Imbolc Blessings

Brightest Imbolc Blessings!







Happy Beltane!

I am currently preparing a post on the Lovers but I wanted to stop in really quickly to wish all of you beautiful, handsome, lovely and wonderful readers a very HAPPY BELTANE!!! (I spell it without the "i") May the fertility of the Earth leak into your lives and bring you an abundance of blessings this wonderful May Day! Also get some hot loving, this is a sex/fire festival after all! ;)

Lovers post on its way!!! 

On being Mystical

"The first time I called myself a Witch was the most magical moment of my life..."- Margot Adler

Today I want to take a small break from our usual going over the cards to talk about something that I think is also important when it comes to reading Tarot or doing any form of divination. That thing is magick. It is about being mystical and different. What sets your Tarot reader aside from everyone else? What gives them that special energy that makes them truly different? I have been studying Witchcraft and the Occult since I was old enough to read and it has always been a BIG part of who I am. Now that I read cards professionally it allows me to put my studies into practice. When you do any form of divination for someone you are bringing the magick that is apart of your world into the world of someone else and that my dear readers is really special. 

“I want to make the world a more magickal place. To give magick a form that people appreciate, and that changes their lives. To create art that will make people want to forever reject the mundane and mediocre world they've been surrounded by”- Damien Echols

When I get ready to do a Tarot reading I always make sure to put on makeup that makes me feel beautiful and clothes that put me into a magickal mindset. Anyone who knows me knows I wear black 99% of the time, however oddly enough, I am wearing bright orange as I write this; but do you know why I wear black clothes? Did you know that the colour black brings about psychic energy or that it will absorb the negative energy around it cleansing the air. It is the colour of rebirth, creation, karma and patience. It is also the colour of stability and you best believe, I need more of that in my life. You may be asking yourself at this time, why I am I harping about my clothing choices in a post about witches... well friends, this is what makes me feel witchy. I don't need a broomstick and a pentacle around my neck the size of a dinner plate to prove that I am a little bit mystical. No offence of course to those who like their dinner plate sized pentacles, I used to rock those once too! My point here is that it can be as simple as your clothing choices to bring magick into your life. When you invite magick in you are opening yourself up to wondrous possibilities. Try it for yourself. Look up different colour correspondences next time you get dressed. Pick a colour that represents something you want to bring into your life and be surprised by what manifests. Sadly magick isn't so much Harry Potter spells- however I SO wish it was, it is so much more simpler than this. It is natural and is apart of all of us. 

Lets talk about pre-game rituals, now that I have a little sports know how, I have learned a lot about the "pre-game ritual" and Tarot readers usually have one too. Some Tarot readers, bloggers, authors and others have little rituals they do before they read the cards. Many will light candles, burn incense or sage. Some will cleanse their decks or put them out in the light of the Full Moon. All of this sounds great to me on paper. When I am reading these books I love the idea of putting my cards out to bask in the moonlight, like the little werewolves they are, but in my reality raccoons would just scoop them up for their next rousing game of "What can we steal from Tasha's deck tonight?". The idea of lighting incense and burning candles sound great until your candle makes a nice wax pool on your clients leather ottoman or you set off someone's asthma with your incense. These are reasons why I keep my magick to myself. Its through my beauty regime and enchantments I invoke my own mystical powers. I don't feel the need for the other tools. I want you to think I am magick not the room we are reading in. I am not knocking the ways of others of course. Its all about what works for you. I am both vain and lazy so turning my ritual into my typical pre-reading shower works for me. It may not work for everyone of course. 

Totally vulgar but totally perfect. I am really trying to keep my potty mouth off of here but I could not resist this picture. 

