blackthorngrimoire

[blackthorngrimoire]

The Bones and The Meat of Tarot

When studying tarot, there are two parts you need to be able to differentiate. The bones and meat.

Imagine you are sculpting a human being, you are given a bone structure; from head to toes. You are told that you cannot change the bones, but you can make your own decisions about the meat. Every reader uses the same bones. But every reader can decide where or how much meat they want to put on the bones, how they want it to look like, in what color, in what shape.

Bones = the core story of each tarot card

Meat = your interpretation of it

Tarot has a system; Major, Minor, Court Cards, progression from 1-10, basic story/concept of each card, etc; these are the bones. Different versions of tarot may have a slightly different system; RWS, Thoth and Marseille. If you don't want to follow the system, you can make your own oracle card, no problem. But if you use tarot, you need to learn the system and understand how it influences interpretation.

NOTE: I'm using RWS Tarot.

STEP 1: Core story of each card (i.e the bones)

Each card has its core meaning or basic story that it represents.

Core story: 9 of Pentacles is the card of harvest, it describes that point of life where most work has been done (previously 8 of Pentacles) and now it's time to relax and enjoy the gain or time you have (9 of Pentacles). The woman is illustrated alone, wearing golden robe, there are grapes and coins behind her (abundance).

That's the bone. Everything other than the above is just the reader's interpretation (i.e meat).

STEP 2: Interpretations (i.e the meat)

Once you have understood the bones, you decide what to do about the meat.

Interpretation is influenced by many, many things. The illustrations, the reader's bias and personal experience in regard to the story the card represents, the question that the querent asks, the situation in which the card applies, extra symbolisms such as what birds or cats signify, the meanings of the surrounding cards, etc. This is also the part where you use your intuition.

A reader can say that 9 of Pentacles woman looks happy, another reader can say that she's lonely, another reader can say that she's not interested in love. Who's right? It depends on the situation and the question asked, your intuition and the deck you use (if your deck makes 9 of Pentacles looks sad, then it is sad).

Interpretation is basically what a reader thinks about the card and what related concepts the reader thinks fit the card. Any interpretation that can be logically connected to the core of the card and fit the question/situation, can be accepted.

Interpretation examples

Question: "What kind of woman is 9 of Pentacles?"

"Those coins must be her own hard work, and she's enjoying her material gain. So that means she has a career. She is also alone. This implies independence. She is an independent woman." Correct.

"Those coins may signify wealth, her robe looks luxurious and she looks like she has no worries. She may be a wife of a rich person who likes to enjoy the luxury her partner gives her." Correct, if you have other cards signifying this such as King of Pentacles for her partner.

"Those coins signify wealth, she looks like she's enjoying the wealth. Despite having a lot of wealth, she keeps everything to herself and isn't open to being generous with others." Correct, if you have other cards signifying this such as 4 of Pentacles and 6 of Pentacles Rx.

Conclusion

In order to understand tarot, you need to follow the steps. Many people jump to Step 2 and then feel confused why there are many different interpretations for one card.

STEP 1: Learn the bones or the basic story of each card like I showed in the pictures above.

STEP 2: Find related concepts, related qualities, related impacts, related lessons to the card you are learning. And when you read tarot, allow the story and the related concepts of one card-- to be affected by the stories and the related concepts of the surrounding cards, your question and your situation.

Always learn the bones before moving on to the meat. Learn the system of tarot if you want to go deeper, these are also the bones of tarot; eg. the significance of Major Arcana, the role of Minor Arcana, astrological association, etc. This is how you avoid being dependent on other readers' finished sculptures.

Extra: How to recognize the bones from the meat?

Honestly, tarot websites and guidebooks don't really help make things less confusing, because many of them mix their interpretation (meat) with the core story (bone) of the card. So you have to be the one who discerns which part is the bone and which part is the meat.

One of the ways to do it is to read all of the descriptions you can find about a card from websites and guidebooks, and observe the similarities and the differences between those descriptions. The similarities usually come from the bones. The differences usually come from the meat.

When you read tarot websites and guidebooks, you are not supposed to follow them 100%, you are supposed to search for the core message (i.e the bones) they represent and hold onto it, put it into your situation and adjust it to fit your reading.

[blackthorngrimoire]

I Am More Perceptive To My Own Romantic Relationship

[blackthorngrimoire]

Magical Timing Cheat Sheet.

This is perfect for planning when to do what spells!

Days of the week :

Saturday - (Saturn) Black and dark purple; thyme; cypress; associated with agriculture, creativity, fortune, protection and banishing negativity.

