#Mermaid Tarot review

[non-plutonian-druid]

✨ Fic Writing Review 2023 ✨

thanks for the tag @littlerit!!!

Words and fics

I posted a tua oneshot Grace Through The Doorway In Time

and thats it!

ok rit i know you did say i should adjust it for art, i just thought it would be funny to do that first.

✨ Art Making Review 2023 ✨

Posted Art oh god

I kicked off the year by drawing Five and Lila in silly outfit submissions [1] [2] [3]

Delores as a mermaid in a crumbling ruin

Lemony Snicket au - Ben tied up in a closet

Redraw of a S3 promo poster

Five and Lila in that bathtub phone call x files scene

Tarot series - Death

Paranatural au - [1] [2] [3] [4]

Celebratory aroace Barbie

Comic fanart for alephnaught's fic Theory of Quantum Superposition

Five definitely just murdered someone with a chainsaw

Tarot Series bonus - Ten of Swords

Tarot Series - Judgement

Five and Lila run into each other for 0.2 seconds at the Commission water cooler

Baby Azula Mai and Ty Lee as centaurs

TUA centaur au - [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]

Girl being abducted by a kelpie WIP

The Ben dying drawing that tumblr ate for some reason

Lemony Snicket au - the comic

OTGW au - Fei and Sloane

trick or treat WIPS: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [12] [13]

Voltron Gravity Falls au comic

OTGW au - Diego and Ben hide from Five

Paranatural au round 2 - [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

Top Art By Notes

(probably the closest parallel to kudos is likes, but trying to figure that out feels hard)

s3 promo poster redraw - 840 notes

Death tarot card - 319 notes

bathtub x files scene - 273 notes

the first paranatural au post - 242 notes

Theory of Quantum Superposition fanart comic - 239 notes

Fandom Events 2023

@tua-masked-author !!!

Upcoming 2024

i joined the murderbot diaries new years gift exchange! so ill be making a gift for that!

i have an installment of the lemony snicket au that i think i finished like two years ago and never posted. i should proooobably post it

also, i did just finish a different installment of the lemony snicket au that yall can look forward to!

im either done or almost done with another short paranatural au comic

i will try to finish the tarot series. or failing that. ill try to at least make additions to it

im working on a post with regular canon five (doing this made me realize its been a MINUTE since i posted art of regular canon five. ive abandoned my boy) playing with mr pennycrumb

i have Another finished thing but im waiting for something else to be posted first. i dont actually have to, i just want to outsource having to write context

Rules and tags below the cut!

Rules: Feel free to show whatever stats you have. Only want to show Ao3 stats? Rock on. Want to include some quantitative info instead of stats? Please do this. Want to change how yours is presented? Absolutely do that. Would rather eat glass than do this? Please don’t eat glass, just keep on scrolling.

i dont know how many people I'm supposed to tag but! @destinyandcoins @darbydoo22 @ford-ye-fiji @grammarpedant @blessphemy trying to mind palace all the people i know on discord, who write fic, what their ao3 username is to triple check they posted this year, and what their tumblr url is... (and also if any of you dont like these kinds of games, sorry, thats my bad!!)

lmao also i fucked up all the formatting for you guys, this is what these are supposed to look like

[fizzingwizard]

Mixed feelings about Life & Death (based on the early access reviews)

It does seem like a decent pack. I'm torn on how "necessary" the new gameplay is. It's definitely more robust than what we had before, like the improvements we got with Lovestruck, Growing Together, Wedding Stories. But, also like those packs, it's limited by Sims 4 game mechanics and so is probably just a lot of repetitive actions and simple, easily achievable goals. And I will bet money it'll be prone to bugs too.

I do really like ghosts being an official occult. I think that's gonna be great. You can have a full supernatural storyline now, with vampires and werewolves and ghosts... And I'm excited for tarot reading. Really wish it were a slightly bigger deal than it seems to be - but if you play as a spellcaster with both rator and the crystals from Crystal Creations (and hell, why not also herbalism from Outdoor Retreat?), you can be a really well-rounded witch.

That being said, although there is lore about a Vampire/Werewolf rivalry in Werewolves, it's not something that really makes an impact. I wish for more crosspack stuff among occults, definitely including spellcasters, which are my personal fav.

For me personally, I'm not sure how much use I'll get out of this pack. My sims are basically immortal. When I do let sims age or die, I don't really want to commit to playing with them longer. Basically I don't kill my favs haha. I probably will make a family to do that with so I can play with the pack, but if I'd still want to do it after that one time Idk. So I've been on the fence about buying it for that reason. I think I will, because hey, I skipped Lovestruck, and I do want the ghosts and the tarot cards and the pet crow and the new world etc. But yeah this really isn't a pack aimed at people who play the way I do. I think it'll be great for players who do like doing legacies and stuff though.

