(Almost) Daily Divine

Mid may - mixed bag!

5/21/2019

Buckland Romani Tarot

Tools And Timing

Sometimes creative projects come in fits and starts. There may be funding or creativity problems. All kinds of obstacles can crop up when you are trying to put a project out in the world. But, no journey can begin without a first step! Admittedly, I am often slowed down by health issues, but for a long time I put off doing the creative things because I didn’t have the “right equipment” or because I was in an unstable situation. Finally, I decided that I was just going to do it anyway. That was really exciting.

But, lately, there have been some impediments to doing it anyway. I’ve had to surrender. I started a YouTube channel only to find out when I make videos or take photos, I'm unable to transfer them from my phone. My computer is old and unreliable. I have sporadic internet. My life is full to the brim with stress and my physical pain seems undaunted no matter how much ibuprofen I throw at it.

There are times in every creative process when you feel like you’ve hit a wall! I had a good momentum going and I smacked up against it pretty hard. I’ve been pretty mad, dejected, frustrated, but the cards have been telling me lately that maybe I just need to stop for a bit, focus on some of these tiny details and build up my tools. I don’t have to stop creating. I just have to be patient, go slow, do it at my own pace, etc. It does no good beating myself up for being sick. That doesn’t help me with my health. Surrendering to my limitations and having faith that I’ll still produce some good work that connects with people is a pretty good strategy and may prevent me from having a stroke, yes?

This reading with the Animals Divine Tarot, which is always on point, really underscored this for me. It’s time to be an industrious little mouse and stock resources.

ABUNDANCE!

The Abundance card from The Vintage Wisdom Oracle has come up a number of times lately, alone or paired with Transition. It’s been a good reminder that the acceptance that change is inevitable and letting go of things or people that are holding me back makes room for things that do. Making room for abundance is a worthwhile endeavor. It also reminds me that even though I don’t have the kind of financial abundance most people associate with the word, I have much to be grateful for as I am truly rich in friends.

Let's Talk Tens!

Changing gears a bit here, I had meant to highlight Michelle Tea’s marvelous book, Modern Tarot throughout May, but barely got started with one post on Instagram last week. I’m going to keep it going. Hopefully, you’ll follow along and enjoy it, The book is highly quotable, Tea’s observations on tarot are brilliant. It is one of my favorite books and I recommend it highly!

So, let's talk TENS in the Tarot for a minute: I have a little bit of trouble with tens. On one hand,, they can signify a moment of huzzah! You’ve done the thing, everything is beautiful, and all your hard work paid off, right? Time to celebrate! This is especially evident in the Ten of Cups and the Ten of Pentacles. The Ten of Wands is that temporary extra load you’ve taken on that you know will push you over the edge to your goal! The Ten of Swords, on the other hand….yeesh, that’s the one we all try to avoid, right? But, you have to end your cycle. It’s inevitable. Even the scary cards have a positive message when you can get past the imagery!

"Tens are the resolution, but they are not the big happy whiz-bang party card you might expect. Because the tarot is a glyph of life itself, and life is about action always, the pride and happiness of a ten is tempered by a twinge of boredom, of “what now”-ishness. Because as one cycle ends, another is beginning, and the suit is ready to tip back into the Ace and start the whole thing all over again. This is sometimes a big relief - the Ten of Swords for instance, looks like the worst card in the deck, but it holds the considerable Silver Lining of this lousy moment finally being over." -Michelle Tea

Here are three decks that illustrate this rather well (L to R):
The Fradella Adventure Tarot, The Morgan Greer Tarot, The Buckland Romani Tarot.

I’d invite you to spend some time with the Tens of the tarot this week. What do they make you feel? What clues jump out from the imagery in the deck you use most?

Recommendations

What am I listening to this week? I’ve been delving into the tarot episodes of Midnight Scario podcast. It’s been fun hearing the observations of someone who is somewhat of a novice. I’ll have to listen to a few more before I can really comment.

What am I watching? Well, I had a fun surprise. I had a rough day and decided to unwind with a few giggles by watching, Amy Poehler’s comedy film, Wine Country on Netflix. It has a great cast of ladies, mostly SNL alums including Maya Rudolph and Tina Fey. Poehler says many of the film’s misadventures are based on things that actually happened on various vacations, including a very bad group tarot reading. Cherry Jones, is hilarious as a reader with a very bad cardside manner. What I appreciated about it though is that the scene was written with accurate card interpretations. It’s refreshing to see tarot respected in this way. They used the Golden Universal Tarot which is a very pretty RWS based deck.

Golden Universal Tarot

That’s it for Tarot Tuesday this week. As soon as I can get something, ANYTHING working, there will be new videos on my YouTube channel. I post on the Speaking Of Witch Instagram regularly, but not so much that it will overwhelm your feed. I’d love to see you there!

If you want to help Speaking of Witch grow and get better content, HERE is our Amazon wish list of decks and books we'd like to review.

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MINI POST: THE WAY OF THE PANDA

5/2/2019

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THE WAY OF THE PANDA KICKSTARTER

Happy Beltane week and Happy Thursday! A quick head's up for tarot lovers looking for a unique deck! This Kickstarter campaign is marvelous and is ending on Saturday. Decks, when available post campaign alway cost more so if you love this, jump on it!
The deck is created by Kimberly M. Tsan with illustrations by Spanish artist, Celia Libelle.

Tsan's site, Fables Den

Kickstarter Campaign for Way Of The Panda!

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Signs Everywhere!

4/23/2019

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There are so many types of divination. Witches aren’t limited to tarot cards. Of course, many of us read tea leaves, scry in mirrors, water or crystal balls. Some throw dice, runes, bones, etc. Many of us just see signs EVERYWHERE!

Reading From Nature

I’ve always gravitated toward items from nature that pop up. Most of the time I just feel what they are trying to tell me. Feathers are a big one for me. I often find unusual feathers in unexpected places. When I am wondering about an issue, suddenly I’ll find a feather that is pointing in one direction. I might find an especially beautiful feather in my path and take it as a yes. When I see a mess of feathers on the grass indicating a fight or perhaps a kill, I have noticed that a conflict type situation pops up soon after.

