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along-came-atsushi · 3 years

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BSD Mayoi’s Tarot Cards

I really liked BSD Mayoi’s approach to the tarot card theme and the beautiful artwork they put in there. Therefore, I decided to take a closer look at their meanings and to see if it fits with the chosen character.

All used cards belong to the Major Arcana tarot cards. The Major Arcana represent life lessons, karmic influences and big archetypical themes that influence a person’s life and the journey of their soul. They are the symbol of human consciousness and the key to life lessons. The Major Arcana include 21 numbered cards, starting with The Fool as the number 0. A Major Arcana in a tarot reading means that the person must reflect on the life lessons or that they are currently experiencing this time.

The tarot cards’ meanings and interpretations depend on and changes whether it’s upright or reversed. That means every card has positive (upright) and negative (reversed) meanings and their interpretations are heavily based on context. For example, The Fool in a reversed (negative) interpretation doesn’t simply mean that the person who gets the tarot reading is stupid, but that they might be in a point in their life where they have to decide something important and are reluctant to do so. Justice in an upright (positive) interpretation doesn’t simply mean that the person is righteous, and so on.

Besides their general meaning, the tarot cards also have a meaning for specific aspects of human life: health, spirituality, love and relationships, career and money. For this meta I’m focusing only on their general meaning.

I’m going to show and quote the character’s reaction to their assigned tarot cards first, then describe the card’s design, explain their general meaning and lastly compare it to the character’s personality, relationships and ability. The original cards’ description is based on Rider-Waite’s “Pictorial Key to the Tarot” card guide and can vary with other cards’ designs. Please note that Mayoi has either left out or changed some elements in favor of their artistic freedom.

All information in this meta has been gathered from my research of several internet sites. I really had fun with the way I wrote this meta, so if we’ll ever get more characters as tarot cards, I’d very much like to continue this series.

[Beware: Spoilers for the Hunting Dogs/Decay of Angels Arc!]

Atsushi – The Fool

Memo:

Nakajima Atsushi as The Fool tarot card. While initially surprised by the name of his card, after learning of its interpretations, he seems to be deeply moved as he looks back on his past.

Quotes: - “The name of this card, ‘The Fool’, surprised me at first, but I see it has positive meanings too! I'm kind of relieved...” - “It also stands for ‘freedom’. Hm... Compared to my old self, I can learn a lot of things, everyone from the Agency is by my side... and I can decide my own path...”.

Description:

The Fool usually gazes at the sky and the universe. Atsushi’s gaze is turned towards the viewer, probably a design decision. But he has his head lifted up towards the sky, still implying the original direction of The Fool’s gaze.

He carries his bag with a branch that rests on his shoulder and the bag contains all the things that he needs. Since it’s not big, it could mean that he either doesn’t need much or that he doesn’t own much to begin with. The white rose on his bag symbolizes purity and innocence. The white dog to his feet symbolizes loyalty and protection.

Normally, The Fool is seen to be at the edge of a cliff, unaware that he could fall into the unknown. Behind him is a mountain, symbolizing the challenges that are about to come. But he doesn’t care about these things right now, he’s focused on starting his journey and to learn the lessons that he came to learn.

Meanings and Interpretations:

- UPRIGHT: (new) beginnings, freedom/free-spirited, adventure, travel, originality, innocence, foolishness, carelessness, idealism, youth, spontaneity, lack of commitment.

- REVERSED: recklessness/risk-taking, carelessness, negligence, stupidity, distraction, apathy, irrationality, lack of fun/hope/faith, holding back.

Atsushi’s reaction at the meaning of his card is not surprising, since the word “fool” is not associated with positive meanings. The Fool in tarot is interpreted as the protagonist of a story and the Major Arcana is the path he must take, which is also called “The Fool’s Journey”. Along his way he meets new teachers and new life lessons and unveils the great mysteries of life. He eventually completes his journey reaching The World card.

Despite its name, The Fool is generally a positive card and the change it brings are seen as a welcome one. It indicates new beginnings, which means that someone is on the start of an exciting and unexpected adventure. On this adventure, The Fool may take a leap of faith, but will grow through this as a result. The adventure may not only be mental, but also physical, where The Fool has to travel to a place they’ve never been before.

Reversed, The Fool still means new beginnings, but it can signify that the person is reluctant to start their adventure or to jump into their new experience. It can indicate that the person is living in the moment, but that they behave recklessly towards others in their excitement.

~ ~ ~

This fits Atsushi, since he is the protagonist of BSD’s main story and his journey starts without him knowing about all the things that are about to come (positive and negative).

Atsushi’s past experiences in the orphanage as well as his isolated upbringing make him somewhat unaware and naïve about the world he lives in and its rules. He is unsure in his own capabilities and hesitates to take a new path unfolding before him (e.g., him joining the ADA). The new beginnings, as well as the dog symbolizing loyalty and protection could be a give and take symbolization for Atsushi. Meeting several characters in his life (especially the ADA members) offers him a new beginning, but he also stands in as a new beginning for these characters.

He is loyal and protective towards people who are important to him, but they also believe in him and are loyal and protective towards him, too. During his journey he takes a leap of faith in trusting in characters that were on the antagonizing side at first (Lucy, Akutagawa, Fitzgerald) and as a result, he grows through these interactions.

If possible, he likes to avoid doing tasks alone due to his lack of self-confidence and experience, which is shown when he questions himself, feels distressed or tries to avoid tough situations. Whenever the situation forces him to rely on himself (e.g., infiltrating Moby Dick) he comes out of it having learned a new lesson. His journey doesn’t only take place in his mind, but he has also physically traveled to a place where he has never been before (e.g., Standard Island).

Negative memories and experiences are something that hold him back throughout the story and make him hesitant in his decisions (e.g., the headmaster’s voice in his mind). He acts recklessly and careless in stressful situations, which causes him to tap into other characters’ traps (e.g., when he was under Q’s curse). During these situations he is not able to move on on his own and needs the help of others (e.g., Dazai scolding him). But he slowly realizes that he is now free from those past circumstances. He embraces the good things in his life and with this gradually moves on from his past.

Yosano – The Empress

Memo:

Yosano Akiko as The Empress tarot card. While she is not particularly interested in the divination aspect of tarot, she seems to have noticed the similarities between herself and The Empress.

Quotes: - “Tarot, yes... I am not at all interested in the overly uncertain aspects of divination, but The Empress has a rather beautiful design. I like it.” - “Apparently, The Empress is associated with vitality. Fufu, ‘vitality’. I like the sound of that.” - “I can only treat humans. And even then, I cannot treat all humans. I cannot control the vitality of the land like The Empress. Even so, I must do what I can.”

Description:

The Empress sits on a throne as representation of her dominion over growing things. She wields a scepter with her left hand, which represents her power over life. A shield is placed at her feet, the eagle on it is the heraldic emblem of the Holy Roman Empire. She wears a crown with stars, showing her connection to the mystical realm and the cycles of the natural world (usually there are twelve stars, symbolizing the twelve months of the year and the twelve planets).

Golden wheat grows in the foreground, framing her figure and indicating the abundance of harvest. The background is adorned with mountains, instead of a forest as in the original design. The depiction of nature in The Empress’ card signifies her connection with Mother Earth and life itself. She rejuvenates herself by the energy of nature.

The figure of The Empress is often depicted as a pregnant woman, her robe is patterned with pomegranates, the symbol of fertility. She is also mostly adorned with the symbol of Venus (that is sometimes shown on the shield instead of the eagle), which is the epitome of love, creativity, fertility, beauty and grace.

Meanings and Interpretations:

- UPRIGHT: Pregnancy, fertility, motherhood, sensuality, nurturing, creativity, beauty, femininity, nature, harmony, art, abundance.

- REVERSED: Insecurity, infertility, lack of confidence, lack of growth, overbearing tendencies, disharmony, negligence, creative block, dependence on others.

The Empress represents femininity and motherhood. Parents-to-be (mothers as well as fathers) who receive this card are encouraged to build on their communication with their children and to show them their nurturing side. However, even if the person is not a parent The Empress’ message stays the same.

It tells you to embrace your softer side and to listen to your emotions and intuition. People, especially those in need of empathy and compassion, will be drawn to you and you will be able to provide them with your nurturing. Not only does The Empress represent the creation of life, but also of romance, art or business. She symbolizes the emergence of an idea and the need to be receptive to change.

When The Empress appears reversed it tells you to embrace your feminine qualities. This also applies to men, as it is believed in tarot that all humans have masculine and feminine energies that need to be brought into balance. It signifies that a person may have been suppressing or neglecting their feminine side that needs to be embraced.

A person may be too focused on the material and mental aspects of their life and has disregarded the emotional and spiritual aspects. They may be putting the needs of others before their own or they may feel emotionally overwhelmed, so that they neglect the people important to them. It is advised to shift your focus in these situations and to ground yourself to get back to your inner balance.

~ ~ ~

Yosano is not associated with pregnancy or motherhood per se (since she is not a mother), but her role as a doctor and her ability can be interpreted symbolically in that way. She “creates” life or “gives birth” by bringing people back to life. She “nurtures” life by healing severe wounds.

This fits with her story arc, because she started her medical career already in her childhood. What began as a forced work during the war, turned out be a good blessing at first. The soldiers were in awe with her and her restoring ability, they were thankful and drawn to her nurturing side.

However, this turned out to be seen as the exact opposite, when the soldiers gradually experienced more trauma due to them being brought back to life over and over again. The same people now behaved hostile towards Yosano, involuntarily earning her the title “the angel of death”.

This trauma and abuse led to Yosano suffering herself, because she was forced to put the need of others before her own. This then led to her despising her own life and ability. She became visibly miserable and just a shell of who she once was, believing that she only brought demise to other people.

It was only when Fukuzawa and Ranpo found her that she started to gain hope and strength, because she was told that they were not interested in her ability, but in her kindness for others.This was the start for Yosano to realize that it’s not her supernatural ability alone, but also her mind and intentions that can help people, and marks the start of her career as the ADA’s doctor (even without her ability she is still a doctor and even without that she still values life and wants to save it).

Through her experiences she now knows the limits of her own abilities (both her supernatural ability and her abilities as a doctor), which can be seen in her reaction to her card. She still hasn’t given up on her work and duty, despite her negative memories. She won’t be losing track of herself, because she now has people at her side who truly care for her.

Kenji – The Chariot

Memo:

Miyazawa Kenji as The Chariot tarot card. He seems very interested in the illustrations of the brave horses and their chariot. The two horses depicted on the card remind him of his days back in Ihatov.

