gemblackthorn

[gemblackthorn]

Full explanation on the blog.

[gemblackthorn]

The astral realm is like the internet: vast and limitless, yet you keep ending up in the same familiar corner. Sometimes you just stand there, astral hands on astral hips and observe a job well done, then proceed to walk in a circle like a character in the Sims.

Here are some ideas to keep in the back of your astral head for the next time you successfully step out of your skin.

Exploring the Astral Plane: The astral plane is said to be a dimension beyond the physical world, filled with vibrant colors, unique landscapes, and otherworldly beings. Many travelers enjoy simply exploring this realm by opening a door.

Meeting Spirit Guides or Higher Beings: You can use this as an opportunity to meet your spirit guide. Put a face to the wisdom… or something like that. You can see how they present themselves and ask them questions: What’s their name? How are you related? What are you meant to be doing? What are the lottery numbers (hey, it’s worth a shot)?

Visiting Loved Ones: Astral travelers sometimes visit friends or family members, either to check on them or to communicate messages. This can be especially meaningful if the person is far away or has passed on. In my opinion, it might be easier to visit living relatives. Those who have passed on may decline to meet if it’s too soon since their passing or if healing needs to be done on your part before coming face to face with them. But your favorite cousin who’s up until 3:00 AM playing video games? Spooking them might be fun.

Time Travel: Some claim to be able to visit past or future events while in the astral realm. This can be a way to gain insight into historical events or potential future outcomes. Or maybe you want to revisit a moment in your personal timeline for additional context. Either way, doesn’t hurt to try.

Flying and Floating: One of the most exhilarating aspects of astral projection is the ability to fly or float freely. Many travelers enjoy soaring through the skies, exploring the Earth from above, or even venturing into space. Hey, if Fast & Furious can put cars in space…

Visiting Other Planets or Dimensions: Some people believe that the astral realm is a gateway to other planets, galaxies, or even alternate dimensions. Travelers explore these distant places and encounter extraterrestrial or interdimensional beings.

Healing and Energy Work: The astral plane is often associated with heightened energy and spiritual power. Some use this time to perform energy healing on themselves or others, or to recharge their own spiritual energy.

Learning and Gaining Wisdom: The astral realm is believed to be a place of higher knowledge. Many travelers seek out libraries, temples, or wise beings to learn about the universe, spirituality, or their own life purpose.

Creative Inspiration: Artists, writers, and musicians sometimes use astral projection to tap into their creativity. The vivid imagery and experiences in the astral realm can inspire new ideas and projects.

Connecting with Nature Spirits: Some travelers enjoy interacting with nature spirits, such as fairies, elementals, or animal guides, who are said to inhabit the astral plane.

Exploring Past Lives: Astral projection can be a tool for exploring past lives or understanding karmic patterns. Some travelers visit past-life scenes to gain insight into their current life. Just remember to not get stuck in the past. You’re in this life for a reason.

Testing the Boundaries of Reality: Some astral travelers enjoy experimenting with the nature of the astral realm, such as manifesting objects, changing their form, or testing the limits of their abilities. Become a scientist of the unconscious and perform your own experiments.

Visiting Sacred Sites: Many travelers visit sacred or energetically powerful places on Earth, such as ancient temples, pyramids, or natural landmarks, to connect with their energy. If you practice Remote Viewing, it can be especially interesting to compare these astral experiences with your waking ones.

Meeting Other Astral Travelers: This may be controversial, but it’s possible to encounter other people who are also astral projecting. I say it’s controversial, because some people feel that they can be pushed out the projection for interacting with beings inside the astral, and it can be tricky to differentiate astral entities from other fellow visitors.

Overcoming Fears: The astral realm can be a safe space to confront and overcome fears, such as fear of heights, darkness, or the unknown. Are you curious about skydiving but wouldn’t dare jump off a plane? Try it in the astral plane.

These are just some ideas, but let me know if you have others! I’m always down for an subconscious adventure (the conscious ones are getting too expensive these days).

[gemblackthorn]

Raduga presents lucid dreaming and out-of-body experiences (OOBEs) as expressions of the same state of consciousness—one that anyone can access with the right method, intention, and practice.

[gemblackthorn]

"The only way out is through" or something like that. June 2025 is going to continue to throw us for a loop. This time, "in the home front." On a personal level, this could mean spending more time with family and addressing any concerns there. On a national/global level..use your imagination.

