On the many Facebook groups and forums you’ll regularly see people recommending the study of each individual card, using a mix of artwork interpretation and other references, over many, many months. With 78 cards this is a considerable challenge; if others learnt the hard way then you should too! Right?
Wrong! Let us show you not only the easy way – but the best way to learn the underlying associations.
In British Traditional Witchcraft (BTW), particularly within the Alexandrian Tradition, there exists a profound belief in the inherent magic of inanimate objects. This notion isn’t simply about infusing objects with power through ritual; it’s a deeper acknowledgement that every element in the world possesses a form of consciousness, however primitive. This belief aligns intriguingly with some contemporary scientific theories exploring consciousness, cognition, and the emergent properties of neural networks and artificial intelligence (AI).
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I’m thrilled to introduce my latest book, Teach Yourself Tarot: A Complete Beginner’s Guide. This comprehensive guide is designed to make tarot accessible and enjoyable for everyone. Whether you’re a complete novice or looking to deepen your existing knowledge, this book has something for you.
Inside, you’ll find clear explanations of the Major and Minor Arcana, practical exercises to develop your skills and various tarot spreads to practice with. We’ll explore card meanings, intuitive development, and even the ethics of tarot reading. Plus, you’ll get tips on choosing your first deck and creating a tarot journal.
Start your tarot journey today with Teach Yourself Tarot: A Complete Beginner’s Guide, available now on Amazon: Teach Yourself Tarot: A Complete Beginner’s Guide (Kindle Edition).
In the ever-evolving landscape of new age music, few projects stand out with the distinctive allure and spiritual depth of Moon Foundation. Founded in the late ’90s as a personal exploration of eclectic musical genres, Moon Foundation has journeyed through the realms of paganism, mysticism, and introspection, weaving a unique blend of soundscapes that transport listeners to otherworldly dimensions. In this exclusive interview, we delve into the heart of Moon Foundation, exploring the genesis of this remarkable project, the inspiration drawn from ancient beliefs, and the artistic evolution that has defined its journey. Join us as we uncover the magical confluence of music, belief, and creativity with the visionary behind Moon Foundation.
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Learningtarot.net, as the name implies is predominantly focused on the subject of Tarot, however this is not the only method of divination. Another form of cartomancy is ‘Oracle Cards’ which have become popular within the wider community. Perhaps these have less occult associations than tarot, or perhaps they are simply easier to read as no underlying systems need to be studied. Either way, they provide an easily accessible path to cartomancy, either as a tool in their own right, or perhaps a gateway drug into the deeper world of tarot and associated mysteries.
In this article, I invite our new authors Celeste Arcana and Alex Grayson to provide their own insight into these two systems of cartomancy. I’m particularly interested to hear our author’s thoughts regarding the history, perceived differences, depth of interpretation possible, learning curves and ideas on how to integrate the two systems if they see fit; are they complimentary systems or does tarot negate the need for oracles? I invite the authors to be open and honest in their personal opinions.
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Dear Seekers of the Mysterious and the Merry,
Today, we embark on a journey not into the realm of spirits that you might expect in our usual tarot discourse but rather, into the world of spirits that come bottled and brewed. Yes, my friends, we’re talking about alcohol and its curious relationship with the practice of tarot reading.
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Have you ever caught your furry companion gazing into the distance, and wondered what profound thoughts are whirling through their mind? While our pets’ thoughts might be simpler than ours, they are no less significant. They, too, experience a rich tapestry of wants, needs, and feelings, communicating in their unique, often non-verbal ways. Interestingly, the universal language of Tarot offers a bridge to understanding these silent conversations, providing insights into the inner lives of our beloved pets.
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The Alexandrian Rose Ankh stands as a profound symbol within the Alexandrian tradition of Wicca, intertwining concepts of life, magic, and mystery. Conceived by Alex and Maxine Sanders, founders of the Alexandrian strain of modern witchcraft, this emblem represents a fusion of ancient symbols: the Ankh, the rose, and the lily. The Ankh, a traditional symbol of life, meshes with the rose, representing the magician and the mysteries, while the lily’s leaves peek out slightly, hinting at the concealed knowledge yet to be unveiled.