Sunday - (Sun) Yellow and gold; solar deities; sunflowers; cinnamon; associated with agriculture, beauty, creativity and new beginnings.

Monday - (Moon) Silver and white; peppermint; chamomile; sage; associated with fertility, family, purity, healing, wisdom and intuition.

Tuesday - (Mars) Red and orange; warrior and war deities; holly; cacti; thistles; associated with war and conflict, marriage (ironically), protection and initiation.

Wednesday - (Mercury) Purple; lilies; lavender; ferns; aspen trees; associated with occupation, communication, finances and travelling.

Thursday - (Jupiter) Royal blue and green; honeysuckle; oak trees; associated with honor, family loyalty, harvest, success and prosperity.

Friday - (Venus) Pink and aqua; strawberries; apple blossoms; associated with fertility, sexuality, harmony, growth and friendship.

Hours of the day :

01:00 - Wholeness of self; banishment of negativity.

02:00 - Ridding relationships of negativity.

03:00 - Determination; moving forward.

04:00 - Luck; victory.

05:00 - Psychic growth.

06:00 - Perseverance; motivation.

07:00 - Hope; perspective.

08:00 - Personal growth of the mind.

09:00 - Helping others.

10:00 - Resolution.

11:00 - Transformation.

13:00 - Self image.

14:00 - Growing relationships with others.

15:00 - Balance within the mind, body and spirit.

16:00 - Elemental harmony; goals; habits.

17:00 - Communicating with the spirit world.

18:00 - Protection; safety.

19:00 - Equality; inclusion of others.

20:00 - Leadership; guidance.

21:00 - Truth.

22:00 - Sensibility.

23:00 - Coping with change.

Times of the day :

Dawn - Breaking hexes; beauty; weather; ocean; friendships; forgiveness; romance.

Morning - Fertility; luck; plants; brewing potions; justice; intuition.

Noon - Wealth; occupation; success; motivation; confidence; courage; hearth.

Afternoon - Communication; travel; gathering herbs.

Evening - Psychic protection; peace; balance; cooking.

Twilight - Growth; movement; astral travel; divination; love; lust.

Night - Hexes; banishment; bindings; curses; cosmos; dreams.

Midnight - Creativity; switching between realms.

Phases of the moon :

Dark moon - Destructive magic; hexes; chaos; banishment; breaking habits; removing threats; divination.

Waxing crescent moon - To bring things about; constructive magic; new beginnings; conjuring positivity; self improvement; inspiration.

First quarter moon - Attraction; manifesting desires; finding lost things.

Waxing gibbous moon - Renewal; strength; determination; perseverance.

Full moon - Most powerful lunar energies; all purpose; divinity; dreams; psychic ability.

Waning gibbous moon - Repel; banishment; cleansing; ending relationships; introspection.

Third quarter moon - Overcoming obstacles; transitioning.

Waning crescent moon - Ridding of negativity and stress; banishment; bringing things to an end.

[blackthorngrimoire]

Inexpensive Witch Items for your craft #1

This will be my first post on places to get inexpensive items for you!

DOLLAR TREE!!! I can not explain my love for this store to be honest. Now it may be an obvious store for budget friendly people but I know many people may not think about going there for items for your altar, spells, etc but it is my go to place for all of my items! I will list below all of my favorite items you can get from there! Also they always get in new items all the time so I go quite frequently to see what I can pick up! And of course everything is $1 so to be honest it can’t get any better than that!

SALTS: 2lb boxes of sea salt, regular table salt, and they will even sometimes have pink Himalayan sea salt! Do I even have to mention why this is useful? Well I will anyway! Salt is like the boss of protection and purification. Use it in baths, spells, throw it around the house to keep negative things out, use it when you cast circles, etc. Salt is the bomb I my opinion. And why not get a huge box of it for $1?

SPICES AND HERBS: they have amazing spices to be honest. (Not just to use for cooking which I do) but they have cinnamon, parsley, ground sage, Basil, oregano, ground cloves, All spice, Ginger, etc. You can use these in jar spells, dream sachets, cooking spells, etc. They are fantastic especially for beginner witches who don’t want to spend tons on dried herbs or can’t find them locally outside in the wild or like those who live in a big city far from lots of nature where it’s hard to grow them yourself… Or for those who don’t have as much of a green thumb!

