croneisms

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Review: The Wisdom of Avalon Oracle Cards

I bought two decks the other day; this one and the Earth Magic deck, and by far this one is my favorite. The artwork is stunning and it really seems like a balanced deck and I can’t really pick out any cards that do not belong in there. 

The deck is split into four sections; The Messengers of Avalon, The Animal Guides of Avalon, The Guides of Faery, and The Sacred Markers of Avalon.

The deck obviously focuses on the myths of Avalon and more of a British feel compared to other decks which focuses on other themes. This deck automatically gets a 5 Star rating from me because it’s complete lack of cultural appropriation. I think a lot of decks and books do this nowadays especially in the pagan circle. Insert overly white author who grew up hundreds of  miles away from any Native American society, yet they will publish a deck based on Native spirituality which usually resembles nothing of the sort and is mostly bad stereotypes. This deck doesn’t have it, and then on top of it being a genuinely wonderful, playful, and beautiful deck? Yes, I am completely sold.

The publisher is Hay House, so the deck has a quality feel to it, and the box is thick and solid. The paper the deck is printed on is also a solid, quality paper. The artwork is amazing, and the colors are both softer when it needs to be and more vibrant when the point it’s making calls for it. Here’s some examples of the artwork here:

I only used filters on the pictures to bring it more up to what they look like in real life because the room I took pictures of them in is a dungeon practically, so I will put in that disclaimer. The back of the cards and the box it came in is beautiful as well:

Granted, that is the Guidebook, but the box is the picture on the book. I can solidly recommend this deck and it is fastly becoming one of my favorites. You can check out more reviews of it on youtube, which I suggest doing so before buying any deck.

Buy the card here: https://www.amazon.com/Wisdom-Avalon-Oracle-Cards-Guidebook/dp/1401910424

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I only read from the Rider Waite. The classic imagary is just very purist and takes me back to what people expect from a tarot read. I get crazy with my oracle decks, but my runes are made from oak (and blooded with my blood) and my tarot decks are old and simple, like me.

I got this deck on sale for 6 bucks free shipping from Amazon a few years back, but it’s went up since then.

https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=091386613X/ref=nosim/aeclectic/

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Witchy haul. I will review all of them this week, but I have read the books before and I needed to replace them. I don’t read tarot that often, but when I do I read the standard Rider Waite deck. I prefer the elder futhark runes and oracle cards.

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I usually don’t post photos like this, but this one I agree with. If you are Wiccan, you generally follow the rede, but as Doreen Valiente said:

“Witches do not believe that true morality consists of observing a list of thou-shalt-nots. Their morality can be summed up in one sentence, “Do what you will, so long as it harms none.” This does not mean, however, that witches are pacifists. They say that to allow wrong to flourish unchecked is not ‘harming none’. On the contrary, it is harming everybody.”

We are also not required to follow the rede at all. If you are initiated into a specific tradition, this is usually not optional, but if you simply follow the general belief system, you can throw the rede out the window.

This is why I (and a few other people who have been in the craft for a long time) think authors like Scott Cunningham do more harm than good with his “all light and love” philosophy, because we as humans can’t possibly live up to that. If someone hurts you emotionally or physically, you want to retaliate on some level. I usually find a few choice words flung their way, is a lot easier than bringing out the herbs and spellwork for a “curse”, but hey, I don’t judge.

I don’t expect everyone to agree with me, but I think to fully embrace your true self for spiritual growth, you have to admit to yourself that you are not just a one sided being; you have both sides, light and dark. Good and bad. Just like nature, we can either nurture and create, or we can destroy.  

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Am interested , where to begin for a newbie?

Beginner resources:

Witchcraft 101

Beginning witchcraft

What is paganism?

Pagan primer

Paganism is an umbrella term

Where to begin as a pagan

How to respectfully follow an eclectic path

Reading material for beginners

Wiccan reading list:

Witchcraft Today (alternate version)

The Meaning of Witchcraft

High Magic’s Aid

The Gardnerian Book of Shadows

Modern Wicca: A History from Gerald Gardner to the Present

Ghost

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Seax Wicca Psalm

Ever as I pass through the ways do

I feel the presence of the Gods. I know that in aught I do they are With me. They abide in me and I in them, forever.

