#yeah Tarot is very different from Lenormand

[random-conspiracy]

Why are these face cards here. The meaning of the king is so close to the meaning of the queen. And they represent character traits rather than experiences, which means that they often don't fit right in a reading that's asking about what's going to happen etc. Like, I know there's always a way to make them fit if you look at them sideways, but it just throws me every time. Why even have them if they're going to be such a pain?

Hope that you don't mind if I answer some of your pet peeves.

That's because they're people and it's more useful to read 'em that way. Kings and Queens are mature men and women, while Knights and Knaves stand for younger people, usually male and female, but that's up to you. These two could also be changes, actions and messages, because of their role as servants of the royalty.

Family members, coworkers, friends, strangers, etc...

Why are there so many repeated meanings? I mean, do you really NEED the Empress, the 9 of Pentacles, AND the Queen of Pentacles? Like yeah, I get it, they're all SLIGHTLY different, but there's SO much overlap.

They're not "slightly" different even when they have common themes, because you're only focusing into text-book meanings and not the actual structure of the deck itself. The 9 of coins represents a concept, a situation, in this case the value of a considerable amount of gold coins, but the Queen is a person (usually a woman) who is the one taking action or being affected by the situation. The Empress is in a completely different level because is part of the major arcana, she's not only above the Queen but allegorizes more complex and deeper concepts. Don't forget the hierarchy, try to keep things simple.

Reverses. I refuse to read reverses. 'Cause like, what's the opposite of greedy? Is it NOT greedy (IE well-balanced desires) or is it TOO generous? What's the opposite of happy? Is it sad? Angry? Bored? Vaguely disappointed?

I'm with you here ahshasa, that's exactly why I don't use reversals.

What are the staves. What is that.

The what??? ashahsa.

If swords represent air and the mind/intelligence, why are there so many more inauspicious cards in the swords suit than in the others? Is being a deep thinker THAT BAD?? *flashes back to grad school* Never mind, I guess that's valid.

STOP. Swords are *not* air, swords are *not* the mind/intellingence.

Swords are firstmost swords. This is a very subtle mistake that many readers do and it changes thw whole way you read your cards because instead of seeing what is in front of your eyes, you're jumoing straight into elemental associations that carry their own external associations and so on. Ask yourself, what is a sword? What is a cup? A coin? A baton/wand? Swords are weapons, harbingers of power, war, pain, conquer, battle, etc... are you really surprised that its suit is full of inauspicious cards?

So if the three biggest subjects people come to fortune-tellers on are love, money, and health... Why do pentacles represent 2 of the 3? Like, okay, if the question itself limits the topic to, say, health then you know that the pentacles represent health and probably not money. But if you're just doing a general reading... why do the staves and swords mean so little and the pentacles mean so much?? It's hella lopsided.

Ok, first than anything, Tarot cards were not designed to be used in fortune telling; we were us, the fortune tellers, the ones who learned and adapted to use 'em, changing some things in the process. If you check decks explicitly designed to do fortune telling you will find specific cards for money, love and health.

Second, coins/pentacles don't represent money and/or health as a whole, they just represent what the symbol of the coin contains. It could be money, it could be commerce, it could be success, it could be privilege, status, happiness, etc, is only with the context of the reading (as you said) that they take a more specific value. Same case for the rest of the suits. In a general reading, you will probably gravitate more to money related situations but that doesn't mean that swords or batons have less "meanings".

I guess one of my major quibbles with tarot is that so much of it relates to mental states rather than physical, external occurrences. That's probably why I don't like staves. When you get a two of cups, it's like, "Ooo! There's a new relationship in your future!" And when you get a 9 of pentacles it's like, "Wow! Wealth and physical comfort are headed your way!" But when you get a page of wands, it's like, "...Well, I guess you're gonna start wanting to do something." "Do what?" "Dunno."

I'm not gonna lie to you, something is dificult to extract concise and specific actions because Tarot is a very poetic tool at its core.

That said, it's not impossible to use Tarot in that way: Cups are usually gatherings, meetings, parties, celebrating, expressions of love and pleasure while swords are battles, rants, debates, discussions, sickness, accidents, fights, failure. Cups followed by swords could be a party that goes wrong, or unrequited love. Swords followed by cups could be peace before the storm, a truce, reconciliation. Again, is a mtter of context and creativity.

WHY ARE THERE 78 CARDS TO MEMORIZE OMFG. I guess I should just be grateful I'm using the Ride-Waite-Smith deck and not the Marseilles: If I just had to straight-up memorize that four curved lines meant "trust your gut", I'd probably shoot myself.

Well, if that's what you think maybe try not to shit your pants when I tell you that many Marseille readers have no different meanings for (lets say) the 7 and the 6 of swords, ahshasa.

Honestly why are you memorizing the 78 cards? The major arcana requires study, yeah, but the minor arcana of RWS have pictures for a reason. I never understood why many RWS reader waste time memorizing something that is clearly depicted in the card. 3 of cups? You can see a small groups of people happily toasting around abundant fruit. It surely is not a card of grief, is it?

Many Marseille readers give more focus to the symbol than the number and we read by rythms and groups. You literally just need to understand the major arcana, what the 4 symbols in the suits mean and you're almost hot to go. Tarot is not about "memorizing" and repeating and you shouldn't try that because like those non-newtonian liquid, the harder you try to push it into your brain, the harder will be to decipher it.

Do not memorize, philosophize. Think about the cards, practice a lot, try to fully internalize the symbols and the wisdom of the allegories. Honestly one of MY pet peeves is the awful reputation of tarot de marseille in the community. I wouldn't say is easier, but it surely has its advantages and is not the monster under the bed as it appears.

Also the "trust your gut" advice by itself is shit. Clear your mind, contemplate the cards, REALLY see what is in front of you. THEN trust your gut and put to work t your brain.

As a diviner, the tarot system bugs me.

Why are these face cards here. The meaning of the king is so close to the meaning of the queen. And they represent character traits rather than experiences, which means that they often don't fit right in a reading that's asking about what's going to happen etc. Like, I know there's always a way to make them fit if you look at them sideways, but it just throws me every time. Why even have them if they're going to be such a pain?

Why are there so many repeated meanings? I mean, do you really NEED the Empress, the 9 of Pentacles, AND the Queen of Pentacles? Like yeah, I get it, they're all SLIGHTLY different, but there's SO much overlap.

Reverses. I refuse to read reverses. 'Cause like, what's the opposite of greedy? Is it NOT greedy (IE well-balanced desires) or is it TOO generous? What's the opposite of happy? Is it sad? Angry? Bored? Vaguely disappointed?

What are the staves. What is that.

If swords represent air and the mind/intelligence, why are there so many more inauspicious cards in the swords suit than in the others? Is being a deep thinker THAT BAD?? *flashes back to grad school* Never mind, I guess that's valid.

So if the three biggest subjects people come to fortune-tellers on are love, money, and health... Why do pentacles represent 2 of the 3? Like, okay, if the question itself limits the topic to, say, health then you know that the pentacles represent health and probably not money. But if you're just doing a general reading... why do the staves and swords mean so little and the pentacles mean so much?? It's hella lopsided.

I guess one of my major quibbles with tarot is that so much of it relates to mental states rather than physical, external occurrences. That's probably why I don't like staves. When you get a two of cups, it's like, "Ooo! There's a new relationship in your future!" And when you get a 9 of pentacles it's like, "Wow! Wealth and physical comfort are headed your way!" But when you get a page of wands, it's like, "...Well, I guess you're gonna start wanting to do something." "Do what?" "Dunno."

WHY ARE THERE 78 CARDS TO MEMORIZE OMFG. I guess I should just be grateful I'm using the Ride-Waite-Smith deck and not the Marseilles: If I just had to straight-up memorize that four curved lines meant "trust your gut", I'd probably shoot myself.

