2022: The Lovers and Tarot Magick

Apologies for such a late post. 2022 already feels long, doesn’t it? But here we are! And numerology wise, add the numbers for 2022 up and you get 6. Key 6 in the Major Arcana is the Lovers card. The Lovers is ruled by the element of Air, and the card itself signifies many things including love, morality, choices, and a newness overall. So, what does that mean for 2022? Well, we came out of the year of the Hierophant, Key 5 in the Major Arcana and the sum of the digits in 2021. The Hierophant as 2021 represented orthodoxy and correctness, which makes sense when we think about the impact of 2020 (Key 4, The Emperor) and everything that came after. So, now where does that leave us in terms of something new? Let’s think about that as we focus on the topic for this post: Tarot Magick!

For more on the Tarot, you can read the three posts I did on the history of Tarot and its modern use. Today, however, I’ll be focusing on the esoteric uses and the sympathetic magick we can do with Tarot. First and foremost, no matter how you use Tarot, it can be beneficial. The images and meanings can help us in the same way that journaling and using affirmations can. So, let’s view Tarot through a similar lens for the purposes of this endeavor. One of my favorite things to do with a Tarot deck is to set my intention for the week. Let’s say that my intention for this week is to commit to an artistic activity every day. Imagine that the cards I shuffle and pull, are “scary” cards like The Tower, The Devil, and Five of Swords. Wait. Does that mean my art will suck this week?! Before pressing the panic button, let’s first look at this objectively.

The Tower represents a major upheaval or change. Think what goes up must come down. If we use this analogy, perhaps the tower can be a force for good in our lives. The Devil is a tricky one. Aside from Christian and/or Biblical imagery, this card can reveal hidden layers within us. Yes, on the one hand, it is associated with temptation. On the other hand, I like to view The Devil card as being able to recognize the various multitudes that co-exist within ourselves, the good and the bad, and the potential to give in to things equally. So far, we have a major change, hidden layers, and now onto the Five of Swords. Perhaps, this Five of Swords calls into question the competitive and cutthroat nature of human aspirations. This is especially applicable in a workplace scenario. Let’s put it all together for artistic intentions: major change, hidden layers, and cutthroat competition.

Now, we’re going to take it apart. What constitutes major change? Does our artistic intention equate an upheaval or perhaps is it a transformative exercise? To use the energy of the Tower, we need to look at what we are building and evaluate whether something must shift or move to make room for the new. The foundation of what we want to accomplish will stay strong. This is a renovation of sorts. The next card is the Devil. Maybe in the context of temptation, this is a scenario in which a little indulgence could be useful. We need to think in terms of the playful nature of temptation versus the all-consuming desire that could potentially cause harm to ourselves. This is an area where “everything in moderation and eat desserts sparingly” comes to mind.

Five of Swords is more ambivalent. Are we in competition with others in our artistic intentions? If so, perhaps the idea is to change our perspective to be more motivated to be better—to compete against our personal bests (but not to go overboard either). If we are not competitive with others and are feeling that others are cutthroat competitive with us, this is a reminder to make time for ourselves and focus the attention where it belongs. Sometimes competition in the workplace is a challenge, especially when we are not actually competing. We may be surprised to learn that others can be competitive regardless of our intentions. Again, that is a call sign for us to channel energy inwards and not let the competition weigh us down.

These are just suggestions for interpretation, not to be taken at face value. Your own interpretations will likely make more sense to you, after all! Now, onto the magick side of Tarot. I think the beauty of harnessing imagery, such as what we see in Tarot, is an effortless exercise in our spiritual designs. If we really think about it, we use imagery in virtually every aspect of our lives. The decks I tend to use for magick are the Luis Royo Black Tarot and the Aleister Crowley Thoth Tarot. Say what you will about Crowley, but that Tarot deck is definitely potent. Here is a ritual suggestion. I’ve given substitutions as well. Make it your own and have fun!

Items need for Ritual: Salt water, almond oil, (or any base oil) a few pinches of mugwort as a herb (if not, you can use a bay leaf or cinnamon stick), your Tarot card of the day (if you pull a card, otherwise, use the Star card for inspiration, or use both a card you pull as well as the Star card), any essential oils. You can also decide which moon phase suits your purposes for magick.

