Divination 101 - The Tarot Deck

Divination is the practice of reading the future or the unknown. 

There are many ways to practice Divination, but one of my absolute favorites is the Tarot Deck. The Tarot Deck is basically a deck of 78 cards. There are two lists that help to make up this deck: The Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana. These two are different because the Minor Arcana is most like a pack of regular cards while the Major are universal themes for the deck. Here is a list:

Major Arcana
0. The Fool
I. The Magician
II. The High Priestess
III. The Empress
IV. The Emperor
V. The Hierophant
VI. The Lovers
VII. The Chariot
VIII. Justice
IX. The Hermit
X. Fortune
XI. Strength
XII. The Hanged Man
XIII. Death
XIV. Temperance
XV. The Devil
XVI. The Tower
XVII. The Star
XVIII. The Moon
XIX. The Sun
XX. Judgement
XXI. The World

Minor Arcana

While the major arcana expresses universal themes, the minor arcana brings those themes down into the practical arena to show how they operate in daily events. The minor arcana cards represent the concerns, activities and emotions that make up the dramas of our everyday lives.
There are 56 cards in the minor arcana divided into four suits: Wands, Cups, Swords and Pentacles. ~ Each of these suits stands for a particular approach to life.~

• Wands
  The Wands are the suit of creativity, action and movement. They are associated with such qualities as enthusiasm, adventure, risk-taking and confidence. This suit corresponds to the yang, or masculine principle, in Chinese philosophy and is associated with the element Fire. A flickering flame is the perfect symbol of the Wands force. This energy flows outward and generates passionate involvement.
• Cups
  The Cups are the suit of emotions and spiritual experience. They describe inner states, feelings and relationship patterns. The energy of this suit flows inward. Cups correspond to the yin, or feminine principle, in Chinese philosophy and are associated with the element Water. The ability of water to flow and fill up spaces, to sustain and to reflect changing moods makes it the ideal symbol of the Cups suit.
• Swords
  The Swords are the suit of intellect, thought and reason. They are concerned with justice, truth and ethical principles. Swords are associated with the element Air. A cloudless sky, open and light-filled, is a symbol of the mental clarity that is the Swords ideal. This suit is also associated with states that lead to disharmony and unhappiness. Our intellect is a valuable asset, but as an agent of ego, it can lead us astray if it is not infused with the wisdom of our Inner Guide.
• Pentacles
  The Pentacles are the suit of practicality, security and material concerns. They are associated with the element Earth and the concrete requirements of working with matter. In Pentacles, we celebrate the beauty of nature, our interactions with plants and animals and our physical experiences in the body. Pentacles also represent prosperity and wealth of all kinds. Sometimes this suit is called the Coins, an obvious symbol of the exchange of goods and services in the physical world.

Each minor arcana suit has a distinct quality all its own. Our everyday experiences are a blend of these four approaches. Your tarot readings will show you how the different suit energies are impacting your life at any given moment. The suits are structured much as our everyday playing cards with ten numbered cards (Ace - Ten) and four court cards (King, Queen, Knight and Page). Each card has a role to play in showing how its energy expresses in the world.

• Aces
  An Ace announces the themes of its suit. The Ace of Cups stands for love, emotions, intuition, and intimacy - ideas that are explored in the other cards of the Cups suit. An Ace always represents positive forces. It is the standard-bearer for the best its suit has to offer.
• Middle Cards
  Each of the middle, numbered cards presents a different aspect of a suit. The Wands explore such themes as personal power (card 2), leadership (card 3), excitement (card 4) and competition (card 5). A card may approach an idea from several angles. The Five of Pentacles shows the many faces of want - hard times (material want), ill health (physical want), and rejection (emotional want).
• Tens
  A Ten takes the themes introduced by an Ace to their logical conclusion. If you take the love, intimacy and emotions of the Ace of Cups to their ultimate, you have the joy, peace and family love of the Ten of Cups.
• Court Cards
  The court cards are people with personalities that reflect the qualities of their suit and rank. The court cards show us certain ways of being in the world so that we can use (or avoid!) those styles when appropriate.
  • A King is mature and masculine. He is a doer whose focus is outward on the events of life. He demonstrates authority, control and mastery in some area associated with his suit. A King's style is strong, assertive and direct. He is concerned with results and practical, how-to matters.
  • A Queen is mature and feminine. She embodies the qualities of her suit, rather than acting them out. Her focus is inward, and her style, relaxed and natural. A Queen is less concerned with results than with the enjoyment of just being in the world. She is associated with feelings, relationships and self-expression.
  • A Knight is an immature teenager. He cannot express himself with balance. He swings wildly from one extreme to another as he tries to relate successfully to his world. A Knight is prone to excess, but he is also eager and sincere, and these qualities redeem him in our eyes. We admire his spirit and energy.
  • A Page is a playful child. He acts out the qualities of his suit with pleasure and abandon. His approach may not be deep, but it is easy, loose and spontaneous. He is a symbol of adventure and possibility.

