Tarot 7

Your Tarot Reading

About the Cards in Your Reading

Seven of Cups - Reversed

In the Cover position

Indicates the querent in relationship to the present situation.

Meaning: Extreme effects of alcohol or drug abuse. Clouded judgment. Being ruled by emotion. Exaggerated daydreams or nightmares. Mercy. Creative heights. Channeling passions.

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King of Cups

In the Cross position

Represents the positive forces or assets in the querent's favor. If this card should happen to be a negative card, it indicates the nature of an obstacles that is hindering progress. (The card in this position is always interpreted in its upright manner.)

Meaning: A visionary man. A strong, dignified man with a gentle manner who enriches the lives of those around him. An authority. Meaningful accomplishment. Intelligence and influence. Significant artistic abilities. Trust. Ethics. Strength of conviction. Higher principles and higher love. Intuition and foresight. A magnetic, somewhat reclusive, reflective nature.

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Six of Swords

In the Beneath position

Can be viewed as a message from the "higher self." It can also reflect the querent's potential aspirations.

Meaning: Movement. Improvement of any situation. Safe passage. More than sympathy, but help from others. Moving away from an unhealthy situation. Lessening stress, yet destination unknown. Travel over water. A new chapter. Sometimes interpreted as a declaration of love. Direction. A powerful card in aligning heart and mind. Focus and follow-through, yet unpredictable result.

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Nine of Cups

In the Crown position

Represents past events and influences that color and give rise to the current situation.

Meaning: Fertile surroundings. Nourishment. Natural beauty. Delight. Romance. Summer's cauldron of all good things for the heart. Relief and well-being. Blossoming. Seduction and pleasures. Gentle, inspiring surroundings and company. Warm, encouraging atmosphere. Luck. The feel of enchanted evenings.

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The World

In the Behind position

Represents the preoccupation of the subconscious which filters into waking life, affecting moods and outlook. This is the underlying theme of dreams and the emotional undercurrent in the querent's life.

Meaning: Ascension. Opening to a higher dimension. Culmination and synthesis. Enlightenment. Attaining a broader view of life. Moving beyond the personal to become aware of the interconnected nature of life. Harmony and perfection. Peace and freedom of thought. Inspiration and comprehension. Ecstasy. Glimpses, however brief, of the great mysteries of life. Being able to appreciate the larger scene or patterns in life. Faith. Epiphany. A heightened sense of being alive. Purpose. Confidence. Completion. Enjoying life and anticipating its curves. Unencumbered by the trivial. Being in control of one¹s fate. Intelligence. Independence. Determination and stability. Strength and enthusiasm. Intuition and spiritual heights. Crowning achievement. Reward and promotion. Graduation. Lasting happiness. As the last of the major arcana, the Universe represents the height of a progression. The Universe card is associated with the four evangelists, Matthew, Luke, Mark, and John, who in turn are equated with incarnation, passion, resurrection, and ascension, respectively.

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Nine of Wands

In the Before position

Represents the state of the querent's relationships with others.

Meaning: Order and control. Planning and preparations. Experience. Guarding one's assets, whether they be ideas for the future or gains made in the past. Anticipating hostility. Reviewing defences. The discipline of a seasoned warrior. Wisdom that has come at a high price. Growth and the refining of one¹s character through a perilous passage. Preparing for a storm. Deterring or outwitting an adversary.

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The Wheel of Fortune

In the Self position

Indicates the querent's psychological state and attitudes which can greatly affect the outcome of the matter.

Meaning: Surprise. Change of fortune. Unexpected turn of events. Good luck. Progression. Windfall. Measurable time or natural cycle. Upturn of the wheel. Improvement. After struggles, obstacles give way and plans engage. Breakthrough and movement. Blind fortune. Chance. Moods of fate. Surmounting difficulties. Relief from another's oppression. The Wheel of Fortune can herald random change neither sought nor deserved, reminding us that fate sometimes rewards the unworthy while denying those deserving of luck. The card also carries a warning to the vain and fame seekers, in that what went up must come down, and at times depicts the figure atop the wheel with the ears of an ass. The wheel can represent a natural shift of circumstance or phase in life, such as the change from adolescent to adult, adult to middle age, etc.

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Ace of Wands

In the House position

Represents the querent's environment and unseen forces influencing the situation.