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Exploring Sexuality and Gender Dynamics in Tarot and British Traditional Witchcraft: A Modern Perspective
In both Tarot and British Traditional Witchcraft (BTW), traditional male and female roles have been long established, based on perceived energies of the sexes, intertwined with god/goddess and sun/moon energies. However, as society’s understanding of gender and sexuality evolves, questions arise about how these paths can adapt or maintain tradition in the face of changing views on gender identity.
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The roots of modern Wicca and its connection to historical witchcraft demonstrate a deep engagement with various forms of magic, symbolism, and Pagan religious practices. The emergence of modern Wicca is credited to figures like Gerald Gardner, who, inspired by existing traditions and possibly connected to older covens, developed Wicca into the structured form we recognise today. This included influences from ceremonial magic, the Kabbalah, and indeed, the symbolic systems like those found in the Tarot.
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As we navigate the complexities of modern life, the wisdom of the tarot offers guidance, reflection, and a deeper understanding of our personal journeys. In this digital age, podcasts have emerged as a valuable resource for learning, entertainment, and connection, making the ancient practice of tarot more accessible than ever before.
In the “Best Tarot Podcasts – 2024 Edition,” we dive into the vibrant world of tarot podcasts that have captivated listeners worldwide. Whether you are a seasoned tarot reader or new to the cards, this curated list promises to enhance your understanding, intuition, and love for tarot. From insightful discussions to mystical storytelling, each podcast offers a unique perspective on tarot reading, spiritual growth, and metaphysical exploration.
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When learning how to read tarot, it is important to have the right mindset. You should be focused and relaxed, and building a good tarot atmosphere during your reading can help you achieve the mindset necessary to get the most out of your reading. This means choosing to include things like candles, incense, and dim lights in your atmosphere if you find it helpful. All of these things can serve as a reminder to your brain and subconscious that you are getting ready to do something important.
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One of the most glorious things about tarot, is the huge number of beautiful decks available and the wonderful artists that create them. If you’re not careful, you could spend an awful lot of money collecting all the ones you love best!
However, when you’ve just decided to learn tarot and your browsing for your first deck, the choice can seem truly overwhelming. It’s not unusual for people get analysis paralysis and put off buying a deck because they just don’t know which to choose. For some people, this means they never buy one at all.
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This is a difficult topic to cover as the terminology used can be unfamiliar and discouraging to newcomers. However, here I try to present this in an accessible form. If like me you struggle with the terminology, ignore the unfamiliar names and instead view the tree, numbers, associations and card positions. This will enable anyone to start drawing on the Hermetic Qabalah to deepen their understanding of Tarot.
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Podcasts are incredibly popular nowadays. The ability to be heard has never been so accessible; anyone can become podcast star with little more than a mobile phone and an internet connection.
As a podcaster this accessibility is very welcome. However, as a listener it can be difficult to know where to begin and a challenge to find the gems amongst the sea of mediocrity.
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Here, we’ll consider a hotly debated word in the tarot community: Intuition.
An online definition of Intuition states:
“the ability to understand something instinctively, without the need for conscious reasoning.”
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A question commonly asked online:-
“My tarot cards are no longer working. I’ve been told I need to cleanse them – how do I do this?”
Answers typically range from smudging, to bathing in moonlight, covering in salt, covering in crystals, tapping (typically 3 times), ‘resetting’ (placing the cards back in original order) and even burying in the garden for several days.
So there you are, you have your shiny new tarot deck. You understand what the numbers and suits mean and you’re ready to start putting the world to rights but wait, what should you ask? How should you ask it? Are there rules?
When Arthur Waite and Pamela Coleman-Smith designed the Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) deck, between them they managed to include symbology from pretty much every esoteric system available. Therefore it should come as no surprise that astrology and the planets play a large part in the design of the RWS deck.
If you’ve been reading the other posts on this page, you should know by now that the minor arcana cards represent the astrological elements of air (Swords), Earth (Pentacles), fire (Wands) and water (Cups). The major arcana also has specific cards for each astrological sign and therefore, that signs ruling planet as well.