I don’t work with angels and don’t subscribe to the meanings some have ascribed to feather colors as being messages from angels, by the way. I just love the visual and tactile beauty of organic items and for much of my life I’ve almost compulsively picked up shells, stones, feathers, twigs, buttons; anything that seemed to call to me (unless it was at a crossroads) and much of it ended up on my altars or in jars on my mantle. I feel the messages come from nature, animal spirits or my deities. Or, they could just be my mind making patterns to figure things out. No way is more or less sacred, wrong or right. Sadly, I lost most of the contents of my home in 2012 so a lifetime of collecting many wonderful things was lost.

Some of the collections of items I lost. So much magick and beauty. So much personal history!

OVOMANCY

I will often notice synchronous things popping up; imagery, symbols, words, sounds, etc. This is often related to a deity trying to get my attention but it can also be a specific message about someone or something, a reminder or even a warning. If it seems odd or a pattern starts to form, it does not hurt to pay attention. I ascribe to the, listen to your gut, stay safe, philosophy. If you are right, you avoid harm, if you are wrong, you are still safe and the worst thing that might happen is feeling a little silly.

Lately, I’ve been seeing double egg yolks. Last month I cracked a few eggs from good old, Trader Joe’s and they had double yolks. Then my roommate mentioned that every single egg in the carton had been a double yolk for him. I had cracked three from the same carton that were normal so this means eight out of a dozen were double yolked! Quick, math person; what are those odds?

Double egg yolks which happen when two yolks are close to each other when the shell forms around them. are supposed to be very rare, one in a thousand so I wasn’t sure if he was teasing. This month we bought another carton of eggs and the first one out of the dozen was a double yolk. I’m not sure that it means anything but extra protein in my case. It also may mean that the egg farm is using very young hens whose hormones haven’t balanced yet.

(You know the voice to use in your head)
"OH MY GODS; a double egg yolk! What....... does it ...MEAN?"

Folklore

Common folklore says, this means I’m pregnant or someone near me is with child or about to get knocked up. Our household eats a lot of eggs. (Come at me cholesterol!) In the past few weeks I’ve had the double yolk appear twice while my roommate as I mentioned, has been finding quite a few. He’s been doing antidepressant enforced celibacy for a while now and there’s not even a remote possibility I'm pregnant. If you listen closely, you can hear crickets chirping in the desolate wilderness of my lady bits. Our upstairs neighbors already have a small child who has two modes: crying or screaming, so I hope they don’t get another little blessing.

But here’s the thing about omens. When your granny saw you crack one of these open, nodded wisely and said, “someone is about to get pregnant” or saw blood in the yolk and gasped, “someone is going to die” she was telling the truth; "someone" and "somewhere " are pretty vague and therefore, always accurate predictions. "Someone’s going to get pregnant," is one of those pronouncements that will never be wrong, along with those psychic chestnuts, "I feel that a famous person is gonna die soon," or "a big news event will happen in the world this week," or "there will be a large earthquake somewhere in the world in the next few days!" Big earthquakes happen a lot more often than we think, but the news doesn’t always cover them. People die every day. Someone, somewhere, is always getting pregnant, and chances are it will be someone you know!

I did a little research, and the portent of a double yolk varies a lot depending on what culture you hail from. Pregnancy is a big one. A double yolk can also mean, of course, TWINS! The Norse thought it was a sign of death. Some folklore says a woman who finds a double yolk will soon be engaged. It can mean fertility, prosperity or luck. I figure since the odds are normally one in a thousand we must have some incredible luck headed our way soon.

It tasted lucky.

OMENS

The past few days, I’ve been seeing owls everywhere. Yesterday, I stopped for coffee at one of my favorite places. I opted to sit down and enjoy, rather than dashing off with a cup to go. I was handed my latte in the sweetest owl mug. Of course, I immediately thought of the Goddess, Athena. Athena is the Greek Goddess of Wisdom. (Also: courage, inspiration, civilization, law and justice, strategic warfare, mathematics, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, and skill.) Owls are also mentioned in Celtic mythology with Cailleach and Blodeuwedd. They are also prevalent in Native American cmythology.

Artist: Cynthia Sheppard link in references

Artist Tsuyoshi Nagano. Link in references

OWLS

Owls are associated with wisdom, observation and seeing the truth. An owl can see clearly in the dark. Their senses are acute enough to home on on small, quiet prey. They can swoop in silently and with precision. Owls are messengers and associated with magic so of course they were a perfect choice for the world of Harry Potter. Seeing lots of owls feels important. It’s been my experience that deity or spirit likes to drop these sorts of hints so it’s possible that Athena, or more likely the Cailleach is trying to get my attention. I think it’s about more than that, but I’ll be open to seeing more.

I’ve always had mixed feelings about owls. I have had some moments when I have suddenly seen one in the wild that left me breathless. One of my coolest owl moments was a few years back when I was driving down the coast from northern California late at night. It was a raging rainstorm and the road was kind of precarious, especially when I was on the coastal winding roads. I was driving really slow because visibility was so poor. Finally, I headed inland and the rain slowed a bit. Really dark and I was still going slow. Suddenly an owl with a large wingspan came gliding past the front of my car and grabbed, probably a mouse or rat, from the brush at the side of the road and kept going into the night. If it hadn't gone right in front of my headlights I'd have never seen it. Majestic.

They are amazing creatures. I’ve never vibed closely with any of the deities they are attached to, so I was a bit stumped about just WHO was speaking to me. Many of the attributes of the owl resonate. I tend to be the observer no one notices who takes them by surprise, speaking the truth. I am certainly not stealthy or much of a hunter. I’m a clutz who rarely makes a silent entrance. Ironically one of my means of stealth is my loudness. People assume incorrectly, because I am chatty that I am neither observing or really listening to what they say.

Owl of Athena

Ultimate Grounds on Park in Oakland, California!

Albrecht Durer

Mostly, I associate owls with my adoptive mother who has collected them for years. I am mostly estranged from her, with good reason, and her birthday is a few days away. She’s getting older. So, while my first thought was the most obvious one, that this was some prodding from Athena, last night I had the stronger thought that I need to suck it up and call my mom to check on her. So, if it was a poke from Athena, that was probably what the poke was about. I’ll probably follow through because it’s hard for me to pass up a sign or a suggestion.