Quotes: - “The Chariot looks so valiant! And it has two horses! I bet they're good horses.” - “Apparently, one of the meanings of The Chariot is ‘the ability to take action’. Hmm~, I can't really tell, but what do you think? Do I have that?” - “I think it would be so fun if I could do my detective work with horses like the boy on this card! If I worked with horses, I feel like I'd be able to do a lot more!”

Description:

Kenji is depicted as armored warrior. His laurel crown (although heavily altered in design) symbolize victory, success and spiritual evolution. The figure of The Chariot usually stands tall inside his chariot. In Kenji’s case that has been upgraded and exaggerated to him standing with one foot on the foreside and pointing with one finger ahead. A heavy indication of taking action and moving forward.

In front of the chariot are two horses, which represent positive and negative opposing forces and duality. The two horses pull in different and opposing directions, yet The Chariot uses his willpower and sheer resolve to move them in the direction that he wants. He doesn’t need to hold reins to move, instead he controls it through the strength of his will and mind.

In the original card’s design, the armor of The Chariot is decorated with crescent moons, which represent what is coming into being, a tunic with a square, representing the strength of will and other alchemical symbols that are a representation of spiritual transformation.

The canopy above his head is adorned with six pointed stars that indicate his connection to the celestial world and the divine will. Instead of horses, two sphinxes are in the foreground. A city with a large river can be seen behind The Chariot, symbolizing the need to be in flow with the rhythm of life while charging ahead towards your goals.

Meanings and Interpretations:

- UPRIGHT: victory, overcoming obstacles, success, ambition, determination/willpower, control, self-discipline, hard work and focus, action.

- REVERSED: forcefulness, lack of direction, lack of self-control, powerlessness, aggression, coercion, being blocked by obstacles, opposition.

The Chariot upright represents overcoming obstacles through determination, focus and willpower. The person may feel motivated, ambitious and in control, therefore they are encouraged to go for what they want. There may be challenges and obstacles in The Chariot’s path, but if you stay focused and believe in your own abilities, you will be able to overcome these. The Chariot can also represent travel, as it is a means of transportation.

People who receive this card may feel like they are fighting a battle and because of that act defensively or aggressively to hide that they are emotionally vulnerable at the moment. In this case, you are encouraged to find balance between the heart and the mind. The Chariot also indicates success in sports and competitions.

The Chariot reversed means that a person may feel powerless and lack direction and confidence. They may feel put upon by others or the circumstances in their life. This can lead to anger and frustration as well as uncontrolled aggression. The Chariot advises you that you need to take control of your own destiny and to not let outside forces determine your path.

It indicates that you need to set boundaries and stick to them and to be clear about the time and resources you are willing to dedicate to others. If people in your life become too needy and demanding the person is advised to take back their own power.

~ ~ ~

Kenji starts his story by moving from the land to the city. His decision to leave his family and village, live in the city and to work for the ADA can be interpreted as him moving forward in a physical and spiritual sense. He is willing to challenge his new surroundings and grows through this as a result.

He has shown to be very confident in himself and his abilities, being the most optimistic of the group and to always look on the positive side of things. Tough situations do not worry him much, because he believes the outcome will work out just fine.This determination also transfers to other characters when they are with him and should they find themselves in a distressed situation (e.g., when he had his mission with Atsushi who was constantly worried about how Kenji does his work).

Being able to control something with his pure willpower could also be interpreted as an allusion to his supernatural ability that allows him to lift up cars or tear down stone walls on a whim. However, Kenji’s ability relies on the fact that he needs to be hungry in order to use it and the ADA members also advise to not disturb him when he is sleeping, because he will get irritated and aggressive in that state.

Kenji has been shown to not only be able to get over physical obstacles, thanks to his ability (e.g., bringing Fukuzawa out of the hospital). He is also able to encourage his peers to get over mental obstacles (e.g., his speech to the ADA when they flee from the HD).

Kunikida – Justice

Memo:

Kunikida Doppo as the Justice tarot card. Having always stood for justice and ideals, Kunikida has a favorable impression of this card.

Quotes: - “Justice... What a well-named card. The sword and scale illustrations aren't bad either.” - “I have no desire to sit on a throne, but I value fairness, which is one of the meanings this card holds. I want to uphold this as I carry out my Agency duties.”

Description:

Kunikida as the figure of Justice sits on a throne, holding a sword in his right hand and scales in his left hand. The sword points upwards, symbolizing a firm and final decision. Its double-edged blade is a reminder that our actions always carry consequences. The scales show that intuition must always balance logic and are a symbol of impartiality.

He wears a crown with a small square on it, a representation of well-ordered thoughts. His white shoes looking from underneath his robe also symbolize that our actions have spiritual consequences.

The figure of Justice sometimes is depicted in front of a loosely hung purple veil, which signifies compassion. Two pillars frame the figure, symbolizing balance, law and structure.

Meanings and Interpretations:

- UPRIGHT: justice, karmic justice, consequences, legal disputes, law, truth, honesty, integrity, cause and effect, life lessons, fairness.

- REVERSED: injustice, karmic retribution, dishonesty, corruption, lack of accountability, dishonesty, unfairness, karmic avoidance.

In an upright context, the Justice tarot card is a representation of karmic justice, legal matters, cause and effect. Justice symbolizes truth and integrity and can imply that a person may feel the urge to speak out the truth. This person values honesty and integrity in others, too.

Justice also relates to balance and signifies that an event may occur that is beyond a person’s control or their own making. In these moments Justice encourages the person to keep themself level-headed as the events unfold. It also signifies that a person is about to make a choice and that they are currently weighing all their options. In legal matters, this card shows that the outcome will be a fair and balanced result.

Reversed, Justice means injustice and the avoidance of karmic justice. It symbolizes that a person has been treated unjustly or that they are in a situation where they are being affected unfairly by the choices and actions of others. The person may feel victimized or blamed for something that isn’t their fault. Justice reminds the person to still keep their balance. If the person created the situation themself, it is advised to think about how they can react to that situation. It also signifies that the person must be accountable, if they created the situation by bad choices and actions. This means that the person should not blame others and to be more self-aware.

It can also symbolize dishonesty and that a person should not lie their way out of something or try to justify it. The person may also have hardline views in their life and prejudices the people around them. In legal matters, Justice indicates that the result will be one of injustice or that the outcome may not what the person has hoped for.

~ ~ ~

Kunikida is practically the personification of justice of all of the ADA members and justice is also something that he has been shown to think about a lot. He takes his work very professional and serious and tries to bring every case to a fair result. If he isn’t able to save people, he calls out the unfairness of the situation (e.g. when he tried to save the abducted victims in the Azure Messenger case.) This shows that he feels responsible and guilty even for events that were out of his control.

He seems to try to balance his own life by sticking to his written ideals and calls others out shouldn’t they behave in the same way (e.g. mostly seen when Dazai is neglecting his work). If he notices that people are distressed during a bad situation, he reminds them to keep their balance or he tells them to think about what they can do (e.g. to Atsushi when the Black Lizard attacked the ADA office). But he also reminds himself about these things (e.g., seen when he was told by Jouno that he felt relieved about the ADA getting caught and with this his ideals falling apart. But then he got back to his knees and defended the ADA, so that they could escape.)

When Kunikida meets new people, he keeps up his guard and distance at first, and holds prejudices about them (e.g. when he met Dazai, Atsushi and Kyouka). This can lead to him having a wrong first impression of people (negative and positive) and with this easily fall into traps (e.g., when he did not realize that Sasaki was the Azure Messenger).

This implies that he first weighs to be careful about whom he trusts (in this case a new colleague), and changes his mind about them later, once they have proven to be trustworthy.

Tanizaki – Temperance

Memo:

Tanizaki Junichiro as the Temperance tarot card. While he initially tilted his head at the card's rather strange design, he faces its mystical aura head-on. He seems to have interpreted the card's meaning in his own way.

Quotes: - “The person on this card is pouring liquid from one cup into another... What on earth for?” - “So, Temperance also means ‘harmony’. Hm, am I harmonic? Oh, sometimes I sort things out when there's a commotion at the office... so I guess I am?” - “Hmm, so it means ‘devotion’ too... The only person I'm devoted to is Naomi. To me, Naomi is irreplaceable.”

Description:

Tanizaki balances himself with one foot on land, representing the need to stay grounded and the other in the water, representing the need to be in flow. The water he pours between two cups are the symbol of the flow and alchemy of life. This was a standard symbol of Temperance as one of the cardinal virtues, as it represents the dilution of wine with water.

In many decks, the figure of Temperance is depicted as winged angel, but instead we see two feathers, probably meant as surrogate of the angel’s wings. The background shows a path leading to a mountain with a golden crown on top, but this depiction has been changed in Tanizaki’s card and the golden crown rests upon his own head instead. The crown is a symbol of taking the higher path and staying true to one’s meaning and purpose in life.

Meanings and Interpretations:

- UPRIGHT: Balance, peace, patience, moderation, inner calm, perspective, tranquility, harmonious relationships, soulmates, purpose.

- REVERSED: Imbalance, self-indulgence, excess, clashing, lack of perspective, discord, antagonism, recklessness, hastiness, self-healing, re-alignment.

Upright, Temperance indicates that a person has found their inner calm and peace. They have a good perspective on things and care about harmonious relationships. It signifies feeling content and having found tranquility. Temperance shows that a person is in touch with who they are inside and what they value.

They have their own moral compass and have learned not to get dragged into other people’s conflicts. Minor issues won’t knock them off balance, instead they adapt to the situation with a clear mind and a calm heart. Figuring out your aspirations and your goals is easier for people who get this card in their readings.

In a reversed position, Temperance means imbalance. It signifies that a person behaves in a reckless manner. The person may have lost touch with their inner calm and peace, which leads to them seeking gratification in harmful and risky ways (like alcohol, drug use or gambling).

It can also mean that the person has a lack of harmony with the people in their life and due to this the person may lash out to people close to them, which then causes them to get dragged into drama. In these situations, it is advised to take a step back and look at how you are behaving, because you may lack to see the bigger picture. Examining the root causes and working to resolve them is the way back to your inner calm and peace.

~ ~ ~

Tanizaki appears to be one of the calmest people in the ADA. He does not get into quarrels with others, even if he is wary or hesitant about their ideas (e.g., giving in to Naomi’s demands and shenanigans, hesitating and getting tricked by Dazai to participate in Atsushi’s entrance exam).

Although, he is nervous on missions, he still takes them on with a clear mind and a professional approach. Many missions are entrusted to him alone, showing that people know that he can handle the situation just well.