I considered constructing a spread with chosen cards to demonstrate how a reading may work in practice. However, I then had a question of my own and the resultant cards seem so perfect I thought it a great opportunity to not only perform a simple reading but relate the cards to the querent/question.
Ready? First some personal background…
Reading reversals (when cards are drawn from the deck inverted) can be traced back as far as the earliest days of Tarot’s use as a divinatory system. The earliest reference to reversals I can find is from Antoine Court de Gebelin in 1781. Antoine’s writings formed the basis of Eliphas Levi’s system, later adopted with modification by the Golden Dawn which ultimately led to Waite’s re-interpretation with Pamela Coleman-Smith (the RWS deck).
The 22 Major Arcana represent archetypes, these are clear statements, patterns and ideas that represent the human life / story. We start our journey as the fool (innocent, adventurous, perhaps naive) and progress through the major arcana until reaching our destination; enlightenment (The World).
In a previous article we listed the basic number associations of the minor arcana.
To keep things simple we used the traditional RWS associations as reference. It’s important to note that this is not the only system in use and it can be useful to cross reference the RWS and Tarot De Marseilles in order to gain further insight. Additionally, the associated card from the major arcana is also worthy of study in reference to the minors.
I have to admit to being a bit conflicted about writing this post. On the one hand, the idea was immensely exciting and I was really looking forward to writing this piece. On the other hand, I knew that I would only be able to scratch the surface of what is a very deep and convoluted rabbit hole. The more I read, the less I know, the less I know, the more there is to research and the bigger and windier the road becomes. Therefore, this is designed as an introduction to what I have learned so far. There are undoubtedly many people who know much more about this that I do and I’m sure as time goes on, there will be other posts from this blogging collective around the subject and the key concepts behind the creation of the tarot.
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It’s funny how different people come to tarot. For some people it’s been something their family has always done, others are simply drawn to it, but for people like me who grew up in very ‘no nonsense’ households where anything esoteric was poo-pooed, it is something odd and mysterious that requires a ‘happening’ to be brought into your life.
Tarot was something I was aware of but never paid much attention to. After all, it was just a load of nonsense and woo wasn’t it? Just a bunch of generalisations that could be applied to any situation, a bit like cold reading. Until I learned that my good friend, Steve, reads the cards.
Tarot, like all Western Magical Traditions has 4 core elements; Earth, Air, Fire and Water. Below we’ll not only outline the element/suite associations but also provide clues on how to commit them to memory.
Now you know what the elements represent, let’s take a look at the number associations (1-10) then combine this with what we’ve already learnt to perform our first readings/interpretations. See, we said this would be easy!
We now have an understanding of the elements plus the numerological associations. How do we combine these to determine the meaning of a card?
If you want to be a bit happier, here is something you can do today inspired by the Nine of Pentacles.
. Here is a pithy meaning for the Eight of Swords:Mind your own business . Note: Each of these pithy Tarot meanings is just one facet of its card. Find more of them on my Card Meanings page. Also, get my Pithy Tarot Book and LIKE my Pithy Tarot Facebook page! The image on this post is a card from my
Did you miss my online workshops? No problem! You can get recorded versions of them!
Here is a Tarot technique that I call “Your Own Fool’s Journey.” With it, you can use the Major Arcana cards to explore and analyze the story of your life — past, present, and future.
Do you feel somewhat alone in your tarot practice? Want to make friends at the same level and with shared interests? Are you looking for inspiration and to up your tarot skills whether reading for yourself or others? And would you just like to have fun with tarot? Come to one or both Omega Institute … … Continue reading →
I’ve written quite a few forewords to tarot books and in the process have looked at forewords to other books to create a checklist for what I appreciate most in them and might want to include in my own foreword … Continue reading →
Many of you have been asking about the Tarot Retreat in Tulum, Mexico at the end of February. Please join co-leaders, Jenna Matlin, Dreya Bloome and myself as we talk about our Tarot teachings and present a few ideas for things to do in the Tulum area – known for its archeological sites, crystal clear … … Continue reading →
I just discovered this previously unknown photo of PCS by her friend, the well-known photographer, Alice Boughton. The source is The Literary Digest, July 4, 1908. Enjoy.