Do you see signs and omens everywhere? Do everyday objects or finds in nature speak to you? Do you find meaning in your dreams? Do patterns appear that others don’t see? Have you actually made your own systems for divination from found objects? I would love to hear about it.

A Podcast Recommendation: Tarot Reveries

A bonus! In keeping with Tarot Tuesday, here’s a podcast recommendation for you.

This is fairly new and the podcaster has kept themself anonymous. It’s called, Tarot Reveries and is a splendid opportunity to get to know one card at a time in depth, but in a brief format. Each episode, there are four so far, focuses on just one card and includes a bit of interesting history or information, a description of the traditional imagery, symbolism and then you are invited to do a wonderful, short meditation with the card.

I highly recommend this podcast for beginning tarot readers who need to get to know the cards and may be putting pressure on themselves to learn 78 definitions. I think it is also just splendid for an experienced reader like myself. The meditation is brilliant. The mysterious narrator actually brings you into the meditation and then gives you a little silence for your own reverie, then gently, brings you out again and concludes.

Each installment follows the order of the tarot, starting with the major arcana. So far: The Fool, The Magician, The High Priestess, and The Empress each have an episode. They seem to be coming every couple of months. An episode is only about 15 minutes so you have plenty of time to catch up.

Links in the reference section. This podcast is available on podbean, apple podcasts, player fm, all the usual suspects. A lot of thought seems to have been put into crafting each episode and the narrator has a wonderful, soothing voice so I hope that it will manage to continue through the entire tarot!

A NOTE: Speaking Of Witch can now be found and followed on Instagram and YouTube .

References

Cindy de Andrade Avelino. Link in references

Artist unknown, but I sure would like info!

Tarot Reveries:

https://tarotreveries.com/

https://tarotreveries.podbean.com/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/biz/podcast/Tarot-Reveries-136816800350144/

Owls Symbolism:

https://something-wicca.blogspot.com/2012/07/owls-in-myth-and-legend.html

http://blog.shamansmarket.com/the-medicine-and-mythology-of-owls/

Athena:

https://www.greekmythology.com/Olympians/Athena/athena.html

https://www.ancient-greece.org/architecture/athena-nike.html

Eggs - Science and Folklore:

https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/double-yolk-eggs-and-other-egg-anomalies/

http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2011/08/double-yolk-eggs-folklore-and.html

https://www.auntyflo.com/Superstition-dictionary/spiritual-meaning-double-egg-yolk

https://www.occultopedia.com/o/ovomancy.htm

https://zoomdune.com/types-of-divination-ovomancy/

Art Links:

http://cynthia-sheppard.squarespace.com/

http://artas1.com/ja/tsuyoshi_nagano/

https://www.upwork.com/o/profiles/users/_~01da9afefb74bad56c/

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The Shit Sandwich: A Tiny Peek at The Arcane Bullshit Deck!

4/9/2019

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Nonsensical or Insightful? How About Both?

I was so excited to get my Arcane Bullshit cards I could have pooped! But I didn’t, There is so much poop in this deck that it would have been overpoop. So, I settled for a big loud, "WOOP," then opened the gorgeous box! Yes, gorgeously lowbrow and proceeded to be dazzled, delighted and completely overwhelmed. The deck is huge! There are so many cards! It’s full of brilliant, crass, "nonsense" images that will actually, as many decks with seemingly absurd themes do, work surprisingly well for divination.

At 105 cards, this deck is not really a tarot deck, but don't let that discourage you. There are many different types of divination decks available for those who use cartomancy. Playing cards, Lenormand, oracle decks and even old postcards can help you visualize and analyze an issue in a helpful way. I like to use a variety of tools so I don’t see one as better than another. It’s a collaboration between reader and tool and you may find you are more effectively able to use one kind of tool over another.

What Is Arcane Bullshit?

Arcane Bullshit is the divine madness that sprouts from artist Evan Doherty’s imagination. Doherty’s Arcane Bullshit threads on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook have given as many laughs to occult practitioners as they have the general internet meme lover so it seemed only natural that Doherty would eventually produce a tarot or fortune telling deck.

Evan Doherty’s deck deserves a more thorough review, but I am not going to do that now, That is going to take some time. I want to, yes seriously, work with it a while AND I also need to figure out how to shuffle this monstrosity. One of the things Doherty did to add to the ridiculousness and possible frustration was number the cards in the guidebook, but there is no number on any of the cards so you get to hunt through for his funny definitions each time.

THE SHIT SANDWICH!

So, today, because it’s Tarot Tuesday somewhere, I’m just going to settle for doing a three card reading; The Shit Sandwich, a Past, Present, Future, Spread. My results can either be read for fun with the guidebook definitions or interpreted as one would do with any cards.

1. Past: 101 Holy Shit! Stop Asking.

BuLLSHIT: At this point, you probably fucking know the answer. Just fucking meditate or ask a crystal or a weird gnarled tree branch or your friend Cheryl. I don’t fucking care.

ME: This is actually a valid point. I have known what I’m dealing with for a long time. It’s not a bad idea to go inward and reflect. I do know a Cheryl who has always given good advice. Coincidence? I think not. I’m aligned with the bullshit here. In the past, I often wasted too much time trying to figure out things I already knew the answer to. Also, people often bombard me with questions they can easily look up the answers to. I know how this guy feels.

2. Present: 49 It’s Probably Nothing.

BULLSHIT: You may see signs everywhere, but it’s generally safe to assume that you are not special in any way and anything that might be happening is the product of randomness.

ME: Ouch. Okay. Thanks. Good to know that the passing thought that someone hated me enough to try to curse me is just my own ego. Things have been really nebulous, chaotic and weird lately, but rather than worry, I’m just going to decide it’s not worth worrying about. The picture will come into focus on its own.

3. Future: 71 A Skeleton Eating A Banana.

BULLSHIT: This is probably about death and also penises.

ME: Well, an important male mentor in my life did just pass away and I can already see that is going to affect a number of tangible things in my life. However, I think this is about trying to find a way to feel nourished, to find spiritual food and put more focus on self care.

Also, now I’m thinking about sex. Thanks.

BULLSHIT: You’re welcome.

So, you can see, it is perfectly possible to enjoy the absurdity of a novelty deck, but still effectively use it for serious divination.

Encourage Art!

