Author: Steve

Steve is a British esotericist and pagan musician with a profound affinity for the natural world, particularly the serene and mystic woodlands of his homeland. Steve's particular passion lies within the realms of tarot, where he delves into the underlying systems and symbols that weave the rich narrative tapestry of this ancient divinatory tool. His life's work embodies a blend of music, magic, and the deep reverence for nature, making him a distinct voice within the esoteric community.

Divination Dialogue: Oracle and Tarot Cards – Complementary Paths to Insight?

Posted on By

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.

Continue reading »
0
Blog Posts, Discussion

Learn Tarot – The Hermetic Qabalah (Tree of Life)

Posted on By

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.

Continue reading »
0
Tutorials

The Best Tarot Podcasts

Posted on By

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.

Continue reading »
1
Blog Posts

Intuition and Tarot

Posted on By

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.”

Continue reading »
0
Blog Posts

To Cleanse or Not to Cleanse

Posted on By

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.

Continue reading »

0
Blog Posts

Learn Tarot – Example Reading

Posted on By

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…

Continue reading »

1
Tutorials

Learn Tarot – Reversals

Posted on By

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).

Continue reading »

0
Tutorials

Learn Tarot – The Major Arcana

Posted on By

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).

Continue reading »

2
Tutorials

Learn Tarot – The Numbers (Revisited)

Posted on By

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.

Continue reading »

0
Tutorials
The Four Aces of RWS

Learn Tarot – Introduction

Posted on By

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.

Continue reading »

3
Tutorials

Learn Tarot – The Elements

Posted on By

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.

Continue reading »

0
Tutorials

Learn Tarot – The Numbers

Posted on By

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!

Continue reading »

0
Tutorials
RWS The 5s

Learn Tarot – Putting The Pieces Together

Posted on By

We now have an understanding of the elements plus the numerological associations.  How do we combine these to determine the meaning of a card?

Continue reading »

2
Tutorials

From Sharon Day’s Blog

Posted on By

Stories by Sharon Day on Medium Stories by Sharon Day on Medium

  • Alexandrian Witchcraft: Vouching & Validity of Initiation — Reference vs. Recommendation
    by Sharon Day on July 21, 2023 at 4:48 pm

    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 […]

  • How do you take your Wicca?
    by Sharon Day on October 24, 2018 at 10:34 am

    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.
    by Sharon Day on October 9, 2018 at 7:19 pm

    ‘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 […]

  • The River Runs Through It; The Waters of Life Revive It — Alexandrian Witchcraft.
    by Sharon Day on August 30, 2018 at 10:30 am

    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 […]

  • Alexandrian Witchcraft & Wiccan Vouching: Ring of Truth or Ring of Fire?
    by Sharon Day on March 7, 2018 at 4:27 pm

    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 […]

0
RSS Feeds

From Maxine Sanders’ Blog

Posted on By

Stories by Maxine Sanders on Medium Stories by Maxine Sanders on Medium

  • Music in Alexandrian Witchcraft
    by Maxine Sanders on November 25, 2022 at 9:44 am

    ‘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 . . .
    by Maxine Sanders on April 27, 2019 at 9:20 pm

    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 […]

  • The Joys of an Alexandrian Witch.
    by Maxine Sanders on January 14, 2018 at 7:36 pm

    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 […]

  • The Temple Pilgrimage to the Alexandrian Grand Sabbat
    by Maxine Sanders on December 18, 2017 at 1:00 pm

    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 […]

  • The Heartbreak of the Teacher
    by Maxine Sanders on October 10, 2017 at 4:06 pm

    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 […]

0
RSS Feeds