Betsy Snow White Bibliophile

Tag: Tarot

  • Tarot Impulse Purchases

    Tarot Impulse Purchases

    I have mentioned before that I am slightly obsessed with/addicted to Tarot and Oracle decks. I have many. I want many more. In the last week I got two Tarot decks and one Oracle deck in the mail. The tarot decks I recently impulse bought from Zulily (they had a collection all about witchy stuff). Seth kickstarted the oracle deck for me pre-pandemic, but then pandemic, so they just finally arrived stateside and were shippable. I am going to make a separate post for the oracle.

    So, Tarot Decks: I picked up the Modern Witch Tarot Deck by Lisa Sterle and the Tarot of the Divine by Yoshi Yoshitani.

    The Tarot of the Divine I was familiar with because a friend, lady gang member, wench Mary bought it and I was enamored, but hadn’t picked up a copy yet. It is “Inspired by deities, folklore, & fairy tales from around the world.” The deck itself has matte, textured cards that are pretty thick but feel nice in the hand. The box is really nice and I think I will use it to store the deck. The book has color photos of each card and explanations of the inspiration behind each card. I haven’t tried reading with it yet, but I really like the vivid imagery and the folklore backgrounds.

    I was not super familiar with the Modern Witch Tarot, but I liked the imagery a lot and decided I would pick it up too. I am not sad that I did. It is a deck based on the Smith-Waite deck, but with a wonderfully diverse imagery. The box is really nice for this deck as well. The cards are thick and very glossy which makes them easy to shuffle. This is another deck with vivid colors. And the book is super cute. Again, I haven’t read with it yet, but I am excited to do so.

  • 4 Days of Blogging

    4 Days of Blogging

    I recently ordered a new Tarot Deck (yes another one) The New Wave Tarot. I had been eyeing this one for some time from LastCraft Designs and then they announced that this printing would be the last ever, so I jumped in and pre-ordered. Per their site, “Each card features digital collages of 1980s musicians such as The Smiths, The Cure, Siouxsie Sioux, Joy Division, Berlin, Yazoo, Duran Duran, Adam Ant, Erasure, Depeche Mode, Clan of Xymox, The Go-Gos, Cyndi Lauper, Culture Club along with esoteric imagery inspired by the Rider-Waite and Thoth tarot.” Even if I never really read with it the imagery is wonderful and a deck with Cyndi Lauper in it is perfect to me.

    In this deck instead of the normal suits: Cups – tea cups
    Wands – eyeliner
    Disks – LP Records
    Swords – microphone

  • 28 Days of Blogging

    Hello February! In she comes with snow and ice, but that is okay since I barely ever leave the house right now. Imbolc/ Candlemas is upon us to issue in the last bits of Winter before Spring swans in all sun and flowers. If you are so inclined then the Groundhog will determine whether we will have 6 more weeks of Winter. If you are me you are beginning the final countdown to 40 (March 14th) and the anticipation of things to come.

    This month in my personal practice I am using Crow Tarot by MJ Cullinane to do the daily, weekly and monthly readings in the Writual Sacred Planner which I bought in order to use my tarot more, and get to know some of the decks I don’t use as often. This deck was a birthday gift from my sister, Traci, a couple of years ago and while I have used it a couple of times this is the first time I am using it regularly. I love crows so this deck is a huge draw for me, and I have no idea why it has taken me this long to get it out to play with it. The visuals are gorgeous. I included some of my pulls from this morning below just to show off the gorgeous imagery.

    This month I am co-hosting a podcast, having a wenchy meeting, with luck doing some roller skating, crafting a bit, writing a lot, undertaking a vintage skate case rehab and generally getting things done while mostly staying at home. I am also going to blog every day for the next 28 days because I can.

  • 2020 is Finally Over…2021 Has Begun

    2020 is Finally Over…2021 Has Begun

    I have chosen my word of the year for 2021…Badass.

    Amazing bracelet I bought from CynicalRedhead on Etsy that says badass.