The other great thing about decks like, Arcane Bullshit, is the gratification that comes from supporting a small independent artist when you buy one. There are so many marvelous little decks being produced and sold via Kickstarter and Etsy! Sure the commercial, mass produced decks are exciting and definitely more affordable, but it is worth your while to look around and grab something unique that also feeds a starving artist!

Wild thought. How about instead of buying that "Witch Starter Kit" from Sephora, you buy tarot decks directly from artists and support them. Let me show you a few faves of mine...
— Sam Guay (@SamGuayArt) September 1, 2018

Here are my 20 FAVORITE cards
(at the moment)
Subscribe to my YouTube channel
for more tarot content!

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Afraid of reversals? Not Me! The Four of Wands Reversed

4/2/2019

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Many people cringe anytime they see a reversed card in a reading. We tend to think of things in terms of duality, so upright must mean good and reversed must mean bad, or at least a diminished amount of good. Therefore, getting a reversed card must be worrisome! Today we are going to talk about the Four of Wands coming up in a reversed position because it is one of the least scary reversals in the tarot!

The standard: Rider Waite Smith

A lot of older tarot books reinforce this idea, but it is a picture that is lacking in depth or nuance. Many times a reversal is actually seen as a positive message. The joy may be in a lesser degree than the upright card or perhaps it is just a more personal or internal experience. It may also mean you are passing out of a difficult period and have actually learned valuable lessons from it. So, much nuance is lost when you simply memorize the upright and reversed meanings from a standard tarot book, or the little white booklet that comes with your deck. Often, the standard meanings in the booklet really don’t apply to the deck it accompanies. This is why I love it when the makers of a deck produce an actual book that talks with some detail about the reasons the images were chosen and the symbolism within.

I’ve mentioned this before; I generally don’t read reversals. However, I do look at a reversal in context of the rest of the reading and if it makes sense, I give it that more weight. Most often, I take a holistic approach. Every card, like every person, has a shadow side. When you take the whole of the card, sunshine and warts, I find that I get a much better reading. If I turn over a card that gives me a jolt, I look at its position and the cards around it for context. Usually, that calms me right down. A reading gives us information. It tells us what requires attention or further examination. When you look at it that way, all information is good information. Wouldn’t you rather know what to watch out for so you can avoid negative experiences?

Today, I’m going to take a quick look at The Four of Wands (Wands, Rods, Koshes, Batons, Staves, etc.)

Tarot decks most commonly base their imagery on the Rider Waite Smith Deck so you may not see much variation from the classic imagery of that Four of Wands which will show some sort of celebration, a castle in the background, bountiful food and often is focused on a couple united in marriage under a garland.

The Witches Tarot

Tarot of the Mystic Spiral

Alchemical Tarot

Today, I’m going to take a quick look at The Four of Wands symbolism in a reading. This is one of the cards where a reversal is widely thought of as a still a pretty good thing. There are several ways to see this:

First, let's look at the number. Fours in the tarot generally represent stability. They may represent a union or a coming together of some sort. Perhaps they represent a stage of accomplishment, though still some distance from that ultimate goal, the ten of completion. It is generally something to celebrate. Wands are fire, energy, creativity and growth. (They represent a lot more than that, but let’s keep it simple!)

Four of Wands. Artist: Amy Martin

When you get a Four of Wands reversed, the most common interpretation and image, based on the classic Rider Waite Smith deck, represents a union and a celebration of accomplishment. It has often been called, The Marriage Card. I usually interpret the Four of Wands upright as something you celebrate with others and reversed as something you celebrate yourself without seeking attention. If we look at this card reversed as strictly opposite, it may mean strain or instability in relationships or home situations. But, it also may just mean a more personal accomplishment. It could be asking the querent to consider that they may need to boost their confidence or find a way to put more energy into their home, relationship, family, job or project.

So, consider the number, what the suit represents, the position and relationship to other cards in the reading, how this relates to the querent (yes, it is helpful to ask questions. This is not psychic prediction) is this reading about love, finances, etc., and also, perhaps most importantly, the images in the card itself.

Here are a bunch of images of the Four of Wands from a variety of tarot decks. If you look closely at the images you will get information that will expand your reading beyond the booklet definitions. When reversed think about what in the images may add extra layers of meaning. Trust your instincts!

Share your thoughts and experiences. What's your favorite Four of Swords image? Tell me about a Four of Swords that came up in a reading that was particularly meaningful. I would love to hear about it!

Here are some helpful links concerning reversals:

Brigit Esselmont of Biddy Tarot has a lovely little article on reversals.

Another excellent resource is Aeclectic Tarot!

And Mary Greer has written an entire book on the subject which I highly recommend:

Unions and Marriages

Zigeuner Tarot

Albrecht Dürer Tarot. Yes this is a little creepy.

Animal Lords. Two giraffes getting hitched. I like that gender is a bit ambiguous here, leaning towards masculine.

Tarot of the New Vision gives you the couple's perspective.

One of my favorites. The Modern Spellcaster's Tarot features two women handfasting.

Dame Fortune’s Wheel Tarot. These Two can't stop kissing!

Focus On Home

I don't know what deck this is, but I love it! If you recognize it, please clue me in!

Chrysalis Tarot. I'm smitten!

Pagan Otherworlds. This one is interesting because it's open to interpretation as to whether this is before or after a marriage.

Celebration

Tarot of Cats

Secret Tarot. I love the feel of Beltane this evokes.

Wildwood Tarot

Tarot of the Hidden Realm

Buckland Romani Tarot

Golden Tarot

Accomplishment

Baseball Tarot

Byzantine Tarot

Cosmic Tarot

Unusual Takes

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SPRING UP! Tarot Spread

3/28/2019

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I suppose if I were a *cough* proper witch, I would have made a timely blog post for Ostara this year. But if anything, I'm more contrarian than proper, and besides, there are a zillion blog posts about Ostara by now. I was already vexed about trying to come up with something unique to say, but a combination of Mercury retrograde and crappy weather muddled my plans for an awesome Ostara full moon ritual outside in a woodsy yard. I ended up doing something simpler and less photogenic inside the house.

One of the things that is pertinent to this time of year is that spring is coming. We are already seeing the first signs of it in most places. We have planted things literally in the soil, or metaphorically in our souls that have laid dormant during the winter and now it's time to nurture, grow and see how they bloom.