His decision to work for the ADA could imply that he has found his goal and his purpose in life. His dedication to Naomi shows that he is patient and calm, and that he cares deeply for a harmonious relationship between them. Keeping her safe above all things indicates that he’s sees it as his purpose in his life, too.

However, Naomi is also his biggest weak point. Whenever she is in danger or hurt, Tanizaki gets knocked off his balance and inner calm. These situations make him hastily jump into actions and due to this he becomes an easy target for others (e.g., when he attacked Higuchi out of anger, he didn’t notice Akutagawa; when he was about to kill Mori to save Fukuzawa, he tapped into Kouyou’s trap).

Even though this does not only concern Naomi’s well-being, as he has also been shown to make rush conclusions, if other people he cares about are in danger or in a predicament (e.g., when Fukuzawa was about to die due to cannibalism; offering to join PM as exchange instead of Yosano). His work as a detective on this aspect lets him also get regularly dragged into other people’s drama, either the drama of clients or the drama of other ADA members.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Sources: www.biddytarot.com | www.thetarotguide.com | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_Arcana

#atsushi nakajima bsd #akiko yosano bsd #kenji miyazawa bsd #doppo kunikida bsd #junichiro tanizaki bsd #Atsushi Nakajima #Akiko Yosano #Kenji Miyazawa #Doppo Kunikida #Junichiro Tanizaki #bsd meta #bsd analysis #Bungou Stray Dogs #bsd mayoi

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tar-oh · 3 years

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Pick-A -Pile: What will the rest of November be like for you?

Howdy there, folks! Sorry it’s been a while. But here I am! I have 3 new decks, so I wanted to use those. I have the Cosmic Tarot deck, which I’m excited to use because it’s from the 90′s. It’s also based somewhat off of old movie stars, too. It’s one of the most interesting decks I’ve seen just because of the interpretation the artist had on some cards, but I find that they’re fun to read intuitively. I also got the Light Seer’s Tarot from my best friend for my birthday. That one is fun because the artwork is beautiful and it’s got a lot of bright colors. The last is a new oracle deck I got called the Seasons of the Witch: Samhain Oracle, which is based around Halloween/Samhain. t’s very much Halloween/witch themed and has beautiful artwork and poetry on it. I also pulled moonology cards for each pile.

The question I asked for each pile was just what the rest of November will be like for you. I think it’s just better sometimes to let what needs to come through come through, and I have to say that there was a lot of healing and change that came through for each pile.

Here’s the piles to pick from:

So:

Pile 1 is the Opalite

Pile 2 is the Rose Quartz

Pile 3 is the Carnelian

I need to say that this is a general reading. It’s for a bunch of different people, so it’s not specific, nor does it mean it will resonate with you. If it doesn’t, I have a few other readings on my blog that aren’t time-specific and may give you insight. Otherwise, I may not be the reader for you. If you would like to reach out for a personal reading, my DM’s are always open and I will try to answer it ASAP. I recently got a cashapp, so if you’d like to tip (it’s not necessary), it’s $sarams.

SO. THAT BEING SAID ONTO THE READINGS:

Pile 1: Opalite

Cards: strength, 6 of pentacles, the moon, 8 of wands, 5 of cups, page of pentacles, 2 of wands, banshee, new moon in sagittarius

There's one word that keeps showing up with these cards for me, and that's CHANGE. The Banshee warns of you blocking change. New Moon in Sag suggests you might change your mind on something. The strength card in this particular deck suggests the transformation of energy. So, the word for your November is Change and I think these cards are saying that there will be change for you, but how it goes, it's up to you. You're asked to get out there. And by that, I don't necessarily mean going out and about (especially for those that COVID is still around, be safe guys!). I mean whatever that means for you. So for some, you want to put something on the internet. For example, if you're thinking of starting a new blog or even a youtube channel, this spread is telling you to do that. There's a lot of pentacles and wands in this spread. That tells me there's a lot of creativity and abundance within this. I don't always mean material wealth, I mean whatever that could mean to you. This could be a passion project, that you work on for fun. Or it could actually be something you plan on trying to make money from. This pile needs to realize their own power. The fact that the lady in the strength card is holding a tapestry with a lion on it furthers this idea for me. Lions in historical terms have always symbolized strength. I'm reading this as if she had the tapestry covering her whole body up, but she appears to be moving it away. I'm also assuming she's naked behind it, too, so it's like, stripping away a mask you might have had on. This idea that you were toning yourself down for everyone else, but now you're letting that fall away. You're being you, and unapologetically so. You have a lot to share and a lot to give, and you're a little hesitant about this. Perhaps, in the past, you had things not go the way you wanted when you put yourself out there. But, this is telling you to forget that. A lot of you are changing or going through changes, whether it be inside or how things external to you. But, you're also denying these changes? Like, okay right now Make Way by the Front Bottoms is playing, and he sings "I make way for the expensive things in my head." You have dreams, but these dreams cannot come into actualization until you make room. The Banshee card can read as a warning, and I'll get to that later. In order for new things to come in, there needs to be room. This Banshee card hints that you're not allowing there to be room.

As I was writing that I started to think about the 4 of pentacles from the Rider-Waite deck. On the card, he guy's hoarding the pentacle and the chest underneath him full of who knows what (knowledge? love? money?) but that card isn't present. But, my eyes were drawn to the 5 of cups where she's looking down into the hole that the cups are spilling into. It almost looks like a bit of her soul is spilling into it too. I read that as someone who poured a lot of effort into those cups, a lot of their soul too. But, in the end, it was all for naught. At least, that's how they see it. So they dump out all those cups and their soul goes with them. But, that's not what I mean by making room. In this card, she's so focused on what's lost, rather than what could come in. Behind her, there's this path and wide-open space, and the stars are out. It's so beautiful but her backs to it. You need to be able to turn around and run into that unknown. The moon definitely supports that idea to me, also this 8 of wands. The moon in this reading, to me, is you embracing the unknown. Like, walking into the future despite it not having certainty yet. As unsure as you are about what tomorrow, next week, or even next year holds, you need to be able to crawl out of that pond like that lobster. He's kind of jumping out of that pond at the moon like "HERE I AM!" I also see him as reaching towards the moon that's made up of two fishes. So, almost like he's grabbing at them like a prize. So, I want to be cheesy and say REACH FOR THE SKY! And, I don't know. Perhaps a bit of corniness is needed in this moment for you? 8 of wands also gave me that feeling too. It's an image of a man jumping through the air with those 8 wands and he looks ABSOLUTELY THRILLED. These cards are telling you to be excited because when you reach out, good things reach for you if that makes sense. Page of Pentacles and 2 of wands show me that there's something you are or will be working on that you want to share. These also tell me it's something that you need to be practical about sharing. Like, the way you go about it. It's a bit like you need to make sure that when you jump through the air with those wands, you're calculating where you land. So, it's telling you to jump, but not to be The Fool about it. Don't jump without looking. But also, not to sit still like that girl in the 2 of wands. She's looking out the window wishing when she could be going. The 6 of pentacles tells me that whatever you share is going to be valuable. Usually, this card is about give and take. Or, about being compassionate and empathetic. Having what you need and sharing it too. It could also mean someone is helping you out. But, today I'm seeing this as you having something that would be valuable to others. So, maybe you want to make a fitness vlog or you have a large knowledge about rocks or something and you want to write blog posts about them. And, this specific version of the 6 of pentacles is that this man is standing under a crescent moon. It looks to me like it was recently a new moon, and I kind of see those pentacles as other phases of the moon. So, to me, it's like you manifesting. The act of placing an intention on what you want to do or achieve between the new and full moons. Like, this man is under this newer moon and he is manifesting what he wants. He's also excited about what's to come despite it being unknown. Those 8 wands are telling you to DO IT. START IT. You got New Moon in Sagittarius, which has the line "Luck is on your side" written on the card. In the moonology deck, I read this as the equivalence of the Wheel of Fortune tarot card. I mean, it even mentions the wheel in the guidebook. This card is telling you to GO! Do it! You've got luck on your side, but to also stay open-minded. I did mention that the Banshee does serve as a warning. The card's keywords are bad omens and wrath. I don't want this to scare you, rather, I want you to take this and hug it. I'm laughing at myself for that last part, but seriously. This card is, to me, just death reversed. When death is in reverse, you're denying a transformation that needs to happen. Even denying the ending of something. This is telling you that things are changing. They will not, cannot stay the same and that this warns you against denying this. Change can be so beautiful. Like, I mean, think about butterflies and the transformation they go through? You could have that! This change could be physical or mental or in your external world. Either way, if you're able to embrace this change with open arms, you'll find that there's a lot of joy that comes with this. I do have to say that there is the risk of you getting a bit of a big head. I want to tell you to stay level-headed about everything that comes your way. I also have to bring that 5 of cups back up along with the banshee. These suggest this idea that you're focused on mourning an ending, but that you should let it go. A part of me doesn't agree with that completely. There is a certain amount of need to allow these things to fall away and not to mourn forever. But also, if you're still grieving it once those changes come in, that's okay. That whole, making way for the expensive things is something that one needs to do, but there's also this thought I have about making space...to just...allow things to be. Sitting with something. The song Unsaid Emily came on from Julie and the Phantoms. The story it tells is heartbreaking, and I found it fitting. The song is about regrets and wishing you could say something you never got to say. There's a part where he sings "If you could only know, I'd never let you go." This ties in because you can still have that past with you. You don't have to let it go completely, but there's also a point where wallowing in it doesn't help. So, it's like, this banshee/5 of cups combo is both a warning and the act of acceptance. Like, this acceptance that this happened. It's over, and we will have these thoughts on it for a while (they'll probably transform through time). But, they're there, and while we're embracing it we're also taking them and moving forward. It's this act of leaving it behind while simultaneously leaving room for it in your suitcase. All seriousness aside now, I think November is going to be good for you. I don't know if it's going to be super major in any way, but I know that it's going to at least be a stepping stone for the rest of your life. Maybe a lot of little things will happen that will only be worked into your memory years later as things that you can attribute to where you are. I just see joy and creativity in these cards and maybe hesitation, but its that hesitation before you jump and I see that when you land (in that calculated spot), you're going to be okay. And, honestly, I think right now, that's all we want to hear. Right? That we'll be okay? Songs:

Make Way - The Front Bottoms Unsaid Emily - Julie and the Phantoms Soundtrack Makeup - Oberhofer