I mean, I'm learning it, and it's okay, and there's stuff about it I like, but... jfc. Half-tempted to remove all the face cards from my personal deck AT LEAST.

[vitaminseetarot]

PAC: Your January Forecast 🎇❄🦢

Sup y'all, I'm back for the very last PAC I'm gonna write for 2023. By the end of the weekend, we will have shifted to a whole new year, with a new moon close in tow. I'm gonna be honest, this has been a rough year for me, but not without its bright spots. Like the birth of this blog, for one! I'm already planning the 1 Year Special.

The plan is only to expand from here to see what more there is to do! There was a lot I wanted to do this year but didn't get around to doing because of life, so I have a lot lined up for January.

Thank you for your support this past year in helping my blog grow! The circle is small, but each like and reblog makes a difference, especially to newcomers like me.

Please choose your swan ornament below to find out about how your January will look for the new year. Instead of Tarot today, I'll be using my Black Salt Lenormand deck and Astro Dice to get details along with oracles for advice.

Pile 1 - Black Swan Pile 2 - White Swan Pile 3 - Gold Swan

Pile 1 - Black Swan

Death, Sun; 49. Sun A♦, Cross 6♣, Crossroads Q♦; Uranus, 11th House, Aquarius

Hi, pile 1! Hope you're feeling alive and well for 2024. I kinda called this the "zombie pile" while drawing cause I'm getting this sluggish energy dragging along. Mumbling, creeping, hair disheveled. Goodness, this past year had you wiped out, didn't it? If you're feeling pressured for a resolution, I wouldn't, because for you I think simply sloughing off the old year like snake skin is your main priority for January. I'm hearing Usher's lyrics: "I feel like a zombie come back to life." Maybe you could treat this month like an extended New Year's Eve party. You can't force yourself to be excited for it, but you can slowly build up to it.

There is an emphasis on positive thinking with this pile. You have two Suns from different decks. Doing what brings you simple joy will be healing for you this month. Focusing on little joys can help you shift perspective. Being in the present is very important right now, and you're being asked not to think too much about last year as it will only drain you of further energy. You can't draw healing to yourself if you're spending all your Magic Points on looking backwards for answers. It it feels difficult to be positive, think outside the box at how you can move away from past thinking, like making a vision board for what you most desire to experience this year.

One of the real impressive things about your reading are the dice. You have Uranus, its natural house 11, and its sign Aquarius. Emphasis on CHANGE, much? You know how in movies, where the main character is falling into darkness and has relinquished all hope of being saved, and just as it fades to black someone swoops in to help them while casually laughing off "hah, yeah, I just happened to be in the neighborhood when I saw you falling into an infinite chasm, y'know?"

The word "Deus Ex Machina" is also popping up, or "god out of machine". It's a Latin term referring to an ancient Greek theater technique where a crane would lower an actor dressed as a deity onto the stage during the final act of a comedy, delivering sudden divine intervention and saving the day for the heroes. In other words, there is massive and very unexpected change for you, one that's gonna pull you out of the sluggish stupor of 2023. This is why resolutions aren't important for you now; whatever 2024 will be for you, it's coming in lightning hot and will do that for you.

And I think this change, however large and surprising, will be ultimately wonderful for you. There is so much sunlight emerging from this fog, new life will be breathed in for you by divine planning. It's going to help you work through some of the damage that last year left behind. It will also help you pivot to your next chapter in life. It may feel weird going into a new year with very little expectations, not knowing where you're going to end up next, but it'll be worth it. When the door swings open for you, it will BURST open, so stay on the bright side and focus on regenerating your health for now.

May your new year be shockingly bright, pile 1!

Pile 2 - White Swan

Strength, 25. Sapphire; Garden 8♠, Anchor 9♠, Person A♥; Gemini, 12th House, Pluto

Hello, pile 2! This month will be a quiet one for you, in a good way. This will be a time of retreat for you. If you found yourself being rather social at the end of 2023, expect the new year to start off with a whimper. I see you going into a hermit mode and disengaging from regular activities, especially involving other people. I get the sense that this pile is the type to want to overextend and please everyone around them. If you need a resolution suggestion from me, it's to put the brakes on now before you careen over the edge. January is putting a halt to this behavior.

Yes, you are strong. No, you do not always need to be strong for everybody else. It will wear you thin to even try, and you may end up resentful over it. It's not worth the struggle. I'm not asking you to snap at anyone who comes too close, but consider not adding more of other peoples' errands to your schedule. Consider saying, "actually, I can't go today," without feeling the need to explain why. You have a right to your own personal space away from distractions now.

This pile could belong to a group of people or community that's close to you, which could be going through a lot of hell or has been in the past year. They may have asked a lot from you with few other options. It's made you have to stand up and advocate, at the cost of your own issues being put on the back burner. It is not selfish to walk away for a while and take care of yourself, doubly so if the group in question deals with a lot of arguing and gossip. If it feels bad, trust your gut and keep your distance for now. Don't try to solve big arguments while Mercury is retrograding.

I know how Pluto in the 12th house is, as it's prominent in my chart. Imagine walking downstairs to get to your basement, only for the stairs to never end until you find yourself floating in a weird little wonderland. Somewhere, in that surreal underground mindscape, is a deeply entrenched karmic pattern that may elude you at first. Some shadow work may be required here to dig through the trenches for unpolished gems. If a pesky pattern is repeating in your life, it's time to withdraw and connect to your dreams and subconscious for clues. This pattern may have something to do with this group.

You're actually going to get more progress done by meditating and seeking out nature rather than getting too involved with these issues. The time will come when things can be handled with a clearer mindset. But your higher self is pulling you inward to help ground you through this, to remind you that you are your own amazing being even when you're separate from these people. You have the strength to stand on your own, otherwise there wouldn't be so many folks seeking you out in need. Sapphire wants you to marry your heart with your mind. It's a stone of wisdom guided by compassionate understanding and care. You spin your wheels overthinking an issue, when instead coming back to your heartspace will provide the key.

Take it easy this winter, pile 2, may your dreams give clarity and hope for 2024!

Pile 3 - Gold Swan

Protection, 15. Opal; Bouquet Q♠, Person A♥, Crossroads Q♦; 4th House, Capricorn, Mercury

What's going on, pile 3? Looks like somebody wants to enter hibernation mode, lol. I don't blame you one bit. As the full moon in Cancer has passed and the season changes, there's a strong desire to nestle into the home. Your house will be like your castle for you to improve during this month. You may feel up to redecorating or rearranging furniture to make it feel more cozy or season appropriate as you settle in. Or you may simply desire to clear out old things to decide what to keep.

You may want to do a spiritual cleansing of the house to ring in the New Year, too. Try infusing magic herbs like lemon verbena into your cleaning products, or toss cinnamon outside the front door while ringing a bell to invite prosperity in. A simple incense stick with a very fresh, mild scent like lavender can also do the trick. Does your family have a special trick or recipe they use? Whatever herb and scent combination brings out that "New Year New Me" feeling is best!

I heard loud and clearly, "YOU'RE PROTECTED!" for whomever needs to hear it most. Things might feel shaky and ungrounded at the moment. I wanna wrap a big blanket around y'all. You're being totally protected right now by your guides, so please don't let the uncertainties of 2024 leave your head dizzied. Yes, there's a lot of plans to be drawn out and a lot more work to be done, and you may not know where you're heading next, but perhaps there's a reason we like to begin the year at such a slow quiet time, after all the festivities have passed. It's not sound to start off in a rush.

You're being heavily affected by Sun in Capricorn doubled with the current Mercury retrograde, regardless of your chart placements. This is absolutely not a time for rash decision making, even if it feels you're not being your most productive. Our modern society doesn't like it when workers take a break or listen to their body's needs in any way. It will always have its excuses for its ruthless standards. After a while, though, you have to learn to shrug those expectations off and do what's right for you, or you'll risk burning out before the new year has even started.