The new CAS ghostly overlays look pretty cool too. I want a ghost Sim just so I can give them bony hands.

On that note, it's definitely more fun to be a bad guy as any of the occults. (Except Mermaid bc I don't think there's a particular way to be an evil mermaid?) It's actually annoying, because for example, good Spellcasters can only do dumb things like wash dishes and grow flowers with their magic (at least on the daily), so they're not fun and they've got this whole menu of spells that they just never can use because it's "bad magic." Even though "bad magic" isn't even part of the game! The magic categories are Practical, and Mischief, Untamed, none of which must be overtly evil. But even if you cast fire to melt a sim who's frozen into an ice cube and is moments before death, all the Sims around you will react negatively and your reputation will take a hit. So it's bad magic. Which is stupid.

got side tracked but the point was it's fun to be bad, so I think I'll make a household of villains: evil ghost, evil spellcaster, etc. I've done it before but I don't remember why I stopped... Maybe it was the lack of reaction from other Sims back then. I think it'll be more fun this time.

[knightofhylia]

FREE READING SLOTS

I divinated to figure out what to do for a spread! I got the Reverse Hanged Man and Justice. This is not for a game, this is for actual advice. This month's spread is...

Cut the Noose - 2 Cards

The Rope (the attachment,what is slowly killing you, what is holding you back, what is keeping you from going forward)

Cut Here (the painful action to free you, painful truth, hurt before healing)

This month's deck is...

a duet of The Wizard Tarot and The Alleyman's Tarot!

I felt called to do a two deck reading, as the Wizard tarot does not have a guidebook. I wanted to know more of the personality of the deck than what RWS interpretations had to offer me, so I added in The Alleyman's deck, who is home to all the Gods. These two decks are interconnected, as I already had a card from the Wizard tarot before I got the deck. Alleyman's tarot included a card from this deck, so I have swapped the two cards (luckily they are the same size!!). So the Alley's card is in the Wizard's, and vice versa. I'm hoping this brings more of conversation to the cards!

Unsure about getting a reading from me? Check out my reviews! Past readings tag

HOW TO GET A SLOT?

Send a mermaid emoji to my ask box 🧜🏻‍♀️(any type will do)! If on anon I would appreciate some info ( something like initials/zodiac sign/etc etc) will help me discern the asks from each other <]:^)! Feel free to request a reading every slot opening!

I will reply with your reading. If you want it private, add an * somewhere in the ask! I cannot do anon messages private, sorry you put on blast for the whole blogs to see.

I WILL CLOSE THE ASK BOX AFTER 3+ READINGS. It will reopen after I catch up. Turn around will be delayed due to the holidays :/

Check out my partners reading slots as well!

THIS READING CYCLE ENDS FEB 10TH

NOTE: ANY LEFTOVER READINGS FROM THE PREVIOUS READING CYCLE WILL BE DONE FIRST!!

[danaiwrites]

Welcome to my chaotic Tumblr!

I thought it was about time to do a proper intro post. Hi, I’m Danai, an SFF & Romance author (among other things). I write queer, mythpunk stories based on my heritage and my experiences living abroad as a queer, neurodivergent femme, and a journalist.

I'm repped by Lauren Bieker of FinePrint Literary and I’m currently on sub with three books: a timey-wimey Greek myth reimagining, a near future sci-fi thriller, and a sapphic YA fantasy steeped in Greek myth #CursedTheDeer

In 2022, I started writing and submitting short stories. Some of them have been published, and are available to read, if you like: -An urban fantasy story about memory, music and murderous mermaids in khoreo -A hope-punk cli-fi about saving the seeds of the future in Flourish Fiction

-A weirdly personal sci fi fantasy about a Wiccan priestess on an exoplanet in Haven Spec

-A sci-fi Medusa retelling in Etherea Magazine

When not working on my fiction, I'm a submissions editor for Uncanny Magazine, a columnist for Marie Claire Greece, a freelance line/dev editor, and a proofreader for khoreo magazine. I'm also interning at Tobias Literary Agency.

But mostly, I'm a butler for cats, chickens and any other animals that come my way. I live on a farm in Sweden with my partner and a flock of fury, feathered beasts.

Want to keep in touch and not miss any writing updates? I have a newsletter you can sign up to:

[rhetoricandlogic]

‘Our Share of Night’ is a masterpiece of supernatural horror

Mariana Enriquez’s novel, her first published in English, uses otherworldly elements to consider Argentina’s violent history

Review by Hamilton Cain

February 5, 2023 at 8:00 a.m. EST

As political partisanship boiled over in the aughts, showrunner Alan Ball rolled out HBO’s “True Blood,” adapting Charlaine Harris’s pulp series about a coven of vampires — and the humans who love them — for the small screen, tapping horror tropes to plumb deeper truths surrounding xenophobia and desire. Excessive gore, spiritual angst, sexy bodies: They were all there for the audience, no holds barred. Moody yet hilarious, the show won an Emmy and a Golden Globe.