Pile 2: Rose Quartz

Cards: Queen of Swords, Two of Pentacles, Ace of Cups, Temperance, 4 of Wands, King of Wands, Full Moon Eclipse, Wolf One thing that's coming through strongly is that you need to follow your intuition. In the song Wild Roses by Of Monsters and Men, there are the lyrics "I followed a feeling". Even more, in the song Don't Give Up Your Ghost by Movements, they talk about not letting your demons get the best of you. Not letting those dreams you had go. And so, you follow them and chase that feeling, whatever that means to you. The card Wolf's keywords are instinct and freedom. It's the last card of the Seasons of the Witch deck, and with it comes this sense of completion. The Full Moon Eclipse speaks of conclusions being within reach. These conclusions are doors that have closed. But with these cards, while I see contemplation in some (queen of swords, temperance, even King of Wands), I also see movement. In 4 of Wands, they're dancing. In King of Wands, he does look stationary, but he also looks as if he's going to step forward at any moment. In two of pentacles, he's trying to keep his balance, but it looks like he's also trying to move forward too. So, there's a sense of forward movement, but with it comes this act of never looking back. There's a chance you'll face a decision in November. With the Queen of Swords and Temperance, you're asked to stop for a moment and be logical. To balance out the practicalities and the emotions. But, with it comes a beginning, one that can prove to be very fulfilling to you. There's a chance that this leads to a celebration, as well. Either way, you're asked to weigh the options while also keeping in mind that whatever you're leaving behind stays behind you. The last pile was also about moving forward and change. But, it was also a gentle reminder to hold your values and memories close to your heart. Whereas, with this pile, you need to hold those values and memories, but not as closely. At a distance where you can see them to keep perspective, but far enough away that they're not pulling you back to that door. And, by the way, that door will be locked. I don't know what this could be that you can't go back on. I mean, I guess it's like something that you just can't relive. Maybe it's that thing where nothing's ever the same again. Either way, it's like this spread is begging you to move forward. Ah! The song that came on is Kill My Time by 5 seconds of summer. There's a line, "Why don't you just say goodbye now. It's only a matter of time," which goes perfectly with what I just said. It's like, whatever is reaching it's conclusion. It's as if you've ridden that wave and you're at the end of it. You've run out of a wave to ride, so it's time to find another. On the wolf card, it says "Run wildy into the freedom of your knowing", so 1. definitely feeling the moon card here. But also 2. you're released from whatever is concluding. Also, the moon, it's about mysteries and the unknown and in the last pile they got it and it was telling them to jump into the unknown. I see that you guys are asked to jump into the unknown as well. Though something tells me that you guys have a bit more of an idea of what's going on. The queen of swords looks like she knows and that wolf howling at the moon knows something too. There's this feeling of the unknown but also knowing the unknown here. But, then with this unknown/decision you might have to make, you're reminded to keep balanced. In the temperance card, he's holding the moon in one hand and the sun in another. So, it's like night and day. I think that's suggesting this need for a schedule. Like, maybe a set bedtime? You guys could possibly be more of the night owl type. I guess, in that case, it's just a reminder to get an adequate amount of sleep. So, still setting a set time for sleep and a set time for waking up. Also, it's telling you to take care of yourself overall. The two of pentacles also brings that idea of balance because I mean, this card is about keeping up with everything. It's like, having two things and being able to balance them. Some of the versions of this make it seem like it's time to focus on one and stop trying to do both. In this deck, because the act of balancing is actually his body trying not to fall in the water, I see that this balance of keeping up different things at once is essential. So, say you're in school but you're also working. You're asked to keep up the hard work in both your school work and work-work, while also taking care of yourself. Assuring that you don't fall into the water. On the 2 of pentacles here, the pentacles are on his shirt. He already has these pentacles and I don't see him losing them. Unless he discards the shirt, so it's like unless you actually quit your job or school, you can't really lose them. You can lose the quality, but not the actual pentacle. My favorite thing about the Light Seer's Tarot is that each card has an affirmation. These sum up the card as a whole. Despite the 2 of pentacles being from the Cosmic Tarot, I think the affirmation is particularly noteworthy here: "I create an equilibrium in my life that allows me to be my best self." So, for November I see you going through a door that will close. This door is meant to be closed, but it doesn't mean it can't have a window you can peer into once and a while. You're just not meant to go back through it. Instead, you're meant to step forward into your future. I see that this is going to be abundant. You're asked to remember to follow your gut instincts, but also to keep balanced. To be honest, kind of like the crystal you chose, I just feel a lot of love. And I'm not really reading that as love from someone else (I mean, yes, there could very well be that), instead, I'm reading it as you just radiating love. So, I could say...November sounds lovely for you...lol Songs: Wild Roses - Of Monsters and Men Don’t Give Up Your Ghost - Movements Kill My Time - 5 Seconds of Summer Group 3: Carnelian

Cards: The Empress, The Lovers, Death, Queen of Swords, the Sun, 7 of Pentacles, New Moon in Virgo, Blue Moon, Journey Okay, I'm a little weirded out by the whole shuffling process. Several things happened that were kind of...Oof. First I kept seeing the Queen of Swords and was thinking "I bet that's gonna come out somewhere" and it DID. Then I saw that your Seasons of the Witch card was 24, which adds to 6, which in tarot is the lovers. I've read that 6s can mean journeys too. Well, THEN the lovers came out. Bottom deck energy for the Seasons of the witch is the All Hallow's Eve card. This made me wonder if your "journey" started on Halloween. Well, guys, then the Blue Moon card fell out, and that full moon on Halloween was a blue moon. Granted, all of these are coincidental, but it's just funny how those things work out. If you think something shifted for you on Halloween, then you're correct with thinking that. For some, it's with a love connection. For others, it was you just being able to figure out a little better on where you want to go in life, or where you're headed. So, jumping in, I want to focus on the Empress card first. I love this version because she looks so much more comfortable to me than any of the other empress cards I've seen. She looks relaxed like she has everything she needs. And, I do think one could say materially she has what she needs, but she also looks like she provided it for herself. Nothing on this card suggests it other than her face. She just looks sure of herself. Moving on to the Queen of Swords, while I get a colder energy from her, she also looks kind of similar. She's not in the same posture completely. Her posture could even be argued as not looking very relaxed, but her face makes it look like she's relaxed. She looks like she's content with where she sits. She's looking off into the sky, like, though she's content with where she's at, she's also looking for something. Maybe she's searching in her own brain or scanning the world off of where the card cuts us off from what she sees. They both have their hands to their chins, one seems more sure of herself, but the other still seems sure. So, what I take away from these two cards right away is that you know yourself. Maybe you're saying, "But Sara, I'm only just figuring out who I am?" And, yeah. So am I. Life is this process where we're constantly evolving. One week you have one belief, and the next that could have changed because you've learned 100 new things. You have both the Death and the Journey card. With the lovers and these two other cards, this is saying to me that you are changing. Nothing will be the same next week and nothing will be the same the week after, but you understand your goals and your values and at the end of the day, you're still you. I almost feel that I need to stop and reassure this pile that you're still you. Maybe you've been looking in the mirror lately and not recognizing yourself. Maybe people have been saying things like "I don't know you anymore", but you're still you! YOU ARE STILL YOU! And, this is also telling you to stop, take stock of who you are at this very moment. Be sure of it. That sounds hard to me, so I can understand if you think it does too. But there are things we're sure of. Like your values. Your sense of right and wrong. Hell, the music genre you gravitate towards the most. Those are you and you alone. So, take a moment, take a breath, and think about yourself. Now, I want you to take another moment to just love yourself. No if, ands, or buts. I mean, it. Stop and say to yourself "I love me." And I need you do to it with kindness. Forget the person you flipped off while driving yesterday. Forget that last mean thing you said to someone. Forget that bad grade you got when you were 13 because you were too focused on that band that came to town. Forget it all for a second and take this time to just breathe in and love yourself for who you are in the moment. Okay. Now that that's done. Onto what's coming. Well, like the other two piles change. Everyone today seems to be going through changes. Though, it's different for everyone. Pile one was asked to take a calculated risk, but still go for it. Pile two was asked to move forward and to not move backwards. You're asked to move forward gently. And I don't mean cautiously, though with New Moon in Virgo, I'd say there is some calculation needed here. But, I still don't mean cautiously. I mean, with love. With kindness. With you being the best that you can be to others and yourself. Something is just telling me that someone reading this is really upset with themselves, and I just want you to know that while you're still you and there are some of those core things that you still have, you're also not the same person you were yesterday or 5 hours ago, and that's okay. That's life. And you need to understand that we all fuck up and we all say things we don't mean sometimes, but that doesn't set anything in stone. That doesn't define you as a horrible person. Shit happens and sometimes that shit happens because we did it. But? I still love you and you should still love you too. The more you stop to love yourself and be kind to yourself, the more you're going to discover about yourself. And while you're discovering yourself, there's a need to look ahead while simultaneously staying present. On the Death card, there's a clock stuck in the ground, frozen. I almost want to say to you that time doesn't matter. I mean, yes if you have a shift that starts at 10, by all means, go to it on time. But, in the grand scheme of things, time doesn't matter, and for you, it means that your path is not linear, nor does it have a set schedule. God, I cannot believe I'm doing this, but I had a manager that I have to quote. He once said to me that he didn't believe in time. As a history major, that confused me to no end. Like, I got where he was coming from, but my whole life consists of time time time. I thought in dates. I know dates well and dates are time. But now I kind of see it. It's this idea that life isn't time, it's lessons. Does that make sense? And, I think that's what he meant, lol. He also tended to be really cryptic so, I could be totally wrong, but this is what I'm taking from the whole thing. The Journey card from the Seasons of the Witch deck says something along the same vein to me: "Daughters of our Mother, walkers of the unknown, take with you on this journey all that you hone." So, all we need is to live and take those lessons with us as we live. And, the Virgo card also reminds me of Virgos in general. They're known to be super analytical, so there's this thought that while you need to take lessons at their face value, you also need to dive into them too. It's like reading a book by its cover. There are things to take from that cover, like how the title font presents itself to you and what the illustration/picture is, but then there's also the content inside the book. Both the cover and the content matter. Don't judge a book by its cover, but also take in what's presented to you. The seven of pentacles always means have patience whenever I pull it for myself, so I read it that way for you too. There is no set schedule (like that whole time thing, right? it's nonexistent) and that might make you antsy. But, what good does that do? You could be chilling like the Empress. Or, you could be sitting and watching that cucumber you planted last week sprout, despite knowing that it's still going to take time. One definitely sounds more relaxing. 7 of Pentacles suggests this patience because it takes more than a week for a good thing to grow, you know? And, I mean, yeah you can make things in a day, but there's that saying, "Rome wasn't built in a day." Rome was built over a VERY long period of time, going through different types of governments and it switched around between paganism and Christianity. There were a lot of changes within that long period of time. I know I went on a rant earlier about time and how it's nonexistent, and blah blah blah. However, there's also this idea that even though you need to not be focusing on time, you also need to know that for things that are quality, it takes time. Like, time and effort. No half-assed shit, right? But, I mean that in a loving way. And, this, by all means, is about you changing. So, this is something that is going to take time to hone in on. Something that's going to take finesse. It's going to take experience and love. That may be something hard to hear. Trust me, I know this. Depression is a beast and I know how that and other mental illness can really fuck with you and your perception of the world and of yourself. But, both 7 of Pentacles and New Moon in Virgo suggest taking a moment and looking at where you are and where you're going. So, again, that idea of staying present while also moving forward. But, also being analytical (but not OVER analytical). And while you're looking at where you are, there's a need to stop and be okay with where you're at, too. This is especially for my buds who are having a hard time mentally. I know that when you're in the thick of it, it's hard to get out of the fog. That some days, or even weeks, you end it with tears and it's hard to stay motivated to do anything. With me, it's a bad cycle where I lack that motivation, but to feel worthy I need to be working. It's a cruel thing that I do to myself, because my worth is not within my productivity, and I think as a society that's something (at least for all my American friends) we need to remember. There are days when the only thing you do is just getting out of bed to get food and honestly, that's better than nothing. So, it's taking stock of the things, little and big, that you accomplish. Which, that definitely adds to that idea that time for you is not linear and that it's going to take you more time to do things other people can get done in a week or two. But, then on the flip-side, there are other things that will take you less time than it would for someone else. Nothing's linear and no one's the same. No one's path is a duplicate of someone else's journey. Harry Style's song, Golden came on. There's that line where he says "You're so golden", and I think you need to hear that right now. It definitely makes me think of the Sun card, which you got. It's this card of immense happiness. Abundance. It's a beautiful card and in this deck, it's bright, super bright. So, yeah. I'd say you're so golden. And I think this is more a matter of you being the sun like you need to stop and see yourself as that. Maybe you're someone that gives so much to others but not yourself. Honestly, from what I was getting earlier I can see that. So, maybe circling back to how relaxed both the Empress and the Queen of Swords look, maybe this is a message to you to relax? Relaxing and maybe taking stock of those lessons that have been presented to you. There's also a need to take care of yourself with the New Moon in Virgo. It just suggests eating healthier and what-not, so I'd add that to the relaxation. Like, relax and take care of yourself. And, gosh, again, I gotta bring up depression because it's really simple for me to be like "HEY YOU! Take care of your body!" but, I know what it's like to not want to exist. So, if that's the case, I want you to take it day by day, breath by breath. Start out small, get a glass of water, take some deep breaths. Do something that makes you feel good (that's also not detrimental to your health). I also think you're asked to believe that you can accomplish what you want to accomplish. It's like, you can achieve so much, but you also have to make sure that you're taking care of yourself on your way. So while there could be obstacles outside of you, you're your biggest obstacle. One thing I should note is that you got the Blue Moon card. This suggests that you may get an opportunity of some sort that's rare. Now, this could mean a lot of things with these other cards. One I can see is travel with the journey card. I see it more as outside into nature really, with the colors from the Virgo card and the forest on the Blue Moon card. Like, a camping trip? Honestly, right now I'd give anything to go camping, so if you go, send me pictures! Another for someone is maybe meeting someone you click well with, whether it be platonically or romantically with the Lovers. If that's the case, I see this relationship being really good, like nurturing and abundant. Full of joy and good times. Another is maybe just a chance to just take a step back and rest with both the Empress and the Queen of swords. Either way, I see this as being something that you consider to be good. It will also transform you in some way, more than how you're changing now. I can't really get into more because it just feels like this is super general because I feel like a lot of you are choosing this pile. I do suggest that if you felt called to the other two piles, I'd go look at them since they're all about change too. The bottom of one of the decks is the Star, so I see that there is a hopeful energy to this and that whatever is going to happen, you're going to start feeling more hopeful. But also, promise me you'll be kind to yourselves? Music:

