It’s important to look at the meanings of tarot cards, but it’s very possible to pull even more out of a reading that individual card meanings. Here’s some other stuff you might consider bringing into your interpretation when it feels right:
🍄The position of the cards. This is why spread design can be so important! I’ve had instances where all the cards, in their positions, had the subjects looking or pointing towards one specific card. It was wild. What did it mean? Maybe nothing, but maybe something very significant, depending on the question!
🍄The visual element of the cards. Sometimes what’s depicted on the card can give more specific insight than the actual book meanings. The pictures were done that way for a reason, so don’t be afraid to give them their own weight! Also, sometimes the spread as a whole will have a flow of design (like when one half is much brighter than the other) or a specific card is WAY more colorful than the other cards on the table. Any of these could potentially carry meaning.
🍄Jumper cards. This is when a card pops out while you’re shuffling! I usually just put them back… UNLESS the question has already been presented, and I’m shuffling with that question in mind. Then, I keep them as extra advice, bonus cards.
🍄Reoccurring numbers. Maybe you do a four card spread for a friend, and you get the four of cups, four of swords, four of wands, and the Emperor! (IV.) What does that mean? What does the number four symbolize? Well, a lot of things, potentially, depending on what you study. Some tarot designs incorporate the Kabbalah’s numbered paths in the tree of life, others go with numerology. Maybe, the number four just means something special to you or the querent in particular.
🍄A bunch of cards in order. I’m not talking about when you forget to shuffle. I’m talking about when you give it a really good shuffle and you still get the ace, two, and three of Pentacles all in a row. This can be seen as a sign of progression, or that the events are all much more closely connected than anticipated. It can also mean it happens over a shorter period of time than normal. It’s up to you, your cards, and the contexts.
🍄Proportions of different features. Maybe you’re doing an obstacle spread, and your obstacle is something like the nine of swords. That’s pretty nasty, but if all the other cards in the spread are Major Arcana, then it’s probably not going to be that difficult to surmount. The reverse can also be true. Additionally, a high number of reversed cards in a spread typically signifies a lot of confusion, conflict, and turmoil.
🍄Reoccurring symbols. Beyond just the four suits, because that’s a given! But maybe your spread shows a lot of cards with images of fire, people dancing, or birds. Do these mean anything to you or the querent? What do they typically symbolize?
🍄Any hiccups or unusual events during the reading. Once I had a querent pick up a card to examine it, drop it, then pick it up and put it back reversed. Since it was the overall outcome card, I interpreted that as a heightened ability to change her own fate in this given situation, since she had turned the card from quite a bad omen to a good one. Sometimes little accidents like dropping cards, accidentally shifting them, or laying out the spread wrong are meant to be there and add to the meaning!
I hope this gives you some ideas! Feel free to add more. What do you interpret alongside the cards in a reading?
For when you’ve moved into a new living situation or are ready for a new start <3
Finding your home/moving:
Spell for your dream house
The witch’s moving checklist
Cleansing:
Room cleansing
To absorb negative energy from a room
Summer house cleansing
Herbal wall/floor wash + witchy cleaners
Home cleansing tips
Home cleansing brew
Thoroughly clearing spaces
Crystals to cleanse the home
Cleansing your space without smoke
Cleansing your space: a how-to guide
Energy cleansing
Low energy cleaning + cleansing
Warding + Protection:
A crash course on warding
To ward the home
Threshold magic 101
Protect my home spell
Home protection steam spell
Simple home protection jar spell
“Little lurkers” home protection spell
Room/home protection
Wall of fire property & house protection spell
Protection (wind) chimes
The Rowan cross
Check out the sigils below!
Sigils:
“For a magical and happy home”
“Sospidonum”
“This space is full of life, light, and bright energy”
“No fighting in this home”
“My home is safe”
“This home is safe for all”
“This home is a safe and healthy environment”
“My house is protected from unwanted influences”
“My home is protected”
Witchin’ it up:
Happy home spell jar
Home sweet home spell jar
House to home spell
Doing the dishes the witchy way
Homemade laundry detergent recipe
Laundry magic
Pleasing household spirits
When a bad guest leaves
Building a magical home
Odds and ends:
Magic, and power, in homemaking
The history and creation of witch bottles
Cottage witch tips
Hearth witch tips
The basics of kitchen and cottage witchcraft
You may also like:
Bedridden witch: garden / stale energy / kitchen edition
Spells for job seekers
Travel witchery
Links updated October, 2020 (please inform me of broken links via askbox)
source: califlowers magazine
In Irish mythology, Brigid is the daughter of the Dagda and had two sisters also named Brigid and is part of the Tuatha de Danann, the supernatural Irish race. The three sisters made up the triple aspect of the one goddess: Brigid of the hearth, Brigid of the forge and Brigid of Inspiration. She is a goddess of spring, fertility, family, the hearth, childbirth, fire, blacksmiths, scholars, physicians, prophets, healing, poetry, occult knowledge, and justice. She was said to be born at sunrise and is often depicted with solar rays coming out of her head, making her one of the Irish solar deities alongside Lugh. It is said that wherever she walks four leaf clovers and flowers will grow. She also created the tradition of “keening” when her son Ruadan died in battle, a song-like wail used by women at funerals. In some cases she is also the goddess of sacred wells, springs and healing waters.
