Want/Don't Want Spread

A few weeks ago I created this spread. I used this in a reading for someone, and it worked very nicely for her situation. This layout focuses on what the client really wants in a situation, what they don't want, what the distractions or blocks are, and where they can put their energies for positive outcomes.

Want/Don't Want Spread

1.

Overall vibe of situation

2. What you want                                                    3. What you don't want

4. What others want/expect from you

5. Distractions/Blocks from within:                                 6. Distractions from without

what you're doing to yourself                                            don't go there

7. What you have going for you                                      8. Support from others;        

within: focus on this                                                           don't be afraid to ask for help 

9. 

Possible path...

Deck Snobbery

Readers have their tastes. I really like the Deviant Moon tarot, (and it is a popular deck) but I know others who do not like it all. Doreen Virtue's Angel tarot is another deck I like, even though I have some minor issues with it. Others I know find the deck too sweet. And that's fine, of course. There are thousands of tarot and oracle decks out there, to fit all kinds of tastes and philosophies.

But then there are "tarot snobs" and I admit, I was guilty of such snobbery myself. Someone very close to me, who's also been reading cards for a good forty years and more, hates, and I mean detests, the Rider Waite Smith tarot. He's gone so far as to say he wouldn't respect any reader who uses that deck. I used to think that as well, to a point.  But funny thing about opinions; often we have them and aren't sure why, and often, they change.

I've had a mini Rider deck for years. Almost have given it away at times, but couldn't bring myself to do that. Lately I've been reading with the deck, and I had to wonder why I had negative opinions about the deck. As with many of us, when I first began to explore the tarot, the Rider deck was the one I used. It was the first tarot deck I was introduced to -- my mother had the same deck. Reading with the deck lately I had not only good readings, but good energy around using the deck, and those readings.

So I've been looking for a deck similar to the RWS deck. I wanted something very close to the "original" but, slightly different. I finally found it! The Diamond tarot. Unfortunately, it appears hard to find, and is very expensive. Amazon has the decks ranging from about $70.00 to over a $1,000.00! Good time to practice my manifesting mojo and see what comes.

The cards are very much the traditional RWS cards, but the borders add a psychedelic energy to the cards that I like. The wide and colorful borders frames the images in a new way. One of the criticisms about RWS from my friend is that the images are too "obvious" and put assumptions into the client's head. (Hmm. That happens anyway, doesn't it, and the role of the reader is to facilitate the interaction between both…) At the same time, the borders and coloring do add something fresh to the tradition, and I like the interplay between the new and classic.

White Rabbit Oracle

Browsing through Aeclectic Tarot's site, came across this oracle deck; the White Rabbit oracle.  I am in love with the illustrations. Very lovely deck. Reminds me a bit of the Cosmic Tarot deck. So now another one to add my list!

Steampunk Magick

The inventor of Steampunk Magic (k), Gypsey Teague, is tonight's guest on George Noory's Coast to Coast radio program

.

I'm unfamiliar with Teague, but the blending of steampunk and magic seems like a natural partnership. Steampunk itself is new, even while based on old. So how new is this new compared to the traditions it's based upon? Moot point I suppose. (For example, we have at least one Steampunk oracle deck, and so on. Steampunk fashion is popular within the witchy realm)

Speaking of steampunk and magic, I've been enjoying the BBC program Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, based on the book by Susanna Clarke.

 The character of Jonathan Strange is a new practioner of magick, fighting against the "respectable", rigid and conservative master magician -- England's "only" magician -- Mr. Norrell.

Full Moon

Getting ready . . .

Metaphysical Items on Etsy and a Witch Hunt of a Grander Scale - BrianaDragon Creations

Hmm, now here's a perspective from Briana Dragon Creations on the Etsy policy that I hadn't considered, and I think there's a lot of truth in it. Of course, this still affects metaphysical vendors...