Golden - Harry Styles Was It Something I Said? - Mykey

#tarot #pick a pile #pick a card #tarot reading #november pick a pile

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justanotherwitchygirl · 4 years

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Let’s Talk... Tarot!

Chapter One: Finding Your Deck

Hello everyone! Welcome to part one of our lets talk series here! Today’s topic is going to be Tarot! Today we are going to be talking about finding a tarot deck that is just right for you.

So in this I will be talking about the two most common ways of obtaining your deck which are: Buying your Deck and Making your Deck. Let’s get right into this!

Making Your Deck

So this honestly deserves a post all to itself which is on the way, but for now I will touch on some of the basics!

I personally recommend for your first deck that you purchase it. I don’t want to knock making your own deck because it is a fun and very spiritual experience, but it is also very time consuming. You don’t want to put lots of time and money into making a deck just to find out that you really don’t like reading tarot and then have no use for the deck, right? That’s the primary reason, but trust me when I say making your own deck has it’s perks. Let’s begin!

First you need to gather your supplies. You’re going to need whatever medium you’re going to use for art if you’re going to use art and if you’re not going to use art then whatever writing utensils needed. Next get the paper you will be using. I suggest using card stock. If you need another type of paper for your art (ex: watercolor paper, lined paper, copy paper) then use that and glue it onto the card stock. Then you will also need some type of finishing product that you can use on paper to make the cards slick. I suggest Modge Podge for this as it seems to be the best one I’ve found.

Once you have all your materials then you can begin making your cards. Make sure that you are looking into not just the name of the card but are also looking into the meaning of the cards to pick your design. You can reference other pictures or cards or whatever inspires you the most for your cards.

Pay attention to what you’re looking at or what you’re making. Pay close attention to the art you’re using. Why are you choosing that? Why are you using those colors? What did you feel when making that card? I also suggest making a journal for your cards (more on this later) and make a section specifically for the making of the cards. Write down anything you’re thinking or feeling about the cards. Make sure that you keep this with the deck later and you will find out why!

After you’re done with the cards and have put some sort of finishing product on them then you are done! You can now look through the “What Now?” section for what to do next down below!

Buying Your Deck

This can be just as spiritual and fun as making your own deck so don’t fret or think that this is any different.

To purchase your deck I will advise of you to not just go into the closest store that sells them or go to the cheapest store online and buy just any deck. Make this a process! I can not stress that enough. Do your research and look at different decks. Look online. Look at local stores. Look in thrift shops. Make sure you take the time to see what you can find.

Look at the decks that draw you to them. What do you like about them? What about their art or style do you like? Are you looking at decks that are similar in look or different? Make yourself a tarot journal that will be specific to these cards. Make a special section that it just for the purpose of writing down all these things. Talk about your favorite decks. What is sticking out to you? What decks are your favorite and why? Just start answering questions like this in that journal. Note what you are feeling when looking at the cards. What do different decks make you feel? Why do you think that you feel that way about the deck?

Once you find the deck that you like most and that calls to you the most then purchase it. Whatever the ultimate reason is just make sure that the deck is special to you. Make sure that you are buying the deck that you like the most and not the deck that you think you should get or anything like that. Trust your gut. In the craft it’s your best friend.

Once you have your deck in your possession then you can go to the next step in this process which is the “What Now?” section of this post.

What Now?

So now you have your tarot deck, so what do you do now? Well I can assure you that you should not just go right into readings. You should cleanse your new deck. How? I’ve got you!

I’m going to walk you through just a couple basic, easy techniques for cleansing your deck. Even though these are basic and easy I can assure you that they are just as effective as any other method! Here are just some of my favorites:

Smoke: Any cleansing bundle most common is sage (what I prefer for convenience) just light it and then hold the deck above where the smoke is and allow the negative energy to flow out of the deck and into the air (remember to cleanse the area you’re doing this in if it is indoors afterwards) and allow the deck to be cleansed thoroughly.

Crystals: You can use any cleansing crystals to cleanse the deck. Some common ones are Tourmaline, Labradorite, Black Obsidian, Clear Quartz, Amethyst, Moon Stone, and Selenite. You can place these on the deck and leave them overnight or meditate with the crystals and the deck (remember to cleanse your crystals when you are done).

Music: You can always play cleansing music and either meditate with the deck and music or just let the music play near the deck and leave the music playing with them while you do whatever for a little while. I use this a lot when I’m meditating or doing dishes or something mundane.

Pulling: I use this technique and I’ve seen it called a lot of things, but I call it “pulling”. This is where you meditate with the cards and pull the negative energy from the deck into your body and then expelling it from your own body through the meditation you’re doing. This can take some time to get the hang of or get used to, so be weary when using this technique, but I like to use this when cleansing my deck after readings to know what kind of negative energy my deck has been picking up.

Cleanse your deck thoroughly and then you are done. I’m sure you’re ready to do some readings, so let’s talk about the first kinds of readings you should be doing is.

Initial Readings

Now I know that from here you want to go into taking your own and maybe even other’s tarot readings, but you should not just jump into this. You need to take some time to get to know your deck. You read that right you need to get to know your deck... now what does that mean?

Something you should know is that every deck is different. Each deck will have their own “personalities” and tone. Take time and sit with your deck and practice your readings by learning your deck (this will also help you to learn the cards meanings more on that in the next part). You should ask your deck questions like the following:

What is your favorite card?

What card best represents you as a deck?

What is your least favorite card?

Which card do you like best for the artwork?

Which card are you excited to use/ show me?

What card represents the tone you wish to portray?

Which card are you least excited to show me/ use?

Also remember to jot these down in that notebook we talked about earlier! This will give you reference about your deck and why it’s going to do what it will in time to come. You should always keep this around for reference with your deck.

Pay attention to the type of cards your deck shows (earth, fire, air, and water) and make note of that as well. Pay attention to the specifics of every card that your deck shows you. Pay attention to the artwork. Pay attention to the meaning. Pay attention to everything.

Remember not to overload the deck either. Even though you may be excited I will encourage you to only ask a few questions at a time. Remember to cleanse after every reading. Yes, I said EVERY reading. All this combined will help you to be able to keep your readings clear and concise in it’s readings.

I really hope that this brings you some basic information about tarot cards and finding your first or maybe your next deck! Next we will cover some helpful tips about learning your cards meanings and just a bit more about the different things that could also be coming from your cards in the reading!

ALSO! Sorry for the late post apparently I had some issues and think I have everything fixed now and running as usual!

#letslearn...tarotpart1 #tarotreading #tarot deck #tarot cards #tarotcommunity #tarot witch #tarot #witchcraft #witches #witch #witchblr

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deathflares · 4 years

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» ffxivwrite day #23 — shuffle

wolexarch, 2k words, T.

