Pergamum Unfurled: Magic with the Greek Gods (Book Review)

April 29, 2024 By Terence P. Ward

Modern Witchcraft with the Greek Gods is a decidedly witchy take on gods that I’ve held dear since I was a wee child, reading and rereading what turned out to be watered-down versions of the Greek myths. My own spiritual path has taken a circuitous route from reading those child-friendly myths, one that included several years as part of a Wiccan coven before eventually joining a group reviving ancient Greek practices. Knowing what I do about both traditions, I was very interested in what Astrea Taylor and Jason Mankey had to say about the intersection of these topics.

I was not disappointed. What authors Astrea Taylor and Jason Mankey do beautifully is lay out an understanding how witches can relate to these ancient deities. Digging into primary and scholarly sources, they present some history of their human worshipers, and insights into how these gods were understood in antiquity. “The gods of Olympus have been on the lips of human beings for over 3,500 years, something that’s unlikely to change soon, or maybe even ever. While the popularity of Zeus and his extended family has waxed and waned over the centuries, it has remained ever-present.” They are frank about how some of the myths reveal very different views about issues such as gender equality, perhaps reflecting more about the humans telling these stories than about the deities themselves.

What readers should expect is a deeper understanding of how to engage with these gods through the context of Wicca. (If one desires to learn about the practices of the Hellenes of antiquity, including some of my own ancestors, I wholeheartedly recommend Greek Religion by Walter Burkert. I’ve read it cover to cover, but at 512 pages not everyone gets there.) The primary spiritual technology of Wicca is magic, and the authors take the time to ensure that the reader will understand which gods might be appropriate to invite to participate in what magical workings. There are example rituals to help make these important connections.

To be clear, magic has a different place in traditional Hellenic polytheism than it does in Wicca and Wicca-aligned witchcraft traditions. Magic is a central, sacred practice in Wicca, but has no role in the religious practices that draw from ancient Greek sources—practices that predate the word “religion” itself. Modern adherents include those who work magic but don’t see it as part of their religion, to those who avoid it entirely. Wiccans use a different approach to engaging with the gods, and I’ll let the gods decide for themselves whether they wish to participate.

*Public domain image via Wikimedia Commons.*

A reason a reader might push back against Modern Witchcraft with the Greek Gods is simply because it’s not Greek enough. In addressing this, the authors write, “In recent years, some individuals have attempted to place the Greek gods in a gilded cage and restrict their worship on the basis of ethnicity. The Greek gods have never been limited in such a way. While we have respect for those trying to revive the religious traditions of classical Greece, the Greek gods have been busy travelers the last 3,500 years, and some of them would first have to travel to Greece before spreading their wings yet again.”

I do not know that this crosses into the complex topic of cultural appropriation. There is an argument that that one cannot appropriate ancient Greek culture at all, because it is foundational to all of western civilization. However, at least one of my fellow Greek Americans disagrees with that argument.

Appropriation comes from stripping traditions out of the original cultural context, and making claim to it. It’s a form of theft that’s similar to plagiarism, but since the victim is the monolithic culture itself, not every participant in that culture is going to have the same opinions about what’s acceptable. For me, traditions and practices can be subject to appropriation, but gods cannot. Gods have agency, and go where they will. Religion and culture flow move and change like tectonic plates, slowly and irresistibly. Today there are devotees who swear off magic to follow these gods, and others who make magic central to their worship of the very same gods. This is a beautiful thing.

Quirks: the two authors mostly alternate writing chapters. I have sometimes wondered how multiple authors collaborate on a book. This is one option.

Quibbles: there’s more capitalization than I would prefer in this book. My brain is not entirely neurotypical, and my eye is drawn to those big letters in a way that’s distracting.

Transparency: I asked to write a blurb for this book when I learned it was being written. This is because of how the topic aligns with my spiritual autobiography, and also because Jason Mankey has always been nice to me.

Title: Modern Witchcraft with the Greek Gods
Author: Astrea Taylor and Jason Mankey
Publisher: Llewellyn Publications
ISBN: 0738768766

Interested in having your book given an unbiased review? Let me know!

Pergamum Unfurled: Cunning Words (Review)

March 4, 2024 By Terence P. Ward

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I’ve read a lot of books about pagan and magical topics over the last 35 years, and none of them are comparable to Cunning Words: a Grimoire of Tales and Magic. Marshall, the Witch of Southern Light, builds this book about magic around a cycle of tales. There are many, many books in which very wise people patiently explain how the power of the human mind is based in stories, but there are limits to how much we can use our logic rocks to explain this creative force. Myth and parable have been a tool for teachers of many different spiritual and esoteric traditions, and it works very well for witchcraft.

The tales in these pages each give insight into this magical tradition, to which the author sometimes adds additional context in the form of notes or recipes. I’m probably not the only reader who will find some of the magical content familiar; the way a folk tradition spreads and changes through space and time is part of the magic itself. It’s relatively easy to pick the spells out from these stories, but there is a deeper layer that might be missed in such a scraping. Not every lesson can be conveyed by words alone. This truth is why there’s just not much in the way of really advanced books. Through story, Marshall WSL connects with the reader differently, possibly circumventing that limitation.

Not everything in Cunning Words is a tale, however. The stories, while restricted to the first of three parts, are the framework on which the entire book hangs. It’s the stories that illustrate the purpose of the various “spells in verse” in the second part. Those cover a variety of different charms and workings, giving a clear sense of how this particular witchcraft comes together. There are elixirs, charms, and sigils for a variety of specific goals.

I expected the third part—the “Cunning Compendium”—to hold the least of my interest, but I was wrong. There’s a section on dirt that is more detailed than anything I’ve seen. I didn’t know how much I needed to know about dirt until I read these pages. It’s on the same level as the variety of waters that Byron Ballard writes about in Staubs and Ditchwater. It’s no coincidence that these are both practitioners of southern folk magic traditions, I’m sure. Anyway, I now find myself looking at dirt very differently than I did before reading this book, and anything that can make new neural connections in this ossified brain has something powerful going for it.

