reflective-mage

[reflective-mage]

10-Card Tarot Spread for Beginners

A little bit of background before I show you to this spread: yes, I know it's a common spread, but I want to make my page more about the simple basics. From this I hope you gather inspiration and personalize this to you or whoever you're doing the spread for. This is the first spread I learned, and if your cards like it, a very accurate one at that. I'm actually going to be doing a hypothetical reading throughout this post, then a recap at the end of what the reading may look like step-by-step. That being said, here is the breakdown:

Overall, this spread is one to help you (or whoever the reading is on) familiarize yourself (themselves) with a question they have in mind, or just a reality check. The question shouldn't be yes or no (there are much better ways to go about those types of questions) but more open to interpretation.

Shuffling

As for almost all tarot readings, you will want whoever you're doing the reading for to shuffle the deck while thinking about their question that they're asking the cards.

The Spread

In this spread, there are 10 cards with independent meanings that are subject to change based on the context of the other cards. Keep in mind that if a card is drawn upside down, then the meaning of the cars itself is "reversed" (but not necessarily the exact opposite of its divinatory meaning). Here are the individual meanings first:

You as you are now. This card represents your current standing on the issue. For example, if you are drawn the Four of Pentacles, then it may mean that right now you have financial or material security, and even gain, maybe from hard work (a raise at your job), or maybe from inheritance, but there isn't any emotional or spiritual gain and can also show the effects from greed or selfishness.

What is blocking you. This card suggests some sort of obstacle preventing the best or most desired outcome from your situation. This could be figurative, emotional, or literal. For example, if the Death card is drawn here, do not panic, it may just say that there is a sudden, drastic change which you may not be taking well, or perhaps are in denial of. Overcoming this card is likely to get you a step closer to your end goal.

Distant Past. This is often a history or brief explanation of what happened to lead up to this moment. It may bring insight to a specific trait of your character, or provide some sort of explanation of why you're asking the cards the question you are. For example, if you're a rather closed off person, then Two of Swords in this placement would imply an emotional barrier you've put up to protect you from danger as you see it, and that if your heart once protected by these swords becomes exposed, the emotional damage from it could cause confusion, thus these barriers would need to be taken down slowly over time.

Recent Past. This shows recent factors contributing to your question. The term "recent" is completely objective, and this could have happened in the last hour or last decade, or anywhere in between, just recent enough to still be in the process of shaping you as a person. For example, the Ace of Cups in this position predicts the start of a relationship with the potential of true love and happiness, meaning you may have just met someone or gotten close to someone you may want to stick around.

Near Future. This card is practically the same as recent past, only in the future. The same objectivity applies that this card's prediction may happen as soon or distant as it may. For example, the Ten of Cups drawn here may mean that soon your journey may be finished, and you can breathe in peaceful air and feel the lasting calm of overcoming obstacles and earning your relaxation.

Distant Future. This placement in the spread often describes what sort of life you'll have once the near future has passed. This is, again, a suggestion on what it may look like, as Knight of Pentacles filling this role may look like you'll have a large project or assignment to do, requiring much of your time and energy later on in life.

Your inner self. The card representing your inner self shows who you are inside at your roots, despite how you present yourself or how the world sees you. For example, having the Nine of Wands as your 7th card shows that at your core, you may find obstacles and difficulties, but through your inner strength, stamina, and your will to continue on you overcome nearly any obstacle. It represents a strength we didn't know we have until it shows itself.

Environmental Factors. This card illustrates what happens in the world around you as you move toward your goal, as well as how it effects you. For example, drawing Justice here would show that you've noticed (subconsciously or consciencly) a natural law of cause and effect, and the Karma and Dharma after that. It's a reminder to answer for what you may have done wrong in the past, and for you to monitor your actions because they not only effect your future by direct causation, but the consequences of them (positive or negative) will always return to you.

Hopes, Dreams, and Fears. Here, the cards reveal or reenforce what you most desire and dread. For example, Page of Cups may find himself home here and show how youthful you can feel, as well as nearly impulsive from the wonder and excitement. He appears to remind you that in a world growing cold, believing in your dreams can bring warmth back, and add imagination back to the world. He could mean that you might be afraid to grow up and have to lock away your youth, but reminds you that you don't have to.