    This came from several instances in the past year when someone referred to me as badass, several of Seth’s coworkers, a random friend, etc. After the third or fourth time I started thinking, hmm…am I a badass. Maybe, but would I like to be more of one, absolutely. So I decided pretty early in 2020 that my word for 2021 will be badass.

    Then for a 2020/2021 Tarot Challenge on Instagram by @Lionharts I needed 3 keywords for the challenge, so I added to badass the words transformation/ transformational and revolution/ revolutionary. That is a lot of energy for 2021 but I am liking it. I want this to be a powerful year. I am turning 40 this year. I just started a new job. I am working on finishing my Master’s Degree. I am hoping to write more, skate more, laugh more. This is my year of more. Safely more.

    So let’s make 2021 as badass as I am trying to be.

    Did you set a word, or intention for 2021? What are you looking for in the coming year?

  • Day 9 of the Hostage Situation: Divination

    I love tarot and oracle decks. I have been reading since I was 16 and I have loved them ever since. I think they are a divination tool of such beauty, and each deck is unique with new insights to share. I am a bit of a collector when it comes to decks and I have well 6 right here beside me and an additional 8-10 more. I may be underestimating that amount as well. I might have a problem (nah!). In the last month I received a new oracle deck as a gift and I received a tarot deck my husband kickstarted for me as well. I am awash in new divinatory tools and I love it. I thought I would share my first impressions of both decks in case you were looking at them, or so you might want to.

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    Deck 1: The Literary Witches Oracle written by Taisia Kitaiskaia and illustrated by Katy Horan – The artwork for this oracle is lovely. The cards are divided into two types: The Witches and The Witches’ Materials. There are 30 witch cards with portraits of famous literary women and 40 material cards which are common images found in literary work like wolf, cauldron, white dress, etc. The deck comes in a sturdy box and has a guidebook that has basic meanings for each card as well as sample spreads. Here is a quick look through the guidebook.

    The cards are well made and solid, but a little large for my hands when it comes to shuffling. The imagery on the cards is gorgeous and lush for the Witches and beautiful but simple for the Materials. I love the idea of working with imagery as a divination tool and I look forward to using this deck. Here are some examples of my personal favorite Witches and some of the Materials I liked a lot.

    Deck 2: The Oriens Tarot by Ambi Sun – The imagery for this deck drew me right in when Seth showed it to me on Kickstarter and I knew I needed it. The artwork is stunning and comprised of animals and insects. The colors are lush. I have been waiting for this for a while. The deck came in a beautiful sturdy box, and I also got a reading cloth in the design from the back of the cards. The deck does not come with a physical book, but I was able to download a copy onto my computer and phone, and you can look at the meanings of the cards on the website.

    The sides of the cards are gilded in an amazing holographic silver that catches the light beautifully. The cards are of a nice thickness and fit really well in my hands. I could shuffle them all day if given half the chance. (I find shuffling super meditative and relaxing.) I am massively in love with the animal imagery and the beautiful colors. I am so excited to get into using this gorgeous deck. Here are some of my immediate favorite cards.

    Do you read tarot? Or do you collect them like me? What do you think makes a great deck? Do you enjoy oracle decks as well?

     

  • Looking into The Future

    I was gifted with my first tarot deck when I was 16. It was the Arthurian Tarot by Caitlin and John Matthews and it was a gift from my older sister Krystie. I fell in love immediately and I have been doing readings since. For the first year or so I carried the deck with me everywhere I went and slept with it beneath my pillow. I had a notebook where I would write down the meanings of the cards, and any insights I might have about the cards as I was reading. After a couple of years I no longer needed the book or my notes to read.

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    Currently I am waiting for a new tarot deck and an oracle deck that my husband backed for me on Kickstarter. One is The Oriens Tarot Deck by AmbiSun which is a Rider-Waite-Smith based deck that features animals on the cards. The art work is gorgeous and it will be coming to me from Australia. The oracle is the Witches of Legend oracle deck by Annabelle Lewis. It is still open for three more days, and the artwork on it is gorgeous.