*Public domain image by Jing via Pixabay.*

Quirks: “You’ll also find a full space between paragraphs because I personally struggle with keeping attention when I’m overwhelmed with walls of text. It is my sincerest hope that this will help other neurodivergent readers who experience this and aid in more smooth and comfortable reading comprehension.” This thoughtful note is just one of the many signs I’ve seen of late that point toward my own neurodivergence.

Quibbles: There are times when I wished this author had used more commas. There are other times when I wished to be half the storyteller that Marshall proves to be. I do not know if these two observations are related.

Transparency: I told the author I would read this book and publish a review on Patheos, because there’s been some nonsense circulating that books which are published by the author are automatically lesser. I did not ask for a review copy; I bought this one myself. While I did flag some proofreading errors (the fact that I can’t stop doing this is another one of the signs I’ve gotten about how my own brain is wired), I have read worse copy that made it through a professional editorial process.

Title: Cunning Words: a Grimoire of Tales and Magic
Author: Marshall WSL
Publisher: Marshall, the Witch of Southern Light
ISBN: 979-8-218-17837-6

Interested in having your book given an unbiased review? Let me know!

Pergamum Unfurled: Review – Magic for Troubled Times

January 9, 2024 By Terence P. Ward

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I wrote a blurb that’s in Magic for Troubled Times, which starts out like this:

There is a hunger for books about mental health and resilience that are written from a pagan perspective, and we should all be grateful that Deborah Castellano is adding to this body of knowledge. Castellano’s raw and unvarnished “suck-it-up-buttercup” approach may be shocking to some readers—and shocked is precisely what we all need from time to time!

Writing a blurb presumes saying nice things; writing a review does not necessarily mean being nice. Honestly, though, I put in the “quibbles” section of my reviews because I don’t want to gloss over something because I’m nice. I want to take a hard look, not only to bring out the strengths, but also to acknowledge something that fell short—even if only by a tiny bit. Otherwise, my reviews would tend toward saccharine positivity, and not very helpful. Honest reviews help sell books as much as blurbs do, but they are not the same. I have every intention of using some of the same prose for both, but they still are not the same.

As someone who finished writing a book mental health and pagans during the depths of the pandemic, this book really resonated with me. much of it is a diary of resilience during the months after the 2020 pandemic reached New York. “I worry as I write that I talk too much about myself, that I’m talking too much about this moment in time. But I also think about how important it is to have some voices of our people on the record about this. The witches, the occultists, the heathens, the druids, the dabblers.” Rather than limit the relevance, it makes this book all the stronger. For one, it will resonate with people who experienced this particular pandemic for the rest of their lives. More importantly, hooking into this worldwide event makes every example specific, which means that the human brain can more easily adapt the information to different circumstances. I imagine that a century hence, collectors of old occult books will find sage advice in Magic for Troubled Times that can be applied to the struggles of the day.

Castellano alternates between coaching readers on the sheer mental fortitude needed to begin to recover when the world implodes, and taking a deep dive into a particular esoteric approach to crisis. From hoodoo to ceremonial magic, this book covers everything from aligning oneself with a higher purpose to dealing with people whose gossip is keeping you down. Some of the exercises might be too complex for how overwhelmed you feel right now, or too dark for your personal ethics, or too Christian for your stripe of paganism, and that’s all fine: keep reading, and a few pages later there’s something else that might speak to your condition. This is an author who understands that not every tool will fit in every hand.

Here’s the kind of approach the reader should expect:

The critical first step of grounding is recognizing that you need to. This is harder than it sounds when part of your brain is chanting at high speed, everything is fine, everything is okay, this is no big deal and the other part of your brain can’t see how you’re going to make it through this moment without someone’s blood on your hands.

We can weep, wail, and gnash our teeth, or we can do something (like magic) to actively make change in our lives. Yes, obviously, you should also look at your budget, look at your investing, look at your bad financial habits, look at your current career, look at financial experts’ advice so you can improve your finances practically. Of course. I can also tell you from personal experience in money magic that one of the hardest parts is asking for what you actually want financially. Because I didn’t. I used to do some kind of crazy witchy math where you try to figure out how good of a person you actually are, how many favors you’ve asked, what bad deeds you’ve done and do you actually need this? I was never going to step forward into bigger and better things with that intention. It’s really . . . scary to ask for what you want. It’s even more scary to get it.

Taking control of your skin takes control of your own body. You don’t have control over all the circumstances of your hardship but . . . you have agency over your body.

*Public domain image by nattanan23 via Pixabay.*

Castellano roams all over the witch life, in service to a central theme of resilience. It needed to be written in 2020 for it to be written at all. There’s blunt advice, a variety of spell styles, and a bit more blunt advice for those of us who can’t take a hint.

This is a book that is felt as much as it is read. It can feel like a punch in the gut, or the first breath after breaking the surface. What it feels like on the first look says everything about the reader, which is a testament to the power of the writer. If you know, you know.

Quirks: This book has salty language, which I’ve glossed over with ellipses in the quotes I selected. There is more where that came from. It may be a selling point or a turnoff, but it’s a fact.

Quibbles: I am pickier about sentence fragments than most. Castellano’s writing has fragments as a feature, not a bug. It’s just not my style.

Title: Magic for Troubled Times
Author: Deborah Castellano
Publisher: Llewellyn Worldwide
ISBN: 978-0-7387-6989-9

Interested in having your book given an unbiased review? Let me know!

Simple Witchery: Don’t Be That Witch

January 2, 2024 By Willow Rose

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As an elder witch, I try not to let little things bother me. I’m too old to be wasting my energy and squandering my power. Still, there are a few things I see in my wanderings around witch spaces that poke at my peaceful composure like a devil with a pitchfork.

Here’s my trifecta of behaviors to banish if you want to advance in your craft, increase your power and just be a really cool witch.

*Ditch the dark and dangerous witch stereotype. Public domain image by Victoria via Pixabay.*

You’re a Witch – with a W

It’s not spelled with a B. You know the witch I’m talking about, who never misses an opportunity to tell everybody how dark, devious and dangerous she is. “Mess with me at your own risk.”