My birthday recently passed — happy birthday to me! — and I wanted to create a tarot spread for my birthday and Solar Return. I’m surprised I hadn’t done this yet, honestly, but it is what it is!
These are times when we’re disconnected; life gets too hectic for you to keep your wits about you, let alone practice your faith. Each tick of the second hand on the clock is a reminder that you’re running out of time, and your to-do list just keeps growing.
Spellwork and Spellcraft is geared toward beginners and any witch looking to expand their practice. With sections on correspondences to practicality and more, Ariana covered a lot of ground in under 100 pages.
Having only read one other book about spirit flight, I was already very interested in Jasmyne’s take on the subject. Rather than approach the subject solely from a historical and traditional perspective, Jasmyne brings a different perspective to witch flight. It was refreshing to read about another witch’s personal experiences with the Otherworld.
I woke up in a horrible mood this morning and was trying to think of something I could do to help me. I have a few things in my witchy “toolbox”, so to speak, that are perfect for anxiety, depression, and a general sense of “emotional unwellness”. I wanted to share a few of them with you because I’m sure I’m not the only person to experience this!
Acrylic paint on canvas. 24×30 cm (9.44 x 11.81 inch). Private collection. Entitled Strength is my third interpretation of Saint George slaying the dragon. The primary source for the painting is a church mural from Moldavia. Interestingly, in this version,…Read more Strength – the Dragon slayer III ›
Eight of Disks rev., Nine of Cups, Ace of Wands Deadlock – Self-remembering – Action Card of the day: Nine of Cups “We have to dare to be ourselves, however frightening or strange that self may prove to be.” May…Read more 3-card readings 11/10/2024 ›
Sunday, 3-card readings 11/03/2024 Knight of Wands rev., Page of Wands, Sun Negligence – Broadmindedness – Love Card of the day: Page of Wands “By all means, let’s be open-minded, but not so open-minded that our brains drop out.” Richard…Read more 3-card readings 11/03/2024 ›
Monday, 3-card readings 10/28/2024 Two of Swords, Ten of Swords, and Lover Diplomacy – Accumulation – Decision Card of the day: Ten of Swords “Everything that occurs is an accumulation of what you have knowingly or unknowingly set in motion.”…Read more Ten of Swords ›
It’s hard to believe, but 2024 is almost done. Has it been easy? Nope. But those of us who follow the Tarot card of the year knew it would come with challenges because it was a “Strength” year. 2025 marches to a different Tarot beat. It will be ruled by The Hermit card, which invites The post The Tarot Card of the Year for 2025 appeared first on The Tarot Lady.
The sky was overcast, but there was enough sun to coax me outside. I texted my son and made plans for a brisk walk followed by a visit to the local taco truck. Off we went, sprinting along with the anticipation of the treats that awaited us, only to feel a slight drizzle a few The post The Hit List – A change of plans appeared first on The Tarot Lady.
The Full Moon in Taurus 2024 is here on November 15th at 4:29 PM ET. Full Moons are a time of culmination and endings. In mellow Taurus, this is your cosmic nudge to slow down. If your life has been chaotic as of late, a chill out could restore your sense of balance. Use this The post Full Moon in Taurus 2024 – and Tarot Readings for Each Zodiac Sign appeared first on The Tarot Lady.
The other day, a beloved black tourmaline bracelet fell apart. I barely touched it before the beads spilled onto the floor. Black tourmaline is associated with protection, and I wear this bracelet when I feel a funk in my energetic field. Some say the bracelet breaking was a sign that it did the work it The post The Hit List – Broken bracelets and other superstitions appeared first on The Tarot Lady.
