justalittleb-witchy

[justalittleb-witchy]

Fear of Punishment and Fear of Angering the Gods

If you spend time in spaces where there are newer pagans, you will inevitably see the question: "How do I know if my god is mad at me?" It is a well meaning question, and its a reasonable fear-- but I would be as bold as to say you shouldn't worry about it.

Treat the gods with respect, obviously-- but they also understand that we are human. That we make mistakes. That we are fallible. Small, inconsequential things are not going to piss them off. Intrusive thoughts especially will not piss them off (@ all of my fellow mentally ill witches, especially those with disorders like OCD)

I can count on one hand the number of times I have genuinely and truly seen/made a god angry, and almost every time, it has been because someone had been (significantly) hurting themselves. They may get angry on our behalf--especially in cases of injustice-- but that's not the same as being mad at us.

In my particular case, the one time I truly made a god angry, was when I panicked and started cutting everybody, and everything out of my life. It was an action that would have deeply, deeply harmed me, and it happened because someone had wronged me. It also happened immediately before a holiday where I was supposed to do a lot-- both for and with-- a specific god. I fell very (temporarily) ill, which slowly but surely snapped me back to my senses. It was a hard lesson to learn, but it was a unique one-- I don't think such a thing would have occurred under normal circumstances. (So please do not take this and wonder "did I make x god mad when I did y and isolated myself?", this is just a very simplified description of exceptional events that occurred in my life at that time)

I think this fear, in part, stems from mythic literalism. Myths often show the gods as flawed, and sometimes wrathful, because they are meant to teach lessons. That doesn't mean that the gods behave that way in real life. Remember, they've chosen to accept your worship. They've chosen to work with you. That means they understand who you are, and how you operate. If they would not get along with you, they have every opportunity to just... not interact with you. The chances of you making them angry over tiny things is infinitesimally small.

This isn't a way to brush off any responsibility you may have-- you should still learn what they do and do not like, what is and is not respectful-- but it does mean that you don't have to live in a constant state of fear.

I.e., an example of something you should know about, if you are Hellenistic, is miasma and how that relates to offerings you should not give.

[justalittleb-witchy]

there was a rumor that yunho ateez dating a florist can you confirm that w tarot?https://www.allkpop.com/article/2022/10/ateezs-yunho-wrapped-up-in-dating-rumors

No, sorry— that falls under my “readings without consent” clause. I won’t try to look into anyone except for the person requesting a reading, if they request a reading on themselves.

If you’re looking for answers on this, there are fairly simple divination techniques you can try without dedicated tools. An example would be pendulum work, which can be done with any sort of string and weighted object. The main caveat to that is that you cannot expect accurate results without previous practice.

[justalittleb-witchy]

beginner witch tips

you don't have to join a coven but you also don't have to be solitary

you don't have to be pagan or religious but you also don't have to denounce religion

you can use whatever tools you want or none at all - you can use energy work in place of physical items

you can thrift supplies or grab some from the dollar tree instead of spending a bunch of money online or at a metaphysical shop

you can form your own opinions about the things you learn about vs taking their word for it especially online but in written texts as well

you don't have to be a certain type of witch - eclectic does just fine if you want to label it as such

if you do choose to label yourself, you don't have to do things that exist only within that label (sea witches can work with other elements, moon witches can work with other planets, etc.)

you don't have to read tarot cards for divination - there are lots of other methods

you don't have to do divination at all

you can work with more than one energy at a time (think moon and sun, or water and fire)

you don't have to do things the way other folks do

that's all i got for now

© 2024 ad-caelestia

[justalittleb-witchy]

you don’t have to be perfect before you can ask for better.

[justalittleb-witchy]

Hello! I would like to help with this, if I am able.

There's not really a "wrong" way to practice, but I know that that can be distressing to hear if you are someone who prefers regimes. One of the positives of neopaganism, however, is that you can set your own regimes and standards.

One question I would ask is, are you experiencing burnout? If you might be experiencing burnout, how do you handle burnout in other aspects of your life? Could it be beneficial to take things "slower" and do them less frequently? Or to take smaller steps instead of grand gestures, so to speak.

What are you passionate about? What do you enjoy? Do you enjoy studying and learning? You could incorporate that into your practice, especially when it comes to implementing regimes. You could look at what Norse Paganism has been like throughout history, because you mentioned Loki. Personally, I find Ocean Keltoi's videos on youtube enjoyable, digestible, and informative. I also enjoy seeking out other's experiences with the gods I worship, because a lot of my fascination comes with modern practice and interpretations of the gods.

On that tangent, there are a ton of things that you can take from your hobbies and bring into a spiritual practice. Loki in particular seems fond of games-- though that is just my UPG. You can also incorporate aspects of your daily life, such as the clothes you wear, into your practice. Personally, I have certain outfits dedicated to certain gods because that is what brings me joy, and helps me to feel closer to them/keep them in my mind throughout the day. Other aspects of my practice are a lot more unregimented.

I personally struggle a lot with asking the gods for stuff, to the point where I've been called out on it before-- I prefer to handle things by myself all the time, even when I really should be asking for help. It can be difficult to figure out what you "want" from them-- but what about companionship? Support? A listening ear? Those are worthy things to request, that they freely offer and give.

As for prayers, they do not need to be scripted and formal, nor do they need to be written by you, so if you feel pressured in either direction, be assured that there is no wrong way to pray. Personally, most of the people I know pray incredibly informally, almost having a one-sided "conversation" with their gods. There's even a running joke that you'll find in pagan circles, where people talk about gossiping at their gods' altars. Pre-written prayers are also super legitimate! Plenty of religions use them, and they can be comforting in an almost rhythmic way. If you prefer pre-written content, maybe you could read things that you enjoy as a form of prayer? Such as poetry or stories, or even posts or memes.

