Various Paganism, Tarot, Etc

Morning Bonus Read – Lessons

/ Twist the Leaf / Leave a comment

The prompt for this reading came from one of my Discord servers and is as follows:
“This year has been rough for us all, we’re just past the mid point fast approaching autumn.”

General Admission Playing Cards by Kings Wild Project

What lessons have you learned so far?
Seven of Hearts, Queen of Hearts, Nine of Diamonds

Making choices using the heart isn’t as detrimental to that structure an stability I constantly crave that I thought it would be. I can’t say that it’s something I’d want to practice all the time, but it’s okay to choose to be kind to myself instead of pushing all the time. It’s okay to listen to what my heart says I need to instead of constantly directing all decisions through either the head or intuition…. allowing the heart to have a say will not be the end of the world.

How will it aid you in the coming months?
Ten of Hearts atop Nine of Spades, Ace of Hearts, King of Clubs

I will be able to use the emotional fulfillment that allowing my heart have a say provides to combat the hoard of anxiety waiting for me as the holiday rush approaches and then crests to crash over me. The new growth I’ve managed this year emotionally will help to reinforce my drive and determination during that time of heavy pressure and stress.

Take Away – I’ve been avoiding my emotions for the majority of my life, boxing them up, caging them away, and burying them deep. Not just bad emotions, but the majority of my emotions. This year I’ve learned that allowing emotions out to breathe isn’t going to cause everything I’ve worked for to fall down around me. I may not be able to always identify what I’m feeling, but I was wrong about the catastrophic destruction they would inflict upon my life. The cards in the second half of this reading indicate that the emotional growth I’ve experienced this year will result in making me stronger under pressure when it counts the most.

DECK USED: GENERAL ADMISSION PLAYING CARDS BY KINGS WILD PROJECT

Morning Bonus Read – Boundaries

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

The prompt for this reading came from one of my Discord servers and is as follows:
“Have a talk with your divination tools about boundaries. Boundaries play a vital role in healthy lives both magical and mundane, but they can be tricky or just plain hard to set and honor.”

Discover the Pacific Northwest Playing Cards

Where have I neglected to set boundaries in my life that are needed?
Four of Clubs

In my home life.  To be fair, living with two women that know me so very well does make boundaries a bit more challenging than normal.  With Z living with my sister and I since March, there’s a lack of space and privacy that is making the boundaries I would normally set and uphold nearly impossible to establish.  There’s just not enough space right now. I’m doing the best I can under the circumstances tho.

Is there anywhere in my life where my boundaries are too strict or are unnecessary?
Queen of Hearts

It’s not necessary to guard myself so stringently against emotional upset.  A part of life is going through the bumps and bruises that allow you to grow, and this includes emotionally.  Putting up stringent boundaries to protect yourself isn’t healthy.

What are my most important boundaries?
Ace of Spades

New ideas are all well and good, but one of my most important boundaries is the pause taken to really think things through before actively pursuing when inspiration strikes. If I pursued every single inspired idea that popped into my head, I would never get anything done.  There’s just not enough time and energy to dive into them all.

What are the most important factors or priorities that inform my boundaries?
Two of Spades

Depth of thought and careful consideration, as well as a need to cover my ass in those times when I’m not being as observant and aware of my surroundings as I should be.  Everything in life boils down to the choices we make and a lot of the boundaries that I erect are based around guiding myself into those good choices.  First you dig the trench… then you pour the water.

How do I regularly honor someone else’s boundaries?
Jack of Spades

By pausing and listening rather than trying to push my own thoughts and ideas on others.  Although I’m happy to teach, how I honor others boundaries on the regular has to do with how I am willing to listen and learn from others through their thoughts and perspectives.

Is there anywhere in my life that I’m neglecting to honor someone’s boundaries?
Three of Spades

When I see someone in pain, I want to help.  Sometimes I overstep other’s boundaries in my desire to help them through their troubles.

DECK USED: DISCOVER THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST PLAYING CARDS

#31DaysofWitchcraft Prompt 14 (non)VR to Heather Carter

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Heather Carter on YouTube put together a series of prompts titled #31DaysofWitchcraft that she’s been working her way through since the beginning of May. I really like this idea, but I can’t handle the responsibility of any more daily posts, so I thought that for the next few weeks, I would do one (or a few at a time) for the end of week “My Pagan Perspective” posts and work through them a bit at a time.

