Any Witches here? Part 13

[speakout]

Or Wiccans. or Pagans? Or anyone who is interested in a magical path or feels some magical stirrings.

A place for support, learning, swapping ideas and magical inspiration.

Sonmi451

That is interesting.
And actually echoes what Aerwyna has been talking about this morning.
Life is often a contrary mix of conflicting aspects, rarely are we in a position of everything good- or indeed everything bad.
Sometimes it is hard to know how we feel in the moment, Trepidation, weariness, hope, excitement all feature in the mix. Seemingly contradictory at times but life’s like that isn’t it,
Even in the course of a day we can feel many things.
I know my life is a contrary mixture of really fantastic amazing exciting things, but also has elements or real sadness, sorrow and worry.
I think Tarot is useful to highlight these areas and show us signposts or clarity surrounding situations.

I recently watched a youtube video of Kelly Anne Maddox talking aboout the 3 of swords- it was quite a lightbulb moment in the understanding of that card. Kelly Anne even says it is the most enlightening card of the deck for her.
That wounded heart so full of sorrow and pain, but actually the depths of those cuts, the pain we feel is a product of what we create in our own hearts and minds.
If we can take control of that process to some degree then we can master the extent to which we are injured or suffering.
Meditating on this card when I am in a dark place heps me move forward, to stop rumination and anxious thought patterns, which only serve to fuel the pain.
It has allowed me to claim back some joy and stake a claim for happiness even when things are tough.

@Sonmi451I’ve occasionally done a reading that doesn’t seem terribly relevant (this rarely happens, it’s usually pretty obvious I find) but the relevance sometimes appears further down the line. It might also relate to a perception rather than a reality? I like the Biddy Tarot page as a reference guide, I find it gives a variety of contexts.

hilarious I completely see that you need to take care of yourself at the moment

Sadly my natural inclination is to be very lazy so I have to be hard on myself.

somni you might not be interested but there's also the option of cartomancy with a regular pack of cards. I hope you don't mind me saying this but also...if you are getting nothing from the cards, is it time to put them down and wait till they call you again?

@speakout You're right - I went back and re-read @Aerwyna 's post, and it's true, there is always conflict, and contradictory feelings. I'll go and have a look for Kelly Anne Maddox, that video sounds interesting.

@BrightYellowDaffodil Biddy Tarot is one of the regular ones I look at. I tend to compare a couple, as well as looking at what's in my book. Sometimes a different way of phrasing seems to help.

@LunaHeather You may be right. I'm starting to wonder that myself. I've always been drawn to Tarot though, and it has only been a couple of weeks that I've been trying to learn, so I'm reluctant to write it off so soon. And it's what I have available to me at the moment. I wouldn't know where else to start. I wonder if it's just the cards I have - I have a lovely Egyptian set, but the images are a little difficult to figure out, so I bought a Rider Waite set to learn with, since I knew that the images would be exactly as described in a lot of the books and websites. I'd be very happy to buy another set, but there's nowhere local that would stock more than two or three styles (plus we're in lockdown anyway). Somehow it doesn't feel quite right to order them on Amazon.

@Sonmi451 I bought my last set through my local bookshop on uk.bookshop.org/ - you can choose your local one and they get a kickback. (If you don't have a local or a favourite, may I suggest Wivenhoe Bookshop or Red Lion Books in Colchester?)

It's not much more expensive than Amazon but it's always my preferred way to order books if I can't order and collect from my village bookshop (which lockdown means I can't!).

Most decks I own are available that way 💙

My favourite of all time is the Wild Unknown, but after finding it recommended here I am also really loving the Everyday Witch deck too.

Sorry if that was a bit overenthusiastic - I love tarot + am an ex-librarian so can't help myself 😂

Somni sorry, I misunderstood. I thought you were seeking answers from the cards rather than learning. I mean as much as you can ever get answers...!

That said, you might need a break. Sometimes I need to dip in and out of things.

Sonmi451 You said I have been drawing a card each day (when I can get a few minutes alone), and then reading about it in the book I have, and on a couple of websites. Some of them seem to make sense, but others I struggle to apply to my life and situation. And sometimes they seem downright contradictory. The three of swords one day - sorrow, grief, heartache, not a good omen if having relationship issues. Followed by the two of cups the following day - unified love, partnership, attraction. Can anyone with more Tarot experience shed any light on this? Thank you.

One thing you've not said which is hugely important is what is your intention when you draw the card each day?

If you're looking for answers, first you need to learn to ask the right questions

Good morning, so much to catch up on but just wanted to fly in to wish you all a happy International Women's Day. This thread is such a great example of sisterhood in practice... women supporting women to to be strong.