These witches use aggressive language meant to intimidate and dismiss others. In the worst case, they humiliate and bully with insults. They look for weak spots to poke a stick in, before somebody can expose their gaping wounds. They are the mean girls of the witching realms. Either you follow their lead unquestioningly, or you can hit the road.

In social media groups, they manifest as one of two demagogues—the administrator who brags about how easily they banish members from the group for even the hint of an infraction, or the member who flounces out in a self righteous huff over some perceived slight, leaving a dire warning behind.

There is a vast chasm between power of and power over. One is self control, the other is abusive control. The self-proclaimed badass witch is on an ego trip with the shadow sitting in the driver’s seat, large and in charge. They are on their own journey.

*Don’t diminish your power by calling yourself a baby witch. Public domain image by behrouz sasani via UnSplash.*

You’re Not a Baby Witch

I’m pretty sure I never used the term baby witch for myself, even in my earliest explorations into the craft. Nor do I apply it to others. If any witch self-identifies as a baby witch, so be it, but I refuse to reinforce that infantilizing characterization.

Babies are helpless, in need of total care and nurturing from the adults around them. While their brains are little sponges ready to absorb any new information, the information they are capable of processing is rudimentary. I don’t devalue the beauty in that very basic learning process, but there is a difference between learning how to drink from a cup, and understanding the symbology and use of the chalice in ritual. The first is the task of a baby, the second is the work of a novice seeker.

Perhaps more importantly, the term baby witch denies novice witches personal agency, as Sidney Eileen explains in Words Have Power – Why “Baby Witch” Is Problematic.

Words definitely have power. Just think about that for a moment—if we don’t believe in the power of words, then what good are spoken spells? The words you use make a difference. The word you choose to define yourself creates an energy. Do you really want to be a baby?

If you’re new to the craft, just dipping your toe into the magickal waters, there are better descriptors you can choose. You are a seeker, a novice, a newbie or a beginner. You are not a baby.

*Your ability to manifest desires depends on the work you put into your craft. Public domain image sourced by the author from Mystic Stock Shop.*

Don’t Be A Lazy Witch

There’s a difference between simplifying your witchcraft, and just being too lazy to do the work. As Gretchen Little said in Embracing Imperfect Witchcraft, “I believe it’s (witchcraft is) less about following rules and more about how much time you’ve spent on cultivating your personal power.” That same belief is what set me on the path of Simple Witchery.

We’ve all encountered the lazy witch. They ask for a spell to do this or that, they want to know what they can do with an herb they have, or wonder if everything they see is a sign. And it seems they all want to know how they can vex or hex someone who has done them wrong.

Of course, if you are in any witch groups (online or in person) it’s okay to ask questions. Most experienced or elder witches are happy to guide you, but don’t expect them to do your homework for you. Effort and Experience = Efficacy. Your ability to achieve a desired result is in direct relation to the work you put into it.

Lets look at if a different way. Growing up in a family that embraced mainstream Christian religion, I often heard the adage, God helps those who help themselves. The secular equivalent is, the results you get are equivalent to the effort you put in. For an example, you can’t pray to god for a job, or if not praying then hope for a job, but just sit around and do nothing to get a job. Okay, once in a while, somebody might come along of the blue with a job offer, but most often, we have to make the effort to seek and apply for work.

Likewise witchcraft cannot do for you what you won’t do for yourself. And just like the miraculous job that drops into your lap, you might have some hit and miss success with your lazy witchcraft, but you’ll never really grow in your power.

The most important component for manifesting your desire, is the personal energy you put into attracting it. When I put time and effort into researching what herb best serves my purpose, when I look for examples, but still craft my own spell, when I stop relying on others’ interpretations and ask myself why a particular rock on a beach full of similar stones might be a sign, I’m building that cache of energy that goes into the final working. Over the years, that energy is stored, and like a battery, it charges all the magick I do.

The bottom line is you can be a dabbler, or you can become an adept. By definition, a dabbler is an amateur, trifler or tinker—one who isn’t seriously committed to the practice at hand. A dabbler doesn’t put forth sustained effort and tends to pick and choose the easier or more dramatic aspects of the craft for their practice.

*A group can offer support for new witches. Public domain image by Sierra Koder via UnSplash.*

A group can offer support and be a place for fun and companionship for new witches, bon’t rely on witch groups, especially online, for your primary source of information. You may find that there are dozens of witches more than willing to answer all your questions, some in great detail, but you don’t know who they are, you don’t know if their information is from practice and experience, or something they just googled. And in many cases, you could end up more confused by all of the conflicting advice.

A good mentor will tell you where to look for answers. If you’re inquiring what herb helps with increasing luck they might suggest you look at mint, or cinnamon. When you do this, you’ll probably notice there are a few others consistently mentioned and that each one has a slightly different nuance—to attract general prosperity, increase wealth, or support health. You’ll learn what herbs you can use interchangeably, depending on what you have available. All of this is charging your witch battery.

There’s a mistaken notion among younger witches, that elders don’t want to share their knowledge. Or that because it was so much harder for us — we didn’t have the internet, and the few books that were available were hard to obtain — that we want it to be hard for them too.

Far from it. Like the stories of Baba Yaga and Vasilisa The Beautiful (or Brave), the crone witch knows that the real magick is in what you learn, not what you are told.

Read more Simple Witchery, at simplewitchery.com.

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Between Two Worlds: Belladonna

December 12, 2023 By Brianne Raven Wolf

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Ever since Hekate chose me I’ve been drawn to belladonna. Specifically Atropa Belladonna. One of Hekate’s most desirable poison pretties. Belladonna is also my plant Spirit ally. Last year when I moved back to Wisconsin I knew I needed to know much more about Her.

I started by attending a belladonna class taught online by Coby Michael. Coby is very knowledgeable about so many of the poison plants. I refer to his book The Poison Path Herbal regularly.