Meaning: Inspiration. Rising to a challenge. Breakthrough in thinking. Self-reliance, spiritual strength, and confidence. Conviction and faith in vision or path. Reason reigning over impulse. Ideas empowered by desire. Creative heights and achievement. Quick thinking, humour, and balance. Revelations and transcendent thoughts. Fruitful plans and far-reaching ideas. Empathy and understanding. Marriage and fertility.

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Six of Pentacles

In the Hopes position

Indicates the hopes and fears of the querent.

Meaning: Sharing good fortune. The resolution to a problem. Receiving help, such as a timely commission. Charitable acts. Relief. The settling of a debt. Exchange. Entitlement. Rewarding someone for their effort. Supporting a cause or talent you admire. Balancing the scales. Restitution. Giving credit where deserved.

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Eight of Pentacles

In the Outcome position

Indicates the outcome of the matter.

Meaning: Employment. Commissions. Schedules and deadlines. Focus. Creative work. Skills and talents put to good use. Knowledge and experience. A large project or business running as a welloiled machine. Maturity of business. Accommodation. Achievement. Success. Income. Finding one¹s niche in life.

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Tarot 6

Tarot 5 - Spooky!

Tarot 4 - Heartspace

Friday Reading ❤

This Covers You

Four of Cups

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The Four of Cups is truly a bittersweet card, full of poignant tragedy.The selkie can experience life as a seal and as a human, but these dual longings do not make for a happy existence. No matter where she is, she longs for the other life. This card represents such a situation: dissatisfaction with what you have and wishing for something you don’t have. The focus on dissatisfaction can grow overwhelming and cause you to overlook something that would bring you great joy. Humans pulling this card are not doomed to the selkie’s torment. This card asks you to open your eyes to what is before you and recognize the happiness that is right under your nose.

This Crosses You

Six of Wands

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Courage isn’t a lack of fear, it’s being afraid and doing something anyway. This card indicates a situation that requires courage. You may doubt that you have what it takes to achieve what you want. The Six of Wands promises that you do have the inner resources needed. If you put yourself firmly in the situation, quiet your mind, and still your heart, then you will find what you need. Once you find it, nurture it and help it grow stronger. Use that energy to reach your goal. This card promises not only that will you be successful but that you will utterly amaze yourself.

The Root of the Matter

Eight of Swords

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Sometimes we think something is worse than it is. But sometimes we are correct in our assessments. The Eight of Swords acknowledges that the situation is difficult, perhaps even dangerous. A misstep could cause setbacks. However perilous the problem appears, it is not insurmountable. There is a solution. It may not be readily apparent, and, when recognized, it may not be easy. But it is there. Once you see it, you will move with confident strength. There is even an element of faith involved, because this will likely be something you have not done before, and therefore you won’t have ways of knowing if you are moving in the right direction.

The Past

Five of Wands

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Fire is very difficult to direct. Likewise, a group of individuals with strong passions and drives can find it a challenge to work together toward a single end. This card describes a situation that may be on the verge of breaking down, with people more driven by their own agendas and interests than the common good. But the situation doesn’t have to end in chaos. Knowing and understanding the motivations of yourself and others can help you find a resolution that might just please everybody involved. If each individual can shine their best while adding to the common goal, then you have a win-win situation.

This Crowns You

Page of Wands

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This card represents someone with an active, curious mind. He wants to know about everything, try anything new, and move just for the joy of moving. Because he demands so much stimuli, it may seem like he has a very short attention span. Perhaps that’s one way to put it, but really he just needs new information to keep his mind happy. Along with his inquiring mind, he has a passion for life that usually has a sidekick of optimism. He has not had enough hard experiences to temper his enthusiasm and confidence. His energy is contagious.

The Future

X • Fortune Faery

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Almost everyone is familiar with the Wheel of Fortune card, with its beguiling possibilities and the built-in comfort in its message that whatever is down must eventually rise up; and conversely, its warning that whatever goes up must come down. No matter how bad things get, they are eventually bound to improve. But you don’t have any ordinary, human-made Wheel of Fortune here. You have had the good luck to find the Fortune Faery, a happy omen radiating sunshine. Has she managed to blow all the seeds off the dandelion? You bet she has. When you get this card, it is a gift of luck, for the faeries are smiling on you. Things will soon be looking up. And if they are already good, just hold on and enjoy the ride, because they are about to get better.