Some of you might be thinking of even doing the Dry January trend as part of your resolution. If it's a serious issue, I'd talk to your doctor about how to do it sustainably. If you're already stressed and at risk of burnout, more pressure is not going to help. But a sober month could prove beneficial for you overall. This is not a command for you to have a Dry January if you're not interested; this message is for those who already plan on doing so. Try to take it one day at a time, keep your head free of self criticism, and don't guilt yourself over "cheat days". I will be doing one as well, so please reach out if you need a supporting voice.

Wishing you all the best to come this year pile 3, may you succeed in your resolutions!

This reading has not been evaluated by the FDA to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any disease or infection. Please ask your physician before going online.

Cards Used: Black Salt Lenormand, Prism Oracle, Crystal Healing Cards, Astro Dice.

2023, @VitaminseeTarot ™

[sworn-unbeliever]

23 - Shuffle

((Whew! Once again, a big huge thank you to @abeat for RPing as Jeremy since he’s her character in a way. Also, as a cartomancy fan, I jumped on the opportunity to write about such a thing. Although I didn’t write out the entire spread, I did do a proper reading. The spread in question is the Romany spread and is one of my favourites. The deck the nephew used is the Tarot of the Divine and I used the descriptions from the little white book there. Abeat and I will continue this storyline. If not on Sunday then probably after FFXIVWrite. Anyway!))

wc: 2,982

A gentle chime tingled in Teremy’s ears. Immediately, the miqo’te looked up from his bored daze. “Welcome to Fortunes & Fancies. Let me know if you need help with anything—”

Teremy cut his spiel short when he saw who entered the room.

A miqo’te seeker with Teremy’s exact same face.

“Jer?!” Teremy arched an eyebrow.

The aforementioned Jeremy waved. “Hi aniki!” he smiled cheerfully and looked around the store. A few seconds later, he did a double take. “W-wait, aniki?!”

Teremy switched from Common to his native Hingan. “Yes, little brother. What are you doing here of all places?”

Jeremy also switched back to Hingan. “I could ask you the same thing! I thought you were always busy exploring dungeons and hunting monsters and bad guys, but here you are working in a store...what happened? Are you in debt? Did you get caught up with bad people!? Did you murder someone and you’re on the run?”

Teremy closed his eyes and snorted, smiling. “A lot happened. No, yes-but-no, and yes, in that particular order, and I’m fine. Just taking up someone on their gracious offer to take things easy is all. Anyway, are you looking for anything in particular?”

Jeremy looked around. “This is what you call taking it easy? Isn’t this a furniture shop?”

“Trinkets, stuffed animals, a guildmate’s leatherworker merchandise over there,” Teremy gestured to the large leather backs on top of a couple of cute display carts, “or whatever commission you desire. Gears, accessories, primal weapons, you can afford it, we make it.”

Jeremy ran up to the counter. “Wait. Are you… Are you… crafting stuff?!”

Teremy shrugged. “More or less.”

“Crafting stuff… working behind a counter… helping customers…” Jeremy slammed his hands on the counter and growled. “Who are you?! What have you done with my brother?!”

“Ever the laughs-a-minute.” Teremy smirked and poked his brother on the forehead. “If you’re not gonna buy anything, get out.”

Jeremy pouted. “Awww, don’t be like that. Of course I’ll buy something at my aniki’s shop!”

“It’s not really my shop. I just happen to work here.”

Regardless if Jeremy had heard his brother or not, the younger twin’s tail swished playfully as he looked around the store. Normally to miqo’te such an action denounced irritation; however, Jeremy acted more canine than feline at times, and when Jeremy swished his tail like that, he showed his excitement and interest. Jeremy placed one hand on his hip, the other on his chin. “What do you recommend?”

“You’d know better than me what you’d need. Besides a life.”

Jeremy whirled around, his hands still on his hip and chin respectively, and grinned. “Now is that any way to speak to a potential customer? You should be polite and point out your most popular wares.”

Teremy exhaled. Jeremy was right. This was why Jeremy was better at dealing with customers back in the fish market days. “Well, this week only, the store is having a special on grimoires. Buy two, get one free. You can even get a left-handed book and fountain pen commissioned if you desire.”

The younger brother came back to the counter as Teremy pulled out a large portfolio-style album. Both miqo’te looked down at the assortment of cover images featuring various grimoires, codexes, and other such books.

“You don’t even need to be an arcanist to order these. We can make them just as a notebook itself for notebook’s sake.” Teremy added.

“Hmm.” Jeremy tilted his head back and forth as he leafed through the catalogue. “I could start keeping a journal. Sure, sign me up for the book and fountain pen. This one, this one, and that one. Although I was hoping to ask about… other services?”

Teremy paused and looked at Jeremy in the eyes. “Are you looking to the stars for guidance?”

“Maybe I am. I could use a little starry guidance right around now. If such services are available of course.”

Jeremy’s tail resumed wagging again. No doubt that he had heard of said services from an outside source and came all this way just to heckle his brother about it. Ignoring such a fact, Teremy pulled out a well-worn appointment book from underneath the counter and flipped to today’s page.

“How soon do you require such services?” Teremy asked.

“Preferably same day if possible,” said Jeremy.

Teremy skimmed through the planner book. Conveniently, the entire day had been booked up for Reonora, Rosemary, and Joey, like Nyemia herself had spun her own divine intervention. “Tell you what. Come back to the store after hours, which is—” Teremy looked at the nearby carbuncle chronometer, “18:00, and you’ll find someone that can help you.”

Jeremy grinned. “All right. Thanks, aniki! Exemplary customer service. I’ll come back later. Can I pay for the commission at the same time as the other service?”

“Of course. Thank you for your patronage.” Teremy performed an eastern bow to his brother.

* * *

After hours. Jeremy was nowhere to be seen.

Teremy leaned on the wall beside the currently locked door. Arms folded, he stared off into the horizon and gazed into the sunset. Since he started working at Fortunes & Fancies, he had many quiet moments like this—moments with no customers and nothing to do but listen to the carbuncle chronometer tick. Yet, those dull moments made him enjoy these poignant ones much more. He smiled softly as he gazed into the horizon, admiring the sunset. With Jeremy nowhere in sight, just for now, Teremy inhaled the evening breeze and let in the pleasure of tranquil silence.

“Hey aniki! Where’s this person that’s going to assist me?” blared his voice with the sound amplified times ten.

Teremy jumped, startled. His eyes widened and his tail shot up and frayed. He looked to the side to see Jeremy grinning, one hand on his hip and ears wiggling, completely pleased with himself. Of course. Some things never changed since childhood. Teremy took a long, deep breath to regain his composure. “You’re looking at him.”

Now it was Jeremy’s turn to recoil in shock. “What? You consult with the stars too?”

Teremy nodded. “The store owner has been showing me how to just in case I have to. I admit, this kind of thing isn’t really…” He didn’t continue the sentence lest he insult the deck in his satchel. “I’m still new to this, so be gentle.” Unlocking the door, Teremy held the door open for his brother.

“Man, is there anything you can’t actually do, aniki?” Jeremy asked as he walked inside the store.

“Hey, don’t sing my praises until we’re actually done. Then you can change your mind.”

Teremy entered behind his brother and locked the door behind him. He walked ahead of Jeremy, made a beckoning gesture, and hopped over the counter. Jeremy followed in suit and the two headed downstairs.

“I feel like we’re going into some super shady store dealings, like selling illegally poached hides or something.”

Teremy snorted. “You wish. Unfortunately, all that’s in here are a lot of lights and bohemian.” Teremy slid the oriental partition open and went inside, expecting Jeremy to follow.