"Creativity" is a word that comes to mind, though I am not entirely sure why.

As others have mentioned, you can also directly ask the gods for help and guidance in this matter. Though particularly with Loki, don't be surprised if you find answers in odd places (/positive)

how do i move forward with my pratice? (question)

being autistic i'm always thinking im meant to do my religions in a 'certain' way, that theres this scrict set of rules and things to do and that i have to follow them, and without this set of rules and things to do i feel stuck? like how am i supposed to move forward, do i actually know what i want from working with these gods or do i just like the idea of it because it makes me happy?

i pray to the deities i work with weekly, and try to do weekly. i'm planning planning my pratice each month, ex: i'll do _type of offering_ on these days, i'll do this in my routine as an act for _god_ etc. but im honestly 'scared' that im not doing these things right, or im doing something wrong, which i know you cant really do, but its still there? like how do i move forward with my pratice with the gods, i pray to them (yet to write my own prayers), i give them offerings, i have a dedicated altar to 2/3 and the last (freya) only a candle as i am waiting till i get more stuff for my planned freya altar, i talk with my deities, i sometimes ask them for advice but honestly? what do i ask them for.

[justalittleb-witchy]

You're Not Talentless-- Each Relationship is Just Unique: Deities and Communication Styles

Divination

There are a ton of witches/pagans out there that post impressive conversations with their deities. Some are exaggerated for dramatic effect, but not all. And when people see others' communicating with their deities in clear sentences, in a seemingly effortless manner, it can make them feel down on themselves. "Why am I not that good? Why can I not hear [deity] that clearly? Am I doing something wrong? Am I just weak?" etc.

And the truth is-- no, this is not necessarily a reflection on you. There are many factors at play. The primary one being: everyone has different strengths and weaknesses. Maybe you will struggle with having conversations in that way-- and I know that that can be painful, but it is okay! There will be other things that you are talented in, that not everyone can do.

Another factor is that we tend to take a one-size fits all approach to communication, and that's not what works for everyone! As an example, many people strive to be able to read tarot cards, read runes, or communicate through clairaudience-- but that's not where everyone excels. Try out more niche forms of divination, or even invent your own! What do YOU feel called to in your daily life? What are your hobbies? Is there a way you can twist those into a divination style?

As an example, someone who plays a lot of DnD may feel very connected to dice. There are a TON of divination styles out there that involve the use of dice or similar "rolled" items. If you give those a shot, you may find something you enjoy. If the form of divination you are currently using feels unnatural, like you are slogging through every reading-- try out other styles! Everything takes practice, but that doesn't mean you need to continue hammering away at a practice that you feel disconnected from.

Silence and Sound-- Deities' Personalities

Another thing to consider is your unique relationship with your deities. Every deity has a unique communication style, and some are "louder" than others-- even then, it is made more unique by your personal relationship with them.

Some deities are prone to sending very subtle signs and symbols. Some only pop in once in a blue moon. Some come and go, being away for stretches of time, then being super active seemingly randomly. This doesn't mean you're doing anything wrong, it's just what they are like.

Others are super obvious. They'll wake you up with bright flashes of light, send you super obvious dreams, make animals act strangely, and even throw products that have their name on it off the shelves. This isn't common, but it does happen. That's just their personality, and their relationship with you. It doesn't mean that you are somehow better than other practitioners because you can more clearly interact with your deity.

Your deities may also have specific ways they wish to communicate with you. My primary divination style is cards (any kind, really), but I've had deities outright refuse to use them before. They'll ask for another divination method that I can do. I have a friend who is consistently asked to channel, as opposed to doing anything else. I've known people who primarily communicate through dreams. These are all legitimate practices, and none of our practices look even remotely similar. Comparing us all would be a fools endeavor- so why should one compare themselves to others? Answer: they shouldn't.

Polite Requests

If you struggle to receive messages or understand the deity you are working with, you have a few options-- and all of them involve clear communication.

If you are struggling to understand the signs they are sending, communicate what you find unclear about those signs, and politely request a potential solution.

If you are struggling with the divination style you are using, ask them to guide you towards something that you would feel more comfortable with

If their absences feel lonely, ask if there is something you can work on together-- perhaps an altar, maybe a small sign-- that makes you feel less lonely during their "absences".

You can ask them to send you resources, such as books or people, that they think would help you in this endeavor. Or, perhaps they can even teach you themselves.

You can ask if there is someone or something that could be used as an intermediary, to translate their messages more clearly. An example would be deities with a "messenger" role or epithet that you both get along with.

And with anything, practice makes perfect. Don't expect to roll over one day with the ability to communicate super clearly. Take your time, work on it, practice, and be patient with yourself.

As a potential resource, there are readers out there that offer "divination style" readings, with the claim that they will help you find a divination style that would work for you, or a style that you have natural talent for. You can also use readers as a middle man, but this gets expensive quickly.

[justalittleb-witchy]

Deities Can Lie, and Why that's Good

(No this is not a sign, please do not take it as such. If this is something you are insecure about, I do not recommend reading this post. This is more philosophical than anything else.)

This is something that, when most people hear it, will be responded to with "its common sense that they can, but they won't", and I want to push back on that a little bit.

Lying is almost always associated with bad intentions, but sometimes it can be necessary when teaching someone a lesson that they wouldn't otherwise understand. The methods gods will use to get a point across to their practitioner is highly dependent on the god, their practitioner, and their relationship. I feel like I can pretty confidentially say that in most situations your god would not lie to you, nor would they have a reason to.