You now have a basic idea of the role of each card in the tarot deck. You have a feel for how they all fit together and what each one contributes to the whole. Soon you will learn more about these cards and how to interpret them in your readings.

Choosing a First Tarot Deck

Here are some points to consider if you are choosing your first deck:

1. Choose a deck that makes you feel comfortable and secure, but also inspired. Since you will be spending a lot of time with your cards, you don't want to pick a deck that strikes you as odd, unpleasant or boring. Later, you may seek out unusual decks for the challenges and insights they offer, but it's better to start with one that attracts you. If a certain deck calls out to you, go with that one!
2. There is no official tarot deck. Decks come in many different forms, but the "standard" deck has 78 cards with 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana cards divided into 4 suits. Most decks are built on this model. You should probably stick with a standard deck to start so that you are familiar with the most common format.
3. Many decks are oriented around a theme. This is especially true of modern decks. Typically, the images, the names of the suits and the court card figures reflect this theme. If you choose a deck with a theme, be sure it is one that suits you and that has lasting appeal.
4. The Rider-Waite is probably the most common deck in the United States, and many tarot decks are based on it as well. Cards in these decks often have the same subject matter as the Rider-Waite, but are drawn with a different style and artwork. The Universal Waite is essentially a copy of the Rider-Waite, but with softer colors and less contrast. The Albano-Waite has bright, unusual coloration. Here's a side-by-side comparison of some cards from the two decks.
5. In some tarot decks, the pip cards, or numbered suit cards, all have unique picture scenes. In other decks, these cards simply show the suit symbol repeated the appropriate number of times (similar to regular playing cards). Some people like these symbolic decks, but for learning and memorization, it is often easier to have the pictures.
6. Some newer tarot decks have been created in the spirit of light-hearted fun. Two examples are the Halloween Tarot and the Silicon Valley Tarot. These decks are amusing, but not the best choices for deeper, more thoughtful tarot work.

In formation came from this website: http://www.learntarot.com/decks1.htm

Earth Day in Sickness and Health

Hey everyone, I am sick, but that will not stop me from posting! Today, if you didn't already know is Earth day. Today is the day to honor the Earth and to meditate on the deity manifesting as Mother Earth. So, here is a spell especially for Earth Day! It's easy to do and if you are not able to cast a circle, like myself, then you can just envision it all. 

This is to plant a plant for today, because the Earth is our home and we are supposed to respect and care for it. You will need a circle of earth (or just any kind of soil, it doesn't have to be special because it already is!), and a collection of seeds and plants. Begin by tilling the soil and use any fertilizer you would like or none at all, it is all up to you. Next, start by blessing the soil by getting down on the ground and placing your hands in the soil saying: 
Mother of Creation
Grant me your blessings
So my garden will thrive
Creating joy and love while it's alive.
Plant your seeds or your transplants into your garden. Finish by watering your garden thoroughly. Visualize your garden becoming florescent with life. Each day visit your garden , and as you tend to it, say a blessing for it's continued health and well being for the good health of our Mother Earth.

Congratulations! That was our Earth Day spell and here is a spell to make sure that you don't get sick like me!

To help speed recovery from an illness, write the sick person's name on a white human shaped candle of the correct gender (we will talk about this soon). As you anoint it with 3 drops of myrrh or mint oil, visualize healing energy in the form of white light flowing from your hands and into the candle. Recite:

"In the divine name of the Goddess who breathes life into us all, I consecrate and charge this candle as a magical tool for healing."