Today’s prompt was chosen through the inspiration of a question posted by someone on one of my discord servers.

Fae

14. Do you believe in fantasy creatures such as dragons, fairies, unicorns etc?

So… clearly from my response above, I absolutely do believe in the Fae.  In fact, I’ve written about this in the past on this blog.

I love the Fae, and have a special connection with those that I term the “shrubbery rustlers”.  These are the Fae of the forest and the trees, the moss and the bushes, the leaves and the flowers.   I have spent my entire life trafficking with these Fae, frolicking with them, playing their games, and welcoming them into my life.   They are my friends… they are my family.  I feel a deep kinship with them.

Fae

Unlike those people that say they have interacted with “higher Fae”, these Fae do not speak to me in words. Giggles and laughter?  Absolutely.  But not words.  Instead, my communication with them is through energy, not words.    I have actually never met one of these “higher Fae”… or, at least not that I’m aware of.  Actually, there was this one man I met once that I’m relatively sure was one of them… but I didn’t ask and he didn’t offer.  Something about his energy.

In any case, I was told once a long time ago by a woman that I was claimed by the “shrubbery rustlers” and that claim keeps the others away.  Perhaps that’s so, perhaps not… but I’m happy with those that I visit, and that visit with me.  My life and my home are open to them, and I go into the forests to visit with them often as well.

Dragons, Unicorns… Chupacabra, etc.

cryptid

I would say that I am open to the possibility.  Both the possibility of them existing in the present… or having existed at one time and gone extinct.   There’s just so much of the world that is still unexplored. How can we possibly reject the possibility of different creatures that very well could have existed, or could still exist hidden away in those unexplored places.

Ghosts and The Tulpa

I absolutely believe in ghosts. I believe in reincarnation, and I believe that when we die some people move through a process of reincarnation, and others linger either for a short while… or longer.  Especially if they have a purpose for lingering.  I also believe that some of these souls can end up “stuck”.

Tulpa

By the same turn, I also believe in the Tulpa.  These are entities that are manifested through the belief of man.  Invisible friends that become autonomous, certain spirits, demons, etc.   Even some cryptids such as the Rake and the Stickman.  I think that, with enough energy and intention poured into something, especially from multiple sources, that it is absolutely possible to essentially “birth” an entity through belief.

New Moon in Leo – August 2020

/ Twist the Leaf / 2 Comments

New Moon in Leo Tarot Spread - Tarot of the Dream Enchantress

Yesterday was the new moon, and like all new moons and full moons, I did a spread aligned to the moon’s current themes as a part of my recognition of the moon’s cycle and influences upon us.  Today’s spread is brought to you by Ethony‘s Tarot By the Moon series.

1. What do I need to purge in my life?

Queen of Cups – I can’t find the word for this at the moment.  I know it, but it won’t come.  What I see in this card is the “obsessive possession” of an object… in the case of this imagery it is the cup that the Queen holds.  It’s that “Mine Mine MINE!” mentality of the Gollum in the Lord of the Rings.  This is a blend of selfish, territorial, proprietary feelings that keep the hands holding tight upon what belongs to you beyond the point of reason.

2. What is draining my energy?

Emperor Rx – The feeling that I am not in control and thus trying to then overcompensate is causing a drain in my energy.  Instead of scrambling to tighten the reigns in panic at the feelings of lack of control, try taking a deep breath and letting go. The problem is that it feels like letting go and releasing control will cause everything to fall apart.  And so… I continue to tighten the reigns more and more, and this then takes up more and more of my energy in a vicious cycle.

3. Where do I need to spark play into my life?

Five of Pentacles – Find those things that are distracting to you… and let them carry you away a little bit when things feel dark.  Grow not through the negative connotations of what’s around you during troubled times, but by distracting yourself from those negative influences by finding the things that captivate you and will help you move forward, help you be more optimistic, and help you foster hope.

4. What relationships need examining?

Two of Pentacles – I continue to need to pay close attention to how I am filling my plate and juggling my responsibilities.  Don’t allow the upcoming holiday season and preparations toward that time to screw up the progress you’ve gained.   Take time for yourself, and make sure that you are not allowing overwhelm to grab hold and work its way back into the equation.  Juggling everything is not supposed be easy… and you don’t have to make it look easy when it’s not.