Metaphysical Items on Etsy and a Witch Hunt of a Grander Scale - BrianaDragon Creations: Here’s the thing: This is much more than a metaphysical seller issue. This affects pretty much every home business that sells anything that would help someone in any way. Home remedies, herbal remedies, soaps, oils, incense, lotions, and the list goes on and on. This was never about Pagans or any other faith, it’s about the government trying to run all the little guys out of business under the guise of protecting the public. (Briana Dragon Creations)

And, this: (italics mine)

Another point that I’m going to reiterate is that any item which heals or helps a person based on energy rather than direct physical effect is considered a “mind-body healing” item, and is not regulated by the FDA. Metaphysical item sellers actually have a fully legal loophole and are therefore far better off than all the folks who sell bath, body and remedy items. I hate to say it, but the Pagan community needs to get their heads out of their asses and realize that this is not about them, it’s about small business being crushed by unfair laws. If they’d put some energy into questioning the FDA and thinking about the bigger picture, a lot more would happen than just whining about how they can’t sell a spell on Etsy.  (Briana Dragon Creations)

More information and information we can use to change things as well as keep on going.

Etsy Bans "Metaphysical" Items

Sort of. More from Lon Strickler at Phantoms and Monsters:

Phantoms and Monsters: Pulse of the Paranormal: The sales ban of certain items on the popular internet marketplace Etsy has once again effected supernatural vendors. After eBay banned the sale of magic-related services in 2012, Etsy became one of the most popular places for these types of vendors to make a living. Initially it's the restriction of metaphysical goods and services...so what can we expect down the road? Here's a recent article describing the new policy at Etsy: (Lon Strickler)

It's really too bad, and ignorant of course. As the article comments, if Christian religious items are sold, for example, why the ban against other items - and does this violate freedom of religion laws?



Hopefully Etsy will change its policies.

Mind the Gap: Meditations on Magical Realism | EsoterX

From one of my favorite esoteric, Fortean-anomalous-mystical type minded blogs, where the writing is always excellent and the topics varied and unique, is the following on his relationship with knowing tarot -- what to do, how to do it, and much more, such as "truth"… this from ExoterX:

Mind the Gap: Meditations on Magical Realism | EsoterX: So, I put the question to him. Do tarot cards work? After all, he had dabbled in the occult, explored the world of sympathetic magic, altered his own consciousness in myriad ways, and most importantly to the question at hand, given tarot card readings professionally. After I endured a brief diatribe largely summed up by “Who cares?”, and surrounding the poverty of my genetic inheritance and the abysmal greyness of my grey matter, he became more thoughtful, and gave an answer that has long stuck with me as a remarkably sane and fruitful perspective on all things anomalous or esoteric. He said, “Tarot, or frankly any kind of oracle, doesn’t tell you anything you don’t already know”. Then he took a smoke break. (Esoterx blog)

The Ghetto Tarot | Indiegogo

New tarot deck: The Ghetto Tarot. Photographs of Haitians, in poses representing each card based on the Coleman Rider deck. You can fund this project at Indiegogo:

The Ghetto Tarot | Indiegogo: Why call it Ghetto Tarot?

According to the common definition, the ghetto is a part of a city in which members of a minority group live, especially because of social, legal, or economic pressure. The term was originally used in Venice to describe the part of the city to which Jews were restricted and segregated.

Today, a commonly used definition of a ghetto (especially in the United States) is communities distinguished by a homogeneous race or ethnicity. Additionally, a key feature that continues to symbolize the demographics of American ghettos is the prevalence of poverty. Poverty constitutes the separation of ghettos from other, suburbanized or private neighborhoods. The Haitian people have long ago adopted the word Ghetto into their own language Creole and use it to name the poorest neighborhoods of their cities.

A Haiku, and a Tarot Dream

Funny dream last night, as well as one that came true, in a sense…

Dreamt I came into possession of a new tarot deck. A slight lucid dream moment; in the dream the deck was the Robin Hood deck, not the Robin Wood deck. I was aware of the funny change in both title and meaning of the decks.

 Later, I'm at work, and in a heated discussion about paganism and wicca, and found myself defending myself. Not defending myself but rather, really standing up for myself. 

Today at work, co-workers were commenting about paganism and how the meaning of pagan means not believing in god. I said "Pagans believe…" then I paused, and said "We believe…" and spoke about the different paths. "I'm a polytheistic pagan" I said, among other things. The co-workers are Christian, and they were very interested and very respectful. This was the first time I had come out as a pagan and a wiccan/witch at work. A good experience all around, but odd. I don't know what made me speak up in the first place, let alone make my practices known.

And now, for the haiku that I wrote this evening:

the tarot cards spread

summer evening and a full moon

awaiting the visitor