[ao3 mirror]

“Indulge me,” she insists, seemingly amused by his hesitation. “It’s just harmless fun, my lord—something I’m sure both you and I could use more of.”

He swallows. There’s a deep, if irrational fear within him that she’ll somehow be able to pull a card that reads “G’raha Tia” in big, bold letters.

This time he finds Shiori by one of the tables in the Catenaries, and it’s barely half a bell past five. She doesn’t seem to notice him approaching, occupied with a deck of cards she shuffles with slow but practiced deftness.

“Is this a late night or an early morning, my friend?”

She blinks and looks up at him, hands stopping their movement. Her lips press together in a closed-mouth smile.

“I believe I should be the one to ask that question, my lord,” she answers, bemused. “Lyna has mentioned to me in passing some concerns about your sleep schedule—or rather, your apparent lack of one.”

She gestures towards the chair across from hers, a silent invitation. “In my defense,” he says, sitting, “sleep hasn’t been a need of mine for a long time, now.”

“Not being necessary doesn’t mean it wouldn’t do you well,” she says. “But I’m certain you’ve heard enough nagging from the Captain as is. I doubt mine will convince you to get any more sleep.”

He shrugs, smiling wryly, then gestures to the deck in her hands. “And what might those be?”

He’s aware she’s proficient in Sharlayan astromancy, but whatever deck she’s holding doesn’t seem familiar to him—far too many cards, for instance.

“Tarot cards,” she answers. “My grandmother taught me to read them when I was a girl, and it’s been a pastime of mine ever since. Have you ever had your fortune read, Exarch?”

That’s a new one, he supposes. The sheer extent of her... abilities, be it in combat or otherwise, never ceases to amaze him. “I’m afraid not,” he answers.

Shiori hums. “Care to try, then? I for one am quite interested in learning what may lie in the future of a man such as yourself.”

Her tone is pleasant, but the glint in her eyes feels vulturous. He resists the urge to squirm under her gaze. “I’m not sure I should—”

“Indulge me,” she insists, seemingly amused by his hesitation. “It’s just harmless fun, my lord—something I’m sure both you and I could use more of.”

He swallows. There’s a deep, if irrational fear within him that she’ll somehow be able to pull a card that reads “G’raha Tia” in big, bold letters. Yet he can’t bring himself to refuse her. Harmless fun, she says—he certainly hopes it’ll hold true.

“... Very well,” he concedes.

Shiori beams. “Thank you,” she says, shuffling the cards one more time. She splits the deck in three parts, rearranges them back together, then spreads them out in front of him in a tidy arc. “Pick six. Try not to worry over it too much—just follow your intuition.”

G’raha proceeds to worry too much over it. Somehow this feels like a matter of life and death. Trying not to second-guess himself, he touches the back of six cards with a finger and slides them down away from the arc and towards the center of the table.

Shiori gathers the remaining cards in a single pile and slides them to the side, then flips each of the cards he’d chosen, placing them around the table in a circular formation. She hums again, resting her head on her hand and looking down at the cards with a smile, as if they’re telling her a particularly amusing story.

“These cards,” she says, gesturing to the three cards that have names written on them, “are the major arcana. They represent the most deeply rooted issues within our lives. And these cards,” she points towards the other three, which only have numbers on them, “are the minor arcana. They provide context to the major arcana, and relate to our everyday experiences.”

G’raha looks down to examine the cards. He has no idea what they mean, and he hasn’t even seen many tarot cards to be able to judge, but he’d be willing to bet that Shiori owns the most beautiful deck they offer. The artwork on the cards is stunning, enough that he wishes he could get them framed—each picture seemingly hand drawn in black and white, aside from a unique splash of color somewhere on the card.

“Each position in the spread has a specific meaning, which is why the order you pulled the cards is important,” Shiori explains. “This one,” she points at the card at the very top of the spread, “is your question. What you’re really concerned about, at the moment.”

The card in question is void of any color, depicting only seven circles with stars inside of them, sorted in a diagonal line. Nothing about it seems to give away its meaning.

“For you, it’s the seven of pentacles. It relates to contemplation and uncertainty, especially in regard to one’s work—such as wondering if you’re going to succeed. Perhaps you’re looking back at your hard work and wondering if your efforts might fail, or go unrewarded.” She taps her finger against the card, staring G’raha down with a smile that feels threateningly knowingly. “Sounds familiar to you?”

That does sound like my biggest concern, my friend, thank you. “Perhaps a bit,” he says, straining his lips in what he hopes comes across as a calm smile. If Shiori smells his fear, which he somehow wouldn’t put past her to be able to, she doesn’t mention it. Instead, she taps another card.

“Your second card is what you want most right now. For you, it’s the Lovers.”

The name is written on the card, below a pair of birds mid-flight. They’re surrounded by lines of color, as if rays of light are pouring down on them. G’raha suddenly feels very exposed.

“If you cards are insinuating I’m looking for a lover, my friend, I’m afraid they’ve erred this time,” he says mildly, praying Althyk won’t let her tell it’s a blatant lie.

Shiori laughs. “It doesn’t have to be a relationship, necessarily. The Lovers can also mean union and harmony, so perhaps you’re craving a sense of balance in your life, or merely... companionship.”

The accuracy of this is starting to make him feel more than a little uncomfortable. Shiori continues.

“Or, it can be exactly what you thought. The most obvious meaning behind the Lovers card is, indeed, love. Though it could also relate to, say, sexual desire,” she suggests, cocking her head innocently as if she has not just implied he’s overwhelmed with lust. G’raha’s breath catches in his throat, sending him into a quite graceless cough. Shiori chuckles again, but spares him further torment by moving on to the next card.

“Your third card represents your fears. For this one, you drew the Tower.”

Despite its name, the card she points to doesn’t depict an actual tower. Instead, there’s a tree being struck by lightning, shattering its trunk and setting its leaves on fire. Wonderful.

“The Tower relates to sudden change, chaos and, well,” she pauses, holding what would be eye contact were it not for his cowl. “Revelations. See the lightning? It cuts through the illusions and lies you have been telling yourself and others, making the truth come to light. As a result, all that you had built upon these lies crumbles down around you.”

You’re a liar, and your biggest fear is that your deception will be laid bare, she might as well have told him. G’raha instinctually averts her eyes, even though she couldn’t see his if she tried. “I see,” is all he says.

Shiori seems to take his lack of elaboration as a sign to continue. “Your fourth and fifth are, respectively, what you have working in your favor and against you. You drew the two of cups and the seven of swords.”

Shiori turns her attention towards the fourth card. It depicts, like its name, a pair of cups. Between them stands two roses, crossing each other in an X shape, with the red of their petals acting as the only colour in the card.

“This is another card that relates to love and connections,” she explains, seeming amused. “Based on its position, I’d say there’s an important relationship in your life, and the bond you share with this person will be key in facing the obstacles that may stand in your way.”

The way Shiori watches him feels different from mere moments ago, like there’s more she wants to say but is holding herself back from doing so. The weight of her gaze makes his pulse quicken.

“It could be just a friendship, though this card usually relates to romance. Your connection with this person is—or will be—very deep, and you’ll rely on each other a lot.”

She flashes him another smile, but something about it feels wistful. She seems—sad. Before he can question why, she continues.

“Your fifth—what’s working against you—is the seven of swords,” she says, turning her attention towards said card. Akin to its name, there are six swords displayed in a vertical row. Underneath them lies a curled-up fox, hiding the seventh sword beneath its tail.

“Somehow I feel I could guess the meaning of this one,” he says, wryly. Shiori snickers.

“It does feel a bit on the nose,” she concedes. “As you may have guessed, the seven of swords relates to deception and trickery. Whether you're the keeper of the secrets or the kept-from is for you to tell—but, either way, this deception is not working in your favor. It is likely interfering with your goals, or even the relationship that the two of cups represents.”

G’raha’s throat feels dry. He resigns himself to his suffering. “I’ll be sure to keep that in mind,” he says flatly, Shiori’s eyes glued to him making it exceedingly difficult to piece his words together. She continues.

“The last card in the spread is the outcome of your current situation. And you actually drew the first card in the major arcana for it, which is interesting. It’s a bit of an odd card to have as a conclusion.”

He turns his attention towards the sixth card, at the lowest position in the spread. It depicts a bird perched on a branch. Though the animal is drawn in black and white, the background is made of horizontal lines in yellow and orange, reminding him of the sky at dawn. “The Fool”, reads the letters at the bottom of the card. Not satisfied with calling him a lecherous liar who desperately craves companionship, the cards have now resorted to calling him an imbecile. Wonderful.

“I feel like your cards have been making quite the concentrated effort to insult me, my friend.”

Shiori giggles. He’s thankful she finds his suffering amusing, at least. “That does seem so, Exarch,” she says, leaning her head against her hand, elbow perched on the table. “But I must remind you that they were pulled by your hand. By themselves, they’re quite harmless. In the order you placed them, however…”

The implication doesn’t amuse him. He clears his throat. “Will you tell me what the last one means?” he asks, eager to change the subject.

Shiori blinks, then turns her attention back to the cards. “Despite its name, the Fool doesn’t represent literal foolishness,” she explains, finger tracing the edges of the card absentmindedly. “It relates to new beginnings, new adventures and opportunities. Freedom, following one’s heart, the excitement of embracing the unknown—those are all things represented by the Fool. It’s the start of a new journey, which is why it’s the very first card in the major arcana.”

If the previous cards felt like insults in their accuracy, this one feels like mockery.

“I guess this means that in the end, you’ll find yourself able to begin anew, Exarch,” she says, offering him a small, tired smile. “A nice thought, I suppose. Is there aught you long to do, once your work is done?”

G’raha Tia would have enough answers to this question to entertain her through the whole day. The Exarch, however—

“Rest,” he answers. A half-truth, as he’s so used to delivering. “Some rest would be nice.”

Shiori hums in quiet agreement. The cards lay between them, an ocean of distance.

“That would be nice,” she says. “That would be nice indeed.”

#you will suspend your disbelief and join me in pretending the 78-card tarot deck exists within the xiv universe #final fantasy xiv #ffxiv #wolexarch #ffxivwrite2020 #my writing #this prompt was just an excuse for me to babble about tarot

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glamourzombie · 2 years

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Today I am presenting something a little bit different from what I usually post here, but still within the realm of tarot: colouring books by Liminal 11. These are the Modern Witch Tarot colouring book, and the Cosmic Slumber colouring book. However! I need to say that these books are not only tools to make put your art toolkit to work, as they include other interactive experiences for tarot lovers. Keep reading for all the details!