I put the mugwort (you can use basil, cinnamon sticks, chamomile leaves, bay leaves, depending on your intention) in hot water like a tea, then strain it, add a few drops of an essential oil or added herbs, (lavender for calm, eucalyptus for healing, etc.) and then make it a mist. I spray my sacred space or altar and cleanse the area using incense or ringing bells. I find that both purify and protect my space. I say an intention prayer and call in the deities or guides. Then I shuffle my deck and pull out a card, whatever that card may be, interpret it, and make another intention based on the card. For example, if you pull a 10 of Wands or Five of Cups, think about whether there is a heaviness in your life where you’re feeling bogged down. What can you do about it? What would be the intention there? If it’s Five of Cups, how do we move past that sorrow? You can also keep the Star card on hand for inspiration and hope.

I then meditate and create a sigil for whatever workings I feel called to based on the Tarot magick I just did. Then dip your hands in salt water for added cleansing. Use an anointing oil afterwards (some will say you should do this at the start, but I find this method works for me. Try and see what works for you!) If you don’t have oils, you can substitute using herbs or make teas to drink for calming. This often helps ground me after ritual. I close the ritual with a prayer and gratitude to the guides. You’ll find as you start doing these rituals, you will interpret things your own way and craft your own magickal workings. That’s it for now. I will post more on herbs and oils next! Again, please make sure to check for safety, allergies, etc. and be careful around pets. **Disclaimer, none of what I’m proposing in this, or previous blog posts should ever be used in lieu of financial decision-making, medical and/or psychological treatment, and life-changing alterations.**

Thank you for reading so far and for being patient with me as I know this post was long overdue! If you are interested in my readings and creative writing Tarot courses, head over to my site:

https://www.thetarotstories.com

Until next time, have a blessed rest of the month. Namaste. With love, the Foxy Witch.

The Cosmic Wave: Science Magick

Photo by Lucas George Wendt on Pexels.com

Welcome lovely readers to Spooky Season! I’m sorry I’ve been away for so long. But I will hopefully be writing more soon. This month’s topic is something I’ve been meaning to talk about for a while: science and religion/spirituality and why science magick is actually incredible. Let’s start with the first part though. Science and religion/spirituality. I’ll expand more on spirituality because there are some differences between religion and spirituality, but let’s talk about science and religion first. I have always wondered why they have been at odds for so long. It seemed like there was once an understanding between the two. Astrology, for example, was a deeply respected art. It utilized fundamental astronomical principles and was considered a kind of science itself. The challenge today is the polarization within the scientific and religious/spiritual communities.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

A lot of religions do come with dogma, rules, and creed. There are some things morally that most of us agree on, no doubt. However, some other tenets or beliefs may not suit everyone else. And others do not suit the modern era. These are all things we try to understand and find ways to adapt it to the respective situations. It becomes a problem when the dogmatic stance is unyielding. Perhaps, this is an oxymoron. Dogma, by definition, is fixed.

If something doesn’t give way, it is firmly rooted. Understandably, faith in something tends to be that way. But it isn’t applicable to religion alone. Indeed, faith in science is foundational for most of us in terms of ecology, our bodies, the weather, food, and more. Without a basic understanding of science, our knowledge will likely be conjecture. In some ways, much of knowledge itself begins with speculation, then inquiry, after which there’s study, and empirical data, and so on. We operate similarly from a space of inquiry when it comes to religion and spirituality. In many ways, the quest for truth stems from the same place. The execution, however, is the key difference.

Why did science and religion part ways? Well, there are some theories. One area was vastly expanding. Another area was more of a rooted foundation. Imagine the suit of Swords in Tarot engaging in action with the suit of Pentacles. Swords is associated with intellect and air, like science. Religion is planted deep in the earth. Neither one can make great waves against or with each other. They remain neutral. Science is constantly moving and evolving. Outside of religion, we also have spirituality—a little more movement perhaps—which is not to say that some religions don’t move.

Can spirituality then act as the bridge between science and religion? Is there a happy medium? I believe there is. I think science is a magickal art. It is human resourcefulness at the genius level if I’m being honest. Science combines the best of the Wands and Swords suits in the Tarot. It represents innovation, exploration, intellect, and logic. Religion falls under the umbrella of the Cups and Pentacles suit. It represents intuition, emotions, home, hearth, and family. The four suits, Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles are a harmonious elemental quartet that animate this world. Then there’s ether, spirituality.

