Category Archives: Instructional

Tarot Blog Hop: New Tarot Deck

07 Thursday Jan 2016

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This blog post is a part of a monthly Tarot Professionals Blog Hop. Please click the links above and the links below the post to see how other Tarot Readers interact with a new Tarot deck.

So…you’ve received a new deck in one way or another. Maybe, it was a gift or you acquired it from a proprietor of some sort, it doesn’t matter, you still want to use it. The deck itself may seem like a lifeless paper product with a weird factory smell when you first get it, and that may put you off to using it for readings. This can be disheartening if you are like me and must use everything you own. Otherwise it was a waste of money, and a waste of an artist’s hard work and dedication. With a lot of great decks being a good chunk of change, you may expect your new magickal item to be instantly, well, magickal. The pictures may ‘call’ to you (aka you love the artwork), but when you open the box, you become a nervous wretch and forget everything you know about Tarot.

I have been getting new decks lately, even though I don’t really necessarily want them. Mostly, these have been given to me as gifts or as rewards for my participation in fundraisers. I have most of the ones that I want, and I am very particular about the type of artwork I prefer. However, I feel like I should work with these decks, because it seems that I should be able to read most any deck. Plus, it keeps your skills fresh, and it’s kind of fun to play with a deck that you have no connection to at all. Here are my techniques of transforming a deck of cards into powerful allies in your magickal arsenal.

Get Acquainted

The first thing I do after freeing my new friend from the confining restraints of its

The Court cards for the cups in the Tarot Illuminati (top), Thoth Tarot (middle), and the Michelangelo Tarot (bottom)

The Court cards for the cups in the Tarot Illuminati (top), Thoth Tarot (middle), and the Michelangelo Tarot (bottom)

packaging is take it out and feel it in my hands. I like to get a sense of how the card stock is in my hands when I shuffle or just take a card out of the deck. I take note of how slippery the deck is, because this will produce a ton of ‘jumpers’ while I shuffle.

I like to look at each individual card and familiarize myself with the order of the Majors, as well as the names of these Trump cards. In some decks,the Devil may be named Oppression. In Waite-Smith based decks, Strength is numbered as VIII and Justice is XII. In other decks, the Strength and Justice cards are named something else completely and their order is flipped. Sometimes, the Court cards may be in a different language than one you are familiar with or they aren’t what you are used to. For

example, you might have only used decks whose Court cards are Page/Knight/Queen/King, and now you have a deck that has them as Princess/Prince/Queen/Knight. This is when that little booklet included with all new decks becomes your best asset in becoming acquainted with your new deck.

Shuffle…A LOT!

One of the best things to do is shuffle your new deck. First, these cards are in order, and will clump together if not shuffled enough. It’s kind of like making cookies, but only stirring the ingredients 3 times with a small spoon then trying to bake them. Secondly, this simple action stirs life into your new found friends. You start to incorporate your essence into them, and this starts to charge your cards. I will usually play with a new deck for a good hour before using it for readings that I would put any stock in. While I am stirring the cards, I will think about a million things, and I may even be anxious or excited. I will also periodically lay out the cards as I think of questions. I keep the spreads very simple, and I do not ask super serious life changing questions. I will ask questions that I know, or I will even ask the cards about their personal tastes. Asking playful, yet respectful, questions calms my own anxiety, and allows me to fully connect with my new deck. I will use the booklet if need be.

Everywhere I Go…

One of the most important things I do is take my new deck everywhere with me if it’s portable. It goes to work with me, and it goes to the grocery store. It is not uncommon for me to have at least 4 different divination tools on my person. This may be a little harder for menfolk as they may not have a knapsack that they carry with them. Another way is to sleep with the cards nearby you. This continues to aide you in not only strengthening your intimate connection, and continues to charge your cards. This will also remind you to keep working with the cards. I feel that by doing this, you really establish the cards as a magickal tool that you can trust and work with on a daily basis.

While with ritual tools you want to consecrate these items for specific purposes, because you do not use them on a daily basis. I do not do this with my cards or other divination devices. I establish them as a tool for this purpose by passively attuning them to my energy. They then become a part of me, and my cards are a trusted member of my life.

I hope this was helpful! See the other blogs to get different ideas, and try them out to see what works best for you!

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Numerological Energies for the New Year

09 Tuesday Dec 2014

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Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to be forewarned as to what you may be dealing with on a yearly, monthly, or daily basis? While there are a ton of divinatory tools at your disposal, simple math can help you deal with everyday, physical energies. You can then add on to all of this using Runes, Tarot, Lenormand, or whatever else you are wonderfully attracted to.