Behold, my friends, the spring is come; the earth has gladly received the embraces of the sun, and we shall soon see the results of their love! - Sitting Bull

SPRING UP! A TAROT SPREAD FOR SPRING, OSTARA, CREATIVE, BUSINESS OR PERSONAL GROWTH!

In the spirit of spring, here is a new tarot spread. This one can be used for looking at personal progress, a creative project, job, relationship or starting a family, essentially anything you've started or that you want to start and grow. This would be a fabulous spread to do on a New Moon, perhaps in concert with a spell, when you have a project you'd like to come to fruition by the new moon.

I've created the spread in the shape of a plant, from seed, roots, sprout and stem, leaves and bud, about to bloom or bear fruit depending on how you'd like to picture it. The spread has nine cards to represent an endeavor nearing the conclusion. You're almost there. Here is what you have sown and will bloom shortly. I've come up with a few marginally clever names for this one and have sort of settled on, Spring Up, but if you have any better suggestions, lay them on me! Maybe there will be a wee reward in it for you. I guess that depends on the response.

As always, comments and questions are appreciated.

Though I do not believe that a plant will spring up where no seed has been, I have great faith in a seed... Convince me that you have a seed there, and I am prepared to expect wonders.
- Henry David Thoreau

The diagram above differs slightly from the photos I took of the spread because I've tweaked the positions of the cards since I did my original reading. I switched the top two cards, sun and blossom, because it just made more sense aesthetically and symbolically.

This deck is actually an oracle deck, The Oracle of Mystical Moments. Even though it wasn't designed with layouts in mind, it is fabulous to use for more than just a daily draw! I'll be doing a review of this deck sometime in April, 2019. The stones, which evoke the feel of brightly colored Ostara eggs, are Blue Apatite, which I am using for creativity and focus, and Flower Agate, which is the perfect stone for creative projects I want to bring from seed to bloom!

I’ll be writing more about Flower Agate soon on the Speaking Of Witch Blog.

The Card Positions:

*keywords for my personal results under each photo.

Card 1. Seed: Potential. Hope. What has been planted?

Card 2. Earth: Fertile Soil.
What is the matrix that I've planted my seed in?

43. Secrets: Magic. Mystery. Hidden thoughts.

42. Change of Seasons: Transformation. Development. Life's ups and downs.

Cards 3 and 4. Roots:
What is keeping me grounded and
giving me the space I need to grow?

3. Old roots: holding me in place.

4. New roots: spreading out, searching.

41. Home In The Sky: Safe Haven. Wanderlust. Adventure.

25. Protective Nest: Nurture. Motherhood. Protector. Incubation.

5. Sprout to stem: Growth. What is growing, moving, happening?

23. The Gift: Whimsy. Excitement. Curiosity. Gift.

6 and 7. Leaves: What tools do you have for health and growth
How are you using them?

6. Collecting Water. Nurturing. Feeling.

7. Pulling nutrients from Air. Ideas. Knowledge.

4. Moondance: Hopes: Daring. Balance. Easiness. Adventure. Perspective.

50. The Observer: Patience. Awareness. Focus.

8. Fire: The Sun. Warmth. Fuel.
What is feeding and energizing you?

9. Bud: about to bloom. What's coming to fruition?

32. Touch The Sky: Lost in thoughts. Isolation. Sanctuary.

9. Rose Garden: Sensitivity. Awareness of nature. Integrated whole. Strength.

Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows poems.
-Rainer Maria Rilke

My take:

What I got from this reading was a reminder of a number of important things:
*Making a list after a reading like this is a great way to remain mindful of the messages and even create affirmations!

Things continue to move forward even when it seems like I am stuck in one place.
I have more power, strength and control then I give myself credit for.
I am capable of transformation and growth.
Balance and focus are things I need to continue to work on.
Patience also is something I need to continue to work on.
I am both a creator who needs nurturing and a nurturer for others.
It is okay to continue to reach out and ask for that nurturing when I need it.
Nesting in a stable home AND dreams of future travel are equally important to me and are all part of my future big picture.
I am still The Empress Dammit! Remember to OWN it!

(The Empress Dammit is me, and also a project I've been working on for a decade or so. More on that later)

I think it's time to get out my gardening gloves, pruning shears, spade and a big floppy hat. I have some inner gardening to do!

“In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.”
- Margaret Atwood

On a side note:

My Arcane Bullshit deck just arrived. I am so thrilled I got to take part in this Kickstarter campaign. On one hand, the deck is huge, bizarre, absurd, brilliant and crass. On the other, it's simultaneously one of the most beautifully packaged, presented, yet crude and proudly lowbrow, deck projects I've ever seen.

Pictures and review forthcoming. I'm just gobsmacked. Bravo, Evan Doherty!

Note the raised texture on the box! Classy Shit!

I’ve also just received Yasmin Boland’s, Moonology Oracle Cards, beautifully illustrated by Nyx Rowan. I’m really looking forward to using them! They are on my list to review as soon as I’ve worked with them a bit. Today, we are in the moon’s last quarter. This is a perfect time to evaluate things in our lives. What do we need to let go? How can we find a better balance?

I'll leave you with one last spring quote:

Spring is when you feel like whistling, even with a shoe full of slush.”
- Doug Larson

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I Just Can't Even! Can You?

3/14/2019

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There are some days you just can't even, and you aren't sure how to even start sorting it out! Those are great times to whip out your deck and create your own spread!

CURRENT MOOD

I don’t know about you, but 2019 has gotten off to a rocky start for me. January and February were brutal emotionally, physically and financially. March has gifted us the first Mercury Retrograde of 2019. As a Pisces, I’ve braced myself for a rocky birthday month. Since this retrograde is in Pisces, I can expect all my worst traits to tempt me and for others to be baiting me with them. Oh shadowy shadows! The whole month will be an adventure in communication. By the time my birthday rolled around, Mercury was firmly stomping on the brakes. I know I am going to have to continue to navigate this one carefully!

The last couple days I found myself pulling out my cards and looking at them with trepidation. I know how pithy and on point they can be and I just didn’t feel I could take the sass. I sat down this afternoon, holding the well worn leather bag in my hands and thought, I just can’t even, today.

My cards, being the Smarty McSmartass deck that they’ve always been, piped up, “Well then, how about you make up an, ‘I Just Can't Even, Right Now’ tarot spread? I’ve got you, on this, trust me.”