Full explanation + predictions here.

[gemblackthorn]

April 2025 Tarot Spread: The Arrow

The tricky thing about writing predictions based on tarot and astrology is that some of these take months and years to unfold. Especially predictions based on movements by slow moving planets like Neptune, which stays in the same sign for approximately 14 years.

Neptune recently changed signs as well, which means that the effects we’re witnessing now are only a preview for next decade and a half. Cheery stuff, I know.

Regardless, April is still a month of change. It’s marked by the shift from Aries season to Taurus season. The weather warms and flowers bloom. There might be a hint of hope for a week or two as two planetary retrogrades end and clear the way for progress. But remember, progress for one group of people can feel like regression for another.

Key dates to watch

April 7: Mercury retrograde ends in Pisces, then moves into Aries on the 16th.

April 12: Venus goes direct in Pisces. This is also the full moon in Libra. (I suspect big news on this day… or rather, big news if they allow the press to know. If you don’t see any major news, save the date and check back in a couple of month to see if that date becomes significant later.)

April 18: Mars enters bold Leo.

April 30: Venus moves into decisive Aries.

Read the full explanation.

[gemblackthorn]

Sylvia Abraham’s 17-Card Tarot Spread is an expanded version of the classic Celtic Cross spread,  offering more detailed insights, especially on future plans and goals. 

The original Celtic Cross tarot spread was a 10-card spread popularized by Arthur Edward Waite in 1910, but was possibly influenced by occultist Florence Farr. 

Read the blog post

[gemblackthorn]

When the client has past, but manages to turn their life around.

[gemblackthorn]

This 17-Card Tarot Spread is essentially an expansion of the Celtic Cross Tarot Spread.

1. Querent's concern 2. The conflict 3. Happiness or sadness - In the Celtic Cross, this position represents what is "above" the client, most of the time alluding to a spiritual component that is pushing the client along. This spread alters that to represent the overarching emotion that is driving the client. 4. Conditions of health or security - In the Celtic Cross, this position represents the subconscious. If we feel safe or unsafe, we tend to store those emotions in our subconscious, so this change is not too far off. This version expands the sense of security to the physical realm by adding "health." 5. Past actions affecting the first card - This will represent the client's actions that caused the client to have their main question or concern. This is great for accountability purposes, but be careful not to slip into victim-blaming or finger-wagging. 6. Immediate future - This card is meant to be a prediction. The immediate future can be up to 3–6 months. 7. Character and ego traits of Querent - Qualities of the client that are relevant to the overall question and conflict. 8. Outside influences 9. Hopes and fears relating to the tenth card (outcome). 10. Outcome - This is the overall outcome. Depending on the question, it may confirm Card 6 (immediate future), but not always. The overall outcome may take months or years and may unravel in very different circumstances than the near future. 11. Past actions of family and friends - We're affected by our community. This card represents how they affected the current situation. 12. Illusions regarding the main question or secret enemies 13. Future plans - It's important to remember that future plans are not the same as future outcomes. Cards 6, 10, and 13 may all rhyme if you're already on the right path, but that won't always be the case. 14. Past emotional concerns - This card represents past emotions that contributed to the current situation. 15. 16. 17. Goals for the future

More on the blog.

[gemblackthorn]

Auguries of Innocence

by William Blake

To see a world in a grain of sand

And a heaven in a wild flower,

Hold infinity in the palm of your hand

And eternity in an hour.

A robin redbreast in a cage

Puts all Heaven in a rage.

A dove house fill'd with doves and pigeons

Shudders Hell thro' all its regions.

A dog starv'd at his master's gate

Predicts the ruin of the state.

A horse misus'd upon the road

Calls to Heaven for human blood.

Each outcry of the hunted hare

A fibre from the brain does tear.

A skylark wounded in the wing,

A Cherubim does cease to sing.

The game cock clipp'd and arm'd for fight

Does the rising Sun affright.

Every wolf's and lion's howl

Raises from Hell a human soul.

...

He who respects the infant's faith

Triumphs over Hell and Death.

The child's toys and the old man's reasons

Are the fruits of the two seasons.

The questioner, who sits so sly,

Shall never know how to reply.

He who replies to words of doubt

Doth put the light of Knowledge out.