CANDLES!!! : THIS is one of my favorite sections at the dollar tree. You can probably get a better deal for bulk tea light candles somewhere else like Walmart but the dollar tree has amazing tall pillar candles, Scented candles, cute jar candles, Mason jar candles which obviously you can re-use for spells or storage! They have candles in different colors as well! For those who don’t like much flame they have great battery operated candles as well!

GLASS CONTAINERS AND JARS: THEY HAVE SO MANY GLASS OPTIONS! I love finding glass bowls, jars, vases, cups, etc you name it. All can be used for your altar for decor, spell work, collecting water, mixing stuff in, and anything else your little witchy heart desires to use for a glass container!

FOOD ITEMS: *PLEASE be aware to look at expiration dates and read labels. In my experience I’ve had no negative ones as of yet and I’m very sensitive to food and such* I Love getting my baking soda, sugar for offerings or spell jars, candies for offerings, sweets for the fae, jelly (I love their preserves they are delicious! The strawberry and raspberry ones are a house staple), Crackers, unsweetened apple sauce (it’s fantastic), teas (LOVEEEE THE TEAS they have fruit teas, camomile tea, green tea, black tea, and more) these are fabulous to use in spell work or just to drink, and mainly anything a kitchen witch or just a witch in general wants to use for offerings. *I do not advise on getting any meat or dairy products for obvious reasons. Though their vegan spring rolls are my go-to and the dark chocolate covered banana slices are also amazing in the freezer section along with their frozen fruit and vegetables I always make sure to get the ones grown in the USA. * Fruit infuser tumbler cups! Need I say more?

CRAFT SUPPLIES: GLITTER, PENS, PENCILS, STICKERS, TAPE, FLORAL WIRE, FAKE FLOWERS, WREATH WIRE, FLORAL FOAM, WOODEN DOWELS, GLUE, ROCKS, SHELLS, SAND, YOU NAME IT ITS ALL THERE!!!! Anything you could possibly need for your journal, spell books, spells, etc. Everything is there!

BATH SUPPLIES: GLAMOUR, RESTORATING, AND SELF LOVE BATHS HELLO! they sell Epsom salt, good bubble baths, bath loofas, scrubs, soaps, anything your heart would want for a bath spell! I love getting my favorite brown sugar vanilla bath soap mix it with some Epsom salt and sea salt throw in some green or black tea and have myself a self love and clearing bath!

There are a lot more wonderful things that can be found at your local dollar tree! Those are all the top categories that came to my mind. Next blog post will be on online websites that have inexpensive things for my lovely witches out there! Sending blessings to you all!

[blackthorngrimoire]

Self Love & Appreciation Spell Bottle

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

↟ Lavender ↟ to bring love, peace, protection, happiness, healing, & for cleansing ↟ Rosemary ↟ to bring love, peace, happiness, protection, healing, mental clarity, & banish negativity ↟ Sea salt ↟ for protection, cleansing & purification ↟ Himalayan pink sea salt ↟ for love, protection, healing, cleansing & purification ↟ Jasmine ↟ to bring love, calm, & appreciation for beauty ↟ Rose buds/petals ↟ for love, appreciation, beauty & healing ↟ Full moon rainwater ↟ for peace, healing, cleansing & purification ↟ Rose Quartz ↟ peace, love, healing, cleansing, calms emotions, banishes negativity & amplifies loving energy ↟ Amethyst ↟ peace, protection, calming, stabilizes physical, mental & emotional being, banishes negativity ↟ Aura quartz ↟ calming, healing, releases negativity, balances emotions, brings mental clarity & lifts spirit

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

I added glitter for extra magicalness and tied a pink ribbon around the neck of the bottle ♡ charged & sealed with a kiss

Instagram 🌿↟ ᛚᛁᛏᛏᛚᛖ ᛓᛟᛉ ↟🌿Main blog

[blackthorngrimoire]

Tarot A History and Brief Overview of Spreads

A History

The tarot, first known as trionfi and later as tarocchi or tarock is a pack of playing cards, used from the mid-15th century in various parts of Europe to play games such as Italian tarocchini, French tarot and Austrian Königrufen, many of which are still played today. In the late 18th century, some tarot decks began to be used for divination via tarot card reading and cartomancy leading to custom decks developed for such occult purposes. The word Tarot and German Tarock derive from the Italian Tarocchi, the origin of which is uncertain but taroch was used as a synonym for foolishness in the late 15th and early 16th centuries.

Playing cards first entered Europe in the late 14th century, most likely from Mamluk, Egypt, with suits of Batons or Polo sticks which are commonly known as Wands by those practicing occult or divinatory tarot, Coins which are commonly known as disks, or pentacles in occult or divinatory tarot, Swords, and Cups. These suits were very similar to modern tarot divination decks and are still used in traditional Italian, Spanish and Portuguese playing card decks. 