Hopes and Fears

Two of Pentacles

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Sometimes humans get caught up in a vicious vortex of “more, better, faster.” Uncontrolled growth is reckless, dangerous, and irresponsible. Or sometimes life just throws a lot at us. The Two of Pentacles suggests a balanced, slow approach. Part of the balance includes being very aware of how your actions in this world affect the spirit world. If your projects and actions are not rooted in spirit, they will not manifest in a healthy manner. Take a breath. Slow down. Pay attention. See what you are really doing and what is really happening in your life.

Family and Friends

Ace of Pentacles

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This card holds a very special gift. There is a human saying about not despising small beginnings. Hedgehog, the Ace of Pentacles, shows up to remind you of that very saying. In fact, not only should you not despise this small beginning, but you should also treasure it, for you don’t even realize the possibilities that have just been presented to you. Right now, in this moment, listen carefully and hear the rustle of leaves. Watch for the emerging bundle of goodness. Recognize its value no matter how silly or sweet or awkward. Within that small seed is the potential to achieve amazing things. What you do with it is up to you.

Dreams and Ideals

XVI • The Blasted Beech

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The beech tree is often used to symbolize hard-won or ancient knowledge, as well as the end of something, often by way of a realization or revelation. The Blasted Beech draws your attention to your life philosophy or to whatever part of your belief system that is connected to the topic of your reading. That worldview may be dear to your heart. It may have provided stability and guidance as you moved through life. You could depend on it. It was true with a capital “T.” But nothing lasts forever. All it takes is one revelation, one particular insight, and you suddenly have to rethink everything. After getting over the shock, reevaluate. See what survived the crash, what can be salvaged, and what is no longer useful.

What Will Come

Four of Wands

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The wild energy of fire is shown to best advantage through the stability of the number four. This card represents a celebration of passion, joy, or drive, usually with a group. Despite the structure that the energy of four brings, this event is generally temporary and sometimes spontaneous. It can mean a party to celebrate a holiday, wedding, birthday, or achievement. The mood is festive, bringing out the best in everybody involved. It is a time to enjoy the energy created by being together with others and focused on a specific event.

Tarot of the Hidden Realm

Sacred Geometry

Sacred geometry is another term for the Algorithm, Matrix, Illusion, or Simulation that unites and creates all realities.

Sacred geometry involves sacred universal patterns used in the design of everything in our reality, most often seen in sacred architecture and sacred art. The basic belief is that geometry and mathematical ratios, harmonics and proportion are also found in music, light, cosmology. This value system is seen as widespread even in prehistory, a cultural universal of the human condition.

It is considered foundational to building sacred structures such as temples, mosques, megaliths, monuments and churches; sacred spaces such as altars, temenoi and tabernacles; meeting places such as sacred groves, village greens and holy wells and the creation of religious art, iconography and using "divine" proportions. Alternatively, sacred geometry based arts may be ephemeral, such as visualization, sand painting and medicine wheels.

Sacred geometry may be understood as a worldview of pattern recognition, a complex system of religious symbols and structures involving space, time and form. According to this view the basic patterns of existence are perceived as sacred. By connecting with these, a believer contemplates the Great Mysteries, and the Great Design. By studying the nature of these patterns, forms and relationships and their connections, insight may be gained into the mysteries - the laws and lore of the Universe.


https://www.crystalinks.com/sg.html

From My Fire

Unexplainable Outer Body Experiences | OBE STORIES

Spell : Bringing White Light Into Life and Dissolving Negativity

Colors for this spell:  White, Gold, Silver

                White: white represents positive energy

                Gold: represents the virility of the God

                Silver: represents the vital aspects of the        feminine

                Black:  emptiness

When:  Seven days before the next full moon,

The night of the Full Moon,  (Full moon because it’s the most intensely lit powerful celestial object in the sky every thirty or so days; 13 moons per year)

Seven days after the full moon (waning)

                -Seven is a magical number; most cycles run (biological) run in segments of seven to ten

                Waxing moon = swelling of intention (vs. waning moon dissipates)

Objects:

One seven-day wishing knob candle in white

One seven-day wishing knob candle in black

Silver candle, Gold Candle

Herbs

Oils

Grimoire of the Thorn-Blooded Witch: Mastering the Five Arts of Old World Witchery by Raven Grimassi 

• The Cunning Man's Handbook: The Practice of English Folk Magic, 1550-1900 by Jim Baker

• Liber Nox: A Traditional Witch's Gramarye by Michael Howard
• 
  

Ruling Planets: Your Astrological Guide to Life's Ups and Downs, Christopher Renstrom

The Alchemist's Handbook: Manual for Practical Laboratory Alchemy, Frater. Albertus

Dancing Wu Li Masters: An Overview of the New Physics, Gary Zukav

When Indoors ...