I frequently thought of “True Blood” as I read Mariana Enriquez’s masterpiece of genre mash-up, “Our Share of Night,” the Argentine writer’s first novel published in English. Lauded for her short fiction, Enriquez here slathers on supernatural conceits: How better to respond to that country’s violent history than with a shadowy sect teeming with wraiths and demons, a haunted house, a dynastic family that would sacrifice its own to maintain power? Make no mistake, though: “Our Share of Night” is a literary achievement, gorgeous and exacting in its execution.

Tall, blond and 30-something, Juan Peterson resides with his only child, Gaspar, in a spooky Buenos Aires mansion. “Our Share of Night” opens in January 1981, as the persecution of citizens has ebbed. Both man and boy are grieving the accidental death of Rosario, wife, mother and daughter of Mercedes, the stone-cold matriarch who shepherds a mystical, murderous cult known as the Order.

Born with a severe heart defect, Juan’s living on borrowed time. He’s volatile and sexually omnivorous, seducing everyone in his path, such as Rosario’s empathic half sister, Tali; his best friend, Stephen; and casual hookups. He’s also the sole medium between the Order and its deity, a ravenous Darkness that feeds on Argentines much as the fascistic government did in the 1970s. The cult has amassed a fortune, and Juan is a pawn in its game.

At the height of summer, he drives Gaspar to Puerto Reyes, near the Paraguay border, for the annual Ceremonial, a grisly ritual that mirrors the recent reign of terror. In a dazzling array of scenes, Enriquez dabbles in occult motifs, as when Tali, who reads tarot cards, is approached by a woman inquiring about her missing daughter: “Tali had seen her dead, drowned, and she’d said so. One of the many girls the military had murdered and thrown into rivers, their eyes eaten by fish, their feet tangled in vegetation: dead mermaids with bellies full of lead. Tali didn’t lie, she wouldn’t give false hope. The fathers and mothers of young people who had been disappeared by the dictatorship sought her out; they wanted, at least, to know how their children died, if their bodies were in a pit of bones or underwater or in a secret cemetery.”

Juan recognizes that Gaspar has inherited his gift, and he’s desperate to turn the boy over to the safekeeping of his brother, Luis, who had fled Argentina to escape the crackdowns. He cobbles together a network to protect Gaspar while occasionally surrendering to his inner sadist, beating and berating his son (and others) to salve the torment of the monster within. Scarred torsos, amputated limbs, wrists cut to the bone: These are the signatures of a man caught between genocide and the burdens of his fate. Juan’s a morally treacherous triumph of Enriquez’s towering imagination.

Gaspar thinks his father’s crazy. “I hope Dad dies once and for all and puts an end to all this and I can live with my uncle,” he notes, “and I don’t ever have to think again about locked rooms, voices in my head, dreams of hallways and dead people, ghost families, boxes full of eyelids. … I wish I could stop loving him, forget him.” Enriquez toggles between decades, between South America and Europe, filling in lacunae amid her characters’ biographies — Rosario narrates a lavish sequence from beyond the grave — while blurring lines that divide our world from adjacent realms. Her cinematic technique spans the globe: There’s a go-go, Carnaby Street vibe to her London flashbacks, for example.

The novel’s translator, Megan McDowell, won the National Book Award in translated literature last year for “Seven Empty Houses,” by Samanta Schweblin, a fellow Argentine whose themes dovetail with those of Enriquez. An American based in Santiago, Chile, McDowell has grasped the torch passed by luminaries such as Edith Grossman; translation, to invoke Grossman’s famous metaphor, isn’t merely copying one language over another, like tracing paper, but rather an act of creation unto itself. “Our Share of Night” teases out the nuances of Enriquez’s spirited, in-your-face style, political epic masquerading as satanic farce.

As Gaspar navigates adolescence, he feels the stir of attraction, his father’s son. “The girl let him light her cigarette,” Enriquez writes. “Gaspar looked at her legs. She had visible muscles. The lighter had illuminated her very dark eyes, lined in blue like a punk Cleopatra. … She said she thought Gaspar was a great name. One of the Magi.”

By novel’s end, Gaspar’s a Wise Man, weaving gingerly toward selfhood, fending off forces hellbent on his destruction. As the millennium approaches, he confronts his country’s brutal legacy and his affluent family’s role, the havoc colonialism has wrought in the Americas. “Our Share of Night” is not only a bloody valentine to the bonds between parent and child, but also an inspired evisceration of how the powerful prey on the powerless, often beneath the guise of democracy and freedom. As Mercedes opines: “Money … is a nation in itself.”

