minspracticeshop

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I guess this blog is gonna double as my venting place for spirituality stuff hahaha because I was scrolling through twitter and once again hit with the slow realization that I’m probably . . . doing spirit work . . . .

Just awkward shit because all my spirit guides manifest as my favorite fictional characters.

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Faerytale Oracle Analysis: Instinct

(Interested in a free reading? Look here!)

It’s always frustrating how little there is by way of analysis for different oracle decks compared to how much analysis there is for tarot. It’s understandable, but frustrating, so I’m going to be posting different analyses specifically for the Faerytale Oracle by Lucy Cavendish and Jasmine Becket-Griffith

For today, I’d like to look at what cards are the best indicators that you should trust your own instincts on a matter.

These would be my top four in matters of intuition and insight! I have them arranged in two separate categories as well, because I’ve found over time that I personally have two separate sources of intuition: that which comes to me magically or through fate (the cards on the left), and that which comes to me instinctively, though my subconscious (the cards on the right.).

So let’s look at these cards through this specific lens, one by one.

The Princess & the Pea is perhaps the most psychic oriented card in this deck -- it’s entire meaning is bundled up in being aware of things other people are not, and trusting your senses. It talks about empathy specifically, and sixth sense in general, though it also touches on the need to create a safe space for oneself. This is the card of generally being psychically gifted, and of being overwhelmed in a given situation -- it might feel like you know something so intensely that you must have dreamed it up, but this card reminds you that you have been in this situation of knowing before, and that like then, you’ll be proven correct -- so you  might as well get the jump on this situation. You might not be able to explain it to others, but you’ll regret it if you don’t.

In comparison, Brother and Sister is a lot like the Strength card in Tarot -- it’s about blending animal instinct with reason, and learning how to temper intuition with wisdom. It’s still a card that’s telling you to trust your instincts -- they’re telling you something valuable -- but it’s a bit more holistic than card three. This card might refer to a situation where you have already decided to trust your instincts, as a gentle confirmation that you are right, but it might not be the best time to act on those instincts. A situation might require you to gather more evidence in your favor, or for you to wait and be prepared to seize an opportunity.

Like Princess and the Pea, Fairy Ointment is very pushy about what it has to say: You are aware of things that you are not supposed to be. They might be secrets, they might just be nighttime things that aren’t ready for daybreak. Like Brother and Sister, however, this card urges you not to act yet: doing so could have serious consequences, for you or for others. Know that you are right about the situation, but do not act on that knowledge yet -- the world isn’t ready. For the time, your actions should be based on concrete evidence, and not on subconscious interactions. Once things are ready to be seen, they will make themselves clear, and then you will be ready.

Like Brother and Sister, the White Snake is talking about understanding that is more at ease with the logical mind -- if you look for evidence, you will find it; like the Princess and the Pea, however, this card does urge action. It is not as urgent as the Princess and the Pea, maybe, but it is a matter of responsibility -- you know something others do not, so arrange your thoughts and communicate them clearly. You should be able to persuade other people to see things your way if you do -- you have a good understanding of the situation, and the time is right to share it.

In addition to these four cards, there are two more that might not speak to insight the same way these four do, but do indicate that the querent should trust their perspective on things, or rely on their viewpoint more:

These cards are less about having insight other people do not, and more about everyday instincts -- trusting one’s heart and thinking on one’s feet.

Water & Salt is a card focused on the plain truth -- and that means that in this situation, the querent is seeing things plainly, and for what they are with no need to doubt themselves. It says you know the truth in your heart, so don’t hesitate and dilly dally -- trust your heart will guide you right. This might be a situation where you need to do something people say isn’t like you, or one where you need to walk away from something people say you’ll regret losing -- but your heart knows what’s right for you in this instance, and it’s plain as day.

Puss in Boots, on the other hand, is more about convincing others of one’s personal truth -- and in this case, when it comes to what one’s take on a situation is, it’s less about confirming what one is seeing and more about making the most of those instincts. It’s a card all about acting now and thinking later -- it’s about situation where you don’t have time to think things over, and have to go with your gut because of that; like the Two of Swords in tarot, it can speak of times when it’s better to make a choice, even if it’s the wrong one. You might end up with regrets, but it’s better than staying locked down in a situation you hate, or than passing up opportunities for growth.