This may surprise some people, but I consider myself religious, spiritual, and scientific simultaneously. Why? Because I don’t see stark differences between the three and because I’ve delved deep into science magick, an alchemy if you will. It sounds geeky, but indulge me here a moment. I believe science magick is the ultimate mystical tool to have under your belt. There is a hybridization in our thinking of the universe in general if we look at how things have evolved. Let’s frame it this way. Science allows us to study the natural world, the physics of our reality, space, and the way things work. Religion and spirituality allow us to study the metaphysical world, the intuitive side, and our personal mental strengths. If we look at them together, we see that they can arrange themselves to form the “as above, so below” model.

Science magick is one way to connect our energies to the natural and observable universe. We can live intuitively and work with the rhythms of the universe. There is a musicality, a geometric, quantum beauty in the way things operate on this planet and in the celestial sky. Planetary magick, geomancy, and sky divination are all tools I use. I study the secular sciences alongside the metaphysical like true sidereal and Vedic astrology, so that I can, from a physical and quantum level, create and craft spells of my own. For instance, there’s a mathematical and magickal quality to sigil workings. So, I’ll say this: science magick is a gift. Because it assumes that there is a magickal quality to the study of science itself.

I will be writing about some of the science magick I personally do in detail later. But I wanted to leave you with this thought: where does our knowledge originate from? Our ability to speak, to communicate without words, to intuit, to study the way the things work, to dance, to building incredible things, and more, where do they all come from? It may seem random. It may seem like organized chaos. But there is a pattern to what feels like a cacophony and symphony that co-exists in the universe—the polarity of creation and destruction. What we do know is this. Energy can neither be created nor destroyed. It simply just is. It can however transform. Such is the nature of the universe. Such is the nature of our own existence too in the quantum sense.

That’s it for now. If you made it this far, I thank you! The next topic will deal with Tarot Magick and Empathic Energy work. Until next time, happy Samhain, Harvest, and Witches’ New Year. Blessings. With love, the Foxy Witch.

SUPER FULL MOON AND ECLIPSE

Super full blood moon Flower Moon and a lunar eclipse and retrogrades, and UFOs say what?! It seems like every day something new is being discovered. If you’re anything like me, this full moon and lunar eclipse was bizarre. It’s like the world turned itself upside down, then inside out. The pandemic might be letting up, yet we hear of the desperate and scary situation in other places, like India. Cautious optimism seems like a luxury. Overall, the energy is jittery. If ever we needed some reassurance, it is now. If it feels like things are going in circles, it probably is! But it will get better soon. Let’s talk about why people get antsy around Mercury Retrograde in particular. We also have Saturn Retrograde to contend with and strange happenings in the sky all around. UFOs! No, they’re not aliens. But they are interesting to explore in the grand scheme of things. And that is a subject for another blog post. This is just a hint of what’s to follow in later blog posts!

Mercury is the messenger planet. We often worry that our communications will break down or that the energy will be too intense for some people. But the truth is—Mercury can be a good friend to us in times of joy and sorrow. In order to explore that, it might help to know where Mercury is placed in your birth chart. I go by Vedic astrological placements in the sidereal natal chart, so they tend to differ from tropical astrology. Nevertheless, whatever your preference, remember to look at Mercury holistically. If we think about Mercury in terms of its proximity to the sun, we can use the analogy of leaning too close to the fire, lest we be burned! Avoidance of hasty decision-making during this time is important—it’s probably important regardless. Being hasty or in a rush can be problematic in general after all. Being mindful of how we say things can also be a plus point during retrograde. Again, this is a good plan of action all the time.

We’ve all heard the expression: don’t shoot the messenger. Yep. Mercury is that guy! Retrograde does not have to mean we blame every techno-hiccup or verbal mishap on Mercury Retrograde. We can look inwards to see how we are communicating with ourselves. Are we being kind to ourselves? What does our inner voice sound like? This is critical, in my opinion. If we cannot hear ourselves, then what are we listening to? As I mentioned in the previous blog post, the things that we take in are not just things we eat. We nourish our minds too. The news is filled with things that frighten us. Social media is both a blessing and a curse. How do we nourish ourselves emotionally and spiritually during this time? And it’s not as simple as just doing something fun and distracting/distancing ourselves from stressors. We have to go further than that, deep down into the recesses of our darkest corners. What we find there will reveal who we really are underneath the layers we grow to protect ourselves. Our focus this retrograde is on the wild, the untapped potential in the dark, the raw and primal force within.