But lying does serve a purpose. And sometimes it's the most efficient way to get things done-- much in the same way gods sometimes omit information. I am going to tell two stories to try and get my point across.

Let's say Susie is positively anxious about her crush. She keeps asking over and over again if they are meant to be together forever. They are not-- they'll break up eventually-- but Susie is the type of person who would never pursue a relationship if it's not fated to be forever. The overall experience of being with this person is something Susie will be deeply grateful for, and she would learn and grow from being with them. But she's so afraid of pain that she would never take that first step if she knew what the end result would be. Yes, the gods could tell her that it will end in tragedy, but she needs to pursue it anyways-- but would she listen to them? Probably not. These are instances where information might be omitted, questions might go unanswered, or small lies might be told, all for her greater good. It's painful, it sucks, and its somewhere where most people would draw the line-- but there is a reason for it, and there are cases where it might be used. The gods' goals are not always our immediate goals and that's something I try to be mindful of-- and practice patience because of this-- in my practice.

This second example is a personal one, with many, many details changed. The core lesson is still the same.

Eons ago, I applied to be a part of a play. This play was very important to me, and I wanted a very specific role. I kept asking again, and again, and again, if I was going to get it. I kept getting told that yes, it would work out, I just had to be patient-- but the casting decision was taking forever. I had all but lost faith. Every five minutes (hyperbolically) I was asking, "Did I get it? Did I get it? Did I get it?"

Finally, I got a different answer. A very firm "no". A firm "we've been lying to you this entire time, you suck, you were never going to get that role." And immediately, I believed it. It "confirmed" my worst biases. I placed this singular reading above the countless I had done before it, above all of the signs that had endlessly been sent my way-- because it confirmed something negative I thought about myself. And then I was (metaphorically) given a firm slap upside the head. "Really, kid?", the reading seemed to say, "You believed that over everything else we've told you? You're so scared of failure that you're unwilling to consider the possibility of success." The direct quote I have from that reading is "How ready were you to accept defeat when spoken?", which basically was calling me out for not believing in myself.

This was an instance when a lie was appropriate-- confirming my worst fears was the only way to snap me out of it, to make me realize that I was refusing to accept the possibility of something good happening. And, for the record, I did wind up getting my dream "role" in that "play", and everything worked out in the very peculiar way I predicted. "Don't count your chickens before they hatch" also applies to anticipating negative results.

To summarize, I guess the moral of this all is that lying does sometimes serve a purpose. It doesn't inherently mean that you are worshiping the "wrong" or "fake" god. It also doesn't mean that you can't trust what you read. You have to consider everything in balance with what comes before it. If you have a negative relationship with a deity, maybe a lie is what broke the camels back-- but its back was fractured to begin with. A healthy relationship isn't predicated on always getting your way, or always understanding what's going on. It is important for you to decide where your boundaries lie (haha, pun), and for you to decide if a few white lies are a deal breaker.

ALSO, AGAIN, THIS IS NOT A SIGN. This cycles back to my story about always assuming the worst result. Please don't use this as some sort of confirmation of your deepest darkest fears. I genuinely believe that deities lying is a rare occurrence. In my ten-ish years of experience, I can count the number of times this has happened to me on one hand. Usually there's a more effective way to get things done than lying.

[justalittleb-witchy]

Digital Altars, and Other Hidden Altars

Digital altars are near and dear to my heart because they are something I used when I was in the broom closet, and they are just overall useful because of their portability.

Eons ago, there were apps specifically for this purpose-- I am unsure if they are still around. But the basic concept of a digital altar is that it is a space you create with the intention of worshiping-- or paying reverence to-- someone/something. What this typically looks like is a collection of things that remind you of them-- whether it be candles (gifs), pictures, videos, artwork, etc. If you snoop around Tumblr, you'll be able to find digital spaces dedicated to the worship of specific gods. It's essentially the same concept. Pintrest is also an excellent medium for this-- you can create pintrest boards dedicated to specific gods. Or if you are more of a music person, you could use a music platform to create playlists for them. Basically any "space" where you decide, "Hey, this is how I want to pay respect to and work with this entity" could be considered a digital altar, in my opinion.

They don't have to be fancy or fantastical-- they are for you and for the being that you are paying respect to. Do what works best for your practice.

Similarly, for real life altars, you don't need to have the stereotypical knicknacks on a table with an offering dish setup. An altar can be any space you dedicate to them-- which can be especially important for closeted witches or those with limited space. Are you a writer working with a god of creativity or writing? Why not keep a few things that remind you of them at your workstation? What if you worship a god of beauty? Why not keep things that remind you of them, or just generally hold space for them, in the area where you get ready?

An "altar" can be as simple as design choices you make, such as a sea-themed bathroom for an ocean god.

Pocket altars, often kept in small tins, are a great option for on-the-go worship. You can clean out a small container, and keep tiny things relevant to your worship in them, such as matches, shells, tea candles, pictures, crystals, etc.

Altars are not a requirement for worship, but they are nice. I don't want people to feel like they can't have them (if they want them) because of how or where they live. You're not "doing it wrong" if you are merely adapting your altar to how you live. I've never felt closer to my gods than I have when I started moving their "altars" to where I complete my daily tasks (that are relevant to their domains).

[justalittleb-witchy]

psa: if your magical “tool kit” doesn’t also include critical thinking skills and common sense, it’s useless.

