Blue Moon Through a Willow

The blue moon, 31 July 2015, photographed through the branches of a big willow tree in Stonham Aspal, Suffolk (image highly manipulated).

I'm a Kapherus fangirl

I'm fortunate to have been given my grandmother's meanings for reading playing cards. But if I were starting from scratch I would adopt the meanings and methods of J David Arcuri, aka 'Kapherus' and 'Cardseer'.

As it is, Oma passed on diddly-squat about HOW to read cards, so I augment my meager natural abilities by following Kaph's clear and informative blog posts on the subject. Such as this one, which I highly recommend -

Card Pairing in Cartomancy: Basic Lessons in Reading Playing Cards


(image from post)

The universe isn't fussy

“It’s my belief and experience that the cosmos at large is overwhelmingly full of willingness and desire to speak to you. It’s as if we were sitting in a small, cosy room, with all the doors and windows tight shut …and we open one of them just a crack, and it turns out to be broad daylight out there, and the light comes flooding in!

 …I don’t think the universe is very fussy if you open the wrong window, open the window the wrong way, open the door by mistake, dislodge a brick, fall over and accidentally knock the shutters open with your head… I really don’t think it minds.”

Hilary Barrett - http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/index.php

Go with the flow

Despite the general fondness amongst card readers for precisely defined, purpose built spreads, I've come to the conclusion that once you truly connect with your cards you'll see that they actually give their answers through interpretive dance.

How the Darkana Tarot was born

I love my Hippy Tarot!

The review of Morgan's Tarot begins at 13:06

You are a human being having a human experience. Go for it.

REPOST: The Four Queens: 100 Illuminating Journal Prompts: Heal, Reveal and Get Real

The Four Queens: 100 Illuminating Journal Prompts: Heal, Reveal and Get Real
These prompts are designed to help you dig deeper.. They are for those who find themselves on a journey of healing, self-love, shadow work and spiritual experiences. Open yourself up to what is hidden, check your ego defenses at the door and get your pens (or keyboards) at the ready!...

Smellies!

I blame Ember HoneyRaven.

I've been gorging myself on her videos lately - a lot of catching up to do - and I got to her Incense Tag offering the other day. Oh boy.

So when I found myself in Colchester today I had to pop into Traders of the East and check out their supply. It was good. It was very good.

I've used Satya's Nag Champa for years - love it! I bought these three on Ember's recommendation and I lit up a Patchouli Forest as soon as I got home. It is beautiful. And quite powerful. I can't wait to try the others - they smell great in the box. I've just rewatched the video, though, and I'm kicking myself for not remembering Satya Nirvana but I don't actually recall seeing it there in any case. eBay here we come!

But I did find some Nag Champa soap. Couldn't resist.

They also have HEM brand, among others, so I've made myself a little shopping list for the next trip. And maybe I'll even 'achieve' Nirvana. :)

Reading Houses within a GT

Many people like to read the Houses within a Grand Tableau (GT). I've tried it and I know the method has merit. But I'm a bit of a purist when it comes to reading a GT and I don't like to add Houses to my reading process. There's quite enough to do using traditional Lenormand methods without adding general cartomantic techniques to the mix.

This post by Madame Seaqueen, which explains Houses for those of you who may not have come across it before, employs a 6x6 GT layout however. I've seen this layout used before but not really considered it because, purist that I am, I like an 8x4+4 but... [light bulb goes on] I could use this layout for the times I think looking at the Houses would be the best way to tackle a reading. So now I can happily use Houses within a 6×6 without compromising my principles. ;)

So simple, so obvious in hindsight. But this is the sort of thing that highlights that you never stop learning your craft.