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Reversals As Transitionals: The Fool

(Reversals can be a little controversial among tarot readers, and I’ve found that I will read with reversals in one deck and not in another, depending on whether the artist includes reversed keywords in the accompanying booklet; among people who do read with reversals, there are those that see them as blockages, or as opposite to the cards upright meaning, or always negative (so that the Devil reversed becomes terrible indeed) and the like; I have found at least one book devoted entirely to the subject, much like with court cards.

Recently, I have come across the idea of reversals as an in between state, which I think suits the way I see the world and which I shall explore here.)

The Fool upright refers to the very beginning of something -- when one doesn’t even know enough to know what they don’t know, and when they are setting out on little more than an idea; it is immediately followed by the Magician, which is a card of initiation and power -- up until that moment, the seeker is only a beginner and an amateur, while the Magician can be seen as a professional -- albeit not necessarily a professional who knows all that they claim to know, as the Magician is associated with deception and showmanship just as much with actual skill.

That is quite a leap in talent! Therefore, the Fool in reversed might been seen as the point when the raw beginner realizes their lack of talent -- and realizes the amount of skill and foresight that is necessary to make it on the path they’ve chosen.

It is the point when an artist first compares their art to what they’ve previously only been able to admire; it is the point when a startup company sits down to work out exactly how much money they will need to begin, let alone break even. It’s the point when all of your wildest dreams become a plan, and in order to proceed with that plan, you have to take a hard look at what it is you lack, and how to go about fixing that.

Because of this, the Fool in reverse can also lead to or indicate indecision and self-doubt, or looking back at the way you used to be and cringing at how easy you thought everything would be; in very bad cases, the Fool reversed can lead to self-censorship and burying one’s dreams or ambitions out of fear of making a fool of oneself. It is easier, sometimes, to pretend one wants nothing and cares about nothing than it is to put oneself out in the world when one might not live up to the world’s expectations -- or, especially, to one’s own expectations.

Ideally, the energy of the Fool reversed should be used to push oneself forward -- look at the situation practically and assess what needs to be improved, and then come up with a reasonable plan to accomplish that. The Fool reversed is less about leaping forward without restraint and more about taking measurable steps. SMART style goals and productivity charts are absolutely in the realm of the Fool reversed. Keep track of yourself and how to move forward; the situation before you requires dedication and humility. Build good habits and be patient with yourself -- you will get where you need to go, as long as you don’t give up, or let your wild dreams get ahead of you.

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Free Oracle & Tarot Readings

I would like to practice with my readings, so I am offering free readings for the time being!

A list of decks I use can be found here; guidelines can be found here, and the spreads I am willing to use can be found here.

Please note that any counsel received in these readings does not outweigh your personal experiences and perspective. If I am wrong about something, I am wrong (though feedback in that case is very much appreciated); this is just to shed light on things and get a new perspective on what ails you.

If you are interested, please send an ask with your question, the reading spread you would like, and the deck you would like me to use. Please note: anonymous asks will be answered publicly out of necessity, and requests for spreads larger will include a public photograph of the reading itself as well as a private interpretation; the question in those cases will also be kept private.

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Readings Catalogue

A lot of these I get from tarotforum.net’s tarot spread index, located here. Some of them I get from my decks; some of them I get from a variety of places. At least one of these is from a book I have never been able to find again that I found when I was in fifth grade and clung to like my lifeblood. I do not promise to be good about credit for these, and that is on me.

Please keep in mind that all readings involving either anonymous seekers or else multiple cards will be photographed and posted to this blog; for anonymous seekers, the whole reading and question will be public; for public seekers who prefer privacy, the interpretation and question will be kept private, but cards drawn will still be posted publicly.

The Celtic Cross is not listed, because I hate working with it and so I will not be doing it. Please do not ask for spreads outside of this listing.

[General] One Card Draw: Traditionally, good for daily draws (I do not guarantee you will get the daily draw on the day you request it, but that is all part of the fun, and I can do these), yes or no questions, or very simple open ended questions.

[General] Three Card Draw: A four card spread good for a wide variety of questions; some people like to designate meanings for each card (past/present/future) but I would prefer not to do this here, so requests like that will be ignored. This is a spread for general, open ended questions.