[justalittleb-witchy]

What I am and what I do

As I continue to post on this blog, it'll probably be helpful for me to establish what I have experience with, and how much experience I have in general.

Overall, I have been practicing for a little over ten years. Here is an incomplete list of things I am interested in:

deity worship & work

divination

music witchcraft

warding

relationship workings

abundance workings

kitchen witchcraft

energy work

helping people with their practice, on occasion

[justalittleb-witchy]

I read your guidelines, and I think im ok!

I would like to know if I can transfer my precure energy to the new tapestry I got to help me work in the physical! (If my guides say no, can you ask how I use the ring to help me work in the physical as an irl precure? Thank you!)

cute kitty for your troubles :3

Thank you for the cat

I tried to look into what you might mean by precure, and if I found the right thing, it's something to do with a Magical Girl anime, correct? "Pretty Cure"? Pop-culture paganism/witchcraft is not part of my practice, though you might benefit from looking for sources specifically on that. Practitioners that work with that concept will be more helpful for you than I could be. An additional concept to look into would be the concept of "egregores", as it falls closely in line with other pop-culture practices, though it is not exclusive to those. This also seems like it may be an otherkin or therian thing, which is completely and utterly out of my wheelhouse.

For this reading, I used an oracle deck. The cards I pulled are "negative", but I want to be clear that the overall message itself did not feel negative, it felt like gentle encouragement. I have typed up the direct description from the deck's guidebook for the cards I pulled.

To begin with, the vibe/imagery of the reading: The deep sea, water. The sensation of being in the deep ocean, but not drowning.

Potential message: Try learning to work with water energy to get closer to your goals. 

First card: Shark (upright)— Fear

Direct description from the guidebook: The shark card represents the unknowns of life and the fear that they create. It is the fight or flight response that we feel when faced with something scary or unfamiliar. This beautiful yet terrifying prehistoric predator has often been associated by humans with danger, violence, and death; from lore and stories of the sea, to modern cinema. Yet, sharks are not dangerous to humans, with rare shark attacks being accidents of curiosity and confusion rather than attempted hunts. This card encourages you to respect your fears and seek understanding of them rather than letting the initial dread overwhelm you. This card advises us to look for the truth behind our fears and figure out what is real and what has been manifested by our trauma. Often we are more scared of the fin above the surface of the water or the dark shadowy depths beneath than we are of the sharks themselves. Only by facing our fears and trauma honestly can we begin to manifest true courage and heal ourselves. 

Turtle (reversed)— Peace

Direct description from the guidebook: Chaos can rise and imbalance may rear head. A calm sea can become tempest and can be difficult to navigate. You cannot solve everyone’s problems and it is not your responsibility to do so. Be wary of trying to play peacemaker to those around you if they will not listen to reason or if it is harmful to yourself. Know when to walk away.

Heard message: “Look into how to weave imagination into your practice. You don’t have to get rid of your imagination, you have to work with it. It will lead you down some unexpected paths and adventures, but be careful not to expend yourself too much.” (i.e. don't wear yourself out)

To kind of break this down, I think the biggest message would be to figure out why you want to do what you want to do, as well as what you specifically want to do. Try to find specific practices that align with what your goal is. For example, if you want to change your appearance, look into glamour witchcraft. It's not as glamorous as a magical girl transformation, but the theory behind it is that it lets you change how you are perceived in minor ways. You won't be able to make people think your eye color changed or something major like that, but you could influence people into finding your presence comforting. If you are interested in healing, you could look into things like Reiki. If you are interested in the weather, you could look into weather/storm witchcraft. Because you specifically asked about a tapestry, maybe look into cord witchcraft (https://magickalspot.com/knot-magic/). People often use creative skills as a way to manifest things. You could also look into enchantment magic, if you are looking to infuse energy/spells into things.

Additionally, in regards to the "consider why you want to do this", learn what escapism is and just generally be careful of it. There's also this kind of warning about taking care of yourself-- you do not have to be a hero. "You cannot solve everyone’s problems and it is not your responsibility to do so." There's a saying about sinking ships-- you can't rescue others when your boat is also sinking. Take care of yourself first and foremost, and recognize that others also have free will-- you don't have to be the hero that saves the day. constantly swooping in to save people. It's not healthy to do so. Being a helpful person is a good thing, but not if it comes at your own expense. Don't beat yourself up over things that aren't in your control, because that's a hell of a slippery slope to go down.

If you are interested in witchcraft specifically, it might help if you start by learning the basics before progressing-- things like meditation, grounding, centering, shielding/warding, and some form of divination that is available to you.

To summarize, your answer isn't "No", but rather its something like "Learn something similar to what you want to do, and go from there. It's easier to follow an established path, and then make it your own, that way that path can provide the bricks you'd need to build a unique road to where you want to go."

[justalittleb-witchy]

Free Reading Guidelines and Expectations

At my own discretion, I offer free tarot (or similar card) readings on this blog.

To begin with the classic legal disclaimer: These readings are for entertainment purposes only.

If you can pay for a reading, pay for a reading. Go to a professional reader-- some will read for as cheap as $5 on Etsy. I don't have any specific recommendations because the reader I used to go to closed their shop. I don't want to take business from people who do this professionally.

I neither need nor want personal information. Do not send me your name, birthdate, etc.

I read when I have the time and energy, which is not often, so expect a delay in receiving a response. Posts are scheduled far in advance, so they don't actually reflect when I'm at the computer. Generally, I have the most availability-- but the most need to recover-- on weekends.