    The tarot I use the most currently is the Deviant Moon tarot by Patrick Valenza. I was gifted the Crow Tarot by MJ Cullinane by my younger sister Traci for my birthday this year and the deck and I are still getting to know each other.

    Have you ever had your cards read? Do you read as well? Do you practice another form of divination?

     

  • Hello New Year. Let’s Be Friends.

    Hello New Year. Let’s Be Friends.

    Suddenly it is 2019. In my neighborhood it was blasted in by neighbors firing their myriad weapons into the ground until the area sounded like a war zone. Thus is life in the Hilltop in Columbus.

    I have chosen my word of the year and it is…

    I am going to move into 2019 boldly and unashamed. I have big plans for this year and I want to carry this energy with me as I go. To be brazen is to know who you are and to move confidently in that knowledge. To begin my year off on the right path I did a New Years Tarot Spread that I found on Pinterest courtesy of daily tarot girl. Here is the spread:

    And here is what my reading looked like. Position one is the opening message from my guides which is Temperance. I think my guides are telling me that I need to be looking for balance and establishing new structures. I also think they are telling me to look deeper into what direction I want to move in, and then to follow my instincts. Position 2 is the nine of swords in how to achieve your goals and dreams. The message this is saying to me is that I cannot let my anxiety and issues become a wedge in my ability to achieve my dreams. Knowing my own anxiety issues this is actually painfully true. In position 3 actions to take is The Hermit reversed. I feel like I have been in the hermit’s solitude with school and working, but I am finally emerging since school is over. I think part of my next move is to socialize more and to get myself back into the real world. Position 4 departing energies is the Ace of Pentacles reversed. I think that this card in this position is regarding my feelings on money, and how I have not made money a prority in my life, but it is time that I did. I need to stop making this an afterthought. In position 5 is The Heirophant reversed. As the main theme of this year I think it is telling me to continue to set my own path and to circumvent the status quo. In position 6 is the two of wands for future opportunities. It says that currently the world is an open door for me, and the changes I am looking to make this is the perfect time to make them. The High Priestess sits in position 7. To overcome obstacles in the following year I need to trust my intuition and allow it to steer me onto the right path. And to listen to my dreams. Position 8 is the Page of Cups reversed. As talents I will be expressing this year I think this is telling me that I have been neglecting my artistic expression and it is time to break it out again and to use my talents. In position 9 the Emperor is reversed. As a parting message the emperor is telling me to stick to my guns but not to be so rigid that I am unyielding. Overall I am feeling super positive about this year. It is going to be a year of change but also a year of building, and of gearing my life more toward the life of my dreams. What are your plans for the year?

  • Magickal Monday – It’s almost the Solstice

    Magickal Monday – It’s almost the Solstice

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    The solstice is on Wednesday and we are heading to Newark to attend a drum circle inside the Newark Earthworks. I grew up in Newark and often went to walk and play within the Great Circle Mound. The mounds were built by the Hopewell people between 100 B.C. and 500 A.D. You can read more about it here. The drum circle is being hosted by my friend Heather, the lovely proprietress of Violet Flame Gifts.

     

    The Sun: XVII The Star – A time of creativity and spirituality, of hope and good things. (This is a good sign for the solstice.)

    1. What in my life has been in shadow, that I need to shine a bright light on so I can see clearly what it is? XIV Temperance – I need to work on finding better balance in my life. I also need to find balance in my personal life.

    2. What in my life am I trying to force into happening when instead I need to be still and patient? XXI The World – I cannot force myself into happiness. I need to calm down, be still and let my happiness happen.

    3. What in my life is fertile and productive now? Where are my opportunities for growth? XVIII The Moon –  I need to listen to and follow my intuition. My dreams are leading me in the right direction and I simply need to heed them.

    4. What is waning in my life? What do I need to release? Seven of Wands – I need to let go of self-doubt. I am more than capable of making my life more, and it is up to me to do it.

    That is a lot to think about for the Solstice. I also think I will be joining Molly Roberts in a 28 days of Beauty challenge, so look for more on that soon.

    Solstice Blessings!!

