ofswordsandcups

[ofswordsandcups]

Popping into a space I don’t usually occupy on my blog to remind yall that tarot readings need PREPARATION. You need to focus inwards and connect with your energy before doing a reading. You can’t just whip out random cards and hope for the best. Especially if you’re doing a reading because you’re struggling. You’ll probably end up feeling worse. Getting overstimulated by a reading because “it doesn’t make sense” then panicking is very avoidable. It doesn’t make sense because YOU DIDN’T PREPARE AT ALL. It is meaningless.

[ofswordsandcups]

Reminder that intentions are important in spellwork! A generic intention won't give you exactly what you desire. Be sure to be specific about what you want from your spells! 🌱

[ofswordsandcups]

show me your favorite deck?

i'm in the mood for a new deck and would love any suggestions you may have! I study the Rider-Waite-Smith system, but I'm open to any Marseille/Thoth deck too :)

[ofswordsandcups]

the intersection of divination and unintentional spirit contact

Generally I'd say, no - divination (tarot cards, spirit/"ouija" boards, black mirrors, crystal balls, etc etc) in and of itself does not automatically conjure or evoke spirits.

If a spirit is already not in the space where you're performing divination, an act of divination will not spontaneously make spirits appear.

That being said, I have experienced and seen others experience increases in spiritual contact, activity, and awareness after "getting into" divination.

My goal in this post isn't to try to make people fearful of divination (which they should not be) but to try and highlight some of the nuances I've experienced at the intersection of divination and unintentional spirit contact.

Generally, we can divide these experiences into two categories.

There's a specific spirit who is already around, and they'd love an opportunity to chat, and,

"Hey spirit chums, isn't it neat that there's a new practitioner in town who's developing a consistent practice? Let's go over next time divination is open and say hi!"

You'll notice a distinct lack of a third category, "the demons you learned about in your nondenominational Protestant Sunday shool spontaneously appear and your house will one day be featured in a string of Amityville spinoffs."

Of course, not all divination occurs in unintended spirit contact. I'd hazard that a minority of all divinatory attempts end up this way.

So, what kind of specific spirits might already be around, wanting to chat?

I believe (and I'm not so unique in this belief) that spirits are just around us and within things, all the time. A person may have spirits in their home and yard; have spirits attached to family heirlooms; be watched over by ancestors, guides, angels, or protectors; or, in the case of many Seekers, have obtained the attention of various gods or other allies.

When a reader shuffles their tarot cards with the intent to access information they would not be able to have if not for magic, we can conceptualize that the reader is opening a little window and peering into the beyond. If spirits are "beyond," and wandering past the window, they have the ability to wave back and say howdy.

Sometimes - and, in my experience, rarely - these spirits will jut in and "take over" a reading in order to deliver some important message.

Much more often, spirits who push their way into a reading don't have anything important to say at all. They're not there because they're big, powerful, important, or relevant - they're there because it's something to do.

Many random spirits who are already around and like to show up to readings are just curious, don't particularly care about you, and are happy to be very weaselly if it means they get more attention from you. These spirits may be thrilled to claim that they are powerful demons, top-tier angels, faerie kings, your hitherto-unknown familiar spirit, and so forth.

A major giveaway is that they will often not reveal this identity until you specifically ask them if they are a faerie king, or whatever, and they'll agree that they are because to them this is Omegle and it's fun to have you on the hook.

These spirits are easy to get rid of, because they have exactly as much power over you during and after a reading as they had before the reading - which is to say, zero.

If these spirits are already not affecting your life, they will continue to not affect it once the reading is over. The fact that a reading occurred does not "magically" give them power or influence over you.

And again - while a reader worth their salt can intentionally petition helper spirits and ask to receive messages, it is pretty dang uncommon for a person's guides to force their ways into readings. More likely than not, you're dealing with some rando.

Now, all that being said - from time to time, various spirits demand attention and will use a reading as an excuse to get that attention. In my experience, this is a problem often experienced by people who are specifically spirit workers (although it can happen to others).