The strongest poison ever known

Came from Caesar's laurel crown,

Nought can deform the human race

Like to the armour's iron brace.

When gold and gems adorn the plow

To peaceful arts shall Envy bow.

A riddle or the cricket's cry

Is to doubt a fit reply.

The emmet's inch and eagle's mile

Make lame Philosophy to smile.

He who doubts from what he sees

Will ne'er believe, do what you please.

If the Sun and Moon should doubt,

They'd immediately go out.

To be in a passion you good may do,

But no good if a passion is in you.

The whore and gambler, by the state

Licens'd, build that nation's fate.

The harlot's cry from street to street,

Shall weave Old England's winding sheet.

The winner's shout, the loser's curse,

Dance before dead England's hearse.

Every night and every morn

Some to misery are born.

Every morn and every night

Some are born to sweet delight.

Some are born to sweet delight,

Some are born to endless night.

We are led to believe a lie

When we see not thro' the eye

Which was born in a night to perish in a night,

When the Soul slept in beams of light.

God appears and God is light

To those poor souls who dwell in night,

But does a human form display

To those who dwell in realms of day.

[gemblackthorn]

Crystals are great, but sometimes you need a more mundane alternative that doesn't stand out. River rocks are great for bringing stability, strength, and resilience to your working or yourself. Hagstones are also found by rivers and good for shielding from negativity.

Some ideas:

Carry One with You: Keep a small river rock in your pocket or purse to help you stay grounded and protected throughout the day.

Place Them at Entryways: Put a row of river rocks near your front door or windows to create a protective barrier that filters out negative energy.

Meditate with Them: Hold a river rock in your hand during meditation to help you feel calm and secure.

[gemblackthorn]

"you are the country i bloody the hills for

 ○

you love me despite the history of my hands, their mangled confession

 ○

God bless you who screens my nudes, drafts my break-up text

 ○

you are the drug that knocks the birds from my heart

 ○

o the horrid friends who were just ships harboring me to you

 ○

& how many times have you love me without my asking?

how often have i loved a thing because you loved it?

including me"

Excerpt from “acknowledgements” as published in HOMIE by Danez Smith.

[gemblackthorn]

March 2025 Tarot Spread

It’s almost the New Year! The astrological new year, that is. The Spring Equinox will mark the new year when the sun enters Aries. 

And we are barreling into the future. Marked by volatile and chaotic energies, this period will demand adaptability and awareness, as pivotal moments may arise and pass in the blink of an eye.

The tarot spread for March is shaped like a wave to reflect the surprising undercurrent of watery energies this month, even as we enter the fiery season of Aries. Waves embody unpredictability. One moment, they brush against your calves, and the next, a surge pulls you under. Waves bring lost or forgotten things to shore when you least expect them, and when their force is strong enough, they can reshape entire landscapes. This can be overwhelming, and may even feel like you’re fighting nature itself. But awareness and preparation can help you navigate it. 

Full explanation + predictions on the blog.

[gemblackthorn]

Book Review: Herbal Medicine for Modern Life

Thanks for the gifted book, @penguinrandomhouse.

I had a chance to review Herbal Medicine for Modern Life: Traditional Folk Remedies for Everyday Health and Well-Being by Ruth A. Blanding. 

Blanding is a modern herbalist, wellness practitioner, and birth worker deeply connected to her multicultural African and Native American ancestry. She blends ancestral “grandmother wisdom” and nature-based practices with evidence-based, whole-being care, seeing herself as an intuitive conduit for the knowledge of the Universe, Elders, and Ancestors. 

With 16 years of practice and a lineage of healers, shamans, and medicine people, Blanding combines ancient traditions with her expertise in herbal healing, hands-on care, and meditative practices. She believes everyone can heal and grow, aiming to support, educate, and guide others toward their highest purpose. 

Herbal Medicine for Modern Life is a reference book divided into three parts:

Part I: Understanding Herbal Remedies

Part II: Medicinal Plants for Modern Life

Part III: Herbal Folk Remedies for Modern Ailments

Part I — Understanding Herbal Remedies

Part I is an excellent introduction for those new to herbal medicine. As someone who has always found the practice overwhelming (with questions like How many herbs exist? What distinguishes herbalism from herbal medicine? What exactly is a tincture? How long do herbs stay effective in storage?), this section provides a solid foundation. While the book isn’t a replacement for a formal course, it offers enough context to help you create basic remedies.