The first documented tarot packs were recorded between 1440 and 1450 in Milan, Ferrara, Florence and Bologna when additional trump cards with allegorical illustrations were added to the common four-suit pack. These new decks were called carte da trionfi, triumph cards, and the additional cards known simply as trionfi, which became “trumps” in English. The earliest documentation of trionfi is found in a written statement in the court records of Florence, in 1440, regarding the transfer of two decks to Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta.

The original purpose of tarot cards was to play games. A very cursory explanation of rules for a tarot-like deck is given in a manuscript by Martiano da Tortona before 1425. Vague descriptions of game play or game terminology follow for the next two centuries until the earliest known complete description of rules for a French variant in 1637. The 18th century saw tarot’s greatest revival, during which it became one of the most popular card games in Europe, played everywhere except Ireland and Britain, the Iberian peninsula, and the Ottoman Balkans. French tarot experienced a revival beginning in the 1970s and France has the strongest tarot gaming community.

Italian-suited tarot decks

These were the oldest form of tarot deck to be made, being first devised in the 15th century in northern Italy. The so-called occult tarot decks are based on decks of this type. Three decks of this category are still used to play certain games:

The Tarocco Piemontese consists of the four suits of swords, batons, cups and coins, each headed by a king, queen, cavalier and jack, followed by the pip cards for a total of 78 cards. Trump 20 outranks 21 in most games and the Fool is numbered 0 despite not being a trump.

The Swiss 1JJ Tarot is similar, but replaces the Pope with Jupiter, the Popess with Juno, and the Angel with the Judgement. The trumps rank in numerical order and the Tower is known as the House of God. The cards are not reversible like the Tarocco Piemontese.

The Tarocco Bolognese omits numeral cards two to five in plain suits, leaving it with 62 cards, and has somewhat different trumps, not all of which are numbered and four of which are equal in rank. It has a different graphical design than the two above as it was not derived from the Tarot of Marseilles.

Italo-Portuguese-suited tarot deck

The Tarocco Siciliano is the only deck to use the so-called Portuguese suit system which uses Spanish pips but intersects them like Italian pips. Some of the trumps are different such as the lowest trump, Miseria (destitution). It omits the Two and Three of coins, and numerals one to four in clubs, swords and cups: it thus has 64 cards but the ace of coins is not used, being the bearer of the former stamp tax. The cards are quite small and not reversible.

French-suited tarot decks

The illustrations of French-suited tarot trumps depart considerably from the older Italian-suited design, abandoning the Renaissance allegorical motifs. With the exception of novelty decks, French-suited tarot cards are almost exclusively used for card games. The first generation of French-suited tarots depicted scenes of animals on the trumps and were thus called “Tiertarock” (‘Tier’ being German for ‘animal’) appeared around 1740. Around 1800, a greater variety of decks were produced, mostly with genre art or veduta. Current French-suited tarot decks come in these patterns:

The Industrie und Glück (Industry and Luck) genre art tarock deck of Central Europe uses Roman numerals for the trumps. It is sold with 54 cards; the 5 to 10 of the red suits and the 1 to 6 of the black suits are removed.

The Adler-Cego animal tarot is used in the Upper Rhine valley and its neighbouring hills such as the Black Forest or the Vosges, and has 54 cards organized in the same fashion as the Industrie und Glück. Its trumps use Arabic numerals but within centred indices.

The Tarot Nouveau has 78 cards, and is commonly played in France and is somtimes used to play Cego. Its genre art trumps use Arabic numerals in corner indices.

German-suited tarot decks

German-suited decks for Bauerntarock, Württemberg Tarock and Bavarian Tarock are different. They are not true tarot packs, but a Bavarian or Württemberg pattern of the standard German-suited decks with only 36 cards; the pip cards ranging from 6 to 10, Under Knave (Unter), Over Knave (Ober), King, and Ace. These use Ace-Ten ranking, like Klaverjas, where Ace is the highest followed by 10, King, Ober, Unter, then 9 to 6. The heart suit is the default trump suit. The Bavarian deck is also used to play Schafkopf by excluding the Sixes.