Some tarot websites:


http://www.darktarot.com/decans_tarot/?gclid=CjwKEAjws7OwBRCn2Ome5tPP8gESJAAfopWskx9XaFg-w5geGrUiHIzFmNhAzhueakYTCpGRTTqFhhoCWlHw_wcB


http://www.llewellyn.com/tarot_reading.php


http://www.free-tarot-reading.net/


http://trustedtarot.com/


http://facade.com/

Animal Totem Soul Tree

                                                             NORTH TOTEM
                                                 wisdom, being grateful for blessings



                                                             ABOVE TOTEM
                                                    connects one to the Universe






WEST TOTEM                                 WITHIN TOTEM                EAST TOTEM
Truth already                         brings the courage to follow one's heart        guides one on her/his spiritual life path

buried within                                                                                                                                                      




                LEFT SIDE TOTEM                                                  RIGHT SIDE TOTEM
    self-nurturing mother, how to love                      gives courage, protective father




                                                            BELOW TOTEM
                                                      grounding in earth energies




                                                            SOUTH TOTEM
                                                 trust, balance, innocence; protects
                                                              the inner child

Manifestation Spread for the New Moon

Here's a good tool for helping with manifestation. Put this out overnight and then take a picture and keep that picture with you until it manifests. Enjoy!


Using your tarot deck:

Center - Your Goal
1.  ME actually doing it
2. MINE - goal manifest physically
3.  my PLAN
4. WHAT this MEANS to me

5. My goal creates THIS EFFECT
6.  This is me working on it daily
7. Who are my Allies?

8.  People will give me this
9.What this means in the big picture
10. How the world will see me

11.How will this benefit others?
12. I will sacrifice this to get what I want

Introduction to Runes

http://www.sunnyway.com/runes/elder.jpg

The runes are broken into three sections or groups of eight, called aett (aettir, plural). This helps one to remember their order, and later, you will see, has significance in magical uses.

Fehu (F: Domestic cattle, wealth.) Possessions won or earned, earned income, luck. Abundance, financial strength in the present or near future. Sign of hope and plenty, success and happiness. Social success. Energy, foresight, fertility, creation/destruction (becoming). Fehu Reversed or Merkstave: Loss of personal property, esteem, or something that you put in effort to keep. It indicates some sort of failure. Greed, burnout, atrophy, discord. Cowardice, stupidity, dullness, poverty, slavery, bondage.
Uruz: (U: Auroch, a wild ox.) Physical strength and speed, untamed potential. A time of great energy and health. Freedom, energy, action, courage, strength, tenacity, understanding, wisdom. Sudden or unexpected changes (usually for the better). Sexual desire, masculine potency. The shaping of power and pattern, formulation of the self. Uruz Reversed or Merkstave: Weakness, obsession, misdirected force, domination by others. Sickness, inconsistency, ignorance. Lust, brutality, rashness, callousness, violence.
Thurisaz: (TH: Thorn or a Giant.) Reactive force, directed force of destruction and defense, conflict. Instinctual will, vital eroticism, regenerative catalyst. A tendency toward change. Catharsis, purging, cleansing fire. Male sexuality, fertilization. (Thorr, the Thunder god, was of Giant stock.)Thurisaz Reversed or Merkstave: Danger, defenselessness, compulsion, betrayal, dullness. Evil, malice, hatred, torment, spite, lies. A bad man or woman. Rape?
Ansuz: (A: The As, ancestral god, i.e. Odin.) A revealing message or insight, communication. Signals, inspiration, enthusiasm, speech, true vision, power of words and naming. Blessings, the taking of advice. Good health, harmony, truth, wisdom. Ansuz Reversed or Merkstave: Misunderstanding, delusion, manipulation by others, boredom. Vanity and grandiloquence. (Odin is a mighty, but duplicitous god. He always has his own agenda.)
Raidho: (R: Wagon or chariot.) Travel, both in physical terms and those of lifestyle direction. A journey, vacation, relocation, evolution, change of place or setting. Seeing a larger perspective. Seeing the right move for you to make and deciding upon it. Personal rhythm, world rhythm, dance of life. Raidho Reversed or
Merkstave: Crisis, rigidity, stasis, injustice, irrationality. Disruption, dislocation, demotion, delusion, possibly a death.
Kenaz: (K: Beacon or torch.) Vision, revelation, knowledge, creativity, inspiration, technical ability. Vital fire of life, harnessed power, fire of transformation and regeneration. Power to create your own reality, the power of light. Open to new strength, energy, and power now. Passion, sexual love. Kenaz Reversed or Merkstave: Disease, breakup, instability, lack of creativity. Nakedness, exposure, loss of illusion and false hope.
Gebo: (G: Gift.) Gifts, both in the sense of sacrifice and of generosity, indicating balance. All matters in relation to exchanges, including contracts, personal relationships and partnerships. Gebo Merkstave (Gebo cannot be reversed, but may lie in opposition): Greed, loneliness, dependence, over-sacrifice. Obligation, toll, privation, bribery.
Wunjo: (W or V: Joy.) Joy, comfort, pleasure. Fellowship, harmony, prosperity. Ecstasy, glory, spiritual reward, but also the possibility of going "over the top". If restrained, the meaning is general success and recognition of worth. Wunjo Reversed or Merkstave: Stultification, sorrow, strife, alienation. Delirium, intoxication, possession by higher forces, impractical enthusiasm. Raging frenzy, berzerker.