5. Where do I need to speak my truth?

The Hermit – To myself above all others.  Now is a good time to take a close look at your feet upon the path you’ve chosen and ensure that you are still heading in the direction you want to go in.  Be honest with yourself about what needs to be changed, and genuine with yourself concerning your motivations, aspirations, and priorities.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE DREAM ENCHANTRESS

Weekly Creativity Prompt – The Teapot

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Pull (at least) three cards use them as the foundation to tell us about the life of a very delicate or fragile object or person.

22 Talismani in 22 ArcaniI once lived in the home of an old mystic (La Papessa – The High Priestess) that was skilled in many methods of divination (Il Bagatto – The Magician). I was trusted to hold her special herbs and serve them up in warm water’s embrace, so that she could read the tea leaves that fell from my spout.

Many that came to the mystic’s home specifically to have their tea leaves read, and they looked upon my rounded belly like shining beacon of hope. (Le Stelle – The Star)

One day, someone did not like the advice given in the tea leaves. They reported the mystic to the law (La Giustizia – Justice), who then came and told her that she had to shut down (La Torre – The Tower) and would no longer be able to take people into her home (L’eremita – The Hermit).

The mystic moved on from the path of the tea leaves (La Forza – Strength). She found other things bring her joy and became a great-grandmother (Il Sole The Sun). Soon after, she passed on and I was placed in gentle hands to be set upon a shelf (L’appeso – The Hanging). to watch quietly as the mystic’s family continued to grow and flourish in her wake. I am a remnant of the past, and a remembrance of a woman loved and now gone (La Temperanza – Temperance).

DECK USED:  22 TALISMANI IN 22 ARCANI

Morning Bonus Read – Connection and Clarity

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

The prompt for this reading came from one of my Discord servers and is as follows:
“I’m working my way through The Witching Way Of Hollow Hill and it’s amazing– so this week’s divination prompt is based off of where I’m at in that book. Please note that I’m not advocating for any one spiritual framework here– substitute in whatever words work best for you! Chat with your divination tools this week about connection and clarity.”

IMG_5721

In what ways do I experience connection and clarity within my spiritual reality?
Two of Clubs – Heartsease

The Wild Pansy is a gentle flower filled with love and luck. Combined with the Two of Clubs, it indicates that the ways in which I connect with my spiritual reality and find clarity there is through a sense of duality and direction upon my path.  By being aware of all of the options open to me and allowing my intuition to be my guide in this area, my path is always clearly stretched out before me, and there is no hesitation or confusion concerning if I’m headed in the right direction.

In what ways do I close myself off from, or am unaware of, that reality?
Seven of Spades – Wood Anemone

Wood Anemone is a flower of the duality between anticipation and relaxation.  In this card it is combined with the Seven of Spades, which indicates that I spend too much time pushing forward instead of meandering upon my chosen path and enjoying the journey.  This constant push steals away both my enjoyment of the journey and my anticipation of what each new step might bring, as long as the easy relaxation that such a journey could… and perhaps should include.

How should I go about becoming aware of that reality?
Three of Diamonds – Harebell

The Scottish Bluebell holds within it the qualities of humility and constancy, and is strongly associated with glen sprites and forest Fae.  Here, it is combined with the Three of Diamonds, which speaks of coming together in harmonious collaboration to reach a goal.  The suggestion here is to open myself up to working with others, and the use of the Harebell in this instance leads me to understand that those “others” are in reference to my spirit guides.

Is this a good time to go looking for greater spiritual connection?
Queen of Diamonds – Meadow Buttercup

The Meadow Buttercup is a flower filled with youthful energy and enthusiasm.  Combined as it is with the Queen of Diamonds, there is an encouragement here to seek out the earth and her nurturing embrace and allow her to renew my sense of optimism.  Be open to allowing a shift in view, and let the sunshine in.  It is a very good time to seek out that deeper connection.

Or should I focus on the mundane for right now?
Ten of Diamonds – Policeman’s Helmet

One of the strongest qualities of the Policeman’s Helmet is the energy of impatience that it possesses.  The Ten of Diamonds blends this meaning into a desire for stability and fulfillment through security.  It tells me that I am already focusing on the mundane more than enough at this time, and pushing more in this area is simply an expression of impatience that will get me nowhere.  These mundane goals I desire to accomplish are not easily or quickly gained.  Enjoy the path… don’t rush.

DECK USED: FAMOUS WILDFLOWERS PLAYING CARD