In circumstances like these, it's not a random curious spirit who's taking the opportunity to chat, nor is it a guide giving advice. Rather, a spirit has figured out that someone nearby can hear it, and it would like to engage your services.

It's not unheard of for a spirit worker (or very spiritually sensitive person) to take home a unique little trinket from the thrift shop, something that just catches their eye, something that makes them feel ways about things, and ignore it, and ignore it, and ignore it...

Until they open up the spirit board to try and do a meditation on the meanings of the runes, and the thrift shop spirit barges in and demands a proper shrine and maybe an offering every now and then.

Again, this isn't summoning, or conjuring, or whatever. The act of divination didn't cause the spirit to appear - it just created an opportunity for a spirit to speak.

The solution to getting rid of such a spirit is often to help it out, or respectfully remove it from the premises, or so on. That's spirit working stuff, and not a facet of divination.

But, what about people who experience an increase in general spiritual activity after readings?

Well, it's a bit like buying a new house and becoming very active in the neighborhood. The neighbors take notice of you. That attention doesn't stop the second the cookout ends and you go back inside.

I'm much less inclined to believe that divination alone will cause you to be an active member in your spiritual neighborhood. But many diviners are witches, pagans, or practitioners. They're not just reading cards, but also practicing spells, praying to gods, and modifying their own spiritual environment.

A witch who is attempting meditations to find their spirit guides, experimenting with full moon rituals, casting spells, and trying to take care of their local environment, should not really be that surprised if spirits start showing up wanting to hang out.

It doesn't mean that witch has special spirit-drawing powers (sorry), and it doesn't mean the runes you bought off Etsy are summoning demons - it means you're integrating with the spiritual reality around you.

Of course, people who don't desire random spirit contact don't have to just deal with it. There is a big difference between throwing a neighborhood bbq where anyone is invited, and having a private cookout for friends in the yard.

Spirits, by and large, often don't bother people who don't want to be bothered. Hang a big no solicitors sign on your spiritual house, and a lot of spirits just won't bother.

Again, I doubt that just reading tarot (even if you do it a lot) is going to suddenly inspire tons of spiritual contact. A lot of people work very hard to get spirits to talk to them. It's usually not as easy as coming into contact with spiritual tools.

Even direct divination that actively seeks contact with spirits (like, trying to channel someone's ancestors for them) often does not bring the spirit into the space - it's more like a two-way phone call. It doesn't actually bring the spirit to where you are and then set it loose.

Anyway. Unintended spirit contact while using divinatory tools does happen, but it's... usually not a big deal. It's often the equivalent of someone walking past your picnic at the park and saying, "some weather we're having!"

And in the random instances I've encountered where the spirit contact is actually a Situation, nine times out of ten, the spirit just wants a spirit worker to help them with someone so they can get on with their life.

[ofswordsandcups]

[ofswordsandcups]

Want Instant Good Luck? 🐰✨ Reblog This Lucky Rabbit for Positive Vibes!

Why This Cute Rabbit Could Bring You Luck - And How to Get It! 🐰🍀

Did you know that rabbits are considered symbols of good luck? 🐰🍀 Their association with luck comes from their prolific breeding and the belief that their quick movements and soft fur bring positive energy. Plus, in many cultures, rabbits are seen as symbols of prosperity and renewal.

Want to invite some luck into your life? Follow me, like this post, and reblog to share the good vibes with the cute rabbit! 🌟✨ Let’s spread some luck and positivity together! 🌈💖

[ofswordsandcups]