And he did. The younger twin looked around at the variety of lamps, bookshelves, rugs and other objects. In the middle of the room laid two ronkan rocking chairs and a banquet style table with a square board in the middle. “Lots of… moogles. Very mystical looking.”

Teremy took a seat at the far end and gestured for Jer to sit across from him. Once Jeremy did so, Teremy pulled out his deck.

A tarot deck.

As he opened the box and tugged the ribbon to make the cards come out, Reonora’s words echoed in his mind.

“Cartomancy has many different systems. Perhaps you are familiar with the Sharlayan system? The method which attunes you to the stars and allows you to draw upon cards in battle? It stands to reason that cards also allow one to divinate as well. The future, secrets, and most commonly, advice. The method my mother had taught me is called Lenormand—a system that relies on creating phrases to decipher meaning. I have given Rosemary and Joey oracle decks, which rely on perhaps a single card or its own individual system. To you, I bequeath this deck. It is a system called Tarot. For this deck, simply put, each card has its own meaning. This is an old system where one can gain much insight. Perhaps I am speaking frankly, but in my opinion you seem like an old soul who thinks deeply. This may be the system for you.”

Teremy had no idea how true these words were. All he could do was shuffle the cards and have faith. As he shuffled, he felt vibrations in his hands as though the cards themselves emitted their own energies. Spirits? He thought to just focus on the task at hand. “What’s on your mind?”

Jeremy tilted his head from side to side. “I guess… What should I do now? Finding you was what drove auntie and I for so long. Now we’ve found you safe and sound, so I’m just wondering what to do with myself now I guess.”

“Like you have no purpose right now?”

“Yeah, that’s what it feels like.” Jeremy leaned his head on his hand. “Like I’m just ambling from one thing to the next now with no direction in mind.”

“Hmm.” Teremy shuffled the cards. ‘Jer’s lost his purpose in life. Can you give him some advice?’

He felt a tingling sensation in his hands—a sensation different than his usual qi. Like spiritual guidance. He felt as though the cards agreed to his request. As he continued to shuffle, Teremy looked up. “For what it’s worth, I’m grateful. I had no idea. Useless Tia said you and Auntie had left on a grand adventure without me. I didn’t know what to think. I feel stupid to have believed him. But what’s done is done. It… made me happy to know you guys were looking for me.” Teremy put the deck in the middle. “Here. You shuffle them and then hand the deck back to me after you’re done.”

“Yeah, typical of Useless Tia, failing to bring up the crucial details as to what our grand adventure was about.” Jeremy took the deck and shuffled in the same manner as his brother. Once finished, he placed the deck back in the middle. “I appreciate this, aniki. I’m really glad we found you safe and sound. I just want to find my own purpose just like you found yours.”

Teremy cut the cards into three separate stacks, then combined them again. With the deck thoroughly shuffled, Teremy now laid the cards in the spread that Reonora taught him.

Twenty one cards.

Three rows.

Seven columns.

The first row signified the past. The second spoke of the present. And the third laid out plans that had yet to happen.

Teremy glanced at the spread as a whole, then scanned the top line.

Wheel of Fortune. Three of Wands. The Magician. The Star. Four of Pentacles. Page of Pentacles. Five of Cups.

‘So far the reading has told him what Jer and I know already, but…’

His instincts couldn’t help but become bothered at one card in particular: the Four of Pentacles.

Hoarding. Possession.

“Hey, Jer, have you been… keeping something to yourself? A possession of some sort?”

Jeremy pressed his lips together. “Well...there is something, actually. I guess you really can read the stars.” He reached into his inventory and pulled out a gunblade, putting it on the table. “I found this awhile ago during my adventures with auntie. We were more focused on finding you so I never did anything with it, but I never told her I found it either. Some thugs we dealt with dropped it and I just hung onto it. I was debating trying to find out more about it but I didn’t want to turn my back on everything auntie’s taught me.”

“Thus in the past, while you were looking for me, you found this,” said Teremy. “And while you set your sights on your practical goals, you felt torn about this discovery. It was like this is a calling to you, yet you didn’t want to pursue, and you felt bad about it.”

Jeremy nodded. “Yeah. I mean I’m sure you or auntie could probably teach me about it if I asked, but I just never got around to asking. I mean I know it’s a gunblade and all but...I dunno.” He shrugged. “I’m not sure what to do. Explore my curiosity? Let it go and sell the thing to a merchant?”

‘Weird. Why would Jeremy want to suddenly sell something he’s been hoarding? Unless he needs the money for something.’ Teremy continued. “The present line doesn’t say anything you haven’t told me already. You put aside your feelings and donned your patience and, well, we’re together. But after that you lost your motivation…”

Teremy’s eyes locked onto the last card at the end of the second row.

The Five of Swords.

Surrender. Violence. Crime.

“Is there something you’re not telling me? Did you get involved with someone?” Teremy asked.

Jeremy folded his arms and closed his eyes. He may as well have just said yes. On the other hand, Jeremy didn’t exactly say any details, either. No wonder Jeremy’s words since he entered sounded so oddly specific.

Teremy scanned the bottom row—the line that read the future. “Did you get involved with bad people? Are you the one who owes money to someone?”

Jeremy looked to the side. He said nothing for a few moments. Then finally, he spoke. “Yeah. I do. I was buying information trying to find you. Eorzea is a huge place, I knew it’d take us forever to find you on our own. So I was basically buying information from a syndicate in Ul’Dah. The prices kept getting higher and higher and I ended up just making interest payments, but I actually owe a lot of money. I’ve still been paying interest, but now that we’ve found you, I guess I’m trying to think of a way to make a lot of money quickly to pay it off entirely. I never told auntie of course. I didn’t want her to know what I was doing.”

Teremy scanned the rest of the reading, but he didn’t have to say much more. His mind already started formulating ideas. Thinking. He did hear Rosemary say something along the lines of that a tarot deck may not answer a question directly, but could show the actual underlying problem. And right now, Teremy saw that example put to action.

“How much money do you owe them?”

“Eh… heh… Um…” Jeremy scratched the back of his head and muttered.

Nevermind. Teremy had heard enough. The elder brother slammed his hands on the table underneath the reading and rose to his full height. “You know what? Nevermind. Forget this. Let’s deal with them once and for all. Even the cards are backing me up on this.”

“W-w-w-whoa, aniki! You’re suggesting we take on a crime syndicate in Ul’Dah?” Jeremy stepped back, his eyes wide in shock. “Not even the Sultana wants to do that! It’s bad enough I owe them money, let’s not start a war with them! I mean it’s five million gil but it’s not impossible, and they haven’t done anything to auntie or I since I’ve been paying the interest on time—”

“I just see my brother in a bind and I can’t just sit here and do nothing. Tell me where they are. I’ll deal with them. And if you don’t tell me, I’ll find out.” In the blink of an eye, Teremy put away his star globe and pulled out a weapon he knew he could count on: his gunblade.

Jeremy stood frozen in his same shocked position. As much as he wanted to talk Teremy out of it, he knew there was no point arguing with his big brother when Teremy had his battle face on. Sighing, Jeremy stood straight and hung his head. “All right. All right. I know that face. The face that says ‘I’m doing this and no one is stopping me.’

“You know me like I know you. Tell me what happened.”

“I basically found people in Ul’Dah who were good at ‘finding’ people. So we started talking and I said I was looking for you, and essentially I asked them to put a bounty on your head. Of course I told them that I wanted you alive and unharmed! But I figured having a fleet of bounty hunters helping out would make things a bit faster.”

Teremy propped his gunblade on his back and looked down, holding a hand to his chin. ‘How did they not find me before? My Grand Company is even in Ul’dah. Invisibility really is a hidden privilege.’ He looked at Jeremy. “Finding your purpose can wait. We’ll deal with this first. I have a plan. It’s a reckless one, but here’s what we’ll do.”