Her name comes in different spellings like Brig, Brighid, Brigit, or Brigid but it means “Exalted one” or “Fiery arrows”. She is a goddess of Pre-christian Ireland but versions of her are found all over Europe; she has ties to Brigantia, a warrior goddess of the Brigantes tribe of Britain. She was a beloved goddess of the Celts and has survived through centuries including the Christianization of Ireland and the rest of Europe where most traces of Druidism and Paganism were forgotten. The people of Ireland loved her so much and refused to let her be demonized by the church -like the rest of the gods- that they converted her into a saint known as St. Brigid of Kildare. There are also three rivers named after her one in Ireland, Wales and England: Brigit, Braint and Brent.The river that runs through Wales is known to have healing properties.
Also known as Brigid’s day, Candlemas or St. Brigid’s feast, Imbolc is one of the four fire festivals in Celtic paganism and celebrates the return of spring. Since Brigid is the goddess of spring and was said to go away during the winter, people would light a candle in honor of her return. Offerings of milk, bread, and corn cakes were set out and a seat at the dinner table was left open for her presence. Cows and sheep were seen as sacred to the goddess because they would provide milk for the town during the cold months and they would give birth around Imbolc. This festival celebrated the Maiden aspect of Brigid and young women would carry corn dollies dressed in white which represented the goddess. The women would also dress in white and attend a special feast for Imbolc where young suitors could mingle with the ladies. Imbolc is a time of fertility, cleansing and the light returning after a long winter.
Elements- Water & Fire
Animals- snakes, ewes, cows, bees, oxen, owls and hibernating animals. Vultures
Plants- blackberry, hawthorn, basil, mugwort, apple, heather, dandelion, snowdrop, willow, oak, shamrock, crocus, trillium, corn, lavender and sage. Personal one is cinnamon and chamomile.
Crystals- amethyst, bloodstone, carnelian, garnet, moonstone, clear quartz, and peridot.
Symbols- Brigid’s cross, candles, triquetra, faeries, four leaf clover, cauldron, chalice, corn dolly, anvil or hammer, poetry, forges, hearths, wells, rock formations.
Colours- green, red, white, gold and blue
offer her blackberries, baked goods, milk and honey or beer
dedicate a piece of your art to her like painting, knitting, singing, etc.
meditate with fire
savour the warmth of the sun or fire
incorporate the elements of water and fire into your craft
write her a poem
watch the sun rise
say hi to cows and sheep :)
hang a Brigid’s cross above your doorway for protection and blessings
study healing magick, reiki, herbalism and faeries
wear the colours of fire or white
plant a bee garden
-½ tablespoon of mint leaves
-½ tablespoon of lavender
-½ tablespoon of chamomile
-fresh sliced ginger root or candied/minced ginger
-1 tablespoon of mint leaves
-1 tablespoon of lemon balm
-½ tablespoon of chamomile
-1 tablespoon (or 10-20) of elder berries
-½ tablespoon of calendula
-½ tablespoon of echinacea
-a squeeze of fresh orange juice
-½ tablespoon of raspberry leaf
-½ tablespoon of chamomile
-½ tablespoon of hops
-ginger slices
-½ tablespoon of fennel
-½ tablespoon of chamomile
-½ tablespoon of licorice or 1 stick
-½ tablespoon of lavender
-½ tablespoon of chamomile
-½ tablespoon of passionflower
-½ tablespoon of lemonbalm
-½ tablespoon of nettle
-½ tablespoon of peppermint
-½ tablespoon cinnamon bark or lavender
-1 teaspoon of lemon juice & raw local honey
-fresh ginger slices
*these do not replace medications and aren’t meant to treat an issue alone. If you think anything’s wrong please see a doctor. Please do research on interactions before you use herbs if you’re on medication.
I love music. More and more, I have been including music in my practice of witchcraft, simply by having a song in the background while cleansing or making kitchen magic, and singing or humming particular melodies in the shower, when I perform a spell or a ritual, etc. If you’re interested in music witchcraft, here are a few ideas to get you started.
–
🎵 Singing out loud is a really powerful practice that can help when performing difficult spells, or rituals that are energy-draining.
🎵 If you’re uncomfortable with singing, humming a melody is a good alternative. I love humming a simple, happy song while cleansing my home.
🎵 Charge your crystals, magical items and plants with soothing, dramatic and strengthening music.
🎵 If you can play any instrument, include them in your practice - by playing before, during or after your daily practice, for instance.
🎵 Sound playlists have their own power, especially if you’re working with the 4 elements:
🌱 Earth: listen to forest and nature sounds
🔥 Fire: listen to fire crackling
🌪️ Air: listen to birds chirping
🌊 Water: listen to ocean sounds and waves
🎵 Make very specific playlists on Spotify ; e.g. “Songs to dance around in your room by yourself”, or “Songs to listen when you’re angry about the world”. Having songs that reflect your feelings will be incredibly useful and can make you feel less alone in your happiness / or in your pain.