Place the candle on top of a photograph of the sick person and then light the wick. As the candle burns down, focus on the person in the photograph, willing him/her to be well again. Then recite:

"Magick mend and candle burn,
Sickness end, good health return."

Continue to focus and recite until the candle burns out on it's own. (At this point I suggest taking the remains of the candle, wrapping it in clean white cotton and burying it outside, thereby burying the sickness.)

Information for today's post came from the book Wiccan Spell a Day: 365 Spells, Charms, and Potions for the Whole Year and from http://www.everythingunderthemoon.net/spells/healing_spell.htm

Wedding Ceremonies

Do you even know the history of marriage where it all came from ? 

The word, "Wedding" comes from the Roman Pagan word "wedd" that meant a man would marry a woman and pay the Bride's father. 

Roman Pagan Wedding Ceremony Vows 
A Tradition that goes back over 6 thousand years 
I, N., take thee N to my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, for fairer or fouler, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us depart, according to Goddess's holy ordinance; and thereunto I plight thee my troth. 
I N. take thee N to my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to be bonny and buxom at bed and at board, to love and to cherish, till death us depart, according to Goddess's holy ordinance; and thereunto I plight thee my troth. 
Sound Familier this tradition is still carried to this very day 

Wedding Ring 

The first recorded marriage rings date back to the days when early man. Approximately 3,000 BC, Egyptians originated the phrase "without beginning, without end" in describing the significance of the wedding ring. These rings were made of woven hemp which constantly wore out and needed replacement. Later Romans used metal rings Although Romans originally used iron but later gold was used now as a symbol of all that is pure. Diamonds were first used by Italians, who believed that it was created from the flames of love. 

Bridal Veil 
During the Roman and Greek Empire 
Brides wore a crown of flowers during the wedding ceremony. The couple may walk around the altar three times representing the Holy Pagan Trinity Goddesses to give thanks and blessings from 
Pagan Goddesses , 
Athena Goddess of Wisdom 
who blessed the wedding with fertility and knowledge 

Artemis She was also a goddess of childbirth, 
Goddess of Virginity and the protectress of the women against abusive husbands 

Hera Her chief function was as the goddess of women and marriage. In Roman mythology, Juno was the name of Hera 

June which named for Juno or Hera is the most popular month for women to get married is there is any reason why maybe this is why 

Bouquet 

Wedding bouquets were originally made of such strong herbs as thyme and garlic, which were meant to frighten away evil spirits, and to cover the stench emitting from people who had not bathed recently 

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue 

A tradition that goes back to the Roman and Greek Empire days 

This superstition of the Bride wearing something that fits each of these four categories originated in Europe to ward off evil spirits. Something Old: This tradition symbolized the sense of continuity while making the transition from a single person to that of a married couple. Something New: This tradition symbolized that marriage represented a transition to adulthood. Something Borrowed: This tradition symbolized the popular belief that by borrowing something from a happily married couple, good fortune would follow the newlyweds. Something Blue: In ancient Israel, blue was the border color of the Bride's dress, symbolizing purity, constancy and fidelity. 


Tying The Knot 

This comes from the days of the Roman empire when the Bride wore a girdle that was tied in knots. The Groom untied the knots prior to the consummation of their marriage. 

Wedding Cake 

Also during the days of the Roman empire, wedding cakes were baked of wheat or barley. At the reception, they were traditionally broken over the head of the new Bride by the Groom as a symbol of her fertility. Guests would then scramble for pieces of the cake, and take them home for good luck. It later became a tradition to place many small cakes on top of each other as high as possible. 

Shoes On Vehicle 

Ancient Romans used to transfer to the Groom his authority over his Bride when her Father gave the Groom her shoes. In later years, guests threw their own shoes at the newlyweds to signify this transfer of authority. Today, this tradition is kept alive by simply tying old shoes to the back of the newlywed's vehicle before they leave their wedding reception celebration. 


Stag Parties 

This is the male equivalent of the Bridal Shower. Roman empire soldiers would feast with the Groom the night before his wedding to say goodbye to his irresponsible days of bachelorhood, and to renew their vows of allegiance to their friendships. 