Tarot Card Readings

The earliest evidence of a tarot deck used for cartomancy comes from an anonymous manuscript from around 1750 which documents rudimentary divinatory meanings for the cards of the Tarocco Bolognese. The popularization of esoteric tarot started with Antoine Court and Jean-Baptiste Alliette (Etteilla) in Paris during the 1780s, using the Tarot of Marseilles. French tarot players abandoned the Marseilles tarot in favour of the Tarot Nouveau around 1900, with the result that the Marseilles pattern is now used mostly by cartomancers.

Etteilla was the first to issue a tarot deck specifically designed for occult purposes around 1789. In keeping with the misplaced belief that such cards were derived from the Book of Thoth, Etteilla’s tarot contained themes related to ancient Egypt.

The 78-card tarot deck used by esotericists has two distinct parts:

The Major Arcana (greater secrets), or trump cards, consists of 22 cards without suits:

The Minor Arcana (lesser secrets) consists of 56 cards, divided into four suits of 14 cards each;

The Magician, The High Priestess, The Empress, The Emperor, The Hierophant, The Lovers, The Chariot, Strength, The Hermit, Wheel of Fortune, Justice, The Hanged Man, Death, Temperance, The Devil, The Tower, The Star, The Moon, The Sun, Judgement, The World, and The Fool. Cards from The Magician to The World are numbered in Roman numerals from I to XXI, while The Fool is the only unnumbered card, sometimes placed at the beginning of the deck as 0, or at the end as XXII.

Ten numbered cards and four court cards. The court cards are the King, Queen, Knight and Page/Jack, in each of the four tarot suits. The traditional Italian tarot suits are swords, batons, coins and cups; in modern occult tarot decks, however, the batons suit is often called wands, rods or staves, while the coins suit is often called pentacles or disks.

The terms “Major Arcana” and “Minor Arcana” were first used by Jean-Baptiste Pitois (also known as Paul Christian) and are never used in relation to tarot card games. Some decks exist primarily as artwork, and such art decks sometimes contain only the 22 major arcana.

The three most common decks used in esoteric tarot are the Tarot of Marseilles, the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck, and the Thoth tarot deck. 

The six most common Tarot Spreads are the;

Love Spread

Here is a little you should know about the ‘love’ spread. This type of reading evaluates the relationships relevance, how strong and happy they are. Every relationship has its ups and downs and with this six-card spread you will be able to evaluate your physical, emotional, mental and spiritual connections with your partner. The ‘love’ spread has its own 6 cards which represent the following:

#1-The first card signifies what you currently feel about your relationship, your approach, and your outlook.

#2-The second card represents your partners current emotions towards you, his attitude, and expectations about your relationship.

#3- The third card is a connection card. For example; common characteristics of both of you

#4– The fourth card indicates the strength of your relationship.

#5– The fifth card shows the weaknesses in your relationship.

#6– This final card is your true love card. It interprets if the relationship is going to be successful or not.

Success Spread

Briefly about the ‘Success’ spread; it is a remarkably situational spread.  It’s often used when a person is facing an obstacle or hardship. It can also be helpful if you don’t know how to face or overcome a problem as it will point you in the right direction.

#1- it helps you to find out about the true colours of the challenge in front of you. It will help you to identify what sort of skill set and resources you will need in order to not just solve but also overcome the challenge.

#2- this further clarifies on your current problems and challenges.

#3- The third card reveals the hidden factors affecting your current situation. You need to have knowledge about what these factors are to really overcome the obstacle you’re facing.

#4- The fourth card represents new plans, people, or objects that can help you grow further. By adapting yourself to these new aspects, your vision of the situation will change, leaving you with better solutions to your problems.

#5- The final card shows what requirements you need to fulfill in order to be proven successful and things you should avoid as they will lead you to failure. It will point you towards success if proven to be a positive card but in other cases it could be a negative card and will warn you about an upcoming disaster in your life.

Celtic Cross Spread

Despite its complications the ‘Celtic Cross’ Spread has stood popular for many years. This is most likely due to the fact that its importance lies in its difficulty. Each result of the Celtic Cross can be illustrated in a variety of ways depending on the direction of the of the fallen cards. Though not recommended for beginners, once anyone understands it, he or she can use this spread to find out the full depth of the situation. With enough practice it can it can be taken in use to find the answer to any problem. Celtic Cross deals with intricate situations.

#1– presents the current situation the person finds themselves in the and the reading is about the question they are facing.

#2– is placed over the first card, pointing to the left and is always read in an upright position. It shows what the basic challenge is that needs to be solved or the mental or physical object holding them back.

#3– The third spread reveals the subconscious influences. These strange influences have an extremely strong and powerful effect on one’s everyday life, especially in scenes relating to the question.