[gefdreamsofthesea]

I am also waiting for Witch-Sister but it's not on my list.

The five decks that are on it:

The Sirens Song (Lenormand and Kipper deck) by Carrie Paris and Toni Savory (out already but I'm being good)

Sisters of the Sea by Lucy Cavendish and Amy Brown

Cozy Witch Tarot by Amanda Lovelace and Janaina Medeiros

Seasons of the Witch Imbolc Oracle

Green Witch Oracle by Arin Murphy-Hiscock and Sara Richard

Decks I'm interested in but will wait for reviews or for US Games to actually ship copies to Amazon Canada:

The Förhäxa Tarot

Oracle of Delphi by Suzy Cherub

Dark Magick Oracle by Fiona Horne (hesitating because I have a perception of the author as that "weird reality tv witch" that has never faded)

Witching Hour Oracle by Lorriane Anderson and Olivia Bürki (not to be confused with the Witching Hour Oracle that is already out)

Secrets of the Green Witch (just came out but there's no listing on Amazon.ca)

Rooted Woman Oracle by Sharon Blackie

Moon Goddess Oracle by Nicci Garaicoa (I like the soft palette and the modern art)

Maidens of the Wheel Oracle by Tammy Wampler (not sure how I feel about the art)

The Sacred SHE Tarot by Ma Deva Padma (unsure about this one)

Inspirational Wicca Cards by Davide Marrè and Gonzalo Martinez Moreno

Manifesting with the Fairies by Karen Kay (I love her mermaid deck! Her first fairy deck is fine.)

The Bee Tarot by Kristoffer Hughes and Nadia Turner (really excited for this one)

Decks from Angi Sullins that are a pain in the ass to get here because US Games is like that:

W.I.T.C.H: Woman In Total Control of Herself Oracle

and

Fearless: Fight Like a Girl Oracle

All are subject to change as I view walkthroughs and decide I hate/love the art.

I was able to narrow my tarot and oracle deck Amazon wishlist to five decks, four are preorders. I haven't preordered any just doing a trim.

[tarotforsale]

The Mermaid Cat Tarot is here! This deck is pretty true to the rider wait imagery and doesn’t really need much explaining, plus it’s super cute! The cards are waaaay smoother than I expected since they’re casino quality, which means they’re linen/air-cushion finish. Slippery! I think I could use this as a travel deck pretty well and just bust it out when I’m sitting around with people at a coffee shop or something. It’s really friendly and not too harsh, but the meanings are all still there.

[damedarcy]

@vloveandcrystals thank you for the beautiful #damedarcymermaidtarot #video #review 🌊🧜🏻‍♀️🌹😀❤️https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF_6yleq8ko🌊🙏🌈❤️Love everything about your channel! You really cover all the important topics and questions! #mermaid #tarot #tarotlove #tarotcollector #divination #readings #oraclecards #mermaidsofinstagram #wakethewitches #makewaves 🌊 @damedarcy .com 🌊🧜🏻‍♀️🌊https://etsy.me/2YzVUoc https://www.instagram.com/p/B_zeGs7jcPg/?igshid=nknm7pt4w2a1

[ruddcatha]

Your story recommendations have been absolutely amazing! By any chance do you have a list of one-shots that you can recommend? I need good easy reading material while I'm bored at work.

-Ohhh Anon, you hit me in the heart with this request, I love one shots…

And oh boy do I have a crap ton to recommend!!  I normally try to do no more than 2 per author, but this time I can’t because some authors just have SO MANY AWESOME ONESHOTS

So warning, this is long

Given by @dawnrider, a beautiful beautiful story following Movie 2

Circles by @dawnrider, I cried the first time I read this, god its beautiful

Purple Lace by @dawnrider (Yes, I am going that far back Dawn… sorry not sorry)

How To Read a Newspaper by @witchygirl99. This is absolutely adorable!

The Colour of the Sky by @witchygirl99… ok this is hilarious, definitely check it out

Kiss it All Goodbye by @witchygirl99,  The Papa Inuyasha we deserved to have

Nepenthe by @witchygirl99, the mermaid AU you didn’t know you needed but now you do, so go read it

She Left Me by Eowyn Organa. This is so good and so sweet.

Finders Keepers by Rainflame.  I love this story so much.

Lovely View by Snoring,  This time its Kagome who’s spying on a bathing Inuyasha

Chase by Maiden of the Moon, ok, this is not what you think it will be when it starts off… just keep reading, trust me

Insomnia Hours by @goshinote, Inuyasha as a late night DJ…. Go read it!