I use and own a variety of decks, and use whatever I feel like in the moment, or whatever I feel is most appropriate. The deck used will switch up routinely-- sometimes in the middle of the reading. As such, I generally won't disclose what deck is being used unless it is directly important to the readings (because I am lazy). For these readings, sometimes I will reference non-tarot cards like "the Ox", alongside a description of its meaning.

Now, onto readings I will not do:

Readings without consent-- I will only do readings that are centered around the person requesting the reading. I will not divine on your friends, family members, crush, boss, etc. If you have divinatory wards, please remember to account for that before making a request, and until the request is fulfilled.

Deity confirmations-- this is not my forte. I couldn't tell Tim from Tom, unless I already knew Tim. If you want me to ask a deity (that we are both on good terms with) to participate in the reading, I will do so, and disclose whether or not I tried to contact them. It's up to them whether or not they respond.

NSFW readings-- This includes everything that would fall under that umbrella, including things people might not normally consider, like gore or violence. If its not safe for work, I'm not looking into it.

Relationship readings-- My policy on these is if you have to ask, you already know the answer. Additionally, I do not want to be responsible for someone staying in a toxic relationship, or responsible for them creating a toxic relationship based on mistrust. This rule applies to crushes, romantic relationships, friendships, etc.

Legal or Medical issues: I am not your doctor and I am not your lawyer. I do not want to steer you wrong.

Political readings: One, this is extremely too close to home for me. Two, I don't want to give someone false hope or despair. This is a matter of life and death for many people.

"General" readings and/or yes or no readings. The question does not need to be overly detailed (and it should not contain personal information), but do not outright ask for a general reading.

Specific card counts or method requests-- i.e. don't specifically ask for a 3 card reading, 5 card reading, etc. I read what I intuit I can.

Anything that will land me in hot water. If you're told you're not allowed to know something, don't come and ask me about it.

My intentions when offering these readings are to give people general advice and things to reflect upon. I am deeply uncomfortable with the idea of people making important decisions based on my insight. Take what resonates, leave what doesn't, and use them merely as a point of reflection when choosing what to do.

[justalittleb-witchy]

free readings open?

I could probably do a few, sure. I’ll try to write a modern post up with my disclaimers within the next few hours— there are things I will and will not read for. I have some extremely old guidelines somewhere on my blog that are still mostly applicable (they were written years ago, before I left this platform). One thing I will add to them is that I will not read for political situations, and I’ll add my reasons why in the aforementioned post later today.

[justalittleb-witchy]

Collective reading

Felt like doing a reading, just for fun. Take what resonates, leave what doesn't.

To start off, the image I saw/felt was: A yellow star with rounded edges. Very specifically with a rubber-like texture. Something pleasing to chew on. Probably something that would be nostalgic to the person, was possibly on some sort of necklace, like those chew stims people buy, but it doesn't feel like it was intended for that purpose.

Primary/most important card: Ace of pentacles

Description (some things are direct quotes from the deck's guidebook, others are things I added. Items in quotes are things I "heard".): Abundance, manifestation, prosperity, investments, impact. Ask and you shall receive

An upcoming opportunity, with the vibe of "A bird in your hand is worth two in the bush-- and you will have a bird in your hand." Personally valuable opportunity-- not as in monetary value, despite the card's suit, but as in "involving things you personally value, accomplishments and achievements." Ideas are brewing with potential and possibilities for the future, attracting new resources for a new venture. Use common sense. Other cards: (reversed) nine of swords, (upright)king of swords, (reversed) three of wands.

(reversed) nine of swords:

Heard: "Previous struggles"

Description: The upright meaning includes the phrase "a living nightmare, thinking about worst-case scenarios, scenarios playing over and over, anxiety, shadows. Acknowledge yourself", which feels important despite pulling the card in reverse. The parts of the reversed meaning that felt important are: "Managing your thoughts and emotions. Throughout your experiences, you've come to realize that everything will ultimately be okay. Anxiety will arise from time to time, and you will most certainly be faced with stressful situations, but you now have the tools to deal with them. It's easy to let your thoughts run away from you, but not if it is causing you unnecessary anxiety and worry. Separating yourself from your thoughts is a healthy choice to make"(obligatory: not in a dissociative way, but more in a "you don't need to give in to fear" way) "Let go of your ego's control" lowkey feels like ego death. And just live. "be you as you are" unapologetically. "Feel the spectrum of emotions, you have the tools to deal with them now."

Based on this, I feel like the upcoming opportunity may feel emotionally overwhelming, and/or that you may feel you don't deserve it. The type of misery/fear that causes you to curl up in a ball and dissociate a little.

(reversed)Three of wands:

Description: "Persistence", in terms of effort you put forth, feels like an important take away from the upright meaning. The reversed feels like its specifically your fears/what you fear regarding this.

-Poor planning

-obstacles

-frustrations

-blocks along the way/stepping stones that trip you and slow you down

-time wasted

-shaky foundations (probably related to the fear you don't deserve it, might be an education-level, experience-level, or intellect-based fear

Advice: "grand vision", "watch", "take tiny steps", "achieve"

Result: (upright)king of swords

Description: Put-together (eventually). The powerful/prideful feeling of wearing a suit (if that makes sense). "Dignity and authority" (Not as in leadership but as in experience and competence). "High" (pedestal? not sure what that word means out of context, doubt its referring to weed). "Thriving", "convincing", "strong". It feels like you should google the meaning of this card yourself for more personal oomph.