     

  • Magickal Monday – My Magickal Life

    Magickal Monday – My Magickal Life

    I mentioned at least once during my 30 days of introduction writing challenge that I am a practicing witch. I took a Wicca 101 course when I was 18, and I have been practicing since. I started as a wiccan, but as I have studied and read I have taken to calling myself an eclectic cottage art witch. That is just a fancy way of saying that I borrow from many different traditions, use items that I can find easily in my home, and make art as a type of magick.

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    My Dining Room Altar at Halloween. 

    I am a tarot card reader. My current favorite deck is the Deviant Moon Tarot. Some of my other favorite decks and oracles are: The Wildwood Tarot, Robin Wood Tarot Deck, and The Faeries Oracle. These are pretty common decks, but I am always on the lookout for new and interesting decks to play with. I love to watch unboxing videos on Youtube from other witchy people getting new decks. There are so many beautiful decks out there.

    I am going to use Mondays to talk about all things magickal; what I am reading, loving, working on, studying, and such.  I may do some tarot work and post it here, and I will show off magickal art. It will be a Magickal Monday on this blog. I hope you enjoy. If you have something you would like to see here, or learn more about feel free to leave a comment.

    Betsy

     

  • Beltane Blessings – A Witchy Post

    Beltane Blessings – A Witchy Post

    It is Beltane and in honor of the day I am using a Tarot Spread from Llewellyn called the May Queen.

    May Queen

    May is a time of fertility and high spirits. By Beltane, the dark time of the year is a distant memory and the possibilities of life seem sweet. Use the May Queen spread to regain or confirm a sense of abundance and safety. If you have a specific question in mind, ask it as you shuffle the cards. Shuffle the cards and place them in positions one through five, as shown.

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    Position 1: Safety. Emotional security. What you need to feel safe. Where are you secure in yourself? A seemingly negative card describes a situation that needs your focused attention. Work with the energy of that card to produce feelings of safety.

    Position 2: Abundance. Feelings of plenty. Abundance may encompass monetary prosperity, but it also describes the emotional breadth of your life that is full and sweet. A challenging card directs you to constricted energy flow; by releasing the block of a challenging card, emotional abundance will follow.

    Position 3: Regeneration. Exploring the possibilities. The bold action needed to grow and flourish. A challenging card will show you the block that keeps you from your heart’s desire.

    Position 4: Love. Emotions and relationships. All forms of love, from friendship to sexual passion. Only you know your heart. Look at the suit of the card: what does it tell you about your life right now? (Wands = passion or anger; Cups = love or friendship; Swords = loving the intellect, heartache, or painful decisions; Pentacles = sensuality, the body, or the value you place on love; Court Cards = personal characteristics in your relationships; Major Arcana cards = the big picture, karma, or the spiritual aspects of your relationships.)

    Position 5: The Future. The present conceivable outcome based on the flow of cards one through four. What story do the cards tell? The lessons to be learned and the potential for growth. How does position three, regeneration, relate to the future?

    1. Safety: Page of Wands (Reversed) – My place of safety is within my creativity, but I can also use it as a crutch and an excuse. I also have a bad habit of procrastinating which is always pushing the limit of what I am capable of doing. I need to be smart and do my best work and best thinking early when I am at my highest self and most creative.
    2. Abundance: King of Cups – My abundance lies in my creativity. If I learned nothing else from my mother it was how to make something out of nothing. I need to make the most of this.
    3. Regeneration: Five of Cups (Reversed) – I need to make the most of new friendships and relationships. And also keep myself open to the return of old relationships. Or, be social, Betsy!
    4. Love: Four of Pentacles – Per the chart above I feel stable, and somewhat possessive of my love, which is true. I am in love with our love, in all it’s aspects.
    5. The Future: XX Judgement – I am coming to a time of renewal and new beginnings. It is time for a good hard look at myself, and some decisions about where I am heading. It is time to start a new part of my journey.

    It sounds like my future is auspicious. I am working on a Job spell, so hopefully much of the tarot reading is an omen toward that. I hope you have a beautiful Beltane.