Superposition by @goshinote, this is absolutely wonderful!

Confession of a Hopeless Attraction by @goshinote, you just need to read this

Liar Liar Pants on Fire by @mamabearcat, Fireman Inuyasha… go now

By the Book by @mamabearcat, Inuyasha tries to act like a hero in one of Kagome’s romance novels

Call you Mine by @lavendertwilight89. Fake dating soulmates… swoon

A Little Late Night Practice by @fawn-eyed-girl, part of her Kendo series… hot hot hot

Mistaken Intentions by @fawn-eyed-girl, oh so sweet

Keeping Score by @fawn-eyed-girl and @neutronstarchild, this is just so cute

Spa Day in Feudal Japan by @neutronstarchild, this is just so cute

The Half-Demon Prince and the Curse of Four Paws by @neutronstarchild… such an adorable fairy tale!

Matchmakers of Shikon High by @neutronstarchild, Jakotsu, Kagura and Shippo on a mission to bring two pining teachers together? YESSS

Second Chance by @alannada.  This was such a good story!!

Waxing Moon by @alannada, This is freaking hilarious

I Object by me (shameless plug but dang it I’m proud of this story).  Attorney Inuyasha has a crisis of identity, and nearly pushes the most important thing in his life away

Mutual Cat-Traction by me, Buyo is an unexpected matchmaker between two neighbors

Hanyo and the Cheerleader by me, @fawn-eyed-girl and @neutronstarchild.  A twist on Taylor Swift’s You Belong With Me

Lightning on the Brain by troubleinshangrila, a beautiful beautiful story addressing seizures and epilepsy

Safe by @keichanz, Kagome tries to reassure their daughter that Inuyasha was coming home safe

Forever by @keichanz, a sweet sweet story about enduring love and friendship

Real by @keichanz… HOOOOTT

Ours by @shinidamachu, this is an absolutely wonderful modern AU oneshot

The Best Medicine by @fantastiqueparfait, Inuyasha takes care of a sick Kagome

Something New by KingBaka. Definitely NSFW…. But worth it

Sharped Dress Hanyo by @clearwillow, I absolutely adore this story

Cheaters by Inunanna-Nanna Part, DEFINITELY NOT WHAT YOU WOULD EXPECT, read to the end!!

A Stolen Kiss by @sapphirestarxx, an absolutely wonderful MirSan story!!

Gold Star Review by @mustardyellowsunshine. Sweet and sexy and so so good

Superhero by @dyaz-stories, a sweet growing up story

He Loves Me, He Loves me Not by @touchofpixiedust.  Super sweet story of Inuyasha

Kagome Broken by @touchofpixiedust, omg I cracked up

Mine by Jaygirl987, NSFW but so so so so good

Speed Dating for Dummies by Reinamy, I laughed reading this it is so funny and good

Blind Dates Suck by Inukag123, such a fun story

What’s Eating You? By @superpixie42, Inuyasha and zombies…

Skeins and Schemes by @cannibalsforbreakfast, canon compliant Inukag!!

You’ve Got a Read On Me by @cannibalsforbreakfast, a sweet take on the meet in a coffee shop with Tarot!

How I met my husband by One More Thing

Playtime by @thornedraven. HOTTT DEMON INU

Always Be There by @willowandfog, a friends to lovers that is so sweet

Fast Food Thief by @cstorm86

Just the Girl by @smmahamazing, a sweet sweet MirSan story

Perfectly Flawed by dolphingirl0113, Kagome meets Inuyasha’s reincarnation, leaving our favorite Hanyo to panic

A Father’s Worst Fear by @omgitscharlie, Papa Inuyasha’s fear at the sound of a scream

[samwisethewitch]

Sea Witch Reading Challenge!

I’m so excited to announce that I will be co-hosting a witchy reading challenge for the month of May! We’ll be diving into the element of water, the ocean as a spiritual force, and the role water plays in magic. 

Shoutout to my co-hosts, @discordantq, @theperfumewitch, and @will-o-the-witch! All of us will be tracking the challenge tag, and all of us are available to answer any questions you may have or to recommend books. 

So, about the reading challenge:

Although we’re calling it the Sea Witch Reading Challenge, you do not have to live near the ocean or work with the ocean to participate. The focus here is on the element of water and the spiritual beings associated with it, and our hope is that you’ll choose books that are relevant to your interests and practice. 

Sea Witch Reading Challenge Prompts:

A book about the element of water and its use in magic 

A book about a god, goddess, spirit, or cryptid associated with water 

A book about mermaids or some other type of water spirit

The challenge will last for the entire month of May. You can participate by reading books for the three prompts above and posting about them on social media with the tag #SeaWitchReadingChallenge. The other co-hosts and I will be tracking this hashtag on Tumblr, YouTube, and Instagram. Be sure to tag your posts so we can interact with them, talk about the books we read, and enter you in our challenge giveaway! 