Part of my practice with my Goddess Hekate is to ask Her for guidance. When I decided early this year to incorporate belladonna plants into my apartment living room I asked for Her advice. I don’t have any animals living with me and no children visit me. Safety for myself and others was my top priority.

Two of my very best friends visit me on a regular basis. I knew I needed to make both of them aware of what I was doing. One friend is a pagan who lives about two hours from me and is very knowledgeable about the deadly nightshades and many other herbs.

My other best friend, who isn’t pagan, lives in the same building as I do. That required me to teach her about belladonna for her safety. She visits my apartment almost daily. I started by reading some basic articles about belladonna to her. She knows that I’m a pagan witch and a Priestess of Hekate, so that wasn’t a surprise to her.

Since I wasn’t sure how belladonna would grow inside I started with three small plants last spring. To be honest, just in case only one or two survived. My living room windows all face south so natural sunlight wasn’t too much of an issue. I purchased a plant moisture meter to make sure I wouldn’t overwater my plants.

They accepted transplanting quite well and almost doubled in size after a couple of months. All three of them seemed to thrive for a while. Then their growth slowed down. After more research online, I decided to transplant them to larger pots. Since my good friend Annie gardens with me, I decided to ask her for help. You can read about her garden here.

Off we went to our local garden center for much larger pots and organic potting soil. Wearing gloves, and laying out a plastic tarp we cautiously transplanted the three plants. I was very concerned about how they would take to being transplanted twice in six months. After a few weeks, two of the plants almost doubled in size.

Then all of a sudden I noticed a small flower appear. I have seen all kinds of belladonna flower photos, but here was one right in front of my eyes. It was so beautiful. I thanked my belladonna plant Spirit ally and Hekate right away for being able to have that happen. As the flower started to die, I noticed a small green berry growing where the flower had been.

I kept watching it grow daily. It finally started turning to purple. Such a beautiful fruit it bore. Later on the same plant another flower started to grow. And another berry. Hekate and belladonna plant Spirit ally had gifted me with two flowers and berries on the same plant. What an experience!

As fall was approaching I knew I needed to augment the natural light. Days were getting shorter. I went back to my notes from the class I had been in chat on Zoom with another witch who was using artificial light. He had started to use a new type of LED light from a company called Soltech. I decided to purchase one and try it out.

We moved my larger pots to a very sturdy table and we hung one light above and between those two plants. The light covers both plants quite well and I still get some natural light coming in from one side. That was in mid-September. Both plants have grown about 6 inches in height since then.

I moved my yarrow, lemon balm and the third belladonna plant to another stand in late October. I hung a second Soltech LED light above that stand. Those three plants seem to be thriving fine even though they aren’t near natural light. This will be an ongoing project. I think I’ll move that stand back to another living room window using that light to augment natural light as well.

I’ll keep you updated on this progress. Until next time…somewhere, sometime in the future! Have a Blessed Yule and Winter Solstice!

The Corner Crone: Choosing a Signifier Card in Tarot

December 10, 2023 By Martha Kirby Capo

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When giving a Tarot reading, many Practitioners use a card referred to as the Significator or Signifier to represent the Querent. So, how does a Reader go about deciding which card to use?

What follows are some options. By the way, these options by no means whatsoever represent all of the things a Reader might take into account when assigning a Significator. Seasoned Readers will have developed their own tried and true methods, but if you’re just starting out you may find some of these options helpful.

*Public domain image by Number5555 via Wikimedia Commons.*

By Astrological Sign

Determine which suit is most aligned with the Seeker. Many Readers take astrological signs into account when assigning a Signifier. Thus, Earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn) align with the Pentacles or Coins suit, and Air signs (Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius) are associated with the Swords suit. The Fire signs of Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius are aligned with the suit of Wands or Staves, and the Water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces) are associated with the Cups suit.

By Age

In a nutshell, for people who identify as young women, the Page; for people who identify as young men, the Knight; for people who identify as older women, the Queen; for people who identify as older men, the King. NOTE that this is a very binary approach that will not work for folx who identify as non-binary. Also note that “age” doesn’t necessarily mean physical age; if your Querent is a physically young woman who is far more mature than her years would suggest, you might choose to select the Queen as her Significator.

By Temperament

Does the Querent seem to be a sensitive person? Aggressive? Withdrawn or scattered? These qualities can also help inform which court card you might select to represent the Querent. (ex: a sensitive, dreamy sort of person might best be represented by a court card from the suit of Cups).

By Combining the Above Three Options

Let’s say your Querent has told you they’re a demiboy Earth sign. As you spend a few minutes getting to know them, you notice that their communication style seems to be mostly aligned with one of the Air signs; that is, they may seem to be somewhat detached from the emotional side of things. Rather than interpreting these data points as being in opposition with each other, try to find the touchpoints they have in common. For example, court cards that combine the classical elements of Earth and Air, such as the Page of Swords or the Knight of Pentacles, might be an option to consider for this Seeker.

Another option is to invite the Seeker to examine all of the court cards to discover the one they feel best represents them. Ask them what drew them to the card they chose; the answers will give you added insights about them that will be helpful in the Reading.

By Intuition

Many Practitioners choose a Significator using their intuition. One of the benefits to this method is that you can move beyond the binary construct inherent in the court cards of many decks. Another benefit is that just about any card in the deck can be used to represent the Querent, from either the Major or Minor Arcana. For example: using the court card system, my Significator is the Queen of Wands. I’m a fire sign and a physically as well as emotionally mature woman. However, I identify strongly with the High Priestess card and I consider that card to be one of my Significators.

Consider inviting the Seeker to examine all of the cards in the deck you’ll be using for the Reading to see if a particular image is compelling to them. The more clearly they can see themselves in their Signifier, the more connected to their Reading they will be.

*Public domain image by petr sidorov via UnSplash.*

It’s worth mentioning that a Significator card is different from a Birth (or Essence or Soul) card, which is determined using numerology. The Birth card speaks to a person’s basic nature; it typically is not drawn as part of a spread but can offer more insight into the character of a person.