#4 – The fourth card shows what resources one has and the things they can use to face and solve the problem shown by the second card and in the process reach their ultimate goal, shown by the third card.

#5 – The fifth card shows the prologue of the scene. A negatively influenced past may have an effect that prevents their success on their current situation and they will need to let the memory go in order to stop it from negatively influencing their current situation so they can face and eventually overcome the problem at hand as shown by the second card. A positive past should be can simply be called inspiration. Even though the person may be facing a challenge in their current part of life, the problem

They are up against is natural growth of the positive past they had the benefit of experiencing and after they have overcome all their challenges, things will look even brighter than they were in the past.

#6 – The sixth card is the headlight. If the card states there is some form of negative energy on the way the five previous cards should give a good reasoning of why this is taking place and what we could do to prevent it.

#7 – The seventh card represents the person’s attitude. It illustrates your physical actions, thinking and ideals regarding the current problem. This will give you more to work with into whether the person’s attitude is conducive to a likable outcome or whether it’s time to retrack the way the person perceives the information.

#8 – The eighth card is an energy card. It talks about the energy surrounding them and the energy other people and the environment is letting off and if these energies are helping in any shape or form.

#9 – The ninth card tells us about what the person’s desires and fears. This is a revelation card. It gives importance to the things a person should be aware of in their current situation and might change the way a person acts which should not be neglected by them.

#10 – This is the final outcome and emphasizes on the energies, if they are complementing or conflicting. It also tells the person about the future that will take place immediately and if it is necessary or not to face the future.

Spiritual Spread

Similar to the Success Spread, the Spiritual Guidance spread is used when faced with problems that are of a spiritual nature. These sorts of challenges are usually related to spirituality in a person.

#1 – The first card represents your main concerns. You may think you know about the problem but this spread goes more in depth with it.

#2 – The second card looks into your motivation for looking for guidance.

#3 – The third card looks into the things about your life you are insecure or worried about.

#4 – The fourth card emphasizes on the parts of your life that you are not aware of.

#5 – The fifth card is your advice card as it will guide you to the steps to face your fears. It ties in with the previous cards.

#6 –The sixth card guides us to a life with no worries so that we could move forward on our spiritual journey.

#7 – The seventh card teaches you to deal with the situation with the resources you have at hand.

#8 – Finally, the eighth card finishes the Spiritual Guidance Spread by telling us that the result of the tarot cards all depends on our reaction to it whether we focus on the positive or negative.

Career Path Spread

This spread is for times where we feel left out on our career. We work hard hoping for a promotion but to no benefit. It helps us with these kind of challenges that we face in our professional life.

#1 – The first card basically asks us if our job that we have right now is indeed our ideal job

#2 – The second card emphasizes on the actions we must take to further boost our career. A positive card means we should stay at the same position we are in right now whereas a negative one means we should make some changes.

#3 – The third card tells us about certain things about our job that we can no longer alter. The card may tell you to look for a job in the same category we are working in right now.

#4 – The fourth card refers to our skills on our job to see if they’re enough to get us a promotion or if we are behind everyone else.

#5 – The fifth card tells us about the things we can do in our career to improve and start a new one or just small things we can do in our current career to at least get noticed.

#6 – The sixth card gives us the answer to the question that if our past mistakes are influencing our career now.

#7 – The final card tells you that if the card is negative it might lead to a bad outcome as it might result in you making other bad career choices.

However, if you aren’t sure of the outcome, use the card again after a few days or weeks to see if the reading changes as your attitude changes.

Three-Card Spread

The simplest and the most useful spread, ‘The Three Card Spread’ only uses three cards. This is what makes it the most popular. This is one of the most powerful spreads and can find answers for you really quickly for almost anything, let it be overcoming a problem or an obstacle or if you are simply just feeling lost or left behind.

Linear 3 Card Tarot Spreads

As you can imagine, this layout is good at suggesting some sort of linear path, sequence of events, cause and effect, or a way of getting from point a to point b.

Past, Present, Future

You, Your Path, Your Potential

You, Relationship, Partner

Situation, Action, Outcome

Idea, Process, Aspiration

Balanced 3 Card Tarot Spreads

In this layout, each card of the spread has a common intersection. They are all equally important, like three sides of a pyramid. Without any of these, the whole structure collapses.