Tarot Card Associations for Hellenic Deities

Fool - Dionysus, Hermes, Pan, Ate, Gelos, Momus, Horme

Magician - Hephaestus, Hermes, Hecate, Aristeaus, Circe, the Muses, Apollo

High Priestess - Hecate, Persephone, Hera, Circe

Empress - Hera, Aphrodite, Demeter, Hestia, Gaia, Rhea

Emperor - Zeus, Hades, Poseidon, Ares

Hierophant - Demeter, Persephone, Hecate, Hestia, Hera, Gaia, Rhea

Lovers - Aphrodite, Eros, Dionysus, Adonis, Hera, Philotes

Chariot - Hermes, Charon, Iris, Morpheus

Strength - Athena, Ares, Heracles, Nike, Bia, Kratos, 

Hermit - Hades, Hestia

Wheel of Fortune - Hermes, Tyche, the Fates, Zeus

Justice - Athena, Themis, Nemesis, Astraea, Apollo

Hanged Man - Hermes, Harpocrates, Prometheus, Psyche 

Death - Hades, Thanatos, Dionysus, Charon, Persephone, Ares

Temperance - Athena, Demeter, Artemis, Harmonia

Devil - Dionysus, Pan, Comus, Ate, Priapus

Tower - Ares, Poseidon, Deimos, Phobos, Eris, Moros, Enyo, Hybris

Star - Aphrodite, Artemis, Astraea, Urania, Hermes, Eos, Hesperus

Moon - Selene, Artemis, Hecate, Nyx, Hypnos, Erebus

Sun - Apollo, Helios, Hemera, Hyperion 

Judgment - Zeus, hades, Athena

World - Hermes, Demeter, Gaia, Hestia, Harmonia, Pan, Tyche

[ofswordsandcups]

The beauty of divination

[ofswordsandcups]

Two of Wands and Eight of Pentacles

It's so much fun to think about it, and then so much work to actually make it happen.

[ofswordsandcups]

[ofswordsandcups]

[ofswordsandcups]

how do you usually prepare before a reading?

hi Anon, thank you for the question!

As I have accumulated a number of decks over the years, I usually begin with choosing the deck or decks that I will be working with for the reading. I make sure that the space I'm conducting my reading on is free of clutter, that I have the intention/s for the reading in order, and that I have my beverage of choice within reach (usually plain water -- but sometimes I also allow myself a refreshing lemon water or milk tea). Once I have those in front of me, I do a grounding meditation (usually I hold or keep the decks near me for this). When that's finished, I say a prayer and begin the reading.

Nothing too fancy. I know some readers might cast a physical salt circle, but I have cats with me at home who are more than likely to smudge the salt around anyway. Before I had them, however, I also tended to have an incense or candle lit while doing the meditation and the reading. I hope this helps! Feel free to send me any other questions you might have about tarot or reading it, and I'll do my best to answer :)

[ofswordsandcups]

[ofswordsandcups]

I'm still getting reading requests for some reason following this post.

again, READINGS ARE NOW CLOSED!

the above picture is clearly stated in my post about free readings, yet I'm still yet to receive a single feedback for any of those I done. I've decided that until I do, free readings are on indefinite pause (including the ones already in my Asks) :)

thanks everybody! hope Halloween was lovely for y'all <3

[ofswordsandcups]

the abundant Universe always provides~

it's always so incredible how when you trust the Universe to handle it, it works out.

Yesterday, I decided to buy my mama a luggage for her upcoming trip even if it would put me in a bit of a bind. Later in the day, I got some cash that basically covered the recent expense and then some. My mama was worried yesterday about a money situation, but suddenly received a message today that she was getting some money back from a previous honoraria.

You're so so so good, Universe. Thank you and grateful for all you do, always. <3

[ofswordsandcups]

Popping into a space I don’t usually occupy on my blog to remind yall that tarot readings need PREPARATION. You need to focus inwards and connect with your energy before doing a reading. You can’t just whip out random cards and hope for the best. Especially if you’re doing a reading because you’re struggling. You’ll probably end up feeling worse. Getting overstimulated by a reading because “it doesn’t make sense” then panicking is very avoidable. It doesn’t make sense because YOU DIDN’T PREPARE AT ALL. It is meaningless.

[ofswordsandcups]

the above picture is clearly stated in my post about free readings, yet I'm still yet to receive a single feedback for any of those I done. I've decided that until I do, free readings are on indefinite pause (including the ones already in my Asks) :)

thanks everybody! hope Halloween was lovely for y'all <3