Speaking of the giveaway, every post in the #SeaWitchReadingChallenge tag on the previously mentioned social media platforms will be counted as one entry into a giveaway for a copy of the Believe In Your Own Magic oracle deck by Amanda Lovelace -- so the more active you are in the tag, the more likely you are to win! This is my personal favorite oracle deck, and it’s become a cornerstone of my self-care practice. While not technically water-themed, the deck has a lovely fairy tale theme and many of the cards feature mermaids. The giveaway winner will be chosen randomly at the end of the month. 

While the other co-hosts and I are very excited to explore the subject of water magic and folklore with you all, we also feel that it’s important to acknowledge the necessity of water for human life -- a necessity that is inaccessible to many communities. Clean drinking water is a basic human need, but 29% of all people do not have access to safe water. More than twice that number are at risk of water contamination due to insufficient waste water management. Since reciprocity is a fundamental value for many witches and pagans, we encourage participants not only to educate themselves, but to take this opportunity to help provide clean drinking water to people who need it. We recommend a $10 donation to nonprofit dedicated to this cause for each book you complete for the challenge. (I will personally be donating to DigDeep, but we encourage you to do your own research and choose a group you can feel good about.)

We understand that not everyone has an extra $30 to donate, so you don’t have to make a donation to participate or to enter the giveaway. However, we hope you’ll take this opportunity to educate yourself on the issue of water inequality and raise awareness by telling others about it. My co-hosts are also offering free psychic services to anyone who can show proof of donation -- @theperfumewitch is offering free tarot and oracle readings for those who donate, and @will-o-the-witch​ has offered to draw intuitive sketches of your spirit guides/companions! If either of those services interest you, you can show a screenshot of your donation confirmation to get a free reading! 

I’m really excited about this challenge, and I hope you guys are too! I am tracking the #SeaWitchReadingChallengeTag on Instagram, YouTube, and Tumblr, so make sure you tag your posts so I can see them and enter you in the giveaway! I will personally be vlogging the books I read for the challenge on my YouTube channel and posting reviews here. 

Happy reading! 

[jasper-tarot-reader]

Reviewing Divination Methods: The Star Spinner Tarot

This deck makes me genuinely so very happy.

The Star Spinner Tarot is a deck by Trungles, aka Trung Le Nguyen, and designed by Maggie Edelman and Evelyn Furuta. It came out in 2020.

According to the "about the author" blurb in the book, Trung Le Nguyen is a Philippines-born Vietnamese American comic book artist and illustrator. He lives in Minnesota with his partner and three chickens. He maintains a love of folklore and fairy stories.

The front of the box and cover of the guidebook both look like this:

(Image courtesy of the Amazon listing.)

The back of the box has a blurb that says the following:

LET THE STARS LIGHT YOUR WAY... Enter a world where fairies play, mermaids yearn, and threads of the familiar and fantastic are spun together to guide you on your own personal journey. Featuring beloved comic artist Trungles's enchanting illustrative style, the Star Spinner Tarot reinterprets classic tarot imagery for a more inclusive deck, with multiple Lovers cards to reflect a range of romantic expression and illustrations drawn from stories, myths, and fairy tales.

The guidebook is 128 pages long with instructions for beginning tarot readings and spreads, an introduction to the deck, and a page of interpretations + an image of the card for every single card in the deck.

But let's focus on the Lovers card, because there are four - count them, four - different cards included so you can pick the one that vibes most with you. Or you can keep all four in there to be absolutely chaotic.

(Images courtesy of @cottage-witching - thank you so much for permission to use these scans!)

And for those of you that absolutely love fully illustrated pips, this deck has those! Which is absolutely wild to me because each of these images probably took between two hours and two weeks to get them just right.

(Pip cards courtesy of the Amazon listing too.)

Personally, I find this entire deck to be gorgeous and incredibly detailed. I'm still working on connecting with my deck, but it's so gorgeous and even the guidebook is detailed.

Overall, I absolutely love this deck and look forward to using it more!

[gefdreamsofthesea]

Review: Astrology for the Cosmic Soul by The Pulp Girls

[Note: I received an ARC from NetGalley in exhange for an honest review]

This is a fun, modern guide to astrology 101 from two sisters. The first chapter is a basic overview of astrology, the elements, the personal planets, and the generational planets. The book mainly focuses on the Big Three (Sun, Moon, and Rising) with prompts to check your Venus or Mars sign for more information on specific topics (the Venus sign is important in relationships, for example). Chapter two focuses on practical astrology. It discusses stereotypes associated with each sign, two types of people for each sign, compatibility, (not-so) guilty pleasures, and more. Chapter three is about magic: tarot and oracle cards, grounding exercises, and self-care tips. The final chapter is "just for fun" where the signs are paired with movie genres, takeout, vampire vibes, and Halloween costumes. The art in the book is cute, pulpy fairy and mermaid art.