Hagalaz: (H: Hail.) Wrath of nature, destructive, uncontrolled forces, especially the weather, or within the unconscious. Tempering, testing, trial. Controlled crisis, leading to completion, inner harmony. Hagalaz Merkstave (Hagalaz cannot be reversed, but may lie in opposition): Natural disaster, catastrophe. Stagnation, loss of power. Pain, loss, suffering, hardship, sickness, crisis.
Nauthiz: (N: Need.) Delays, restriction. Resistance leading to strength, innovation, need-fire (self-reliance). Distress, confusion, conflict, and the power of will to overcome them. Endurance, survival, determination. A time to exercise patience. Recognition of one's fate. Major self-initiated change. Face your fears. Nauthiz Reversed or Merkstave: Constraint of freedom, distress, toil, drudgery, laxity. Necessity, extremity, want, deprivation, starvation, need, poverty, emotional hunger.
Isa: (I: Ice.) A challenge or frustration. Psychological blocks to thought or activity, including grievances. Standstill, or a time to turn inward and wait for what is to come, or to seek clarity. This rune reinforces runes around it. Isa Merkstave (Isa cannot be reversed, but may lie in opposition): Ego-mania, dullness, blindness, dissipation. Treachery, illusion, deceit, betrayal, guile, stealth, ambush, plots.
Jera: (J or Y: A year, a good harvest.) The results of earlier efforts are realized. A time of peace and happiness, fruitful season. It can break through stagnancy. Hopes and expectations of peace and prosperity. The promise of success earned. Life cycle, cyclical pattern of the universe. Everything changes, in its own time. Jera Merkstave (Jera cannot be reversed, but may lie in opposition): Sudden setback, reversals. A major change, repetition, bad timing, poverty, conflict.
Eihwaz: (EI: Yew tree.) Strength, reliability, dependability, trustworthiness. Enlightenment, endurance. Defense, protection. The driving force to acquire, providing motivation and a sense of purpose. Indicates that you have set your sights on a reasonable target and can achieve your goals. An honest man who can be relied upon. Eihwaz Reversed or Merkstave: Confusion, destruction, dissatisfaction, weakness.
Perthro: (P: Lot cup, vagina.) Uncertain meaning, a secret matter, a mystery, hidden things and occult abilities. Initiation, knowledge of one's destiny, knowledge of future matters, determining the future or your path. Pertaining to things feminine, feminine mysteries including female fertility, and vagina. Good lot, fellowship and joy. Evolutionary change. Perthro Reversed or Merkstave: Addiction, stagnation, loneliness, malaise.
Algiz: (Z or -R: Elk, protection.) Protection, a shield. The protective urge to shelter oneself or others. Defense, warding off of evil, shield, guardian. Connection with the gods, awakening, higher life. It can be used to channel energies appropriately. Follow your instincts. Keep hold of success or maintain a position won or earned. Algiz Reversed: or Merkstave: Hidden danger, consumption by divine forces, loss of divine link. Taboo, warning, turning away, that which repels.