"Where there is women, there is magic." Ntozake Shange

I came here to express the same Violet, you describe what I’m also feeling perfectly. Our collective energy is something to be treasured and celebrated. Thank you 🙏

will echo that too Violet.

Magic indeed.

I am having a goddess week this week.
Last week was a week of challenges and some trauma, and this weekend has found my cup quite empty.
Things are a little more resolved, but I need to work on replenishing my energies and tending to my roots.
I hope to have a few quieter work days mid week, good nutritious food, lots of sleep, yoga, retorative baths. Trips to the river, forest and beach planned.
All to honour my inner divine.
Will also honour my goddess sisters here as I walk my sovereign path.

@LunaHeather A bit of both - I am seeking answers, but I need to learn Tarot in order to do that :)

@hilariousnamehere Thank you, I will look at that and see if my local bookshop are on there. (And if not, I'll suggest that they join!) I like the look of the Everyday Witch ones, but I'd like to have a browse and choose a deck that really speaks to me.

@BlankTimes I suspect you've hit the nail on the head there, about setting intention. I have to beg / plead / threaten the kids to get them to go out on the trampoline for a minute, and then they're in every ten seconds asking for this or that, so I'm drawing my cards whenever I can snatch two minutes alone. It would be lovely to calmly sit and take my time over it, but that's just not possible. So, not really setting any intention as such. I would struggle to articulate a specific question anyway, everything is buzzing round my head and all I know is that I'm not happy. I suppose "help me sort my head out, give me a clue where to start" is too vague a question.

Sonmi451

If you want to continue using Tarot at the moment, remember they can be used in other ways, not just for divination or guidance.

They can be used for pathwork, spellwork, meditation, healing, shadow work.
You can use a card that embodies the energy you wuld like to focus on.
You can choose a card deliberately, rather than blindly by chance,, and explore ways in how that energy sits with your current situation. Perhaps propping it up on your altar or keeping it as a bookmark for a few days.

Perhaps the Moon, or Strength, The Empress, Temperance or many others that sing to you.
Also a good way of learning the Tarot.

I have had to take a break from social media as a relative I am very close with has died and I have been struggling to come to terms with it. I think I'm OK with it and then it washes freshly over me and I realise I am very, very far from OK. I've never lost someone before and while I imagine there is never a "good" time for it, I can tell you now I never ever want to have to arrange or go to a funeral during covid-19 times ever again. Utterly inhumane.

To be honest, I am entirely fed up with this entire predicament. I cannot believe it has been almost a year. I know that is not the right attitude to have, but I'm almost past the point of caring. I feel quite numb with it all now.

I am trying to focus on the good in life. Spring is nearly on it's way. My healthy, hilarious baby turned one! Coffee exists. I get to see the sea every day. I've always loved the little things, but I have a whole new appreciation for them now.

I'll try to catch up a little bit...

@Lalavande that app sounds fascinating! Are you using it for anything in particular?

@speakout I loved your interesting (as always!) words on tarot cards. I only have the most surface level of understanding, so I'd love to learn more. Would you recommend Kelly Anne Maddox as a good place for a beginner to start?

@VioletCharlotte Happy international women's day to you too - what a lovely quote! I did a womb focused yoga nidra (without making the connetion) and it was just beautiful.

@Sonmi451 to echo Speakout, I once took a picture of a card I wanted to meditate on and set it as my phone background. A bit of a gross modern interpretation, but it worked well for me.

@moregarlic sending love to you. Three deaths in my family since November and though I have not been directly involved in the arrangements after it has been very hard for me as normally I would have stepped in to help my parents with lots of it. Today one set of ashes were interred and I could not go and so it has been emotionally tough.
I am a great believer in the cathartic/healing power of collective grieving and the way Covid has robbed so many of this is - as you say - inhumane.
I am thinking of you and will hold you in my thoughts especially with my 8am candle tomorrow.

Moregarlic and Queenrollo Im so sorry for the losses you have suffered. I'm sending healing love to you both.

Moregarlic I love that you're focusing on the positives, I feel that the spring equinox and the return of the light will be a turning point for us all. An opportunity for new beginnings, growth and renewal.

Speakout I'm glad things have calmed down a little for you and hope this week is easier. Your plans for the week sound ideal, just what is called for to soothe the soul.

Sonmi451 the Everyday Witch deck is perfect for beginners as the images are so relatable. You'll find you can read them without really needing to know the meanings. Although it's useful to have an understanding of what the cards mean, try not to get too hung up on what the book says, your intuition is more important. I would focus on learning the Major Archana and the Court cards first. Look at each one as a character and get to know them as an individual. Then work on a basic understanding of each of the suits, then the numbers. Think of the minor archana as a journey - the ace is the start of something, a hint of an idea, two is things coming together , three is moving forward, working with others, four is reevaluating, and so on and so forth until you reach 10 which is the conclusion. Seeing how the cards go together to make up a story, makes it much easier to learn their meanings that just looking at them individually (or I think so anyway)

Thank you everyone.