I must say, the colouring experience is radically different from that of reading. The engagement is not better or worse, not even more active nor more passive… but indeed different. Aside from the actual colouring, the contents that are included are: deep insights into the cards (not found in the guidebook), activities, extra artwork, and journal prompts. Both books have 152 pages, and feature ribbon markers.

Let's go over the structure of the Modern Witch Tarot book: first of all we find textured softcovers. On its inside, they features the illustrations of the tarot (and in the first flap will also find a colour guide). Later we find: a foreword, an introduction, a how-to, and then we get into the majors. After that we have the minors (which present a different structure to the majors), and this is finished by a further reading section, and a tracker in the other flap. It is in the structure of the majors where we can find the juiciest activities and information. Each features four pages: we are presented with the line art of the card and an exploration of its symbols and depth, plus a section called what this means. In the next two pages we find space for our reflections, with guided questions, the cards connections, a kaleidoscopic, tarot mandala, and a tarot tip.

But the minors are radically different. We have a page that acts as an introduction to the minors themselves, the numbers, and the court cards; and the next page focuses on the suit themselves, offering a small reflection and tarot tip for each suit. After this, aside from some exclusive illustrations, what we find is the line art for each card of the four suits, without the addition of further reflection or symbolic analysis as it was done in the majors.

Since the structure for the Cosmic Slumber Tarot book is pretty much the same, I will go over the differences. The cover, flaps and initial sections are the same. When it comes to the majors we find the four pages we did in the previous book, but with a few differences. We start with the presentation of the card, which includes its dreamscape, its archetype, its symbols, its dream, and a tarot tip. In the next page we find the lineart for the card and its colour code. In the third page we have space for reflections with guided questions, and in the fourth page we find again the tarot mandala. This goes on for all of the majors. We get into the minors just as we did before, with a small introduction, the numbers, the courts, and a brief paragraph for each suit with a small area for a general reflection. Then, again, we are presented with the lineart of the single cards.

What they offer is pretty much the same in the two books, and the variations are due to the very own natures of the decks: the Modern Witch tends to be more practical and symbol-oriented; whereas in the Cosmic Slumber we are more concerned with dreamscapes and otherworldly signs. But in terms of the work they do. they are pretty much the same, so the choice to pick either or both is more in the realms of personal taste. These books have a twofold way of being used: as deck companions, or as a way to explore new deck art in a different way.

I think the addition of tarot colouring books to the Liminal 11 catalogue is of great significance for readers. Before, we only had decks and books; but now we also have companion journals and other fun interactive activities such as the ones I have presented today. Even those who do not want to read tarot on itself, but want some introduction in a way that it is still active (while doing a relaxing activity such as colouring and journaling), can approach these books easily.

#tarot #colouring book #coloring book #coloring #liminal 11 #modern witch #modern witch tarot #cards #meditation #creativity #insight #products

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xobsidian-witchcraftx · 4 years

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Witchy planner for 2020!!

I saw a planner on tiktok that someone was recommending, and it wasn't too expensive so I went ahead and bough it and it's so cool!!

It's called the Coloring Book of Shadows Planner for a Magical 2020, it cost £13.15 ($17.22) from Amazon

[NOT MY PHOTO] [found it on google]

It has a page for a tarot card for every month, it has information about how to use the planner within your practice, a wheel of the year, a seasons wheel, zodiac information, retrograde info, moon phases info (and moon phases calendar), stuff about chakras, divination, scrying, the basics for spell casting, a page to write you intuition for the coming year information on the different full moon, good spells to cast at certain times of the year, and of course, a month by month planner with space to write plans or thoughts for everyday.

Personally, I'm only using it to write events that are relevant to my practice, but you can use it like a normal planner too. I also noted down all the retrogrades for this year in the moon phases calendar.

I love this planner because I often forget things like retrogrades, full moons, important days to cast specific spells on, even sabbats. I don't have a very good memory for these things so having the planner has already been really useful and I've only had it for 2 days! I'm also writing all of it as neatly as I can because like a book of shadows, it'll be fun to look back at it in the future. Usually my handwriting wouldn't be at all legible. (Infact I'm writing all of it in cursive with a fountain pen bc I'm a nerd).

I may even start writing my daily tarot cards in it!

I love this planner and would definitely recommend it to any witch, but especially if you tend to lose track of time or have a bad memory. (Or if you just like to be organized)

One of the best things about this planner is that the whole thing is also a coloring book!! All of the artwork is black outlines so that you can color it however you want! I think it's super cool. It's also very relaxing to color.

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lamortexiii · 4 years

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Shades and Shadows: What Exactly is an Art Witch?

We live in an age now where you’re no longer burned at the stake for identifying as a witch or wanting to burn down your local church. If anything it’s become trendy, and all kinds of different witches are cropping up as a result. In fact, the internet is loaded with posts where you can essentially Web MD whether you have the qualifying “symptoms” of a witch, and all sorts of little BuzzFeed-esque quizzes to further help you identify just what kind of witch you might be. While this is cute and whatnot, witchcraft is ultimately a path; it’s a practice. I myself am still learning every day. If you caught my introduction post, you may be wondering what exactly an art witch is, or what art even has to do with witchcraft or the occult in general. Let me explain…

Creativity is something that requires you to tap into the unseen, and for me, this is where the correlation between art and the occult begins. Art is a means of entering another world, and it’s actually how I got into witchcraft and the occult in the first place. While my interest in such began at a much younger age, actively practicing and delving in didn’t begin until later when I started painting abstracts. I had no idea this was the path painting would lead me down. Like anything new, painting was initially an experiment. It was fun, it was easy, it was something I could do without thinking too hard, and it felt like I was finally tapping into myself. But something strange began to happen as I got more and more into art, I started to feel as though I was stepping out of my current reality and into something more. I would get so engrossed in what I was doing that when I would step away from a painting, I found myself wondering where it had come from and who had painted it. Of course I never told anybody for fear of sounding insane, but I began to wonder about this something more I was stepping into. So I started asking questions and suddenly found myself with a wealth of information that actually resonated with me.

Ever since then, I’ve made art a part of my practice. Not necessarily on a daily basis, but the parts of my practice that don’t involve art still work to strengthen myself as an artist. The two just seem to intertwine so well. Basically, an art witch is someone who not only incorporates art into their practice but finds a solid connection with their practice through their art. It’s more than just being an artist who also happens to practice witchcraft. I think anything creative that you can incorporate into your practice will strengthen both you and your practice, and I think that goes back to what I said earlier about creativity being a way to tap into the unseen. Really what makes you any kind of witch is figuring out where you feel like you step into your power. Where is it that you find that solid connection with yourself? If you want to find your connection to anyone or anything else, especially something intangible like “the other side,” you first have to find that connection with yourself, and that connection then has to be nurtured. There are many ways you can incorporate art into your practice, which I will be discussing further in upcoming posts, but one very basic application is using it to keep your mental health in check. Walking a spiritual path of any sort does not make you immune to life’s challenges, and let’s face it, 2020 has been the year for challenges. I would be lying if I were to say I haven’t been thrown off track a few times. However, looking back on those moments it’s easy to see where I just wasn’t applying any of my practice to keep myself in check.

Art is incredibly powerful in healing rituals, so naturally one of the main things I do to keep my mental health in check is to paint. I understand that not everyone is an artist or even remotely interested in such, but chances are you’re more creative than you think. When you’re engaged in something like artwork, you’re momentarily distracted from what ails you. You’re also allowing whatever state you’re in to just be, meaning you’re not berating yourself for it, which often does more damage than the initial state itself. An art ritual can be as simple as lighting a candle or burning incense and putting what you feel onto canvas. Lighting a candle or burning incense alone can sometimes be enough to help shift your state of mind. Of course no practice is meant to replace working with a professional when necessary, but it can certainly aid in the process. Art doesn’t always have to be a serious practice either though. There are times when I take what I’m doing more seriously, but it can be easy to get too caught up in that, so it’s equally important to let go and have fun.

Something new I’ve incorporated into my art practice is connecting with my paintings through card reading. As Ja Rule once said in a rap skit, “the cards never lie, it’s all in the tarot reading.” In all seriousness though, I find reading cards an excellent way to check in with my own energy, the energy around me, and as I stated, the energy of my paintings. One of the areas I began to feel stuck regarding my artwork was feeling like I never knew what to say about my pieces. It felt as though I wasn’t connecting with my own paintings on the level of the story they have to tell. Pulling cards is a creative way for me to go about that connection and allows for expansion in both my art and my practice. If you’re familiar with reading cards, then you know the kind of guidance and insight they have to offer, but it had never occurred to me to incorporate them in my art practice.

I think a lot of the time when we feel stuck, whether it’s in an area of life, an emotional state, or even a mindset, it’s because we need to look at how we could expand whatever it is. Even I go through periods where my artwork and practice feel stagnant, and it’s usually because I’m lacking growth in that area. All the extra free time we’ve been given this year due to the pandemic is also giving us the opportunity for major growth, and as many of us know, that can be uncomfortable. Maybe it’s time to try new things. I think it’s become glaringly evident (at least in the United States) that the way we’ve been going about things as a society is not working. Maybe that’s what the rising interest in witchcraft and the occult is all about. More and more people are waking up to the fact that a lot of what we’ve been fed, such as traditional religion, isn’t working anymore. Let me make it perfectly clear though, I have nothing against religion, so if it works for you that’s great.

For me witchcraft is about stepping into your own power. Does that mean you need it? No, of course not, it’s simply a tool. That’s why I can’t stress enough the importance of figuring out where you step into your power, or what it is that energizes you. It doesn’t have to be art or even witchcraft for that matter. It could literally be anything. Follow the things that spark your interest. If you are following the path of witchcraft, incorporate these things into your practice, even if they seem completely unrelated. These are all simple tools, and they will give you something to work with when you meet life’s inevitable challenges. It will also help to expand you and your practice as well.

Shades and Shadows Blog by @thecraftyvvitch

www.LaMorteXiii.com

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#shadesandshadows #lhp #occultblog #witchcraft #wicca #pagan #highermagick #black flame #coven #livedeliciously #thecraftyvvitch #psychvvitch #lamortexiii #luciferian #satanism #knowledge #freedom

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fracturedmotivationwriting · 4 years

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girls night

Datura threw her door open wide at the sound of knocking. With the new addition of Fiona to their little coven, Datura decided it was time for a girls' night. It was the perfect way for the ladies to all get to know each other a little better. Plus, Datura loved hosting people.