Sowilo: (S: The sun.) Success, goals achieved, honor. The life-force, health. A time when power will be available to you for positive changes in your life, victory, health, and success. Contact between the higher self and the unconscious. Wholeness, power, elemental force, sword of flame, cleansing fire. Sowilo Merkstave (Sowilo cannot be reversed, but may lie in opposition): False goals, bad counsel, false success, gullibility, loss of goals. Destruction, retribution, justice, casting down of vanity. Wrath of god.

Tiwaz: (T: Tyr, the sky god.) Honor, justice, leadership and authority. Analysis, rationality. Knowing where one's true strengths lie. Willingness to self-sacrifice. Victory and success in any competition or in legal matters. Tiwaz Reversed or Merkstave: One's energy and creative flow are blocked. Mental paralysis, over-analysis, over-sacrifice, injustice, imbalance. Strife, war, conflict, failure in competition. Dwindling passion, difficulties in communication, and possibly separation.
Berkano: (B: Berchta, the birch-goddess.) Birth, general fertility, both mental and physical and personal growth, liberation. Regenerative power and light of spring, renewal, promise of new beginnings, new growth. Arousal of desire. A love affair or new birth. The prospering of an enterprise or venture. Berkano Reversed or Merkstave: Family problems and or domestic troubles. Anxiety about someone close to you. Carelessness, abandon, loss of control. Blurring of consciousness, deceit, sterility, stagnation.
Ehwaz: (E: Horse, two horses.) Transportation. May represent a horse, car, plane, boat or other vehicle. Movement and change for the better. Gradual development and steady progress are indicated. Harmony, teamwork, trust, loyalty. An ideal marriage or partnership. Confirmation beyond doubt the meanings of the runes around it. Ehwaz Reversed or Merkstave: This is not really a negative rune. A change is perhaps craved. Feeling restless or confined in a situation. Reckless haste, disharmony, mistrust, betrayal.
Mannaz: (M: Man, mankind.) The Self; the individual or the human race. Your attitude toward others and their attitudes towards you. Friends and enemies, social order. Intelligence, forethought, create, skill, ability. Divine structure, intelligence, awareness. Expect to receive some sort of aid or cooperation now. Mannaz Reversed or Merkstave: Depression, mortality, blindness, self-delusion. Cunning, slyness, manipulation, craftiness, calculation. Expect no help now.
Laguz: (L: Water, or a leek.) Flow, water, sea, a fertility source, the healing power of renewal. Life energy and organic growth. Imagination and psychic matters. Dreams, fantasies, mysteries, the unknown, the hidden, the deep, the underworld. Success in travel or acquisition, but with the possibility of loss. Laguz Reversed or Merkstave: An indication of a period of confusion in your life. You may be making wrong decisions and poor judgements. Lack of creativity and feelings of being in a rut. Fear, circular motion, avoidance, withering. Madness, obsession, despair, perversity, sickness, suicide.
Ingwaz: (NG: Ing, the earth god.) Male fertility, gestation, internal growth. Common virtues, common sense, simple strengths, family love, caring, human warmth, the home. Rest stage, a time of relief, of no anxiety. A time when all loose strings are tied and you are free to move in a new direction. Listen to yourself. Ingwaz Merkstave (Ingwaz cannot be reversed, but may lie in opposition): Impotence, movement without change. Production, toil, labor, work.
Dagaz: (D: Day or dawn.) Breakthrough, awakening, awareness. Daylight clarity as opposed to nighttime uncertainty. A time to plan or embark upon an enterprise. The power of change directed by your own will, transformation. Hope/happiness, the ideal. Security and certainty. Growth and release. Balance point, the place where opposites meet. Dagaz Merkstave (Dagaz cannot be reversed, but may lie in opposition): A completion, ending, limit, coming full circle. Blindness, hopelessness.
Othala: (O: Ancestral property.) Inherited property or possessions, a house, a home. What is truly important to one. Group order, group prosperity. Land of birth, spiritual heritage, experience and fundamental values. Aid in spiritual and physical journeys. Source of safety, increase and abundance. Othala Reversed or Merkstave: Lack of customary order, totalitarianism, slavery, poverty, homelessness. Bad karma, prejudice, clannishness, provincialism. What a man is bound to.
Blank Rune: There is no historical support for a "Blank Rune" in runic divination. It was invented in the 1980's. It should not be used in a rune casting. If you bought a rune set with a blank piece, save it in case you lose another rune piece, but don't use it in rune casting.