Carrying The Bride Over The Threshold 
Symbolic Roman and Greek tradition 
the Theshold or doorway was a Reference to the Pagan god Janus 
looking from the past and looking into the future steeping or carrying the bride over the Threshold means 
leaving the past and going on future together 
back then people kept thier Brooms over the Threshold 
and would jump over a broom to symbolize new life from old 


Tossing Rice 
An Ancient Roman and Greek Tradition 
By believing that newlyweds brought good luck, guests used to shower them with nuts and grains to insure a bountiful harvest, and many children to work the land. During years of a poor harvest, rice was tossed instead. This tradition continues today with rice or birdseed (where permitted), or bubbles to wish the Bride and Groom much happiness. Incidentally, it is not true that birds eating rice thrown after a wedding ceremony will cause their stomachs to enlarge and eventually explode. This myth may have simply evolved from church and synagogue employees weary from cleaning up after every wedding ceremony! 

Today couples also Release Butterflies which is a pagan Symbol of Transformation 

Walking or Throwing of Rose petals 
is a tribute to the Pagan Goddess Venus the Goddess of love and beauty 
the Rose is her Symbol 


Wedding Toast 
am Ancient Roman and Greek and Eygptian tradition 
where bread would be placed in the bottom of two drinking glasses usually of wine or mead or sweet honey drink for the newlyweds. They would then drink as fast as they could to be the first person to get to the toast. According to legend, the winner would rule their household! 
A tradition still carried to this day 

White Wedding Dress 
was not orignally part of the wedding tradition 
Back in Roman and Greek and even Eygptian times 
Women could not afford expensive gowns so 
Brides simply wore their best dress on their wedding day 
This was made popular in the 1840's by Queen Victoria, who chose this instead of the traditional royal "silver" wedding dress. 
contratory to popular belief white is not a symbol of purity 
but GOLD or Silver are Symbols of Purity that is why wedding gowns of Royaly used to be made of gold or silver until queen Victoria who wore white now traditational wedding gowns are white. 

Tuxedo 
this was not a Original Custom 
Orginally in Roman and Greek and Eygptian empire days men 
wore what they could afford to the wedding 
and most men wore battle armor to a wedding 
Early marriages were literally carried out by the Groom and his "Bridesmen" (or "Bridesknights") who would kidnap a woman (the origin of "carrying a Bride over the threshold") from another tribe! The Groom and his fellow conspirators would then fight off the female's family of tribesmen with swords held in their right hand while the Groom would hold the captured Bride in his left hand, which is the origin of why a Bride stands on the left side of the Groom at a wedding. 

After a successful capture, another politically correct practice was for the Groom to hide his new Bride for one month for mating purposes. It is said that the word "honeymoon" was created to describe this one month cycle of the moon when they would drink mead, which was a honey sweetened alcoholic brew that effects both sobriety and the acidity of the womb, thus increasing fertility. 

Classic example King Author married in armor 
Until the 20th century, the Groom simply wore his "Sunday best" on his wedding day. It is said that President Teddy Roosevelt popularized the modern tuxedo. 

Hand Fasting a Tradition when Pagans were not allowed to marry 
so they married in Secret with Hand Fasting 

The very word handfasting got it's origin in the wedding custom of tying the bride and groom's hands (actually, wrists) together. 

Handfasting is a traditional Roman ceremony of (temporary or permanent) Wedding 
Traditional trial-marriage ceremony, during which couples were literally bound together. The handfasting was a temporary agreement, that expired after a year and a day. However, it could be made permanent after at that time, if both spouses agreed. 

Hand Fasting is in many Cultures in Asia 
but It stems from Roman Empire and Greek Empire 


During the 1995 movie, Braveheart, Mel Gibson, in the role of William Wallace, was handfasted with his girlfriend Murron. Handfasting has since grown in popularity among non-Pagans.