I groaned and let out a dramatic sigh (It actually felt good letting all that air out) but I agreed it was a brilliant idea. As usual, my Buckland Romani Tarot, socked it to me. It didn’t pull any punches. It threw me some shade but it also gave me a pep talk.

So here is what the spread looks like:

CCards start on the left and go down, then up.

Can’t Even!: What is at the core of my burnout or exasperation? What is the story I am telling or letting others tell me that is perpetuating this situation?
Right Now! (Action!): Are there any actions I can take right now to improve or change things or do I need to take a step back or chill out for a while?
I - Perspective: What am I missing? Is there another angle I should be looking at this situation from? Is my assessment of what I’m dealing with accurate or skewed? Is there something I can do to change my outlook or attitude?
I - Self Care!: What can I do to nurture myself and repair so that I can come at this fresh, with more energy, clarity and hope?
Even - Meditation or Lesson: Here is some food for thought. What do I need to reflect on? What do I need to know that will help me make a better decision? What knowledge will help me get unstuck and go forward?
Can! Encouragement: What should I feel good about? What am I doing right? What do I need to hear? How about a nice little nudge! Give me some good news!

Why couldn't I even, today?

Why can I not even? I have been in a perpetually disadvantaged situation for some years now. Every time it seems like things are finally going to stabilize and I can start to inch forward, the whole apple cart tips. Bending over and picking up all those apples and righting the cart time and time again isn’t getting any easier as I age. I need a little help from my friends, frequently. I find myself having to ask for help over and over again; frustrated that I can’t change my situation on my own. I hate having to be dependant on the benevolence of others. I loathe having to ask for assistance. I often feel judged and spend twice as much time criticizing myself as other people do. I feel like the Chris Farley character in that SNL skit where he would start to hit himself on the forehead and call himself, idiot and stupid, repeatedly. There is a lot of shame attached to my daily existence.

Process and Interpretation

Before I reveal my results, let me explain a few things about how I read. I keep the traditional card meanings in mind, as well as the information I have about the specific images in this deck, but I give equal or even a bit more, weight to my intuition. What jumps out at me from an image? What story is it telling me? What does this card mean in this reading right now, today for the person I am reading for? I also generally do not read reversals, unless they absolutely make sense, which in this reading they did. I tend to like to look at the whole picture in a card, shadow side and all, which gives me a much richer interpretation.

When creating a reading, it's as simple as brainstorming a list of questions or placements that you think will best address the situation you want answers about. You can also decide ahead of time what number of cards you want to use, including whether there are any numerical significances you want to imbue the reading with. For example, if you are doing a reading related to your Oshun practice, you might use 5 cards, A reading for the month might include a card for each week, etc. After you have decided how many cards and what they will mean, play with the layout. You can make any pattern or shape that makes sense to you.

I decided on sort of a staggered zig zag pattern. Cards are read from left to right, lower card, then upper card.

Looking at the overall picture, I’ve got two major arcana, two court cards and one minor arcana numbered card from each suite. As things go, this is pretty balanced elementally. I seem to be equally vexed and supported in my, “can’t even” issues: emotionally, mentally, physically and materially. Only two major arcana suggests things aren’t written in stone. The court cards, do not automatically represent other people every time they pop up, either. I often see readers try to force that in when it doesn’t fit.

Numerologically, I have some interesting repetition as well. I have a ten (reduces to one). Tens symbolize completion. Ones can symbolize beginnings. I also have a Page which symbolizes something new. I have a three. Threes are all about growth and often teamwork or group dynamics. I also have a knight which is really the one who carries growth forward and often inspires others to move forward with him. I have two fours which represent a stage of manifestation, but maybe not the end game. The cards seem to say this situation affects me in every area of my life and I would say that’s accurate. I also feel I am in a constant cycle of starting, getting things moving and having a bit of a win, followed by something throwing me rather roughly, back to square one.

1. “Can’t Even”- Knight of Chivs (Knives aka Knight of Swords)

Normally, the Knight of Swords is shown charging into action on a white horse, but the Knight in this deck is different. He sits confident and vigilant on a calm, dark horse with a white blaze on its face. The young man is shirtless, yet the snowy weather does not seem to bother him. His sword is unsheathed and ready for combat if the need arises. The scene in this card really represents how I feel in the now. I feel like I am out in the cold, bleak, winter and that I need to always be vigilant and prepared. There are things I want to do, but I have business to take care of. I feel vulnerable, but I know I am tougher than I look. I have survived worse things than this. This ain’t no apocalypse! Been there, done that.

The horse on this card symbolizes support. Even though I feel isolated, I do have strong support. I have a lot of issues around that though, so even with gratitude and appreciation comes shame and self criticism. And...SCENE!

How the BRT's Knight of Swords differs from the traditional depiction:

Buckland Romani

Rider Waite Smith

Fradella Adventure

78 Tarot Nautical

2. Right Now - Wheel of Fortune (Major Arcana number ten):

I see this in a couple of ways. One, is that even when things are really difficult, to the point that some people would look at me with certainty that I am under a curse, I still have a fair amount of good luck. The kind of luck that I have, (amazing friends, prime parking spaces, serendipitous timing) may not change my fortune dramatically, but throws a fair amount of glitter on it. (Quality glitter)

I also see this card as telling me that I should buckle up, because there's not a lot of action that I can take other than just reaching out to spin the wheel. Most things are completely out of my control. Spinning the wheel, in this case, meant asking for help even though I didn't want to, and seeing where the arrow lands. So far, the outcome has been a helpful one; not a reversal of fortune, the next card won’t be the sun or the world, but it was a stay of execution. I did get exactly the amount of help that I needed at the time to cover the things that were really dire.

It helps me to realize in a crisis that thing's do tend to work out, if not landing on fabulous, I will definitely be all right or at least not stomped on by a rogue elephant! I would certainly enjoy a turn of the wheel that resulted in a jackpot and I would definitely like to pass on the kinds of experiences that forced me to make a choice to either suffer or gamble, but I am grateful to be able to make that spin and have things turn out a bit better in the morning. I take this card as a prompt that I should continue to ask for help when I need it and be open to lucky solutions!

3. I / Perspective - The Emperor Reversed:

*Note: I am showing this card upright for viewing purposes.