Remember, these suggestions are not exhaustive. Rather, they’re simply a jumping-off point for people who might be new to reading Tarot.

Happy reading!

The Corner Crone: Creating Your Own Tarot Spreads

November 30, 2023 By Martha Kirby Capo

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Doing a deep dive into several structural elements of established tarot spreads can be helpful as you begin to create your own spreads. Several of you who are Intuitive Readers likely already perform some version of this process. If so, please do share some of your own tips in the comments. As you begin to craft spreads that are unique to your divination style, here are some questions to consider.

*Public domain image by komahouse via Pixabay.*

What is the Purpose of the Spread?

What kind of questions will the spread be designed for? Will the layout be specific to a particular type of question, such as career or yes/no questions? Will the spread be used for general questions? Or perhaps the spread will be used to gain clarity about a Seeker’s personality. Spend some time thinking about what might be motivating you to create a wholly unique spread, and keep a record of the insights that bubble up.

What are the Philosophical or Theoretical Principles?

Will your layout be astrology-based? Oriented toward the philosophies of Buddhism? Will Kabbalah or some other belief system provide some of the structural support for your spread? Might the spread be specific to a particular deck? You might feel inspired to create a spread that reflects or relates to the qualities of a particular deity, or you might be moved to create a spread that is reflective of the land spirits around you. Consider whether you want to combine different cards from different decks, and make some notes about how you chose each card. Review what you’ve written and jot down any overarching themes that might have revealed themselves.

How Will You Design the Layout?

How will the layout relate to the underlying principle(s)? As an example: the Celtic Cross is based on Western Judeo-Christian principles; thus, the layout resembles a cross. Will principles of numerology come into play? How will that be reflected in the spread design? Another example might be designing a layout that resembles a three-way crossroads if you’ve decided to create a spread reflective of Hekate, or a layout that resembles a stylized heart if you’re crafting a spread reflective of Aphrodite.

How Many Cards?

Consider the significance of the number of cards you decide to use. Do some research of number meanings in numerology and in different belief systems. Take, for instance, the number 5. We have 5 senses. We have 5 fingers and toes. In Sikhism there are 5 sacred symbols, and according to Hinduism there are 5 elements that make up the universe. There are the 5 pillars of Islam, and the 5 wounds of Christ in Christianity. In numerology, 5 is associated with the planet Mercury. Finally, in the Major Arcana 5 is the Hierophant. Fives in the Minor Arcana represent a midpoint in the seeker’s journey.

As you research number meanings when you’re considering the cards you’ll use in the spread you’re creating, remember that using more cards doesn’t necessarily mean a better reading. Think about whether your new system will have a limit as to how many clarification cards you’ll draw, or if that decision will be made in the moment during the reading.

What Will the Card Positions Mean?

Each card position is an aspect of the Querent’s issue (think of the 3-card draw). In your unique spread, what will each card in each specific position mean? Why? For example, if you design a three-way crossroads as a Hekate-specific spread that looks like some version of a capital T, what might each of the “roads” leading to the crossroads represent? What might the card at the center of the crossroads mean? Will the cards be laid out starting at the furthest points of each “road” and continue to be drawn until the “roads” meet to form a crossroads? Will each “road” have the same number of cards?

*Public domain image by art-of-joan via Pixabay.*

Final Thoughts

You’ll want to be very, very familiar with your deck before you start to create your own spreads, and you might find it helpful to keep a sort of Tarot BOS (Book of Spreads) as you begin this work. Write down how you made your decisions (and what they are), and draw simple pictures of your potential layouts to keep track of the spread’s evolution. If they’re part of your practice you may want to include plant and/or crystal correspondences in your Tarot BOS. You might also want to have a section to record the feedback you get as you start to test-run your newly-devised spread, and use that feedback for further refinement of your spread if necessary.

Between Two Worlds: Third Harvest and Annie

November 16, 2023 By Brianne Raven Wolf

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Our third harvest is finally finished, although a bit later than usual. The last produce we picked was our popcorn. Part of the three sisters planting. You may read about the start of our garden here.

Overall this was a wonderful growing season for us. Many harvests of radishes, green beans (including five pints of them in the freezer) and lots of carrots. Last but definitely not the least was our popcorn. We waited until the first frost to pick that bounty!

If all goes well, our plan is to have our two raised bed gardens next year as well. While my garden is all vegetables and herbs, Annie’s garden is all about flowers. Lots and lots of flowers of many different kinds.

Flowers are therapy for Annie. She’s my best and closest friend. Closer even than my siblings. When I moved back to Wisconsin I thought I’d never find someone who would want to be a part of my life. Surprise, surprise. Annie and I are together almost every day. We do have separate apartments though.

We have lots of things in common, including a love of nature and walking outdoors as much as we can. Which is about every day unless it’s raining or snowing. Walking is what keeps us in shape. We’re both very active physically and socially.

Neither one of us has a car, so walking is essential for us. Luckily everything we need is within relatively easy walking distance. No more than fifteen to twenty minutes away. Including restaurants, dentists, grocery and drug stores. We do need to request transportation for our doctor visits though.

Another advantage where we live is our awesome Senior Center. We eat lunch there two to three times a week. They have lots of activities and programs there for us senior citizens. Except for some interaction in our apartment building, the bulk of our social activity is at the Senior Center.

Social interaction is so important for us as we get older. Besides staying fit by regular exercise and a balanced diet, socialization is imperative for us. Our library is right across the street from the Senior Center. They have many resources including books on tape, and events structured for older adults.

All of these resources are very important for Annie. She has been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment. Annie doesn’t let that stop her from doing what she loves to do. By living independently, as much as possible, and continually learning new things her condition has basically stopped where it’s at.

*Annie’s my best and closest friend. Image by the author.*

She does get tested yearly for her condition. Annie does have a few issues, but with her friends, including me, she gets help accomplishing the things that are hard for her. Both of us over the past year have attended many brain health classes. That helps her and also lets me understand more of the issues that come up from time to time.