The Wheel of the Year

The gods of the old religion become the devils of the new religion.  But, new religions, in an effort to gain membership and foster smooth social transitions, appropriate the old festivals with new names.

The year is divided into four quadrants.

Ascending:  The time between March 21 and September 21 is the feminine half of the wheel.  This is the light half of the year.

Descending: The time between September 21 and March 21 is the masculine half of the wheel. This is the dark half of the year.

You may know March 21st as the Spring Equinox.  This means that the light and dark half of the day is equal.  From this point, the days will get lighter and lighter.

September 21st marks when light will begin to diminish.

June 21st is the longest day of the year, and is celebrated by Wiccans as "Midsummer."


The shortest day of the year is December 21.  This is the holiday known as "Yule."  The Christmas holiday is sprout from Yule, notice the yule log.  Christmas also celebrates the Holly and the Ivy, both pagan references.  In Ancient Rome, this time of year was celebrated as "Saturnalius," a male deity.



The Wheel's High Holidays, Sabbats, and low holidays

December 21  Yule       This is the shortest day of the year.
February 2      Imbolc   This is when the lambs first give milk.  It is also known as "Groundhog Day."
March 22        Ostara      Spring begins.  This is where Easter comes from, and fertility symbols such as Easter Eggs and Bunny Rabbits
May 1             Beltane
June 21           Midsummer
August 2         Lughsahna      This is the first of the three Harvest Festivals
September 21   Mabon           This is the second of the Harvest Festivals
October 31       Samhain         This is the most important holiday of the year.  It is also known as "Halloween" and all of the Halloween symbols come from Samhain

The Five Elements

Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit.

Earth   (East)   (Represents Emotion and Possessions)  The Mother Goddess, the Earth is the organism that is life.  And to us, Life is a miracle, an anomoly in a lifeless universe.   The Earth is living.  It feeds us, gives us materials, beauty, terrible destruction and a place to hold us underneath the sky.  We are part of the cycle of living, our own bodies designed to deteriorate into the earth once more.  Perhaps there is resurrection in the sense that molecules of air and earth and water continue to move.  Maybe a molecule in you was once a molecule in (name your favorite historical, dead, figure.)  The seasons affect the earth, and we watch, helpless to the weather and its demands.  Rain, rain, rain.  Summertime's fecundity, a thousand shades of green.  Autumn cracks open with vibrant reds and other tungsten colors as the plants die.  The Wheel of the Year turns, cycling towards death and rebirth.  The Earth sustains those cycles for us.  The Earth is abundant.

Air   (West)   (Represents the Intellect)  The West Winds, the air is the magical component we need for life's animation to occur.  Without the link between air and Earth, all life would die.  The air moves in breezes and storms and it feeds the flame.  It holds and releases water.  It allows the snow.  Incense smoke carries a prayer through the air to the heavens.  The sky is in itself an abstraction we live beneath.  Where does it end?

Fire   (South)   (Represents Creative Energies)  The Fire, the essence of the God, Power, has to be controlled, sometimes cannot be controlled.  Fire rises from friction, and so it is associated with more warlike, Horned-God power.  It lights balefire, incense, sage, and candles.  We must extinguish flame and create it.  It transforms earth substances such as frankinscense into air substances.

Water   (North)   (Represents Psychic Energies)  The Water Goddess, the other sustainer of life, aquatic life.  Another universe of creatures, just as we on earth, live in the element of water.  The water sustains our bodies, our bodies are almost entirely made up of water.  Water falls upon us as rain or snow, it feeds the earth which needs its drink just as we do.

Akasha is the fifth element, or Spirit.  This leads us to the questions of natural science versus the essence of philosophical thought.  This is the element of the heart and mind.  But, what is the heart?  What is the mind? 

Wiccan Deity

The Wiccan belief system is predicated on the concept of a God and Goddess duality.

