certain way or for a specific reason (general readings, love readings, health readings, etc.).

For instance, I have one deck I will use to read for others. I have another deck I will only use to read for myself. I also have a deck that I only ask questions about my relationship. And so on.

In general, Tarot divination is pretty simple.

Begin by shuffling the deck with a specific purpose or question in mind.

You’ll reach a point where the deck feels 'ready’. Use your intuition, and trust your gut.

If you wish to do a spread, begin pulling cards off the top of the deck and lay them out in the spread. If doing a one-card reading, pull a card off the top. If you wish to simply have a 'conversation’ with your deck, pull as many cards off the top as feels right.

Interpret your card(s) using both the actual meaning of the card (which you can usually find in a booklet that comes with your deck, or you can also use the meanings found online) as well as your own interpretation of the symbols in the card. If you’re using a spread or multiple cards, it can also be helpful to look at the reading as a whole and see how the meanings of each card relate to the other cards in the spread.

Once you’re done, put the pulled cards back into the deck.

🔮 A Simple Spread

This is the spread I will use most commonly. It is a simple three-card spread to reveal a glimpse of the past, present, and future.

Pull one card from the deck and lay it down in front of you. This card represents your current situation.

Pull a second card and lay it down to the left of your first card. This represents the circumstances or events that led you to your current situation.

Pull a third card and lay it down to the right of your first card. This represents where your current situation will lead you if you stay on your current path.

🔮 Some Final Thoughts

Such as the first card in my spread described above, a card that represents you or your current circumstances is called a significator. Significators are not necessary, but are helpful to base questions off of and build the rest of the reading around.

By no means do you have to follow the reading method I’ve listed above. Shuffling and pulling cards is a very intuitive and personal process. Some readers will lay all the cards out and pick some at random. Some readers will shuffle until one or more cards fall out of the deck. Experiment with your cards and see what feels right.

The idea that Tarot decks have to be gifted to you is a superstition. The decks I’ve bought for myself work just as well as the ones others have given to me.

It is wise to cleanse your deck when you first get it, but I find it a bit impractical to cleanse your deck every single time you use it, especially if you read for yourself daily.

You do not need a special bag to keep your Tarot cards in. All of my decks live happily on my altar.

Tarot cards are not just for divination. They can also be utilized in spells to represent people, spirits, deities, or energies.

You can create a very powerful protection spell by placing the 22 Major Arcana cards in a circle around you.

Oracle cards are very similar to Tarot cards, except that they don’t follow the standard layout of the Minor and Major Arcanas. Oracle cards are divination cards that have their own symbols, meanings, and layout created by the designer of each specific oracle deck. These can often be easier to use, especially for beginners, because they are usually not as cryptic or archetypal as the traditional Tarot.

Do not feel ashamed or less effective if you have to look up the meaning of each card. I’ve been reading the Tarot for 7 years now, and I still have to look up card meanings every now and again.

Tarot readings do not show a future that is set in stone. They show the future based on current circumstances. If a circumstance changes (such as you changing your mind about a course of action), the future will also change.

• • •

Brightest blessings, and best of luck 🌙

#tarot #masterpost #baby witch #long post

[soda-kazuichi]

Green witchery: The basics

Being a green witch basically means you want to incorporate plants and nature into your craft! Other names include: nature witch, plant witch, garden witch, forest witch, etc.! I’ll talk about some of the basics being a green witch could entail, but this certainly isn’t an all-encompassing list!

On gardens and growing plants:

Whether you have a flourishing garden filled with everything one could possibly think of, a little windowsill herb garden with the bare essentials or one potted succulent; there’s no denying the joy that comes from helping green things grow!

A container around 2-3 feet deep and filled with soil is perfect for growing potatoes! Plop ‘em in, water them occasionally and harvest in the fall.

Plant things for the butterflies and bees!

Sage, rosemary, basil, mint, thyme, oregano and cilantro are all helpful herbs that you might consider planting.

Daffodils, marigolds, roses, sunflowers and primroses are my favorite witchy flowers.

Eggshells and banana peels are your friends.

These food plants can easily be regrown.

#garden witch / #garden magic / #garden tips

On bringing the green in (houseplants):

Let’s be real, not of all of us have access to areas for planting gardens, or infinite space for indoor plants! It can make being a green witch a bit tricky. 

Spider plants, lucky bamboo, air plants, aloe vera (succulents) and cacti are all pretty easy houseplants.

Terrariums are adorable and you can make them into mini gardens!

Grow one plant for each area of your life (happiness, mental health, etc) [source]

You can get bulbs for grow lights that fit into normal lamps, just be sure to put the plants directly under it!

Watering plants with rainwater will make them happy!

#houseplant magic / #houseplant tips

On incorporating nature:

Find a place outside you can safely visit. Try to spend at least five or more minutes a day sitting and watching. Quiet your mind and just be. (This could be your front porch or backyard, it doesn’t have to be in the forest)

Wander on some nature trails. Visit the local body of water. Walk outside.

Start taking pictures of beautiful wild places, or wildlife.

Learn about what birds and animals live in your area, and perhaps what their tracks look like.

Climb a tree, go swimming in wild waters, take your shoes off and feel the ground beneath your feet, remove invasive plants and plant native ones, pay attention to weather patterns, collect rainwater, etc.

#nature witch / #nature magic / #connecting to nature

On wild plants:

Get some basic plant field guides. I really like Audubon and Peterson, along with Botany in a Day. 

There are also plant apps and websites. 

Learn what plants have poisonous look-alikes and how to tell the difference.

Get a calendar. Go out at least once a week and document what stages the different plants are in. For example: March 4th. Oso berry leaves almost open. Nettles small but fully established. Bitter cherry has unopened flower buds. Salmonberry leaves almost open. Also worth adding where (elevation/location) which is SUPER helpful for harvesting reference later.

Pick a plant a week and research/journal it. Points include: What it looks like, what look-alikes there are, ecosystem + elevation it grows in, medicinal uses, edible uses, magical uses, etc.

Harvest plants and use them for medicine and food after safely doing research*.

#plant magic / #plant witch / #wild plants

Helpful links:

Green witch tips

Garden witch guide

Plant witchcraft: A beginner’s guide to growing

Tip: When your plant is dying

Keeping plants alive when you leave for a trip

Researching herb safety

Anatomy of plants

USDA plants database (external site)

Wildflower identification tool (external site)

Collection of helpful plant websites (external site)

Butterfly plants list (external site)

Bee friendly plants (external site)

Crystals and houseplants

Garden blessing

Plant growth spell

Spell to heal a wilting plant

Desert plant correspondences

Dealing with plant spirits

How to communicate with plant spirits

Bedridden witch: Nature edition

#basics #baby witch #long post #green magick #plant magick

[soda-kazuichi]

Crystal Tips

Cleansing and charging your crystals often helps to keep out bad energies. Crystals energies tend to fade over time if they aren’t cleansed and charged.

If the crystals are safe to put into water, I suggest washing them every few weeks to keep them clean and cleansed.

If you have a crystal and can’t identify it, it is completely valid to go by the color correspondences instead.

Crystals can have personalities. For me, I like to do tarot readings for each new crystal that I get.

#tips #crystals #crystal magick