So far so good. We do many things together and have more things in common than not. Annie calls us “two peas in a pod”. We’ll be patiently waiting to return to our gardens in the spring. Having many inside pots with plants and herbs will get us through the winter.

We’ll keep you updated until next time…somewhere, sometime in the future! Blessed Be to all of my readers!

Between Two Worlds: Transgender Day of Remembrance 2023

November 13, 2023 By Brianne Raven Wolf

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The Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR) is an annual observance on November 20 of every year that honors the memory of those whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence. To remember until we all get accepted for just being us, human beings. November 20 each year is a solemn reminder of that.

*Public domain image by katlove via Pixabay.*

What is the Transgender Day of Remembrance? Quoted from Wikipedia:

“The Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR) was started in 1999 by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith as a vigil to honor the memory of Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was killed on November 28, 1998. The vigil commemorates all the transgender people lost to violence since Rita Hester’s death, and began an important tradition that has become the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance.”

This year is the 25th anniversary of TDoR.

“The Transgender Day of Remembrance seeks to highlight the losses we face due to anti-transgender bigotry and violence. I am no stranger to the need to fight for our rights, and the right to simply exist is first and foremost. With so many seeking to erase transgender people – sometimes in the most brutal ways possible, it is vitally important that those we lose are remembered, and that we continue to fight for justice.”

Transgender Day of Remembrance founder Gwendolyn Ann Smith

The data is collected from the first day of October to the last day of September each year. That way the data is accurate for the vigil on November 20 of each year. This reporting period there were 392 reported deaths of transgender people worldwide. Only the deaths that are reported are used. There are many, many more that go unreported each year.

*Public domain image by thehiddenme_5g via Pixabay.*

Range October 1, 2022 – September 30, 2023

Data is from TransLivesMatter.

Argentina: 11

Armenia: 1

Australia: 2

Azerbaijan: 2

Bangladesh: 5

Belgium: 1

Bolivia: 1

Brazil: 107

Canada: 7

Chile: 3

Columbia: 21

Cuba: 2

Dominican Republic: 1

Ecuador: 20

France: 1

Greece: 1

Guatemala: 5

Honduras: 3

India: 16

Indonesia: 3

Iraq: 1

Italy: 7

Japan: 1

Mexico: 53

Netherlands: 1

Nicaragua: 1

Pakistan: 7

Paraguay: 1

Peru: 11

Philippines: 8

Spain: 4

Sweden: 2

Turkey: 3

Uganda: 1

United Kingdom: 5

Uruguay: 2

United States: 61

Venezuela: 2

Vietnam: 1

USA Deaths: 62

Tiffany Banks, Age 25, shot in Miami, Florida on 1 Oct 2022

Brayden Snyder, Age 15, suicide in Ephrata, Pennsylvania on 25 October 2022

Myles Fitzpatrick, Age 17, suicide in Manville, New Jersey on 7 November 2022

Emma Borhanian, Age 31, shot in Vallejo, California on 13 November 2022

Adalyn Anderson, Age 24, suicide in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on 15 November 2022

Daniel Davis Aston, Age 28, shot in Colorado Springs, Colorado on 19 November 2022

Kelly Loving, Age 40, shot in Colorado Springs, Colorado on 19 November 2022

Diamond Jackson-McDonald, Age 27, shot in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 24 November 2022

Day Rodas, Age 27, overdose in Malibu, California on 1 December 2022

Morgan Dee, Age 32, suicide in Fort Wayne, Indiana on 4 December 2022

Destiny Howard, Age 23, shot in Macon, Georgia on 9 December 2022

Marquis ‘MJ’ Jackson, Age 33, beaten to death in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 14 December 2022

Henry Berg-Brousseau, Age 24, suicide in Louisville, Kentucky on 16 December 2022

Caelee Love-Light, Age 27, shot in Phoenix, Arizona on 17 December 2022

Levi Martin, Age 17, suicide in Lakeville, Massachusetts on 22 December 2022

Gwen Gatewood, Age 22, suicide in Michigan on 4 January 2023

Jasmine “Star” Mack, Age 36, stabbed in Washington, D.C. on 7 January 2023

KC Johnson, Age 27, beaten to death in Wilmington, North Carolina on 13 January 2023

Manuel Teran (“Tortugita”), Age 26, shot in Atlanta, Georgia on 18 January 2023

Olivia Snow, Age 47, died in New York City, New York on 19 January 2023

Maria Jose Rivera, Age 20-25, (exact age unknown), shot in Houston, Texas on 21 January 2023

Unique Banks, Age 20, shot in Chicago, Illinois on 23 January 2023

Ivory Nicole Smith, Age 27, died in San Francisco, California on 24 January 2023

Imanitwitaho Zachee, Age 26, shot in Louisville, Kentucky on 3 February 2023

Cashay Henderson, Age 31, shot in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on 25 February, 2023

Caitlyn E’owyn Earhart (‘Cait”) Age 19, suicide in St. Louis, Missouri on 1 March 2023

Kayleigh Scott, Age 25, suicide in Denver, Colorado on 20 March 2023

Tasiyah Woodland (“Siyah”), Age 18, shot in Mechanicsville, Maryland on 24 March 2023

Ashley Burton, Age 37, shot in Atlanta, Georgia on 11 April 2023

Moe Moore, Age 18, possible suicide in Louisville, Kentucky on 14 April 2023

Rasheeda Williams (“Koko Da Doll”) Age 35, shot in Atlanta, Georgia on 19 April 2023

Stephanie Petty, Age 19, suicide in Thermopolis, Wyoming on 25 April 2023

Banko Paso/Banko Brown, Age 24, shot in San Francisco, California on 27 April 2023

Lakendra Andrews, Age 26, shot in Dallas, Texas on 29 April 2023

Ome Gandhi, Age 16, shot in Salt Lake City, Utah on 16 May 2023

Nova Dunne, Age 14, suicide in Manchester, New Hampshire on 17 May 2023

Cam Chamberlain, no age given, possible suicide in Fort Cavazos, Texas on 25 May 2023