This is the sort of fun astrology book I wish I'd had as a young adult. I don't think there's much to offer the adult reader even though I definitely felt Seen while reading it. This book serms to be geared towards a younger female audience who are interested in "witchy" things and I think I'd recommend it if you know someone who fits that description. If I had to give it a star rating I would give it 3 1/2 stars but would recommend for the target audience.

[cloudselkie]

A Quick Review of the 78 Tarot Nautical: Tarot of the Water

Just a quick review since I haven't been able to actually sit down and use them yet.

The 78 Tarot Nautical is a deck I never actually thought I'd get a copy of because it was not in print and sold out everywhere. I saw it listed on a bookstore's site last year and order it, only to have the order cancelled and be told that it was sold out and shouldn't have been available for purchase on the site at all. But last week, the 78 Tarot Etsy restocked it and I grabbed it as soon as I could!

I have looked through them and let me say, the artwork is AMAZING. Every card is unique and you could spend hours looking at all the details each artist has incorporated. It also comes with two extra cards - Whimsy and Curiosity.

Packaging: The current deck comes in a standard cardboard sleeve box.

LWB - Great little book for those just getting started, but try looking at each card first and just noting what you see. What's happening in each scene?

Cards: Good cardstock and the ink is nice. The only issue I had with the cards themselves was that a few were slightly bent and one had a small line impression near the edge (probably from the production process). The cards are also larger than standard tarot cards. Here's a picture of the deck against some other ocean themed decks I have.

From left to right: Whispers of the Ocean Oracle, 78 Tarot Nautical, The Mermaid Tarot, The Titanic Tarot, Sea Whispers Oracle

Overall, I am please with this deck. 4/5 Stars, with one taken away pretty much for size and the slight damage.

[allthequeenstarot]

Goddess Provision Subscription Box - March 2017

First of all, I should say that I have no affiliation with Goddess Provisions, and that I’m just reviewing their subscription box for myself and anyone else that may be interested!

So I just signed up this month and was lucky enough to get in on the March box last minute, since the theme was MERMAID MAGIC and so obviously I was super pumped about that.

My first impression is that the box itself is cute! I like the little illustrations on the inside. It’s not super fancy in terms of packaging, like in other boxes I’ve had, but it’s cute enough :)

I’ll go through each item and let you know what I got!

First, there was Moon Magic Mermaid Ocean Mask & Toner. I just tried it tonight and I really liked it. I’m picky about skin care stuff, but I felt safe in giving it a go since the ingredients are all natural. It made my skin so soft! I’ll definitely be using it again. I also really liked the way both of the products smelled - the toner has a strong smell but it’s not that sort of fake chemical/alcohol smell that toners usually have. They both smelled delicious and very natural. I’m super happy about this inclusion in the box! Bonus - I loved the cute little details in the packaging.

Next there was a suuuuper cute Cottagewicks Goddes of the Sea Candle. There are all sorts of cool little buried treasures in this candle, sea glass, shells, crystals - I’m excited to burn this :)

Check out this cute Sara M. Lyons Patch. This is right up my alley with the pastels and the hearts and sunshine bursting out of the shell - so cute! Now I’m just going to have to decide where to put it!

Here’s the Red Abalone Shell & Sage Smudge Kit. I haven’t burned any of it yet, but what a cool addition to the box - I’ll definitely be setting this up in my tarot-reading area and cleansing my space soon.

I love that every month you get a crystal or stone - this month it is Ruby in Fuchsite which just looks so appropriate for the mermaid them. Plus, what a cool and unique stone! The description says, “Rest Ruby in Fuchsite on your third eye to enhance your psychic awareness.” I may have to try that before my next tarot reading ;) (Sorry, it was getting dark in my house, and I didn’t get the best picture of this stone, it really is beautiful in person!)

Lastly, the card indicates that I should have gotten a Raw Revolution Spirulina Dream Bar, but instead I seem to have gotten this Addictive Wellness Raw Chocolate, which seems to be less on theme but I’m not complaining! I’ll take chocolate over other treats any day! The packaging says it’s gluten free, trans fat free, nut free, sugar free, soy free, dairy free, and GMO free. So obviously I had to eat one immediately. Honestly, it was pretty good! And well, I kinda feel like it was the healthiest chocolate I’ve ever eaten, so hey, that can’t be bad.