So, let’s get started!

Calculating your Yearly number:

First, add up the month of your birth, day of your birth, and year you are looking into.

Month of Birth                   4
Day of Birth                 +  28
Year of Inquiry              +2015
Total Number for the year     2047

Next, we are going to break this down into a single number, unless it’s 11 or 22, by adding the individual numbers together.

2+0+4+7 = 13
Still not done! Now time to simplify the number even more.
1+3 = 4
So, 4 is the final answer!

So, the number 4 would be the energies that were playing into your life on a physical level.

Now, you try it! The meanings of numbers are HERE

Calculating your Monthly number:

Take the Year’s number that you had calculated. So, mine is 4. Now, you are going to add the yearly number to the month in question.

January:          4+1 = 5
February:         4+2 = 6
March:            4+3 = 7
April:            4+4 = 8
May:              4+5 = 9
June:             4+6 = 10; 1+0 = 1
July:             4+7 = 11
August:           4+8 = 12; 1+2 = 3
September:        4+9 = 13; 1+3 = 4
October:          4+10 = 14; 1+4 = 5
November:         4+11 = 15; 1+5 = 6
December:         4+12 = 16; 1+6 = 7

The meanings of numbers are HERE

I did the whole year so you can see how you would break down the numbers to their simplest form. You do not do this with the number 11 or 22. These are considered Master Numbers, and they do not need to be simplified into a single digit.

Calculating your Daily Number:

Now, you can go even further down the number rabbit hole, and calculate the number for each day of the month. You do this as follows:

For October, the number that was calculated was 5. I would then take the number 5 and add it to the day that I want to know about. So, let’s take the 6th of October.

Month Number (October)      5
Day of the Month (October) +6
                           11
11 – This is the energy you are working with on the 6th of October.

Let’s try another. Let’s take the month number for April, and the 11th of April.

Month Number (April)           8

Day in the Month (April)     +11
                              19
1+9 = 10; 1+0 = 1
This is the energy you are working with on the 11th of April.

The meanings of numbers are HERE

I hope this has been informative. Enjoy 2015!

Numerology – Meanings of Numbers

07 Sunday Dec 2014

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When it comes to any meanings in the divinatory sense, everyone has their own keywords that they prefer to use. While doing any sort of research will prove that people just kind of make things up as they go it seems. Personally, these are the keywords that I use for the numbers. Mainly, because that was what I was taught a long time ago and old habits die hard. I like to use one word keywords, because they convey a thought or feeling for every person based on their own map of reality.As you read through this list, you may notice that the fun numbers are the odd numbers, while the even numbers are a little more about hard work. I like to think that this keeps balance in the Universe. Plus, if we only dreamt of great things, but never worked on those great things, we would never move forward on our path.

The Keywords for the Numbers:

1: Individuality: This number means that you are working with the energy of being separate from the rest of the people around you. It speaks of how you treat yourself on an outer level, and asks us to work on taking care of the self, first.

2: Cooperation: The number two talks to us of togetherness. How we work with the other people around us. It asks us to focus on how we are treating others around us.

3: Creativity: The number 3 is a magic number for sure. This kind of magic speaks to us about how we are using our imagination to make our world a better place. It asks us to think outside the box.

4: Hard Work: The number 4 tells us that we will need to grit our teeth, and work hard. This number is about getting things done. It asks us to find the self-discipline we need to work through our responsibilities at hand.
5: Personal Freedom: This number is all about letting your hair down. It’s not about being irresponsible with our actions, but letting go of that which may be holding us down. Letting go of guilt, changing old ways of thought, being flexible, and having some fun is what this number asks of us.

6: Decision: The number 6 is telling us that a decision needs to be made. This could be a big decision that has been on your mind for a while or a tiny one that you think may have no real impact on your life. The decision that you make may make a lasting impression on our lives. This number asks us to make decisions wisely, but at the same time not to overthink the decision.

7: Introspection: The number 7 tells us that we need a little time to think. We need time to work on spiritual matters, and spend some alone time working on spiritual pursuits. This number asks us to seek out knowledge to better ourselves.

8: Business: Now we’re back to work! The number 8 is all about taking care of our business pursuits. This number is also about leadership, control, and power. This number wants us to focus on how we can balance our career pursuits so that we do not step on someone else in the process. It also asks us not to become over-bearing tyrants on those who may be more sensitive than we are.