To tap into this reservoir, we can journey—imagine you are on a quest, a hero’s quest to find treasure hidden in a cave. What kind of treasures does this cave hold? Believe me, there are beautiful things in there! Our journey can begin with a meditation or a calming walk. Meditation does not always have to be sitting still with eyes closed—sometimes it is in being able to connect to nature. Do you have a park or a garden where you can safely walk? One way is to listen to the sounds of the birds, the wind, and feel the ground beneath your feet (yes, even with shoes on 😉). Take it all in. Then think back to a time where you felt this freedom. Call in that version of yourself and ask that person what your wish is for the future. This isn’t an exercise in counting regrets. This is just a pure, unfiltered wish. The words we choose to use on ourselves is more important than any words. They can change who we are in an instant. This Mercury retrograde, let’s focus on our inner language. As for Saturn, the focus is on our karma—how we can secure our spot in the hall of karmic fame. Just kidding. It is a way for us to build good credit. We cannot control outside circumstances, but we have control over ourselves. By working towards the future in a positive light, we build up positive karma. Saturn moves and is darker and more shadowy. I again invite and encourage you to make friends with your shadows. The unfiltered you is there too.

This was less lengthy than my previous blogs, but I hope you enjoyed it. I’ll be updating sooner. Be well, beloved readers. Namaste. With love, the Foxy Witch.

Pamela Colman-Smith: Pixie and the 78 Watercolor Paintings

It is with great pleasure and with humbled awe that I get to present a blog post on the inimitable and incredible Pamela Colman-Smith, affectionally dubbed Pixie by her friends. I have mentioned her a few times in the previous blog posts as being instrumental and influential to the world of Tarot. I did not however discuss her life or artwork in detail. While it is impossible to describe all of it in just a single blog post, what I will highlight are flourishes and glimmers of magic in her being and in her art, and why we need to honor this beautiful soul who brought Tarot into its modern age. So, without further ado, let’s dive right in! First, who was she? We know the tale: she was the mastermind artist behind the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot deck that became so iconic and popular as the first, comprehensive modern Tarot deck. The woman behind the artwork was a prolific artist. The mystery and intrigue into her story are almost like taking the journey through the Tarot deck itself. Let’s take a look at Pamela Colman-Smith’s heroine’s journey from the Fool to the World and the beyond.

Corinne Pamela Colman Smith was born on February 16^th, 1878 in London to American parents Charles Edward Smith and Corrine Colman Smith. Her ancestry was something of a mystery to many. People perceived her differently based on assumptions they made regarding her looks. Regardless, Pamela impressed others with her personality and talent. She came from a family of writers and artists. Her maternal grandfather was a notable bookseller and publisher. (Foley O’Connor 15) Her maternal grandmother was a great writer in her day. Pamela’s mother was an actress in a private theater. Her father also exhibited artistic tendencies and worked in design. It is easy to see where Pamela gets her talent from, no doubt. Her maternal uncle was an artist himself. (Foley O’Connor 15-17) We see the influences of art, theater, and folkloric storytelling in her works. Pamela was educated at the illustrious Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. She was only fifteen at the time and by the time she reached the age of nineteen, she had already sold four watercolor paintings and had her first feature exhibition. (Foley O’Connor 21-22)

Pamela was also fascinated by Jamaican folklore. Her family relocated to Jamaica when she was young, and this would serve to cement her artistry, poetry, and ultimately storytelling style in a way that was so uniquely her. She had her fair share of struggles, having to cope with her mother’s illness and death, manage family affairs, and assume responsibilities of that of the head of the household and still work on her art. She was only eighteen! (Foley O’Connor 21) It was also here at this point that she had started work on miniature theater. Her play Henry Morgan was intricate and beautifully designed. She performed it in Brooklyn in addition to Jamaica to positive reception overall. It is quite astonishing to imagine a young woman, a teenager designing art for miniature theater, performing and composing her own play, and juggling family finances simultaneously. This only goes to show her remarkable spirit. She had a lot of ambition for her future and certainly defied all tradition. Pamela was not married, did not have any children, and in fact worked her whole life. In addition to art, she was also a costume designer. She was an enterprising woman, who even when challenged, proved to be a formidable force.

