Various Paganism, Tarot, Etc

Weekly Creativity Prompt – Childhood Antics

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Draw up to three cards from your tarot (or oracle) and use them for guidance in choosing  something to share with us about your childhood.

IMG_4794The Emperor (Ego) –  Once when I was very young (around the age of 9 or 10) my sister and I decided to do an impromptu ritual in our front yard.   We had been doing our own rituals and spellcraft for quite some time, and we were both very confident in our abilities.

The Star (Elation) – We set  up everything outside and began our ritual.  Everything was going along great.  We had been very careful in our set up and things were going smoothly.

Justice (The Lesson) – Until I accidentally bumped the small makeshift altar we’d set up using a wooden stool, and one of the candles toppled off into the dry summer grass.  We were both barefoot and the little cup of water we had for offering didn’t put out the flames (which are incredibly difficult to SEE on dry grass in the middle of the day, by the way.  I had to run and untangle the hose, turn it on and then bring it back, because we were not prepared!   Half the yard burned before we managed to get the fire out.

Moral of the Story –  When preparing for ritual or spellcraft?  It’s not enough to prepare to do the ritual or spell.  You have to prepare for if things go wrong as well.   ie: If you’re playing with fire in the middle of a yard of dry grass?  Have the hose ready and the water already turned on.

DECK USED:  THE STITCH RABBIT TAROT

 

Full Moon in Sagittarius – June 2020

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When the moon is full, its energies are at their peak. The placement of the moon in the sky this full moon is within the constellation of Sagittarius, which imbibes the full moon’s energies with that of the Sagittarius astrological sign. This places the theme of this month’s full Strawberry Moon as one of cresting energies surrounding enthusiasm and adventure, as well as one of intense sussing out of truths, often through the exploration of culture, philosophy, and religion.

This search for truth gives us an opportunity to reflect upon and acknowledge old wounds and internal struggles, to take ownership of these wounds, and to use the power of the moon to take back control. Then, as the moon’s energies wane over the next two weeks, we can then take those truths we have confronted and allow the moon’s waning energy to help us in discarding what no longer serves us.

Full Moon in Sagittarius Spread by Ethony

Yesterday was the full 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 impulses need taming?

Eight of Cups – As I struggle with difficult situations there is often an urge to just throw up my hands and say “fuck this” and walk away.  This is especially true when it comes to areas where emotional wounds are being poked and prodded. A number of readings I’ve done about the month ahead have spoken on a rise of emotional distress and discomfort.  The Eight of Cups here indicates I need to make sure I don’t retreat, but stick around and find a solution instead.

2. Where can I best direct my energy?

Wheel of Fortune – I would be best served by focusing my energies on staying centered.  There is a great deal of symmetry in this card, all surrounding that blue center point where the spinning wheel’s axis resides.   The message here is to be the axis rather than the chaos of the centripetal force.   Focus on staying centered and calm.

3. How can I best direct my aggression?

Five of Swords – Winning.  I should direct my aggression toward those tasks and projects that need an extra bit of “oomph” so that I do not allow them to make me feel overwhelmed but instead can use the energy and focus from my aggression to plow through them and come out on top.

4. How can I add a little spice to my life?

Temperance – Stop trying so hard.  This has to do with the posture of the angel, who does not hold vessels in their hands… and yet appears to be trying to regardless. If I want to add a little spice in my life, I need to remember to allow my hands to be empty and my time free to experience new things and joyous moments.

5. What spiritual and personal beliefs need re-examining?

The Empress – I don’t like this card today.   Something feels wrong about the monkey and the tiger and the exposed breast.   The message here is to be careful where you put your energies and who you trust.  Not everyone respects or deserves the energy that you put into helping and nurturing others.  Make sure that you are choosing the recipients of those pieces of yourself (and your time and energy as well) more wisely.

DECK USED:  LINESTRIDER TAROT

#31DaysofWitchcraft Prompt 4&6 (non)VR to Heather Carter

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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!  This is my Part 2 of answering her list of questions.

forest

4. What is your favourite element to work with? How do you work with it?

It’s probably not at all surprising to hear that my favorite element to work with is the earth and the green that grows from it.   This is very much based on the soil and the green and the cycles of life and decay that these go through together.  It is especially true of damp soil, such as that found here in the rainforests of the Pacific Northwest.

It is very common for me to incorporate soil and plant matter into my spellcraft.  Not just in the use of herbs as incense, but in the actual mixtures and crafting of my spells.  I connect very strongly with plants and their energies help to amplify my own in spellcraft, so this only makes sense.   Some plants I grow on my balcony for this purpose, others I forage from the forests and other natural places near where I live.

I also often use the act of planting, as well as established live plants in my rituals.

6. Do you incorporate environmental consciousness and sustainability into your craft?

Absolutely.  Especially because I incorporate the earth and those things that grow from it so heavily in my craft, it’s extremely important to me that I don’t cause harm in my actions.  As I have an education in botany and horticulture, I’m more than a little knowledgeable in plant care and how to forage what I need without harming the earth and environment in doing so, and how to provide offerings that both protect and assist the earth in staying healthy and thriving.