Now after you have had some time to digest that horrific picture above, lets talk about cleansing the cards. There has to be something I do with them right? I mean, I harp and harp on how much I love them, there is no way I just use and abuse them. Here are some facts about Tarot cards. First off they are weirdly shaped compared to traditional cards that most people are used to shuffling. Secondly if you put all of the cards in order and then let someone who is not used to shuffling, you will see when you lay out the spread a lot of the same suit or cards that follow one another. This is because they are not easy to shuffle if you are not used to how they feel. This is why I do not put my cards in order before someone comes for a reading. Before you come over, I will take out the deck and shuffle them for some time so I can make sure they are good and mixed up for you. No one wants an entire reading of just Swords for example. When its your turn to do some shuffling, your job is not to mix them up but to add your energy to the deck. This is where the real magick happens. People always say, "how did these cards about love come up out of all of the 78 cards when that is what I was wondering about?" or "these cards describe my current state exactly, how can that be?". I am no scientist  (I would however be super cute in a lab coat, just putting that out there!) and I am not the most rational thinker so my explanation is that when you shuffle them your energy goes into the cards and that is how you pick the ones you do. Remember, I am not picking the cards for you, nor am I setting up the deck. Plus how could I, when I read for people I do not know, for the most part at least. Its more important to me that you are putting your energy into the cards than it is for me to put them in order and put my energy in there. No one needs to know about my scandals, trust me. After a reading, I will usually just give them another shuffle and put them back in their bag for another day. The only time I used to put them in order and work on them like that was when I was first learning. Putting them in order and then reshuffling to repeat over and over again is a great way to learn your cards and pick up on their different vibrations. I am at a point with my cards where I feel like they are an extension of me, I am chaos so it makes sense for my cards to be a little mixed up too. There are people who think that you should put them in order afterwards to cleanse them of the energy from the last person that you read for. This makes sense, but I like to think of things a little differently. I like that my cards are full of energy. When you touch them you get a little tingle this is the magick of my clients and everyone who has ever picked up the deck. I want all of them, even the not so nice people- there has only been a very small few by the way, to be apart of my deck. Its all of our magick together that makes it a truly mystical experience for everyone. I find now the only time I put them in order is after a big party, simply so I can do a little role call and make sure all my little friends are present before I take off on my next adventure, which is usually just me going to bed- I live a very exciting life. 

It is my hope that anyone looking to learn Tarot remembers that they need to blaze their own path, I feel like a guidance counsellor lol, but its true. You do not have to do what I do and you do not have to do what a book tells you to do either. Do your own thing, whatever that is. If you have to light candles, dance under the full moon and take a bath in a the sea before a reading, than you do you. You take that moon bath and you dance your Tarot dance because if it works for you thats what matters. Until next time, spend some time with your cards, get to know them and their different personalities. 

Hopefully you are getting some nice Spring weather wherever you are. The snow is finally (I am feeling the italics today, did you notice?) melting and the little birdies are singing and I feel confident saying, Spring has finally come to Atlantic Canada! 

This pic below is a sample of giant dinner plate pentacle wearing me. Though the pentacle is not pictured, this is from that era, I was probably 16 and very angsty. LOL

Taking Control with the Emperor

The Emperor IV

Check it out bloggees, an actual decent photo taken by yours truly!

As I write this I can see bright blue sky peeking through the gnarly old branches of my flowering crab tree; which makes me want to believe Spring might actually be upon us. I don't know if it was a dream but I am 99.9% positive I seen a chickadee today.  That little birdie has to be a good omen, right? Right??? Right!!!! This Winter has been so brutal over here on the East Coast that I find myself desperate for a little bit of warmer weather and for this snow to finally melt. I know deep inside the Earth's stirring, but maybe it could stir just a little faster? Can we possibly change the recipe from a slow stir to a fast whip into blooming flowers and warm sunny days? Even grim creatures of the night, such as myself, need some Vitamin D every now and then...