Alexandrian Witchcraft: Vouching & Validity of Initiation — Reference vs. RecommendationWithin the esoteric strands of Alexandrian Witchcraft, the practice of vouching serves as a confirmation of an Initiate’s journey into the sacred realm. It is a declaration, a stamp of authenticity that states: Yes, I can confirm that this person has been initiated into the Craft.Nevertheless, this fundamental process is often misconstrued, leading to a convolution that the witchcraft community […]
Either White or Dark, but please — with only one ‘Blessed Be’!We were in a London Black Cab on the way to Floris, the oldest bespoke perfumery in England when I was reading out a terse text exchange between a Priest and myself about goodness knows what but it seemed important at the time.Blessed Be, [snark] Blessed Be x;Blessed Be, [swipe] BBx;Blessed Be, [zing] Blessed Be xArgh, stop with the Blessed Be’s Sharon, what is all this Blessed Be, Blessed Be? my exasperated teacher […]
‘I am, I am’ — or ‘was’. Death and Initiation via Winding Stairs & Contrasting Squares.Perfect Love, Trust, and Ritual — just Perfect.Jeremy Storey ©2015‘I didn’t enjoy that one bit, that’s why I wanted to take my initiation alone, this was a disaster, we were all fighting with each other to respond, so in the end I just shut up’ lamented the Snowflake part way through the Rite.A smile curled at the corners of my mouth as I listened to her declare for about […]
Beginning in New Orleans in ‘17; to Glastonbury; to Sintra, Portugal; to London; & by ’18 – to the Big Apple and back again.“The current of the river swept silently over them all — young and old, rich and poor, good and evil, the current going its own way, knowing only its own crystal self .”— Richard Bach, ‘Illusions’The Hudson River, NYC; Credit: Ryan LavenderThe Hudson River, Hell’s Kitchen, NYC – July ‘18The previous night’s thunderstorms had finally […]
She was the third High Priesthood Finn to join us for an afternoon meeting to verify her lineage — in other words, to obtain a ‘vouch’ for the integrity of her initiatory status. Not, however, before Maxine extolled her utter disdain for this ‘vouching business’, as she often calls it.Indeed, I lose track of the times Maxine’s said ‘Alex and I could tell within five minutes if someone was initiated’; or, as another elder she likes to quote said ‘they smell right.’Back […]
‘My first experience of circle music of sorts was at cakes and wine after my initiation; the wine was flowing, and the singing of the Witches became progressively, if not less joyously, out of tune.It was 1964 when the Manchester covenstead became the proud owners of a grand music cabinet, highly polished with sliding doors; impressively, it could stack ten records at a time.Sandy Shaw, Anthony Newley and Cilla Black would be playing at full blast as we regularly practised different scrying […]
Alexandrian Witchcraft: Battling the Scourge of Historical Inaccuracy — Fact by Fact . . .‘Freedom of Fire’, Credit: Kanakcharyulu VelpuriRecently there have been a number of mistakes regarding the contents of the Alexandrian Book of Shadows and how certain Alexandrian practices came into being. I hope they are genuine mistakes as we all know how easy it is to change Occult history, which is a detriment to the pure workings of many a Tradition.I have been a practising Priestess in […]
In the sixties, Alex and I believed our work and joy as witches meant nothing and no one is too high or low including lords and beggars, the sick, the daft, demonic/angelic and the peculiar.We were mocked and derided by the then Witchcraft elite; of course, we took no notice and continued in the freedom of what was to become known as ‘The Alexandrian Tradition of Witchcraft.’For the past fifty-three years, all manner of humanity has passed over the threshold to my home. They are greeted […]
Credit: Whitehorse StudioAn ‘Alexandrian Grand Sabbat’ was recently announced giving rise to questions about what a Grand Sabbat is. Conjectures and inaccurate responses abounded, ranging from ‘new agey fluffiness’ to heavy-duty partying with consequent hangovers to dressing-to-impress.Alexandrian priesthood as I have known it has always desired to experience the power of ritual and pure intent; and their quest for knowledge and fulfillment would not accord with the cursory presumptions […]
Credit: Michael HemmingWhen the exceptional student comes along, there is an awakening within the teacher’s heart, a rejoicing that is incomparable. A flood of joyful anticipation flows through one’s being and then when the time is right, the work begins…First the groundwork: I, the teacher have feet of clay, my knowledge is limited; I am the student too.My intention is to enable the student to embrace a state of being that will eventually and worthily attract an advanced teacher that […]
