YouTube - Balthazar's Conjure: When the cards are just plain WRONG and the magic of the significator card
I've watched this video a few minutes ago now, and I'm still sitting here shaking my head, and experiencing a profound DUH! moment.
I've never been one to use personal significators within tarot because a) it takes that card out of play - you won't get the benefit of its influence/ meaning within the spread, and b) I never saw the point. And up until now, no one has ever presented me with a good enough reason to change my mind.
But if you add magick into the mix, and its power to attract the "right" cards - now I'm listening! This puts a whole new spin on things.
(So, yeah, yet another Balthazar video. I can't help it. I just click with his ideas. #sorrynotsorry )
YouTube - Balthazar's Conjure: Accurate Predictive Tarot and How NOT to Use Tarot to Hide From Life
Bloody hell. This blog is in danger of turning into the Balthazar Channel šŗ. But I love his take on tarot, and this video is another winner.
Predictive tarot is a thing. Sure, I use tarot for "spiritual counselling" as well, but when I'm fortune telling I read the cards much like I would playing cards.
If you're using a deck that you've developed a deep intuitive connection with and you find you're having trouble reining in your interpretations, try using a completely different deck for predictive readings. I'd recommend a Marseille deck, or even a bog standard RWS if you don't use one already.
You could even limit yourself to just the trumps. š± Keep it simple, keep it clear.
YouTube - Balthazar's Conjure: Using the Tarot for Spirit Communication
This is right up my alley! A detailed and lucid explanation of how to converse with spirit using this particular method PLUS clear guidance on how to phrase questions for Yes/No enquiries.
Benebell Wen introduced a topic that got my cogs turning...
I was moved to make the following comment -
From my perspective, witchcraft is anything that uses intention to influence or change reality, be that religious prayer, channelling reiki, visualisation, burning a candle...
For the person making the intention, however, itās only witchcraft if they identify as a witch.
By the same token, if someone identifies as a witch, they are a witch. I donāt care if they donāt display any of the characteristics I personally would associate with witchiness.
Itās a mindset, a way of being. By consciously adopting a particular way of connecting with reality, however you perceive it, you become part of that reality.
I noted that these were just my very quick thoughts on the subject and that they'll need refinement. For instance, I think I'd drop the "consciously" from that last statement. But hey, it's a start.
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I identify as a witch.
I was "witchy"as a child. But of course, I wasn't aware of it. I didn't even feel particularly different to other kids. It was just the way I interacted with my environment. It was only as I got older that I noticed that other people didn't always respond to things in quite the same way I did. And later still before I discovered labels to apply to my "responses".
As a young adult, looking for my place in society, I decided it would be best to steer my mysticism into something fairly mainstream so as not to be completely on my own. This was many years before the internet, with its easy access to more "fringe" communities.
I eventually settled on Liberal Quakerism, with its unprogrammed worship and emphasis on the Inner or Inward Light. And I was very happy there for quite a few years.
But over time, my focus shifted back to more solitary mystical practices. And now here I am today, practising witchcraft and calling myself a witch. And old enough to be quite comfortable with being "on my own".
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I'd love to hear your thoughts on this subject, so if this has gotten your cogs turning, please comment.
Response to "Determining death with Playing Cards Cartomancy"
Angelo Dicostanzo is a playing card reading virtuoso. If you want to discover how reading playing cards works, watch any of his videos.
In his most recent video, he discusses a situation in which he was asked to determine how someone would die. Normally this is something he would not address (nor I!), but in this instance there were very special circumstances, and the resulting spread was too good an opportunity for learning not to share, on YouTube and in his group on Facebook - The Magic of Playing Cards.
And I want to share my "interpretive process" for this one, as well - as an example of how someone who comes from a different card reading background, with different meanings, and who doesn't even have a meaning for one of the cards, can pull it together. If I can, anyone can, is basically what I'm hoping to get across. š
But I don't want to spoil the impact of Angelo's excellent video, so please watch it first before you read my scribblings...
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Watched it? Brilliant, eh?
So, here's how it went for me. š The first thing that jumped out at me was the 9 of Hearts. This is my "Great joy or Good event" card, but traditionally it's thought of as the Wish card - you will get what you've been wishing for. As death doesn't quite fit into the great joy/good event category, I decided this card was showing that the person will die they way they want to.
At this point my rational mind piped up and said "Most people want to die in their sleep". That seemed reasonable, so I looked to the other cards for confirmation... "Mmm, they're not saying that." Let's pick them apart.
The Jack of Spades is my "False friend". Someone with negative intentions. Not aggressively malicious like the Queen of Clubs, but someone who's "not right", as my friend would say. And traditionally, the Jacks can represent thoughts, so here we have negative, misleading, perhaps sinister thoughts.