Mia Alaina-Lorene Knight, Age 20, suicide in Yuba City, California on 31 May 2023

Ashia Davis, Age 34, shot in Highland Park, Michigan on 3 June 2023

Channel Perez Ortiz (“Uvita”), Age 29, shot in Carolina, Puerto Rico on 25 June 2023

Jacob Williamson, Age 18, murdered in Pageland, South Carolina on 30 June 2023

Michelle Dionne Peacock, Age 59, stabbed in Richmond, Indiana on 30 June 2023

Colin Smith, Age 32, stabbed in Portland, Oregon on 2 July 2023

Fernielle Mary Mora, Age 26, died of suspicious circumstances in New York City, New York on 6 July 2023

Elena Esther Adam, no age given, died in Dallas, Texas on 11 July 2023

Camdyn Rider, Age 21, shot in Winter Haven, Florida on 21 July 2023

Mykal Rae, no age given, or city listed, suicide in Virginia (no city listed) on 21 July 2023

De’Vonnie J’Rae Johnson, Age 28, shot in Los Angeles, California on 7 August 2023

Dollie Goins, Age 27, cause of death not reported in Eugene, Oregon on 10 August 2023

Luis Angel Diaz Castro, Age 22, murdered in San Juan, Puerto Rico on 12 August 2023

Lovely Page, Age 54, shot in Chicago, Illinois on 16 August 2023

Thomas Robertson (“Tom-Tom”), Age 28, shot in Calumet City, Indiana on 17 August 2023

Catherine Wheeler, Age 35, suicide in North Canton, Ohio on 27 August 2023

Tree Crane, Age 17-18, suicide in South Jordan, Utah on 31 August 2023

Bre’Asia Bankz, no age given, or city listed, shot in Arizona on 5 September 2023

Dacoda Lawrence (“Codii”), Age 25, run over in Weirton, West Virginia on 5 September 2023

Alexa Andreevna Sokova, Age 34, shot in Palm Bay, Florida on 8 September 2023

Charm Wilson, Age 32, run over in Bedford Heights, Cleveland, Ohio on 8 September 2023

YOKO, Age 30, run over in New Orleans, Louisiana on 19 September 2023

Theadora Cassidy (’Thea”), Age 18, suicide in Ephrata, Pennsylvania on 22 September 2023

Sherlyn Marjorie, Age 35, beaten to death in Albuquerque, New Mexico on 26 September 2023

Erin Ezra Young, Age 24, suicide in Waterloo, Iowa on 26 September 2023

Phoenix Rising: Witchy Tips for Surviving Life’s Storms

October 31, 2023 By Robin Corak

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I have had a tendency at various points in my life to do things backwards, the hard way, or both. Like now – here it is, the beginning of the dark half of the year and instead of hibernating and indulging my hermit side, I am just now emerging from the cave. My life has been a bit of a roller coaster over the past 6 months or so, with the highest of highs and some pretty low lows. To give you an idea of what I am talking about, I hereby provide you with the highlights of my last few months.

*The last few months have been a bit of a tornado. Public domain image by 51581 via Pixabay.*

May

Passed the exam for and received my End of Life Doula certification. Also, my son completed his basic training and Tech School for the army and was assigned to a base over 2,000 miles away.

June/July

My dear friend of over 30 years came to visit me and I had a blast. We went to an incredible week-long voice/music conference together and, in addition to learning a LOT, we also made good friends and long lasting, amazing memories. I sang Karaoke and performed at an open mic for the first time and received so many positive compliments on my singing.

July

My father, who had been ill with cancer (though still lucid, functioning, and in good spirits), passed away. It was a blessing to be with him and surround him with love in his final hours. It was also unthinkable to lose someone who had known me, loved me, and been steadfast in his belief in me since the day I was born.

August

My stepson got married and I had family in town. It was wonderful! Not so wonderful but also beautiful in its own right? My father’s funeral. This was also the month that the manuscript for my first book with Llewellyn was due which was both nerve-wracking and exciting. In addition, this month marked the first time that I have ever been unable to be with my son on his birthday.

September

Much of this month was spent preparing to retire from my CEO position at a non-profit agency that has been my home for over 20 years. While I am looking forward to new adventures, it has been a bittersweet process of packing up my office, attending retirement celebrations, and saying goodbye to staff. I was fortunate enough to be selected to present at the upcoming Bewitching the Waters symposium and I can see my plans for future vocational paths unfolding before my eyes.

October

Thus far I have had a friend pass and am concerned about an extended family member who is having some concerning health issues. I also have two family members facing surgeries and a long list of things I need to get done before I transition into retirement.

*I have found myself embracing my inner hermit. Public domain image by Cheerfully_lost via Pixabay.*

As you can see, the last few months have been a bit of a tornado with so many transitions and emotions that have run the spectrum from grief and despair to inspiration and joy. Despite most of this occurring in what is traditionally considered the time of the year when nature is abundant and we tend to be more active, I have found myself embracing my inner hermit. With so many changes occurring in my life, it seemed as though hibernating (as much as realistically possible) was the best way to conserve my energy, mitigate my confusion, and function on a daily basis. As a result, I found myself reaching out less frequently to friends, staying at home more, indulging in comfort foods more frequently, and taking a hiatus from one of my loves – belly dancing.

Now that I have had some time to lick my wounds in (relative) silence, I have been able to begin using spiritual tools and lessons learned to make sense of it all and to being to navigate my life with intention rather than just feeling like I am being tossed upon the waves, going hither and yon. I know that I am far from the only one who has experienced these intense whirlwinds and for those of you going through it right now, I see you. Below are some tools and ways of coping that I have found to be helpful in gaining clarity, a sense of peace, and the energy and will to emerge from my hibernation and begin to try and return some sense of normalcy to my life.