This was a bit of a hard one for me. I gotta say, this is not the first time I've felt personally attacked by my cards. I feel to some extent that this card reflects my personal need to at least appear to have my shit together, my aversion to showing weakness, and my flair for throwing unreasonable standards and harsh judgments at myself. I tend to feel responsible for everyone and everything!

I also have a history of male figures in my life who are stern, judgmental and controlling. Because of my vulnerabilities, physically and financially, I often find myself in situations where I have no choice but to be at the mercy of people like this. I'm not on an equal footing with people who have the power to prop up or completely derail my life.

The upright emperor is an empowering person who knows when to take charge, when to delegate and when to lend support. The reversed emperor can be a micromanager, an underminer, and a punisher. So, how can I be vulnerable without putting myself so heavily at risk? How can I keep these kinds of people from interfering with my growth when I may have no choice about sharing an environment with them?

Also, how can I stop being so judgemental and hard on myself? How can I get the support that I need both from within and without? This is well worth examining.

4. I / Self Care - Page of Koros (Cups):

I was not surprised when this card also came up as a daily draw on my birthday.

This feels very obvious to me. My therapist has been after me for weeks about allowing myself some self care. “Work on your altar” she suggests every week like a squirrel with a nut! This card is recommending that I take a moment, look around, find some beauty in nature and breathe it in. Have a cuppa. Take time for myself. Allow myself to start a creative project I've been eager to dive into. (These blogs, perhaps?)

Even in a stressful situation, there are always bright opportunities and new things to learn. I should let myself feel like a girl instead of a grumpy sad sack. I also may want to look out for friendly messengers (like the rabbit) who will tell me how to run with my dream.

5. Even - Lesson: Three of Bolers (Wheels aka Pentacles) Reversed:

*Note: card is shown upright for viewing purposes.

This is typically a card that illustrates building something in collaboration, however in the Buckland Romani Tarot, the Romani man is repairing a wagon wheel while gauchos, non Rom, look on. Are they admiring his work? Judging it? Mocking him? That's open to interpretation. He's the expert here. They need his skills. He works alone.

Reversed, Three of Wheels / Pentacles really seems to reflect doing something that is too simple for your skill-set or feeling underappreciated. It can also show a feeling of frustration because you either feel you always have to do things by yourself or just aren't getting the cooperation from others to get the job done. It is often a prompt to tell you to go ahead and ask for help. This very much reflects my state right now and one of the dilemmas that I have.

I had an experience recently when I needed to clear out a storage unit with a short deadline. Someone did offer to help me, but I ended up doing the whole job myself simply because I knew there would be a lot of time that she would spend standing around while I went through stuff. I also had a really specific idea in mind of how I wanted things to be placed in the new space and it just seemed more efficient to do it the hard way.

Fighting against asking for help is definitely a thing with me. Asking and accepting does not come easily. It makes sense that I would benefit from spending some time evaluating this situation and asking, is it really necessary or reasonable for me to strive to be completely self-sufficient? Am I allowing myself to perceive criticism and judgment from others when it might not actually be there? Am I not allowing people to help when they can and want to? Can I envision a balance of accepting help on some occasions while maintaining a general state of independence? What would that look like?

6. Can - Encouragement: Four of Koshes (Staves) Reversed:

*Note: card is shown upright for viewing purposes.

This is a great card for this position, because it's still a positive card whether it's upright or reversed! Upright, there is a group celebrating together, but reversed, this card often is a nudge that one can achieve a bit of success on one's own, and be proud of it without making it a big thing. I think this might be encouraging me to find some joy for myself and acknowledge that even though it's been really, really, hard lately, I am still making progress and I should be proud of that.

I might want to consider an affirmation like:

I am doing my best. I don't need other people's approval to assess whether I'm doing enough for myself, whether I've made progress, or whether I should ask for, or deserve, help. I am worthy of praise AND assistance.

I really need to find a some nice sweet joy sauce to pour liberally over all this bitter, salty old humble pie I've been forcing myself to eat lately.

BONUS: CLICK HERE FOR Links and TWO MORE SPREADS (from Jessi Huntenburg & Evvie Marin) PERFECT FOR WHEN YOU JUST...CAN'T.. EVEN

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WeLCOME!

1/1/2019

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Welcome to The (Almost) Daily Divine & 2019!

This started out because I was doing a semi-daily card draw for a wonderful witchy group on Facebook and I thought I would share my draws here. Unfortunately, almost daily, turned into taking about 6 months off. I hope to do better in 2019. I have a number of health issues which result in a great deal of pain and fatigue and that along with some personal challenges took precedence over my blogging aspirations, The road to hell may be paved with good intentions nut the broken escalator to purgatory is paved with my conceived but unwritten blog posts.

I will try to do better in 2019! Thank you for your patience!

Once this gets going, I would love to see your feedback and discussion in the comments. Feel free to share what you are doing this year. Let me know if something resonates. Let me know what you see! I really hope to do more posts on spreads, maybe some reviews of decks and books as well.

Feel free to inquire about professional readings from me.

Best Witches,

Lorelei Moon

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Saturday April 7, 2018

4/7/2018

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7 of Wands
The Smith-Waite Centennial Tarot

Up To The Challenge

I'm keeping up with my trend of running behind this weekend, which to me is preferential to not posting at all, I hope you agree. This card certainly summed up my day. How about you?

I didn’t sleep well last night, which is typical. I got up and went back to bed again; also typical. The second round of sleep seemed to do the trick because when I woke up the rain had stopped and I felt ready to go. I drew the Seven of Wands and started to write. The internet was running very slow. I looked at the time and realized I needed to drop everything and rush out the door. I had an intense schedule today which included lots of driving and to be honest, I’m not done, but it was a choice between stop and write or post this at midnight! It's still going to be awfully close.

The Seven of Wands shows a fellow holding his ground atop a hill. He’s got a sturdy balanced stance and his staff is raised and at the ready. Below him are more staves reaching up. This card always makes me think of the angry villagers scenes, only these are staves rather than pitchforks and torches. This card confirms that yes, you have challenges. They are going to keep you busy for sure, but it’s nothing you can’t handle! You have the strength, energy, skill bravery, and preparedness to handle yourself! If things seemed stuck before, they are moving now! If you are negotiating, you probably have the upper hand. Success takes work, but you will get there.