Mind, Body, Spirit

Physical State, Emotional State, Spiritual State

Subconscious, Conscious, Super Conscious

Option 1, Option 2, Option 3

What I think, What I feel, What I do

Foundational 3 Card Tarot Spreads

I think think one is a little harder to explain, but I like thinking of these spreads being communicators of advice in a way such that “given X and Y, the result is Z”. X and Y attempt to give you a clearer understanding of options, and Z is a summary, a crux, a way to move forward given the information that is there. In fact, even when phrasing these spreads, I like saying them in a way that follows this formula to make the point clearer. The bolded items represent the actual card positions.

Given your strengths and weaknesses, this is my advice.

Given what worked well, and what didn’t work well, this is the key lesson.

Given that this brings you together, and that this pulls you apart, you must focus on this.

Given that you want this from the relationship, and your partner wants this, your relationship is heading towards this.

Given Option 1 and Option 2, This is what you need to know to make a decision.

Crossed 3 Card Tarot Spreads

As the layout would imply, this is about understanding conflicts and obstacles. The card that crosses over is something that stands in the way and that needs to be overcome, something that blocks you from attaining your ultimate goal, while the third card acts as a sort of advice card, looking at the situation from a more distant viewpoint. These can also be used as simpler 2 card spreads if you want to use only the crossing cards.

Situation, Obstacle, Advice

Aspiration, Obstacle, How to Overcome

Opportunities, Challenges, Outcome

Thesis, Antithesis, Synthesis

I will be doing card meanings on a later date :)

[blackthorngrimoire]

[blackthorngrimoire]

🔮spoonie witch tips🔮

- do NOT be discouraged if you don’t have the energy or emotional capacity to practice every day.

- do NOT berate yourself for not being as active as other witches.  you are still a witch, and you are still valid!

- instead of organizing, and setting aside hours for ritual, or practice just try and involve magick in your everyday life.

- only have the energy to shower?  focus on cleansing yourself of negative vibes and feelings.  let the water cleanse you and allow your intent to shine through while you bathe.

- can’t manage to get out of bed?  meditate.  ground yourself.  snuggle with your crystals.  you’ll feel better, I promise.

- self care in itself can be a magickal experience.  

- but, if you aren’t feeling in the mood to do anything, don’t.  take care of yourself first, think about the magickal side of your activities later when you’re feeling better.

- magick isn’t all about fancy materials, and hours of dedication, regardless of what people may tell you.  just do what you can and put a magickal spin on the activities you can comfortably participate in if you have the energy to do so.

- your practice is NEVER paramount to your HEALTH and WELL-BEING!

- you’ve got this, you’re valid, you’re loved, and I fully believe in you!

[blackthorngrimoire]

This is some bath magick that you can tailor to you. Make sure you have the basic materials but becauss this magick is specifically made to make you feel better, change some herbs up or you know, whatever.

Do your thing.

Rowan’s, “Bathe Me the Fuck Better” Bath Spell

You Will Need:

As many candles as you want (I chose six, and had red, white and blue ones. Not because I am a mad patriot but because they’re associated with health, love (of self), and cleansing.)

Filter paper to make a lil’ bag out of (if you don’t have this to hand, you can chuck the stuff into the bath water as long as it’s safe to do so).

A small elastic (rubber) band to tie the bag off with.

A bath full of favourably temperatured water.

Rose petals.

Lavender buds.

Smoky Quartz, Clear Quartz, Rose Quartz (you can have some of those, all, or one).

Pink Himalayan Salt.

To make this easier, prep your bag before you run and intend on getting into, the bath.

Open your filter paper and place the salt in the centre first - remember that you’re going to seal the bag with a rubber band, so leave room around the edges.

Then add the rose petals and lavender buds into the centre of your little salt pile.

Lastly, add your crystals and then seal the bag by pulling all of the edges upward towards each other, and tying the band tightly around the neck you should have.

Once your bath is run and you’re prepped, you

may

want to do this

optional step:

To add an extra oomph, pass the baggy through the smoke of your favourite incense. Mine, in this case would be vanilla.

Final bit!

Place your candles around the edge of your bathtub, and as you begin lighting them, repeat this phrase (you can do this aloud or in your head) until each candle is lit and flickering deliciously:

“By the warmth of the flame, I am cleansed. By the crackling of the fire, I thrive once more. Et sic factum est, et semper erit.”

Now place your bag into the water and climb in. Allow the troubles of the day to melt away as you soak amongst the flames.

[blackthorngrimoire]

Tarot Notes #2

Disclaimer: this post is based on my personal experience. Card interpretation also depends on your intuition, other cards and the question asked.

◼ 7 of Pentacles can indicate you won't get what you want exactly how you want it. You will still get something and this thing can lead you to what you want, but before that can happen more effort and patience are required. Good but not the best.