If this resonates and you were asking for a sign, hope it helps. If you weren't or it didn't resonate, some generic advice:

Most people feel incompetent at some point or another, but "no one gets things perfect on the first try" (hyperbolic-ly, I am sure some people do). Trying and learning are incredible skills to have, especially if you pick up on things quickly. When you're unsure about things, take a week to start learning it. Give yourself that week to be as bad at it as you need to be. If you still feel bad about it after that week and you don't want to continue, you've got free will and don't have to. You can even give up way before then. But if it doesn't make you miserable, its important to try and not immediately be cruel to yourself for trying. Everyone starts somewhere. Obviously you shouldn't be cruel to yourself in general, but sometimes giving yourself permission to be bad at something for x amount of time makes it less overwhelming to start doing/trying that thing. Disclaimer that a lot of skills, like art, take wayyyy more than a week. The week is just kind of to decide whether or not you like and can stomach the learning process, if that makes sense.

[justalittleb-witchy]

The perfect example of these principles came across my feed on a different social media site, so I am going to break it down.

First things first, the video contained the text (1)"This is a message for you" and (2)"if you've been drawn to all of the Hekate messages". (1) I am always immediately skeptical of, but (2) in this case is applicable.

Main theme of the video: Selling a necklace. The platform I was on heavily pushes any content that revolves around products. That is one of the primary things that should make me-- and any other person who sees it-- skeptical. It is fundamentally content that the algorithm loves, and it intersects with content I have expressed interest in (content about Hekate).

The creator then shared their personal connection to the necklace/to finding the necklace. They expressed that they were hesitant to get it, despite feeling called to it, because they felt like it didn't "belong" to them, i.e. was not part of their current practice.

The creator then described how they felt called by Hekate to share a kind of "If you feel called to this, then it is for you. People feel like they don't belong to this community, but they do"-type of message-- but they specifically mentioned women and nonbinary people. I am neither of those. I also do not have that insecurity. It is pretty clear that this message was not "for me" in this case, despite what the text asserted.

(Side note: It was really beautiful to hear how the original video's creator found a deity that they connected to. I am very happy for them and love hearing stories like that-- which is probably why the algorithm knew I would interact with that video.)

Thoughts on Collective Readings, and how to tell if it was "meant for you".

Social Media Algorithms

Not every tarot reading you will see is inherently meant for you-- even if they say something like "no hashtags, if this is meant to find you it will find you". Social media algorithms show you what they think you might be interested in-- and that's effected by what you are currently going though in life.

Think of how insanely targeted ads can get-- even if sometimes they are wrong. Think of how specific some platforms "for you", "explore", "home", etc. homepages can get. With this in mind-- was that reading really cosmically destined to find you, or are social media algorithms just doing what they do best--predicting what you might want to see, and predicting what you might want to interact with?

This is why certain kinds of readings-- usually with very positive or very negative interpretations, rarely with neutral interpretations-- blow up so quickly. It's why career, betrayal, and love readings get so popular/spread so far. It's why "like to claim"-esque readings get so popular-- they interact with the algorithm in a way that says "hey, this content is popular, push it as far as it will go. The people who see this content make the effort to interact with it, which must mean it is good and will keep people engaged".

Now that that's covered, how can you tell if a reading is really

meant for you?

Well, you might not like the answer. The best answer is discernment/intuition. The inherent knowledge, the deep feeling, "yes, this is meant for me."

But if you are a newer witch, or someone who doesn't have strong intuition, this answer is absolutely unhelpful. Generally, people who rely on collective readings probably don't have the ability to read for themselves. Or they don't have confidence in their own abilities.

So, if that's the case, what can you do?

Some short term solutions are:

Look for key words and phrases

Look for signs and symbols that are specific to you. Sometimes, some people who do collective readings will include a list of hyper-specific things like "Yellow rainboots after recent rainfall" or "Ripe plums from an orchard"-- this is fairly rare though, and for a good reason. It's difficult and rare to be gifted enough to be able to pull out specific images like that. Usually, people will use much more general "signs" like angel numbers or zodiac signs-- which, personally I am skeptical of, because it is general enough to apply to most of the population... especially when a reader lists over half the zodiac as being who the reading is "meant for".

Basically, the more general the sign is, the more skeptical of it I would be-- unless it is something very near and dear to you. Something general like "111" is something common to see in passing-- but if it is somehow deeply important to you, like you've seen that number during every important life event-- then yeah, maybe it is a sign.

As for key phrases, maybe the reading is a normal, general reading. Nothing remarkable-- and then, the reader says a specific phrase. Something that you've been seeing/hearing everywhere, including under odd circumstances. Maybe you saw it on a billboard, heard in on a radio, had a family member say it, etc.-- the phrase has basically been haunting you. And then here this general reading is-- repeating the same concept. Maybe it is a sign.

Don't be afraid to ask for clarification

If you feel like something might have been meant for you, and you would like to know more, you have options.

Perform a reading for yourself

Hire someone to do a reading specifically for you

If you worship deities, pray to them and ask for clarification (same concept can also apply to ancestors, spirits you work with, "the universe" as a concept, etc.)

Set the intention that if this is a sign FOR YOU, you will see it again. (But keep in mind how social media algorithms work-- you'll probably see similar concepts in the future. Look for repeated messages outside of social media platforms, as much as you might keep a skeptical eye out for similar readings on the same platform)

Keep an eye on the details

Do the details closely match your life? Does it line up with a likely occurrence? Can you rule out the possibility that it's just "what you want to hear"?

Ex) (almost) everyone wants to hear that they'll suddenly and effortlessly come into abundance. It's very easy to convince yourself that this good thing-- or misfortune-- is meant for you because it is either something you want to happen or something that you dread happening.