I have had a lot to deal with today. I had to drive a lot of miles. I am dirty and damp but still buzzing from both the huge cup of Joe and the giant pastry I had this afternoon, but also from the momentum of pushing through. In the middle of it, my “check engine” light came on and stayed on. I started to panic, then dug up a vague memory that this may have happened last time my battery was drained. (see yesterday's post) Regardless, nothing can be done about it today so I pressed onward. I’ll get through it. It will be ok!

I'm including images of today's card next to the same card from the Universal Waite deck again. These are pulled off the web. The sky in the Centennial deck image is definitely blue, rather than greenish as in this photograph. The Universal again, is so much brighter.

Like yesterday’s card, This card reminds you that attitude can make a world of difference. Feeling confident and capable are just as essential to your success as skill and having your act together! Before you face the frey, perhaps a couple positive affirmations in the bathroom mirror will give you a leg up. And I can tell you from experience, a little caffeine doesn’t hurt!

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Friday April 6, 2018

4/6/2018

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8 of Swords
The Smith-Waite Centennial Tarot

We Are Bound To Get Ourselves Stuck

Personally, I find much of the swords suit pretty challenging. Do you? They always seem so grim and terrible!

The Eight of Swords can make you feel like not much could be worse. The woman on the card is bound and blindfolded. She is surrounded by swords, almost imprisoned, but the cage is not complete. There is a fortress or a city behind her, unreachable, high on a cliff. So perhaps she is on a beach and the tide is receding. Maybe she is not in as much peril as she seems to be. Notice one foot is in the water (or hovering above it) and one on land?

These hints tell you that you may be your own worst enemy. Your feelings of isolation and suffering, being cut off or imprisoned by obstacles are largely self imposed. They may not be entirely in your head, but there is a path available for escape and a way to get moving again, should you decide to be open to it.

What is limiting you? What will it take to get moving again? Consider that there are options you aren’t looking at and that help is at hand if you just ask. This is a time to get out of your head. Plunge that foot into the water and examine your feelings, your intuition about the true state of things and make a decision. You could just stay in this position, but the tide will come in eventually and then you really will be in dire straits!

I especially love Stephanie Pui-Mun Law’s illustration (above) of the Eight of Swords from her Shadowscapes Tarot! The bright hummingbird really underscores the sense that the swan’s imprisonment is temporary and that there is hope if one just looks for it!

The original definitions that came with the deck are myriad and pretty colorful! Hoodwinked in this case, means a literal blindfold as opposed to being tricked. Violent chagrin seems like a bad name for an after shave for goths. And how often do you see trammels (Basically, an obstacle, but power in trammels?) or calumny (slander)?
“ A woman, bound and hoodwinked, with the swords of the card about her.
Divinatory meanings: Bad news, violent chagrin, crisis, censure, power in trammels, conflict, calumny----also sickness.
Reversed: disquiet, difficulty, opposition, treachery, the unforeseen, fatality.”

This post is a bit belated because I drew this card early Friday morning, started to write and then suddenly feeling exhausted and lulled by the rain, I lay down “just for a minute.” The next thing I knew it was after 5PM and I needed to rush off to work. When that finally wrapped up, I was cold, waterlogged and spent so I listened to an audiobook while I sipped a cup of tea and just gave up.

It was a day I felt like I just couldn’t do anything! I’ve been wrestling with depression lately. Thursday night I had to deal with a dead battery in the rain and was up late driving to recharge the battery. All week I’ve been running at a deficit. The month ahead looms, threatening me with money concerns. I certainly took a self imposed, “I feel overwhelmed and stuck,” break for the day.

That's ok, once in a while. But hey, I don’t want to stay that way until I drown!

I'm including images of today's card next to the same card from the Universal Waite deck again. The Centennial deck has a brownish grey sky, while the Universal has a light blue wash which gives the image a much brighter, less gloomy atmosphere.

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Tools And Timing

ABUNDANCE!

Let's Talk Tens!

Recommendations

THE WAY OF THE PANDA KICKSTARTER

Reading From Nature

OVOMANCY

Folklore

OMENS

OWLS

A Podcast Recommendation: Tarot Reveries

References

Nonsensical or Insightful? How About Both?

What Is Arcane Bullshit?​

THE SHIT SANDWICH!

1. Past: 101 Holy Shit! Stop Asking.

2. Present: 49 It’s Probably Nothing.

3. Future: 71 A Skeleton Eating A Banana.

Encourage Art!

Here are my 20 FAVORITE cards (at the moment) Subscribe to my YouTube channel ​ for more tarot content!

Today, I’m going to take a quick look at The Four of Wands (Wands, Rods, Koshes, Batons, Staves, etc.)

Unions and Marriages

Focus On Home

Celebration

Accomplishment

Unusual Takes

SPRING UP! A TAROT SPREAD FOR SPRING, OSTARA, CREATIVE, BUSINESS OR PERSONAL GROWTH!

The Card Positions:

My take:

On a side note:

There are some days you just can't even, and you aren't sure how to even start sorting it out! Those are great times to whip out your deck and create your own spread!

So here is what the spread looks like:

Why couldn't I even, today?

Process and Interpretation

1. “Can’t Even”- Knight of Chivs (Knives aka Knight of Swords)

How the BRT's Knight of Swords differs from the traditional depiction:

2. Right Now - Wheel of Fortune (Major Arcana number ten):

3. I / Perspective - The Emperor Reversed:

4. I / Self Care - Page of Koros (Cups):

5. Even - Lesson: Three of Bolers (Wheels aka Pentacles) Reversed:

6. Can - Encouragement: Four of Koshes (Staves) Reversed:

Welcome to The (Almost) Daily Divine & 2019!

7 of Wands The Smith-Waite Centennial Tarot

Up To The Challenge

8 of SwordsThe Smith-Waite Centennial Tarot

We Are Bound To Get Ourselves Stuck

The (Almost) Daily Divine

Lorelei Moon

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What Is Arcane Bullshit?

Here are my 20 FAVORITE cards
(at the moment)
Subscribe to my YouTube channel
for more tarot content!

7 of Wands
The Smith-Waite Centennial Tarot

8 of Swords
The Smith-Waite Centennial Tarot