The spread remained untouched on the table as Teremy deliberated his plan.

The fifth column of secret destiny: Four of Pentacles. Justice. Seven of Pentacles. Your days of scraping for money will be brought to justice and you’ll be rewarded for your investment—Justice being your selfsame brother.

The sixth column of immediate future: Page of Pentacles. The World. Page of Wands. Your goal will be brought to completion by enthusiastic rogue energy. Your brother’s plan is reckless but will give you that push you need to put an end to all this.

The seventh column of the far future about to come: Five of Cups. Five of Swords. Nine of Pentacles. Your stagnation and regret in life due to your involvement with the syndicate, you will soon gain your freedom and prosper.

[thewitchofthewind]

What kind of witches are there, and how do I know what kind of witch I should be?

Hello anon! These are really good questions to ask when you’re starting witchcraft and I am happy to assist!

Answer under a cut bc this is a long one! 

What kind of a witch should I be?

So, in order to know what kind of witch you should be, what you have to do is check in with yourself, deep inside of yourself, and feel what things you personally connect to the most. What things resonate most with your spirit so to speak, what makes you feel most in your own element? when you find something like that, that is something that it is likely you’ll be able to do magic with more easily than other paths. 

Although!! you can honestly do any kind of witchcraft that you want, with very little exceptions! So if you still aren’t sure which you’d like to do based on what you vibe with, you can just pick one that sounds the most interesting to you and try it out. There’s no harm in experimenting!

There are a few exceptions to this of course. Some cultures and practices are closed or open by invitation from members of that culture only. If you don’t belong to these cultures, you should not under any circumstances try to take their practices. It’s disrespectful, it’s potentially dangerous to meddle with magic that isn’t meant for you, and in some cases it is just not likely to work.

Examples of closed culture witchcraft to stay away from if you don’t belong to that culture and heritage already include voodoo, hoodoo, and santeria. 

Also worth mentioning that you can pick as many kinds of witchcraft to practice as you’d like! The one thing i’d say is if you’re going to do that, treat it like you would treat joining clubs or hobby groups for example, or honestly really as you would treat making any other big change in your life: start with one or two, and then once you’ve comfortably adjusted to having those in your life, explore another one if you want to– don’t pick 5 or 6 and try to get into all of them at the same time because you will wind up pulling yourself in too many directions at once. 

Additionally, if you really don’t want to devote yourself to one or a handful of kinds of witchcraft only, you can be something of a jack of all trades instead! eclectic witchcraft is the undeclared/liberal arts major of witchery, it basically means you dip into a little of this and a little of that and haven’t devoted yourself into any one kind of witchcraft or another, and that’s valid too!

No matter what kind of path you choose to follow, though, starting here is a really good point!

https://will-o-the-witch.tumblr.com/post/168715999429/im-a-baby-witch-what-do-i-start-learning 

Types of witches/witchcraft

Okay, so now that you have an idea of how to pick (or not pick) what kind of witch you’d like to be, let’s get into what’s out there, yeah? 

i’m gonna go ahead and preface this by saying these lists are NOT all-inclusive because there are AS MANY types of witch and witchcraft out there as there are grains of sand by the sea and i simply cannot cover them ALL, but this should be a helpful place to start! please keep in mind that i mean these descriptions only as a jumping off point for you to gauge what you might be interested in! there is so much more to all of these than just what i’ve written here. half the fun of choosing a new path is study :3

☆ cosmic 

cosmic witches use the energy of the cosmos to practice their craft. subsets of this type of witchcraft include lunar witchcraft (witches who connect with the energy of the moon), or solar witchcraft (witches who connect with the energy of the sun), but you can be a cosmic witch without picking between those. in addition, many witches, especially theistic (god worshipping) witches, may choose to devote their practice to a specific planet or selection of planets. cosmic witches might also choose to  be good at and study astrology. 

☆ divination

divination witches channel energy to predict the future. some can also predict the past, present, or alternate timelines. subdivisions of divination witchcraft include prophetic witchcraft (witches who have honed their ability to have visions to make predictions), cartomancy (the art of reading cards to make predictions. popular card choices are tarot cards, oracle cards, and lenormand cards, but some witches just use playing cards or even make their own cards) scrying (the art of looking into something to assist in making a prediction. some witches will look into a mirror, or a pool of water, or a crystal, or a flame. there are many many ways to scry. some versions of scrying involve pendulums, and their motions),  tasseomancy (the art of reading tea leaves to make predictions), and rune throwing (the art of casting stones with runes carved into them (rune stones) and reading them in such a way to make a prediction), or throwing the bones (similar to rune throwing, but in place of rune stones the witch throws a collection of bones and reads how they fall to help make a prediction.)

☆ Faerie 

faerie witches work closely with the fae in their craft. while i personally greatly respect the fair folk, much in the way one respects a powerful foreign dignitary, or an open inferno, i do not have personal experience in working closely with them, and as such cannot describe what that might be like. however, i felt it would be unduly rude of me to leave them out, so of course i did not.

☆ hearth

hearth witches do magic for the home. their altar is often on the hearth of their home if their home has one, hence the name. subsets of hearth witch include cottage witches (cottage witches often grow their own food and some of them keep bees, they work towards independent stability as much as they can, and weave their witchcraft into that) and kitchen witches (kitchen witches use cooking and food to convey their magic. a kitchen witch might make a tea cake imbued with luck, or a latte that guarantees a successful day at work.)   

☆ hedge 

hedge witches work a lot with liminality. they often live on the edge of town, or between a town and a forest or between a town and a highway or near a crossroads (it is thought that their tendency to live near the edge of town is where the term hedge witch comes from, as towns were often lined with hedges.) hedge witches practice a lot of spirit work and/or ancestor work, as well as they may be practiced with astral projection and/or lucid dreaming. hedge witches are also known for being good with herbal remedies, and healing magic.

☆ nature

nature witches get their energy and magic from nature! there are lots of different subsets of nature witch including green witches (witches who use their magic to help the environment) forest witches (witches who get their energy from the forest. some forest witches also engage in scavenging for magical components), weather witches (witches who get energy from and use magic to influence the weather!) plant witches (witches who use their energy to grow plants, and use plants to help them in their magic), and garden witches (witches who grow all of their own magical components, similar to cottage witches but a different vibe.)

☆ ritual

ritual witches don’t do much everyday magic. they connect best with their magic when they’ve cast a circle and have something to chant, have candles lit, or are doing something else that require ritual and routine and focus. there are rituals and spells for every subset of magic, so this describes more a mode of magic use that someone may be more comfortable with than a type of magic itself.

☆ sea

sea witches draw their energy and magic from natural bodies of water, like oceans, lakes, and seas. some sea witches have more of a connection to one body of water than another, some sea witches can work with all water whether it’s inside of an ocean/sea or not. sea witches are likely to collect sea shells, do bath magic, and visit the shore as often as they’re able to. 

☆ sigil 

sigil witches create little designs called sigils to invoke their magic into the world! sigil magic plays very well with other kinds of magic, since a sigil can be made to carry any kind of intent you’d like. people who use sigils to carry out their will are often very visual, creative, or linguistic people. sigils are also versatile in that you can draw a sigil on practically anything and use practically anything to draw one with.

☆ traditional/trad

traditional witches, or trad witches, are often witches who have inherited the craft from someone in their family. trad witches often have a mentor who teaches them the ways of magic, and they often know a lot of folklore and a lot about local magical components. 

[jbird-the-manwich]

Tarot Tips for predictive reading

Maybe start a Tarot Journal. If you pull a card or do a reading, take notes of the spread and card positions. After whatever situation plays out you can look back and see which connections you made at the time of the reading as well as observe connections in hindsight that you missed. I know this tip is always circulated and no one wants to do it but it does make a huge difference - particularly if you wish to do predictive reading.