This information came from my group Pagan is Us on Sodahead : http://www.sodahead.com/fun/pagan-is-us/group-22609/hang-out-station/forum-54417/many-of-todays-popular-wedding-ceremony-and-reception-traditions-can-be-traced-to-ancient-pagan-rom/discussion-527137/

Hell is an Invention

In many religions today, there is a good and a bad, a Heaven and a Hell. In Wicca, there is no Hell, there is no book that you look in to see what the Goddess would say, or what she would do. For example, if you stick a copy of any bible outside in the wind and rain the paper becomes wet and ruined, the words disappear to black ink. We don't look in a book for answers from the Goddess, we look at the wind and the rain, the Earth herself. This guy is a priest and he explains it further, and it is very interesting. I would stop at 2:10, because it gets boring after that, but this is something that you should not be afraid of. There is no damnation to the Goddess's children, because nothing is their fault, it was just the way they were raised.

Casting a Spell

There is a difference between "Casting a Spell" and "Saying a Chant". When you say a chant, it does not require you to acknowledge the four directions - unless you insist on doing so - and you can just say it, quick and easy. When casting a spell, it's a bit trickier.

You have to cast a circle, acknowledge all the elements, either four or five can be used - earth, air, fire, water, and spirit - and decide on a god/goddess to help you on your way - but you don't always have to. You MUST always take precaution as to what you are doing and why you are casting a circle. If you do it for all the wrong reasons, then the 3x3 rule will come back to you like really bad Karma.

Here is an idea of what you should DO when you cast your circle:

1) Purify the place where you will cast your circle. Purify physically (clean up) as well as spiritually (take your hands, or broom, athame or wand and direct positive energy into the area, to push away negative energy). You could try using witch hazel to cleanse the area - a couple of drops in each corner of the room and round the perimeter of the circle should be sufficient.
2) Physically determine the bounds of your circle. Do this by drawing a circle on the floor, sprinkling salt water in a circle, or by laying a cord in a circle (make sure you tie it). Anyhow, the circle is usually as wide as you are tall.
3) Place all objects you will be using in your ritual in the circle.
4) Represent the four elements in the four quarters (corners) in the circle. Place something that represent Earth in the north, Air in the east, Fire south and Water west. Bless (or ask for consecration of) these things. (See tips for things that represent the elements.) Be sure to have some food and drink to share with the spirits, to thank them and to replenish your energy.
5) Take your magic weapon (it can be your hands, a broom, athame, or a wand) and walk around the spot where your circle will be three times, clockwise. "Cast the circle thrice about, to keep the evil spirits out." State the purpose of the circle.
6) Invoke the elements and spirits and deities you wish to work with.  Call them to the objects that represent them. Take each of the objects that represent the elements around your circle, filling it with the power of each of them.
7) Meditate for a while and make yourself feel comfortable. Meditation or astral projection might be the main act, or it serves just to shift your consciousness.
8) Do whatever it is you want to do in your circle. Remember: "An it harm none, do what ye will." If you must leave the circle before you are done, cut a doorway (quite literally, envision a doorway being cut from the edge of the circle, up, to the side, then down again. Reclose the circle once you're back in.
9)  Close the circle when you are done. pay respect to whatever deities you invited, thank the elements before you remove their representative objects, and finally undo the casting by casting in reverse.

Casting a circle is a very serious matter, because there are entities that can use your circle as a portal in a way and it will be the door to which they enter. Over all lesson; casting a circle is serious business and you should probably practice A LOT before you actually try this. Don't cast a circle for sleep over parties or to make a boy fall in love with your best friend, because free will is a VERY big thing that you cannot mess with.

Well, good luck, and enjoy if you are able to cast a circle. When you do, try to use candles to show the elements, and they don't have to be lit. If your in a place where you can't light them, just imagine a flame producing from the wick and imagine it with your heart and soul. When you go to put out the flame, don't blow it it, because that will blow away the magic at work. Instead, snuff it out. On the next post, I'll make a list of candles and what their colors will represent.


Information was taken from this website: http://www.wikihow.com/Cast-a-Circle

The Different Pagan Religions

Since I am new to this, and I know that most of you are too, let's start with the Pagan religions that are out there:

• Asatru
• Church of All Worlds
• Discordianism
• Druidry
• Feri
• Gwyddons
• Hellenismos
• Kemeticism
• Religio Romana
• Senistrognata
• Thelema
• Wicca

And sometimes individuals and sub-groups of the following religions self-identify as Pagan:

• Candomble
• Demonolatry
• Santeria
• Satanism (Theistic Satanists are the most likely to identify as Pagan)
• Voudon

I only know about the Wiccan religion, which my parents don't seem to like, but we'll go through all of them one at a time and we'll be guided through this together. Let's start with Asatru.