9: Completion: The number 9 is all about completing the things that we may have been putting off. This could be creative projects, and sometimes it could even signify the end of a relationship. This number gives us relief from stagnant situations, so we can move forward on our path. It asks us to look around us, and see what needs to be changed.

11: Illumination: The number 11 is all about being a light in the darkness for other people. This is like being a flame, and all the little moths gather around your light. While working with this energy may seem like a wonderfully good time, there is always a downside. The people that may be attracted to you could not be the best of people; however, they may be a mirror of your own thoughts and actions. This number asks us to look at the people around us as reflections of where we happen to be on our path at that present moment. If you do not like to see, it is time to make some changes in yourself.

22: Master Builder: The number 22 helps you make your dreams into a reality. This is an auspicious time to start those things that you may have previously believed to be unattainable. The energy of a 22 asks us to dream big, and work on those dreams. This is not a time to sit on your laurels.

Now, these are the numbers that I have personally been using for the past 10 years. Some people like to use the numbers 0 and 33. Since I am not familiar with how these work, if you wish to look into this further, by all means go for it!

Recommended Reading:
Numerology by Hans Decoz

The Do’s and Don’ts of using a Ouija Board

09 Sunday Mar 2014

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I am not going to go into the history of the Ouija board in this post, but I am going to tell you my personal set of rules when you play with a board. There are many sites out there that explain what the board’s history is, and rules on how to use it. I would look into many sources to see what you believe about the board.

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The board can be a useful tool, if used by a responsible and knowledgeable person or group of people. If you are super religious in a monotheistic way, it is best to stay completely away from it. The reason for this, is that you would invite negative spirits in just by the guilt you will feel from playing with it. Belief is very powerful, and you will probably not get the results you are looking for. Basically, if you feel fear at all, don’t do it. I cannot stress this enough.

People who don’t know what they are doing, tend to forget that they shouldn’t be playing with demons and such on there. They seems to be looking for a little danger, and forget they are messing with forces that they don’t completely understand. The spirit or entity could stay behind if you don’t properly close the ritual of sorts that you have created. It’s sad, because the Ouija can actually be useful. Everything you do when it comes to spirit should be done with intention, not with seeing if it works or whatever.

So here is my list of Do’s and Don’ts when it comes to the responsible use of the Ouija.

Do’s:

  • A cleansing ritual before using the board. Cleanse everyone who is going to use the board, the room where the board is going to be used, and even the board itself. This can be done by burning sage, and using the smoke to clear any negative energy that would be present.
  • Have a specific person or entity you wish to contact. Ask for your guardian angel, a family member, or whomever you wish to contact. Preferably the spirit or entity would be something or someone that feels positive.
  • Ask for specific proof that isn’t going to scare the crap out of you. You could have them knock, flicker a candle, or if using the board for divination, ask for a specific sign that what they are saying is true.
  • Be comfortable. The more comfortable you are, the less likely you are to feel weak while using the board. The stronger you are the less likely that negative things will be able to attach themselves to you.
  • Be cordial. Ask the spirit or entity questions in a manner that doesn’t make them angry.
  • Say goodbye when you are done. If you feel unsettled by the experience, cleanse the room, board, and others again.

Don’ts:

  • Use drugs or drink before using the board. This makes sure that you are not in control, and you need to be the one in control the whole time while using the board.
  • Use if you are really religious. This just invites in the negative entities, because you already feel like the board does this.
  • Let the board act in a frantic manner. Don’t let the planchette go from letter to letter really fast with no rhyme or reason. Tell it to STOP. You are in control. If you don’t feel as if you are, say goodbye, and cleanse.
  • Use while hungry. This weakens the aura. You may feel sick. Plus, using any sort of device for divination or anything like that tends to make you tired, and feel drained.
  • Be Rude. You wouldn’t like it if someone was demanding things of you. However, being assertive when necessary is different. Don’t be a pansy, but don’t be a jerk either.
  • Use if you have no prior knowledge of the occult, new age, or any other type of spirituality. You wouldn’t know what to expect, or even how to do a cleansing ritual, so it is not advised. Doing research before any sort of ritual or spiritual experience is always necessary.

I personally, have never had a problem with my boards. They do work, and sometimes they even draw pictures of things. So, enjoy and be careful.

For more on the board visit this site:
http://ghostsagogo.com/ouija.html