Pull a few cards every morning. My morning routine is generally a 3 card spread of the primary thing that will happen that day, the attitude or energy I should adopt, and a wildcard for advice, insight, or usually a hint about something on my mind that day.

Trust that the cards know more than you do. It sounds hokey. But if you keep a journal for just one month and go back and check things out in hindsight you will be amazed at the things the cards displayed before it ever happened.

You may wish to commit at least one spread to memory. A lot of readers really dig the celtic cross and use some version of it for everything. I have a very specific method I use for phone readings and other general readings where a querent can continue asking questions once I start reading, and a literal scrapbook of spreads from the internet for when I just want to entertain myself, as well as a mini celtic cross style spread I use for very specific instances.

Practice nonpositional layouts. 3x3, 4x2, however many cards you like. This really switches on the intuitive faculties when every card doesn't have to have a rigid predefined meaning based on its location and allows you to read tarot more spatially like Lenormand or certain traditions of Cartomancy.

Practice reading intuitively. Read the layout left to right, horizontal, vertical, and diagonal. If the cards and their positions seem to reinforce the meanings you know, great! If they suggest something else, let them speak.

Pull a card at the _end_ of the day. What can you relate that happened, internally or externally, to the card?

Better yet, run a 3x3 nonpositional layout at the end of each day. Do they seem to tell the story of the day? Or are they echoing your thoughts and feelings about it? Or do they seem to be telling you how you should handle the events the day brought you?

Treat all rules as dubious suggestions. If someone tells you you can't read a certain way or get a certain meaning off a certain set of cards - understand they speak only from their own experience. If your experience up to now has been different, then their rules obviously don't apply to you.

Relax. The intuitive mind and the reasoning mind are different animals. Take a deep breath and consciously slip into the percieving state and out of the judging state before you begin every reading. With practice this becomes second nature and laying out the cards will instantly switch you into the more receptive state.

Take note of the colors and images that stand out during a reading. Your eye is drawn to them for a reason.

Ask crazy specific, non open-ended questions. Pull 3 cards. What's it look like? Yeah, I know. You're not "supposed to." But its fun and very good practice if you don't care about the outcome.

Resist the temptation to continue pulling cards for nonpositional readings. Decide before hand how many cards you'll pull before you even shuffle. Trust that the answer is in that number of cards. Or go crazy and keep reading till you're bored. 3 card reading is now 78 plus runes plus dice plus oracle deck plus bone casting. Divination is fun. You may end up more confused than when you started but look at all that data you derived from random objects.

Look into pathworking. This is where you basically meditate and zone out into the imagery of a card and let it pull you in. This allows you to experience the card on a much more direct level.

Don't feel pressured to do as others do. It's an intuitive art. It's hiiiighly individual.

Don't be discouraged by others. I think a lot of readers get waaaay too defensive about it, particularly when they decide tarot is their entire identity. If you find someone is lowkey (or highkey) insulting your reading style, know that it has more to do with them than it does with you. There is no reason to go into a tailspin and doubt your own validity because someone said you HAVE to train THIS WAY from THIS TRADITION or YOU'LL NEVER READ WELL. The point is enjoyment. Not pedagogy.

Prepare a list of comebacks for when someone asks "oh did you see that in your cards? Derpderpderp" "No. But I did see you'd be smelling STRAIGHT UP LIKE A BAG OF OLD SCROTUMS TODAY! :D"

If you have even one friend who is ohkay with you reading on them - they are a jackpot of experience. Read on them every so often and write down your observations. Ask them how their day went and check your notes. How close were you?

Practice reading on situations you care literally nothing about. Without the emotional barrier getting in your way, you maaay just be amazed at the things you can get out of a reading.

Do you really wanna read on something but have no idea what? Make up a hypothetical person that doesn't exist. Let the cards tell you about their life. The point is to get experience drawing meaningful information from the cards.

Ask your cards to tell you the emotional states of an artist when they wrote a specific song. What kind of feelings show up in the song _and_ in the cards?

Lean into your intuition. Hard. Particularly when you need more clarity about a card. Is it that you need more clarity? Or that you're hoping to confirm or deny your first instinct? Write that stuff down too.

Go with your _first_ interpretation when you see a card on the table. Yes, you've studied hard. Yes, you know 24 different meanings for The Moon. Yes, they are all wildly incompatible. Which one came to your mind first? Which meaning seems to _usually_ hold true? Which one makes the most sense, given the other cards around it?

Practice spotting tarot imagery in day to day life and relating it to things going on around you. Include these observations in your notes if you decide to journal your experiences.

Learn how your own mind works in relation to the cards as well as which cards come up during certain moods. The cards are a better mirror than they are a roadmap. List your moods and current anxieties in your journal too.

Don't read in a highly emotional state. You won't see clearly anyway and you'll jump at shadows and throw your bloodpressure out of whack. Which brings me to my next tip:

Practice detachment from specific outcomes.

Set a timer for five minutes and have a friend ask you a question. How many connections can you make in five minutes? This sounds counterintuitive but I find being under a limit really knocks me right out of my own way and often brings a flood of information. This may not work for everyone but it's worked for me.

Go through your deck and just admire the imagery. I'm a big believer that divination is fun and the tools are beautiful. Take time to appreciate them.

Practice building stories with the cards. Let court cards be actors in the stories, majors be big moments, motivations, and attitudes, and minors be choices, interactions and struggles.

Combine tarot with other divination methods. The results are often very fun.

Understand the future is not fixed and that divination can make you very very harried if you let it. This is why they say don't read for yourself: you can and might, occasionally, get mighty spooked. Don't attempt to read predictively if you're feeling overwhelmed or anxious. Better to read reflectively in that case.

Research The Fool's Journey. You don't -have- to do it. But I don't -regret- doing it.

Avoid the temptation to read and reread whatever situation is bugging you. Do one reading, get all you can out of it, and wait till something has changed to read again on that topic. A common tip but one worth following. It's better to note your observations and see which assumptions were correct than to keep reading until you get an outcome you like. Not only because it can trip you up emotionally to get invested in the outcomes of your readings but because its important to note how and when you assume the worst- this will be revealed in your notes and once you start to notice those trends you can get a stronger handle on whats genuine intuitive information - and what's just you, being human and assuming the worst.

Most of these tips are meant to illustrate that depending on the situation - the little white book meanings (or the sparkly online meanings. Or the dusty library book meanings.) for every card may not hold for every reader. These methods allow you to make your own connections between events and the cards and thus learn what they're trying to say when they show up for you. That's the _real_ point.

Maybe a journal isn't for you. Maybe a flashdrive of pictures of layouts with textfiles is more your jam? Or a huge pdf you can add to as you go along? Or a google drive? Or a whole private blog? Use what gets you excited and works well for you.

[wandrie]

50 questions with Ori my spirit guide

Same questions by @lulloph

1:what do you think is the worst creation ever made?

Ori: like inanimate or? me: anything you desire lmao Ori: Pedophiles.

2: whats your favorite genre of music?

Ori: like... southern Gothic chain gang country-ish but not like classic country?? Like Lana Del Rey or Delta Rae me: bless you 

3:if you could be any other entity, what would you be?

ori: Id be a god. me: WOWi

4: how many times do you think you have seen a beluga whale (in pictures or otherwise)?

ori: Im 9062 years old Ive seen many.

5:what is your favorite time of day?

Ori: Dawn

6: when do you think is the best time to take a nap?

Ori: I don’t have time for naps.maybe mid day so I cans till go to sleep at night.

7: how flexible are you on a scale from 1-10?

Ori: probably like a 7? me: yeah? ori: I can touch my toes but i cant like contort myself or anything.

8: how many fingers do you have?

ori: 18 in total. me: not 20? ori: thumbs are not fingers, they are thumbs. me: ok DAD

9:how many fingers do you want?