Asatru is a Norse religion that is Christian-Germanic. From my understanding, it honors a God and Goddess, but not as equals like Wicca. It says that there are Nine Worlds and two of them are of the humans and of the Gods. It seems like there are a lot of drinking rituals. Already, it doesn't seem to interest me, but the rest of you may like it. http://www.asatru.org/

Church of All Worlds seems to be a Neopagan group of all kinds of religions, but they believe in returning the world back to Gaia - mother Earth. I wasn't really into this one, but those of you who are thinking about Nature being your base this might be good for you. http://www.caw.org/

Discordianism is the religion that believes in the Goddess Eris, who is the Greco-Roman Goddess of Chaos. Discordianism is centered on the idea that both order and disorder are illusions imposed on the universe by the human nervous system, and that neither of these illusions of apparent order and disorder is any more accurate or objectively true than the other. http://www.discordian.com/

Druidry primarily promotes balance with nature and harmony and respect for all beings, including the environmental. It was originated in Britain during the 18th Century. It, like many other Pagan religions, is associated with Nature and Harmony. http://www.druidry.org/

Feri is the tradition of contemporary witchcraft (don't be afraid of the word because it really doesn't mean anything bad). It's based off of the sensual experience (including sexual mysticism). Feri witches consider themelves "Fey". They believe that much of reality is unseen, or at least has uncertain boundaries. Within the tradition there is a deep respect for the wisdom of nature, a love of beauty, and an appreciation of bardic and mantic creativity. (Mantic means relating to divination or prophecy). http://www.feritradition.org/

Gwyddons try to focus on the clarity of the mind and mainly travel the road of wisdom and they mainly try to possess inner-strength. Here is a website that should explain more about it, since I have NO clue to what it really is (http://gwyddoniad.org/). 

Hellenismos is mainly Greek religion. It's making a big comeback since it died out when Christianity became a big hit. This religion is based on the Greek Gods of old (Titans, Olympians included). A website that might explain more is http://hellenismos.us/f/YaBB.pl 

Kemeticism is the same as Kemetism. The word Kemet means "people of the Black Land", which means people of Egypt. This interests me like many other people, because Egyptian culture is fascinating. Kemetism is based on the worship of the Egyptian Gods. Here's a website that you can look at and it will be something I will do aswell. http://www.roundtable.kemeticrecon.com/ 

Religio Romana really means (in Latin) "Roman Religion". This religion is based off of the Roman traditions, including the Roman Gods. Many of the Roman Gods have been ideas taken from the Greek traditions, and one could argue this all night, but there are a lot of the Roman traditions that do not follow the Greek ways. This one has also interested me and I believe there will be many of you that will agree with me. http://www.novaroma.org/religio_romana/ 

Senistrognata is mainly Celtic traditions for cultural Celtics or for anyone else. Many of the Celtic traditions have been unknown because every region of Celtics had their own Gods. They honor their ancestors and the Nature spirits of their regions. There used to be a website for Senistrognata, but it is currently inactive, but it is kept up for historical interest, if you want to check it out. http://www.imbas.org/ 

Thelema is a 20th century religion created by a British writer after he and his wife had a spiritual experience in Egypt. This isn't like Kemetism, but it shares the same interest of the ancient Egyptian Gods. I haven't really found anything that fully explains Thelema, but it is a college based religion that can be looked at. http://www.thelema.org/ 

Wicca is a religion that I am familiar with, it is mainly Nature based and was created in the first half of the 20th century. It is the worship of a God and a Goddess. Wiccans celebrate holidays that are called Sabbats. There are many websites out on the web that explain the view of Wicca, but here's one that explains it all and is one that I used a while ago when Wicca interested me. http://www.religioustolerance.org/wic_beli.htm 

Those were really the most known Pagan religions, and there are many others out there, but I felt like maybe you should know those. You don't have to pick your certain religion of Paganism from this list or ever if you don't want to, but what really interests me is Kemetism, Hellenism, and Religio Romana. If you would like to look up more information on them, you can look however you'd like!