Potential Outcome. The potential outcome isn't a definitive yes or no, it just shows you a perspective of what the answer to your question could be. For example, the Four of Wands here would mean that you can look back on everything you've done and be proud of it, but it also says to never stop learning, growing, and living. This shows the easy flow of a balanced life, and appears when you have achieved a goal you've set for yourself.

Example Reading

Earlier in the post, I gave examples of what a card could mean in the context of its placement in the layout, and here is a potential conclusion based on that:

"It looks like from the environment you lived in, you saw people suffer from the consequences of their actions, and you've distances yourself a bit, and built up a barrier to protect yourself. Over time, you've met many people, but recently found one that you feel truly happy to be around, and the feelings are mutual. You enjoy that feeling of happiness, it reminds you of when you were young and full of wonder, but now that you've found yourself in a career or something that has brought you stability, but it was at the expense of your imagination and sense of wonder. But you'll overcome that, you always manage to overcome hardships. Your inner strength is reliable, and hasn't failed you yet. In this world, you need to make sure you're taking responsibility for your actions, because soon you'll finally be able to relax and breathe in a breath of fresh air, knowing you finished today's goal. You should be proud of your work today, yesterday, and tomorrow too, and remember to never stop growing, learning, and ultimately living, because you'll always have something new to work on and learn from, and you will always have that spark of imagination in you!"

In case you were wondering, in my tarot deck, The Medieval Scapini Tarot by Luigi Scapini, has "Coins" instead of "Pentacles" as a suit. I'm not sure why, it just does.

[reflective-mage]

The Ultimate Guide to Potion Bases

We all spend so much time thinking about the correspondences of the actual ingredients that go into our potions that we often forget to think about what the potion base represents! (At least I do.) It would be nice to have a list of all the various liquids that can be used in place of water. Naturally, I can’t think of everything but I think this is a pretty good starting point! What else can be used? Eventually, at some point down the road, I will compile all these thoughts into a book on potion making and want to include this! Keep in mind that these are my own correspondences. Let me know if you disagree or if you’d change anything up! Let’s see how big we can make this list. Also, I should probably note that not all of these liquids can be ingested. (Obviously.)

The List

Vinegar: Used for cleansing and purification potions.  Lemon Juice: Used in hexing, cursing, or revenge potions.  Cranberry Juice: Used in love potions. Apple Juice: Used in healing, knowledge, and youth potions.  Ammonia: Used in banishing, cursing, purification, and protection  Red Wine: Love potions and potions dealing with death and the afterlife.  White Wine: Used in platonic love potions as well as success brews.  Rum: Used in potions involving spirit work.  Whisky: Another good base for potion work.  Vodka: A good base for work involving rapid banishing.  Laundry detergent: Good for cleansing potions.  Oils: Used to speed up a process.  Molasses: Used in potions intended to slow a situation down.  Rubbing Alcohol: Another good base for cleansing and purification. Hydrogen Peroxide: Used in healing potions.  Milk: Used in potions to promote sleep and peace.  Sour Milk: Used to cause nightmares or in potions designed to torment. Orange Juice: For potions of solar importance, healing, success.  Soda Water: Used in potions designed to encourage laughter and giddiness.  Ginger Ale: Used in health or healing potions.  Olive Juice: Used in peace potions.  Honey: Used in potions to sweeten up another’s disposition. Syrup: Used in abundance and prosperity potions.  Beer: Used in potions intended to induce slumber.  Clam Juice: Used in aphrodisiacs.  Cough Syrup: Used in healing potions and to make someone ‘cough it up.’ Soy Sauce: Used in protection potions. (Thanks Lexa Rosean for this one!) Pineapple Juice: Used in abundance potions and fidelity potions.  Coconut Milk: Used in spiritual and magical cleansing potions.  Ice: Solid first, then melted for transformation potions. Coffee: Really, a potion in and of itself in my book. Vanilla Extract: In small amounts, used in passion potions. Witch Hazel: Used in communication and cleansing potions.

What else can you all think of?