By early 1900, Pamela Colman-Smith had lost both her parents. However, she was constantly seeking new opportunities for artistic and storytelling pursuits. She made friends with people in theater, art, and publishing. In January of 1903, Pamela had launched her own magazine The Green Sheaf. (Foley O’Connor 47) She was influenced by W.B. Yeats and Irish mythology, but in spite of consulting with him, she did not “incorporate his suggestions” (Foley O’Connor 47). However, one can clearly see that her work was the result of a holistic view—one that combined the mundane and the mystical. There were often scenes of realism sprinkled with whimsy. Pamela’s poetry had an evocative, folkloric voice that left a lasting impression. Her book Anansi Tales was filled with such a voice. Though she struggled with finances, she was meticulous in her endeavors and aware of the growing issues. Unfortunately, the magazine was not viable financially. After 1906, Pamela had to come up with a new plan.

Here is where we get to the more magical aspects of Pamela’s works. She produced a series of music pictures. Indeed, by February of 1908, she had produced 98 drawings by her own admission! (Foley O’Connor 60) Pamela would respond to the aesthetics of the music she heard and create images based on that. She even describes the experience as having a vision. “Pamela’s ability to visualize music she heard is one of the most important keys to her artistic ability. It is evident that she had synesthesia.” (Foley O’Connor 60) I believe Pamela had many visions and beyond just colors, she was able to construct vivid images. Several works of hers have such a metaphysical quality to them that they shimmer off the page. I highly recommend picking up this book, Pamela Colman-Smith the Untold Story by Stuart Kaplan along with Mary K. Greer, Elizabeth Foley O’Connor, and Melinda Boyd Parsons. Many of Pamela’s beautiful illustrations are preserved in this book, and you get a more intimate look at her life and influences.

Let’s talk about the Tarot, which is what a lot of people most associate her with after all. The imagery in the Tarot has Christian undertones and also utilizes inspiration from the Visconti Tarot. There is a classical style to these paintings. Earlier works by Pamela Colman-Smith reveal her interest in Arthurian themes, early Renaissance styles, and an overall passion for folklore and the use of colors. The Rider-Waite-Smith deck is one that I believe is the most comprehensive since its inception. She not only illustrated the spiritual journey of the Fool to the World in the Major Arcana, but she also subtly threw in some feminist imagery throughout the deck. She was a suffragette. Note her Magician, her Queens, and a few other pip cards. Some of the images are inspired by Pamela’s close friends. (Boyd Parsons 366-7). Pamela Colman-Smith was reported to have been a member of the Golden Dawn though she later converted to Catholicism. Some around her have also surmised she was psychic. She was even associated with spiritualism. It would not surprise me if Pamela Colman-Smith had other-worldly connections her whole life! These are speculations from an earnest seeker, but I do not believe I’m alone in this sentiment. Pamela’s works would go on to influence many Tarot artists—music, psychology, and much more. Her legacy lives on in Tarot, in her folklore, her storytelling. This humble biography is not sufficient enough to describe her life. I may have to create another blog post on her. In the meantime, I hope this garners your interest. Read the book on Pamela if you can. And feel the essence of her magick in the Waite-Smith deck.

Thank you for reading another lengthy blog post! My next one to be published immediately is an astrology forecast from a Vedic standpoint and on the full moon. Blessings beloved readers! Namaste. With love, the Foxy Witch.

Works Cited:

Foley, O’Connor Elizabeth. “Pamela’s Life.” Pamela Colman Smith: An Untold Story. Edited by Lynn Araujo, Jennifer. A. Kaplan, and Paula Palmer. U.S. Game Systems Inc. July 15^th, 2018. Stamford, CT.

Parsons, Boyd Melinda. “Influences & Expression in the Rider-Waite Tarot Deck.” Pamela Colman Smith: An Untold Story. Edited by Lynn Araujo, Jennifer. A. Kaplan, and Paula Palmer. U.S. Game Systems Inc. July 15^th, 2018. Stamford, CT.

Spiritual Gaslighting: A Sad Truth

I intended to write a post on Pamela Colman Smith first before any other posts. But something has been on my mind lately, and I couldn’t keep it to myself any longer. Here it goes: Spiritual Gaslighting and False Positivity. If you are at all familiar with this, then you might be wondering why there has not been enough discussion on it. To be fair, there has been some. But while I have seen the passing article here and there that details something called toxic positivity, there has not been as much focus on the mental health it derails in its attempt to foster a positive community. It has become an unfortunate and dangerous trend in the guise of wellness. I have personal experience with this and know many others who have also had experience with it. This blog post will hopefully highlight ways in which we can identify these trends and what we can do to keep ourselves strong regardless of the community at large. This post is not meant to hurt anyone or make people look bad. This is an examination of observed behaviors from my perspective.