Then there's the 5 of Clubs. If you follow my blog you know that I read a with stripped deck of 32 cards, the lowest being the 7s, so I don't actually have a meaning for the 5 of Clubs. But I follow lots of readers who do use all 52 cards, and I've picked up a few things. When confronted with a card I don't "use", I consider its number, in this case 5, which for me is a number of Disruption, and the suit, Clubs being the suit of Actions. So this is disruptive action.
It began to dawn on me that this was heading in the "not natural causes" direction. I was hoping what I was looking at was assisted suicide.
But.... Why the dark presence of the Jack of Spades, when, ideally, assisted suicide is an act of love and respect? And the 5 of Clubs? True, even at best, such a death would be disruptive, but it seemed there was more to it...
The Jack is looking directly at the 5 of Clubs and on to the 9 of Hearts. And acknowledging tradition again, 5s can signify a hand. This was someone with negative thoughts, or thoughts perceived by others to be negative or misguided, taking direct, disruptive action - death by their own hand - to achieve their desired outcome.
In conclusion, I hope that demonstrating how I negotiated my wobbly way through this trying reading will encourage you to approach your readings with flexibility and creativity. Like I said - if I can do it, anyone can.
I have a real soft spot for these "everyman" spreads. I think many of us, especially in the UK and North America, think we're somehow special, perhaps even spiritually advanced because we Consult The Cardsā¢. But in other parts of the world, many people spread the cards for themselves quite ordinarily and unpretentiously. It does my heart good. šļ»æ
I'm not sure I necessarily accept his "scientific" explanation, but the way he describes the process resonates with my current perceptions. At the very least, you might find it a useful analogy.
Please feel free to comment with your thoughts. Or just think them at me - I'll try to pick them up. š
YouTube: How 'Nandora Tarot' uses her Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling cards
This is so cool!
A lot of people struggle to use Gypsy Witch cards because the deck combines elements of Lenormand plus additional symbols, a full set of playing cards, and Near and Far placement meanings (like the method found in the "Philippe LeNormand" instruction sheets that came with early Lennie decks). They don't know which way to jump first!
I love that Naomi has taken this "disadvantage" and created a magical method all her own.
Repost - The Journey Man: 5 Tips For Reading Tarot Cards
Declaring my bias up front, 1) I adore the Journey Man and 2) my method of card reading involves guides (not everyone works with guides; not everyone wants or needs to).
So, with that in mind, I bring you JM's 5 Tips For Reading Tarot Cards (or any cards), with my highest recommendation. š
John Ballantrae on "When a Yes-No spread gives an incorrect answer"
Hooray! John Ballantrae is back posting YouTube videos again. And he's starting out with a bang. There's a lot to think about in this one.
"...You (the reader) are not the one with the problem, or the one who wants an answer... Sometimes the questioner... knows what the answer is, or knows... the best route... to follow to move them in the direction of which they want to go. I think some part of the questioner knows that, and... that's the answer you get in a Tarot spread... The reader is the messenger... of what the person already knows...
With a reading, it's the questioner talking to the questioner via the cards... So what's going on isn't always what seems to be going on. So we have to think to the whole question of being 'right' and 'wrong'..."
I personally love the fact that John honours the questioner's desire for a Yes-No answer, and doesn't try to get them to change their question to something more "open ended".
The lovely Mr.Lunar recently achieved 100 subscribers on his fledgling YouTube channel and had a celebratory giveaway draw for a Cartamundi "Jeu Lenormand" deck.
I've wanted one of these for a long time but I put off getting one because
a) I have more than enough Lenormand decks and b) I felt the verses might be distracting. I decided in the end that if I were to get one it would be the indecipherable to me Dutch version.
Guess who won. āŗ
I am loving this deck! And I wanted to share an open reading using it. Lenormand works better with a few more cards than I usually use for ORs, so I've created what I'm calling my "Quick Insight Cross"*.
Stressful conversations about choices concerning a friend or between friends. Don't allow these discussions to escalate into arguments. Take a step back and give the situation some time to resolve itself. Don't aggravate the situation and all will be well. *I'll be back soon with the details for those interested.
A terrifically flexible spread generator
(click on Sun)
created by Tarot and card reader Bertrand Saint Guillain, featuring his Palimpsest Lenormand, Nicolas Conver 1860 Tarot and Triomphes de Paris
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And over at The Deceptionary you'll find a selection of
3-card reading generators
- using the Universal Tarot, Marseille (trumps only), playing cards, Psycards, Zener symbols, geomantic symbols and runes. You'll be given the description of a "querent", their area of concern, and three cards or symbols to interpret for them.