◼ The Knights are self-oriented. They are focused on what they want and executing what they have decided; usually regardless of the impact on other people. The actions of the knights can bring either positive or negative impact on you, it depends on whether you agree with their method/stance or not.

◼ The Emperor can be about embracing your own masculine energy; stepping into your own power, speaking up, taking control of your life.

◼ The right combination of Pentacles and Cups cards can indicate emotional stability and security. These are what you want to look for in a reading about love, since it can signify a long-term and emotionally fulfilling partnership.

◼ In love readings, The Devil can also indicate a love-hate connection, it can also be about disliking the fact that you are madly attracted to someone.

◼ Knight of Cups in reverse can also talk about losing your rose-tinted glasses of love, or losing your idealistic/dreamy stance on love.

◼ If The Fool and The Magician appear in a career reading, it can be about entrepreneurs or starting a business; especially one that is innovative. These activities require you to have multiple skills; it's usually a one-man show at first.

◼ For going to a foreign place, meeting or connecting with foreigners (online or offline), I'd personally look at The World, Wheel of Fortune, 3 of Wands, 8 of Wands. Context matters tho.

◼ In personality readings, the person with The High Priestess energy can give an impression of being unreachable and elusive; as if there are parts of them that can never be known. This allure can draw some people in, especially the curious ones and those who seek depth.

© 2022 Helianthus Tarot. All rights reserved.

[blackthorngrimoire]

Shield (Winx Inspired)

A spell to guard user from offensive magic.

You Will Need:

Green Candle

Aventurine

Steps:

Cleanse yourself and your space as needed. Light your candle.

Take your Aventurine in hand and move it over the flame of your candle (not through it) in clockwise motions

Focus on the green candle energizing and heating your stone, making it glow bright green. Focus on your intent, to use this stone as a shield from spells directed at you that are meant to attack and cause you harm

Do this until you feel satisfied. Carry the aventurine with you like one would carry a shield. Blow out your candle to finish spell.

[blackthorngrimoire]

Tarot Technique: 101

Interpretation 101 basically. This is the basic structure of what I do in this whole reading tarot thing. You can follow this if you want.

1. Learn the card’s core story and related concepts. The bones and the meat of tarot. This is also when you learn the Major, Minor, Court. You can also learn other things like; astrology association, numerology, symbols, colors etc.

2. Discern the dominant energy and less dominant energy. This is when you determine which part of the reading heavily influences or controls the narrative. 

3. Discern similarities and differences. Refer 1. Find similarities between the cards and work from there. Determine how similarities and differences interact with each other. 

4. Discern positive and negative expressions. Refer 1. Find the card that is expressed more positively, and if there is a card that isn’t. Determine how their positivity and negativity interact with each other.  

You combine everything and make an interpretation. That’s it.  

[blackthorngrimoire]

“I Communicate Clearly With Entities”

[blackthorngrimoire]

Miscellaneous Tip: Sigils 1

Do not use sigils that contain an "or" scenario. Not only may you find that you don't desire the course of action the sigil manifests, but you may find the manifestation to change course in a different direction.

[blackthorngrimoire]

Creamy Tortellini Soup is pure heavenly comfort. It features Italian sausage, vegetables, tomatoes, and cheese tortellini in a creamy tomato base, seasoned with Italian herbs and fresh Parmesan Cheese.

https://www.smalltownwoman.com/creamy-tortellini-soup/

[blackthorngrimoire]

[blackthorngrimoire]

6 things to do to improve your tarot reading skills

1. In-depth study of the cards

Spend time studying the cards. A good understanding of the individual cards and their symbolism will help you know how to bend their meanings to match different situations.

2. Have a tarot journal

Record your readings; eg. the cards you pull, their positions in the spread, your thoughts, and any challenges you face while reading tarot. This will help you track your progress, jot down your observations and reflect on your experience.

3. Do readings for yourself

Reading the cards for yourself will give you the space to practice your interpretation skills in a low-pressure environment.

4. Read for other people

Doing this allows you to get used to picking up on other people's energies, you can also ask for feedback and have the opportunity to learn from your mistakes.

5. Try tarot prompts and spreads

You can use tarot prompts and spreads in tarot deck guidebooks or ones that can be found online (eg. on Pinterest) for practice, and see how the cards answer those questions.

6. Use different decks

Some tarot decks have different artwork or imagery on the cards, you can try using different decks to see how different imagery affects your interpretation.

© 2022 Helianthus Tarot. All rights reserved.