🎵 Bring back your inner child by listening to nostalgic playlists of songs that came out when you were 5, 10, 15 years old.
–
Here’s a great Spotify playlist with witchy music, if you’re interested.
🕊16 days of Shadow Work
✨ Here are the prompts as I promised! They are timeless, whenever they find you, feel free to use them.
Feel free to share your thoughts with me!!
✧ Day 1 What do I need to stop running away from? Why am I always running away from this and what is going to happen if I face it head-on?
✧ Day 2 What is my definition of failure? What’s something that I have previously failed at and how did it make me feel? How can I deal with failure in a healthy way?
✧ Day 3 How do I lie to myself everyday? Why am I doing this and what am I trying to avoid?
✧ Day 4 If I could say one thing to the person who hurt me the most, what would it be and why? How would I feel afterwards?
Keep reading
Sun in Leo: Exuberant personality
Moon in Leo: Creative and warm inner self
Mercury in Leo: Brave voice
Venus in Leo: Giving heart
Mars in Leo: Prideful but passionate fierceness
Ascendant in Leo: Shinning self and expression
For those among us who, like myself, value the simple little things we can do to keep our homes and hearths happy, healthy, and still magical! I hope you all find some use out of these little bits I’ve picked up along the way.
• Make a spray of salt, water, vinegar, and herbs you associate with protection (I use pepper, lemon, and rosemary- though I do recommend a variation of Thieves oil, if you’re interested in also cutting down on germs and such) to use when cleaning to add a magical boost to protecting your home.
• Through many of us don’t have the traditional old school hearth setup, I like to light a candle to symbolize the hearth fire burning in my home. I use this ritual to honor my gods and their presence in my home. This also helps me feel connected to the hearth fires of old and to all those who came before me, allowing me to be here.
• Timing your chores with moon cycles can be an effective way to get witchy and remember to actually do certain chores, which we all forget from time to time (no? Just me? Alright then.)
• Enchanting your throws, blankets, and miscellaneous comfy things to be loving, comforting, and reassuring for those who need it is always a nice touch.
• Making a charm for a healthy, happy, and protected home! I made a little witch ball out of a plastic Christmas ornament and some items that matched my intent and it’s been good.
• Don’t underestimate the magical nature of mundane chores. Sweeping? I like to visualize that I’m sweeping out all of the gross energy and vibes along with the grime. Vacuuming? Same deal. Airing out the house? Inviting in clear and flowing energy. As long as you make it meaningful, it is.
• If you’re into home decor, switching out wreathes and interior decorations is a good way to stay in tune with the feel of the season.
• Warding your home! This can take many forms, such as a witch ball, wind chimes, a rock guardian, or whatever else you see fit!
• Adding charged water to your cleaning supplies can really help intent and usher in the seasons. I like to use solar water with some lemon to welcome in the spring and summer and moon water with some chai spices to welcome in fall and winter. Some people like to use this method for a magical mopping scenario, I just use it for the front door.
• Laundry magic is real, y'all. Even if you don’t make your own detergent or fabric softener, you can buy scents that correspond with certain intents (citrus for joy, lavender for relaxation, etc).
• I enjoy working my crystals and plants in my home decor. Our little rock and plant friends are great for keeping a home feeling happy and healthy. They raise the energy of the home, but also make it a bit more inviting in feeling and appearance.
These are just a few tips and tricks I’ve learned along the way. As always, do what works best for you! If that means tweaking things or just making up a new process all together, do your thing! As long as you make your choices meaningful to you, they will serve you well. ✨
🎧 Witch Wednesdays is a great podcast for the baby/beginner witches out there, with 20 to 30 minutes episodes covering topics such as kitchen witchcraft, how to use herbs and crystals, how to caste a circle, and much more.
🎧 Seeking Witchcraft, similarly to Witch Wednesdays, is aimed at beginner witches who are looking for 30 minutes informational episodes on various topics in the witchcraft and wiccan worlds.
🎧 Between the Worlds has tremendously helped me to improve my Tarot practice. The host discusses Tarot, psychology, mythology, pop culture, witchcraft, magic, art, and history with guests, it’s fun!
–
🎧 My Favorite Murder - do I even need to introduce it? - is a fantastic true crime comedy podcast. The hosts are hilarious, and tell horrifying stories with the right amount of comedy, respect, and gravity.
🎧 The Faculty of Horror is a great podcast hosted by witchy-horror journalists to tackle all things horror with a slash of analysis and research. Each episode discusses horror movies with a fascinating academic point of view.
🎧 This Podcast Will Kill You might not actually kill you, but the hosts give me incredible witchy vibes with their knowledge in ecology and epidemiology. Each episode tackles a different disease, from its history, to its biology, and finally, how scared you need to be.
–
Do you listen to witchy podcasts? I’d love to get your recommendations. I especially want to start listening from podcasts hosted by witchy POC and folks from different cultures and backgrounds.
she/hereclectic witchcrafttaurus sun / aquarius moon / aquarius risingmother of two
456 posts