Integration

This is a tool and concept which I learned early on during my membership in the Sisterhood of Avalon but which I previously did not pay as much attention to in comparison to other aspects of the Avalonian healing cycle. I very much underestimated the power of integration. Taking the time to simply sit with and process what has happened in our lives from time to time can be powerful. Learning from what has happened and identifying how we want to intentionally move forward in the future is, in my mind, akin to pouring all of our experiences, feelings, and/or wounds from a specific time period into a cauldron. By allowing it to sit – or “brew” – for a bit while simply watching and stirring we can distill its essence and ultimately alchemize it into something more.

*Public domain image by subarasikiai via Pixabay.*

Divination

The simple act of pulling a card or two each morning really helped me to get clarity and feel a little more grounded. I pulled cards for a general outlook of my day but also to better identify any life lessons present in all of these transitions I was experiencing, what I was holding onto that no longer served me, and what I needed to do to manifest the feeling of stability and control over my own life that I desired.

Being in my body

This one is not easy for me. Whereas my sister was always athletically inclined, I shudder at the very mention of exercise. If I had my druthers, I would spend the better part of each day huddling up in a cozy corner with lots of books, my journal, and an instrument or two. Yet, this tip was actually one of the most effective techniques for managing my feelings of confusion, fear and despair.

There is something about being in my body that has a calming impact on my anxiety. Certainly our body emits feel-good endorphins when we exercise, but it seemed to me to be more than that. If our body holds onto our trauma as many modern researchers and authors seem to believe, then it makes sense to me that in order to release stressful or traumatic feelings our body may need to be involved in some way.

One physical activity that I have always enjoyed is dance. Even though I had to take a hiatus from my belly dance classes and performing troupe, I still took time a few times a week to put on music and simply dance to my heart’s content. Other times, my technique for being in my body simply consisted of yoga or basic stretching and mindful walking. Physical touch like a massage or facial or simply taking time to name how your body feels – from head to toe – in any given moment can also work wonders.

*Public domain image by Didier via Pixabay.*

The Power of Silence

I’ll admit, this one is hard for me and for most people I know, and I am an introvert! It’s especially challenging when your day-to-day work requires a great deal of verbal communication. However, my husband had to leave town for a couple of days recently and I had the house mostly to myself. (My roomies were a senior dog who groans a lot and a cat who thinks she is a queen but for the most part they were pretty non-demanding of my verbal communication.) I had large chunks of time where I didn’t have to talk and the stillness was, oddly, very freeing and healing. I suppose this is why people attend silence retreats. You don’t have to spend an entire day in silence for this to be effective; rather, just take a few waking hours here and there to be quiet and alone.

Communing with Deity

I used to do this regularly, but with the chaos of the recent months I have gotten out of the habit. At one of my lowest points, I decided to revisit the deity that I serve on a regular basis and who has always had a nurturing energy. I would simply wake up a few minutes early and sit in front of the shrine I had dedicated to this deity and share my fears and feelings. Then, I would listen. Sometimes I would receive helpful information whereas at other times I just felt a calming, loving energy. This is a practice that I am trying to get back to incorporating into my life more consistently.

*Scrying with a candle flame was very helpful. Public domain image by Gerd Altmann via Pixabay.*

Back to Basics

I find that sometimes I neglect or forget the power in going back to basics with my healing tools and modalities. I started doing Reiki on myself each morning before I got out of bed and would often work with a crystal or herbal ally to provide me with some peace and clarity. I have also found that scrying with a candle flame was very helpful in stilling my monkey mind and being more centered. Other days, I went outside and hugged a tree. Not only did this help me more gracefully manage change, it also gave me a renewed appreciation for the importance of some of the most basic, yet effective, witchy tools and practices.

Asking for Help

This is another one that is hard for me – and for many people I know – but it is sometimes necessary and is a sign of courage and strength even though society might have us think otherwise. I am a very giving person and yet I try to take very little in return. This is particularly true when it comes to emotional support. When I finally shared with those close to me how I was feeling, the amount of support I received was incredibly touching.

I realized that when you tend to give but rarely take it doesn’t allow for those who care for you to experience the joy that comes with giving. Sharing your vulnerability with others you can trust can result in a stronger bond and even gratitude for both parties. I also highly recommend seeking out mental health help when needed. Finding an insightful counselor who gets me and who I feel comfortable with has provided me with insight and a feeling of groundedness.

Journaling

I realize journaling isn’t for everyone. If you abhor writing but enjoy forms of other creative expression, then the last suggestion might be more in line with what you need. However, if you have never journaled before, I strongly suggest you give it a try. Sometimes just getting my thoughts on paper provides clarity and a sense of relief. Other times, it turns into automatic writing which is usually pretty insightful.

Dream Magick

I have been practicing dream magick for years and consider it one of my most valuable witchy tools. Many famous people – writers, artists, scientists, athletes, and historical figures – have acknowledged the role that dreams have played in their lives, usually in the form of inspiration, problem solving, and finding things or places of importance. When I am feeling stagnant, overwhelmed and/or just need clarity, I will look to my dreams to help me. This can be as simple as repeatedly stating an affirmation before falling asleep or writing down your dream intent and placing under your pillow or on your altar.

Of course, making use of this magick typically requires a willingness to track your dreams (i.e. in a journal or verbally using a voice memo recorder), but I have found this to be an effective way for accessing guidance. If you are new to dream magick, you may have to get into the habit of recording your dreams for a period of time before things start to fall into place. Once you have written down your recollection of your dreams, I recommend taking some time before going back and reading your entries in order to get the best results.

Creative Expression

Creative expression is an amazing method for releasing daunting feelings. Author Christopher Zara asserts that “Great art comes from great pain.” Art – be it through painting, sculpture, dance, music, woodworking or many other creative forms – can transform our pain into something beautiful. Doing this can not only help others who may be suffering (through resonance with the art) but it also gives the creator back some control which is a balm and a tether when our lives feel chaotic and out of our control.

*Public domain image by luxstorm via Pixabay.*

So there, you have it – 10 witchy tips for navigating life’s storms. To all of you who are currently in the midst of a storm, I wish you peace, clarity and healing. I would love to hear what methods have worked for you as well! If you have tools or methods that have worked for you, please feel free to add them in the comments.