No evil shall be entertained, for purity is the dweller within me and about me. For good do I strive and good do I live.

Love unto all things. So Be It, forever.

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My new Book of Shadows I made from an old composition notebook with some paint, a few scraps of random junk, and some Mod Podge. I have it half way done and filled, it is in the form of a junk journaling system. This was what it looked like before I filled it out.

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Can you point me towards what laws are restricting you from advising minors? I haven't heard of these and in curious about the details.

aikuroneko said to thepaganstudygrouppage:

May I ask, just because I see no logic in it, why you aren’t allowed to answer a question an underaged asked you? (while it’s perfectly legal that religion is taught in school)

United States federal law prohibits the teaching of religion as a practice to minors in recognized, non-private educational institutions, like public schools, outside of the private sector.  Technically, private mentors and tutors (and blogs, etc) can’t be prosecuted under that because they aren’t institutions.  However, individual states do have laws that extend the federal ones to the private sector to one degree or another defending the right of a parent to control their child’s education, for better or worse.

Basically, the PSG’s refusal to answer certain kinds of questions from minors when it knows they’re minors is to cover its ass.  (If we don’t know you’re a minor, our disclaimer means there’s nothing we can do.)  Open access to resources and questions about religion are one thing; active teaching/advice/guidance/etc for actually practicing religion is another.  There’s a difference between teaching about religion and teaching religion as something to be practiced, e.g. a class can teach the history of Christianity, but the teacher can’t tell you to find Jesus or you’re going to Hell.  However, in the same way kids are perfectly capable of finding Bibles or whatever on their own, we can’t stop minors from reading our blog or control they choose to do with the information.

Questions like, “I’m underage, how do I hide my Pagan practice from my parents?” open us up to the potential for a lot of trouble if said parents find out.  As an educator myself, I also find actively encouraging children to hide things like this ethically questionable.  This isn’t to say that everyone should be honest if honesty puts them in danger because safety trumps everything and no one should ever hesitate to report anyone for suspected abuse of any kind if it’s within their power, but religious practice is an entirely separate matter from things like gender identity.  It also sets a precedent that can lead to dangerous territory, like a child hiding abuse from bullies or predators, and no, this isn’t a slippery slope fallacy here.

Whether or not it makes sense to you, it’s there, and it’s what allows us to protest things like kids being made to recite the Pledge of Allegiance with its “under God” line in public school or take legal action against spiritual abusers that prey on vulnerable demographics (which include minors).  It does – at least in theory – protect Pagan families too.

The PSG strives to be as objective and “professional” as possible save for the odd moment of frustrated sarcasm and, while we can’t know the relevant laws of every country, we try to comply with what we do know as much as is reasonable.

First Amendment FAQ on Supreme Court decisions concerning religion

selected Supreme Court decisions concerning religion

an article that unfortunately doesn’t cite specific sources itself but sums it up

our tag

- mountain hound

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Random altars I have had.

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Is there different types of wiccan religions?

Hi there, there are quite a few different “branches” or traditions in Wicca. Here’s a list of some of them and a brief description, there are more, but the answer would be far too long to include everything, sorry.

Alexandrian Wicca - English; founder: Alex Sanders. Rituals, although basically Gardnerian,are modified with many Judeo-Christian and Ceremonial Magick elements. Covens work sky-clad(naked). The eight Sabbats are observed. Goddess and God observed.