@moregarlic I'm so sorry you're struggling right now. Thank you for taking the time to comment. We use what is at our disposal :)

Thank you @speakout and @VioletCharlotte - although there is info everywhere about Tarot, there doesn't seem to be much about how to go about learning, so this is all useful information.

Sorry for your loss Moregarlic

I have found a few good youtubers on the Tarot. You have to be really careful which you tube content creators you pick. Some of them talk about keeping a tarot journal and how you would do that. One of them talks about how to learn a new deck in some of her very old videos.

Did you see Molly Roberts' latest video? It was a thought provoking lovely one. And very timely for me.

moregarlic

I am sorry for your loss.

I would also suggest youtube for learning tarot. Use as many channels as you like though, cast your net wide- no one person is the ultimate authority on Tarot interpretation, nor how best to learn.
Different approaches work for different people, no one size fits all whan learning.
violet has some good advice about learning the structure of the deck too, once you understand what the suits and pips mean then you can work out the meaning for any card.

hills I watched the latest Molly Roberts too, just before I went to sleep last night. I love her approach. " Magic can be the sacred part of our lives" not a chore or something else on the to do list.
Off for a goddess shower with some amazing new body scrub sent to me yesterday,
Then I will light me candle and incense to prepare my yoga space.
My time on the mat will allow an intention to drop into my mind before I start my working day.

I hope you all find some sacred space today.

moregarlic it’s good to see you again. I’m sorry for your loss and sending love to you and our other sisters who are in grief, we’re here for support and the collective energy is there to be leaned on when you need it.

Thank you everyone for the interesting tarot discussion, I enjoy hearing everyone’s perspectives and ideas, always interesting food for thought. Violet I love what you say about the storytelling of the minor arcana. Sometimes I don’t connect with what the cards have to say either, for me it tends to be about where I’m at mentally/emotionally, receptivity. I like the technique of having a card in sight as I work too, getting a glimpse of it as I go through my day helps with connection I think. Like moregarlic I’ll sometimes use my phone background picture to help generate or connect with a certain energy. Recently I’ve been using it for sigils.

Hills thank you for mentioning the Molly Roberts video. She is very comforting and reassuring isn’t she. I hadn’t heard of her until speakout mentioned her here. I also watched the ‘tired witches’ video before I went to sleep last night. It had some pertinent gems for me too so thank you both for bringing it to my attention.

speakout it’s good to hear your focus on goddess energy this week, I love that you’ve set this intention to honour yourself in this way and it’s inspiring to see you knowing and acting on what you need. Divine timing to start on women’s day too!

A mixed bag of work/tasks for me today, continuing in the liminal space I’m in. Interesting to see how the old and the new interact with each other, a need to take care of myself as I move through this time of change. I hope everyone can find ways to honour themselves as the day unfolds.

Thank you for all the good wishes, I survived the anniversary and actually feel calmer and brighter today - so that's good.

Sending love to all of you who are also battling grief and loss and heartache.

I said to Mum yesterday it's amazing we're all still walking and talking given how much loss humans have to go through in their lives.

But the sun is shining, the cats are ridiculous and I have a long list to do for my beloved businesses - so time to crack on!

Hope your days are magical!

hilarious, I'm glad you got through the day yesterday. It's great that you're feeling brighter today. queenrollo, I hope you're ok. Yesterday sounded incredibly challenging for you.

Hills and speakout, thank you for recommending Molly Roberts' latest video. It was just what I needed. I am an exhausted witch right now!

moregarlic, I'm so sorry for your loss. In answer to your question about the app, I'm not using it for anything in particular. I just enjoy accessing altered states of consciousness (through meditation rather than substances these days!). It can be really insightful. I'm autistic and I love, love, love pretty lights, so that side of it appealed too. I've still not made my mind up about it. I've had a bit of a headache the last couple of days which may or may not be linked with it. Let me know if you give it a try. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts.

A wild storm last night, I fell asleep to the rain battering against the windows, the trees were literally howling as they were being whipped by the wind.
I have so many old beautiful trees near me.
They all have tales to tell, scars, twists from an awkward situation when they were saplings, but they grew through. Branches lost in storms provided new directions, the tree laid down scars, dug her roots in stronger.
The oldest and most magnificent trees all have had interesting lives, mishaps and loss. There will be scattered broken branches this morning.
Each storm causes a tree to grow stronger roots, to dig deeper, strengthen her connection to the earth and to stand stronger.

Speakout I just want to find a good book and disappear high into the branches of that tree and sit there protected for some moments of quiet reflection.

Hello... can I join you?