I do not use items in my craft that are endangered, and I grow many of the plants I use most heavily myself rather than buying from an outside source that may (or may not) have good foraging/growing/gathering practices.

I feel that, especially if someone is practicing an earth-based religion, it’s important to consider your effect upon the earth and do those things in your power to foster the health and well-being of the earth and environment you have influence over, rather than taking it for granted.

 

Weekly Creativity Prompt – The Pages

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Pull the Pages from a deck of your choice. Do you have someone in your life that fits with one of these cards? Do you have people in your life that would fit with each of them? Tell us about the connection you see between each Page card and the person in your life it represents.

Trippin' Waite Tarot

Page of Pentacles –  Slow and steady wins the race is the story of her life.  She always loved the story of the turtle and the hare growing up, and she has spent her life following the example the turtle set.  She saves her pennies and contributes to the dreams of others, and now as she finally comes to a point in her life where she has everything together and security in place, it’s time to turn her attention to learning how to preserve what she has gained and help it to flourish and grow.

Page of Cups – Curiosity and self expression have filled his life with a journey filled with flavors and colors and a vast world of imagination and swirling seas of emotional experiences.  He’s loved and lost and loved again, and he brings his heart and soul and vulnerability into each project and relationship he is a part of.  This has served him well and he’s grown and learned from mistakes, gathered in those that are just right for him and support his dreams, letting others fall away that do not.   Now with those that make his heart sing around him, he seeks to step forward and learn more about his emotions, his relationships, and the world around him through the eyes of imagination and intuition.

Page of Wands – An entrepreneur at heart, he is a man of many hats and has explored every interest and passion that has come his way.  He started a business all his own and rode the ups and downs that come with striking out on your own.  He follows his passions and sometimes? It doesn’t work out quite as planned.  Now, finds himself once more at the first step of a journey… except this time? He will do things differently.  This business will have all of the benefits of the lessons learned from the one that failed before.

Page of Swords – Her life has been filled with struggle and strife. She’s been knocked down once and again, stabbed in the back by others and battled her own inner demons. Coming out the other side, she has learned that even the worst of experiences have something to learn within them. She takes these experiences with with her now, and seeks to turn them into expertise.

DECK USED:  THE TRIPPIN’ WAITE TAROT

Weekly Creativity Prompt – Jason

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Pull (at least) three cards and use them as the basis to write something that ends with the word “wrath”.

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Jason’s Story

One early spring day I was out for a walk with my girl (The Lovers) without a care in the world (Temperance) when an old man approached us and stopped us upon our path. Man was old and weathered, and yet he had a strange energy about him it made him feel as if he was in the know on many many things (The Hierophant and The High Priestess).

He told me that I would be tempted (The Devil) in the near future and that whatever choice I made in this that moment would be the choice to decide my fate (Wheel of Fortune), and so I should choose wisely and follow my heart (The Star).

At the time I thought he was talking gibberish (The Fool).

Later in the day when I was back at home alone (The Hermit), I got a phone call from an ex (Death) who wanted to get back together with me and I have to admit I feel really flattered and it was a huge ego boost (The Emperor) because she broke up with me… not the other way around.

Suddenly the temptation was before me and I remembered with the old man had said.

Thought about my girlfriend and how she would feel (Judgement)… and about how I feel about her and I realize that I already had everything I need. So I told my ex to take a hike (Strength and The Chariot).

Little did I know at the time, but a private investigator (The Magician) had been hired by my girlfriends father and he had orchestrated the whole thing!  Fortunately, I managed to pass his test and avoid his wrath (The Sun).

DECK USED:  THE BLUE BIRDS’ TAROT BY TADAHIKO KAWAGUCHI

Morning Bonus Read – The Earth and I

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Top Row:
What is the largest way in which the earth’s energies interact with mine at this time?

Although I am currently feeling blocked / cut off from my deeper connection with the earth (left card), my continued connection to that energy from afar (inside left card) still creates within me a spark of inspiration and fills that great well of creativity within me (inside right card). I then incorporate that spark into all of the other aspects of my life (right card). Note the background in the first card with it’s rocky beach. This depiction increases the sense of “distance” I currently feel from nature, as although I connect with the rocky beaches here in my area… it is not where I connect most strongly, indicating a decrease in that connection at the moment.

Bottom Row:

How do I impact the earth’s energy? (left card) This card reiterates the separation that is currently ongoing in my life between myself and being able to get out into the green. There is significance here in the type of nature presented in the card, as this type of wet green calls to me strongly. And yet in the image it is healthy and lush indicating that I am causing no harm in my connection with the earth. Aside from the reiteration of the separation aspect, this card’s message is that I leave only footprints… and sometimes not even that. In other words, I respect what’s there and don’t tamper with it or harm it.

How does the earth’s energy impact me? (center card) It stirs me up and takes me home, both sparking a sustainable flame within me while churning up my creative juices and providing me energy.

Advice moving forward: (right card) The imagery in this card is an indication that with restrictions lifting in my area recently, I need to get my ass in gear, get out of the house, go out into the world, and search out some places (trailheads) that are open so that I can do some hiking and reconnecting with those energies.

DECK USED: JEREMY MIRANDA ORACLE CARDS