In other non-seasonal actual Tarot news, I have been a very, very busy Tarot lady. My weekends are booking up fast and I don't think I could be happier. I have met some interesting and wonderful people over the past little while. I also learned a valuable lesson which is going to be a post all of its own. I sometimes don't know who has more fun, me or the people getting the reading. Being a Tarot Reader you get to wear many hats. Sometimes I am a guidance counsellor, therapist or wise woman. I can be a healer who listens to someones' needs or deepest desires other times I have to provide structured advice, much like the Emperor card. 

When I first started learning Tarot (even a little bit now) I had a hard time getting my head wrapped around this card. I sometimes feel like I am often at odds with the Emperor. Aside from the whole "giving structured advice" bit, the Emperor and I have very little in common. This card is all about structure, authority and control. I always liken this card to a father figure or someone who is older and is well respected or on the other foot- demands such respect. When this card shows up in a reading it can be a sign for a need for structure. To gain back control of ones own life. The card could also signify a strong masculine energy that is surrounding the person getting the reading. The Emperor sitting on his throne decorated in the skulls of rams is a sign of a stubborn person who will not give up. This card falls under the sign of Aries and holds many of the same attributes as Aries people do. There is no wasting time or lallygagging as my grandma would say. If you say you are going to do something you are going to do it. This is what this card embodies. It can be a good sign that you are finally going to do what you need to do, to get where you want to go. Another important aspect of this card is the number four. There are four seasons, four elements, four cardinal points. He is the beginning, action, completion and the result. All of these things are engrained in our society and have never been changed since their creation. This is the way of the Emperor. 

Keys you want to remember when you see this card are: authority, masculinity, father, respect, stubbornness, control. 

Structured Thinking with the Emperor

Put on your stretchy pants, put your feet up and lets think on the Emperor. 

See this card through the eyes of the Fool. What comes to mind when you look upon this stern man sitting on this throne crowned in skulls. Do you approach him? Do you avoid eye contact admiring him from a distance? Allow yourself time to inspect this man. His stern face framed by a long white beard. On top of his head there is a golden crown and in his hand is a golden apple, which he stretches towards you. He beckons you to come closer. As you approach his throne many thoughts fill your head. You push them away focusing. You stand before the Emperor. You look into his eyes, who does he look like? He makes eye contact with you, what colour are his eyes? You feel yourself standing up a little straighter. You smooth the wrinkles in your clothing. You want to impress him. 

Time passes before he speaks. You feel like he can read your thoughts and see into your soul. He hands you the golden apple. Hesitating you reach for it. His eyes smile. Underneath the sternness of his demeanour you know you can trust this man. The apple is large and heavy. Sweet smells of autumn fill your nostrils. The apple smells so good you want to bite into its golden skin. You hold it in your hands anticipating that first bite, but you wait. You know that you must not break the rules. You know you must listen and behave. He makes you feel like a child, awaiting instruction. He speaks to you and tells you that you can bite the apple and when you taste it your mind will open. You will know what you need to do. You will know your purpose. He warns you that this does not come freely. If you decide to taste the apple you must complete your life's purpose no matter how difficult and you may never forget the mysteries once you have seen them.

Will you bite the apple and gain the knowledge? Or will you pass him back the apple unsure if it is the right thing to do. 

Take some time and think on this. Would you want to know the answers to the mysteries but could you handle the weight of this truth? He is patient and gives you time to think as he knows that the right answers often take time to come about. 

Write down this experience. What happened when you decided to try the apple? What happened if you decided to give it back? 

Note: It seems that this meditation has turned into a "Tarot Choose Your Own Adventure", remember those?

Dammit, now I really have a craving for applies. Perhaps apples of the pie or crumble form... 

Like with the Empress, I think we should end our mediation by sending some positive energy to those wonderful males in our lives. Whether its your father, uncle, grandpa, brother, nephew, sexy man lover or your best friends. Make sure to send some good vibes their way. Be thankful to have these men and their energy in your life. Take some time to call them (do people actually call anyone these days?) or go spend some time in their awesome presence. Appreciate the men in your life today. I believe you will be happy you did.