Celtic Wicca - This is a difficult branch to define, because the term Celtic basically covers about eight countries, and often conbines the mythological traditions found in those countries. However,for the most part, Celtic Wicca in America is centered around the English and Welsh traditions, combining two systems of magick: druidism, and the more modern aspect of witchcraft as introduced by Gerald B, Gardner. However, Doreen Valiente has also had great influence in Celtic Wicca in terms of her published material on natural-magick (which is based on the cycles of earth, moon and sun).The primary mythological lore used is that of the matter of Britain and the High King, Arthur, who became the fairy people in the sixth century, and their offspring the Medieval fairy, who became variable in size both tiny and rustic as well as hideous and monstrous. Often, Ceremonial Magick is blended into Celtic Wicca. Ceremonial Magick is a form of high magick that was developed by Occultists in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Eliphas Levi, S. L. MacGregor Mathers, Dr. W. Wynn Westcott, Dion Fortune, A. E. Waite, Aleister Crowley, Paul Foster Case, and Israel Regardie are among the names connected with the many groups founded within this branch, and who founded such groups as the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Qabalists, Freemasons, Theosophists and Rosicrucians, Enochian; all generally referred to as the Western Mystery Tradition. Ritual is very formal, the magical system blends Pagan esoteric teachings with the Judeo-Christian Qabalah-Archangel systems. There is a degree of hierarchy found within their priesthoods. They work within Temples, using excessive magickal paraphernalia.

Circle Wicca - American; founders: Selena Fox and Jim Alan, 1974. Circle Sanctuary is a 200-acre Nature preserve in Wisconsin. Circle differs from many traditional Wicca in that it is more aligned with Shamanism and the American Indian ways than it is with European Wicca.

Dianic Wicca - Although this is an older tradition of Italy, in America it has become synonymous with lesbian separatists’ groups. In its original sense, it was a tradition that included both female and male practioners, and worked with the Triple Moon Goddess and the Horned God. Rituals took place outdoors, usually in oak groves.

Faery Wicca - Irish; founders: Tuatha De Danann. Although there is no exact date of origin, it is one of lasting folk traditions found in Wicca, and because of this has been one aspect of Wicca that has – up until current times – been taught orally. Because of this, self-initiation is discouraged. Janet and Stewart Farrar, located in Ireland, are modern parctioners of this form of Celtic Wicca, as am I, located in America, and R. J. Stewart, located in England. The Faery Wicca Book one is based on the metaphysical theory and magickal enchantments practiced in the tradition of Faery Wicca. Druidism is often linked to Faery Wicca. However, it is an entirely different system; originally a priesthood, that while based on the Faery-Faith, merged with the Esoteric Christian Church. Druidic practices can be successfully traced back to 1717 and John Tolan, who was then the Chief of the Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids. The Succession of the Chiefs, which bring us to current times are: William Stukely, Edward Finch Hatton, William Blake, MacGregory-Reid, Philip Ross Nichols, and Philip Carr-Gomn.

Frost’s Wicca - Welsh; founders: Gavin and Yvonne Frost, early 1970s. Known as The Church and School of Wicca, apprentices are gained through a twelve-lesson correspondence, and because of this, apprentices undergo a self-initiation. Although originally there was no mention of work with the goddess, they have modified their tradition to include Her.

Gaia Wicca- American; founder: Kisma K. Stepanich, 1985. This earth Wicca is a unique weaving of Native American Traditions and European Wiccan Traditions into a Holism, which I call the Gaia Tradition. Apprenticeships are based on the traditional year and a day, with a degree system of advancement, and it does not allow for self-initation. Covens are predominately female at this time, but open to men. Both Goddess and God energies are put into use, with the aim towards balance. The eight sabbats are celebrated, and magickal workings are at the monthly esbats.

Gardnerian Wicca - England; founder: Gerald B. Gardner, 1950s. This is considered the first modern denomination of the Craft. The Gardnerian tradition places emphasis on the Goddess over the God. It has a degree system of advancement and does not allow for self-initation. Covens work skyclad, and aim to have equal numbers of male and female initiates.

Seax-Wicca - American; founder: Raymond Buckland, 1973. This tradition has a Saxon basis, but is considered, by the founder, to be a new denomination of the Craft. Main features of the tradition are the fact that it has open rituals, it has a democratic organization that precludes ego trips and power plays by coven leaders, encourages both group and solitary practice, supports self-initiation, skyclad optional.

Hope this helps you out a bit.

-A