Overall I was super happy with my Goddess Provisions box this month, and I’m looking forward to next month to see what I get! I don’t know if anyone else was interested in signing up, but hopefully this can give you a good idea of what to expect if you are!

[poemsforpersephone]

I’ve been in a very book-focused mood this past couple months so i’m curious, do any of you have any books that you’re super excited for this year? I think I can narrow mine down to a top ten haha.

The Extraordinaries by T.J. Klune

The Friend Scheme by Cale Dietrich

Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust

The Fell of Dark by Caleb Roehrig

Witches of Ash and Ruin by E. Latimer

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

Bonds of Brass by Emily Skrutskie

Tarot #3 by K.D. Edwards (hopefully!)

The Mermaid, the Witch and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall

I could make a list which is literally a hundred long but I’ll stick to these for now since I have a good chunk of these pre-ordered. They’re all LGBT themed, as far as I know, and they all sound amazing. There’s one other book coming out in 2020 that I’ve also already read an ARC for and I can’t wait to share the review for that one because oh boy I’m in love. 

[teaberrymagic]

Tarot Decks $12 and Under

After my tarot deck giveaway, I wanted to post some cheaper tarot options for those are financially unable to purchase expensive decks. The prices listed are just those I’ve seen for the deck itself, not including shipping, as that will depend on where you live. I tried to limit it to variations on the standard 78 card deck, and omitted oracles.

Cat Tarot  $8.34

Fun illustrated deck showing cats and their foibles. Comes with guidebook that reviews say is geared towards new readers.

Ceccoli Tarot Mini  $8.85

Nicoletta Ceccoli’s innocent yet eerie art deck.

Everyday Tarot Mini  $9.95

A really sharp, simplistic art style closely following the typical RWS card imagery. Though the card quality and guidebook are great, people often complain about the plastic box it comes in, so you may have to re-home the deck to a drawstring bag or the like.

The Fairy Tarot  $11.95

A sweet rendition of a standard deck with cutely renamed suits.

Harmonious Mini Tarot  $11.95

Victorian style paintings on each card, departing from the RWS imagery.

The Illuminated Tarot  $9.50 - $9.99

I found a TJ Maxx link advertising this deck at a lower price than usually offered on Amazon, as well as a used/like-new listing on Barnes & Noble’s website. Both listed as including guidebook.

The Lost Tarot of Nostradamus  $9.95

Full deck and guidebook based on the works of Nostradamus.

Manga Mini Tarot  $11.95

While more of an American illustration style, Eastern cultural symbols and themes are made prominent in this departure from standard RWS imagery and card meanings.

Oceanic Tarot  $7.65

Mermaid and undersea themed. Reviews point out that minors do not have unique designs for each card but simply show the number of wands, swords, etc. mentioned on the card. Simple and colorful. Comes with guidebook.

Secret Mini Tarot  $11.95

Marco Nizzoli’s artistic take on typical RWS imagery with a gothic flair. Comes with guidebook.

Tarot Art Nouveau Mini  $11.95

Just what it says on the tin.

Tarot of Druids Mini  $11.95

Celtic imagery with guidebook.

Tarot of Marseille Mini  $10.51

Standard Marseille imagery, reproduction of Claude Burdel’s 18th century tarot.

Tarot of Pagan Cats Mini  $10.76

The typical RWS structure featuring illustrated cats and pagan imagery.

Tiny Universal Waite Tarot  $6.99

The tiniest travel deck you could imagine, keychain sized.

Vice Versa Tarot  $9.67

A creative take on RWS imagery where the front of the card shows what you might expect, and the reverse shows the standard characters from the back to reveal more of each scene depicted. Comes with booklet.

The Zombie Tarot: An Oracle of the Undead  $10.80

A campy, old fashioned zombie apocalypse tarot. Comes with guidebook.

●●●

As a note, all Lo Scarabeo decks tend to come with a small paper guide booklet.

Remember to search secondhand sites like eBay and local shops for used decks. I literally found a $6 listing for the massively popular Prisma Visions tarot on eBay! Buy secondhand from witchcraft and pagan Facebook groups. I got a secondhand copy of the Marigold Tarot for $20 once because I had been following and interacting with a reader extensively on Instagram and she wanted to trade or sell some used decks.

Also, don’t ignore perfectly functional mini decks. I see a lot of people disparage mini decks in favor of wanting “real” full-size decks, and it just feels like people think they’re less legitimate? They’re literally just smaller cards, people. Even as someone who has a growing collection of full-size tarot decks, I still have minis because they’re good for travel and day-to-day reading while out and about. I use my minis for regular readings too, they’re perfectly functional.

Hopefully this offers some alternatives and helps some people who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford a full 78 card deck. Happy reading, folks!