Ori: a total of 18 fingers and 2 thumbs.

10: would you rather get rid of your left arm(/left fin/other left extremity) or like half of all your body hair?

ori: body hair.

11:would you rather have a hamster or a guinea pig?

ori: neither. I am not a fan.

12: would you rather eat a rose quartz point or eat a selenite tower?

Ori: Don’t eat rocks Bree..... me: that wasnt the question. ori: I know what i said young lady.

13: would you rather have your whole body to be shaved like a barber pole or have to wear crocs on your hands and feet for the rest of your life (cant ever take em off…they grow with u)?

Ori: none of those. I dont care. if anyone comes near me with crocs or a shaver i will stab them. me: yes SIR

14: how many times in a day do you wash your hands?

Ori: As many times as is required. Before every meal, After using the bathroom, etc.

15: do you prefer rings or necklaces

Ori: rings. Im waiting for Az to put a ring on it. me: OH WORM? Ori: stop.

16: how many times in ur life have u ever wanted to yodel?

Ori: whenever the situation calls for it. these are strange questions....

17: do you prefer chocolate or fruity candy?

Ori: hmm............................*thinks for a long time* chocolate

18: whats your favorite animal?

Ori: Youve been foxes several times and Ive always thought those were adorable. Maybe I’m biased

19: if you had to ride an animal for the rest of your life, what animal would it be?

Ori: an animal that is made for riding?.... Horse?

20:are you an alto or soprano?

Ori: Alto and soprano are for feminine voice types. I would technically be a Tenor, but for the sake of this question, Alto.

21: what is your opinion on shopping?

Ori: I enjoy going to farmer’s market type places. Its interesting to see all the different types of food.

22: how would you feel if everything you ate for the rest of your life was the texture of sand?

Ori: i would probably choke on it..

23: how would you feel if everything you drank for the rest of your life was the texture of oil paint?

Ori: as long as its cold. It could be like a smoothie I suppose.

24: how many times in your life have you tap danced?

Ori: Maybe a few times. Im unsure.

25:do you prefer the moon or the sun?

Ori: The moon.

26: what is your opinion on water?

Ori: I do enjoy a good swim or sprinkle. My favorite place in your astral space is the fountain you made me. me: Aw im glad you like it so much.

27: how disgusting is the pulp in fruit juice on a scale from 1-10? (dont try to lie and say its good….its bad)

Ori: mm...maybe a 5. I will drink the juice if it has pulp but I don’t prefer it.

28: what is your favorite flavor of chewing gum?

Ori: The....bubble gum flavor. is that what its called? me: I believe so?

29: how well can you juggle?

Ori: I can juggle just fine. I wouldn’t say i’m an expert at it.

30: what are the top 3 instruments you’d like to learn how to play?

Ori: Ive always wanted to play the violin. thats all.

31: would you rather be the size of an ant for the rest of your life or the size of a giant every day for two random consecutive hours of the day?

Ori: neither. me: oh come onnnnnnnnn Ori: a giant so i could squish you.

32:what type of clothing would u get rid of if you could?

Ori: Boob windowed shirts me: why you dont have boobs Ori:....I guess I just dont like the trope in superhero things.

33: what 4 similarities can you think of for an alligator vs a peacock?

Ori: you find them in random places. Like that Library we used to go to, or swimming pools. Both remind me of dinosaurs, Aggressive, Beady eyes.

34: what color would you want your tongue to be if you could change it

Ori: I think it woould be nice if I could change the color of it like i can change my hair.....Maybe i can? ive never tried.

35: whats your opinion on reading?

Ori: I enjoy it very much. 

36: do you prefer the word snuggle or cuddle and why?

Ori: Both have the same meaning really. I use both depending on the day. However cuddle rolls off the tongue easier.

37: how many hairs do you think you have on your body?

Ori: None. me: what really? Ori: ask Az. me: in earlier questions you said body hair. Ori: yes because 1/2 of 0 hairs on my body is still 0. me: WOW

38: what is cooler? tarot or lenormand?

Ori: I know Tarot much more. Though I think you could benefit from learning a new divination card type Bree. me: yes dad

39: what is the coolest “mythical” creature?

Ori: hmm... nothing is very mythical now is it? Id say shapeshifters. me: youre just saying that because your boyfriend is a shapeshifter huh ori: anyway next question

40: if you could change your height/size, what would you change it to?

Ori: Maybe a bit taller.

41: what is your favorite cartoon?

Ori: whats that one you like? me: be more specific Ori: with the two kids and their uncle? Me: Gravity falls? ori: yes

42: what is a place you’d like to visit in the world?

Ori: I love Italy, I would like to spend my honeymoon there.

43: what is your opinion on daylight savings time?

Ori: I have no preference. Mostly because we dont change for that correct? We dont need to save sun. Me: correct. Arizona doesnt use it Ori: its inconvienent that everyone else does.

44: would you rather have to climb a tree like a monkey or like a big cat?

Ori: I would just fly? me: Answer the question Ori. Ori: maybe a monkey.

45: how do you feel about man buns?

Ori: I dont care.

46: if you had to eat one bug for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Ori: A huge one so i dont have to eat as many to be satisfied.

47: what genre of music is cursed (aside from country)?

Ori: well, considering I like country, whatever this persons favorite music is, is cursed. me: its just a silly joke ori. Ori: Hmpf

48: would you rather have to wear one glove for the rest of your life or one sock

Ori: I just wouldnt wear either. I dont even wear shoes.

49: what color would u want to paint your nails if you had to?

Ori:Hm pink or blue.

50: how much do you love your companion?

Ori: She is basically my daughter. And It is an honor to be her guide and see her grow in every life time. My love for her is unconditional, and I will do whatever I can to help her along, and I wouldn’t trade her for anything in the world or any other world for that matter. me: a-awww *tears up*

[thetarotbutterfly-blog]

Oooh I see you're using some different decks for your readings, can you share what decks you have/what do you like about them the most??

Hello Anon

Apologies that it took me so long to answer this ask. I had to pull out all my decks to properly catalogue them. Today was the first day I have had the opportunity and time to do that.

Below is a list of each deck I have. I started to write out what I like about each deck, but honestly, my answer was the same for pretty much every deck. I am very visual when it comes to tarot decks, so if the art style does not connect with me, then I won’t connect with the deck. If I don’t feel drawn to the art, I will never purchase it in the first place or get a chance to determine if I connect with it outside of the art, you know? I don’t read with all of my decks since some are more just for my collection than for readings. Of the ones I do read with, some of them have a different “personality” from the others. Ultimately though, what I like best is the art, the symbolism, and how I feel when using each deck. I have made extra notes about additional things I like for a few of the decks.