Though not strictly a “witchy” book, Blanding acknowledges folk beliefs and emphasizes respect for plants sacred to specific cultures. She advises against using certain plants if you are not part of those cultures, highlighting examples like cedar, sage, sweetgrass, and tobacco (sacred to Indigenous Americans); boneset, cotton root, and mullein (sacred to the African Diaspora); and ashoka, bilva, peepal, sandalwood, and tulsi (sacred to Ayurvedic practices).

Blanding covers essential topics, such as sourcing herbs responsibly, understanding terms like fair trade, sustainable, tinctures, and extracts, proper storage, connecting with local herbal communities, and general best practices. She also discusses key ingredients, their benefits and drawbacks, dosages, protocols, and substitutions. 

She also explains her selection of ailments, focusing on remedies for the stressors of modern life. Given the turbulent start to 2025, this book feels particularly timely and relevant.

Part II — Medicinal Plants for Modern Life

Part II features profiles of over 30 plants and herbal allies designed to support health and grounding. These herbs are also used in the recipes found in Part III of the book. 

Many of them are common kitchen staples, such as black pepper, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, clove, chamomile, ginger, lavender, parsley, and turmeric. 

Others, like arnica, echinacea, nettle, pine, raspberry leaf, and skullcap, may be less familiar to casual cooks or tea drinkers but are still relatively easy to find. 

The accessibility of these herbs is a major advantage for me. Knowing that an ingredient is already in my kitchen makes me much more likely to try making a remedy.

Part III — Herbal Folk Remedies for Modern Ailments

When selecting remedies for this book, Blanding had a simple criteria: 

Remedies needed to address conditions associated with modern living

Remedies needed to be easy enough for anyone to craft them with minimal time and effort

Recipes needed to be accessible and culturally respectful

Remedies needed to inspire curiosity and exploration of folk remedies from their ancestry

I’d say that she was successful. 

Read the rest of the review on my blog.

[gemblackthorn]

The Death Card is a Funeral. Stop sugarcoating it.

Between those who have lost their homes to hurricanes and fires and those who feel forced to hastily discard their belongings as they flee their country in fear of persecution for their ethnic background, there is an undeniable sense of loss, transformation, and transition in the air.

This is the Death card (tarot) in action. It’s not always literal death, but it’s the end of something. Well-meaning tarot readers often downplay the meaning of this card by saying that every ending is just a new beginning, completely overlooking how these endings are difficult to celebrate because of the immense loss they carry.

The Death card is minimized to parallel Hollywood’s contemplative aftermath shot. You know the one. It’s the scene at the end of the movie where the main character breathes out and looks around at their new surroundings to symbolize that they’re getting a fresh start. These visual cues convey relief and peace with a hint of bittersweet acceptance.

This Hollywood-style framing conditions us to expect that every ending comes with a peaceful resolution, but that’s not rooted in reality.

Not all endings are liberating, and not all new beginnings are welcome.

Continue reading.

[gemblackthorn]

Cat whiskers are more than just cute facial features. They hold practical and magical significance in witchcraft. These whiskers symbolize heightened awareness, boundaries, and protection, making them useful tools in protection magic.

Please note: Never pull a whisker off a cat. They will shed them naturally from time to time. If you are a cat owner or know a cat owner, be on the lookout for a whisker.

Read the full explanation: https://www.gem-blackthorn.com/post/using-cat-whiskers-for-protection-magic

[gemblackthorn]

The ability to practice divination discreetly is a survival skill, not just for personal safety, but for the preservation of culture.

Learning how to read with playing cards and comparing their meanings to tarot is a great way preserve wisdom in a way that cannot be easily censored or destroyed.

Read the full explanation: https://www.gem-blackthorn.com/post/divination-with-regular-playing-cards

[gemblackthorn]

More information on my blog.

Please use your common sense. I know I'm describing witchy things here, but this is not Harry Potter. It does not work like an invisibility cloak. Unless you can create an outfit out of mirrors, you will not be invisible. What I'm going to describe is meant to supplement all your current, and common sense, safety precautions.

The Marilyn Monroe anecdote teaches us that we can increase and decrease our energy output in the world. You can think of it as your aura or physical field of influence. Amy Greene described it as a light switch, but I want you to think of it as a light dimmer that you can increase and decrease incrementally at will.