Another great example are the "You'll leave a terrible job for better opportunities"-- How many hundreds upon thousands of people leave their job every day? If you weren't already actively planning & working towards leaving your job... its just wishful thinking. That reading was probably not meant for you.

Long Term Solutions

Work towards developing your intuition and your own method of divination. Remember: There are way more divinatory tools and practices out there than just tarot cards (or other common methods). Don't feel like you have to take the common path if it is not something that resonates with you. Some readers offer readings specific to what forms of divination you might excel at-- that's one place to start (but is entirely unnecessary. You can find that information for yourself, so don't feel like you need to do this. This is just one of many options.)

As for the folks who can read for themselves, but lack confidence-- find a way to build that confidence up. Something that works for some people is doing daily/weekly/monthly readings. Maybe you could do readings for your friends. Or specifically practice with your deities/ancestors/spirit guides/etc. Hell, you can even ask them directly to help you build your confidence in this matter. Maybe they'll send you signs more often, or something similar, so that you can practice.

"Take What Resonates, Leave What Doesn't."

You'll hear this phrase semi-often when it comes to collective readings. The core concept of it is, "not everything that finds you is meant for you, and sometimes only part of the reading is meant for you." This is often where intuition comes into play, but you can also just think it through.

I am a stupidly easy example of this. I enjoy watching/reading collective readings from time to time. Sometimes part of the reading will resonate, but then it will go into ye old "A new romantic relationship is on the horizon" territory. And here is the thing... I am extremely aromantic. A "romantic relationship" for me is as likely as growing wings-- I am sure it'd be nice, but it's not going to happen. So, if anything comes across your feed with that level of "yeah, no" that part of the reading would logically not be for you. "Take what resonates, leave what doesn't."

Your intuition-- or signs, symbols, etc.-- may lead you to listen to part of a reading. Doesn't mean that the whole thing has to be for you, and does not mean that you need to act on it. As always, you have free will. You can do what you wish, and it's not some rando's job to dictate how you live your life. Be sensible, and be sane, and don't quit a stable job because some random reader says you'll win the lottery tomorrow.

[justalittleb-witchy]

Thoughts on Collective Readings, and how to tell if it was "meant for you".

Social Media Algorithms

Not every tarot reading you will see is inherently meant for you-- even if they say something like "no hashtags, if this is meant to find you it will find you". Social media algorithms show you what they think you might be interested in-- and that's effected by what you are currently going though in life.

Think of how insanely targeted ads can get-- even if sometimes they are wrong. Think of how specific some platforms "for you", "explore", "home", etc. homepages can get. With this in mind-- was that reading really cosmically destined to find you, or are social media algorithms just doing what they do best--predicting what you might want to see, and predicting what you might want to interact with?

This is why certain kinds of readings-- usually with very positive or very negative interpretations, rarely with neutral interpretations-- blow up so quickly. It's why career, betrayal, and love readings get so popular/spread so far. It's why "like to claim"-esque readings get so popular-- they interact with the algorithm in a way that says "hey, this content is popular, push it as far as it will go. The people who see this content make the effort to interact with it, which must mean it is good and will keep people engaged".

Now that that's covered, how can you tell if a reading is really

meant for you?

Well, you might not like the answer. The best answer is discernment/intuition. The inherent knowledge, the deep feeling, "yes, this is meant for me."

But if you are a newer witch, or someone who doesn't have strong intuition, this answer is absolutely unhelpful. Generally, people who rely on collective readings probably don't have the ability to read for themselves. Or they don't have confidence in their own abilities.

So, if that's the case, what can you do?

Some short term solutions are:

Look for key words and phrases

Look for signs and symbols that are specific to you. Sometimes, some people who do collective readings will include a list of hyper-specific things like "Yellow rainboots after recent rainfall" or "Ripe plums from an orchard"-- this is fairly rare though, and for a good reason. It's difficult and rare to be gifted enough to be able to pull out specific images like that. Usually, people will use much more general "signs" like angel numbers or zodiac signs-- which, personally I am skeptical of, because it is general enough to apply to most of the population... especially when a reader lists over half the zodiac as being who the reading is "meant for".

Basically, the more general the sign is, the more skeptical of it I would be-- unless it is something very near and dear to you. Something general like "111" is something common to see in passing-- but if it is somehow deeply important to you, like you've seen that number during every important life event-- then yeah, maybe it is a sign.

As for key phrases, maybe the reading is a normal, general reading. Nothing remarkable-- and then, the reader says a specific phrase. Something that you've been seeing/hearing everywhere, including under odd circumstances. Maybe you saw it on a billboard, heard in on a radio, had a family member say it, etc.-- the phrase has basically been haunting you. And then here this general reading is-- repeating the same concept. Maybe it is a sign.

Don't be afraid to ask for clarification

If you feel like something might have been meant for you, and you would like to know more, you have options.

Perform a reading for yourself

Hire someone to do a reading specifically for you

If you worship deities, pray to them and ask for clarification (same concept can also apply to ancestors, spirits you work with, "the universe" as a concept, etc.)

Set the intention that if this is a sign FOR YOU, you will see it again. (But keep in mind how social media algorithms work-- you'll probably see similar concepts in the future. Look for repeated messages outside of social media platforms, as much as you might keep a skeptical eye out for similar readings on the same platform)

Keep an eye on the details

Do the details closely match your life? Does it line up with a likely occurrence? Can you rule out the possibility that it's just "what you want to hear"?

Ex) (almost) everyone wants to hear that they'll suddenly and effortlessly come into abundance. It's very easy to convince yourself that this good thing-- or misfortune-- is meant for you because it is either something you want to happen or something that you dread happening.