Over the past few months, I’ve done intense shadow work—and honestly, I’ve been doing it for a while and will continue to do it. Shadow work is important. I have even discussed it in my previous posts. Believe me, shadow work can help bring us back to center. But these terms get thrown around frivolously. I have noticed sometimes in the spiritual and wellness community that any mental health issue can get labeled as the result of inadequate shadow work. I am not a psychologist, but as someone who has struggled with mental health issues, this can exacerbate the problem further. It borders on victim blaming. We do not and cannot know anyone’s mental health history without knowing them fully, and even then, we cannot truly know. Therefore, it is critical that we are careful not to diagnose everything as a lack of shadow work. Some circumstances have no rhyme or reason. Some might say it is Karma. Sure, Karma plays a factor—leftover trauma, past grievances, tendencies, etc. which can all be previous life baggage—but we as individuals cannot judge the present by the past. We can only do our best in the present. Therefore, it is imperative to operate from an empathic place and look at things from a loving and bigger perspective.

False positivity ends up on the frontlines whenever something is characterized as not being positive enough to wish it or attract it. Why is it easy for some to manifest and harder for others? We do attract what we are—but we also have to work through the difficulties at our own pace. And we may attract those who care for us in the process. Telling someone that it is their energy that causes them to fail does little to lift them up when they are hurting. External circumstances cannot be controlled. We cannot be so arrogant to ascribe the power of the weather, other individuals, and more to ourselves. Yet, this happens a lot in the spiritual community and gets normalized. “She’s in a dark place. Her energy is bad. Protect yourself around her! Good vibes only!” It sounds innocuous. But it is a form of gaslighting. While there may be legitimate reasons with certain individuals, sadly this gets used to justify gaslighting those afflicted with mental health issues. Once again, we all may have experienced this or been inadvertently guilty of it–it’s confusing to get mixed messages within wellness and spiritual arenas. It’s a learning process and not cause for self-deprecation or for getting angry and remaining bitter. I want to be clear that this is not an attack on spiritual communities.

Allow me to be vulnerable for a moment. I do not wish to throw anyone under the bus or name any names, so that’s not what this is. I’m just sharing my experience. Several years back, I was blamed for “negative energy”–in this case an external circumstance attacking a person’s home and family via the plumbing system in the house–or something to that effect. Firstly, I was not that close with the individual in question and geographically thousands of miles away, so it came out of left field. It went further when this individual spoke to others in my then-circle of “friends” and managed to convince them that I was “bad energy” or an “energy vampire”. Of course, I took it seriously and spiraled further into a dark place of complete alienation and isolation. I was living alone and subject to the mercy of my own harsh thoughts. I was bullied and gaslighted by the others soon after. And I’ll be honest, and also to give the story an accurate depiction in the interest of fairness, let me say that my depression and negativity was hard to handle–and I can absolutely understand anyone needing space from that. But it did not warrant fabricating realities in an attempt to spiritually gaslight me either. Furthermore, when I tried to seek guidance or look for answers to those in the new age and/or spiritual community, I was then told that I created this myself and will have to do “shadow work” to get out of it. My therapist on the other hand saw the situation for what it was—and assured me that I most certainly did not deserve this. After all of this happened–and yes, I came close to losing my life, I completely left spirituality for a while. I never wanted to look at anything related to magick or witchcraft ever again or for any kind of community. And after I came back to center, I was spiritually gaslighted again–this time recently–and in a much more subtle way. It goes to show that we have no assurance that the way we believe we present ourselves is how we are perceived. All we can do is make sure we do our best–and not repeat this behavior to others.

I am happy though that I stayed in the center despite those things, with my own brand of magick, Tarot, and with my Vedic roots and religion. I continue to grow and change. I find myself more interested in Vedic Astrology and Eastern culture and philosophy. It’s not only where I came from—but I understand it much better now. The pandemic has allowed me to come full circle. I see clearly that there needs to be a balance. And thus, we cannot simply ignore the problems in the community in favor of false positivity. But we also cannot stay in the negative either. We just need to recognize that each person’s journey is different but that their inherent worth and dignity is always respected. That is really all we can ask for at this point.