TAROT*Tarot of the Secret Forest - I like the black and white version of the art on the back of each card. Sometime this makes it tricky to read with though. *Thelema Tarot - Love the borderless look. *The Original Rider Waite - it is a classic, so I love it for that.*Radiant Rider Waite - I like this coloration better than the original, more vibrant. *Archeon Tarot*The Deviant Moon Tarot - this is one of my all time fave decks. *Stretch Tarot*English Magic Tarot*Druidcraft Tarot*Quantum Tarot*Idiosyncradeck - So pretty and straightforward. One of my top favourites.*Gilded Tarot*Antique Anatomy Tarot *Wooden Tarot - Feels super earthy. *Tarot of the Sweet Twilight -Love this style. I swear some of these cards are based off of Tim Burton’s films and style. Love it. *Witches Tarot - love the back of these cards.*Tarot Nova*Zombie Tarot - This is just fantastic and so quirky, but totally usable. Love it. *Housewives Tarot*After Tarot - nifty concept*Tarot of New Vision - cool concept*The Wild Unknown Tarot*Halloween Tarot - the black cat is in every card, and it makes me happy. *Ellis Deck - borderless and is waterproof plastic card stock. I feel like I can use this forever and it will hold up well. *Wildwood Tarot*Tarot of the Silicon Dawn*Egyptian Tarot*Tarot of a Moon Garden*The Happy Tarot - Has a way of perking me up.*Crystal Tarot*Welcome to Night Vale Tarot - I am a fan of WTNV, so yeah…*Revelations Tarot - love the concept and how it works for reversals.*Alice Tarot - This has metallic foil on the cards that catches the light. This is by far the most decadent deck I have. I love just looking at it. *Mystic Dreamer Tarot*Lars Kristian Holmsen Tarot - My first ever deck.*Tarot of the Magical Forest*Raven’s Prophecy Tarot*Green Witch Tarot*Tarot of the White Cats*Universal Fantasy Tarot*Ghost Tarot*Legacy of the Divine Tarot - One of my top favorites. There is so much to see in each card. *Alchemy England Tarot*Dark Angels Tarot*Ceccoli Tarot*Starchild Tarot - LOVE the colors of this deck.*Shadowscapes Tarot*Antiquarian Tarot*Tyldwick Tarot*Disciples Tarot - This deck feels magical to me.

ORACLE & LENORMAND *Vintage Wisdom Oracle - very clear messages. Sensual and beautiful. *Earthbound Oracle - Earthy and matches the Wooden Tarot*Seekers Lenormand*Mystical Kipper*Deck of 1000 Spreads*Only Time Will Tell Oracle*Oracle of Oddities (1st & 2nd Editions) - amazing art. I feel very connected to it. *Druid Plant Oracle*Druid Animal Oracle*Faeries Oracle*Halloween Oracle - One of my fave oracles. Love that it has depth to the messages.*Kuan Yin Oracle*Malpertuis Lenormand*Wisdom of the Oracle*Energy Oracle*Psychic Tarot Oracle*Amethyst Oracle - taps into my intuition well. *Antiquarian Lenormand

[goneintheriver]

Okay since I’m on some weird Talking About Myself roll I’m gonna do this tag meme thing about magic that @edderkopper totally tagged me in 

This tag meme says “witch” but I’m gonna answer like it said “magic user” 

put under cut for length, feel free to do this and say I tagged you!

1. Are you a religious witch? Which religion? I’m a Gaelic Polytheist, which I would say has a lot of effect on how I do and approach magic. ie very folk methods, lots of me being pesky and going “nah, that doesn’t work for me”.

2. What is your preferred herb? This is like, asking your preferred friend. I don’t know! They all have their unique strengths! I guess juniper is one of the most important to my tradition, but I mostly use that because I have three cedars in my backyard.

3. What is your preferred gem? Amethyst. Cliche, maybe, but you can’t deny the beauty of a good amethyst.

4. Do you do divination? Which kind? My main method is tarot, mostly owing to all the different decks and perspectives on the system out there. I also use other forms of cartomancy like Lenormand, oracle decks, and playing card divination. I’m hoping to learn more about ogham and astragalomancy (dice) this year.

5. Favorite Tarot card? Strength.

6. To Curse or not to Curse? I say give em’ hell.

7. Do you have a familiar? Nope.

8. Favorite candle color? Purple and black.

9. Favorite rune? I don’t use runes, but I’ll tell you my favorite ogham letter: Luis

10. Do you celebrate the solstices, full moons, etc? I do celebrate the solstices, as a devotee of Grian and her sister Aine. The equinoxes not so much (though I do observe Latha Na Cailliche on March 25th). As for the full moons, I’m slowly incorporating the lunar cycle into my practice, and I find myself honoring the new moon more instead.

11. Do you wear a pentacle? No, but I do have a triskele necklace. I haven’t been wearing it much because the clasp is hard for my disabled hands to open, I’m trying to get a more accessible chain for it.

12. Do you have a broom? Yes, it’s right over th- oh, you mean for magic! No.

13. Do you have a pendulum? Not a “real” one, but I’m hoping to buy one soon. Soon! Tarot decks keep getting in the way.

14. Do you have an athame? Nope. I do need to buy a pocket knife or something for wildcrafting, but that’s not the same thing.

15. How often do you meditate? My dude, I suck at that sort of thing.

16. Do you do yoga? I also suck at this sort of thing.

17. What's your favorite herbal tea? For daily purposes? Jasmine. Any green tea is just, yes. For magical purposes, I drink a glass of hibiscus tea before doing divination for someone.

18. Do you support manipulation magic? Like, define that though? Are we talking binding or making someone fall in love with you? It really all depends.

19. How many altars do you have? One, and two shrines currently.

20. Do you do magic outside often? Actually, yeah? I feel more comfortable sitting on the ground outside than inside, and it helps me feel grounded and powerful to be connected to the land (even though the land I venerate is the city and therefore can be accessed anywhere, but whatever.)

21. Can you read palms, or tea leaves? I’ve been interested, but since I don’t drink tea hot the last one is a little difficult. 

23. Is your third eye open? Only when I shitpost. Seriously though, not my belief system.

24. Do you like Astrology? Whats your sign? No, I love the shit out of astrology. It was the first woo-y thing I ever learned (in the third grade) and I’ve been loving all them zodiac memes because I’ve been making them myself for years. I actually only just now introduced astrology into my magic though. Shrugs. (My sign is Aries Sun & Moon with Virgo rising, Taurus Mercury, and Venus in Gemini)

25. Favorite flower? Or Tree? Magnolia and magnolia. Oops. (Specifically Southern/Grandiflora)

26. Do you have an animal guide? Nope. I have lots of animal themed decks but never really considered contacting any animal spirits (which are not spirit animals). I’ve got my hands full enough as is!

27. What's your favorite kind of magic? Folk. Definitely folk. 

28. What time do you feel most like a witch? In the middle of a ritual or spell (as long as I’m not bumbling through it). Also, spirit work. Also, doing tarot readings with a bunch of candles and crystals strewn around me. Also, spring & fall nights.

29. Are you out of the broom closet?  If it comes up you’ll know, unless I have you pegged as someone who would be very not into that.

30. Are you a hereditary witch? Or self discovered? Definitely self-discovered. I was never taught, and I have no evidence of any magic history in my family aside from my aunt telling me my grandmother would have “loved this stuff”.

31. Are you in a coven? Or solitary? Solitary. I’m all for doing magic in groups (I’ve nudged @hellboundwitch about this already) but a straight up coven ain’t my thing. That’s very much a Witchcraft thing to me.

32. Do you want to be in a coven? How big? I already answered above so instead: There’s a mockingbird singing outside even though it’s midnight and I’m about to go yell at it.

33. When did you become a witch? Junior-senior year of high school. Back then I actually called myself a witch!

34. Do you make your own spells? Yep, though I do get by with a little help from the online magic community.

35. Do you make your own sigils? Yep, though again, I love using the amazing sigils people put out there. I’m no where near as design-y as the folks out there. (Yet!)

36. Why did you choose this path? Seemed fun, I guess? I was really bad at being an atheist and my life has been one of abuse and oppression, so it’s a way to gain some power back and use it to help myself and others.

37. What's your favorite element? I don’t follow the Four Elements as a cosmology, but I do use them as a way to understand the human condition as seen in Tarot and Astrology. Really though, I love them all equally except Air. Me and Air don’t get along. (Of the Three Realms, my favorite is Land.)

38. Do you do any misc. magic? Like... What? I feel like all my magic is pretty miscellaneous. 

39. Magic or things you will never do? Not big on astral projection. That’s all that really comes to mind, aside from stuff that’s culturally appropriative. 

40. Strangest way a spell backfired? I swear I’ve had something funny happen to me but I can’t remember it... Maybe it was actually a daily lenormand reading? Oh well.