Another great example are the "You'll leave a terrible job for better opportunities"-- How many hundreds upon thousands of people leave their job every day? If you weren't already actively planning & working towards leaving your job... its just wishful thinking. That reading was probably not meant for you.

Long Term Solutions

Work towards developing your intuition and your own method of divination. Remember: There are way more divinatory tools and practices out there than just tarot cards (or other common methods). Don't feel like you have to take the common path if it is not something that resonates with you. Some readers offer readings specific to what forms of divination you might excel at-- that's one place to start (but is entirely unnecessary. You can find that information for yourself, so don't feel like you need to do this. This is just one of many options.)

As for the folks who can read for themselves, but lack confidence-- find a way to build that confidence up. Something that works for some people is doing daily/weekly/monthly readings. Maybe you could do readings for your friends. Or specifically practice with your deities/ancestors/spirit guides/etc. Hell, you can even ask them directly to help you build your confidence in this matter. Maybe they'll send you signs more often, or something similar, so that you can practice.

"Take What Resonates, Leave What Doesn't."

You'll hear this phrase semi-often when it comes to collective readings. The core concept of it is, "not everything that finds you is meant for you, and sometimes only part of the reading is meant for you." This is often where intuition comes into play, but you can also just think it through.

I am a stupidly easy example of this. I enjoy watching/reading collective readings from time to time. Sometimes part of the reading will resonate, but then it will go into ye old "A new romantic relationship is on the horizon" territory. And here is the thing... I am extremely aromantic. A "romantic relationship" for me is as likely as growing wings-- I am sure it'd be nice, but it's not going to happen. So, if anything comes across your feed with that level of "yeah, no" that part of the reading would logically not be for you. "Take what resonates, leave what doesn't."

Your intuition-- or signs, symbols, etc.-- may lead you to listen to part of a reading. Doesn't mean that the whole thing has to be for you, and does not mean that you need to act on it. As always, you have free will. You can do what you wish, and it's not some rando's job to dictate how you live your life. Be sensible, and be sane, and don't quit a stable job because some random reader says you'll win the lottery tomorrow.

[justalittleb-witchy]

Name/Reputation Ward Ideas

An expansion on warding 101

Disclaimer: Please skip this post if you are prone to interpersonal/relationship-based paranoia.

When most people consider warding, they think of basic protection-- keeping bad energy out and warding off harm. Reputation wards take a slightly different approach than most other wards-- they primarily ward off the mundane, not the magical. They provide a way to deal with things that might affect your reputation, such as slander or gossip. They are an excellent candidate for transmutative magic.

Here are some examples of things you might want to ward against/for, based on your situation:

Slander/defamation-- a false statement that causes harm to one's reputation. Someone might lie to your friends, family members, or boss for their own gain. How could you turn this situation in your favor?

Secret sharing-- Can you trust the people you divulge your secrets to? Are there consequences if they break your trust?

Personal judgement-- Are you good at reading people? Or do you consistently get swindled because you see the best in everyone?

Betrayal/cheating

Misunderstandings

Outside/internal perception-- How do other people view you? Does this affect how you see yourself?

Financial opportunities/misfortune-- sometimes our reputations can cause us to gain or lose opportunities.

Self-esteem-- How do you view yourself?

Transmutative Magic

To circle back to this point, reputation is an excellent thing to transmute. Someone wants to slander you? Take that energy and mold it into an opportunity for yourself. Here are examples of real world applications (1 & 2 are based on real stories, 3 is made up):

Example 1:

Person A decides to ward their reputation against slander and harm. By using different ingredients/techniques, they set the intention of twisting all slander into something that favors them and makes the slanderer look bad. Person A's new coworker, Person B, does not like the way Person A has been training them. They feel like Person A has been too strict. Person B goes to complain to Person A's boss... about Person A doing their job. Person B fails to frame Person A as the bad guy, and makes it clear that Person A was just doing what they were supposed to do without cutting corners. Person B is reprimanded by the boss, while the boss gains a more positive perception of Person A.

Example 2:

Person C sets a ward so that every time their name is used-- good, bad, or otherwise-- they receive a financial blessing. Suddenly, people are using their name more often, in situations where it would not normally be used. Random opportunities pop up for Person C to work overtime, leading to larger paychecks. Situations where people Use Person C's name with the intention to cause harm and neutralized and transformed into financial opportunities for Person C.

Example 3:

Person D has terrible self-esteem issues. Alongside mundane solutions, Person D decides to ward against self-depreciating thoughts to lessen their impact. Person D then transforms those thoughts into complements from others, because external validation is important to them and helps regulate their own internal dialogue.

A non-transmutative example, Example 4:

Person E feels like they don't have the best inter-personal judgement. They routinely trust the "wrong" people. They set up wards with little "tells" for when they have been triggered-- such as specific phrases being used. Person E meets someone new-- Person F-- in a hobby group they attend. Everything seems to be going well, but then Person F says a very specific phrase, which would not normally come up during a conversation-- specifically, Person E's ward's phrase. Person F asks for Person E's number, but to be cautious, Person E gives something less identifying/traceable, like an email or discord. Mundane over magical, Person E doesn't immediately write off Person F, but still acts with caution. In this case, the wards truly did work, as Person F gets increasingly pushy and disrespects Person E's boundaries. Because Person E acted cautiously, they were able to block and avoid Person F more easily.

A non-transmutative example, Example 5:

Person G sets a ward so that if someone divulges Person G's secrets, no one will believe them. The information will get scrambled and will sound like nonsense, because the person non-consensually sharing the secrets cannot get the information right, or cannot accurately recall the secret.