I hope this finds everyone well. This was a harder blog post for me to write than I thought, but necessary. My next post tonight though will definitely be on the inimitable Pamela Colman-Smith, and the one after that will discuss Vedic Astrology and more! Be blessed. Thank you for reading my blog post, beloved readers. Namaste. With love, the Foxy Witch.

Tarot Part III: 21st century Tarot

Imbolc blessings! We are just about budding into spring. I hope everyone had a good January. Last month strangely felt like an extension of 2020, and it feels like the New Year is only beginning now. We are experiencing enormous shifts in terms of consciousness. We are in the first Mercury Rx of 2021. And today’s date is 02/02/2021. The repetition of the sequence of numbers, 02/02/2021 give us pause to reflect as well. Numerology wise, the addition of these numbers equals 9. Key #9 in the Major Arcana is the Hermit which symbolizes personal journeying, wise counsel and your inner guide. The number 9 is unique because it takes on the energies of the numbers 1-8 and is the last number before double digit 10. The 9 is the final push which makes sense for us today since we are building up our immunity and getting our vaccines soon. The end is in sight! Different numerology systems have other interpretations which may resonate better for you, but this is just mine. With that said, let’s move on to the topic, the relevance of Tarot in the 21^st century. We already looked at its history and development. Now, let’s look at why it is such a beloved form of divination and more importantly, why it endures.

When I first started dabbling in Tarot in high school, I kept seeing certain images crop up in my life. I thought nothing of it at first. I assumed it was wishful thinking or pure coincidence. But soon, I began to recognize the images as symbols of things to do—things to forget, and things to remember. I was surprised at the effect of that recognition. It was as if I had just tuned in—I had to distinguish between myself assigning meaning to things versus actual signs. Once I did that, I paid more attention to details and synced up better with my intuition. With Tarot, it was easier to do that. There is something about the visual medium of Tarot that allows us to dream, allows us to hone into the specifics, because it lets us see things we would have otherwise missed or dismissed. The beauty of Tarot lies in its ability to create, invoke as well as evoke an emotional response in each of us. When we think about the Tarot as a divinatory art, we employ a mode of channeling to perhaps connect with our guides and call on Source energy to help us receive and divine messages within the cards. It is the act of creating, opening, and receiving that makes Tarot so memorable, potent, and one of the best loved methods of divination. It is neither too abstract nor too revealing. It has just enough to pique the interest of our innate, subconscious mind to tap into our Source and into (to use Carl Jung’s terminology) the collective unconscious.

Tarot can help us dig into that reservoir of hidden intuitive potential the same way that meditation can for others. The more you shuffle the cards, the more your energy becomes embedded in them. The more you look at the cards, the deeper your connection with yourself. I’ve been keeping a Tarot diary for a while and doing mini readings every so often, along with in-depth readings for phases of the moon and holidays. Through this, I was able to establish a pattern of thinking and habits to assess, change, or keep. I believe this is one of the main reasons Tarot has endured for so long. Another reason has to do with the fact that a lot of the cards align with the elements, with the moon phases, and holidays. With numerology, the Major Arcana and the Suits may align with dates in the calendar. Sometimes we can use the cards for manifestation rituals, for self-love, for guidance, and for daily mantras. We can also use the cards to represent emotions, thoughts, spiritual guides, and even deities depending on the deck.

We are in no way limited to how we can use the Tarot. It has evolved since its inception through the Middle Ages and Renaissance from art to games, to a divination system, to a psychological tool, to artistic mediums as well as ritual representatives. Tarot takes on a timelessness here. If it calls to you, you may find yourself undertaking a lengthy study, because it is a fascinating journey! It also does not have a religious dogma attached to it, nor does it require a belief system or even a belief in a deity or higher power in order for anyone to take up the practice of Tarot. The purposes for utilizing Tarot are individuated and adaptable. These are primary reasons as to why it is such a treasure to have in our toolbox. Oracle cards have a similar effect as well, and we will talk more about that in another blog post.

For the month of February and through Mercury Rx, let us turn inward and give ourselves the love we would give others. Thank you for reading! The next blog post is on Pamela Colman Smith. Future topics are going to discuss rituals, esoteric knowledge, metaphysical mindsets, and much more! If there is a topic you wish to see discussed, drop me a line in the comments and let me know. Until next time, be well beloved readers. Namaste. With love, the Foxy Witch.