Many Americans derive from a monotheistic (one God) tradition.  What does this mean?  It means that the nature of God according to the monotheists is generally this:

A Male

In the Catholic faith, people worship The Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Again, there is no feminine aspect to the Diety.

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"Pagan" is a term used to describe anyone who does not subscribe to the dominant religion of a society.
Wiccans are a type of Pagans.
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The Pagan religions are the foundation of many popular religions today.

Looking again to the Catholic religion we can see very clear evidence of the Pagan foundations.

For example:

Mother Mary    =  Goddess/Feminine Aspect
Saints  =  Demi Gods  (e.g. Pagans might have prayed to the God of the Harvest, while Catholics pray to the Saint of Good Harvest)
Incense =  used by Pagans and Catholics alike to carry their prayers to Heaven and to spiritually cleanse an area
The Chalice
Holidays =  Many of the Catholic holidays are based on Pagan ones
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The Female Aspect of Diety in Wicca sees (by most traditions, though some recently have argued for a quadruple aspect) a Triple Goddess:

Maiden
Mother
Crone


The Maiden comes as the earth refreshes from the sleep of death.  The world becomes fecund and fertile once again.  Ostara and Beltane celebrate this aspect.

The Mother is celebrated in Midsummer as the feminine aspect of birth and motherhood is represented in the abundant time of Summer.

The Crone, who is an old, infertile woman, is the third aspect of Diety represented by the dying of Autumn as the earth slips into a winter's death.  You can see how our "Wicked Witch" is a direct descendant of the Crone.


The Male aspect of the year is represented in Winter.  The Horned God who has masculine aspects such as aggression rules the Death half of the year.

Sabbats

SABBATS
Part of our shared human existence is the need to commune. The oldest religions, the foundation of our newer ones, built the schedule of worship around the earth's seasons, the sun and the moon. It's easy to see how this would have evolved. People were beholden to the whims of nature, unlike now when we can eat tomatoes all year round, buying them at a supermarket. We are so spoiled we get antsy when our microwave pot-pie takes SEVEN MINUTES to heat up.


The “wheel of the year” appears in pagan religions, Judaism, and others. Much as the astronomers divided the heavens into quadrants and then trios within the quadrants, the wheel of the year follows the ebb and flow of the seasons, the holidays occurring repeatedly on a pattern.

There are four major Sabbats, festivals, that mark the four quadrants of the year and four minor Sabbats. The calendar is solar and follows the sun and moon through the cycling sky. A Sabbat is a holiday gathering, and each of these holidays have special significance.

Samhain : October 31 (Major Sabbat)

This is a time of the year when the veil between the living and the dead is at its thinnest. For people living off the land, it was time to get ready for an unknown length of time of hardship. Cattle were slaughtered ritually and for sustenance on this night. As Christianity grew to dominate Europe, the “pagan” people did not want to relinquish their customs. Much as all the following holidays, the Church simply augmented the pagan custom by adding it to the Christian calendar, thereby keeping the peoples’ rituals in place but replacing their gods. Halloween becomes the Christian “All Soul's Day” on November 1.


Yule/Winter Solstice December 21

The Ancient Romans celebrated the festival of Saturnalias at this time, the time when the shortest day of the year occurs. After Yule, the days begin to get longer. Christmas was graphed onto Yule, and many Christmas traditions are taken directly from this holiday. Similar to the Christian celebration of the birth of the Son of god, Christ, Yule celebrated the birth of the Sun god, the male aspect of a dual deity.

Candlemas February 2 (Major Sabbat)  The bringing back of light to the wheel. This is Bridgit’s holiday.

Spring Equinox 21st or the day before the Equinox .  This is the festival celebrating the goddess Eostar when the Sun returns. The days are growing longer and the earth is becoming fecund. The festival's god was represented by rabbits and eggs, the symbol of fertility.

Beltane, May 1 (Major Sabbat)  The beginning of true Spring and all the fertility rites that accompany it. Mating season, in other words. This is the origin of the Maypole. Think about its symbolic meanings.

Midsummer Eve June 21 (Lesser Sabbat)  The longest day of the year, opposite Yule. Collect the morning dew as it is said to have magickal properties. This is the height of the summer season, represented by the celebration of marriage.

Lughnasadh, Lammas July 31 (Lesser Sabbat)  The preparation for the first early harvest.

Autumn Equinox/ Mabon September 21 (Lesser Sabbat)  This is the harvest festival.