"Good evening, my children," Datura greeted Prometheus and Fiona dramatically. She stepped aside, sweeping her arm behind her as she beckoned them in.

"Welcome to my little slice of heaven... Or hell?" Datura paused, furrowing her eyebrows. "I suppose my home should belong to the same realm as I do."

Prom rolled her eyes at Datura's antics, quickly sitting in her usual spot of the armchair near Datura's window. The first time Datura had ever invited the girl over, she had immediately claimed the chair as her place. It was a large, burgundy wingback armchair that Datura had found at a thrift store. It seemed perfectly fitting for Prom.

Fiona stepped into the witch's apartment a little more carefully, eying the decor curiously. She had never stepped into Datura's apartment. She had only snuck glances inside as Datura rushed in and out. It was a lot like she had expected. The walls were adorned with artwork, presumably some Datura-originals and some purchased, but all dark and twisty. Plants were scattered about on every surface, some hung from the ceiling, and even what appeared to ivy crawling up the walls (although, Fiona had never seen ivy that looked quite like that). There were also candles everywhere, all aflame and somehow not catching the plants or other decor on fire. Datura had probably charmed them so as not to cause a fire. And of course, Fiona caught sight of what she supposed were witch essentials: a basket full of crystals, tarot cards, voodoo dolls (and some spare fabrics and string) off to the side, a few knives of different metals sitting atop velvet in some sort of case, what looked like little cauldrons, some chalices... Anything you could think of that a witch might use: Datura had it.

Datura watched Fiona carefully as the human stepped further into the apartment, her hand raising to touch one of the more unique plants in the room.

"I wouldn't do that," Datura piped up, a small smile pulling at her lips. There was trouble in her eyes, however, betraying her calm tone. "That there is a highly volatile plant. It was bred specifically to kill people in perhaps the most agonizing way possible."

Fiona drew her hand back, giving Datura a slightly alarmed look. The witch simply shrugged.

"My parents gave it to me when I was sixteen. I've nurtured it ever since," she explained, plopping herself down onto one of the pillows surrounding her coffee table. She motioned for Fiona to take a seat. The girl opted to perch herself on the couch across from her, sitting closer to Prom.

"What are those," Fiona asked curiously, pointing to the small wooden box Datura was closing up. Inside it was a few "joints," but Fiona hadn't caught the scent of marijuana when she came inside. Datura's smiled grew to her usual cheery one.

"Think of them as smokable potions," Datura grinned, clearly excited about the notion. "It's something I've been working on for a long time. Some of them are very successful, like this one. It's a mixture of lavender, kava kava, and crocodile heart. It's meant to calm you and reduce anxieties, but in high doses can put someone right to sleep."

Fiona looked both impressed and intrigued. She leaned closer, trying to get a better look at the joint Datura was holding, but Datura dropped it back in the box.

"Some of them, however, have not proven very successful," she sighed, closing the box and placing it on a shelf behind her. "It's not exactly easy trying to turn very liquid potions into solid joints meant to be smoked."

"Datura showed Pollux these shortly after we met her," Prom interjected, turning her head to Fiona. "At the time the only successful one she had was the calming one. All the others were failing miserably. There was even one that was meant to help you see to the other side, but all it successful did was give you a killer headache and the hiccups. But Pol was so impressed by the idea and the work she'd done, that he started helping her."

Datura laughed at the memory, nodding her head. Pollux had been a big help in refining her potion-joints. There were still many that needed fixing, many that they needed to find substitute ingredients for, but they were making progress.

Datura was about to share another funny anecdote about a failed potion-joint when there was knocking at the door. Furrowing her eyebrows, Datura got up to answer. She wasn't expecting anyone else -- this was girls only and she didn't have any real friends outside the coven.

Cautiously opening the door, she was greeted with the smug grin of one very handsome demon. Ambrose was standing there, leaning against her doorframe looking all too sexy, with a bottle of wine in his hand.

"I heard there was a slumber party, and I just had to crash it," he teased, winking down at the witch. "Please tell me you haven't started the pillow fights without me."

The demon tried to step past Datura, ready to greet the other two witches with more flirtatious words, but the small witch gripped the doorframe. Blocking his path with her arm, she glared up at him. Ambrose easily could have overpowered her, but the look in her eyes was a bit intimidating and that intrigued him.

"It's girls only, Ambrose," Datura informed him, her voice making it clear that this was not up for debate. Behind her, Datura could hear Prom chuckling at the sight of the small witch staring down the demon.

Ambrose sighed heavily. With a little extra drama than necessary, he rolled his eyes and started grumbling before changing his appearance. Maybe this was something the demon shouldn't have done out in the hallway, but Datura wasn't giving him a choice.

A second later, a very female, very attractive demon stood before Datura. She looked a lot like Ambrose: still blonde hair, perfect skin, great body, and a devilish smirk. She was also still a good foot taller than the little witch.

"Better?" Amber drawled, batting her eyelashes for extra measure. Datura's lips quirked into a small smile as she stepped aside and ushered the demon in.

"All the same to me, if I'm Ambrose or Amber, darlings," the demon continued, flashing cheeky smiles to Fiona and Prom. "I'm still just as willing to have a bit of... fun with you ladies."

Datura rolled her eyes as she took her seat again. Shaking her head, she went back to rearranging the crystals on the coffee table.

"No funny business tonight, Amber," she sassed, smirking at the demon's pout as she sat next to Fiona. Datura eyed the way Amber draped an arm carefully over the human's shoulders and the human seemed to melt into her. Apparently, those two were now a 'thing,' given the body language. Datura vaguely wondered if Fiona preferred Amber or Ambrose. And if Grisha knew what was going on.

"Well, if there's not going to be any 'funny business,' then what is the plan, Tura?" Prom asked teasingly, raising an eyebrow at the setup the witch had made on the coffee table.

In the center of the table laid an old paintbrush, the hair practically falling out and the wooden handle well-worn. Around it sat various purple and blue candles, Prom knew these were especially useful in enhancing psychic powers and communication. Small crystals laid between each candle, and some incense laid just above the circ;e Datura had created. Judging by the smell, it was likely frankincense.

Prom sat up a little straighter, looking a bit scared -- or as scared as Prom ever looked, which wasn't very. Really, her features looked as calm as ever but there was a slight difference in her eyes. Less chaos in them than usual. Datura thought that meant Prom was worried or scared, but honestly she wasn't sure.

"Are we... Is this a seance?" Prom asked carefully, meeting Datura's eye.

The other witch grinned with a nod of her head, motioning for everyone to join her on the floor.

"Indeed it is, oh fearless leader," she laughed. She may have thought that Prom looked frightened, but she wasn't about to encourage that. Besides, she was probably wrong in her judgment.

"Now that Amber is training our lovely, little Fiona to be a witch, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to hold a seance," she admitted as the duo on the couch joined her on the floor. Prom was still in her chair.

"Why now?" Fiona asked, furrowing her eyebrows. "Why start with this?"

"Well, it's relatively easy magic when you're in a group," Datura explained. "It's not the easiest thing we could teach you, but I figured it would be a little more fun than reading tea leaves or tarot cards. But I do plan on teaching those some other day. I'll leave the big stuff to Amber and Prom to teach you. I call dibs on my favorite little things."

Amber chuckled, shaking her head. Of course, the witches were going to leave all the heavy lifting to her. Although... It did make sense since she was the one giving Fiona her abilities... Actually, pretty sound logic. Amber didn't have the patience to teach the small stuff.

"Now, Prom, get down here before I have Amber physically pull you down here," Datura instructed, holding a hand out to the witch.

Prom reluctantly lowered herself to the floor, accepting Datura's hand. She held Fiona's in her other, and Amber sat across from her holding the human and the other witch's hands. Amber caught Prom's eye and noticed the same lack of usual chaos that Datura had. Amber, however, was a bit more adept at reading people. Came with the whole being a demon thing. And she could clearly see that Prom was definitely worried, perhaps even frightened, to do this. It didn't make sense to Amber. This was the witch that summoned her, a demon, on a whim, and yet she was stressing over a little seance? Something else was going on.

But it was too late to stop it, Datura was quickly explaining to Fiona the steps of a proper seance. They were apparently trying to connect with some dead painter -- Amber wasn't really listening but she caught something about how Datura had to use some charms to convince a museum to give her this paintbrush. Then Datura was muttering Latin, her eyes closed and head bowed. And suddenly the room had dropped ten degrees. The candles flickered but stayed lit. A strong wind seemed to pass through the room, though, causing the hanging plants to sway back and forth.

Prom looked like she was going to puke. Amber knew it wasn't because the magic was draining her, she was far too strong for that, but this was something emotional. She snuck a glance to her left at Fiona. The redhead looked shocked, but the awe-inspired kind of shocked. She was enjoying this. Amber turned her eyes to Datura. The witch was still muttering under her breath, but her eyes were scrunched tight. Her grip was tightening around Amber's hand. She looked almost distressed and confused. Like she was being blocked in her path towards the right spirit.

Suddenly, Datura's eyes flew open with a gasp. Amber almost made a joke about the girl being overdramatic -- who really gasps at a seance anymore? Certainly not a witch as strong as Datura. But then Amber caught sight of the spirit that had arrived.

Sometimes in seances, the spirits simply speak through the host. It takes a lot of power on both ends -- the witches and the spirits -- for a spirit to corporealize. Had Amber not been there, it would have been unlikely the three witches could have pulled a spirit into this realm. Even with witches as strong as Prom and Datura. Doing so was near necromancy. But with a demon, it was more than easy enough to pull the spirit through to the other real.

But Amber hadn't been trying to do that for the girls. At least, she wasn't consciously making an effort to do so. She supposed that maybe she hadn't needed to. Surely, that was the explanation as to why there was a flickering male spirit standing just beyond Prom's shoulder.

Never mind the fact that the spirit looked an awful lot like Prometheus.

Everybody but Prom was staring at the spirit, seemingly speechless. Of course, Datura broke the chilly silence.

"You aren't Vincent," she mused, addressing the spirit. "You... You tried to tell me something while you were traveling here. What was it?"

Datura used the term 'traveling' lightly. When she had started the seance, she'd immediately run into a roadblock of sorts. That roadblock was a spirit, this spirit. She suspected that he didn't have to travel very far. He had been here before, he just needed some assistance breaking through to this side of the realm.

"My name," the spirit spoke up, bowing his head to look down at Prom. The witch still hadn't acknowledged his presence.

"Prometheus the first. Although, when I was alive it was merely Prometheus."

All eyes turned to Prom. This was going to be an interesting explanation.

#witches and ghosts and demons oh my

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