[General] Known & Unknown: A good, versatile spread for gaining perspective on what you know and don’t know and what the people around you know and don’t know.

[General] The Four Seasons: A four card spread to look at what is coming into and going out of your life regarding the topic at hand.

[Relationship] Us/Them: A five card spread that allows insight into your relationship with someone as well as how the environments surrounding the two of you influence things. Very good if you find yourself reenacting Romeo and Juliet, or if you’ve got a lot of social anxiety.

[Relationship] Communication Troubles: A nine card spread that looks at how you are coming across to the other person, and how you may be misinterpreting them.

[Relationship] Happily Ever After: A nine card spread that is good for seeing how a relationship will develop and what struggles you are facing at once.

[Relationship] Love Triangle Spread: this is a twenty seven card, so it is unlikely I will do them frequently, even if I get frequent requests for them, but it is a very good reading and good for looking at your relationships with a couple of people at a time, as well as how those people may relate to each other.

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Deck Listing

The decks I use on this blog are as follows.

Oracle Decks

Faery Tale Oracle by Lucy Cavendish -- I am still getting used to this deck, but recommend it for seekers who would like to distance themselves from the problem at hand, in order to approach it from a wider perspective, as well as for seekers who enjoy folklore and the symbolism that builds up in stories. I will only do readings of up to nine cards with this deck, due to it being a 44 card deck.

Foxfire: the Kitsune Oracle by Lucy Cavendish -- This I recommend for seekers who would like to ground themselves regarding the matter at hand; this deck leans heavily on mindfulness and living in the present moment, and is very uplifting without shying away from the truth of the matter. Very good for a concern that is pulling you down. I will only do readings of up to nine cards with this deck, due to it being a 44 card deck.

Tarot Decks

Deviant Moon Tarot by Patrick Valenza -- A good deck for every day concerns as well as for heavier concerns -- the focus will often be drawn back to what action you can take in the now and what parts of yourself you may be neglecting. A good deck to rely on for introspection and personal empowerment. Some people have described this deck as very hard hitting, but I have never had that experience -- it plays very nicely as long as you understand that you are the center of your story.

Dragon Tarot by Peter Pracownik -- This deck can be very minimalist; it is good for seekers who would like more traditional interpretations that are not swayed by the artist’s initial interpretation.

Shadowscape Tarot by Stephanie Law -- This is a good deck for those who like lots of symbolism; it has a very soft, meditative approach as well.

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Rules & Guidelines

First of all, I’m offering free readings for the time being using various decks. This benefits me, as it gives me the chance to practice readings where I don’t have to wrestle my inner biases into submission, and gives me a chance to become more comfortable with my various decks.

However -- free is a very dangerous word in our modern world; it’s always been a bit dangerous when dealing with magic, of course, but it has some more practical concerns.

Namely, I have no desire to undermine the hard work of readers who charge for their services -- I want to say up front, I’m not sure how much exactly my services are worth, but five dollars for a one card reading online was standard about five years ago; according to thumbtack, the average tarot reading currently runs for $40 -- $60 dollars.

That is, I believe, a fair price, and I do not wish to imply it is otherwise when I offer readings for free. I am doing this because I do not like to work on commission, and I will benefit from reading in situations where I am more readily able to detach myself.

Second, I do retain the right to not do a reading at any point, for pretty much any reason, and I may very well take a rather laid back approach to the whole matter. If I am not going to do a reading, I will inform you. If I reach a point of burn out, I will announce such -- but beyond that, these are free readings for a reason. I am growing as a person, and one of the places I am growing and practicing is my commitment levels to other people, as well as my ability to set boundaries. If I do decline to take your requested reading, know that it’s nothing against you personally -- we’re all at different stages of our own personal journeys, and sometimes those stages interact in ways we don’t anticipate, or else do not interact in ways we would like them to.

Third, regarding privacy -- anonymous asks will not have privacy due to technical considerations, though they are still allowed, and public asks can request privacy or publicity. It is likely readings longer than one card will be photographed and posted to this blog, then the interpretations sent privately to the requester (excepting, of course, people who would like the response public or who are anonymous); the question in this case would also be kept private. I think that is the default way I will handle things.

Fourth, if I need to add more rules as I go I will, and I will likely make a post announcing such.