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[the-hermit-path]

Ways To Use Sigils Masterpost

Incorporating the elements

Air

Draw the sigil in the air using incense

Draw the sigil on your body and go for a walk

Energetically trace sigils in the air and let the wind carry and charge them

Draw the sigil on paper, rip it up, and let the wind blow it away

Draw the sigil onto a flag, let it blow in the wind

Trace the sigil in the air with your hand, push it away

Draw or attach the sigil to a windchime

Leave the sigil outside during a windstorm

Water

Draw the sigil on your body and take a shower

Draw the sigil on a piece of paper, submerge the paper in water, let the water evaporate

Carve the sigil into a bar of soap and wash yourself with it

When taking a bath, draw the sigil in the bottom of the tub with soap/bath salts/baking soda

Draw the sigil on a stone with water and wait for it to evaporate

Draw the sigil on you hand, then wash it away

Breathe on your window so that it fogs up, then draw the sigil on it

Draw the sigil on any surface using water

Sew the sigil into your clothes, wash them

Draw the sigil on paper and put it under running water

Draw the sigil on a beach, let the ocean wash it away

Draw the sigil on a rock and throw it in a river/ocean

Flush the sigil down the toilet (make sure it’s on biodegradable paper)

Draw the sigil on paper and place in in a jar, add salt and water, then shake it up (Optional: add a drop or two of essential oil matching intent)

Leave the sigil outside during a rainstorm

Put the sigil in a pot of boiling water

Draw the sigil onto a coin and toss it into a fountain

Earth

Draw the sigil on a piece of paper and surround it with crystals that match the intent

Draw the sigil on a piece of paper and bury it in the ground

Place the sigil with a plant

Draw the sigil on the ground

Draw the sigil on a rock and leave it somewhere that makes you happy

Draw the sigil on paper and put it in a jar of salt

Put a crystal that matches the intent on top of the sigil 

Trace the sigil with a crystal matching the intent

Tape the sigil onto a window during a full moon

Trace the sigil in dust/dirt, then blow it away

Use herbs matching the intent of the sigil, draw the sigil on paper and mix everything together, paper included

Burn herbs matching the sigils intent, pass the sigil through the smoke

Fire

Draw the sigil on a piece of paper and burn it 

Carve the sigil into a candle and burn with intent

Draw the sigil on the bottom of a tea light candle, let it burn out

Pass the sigil through smoke (any smoke works, but incense is best)

Draw the sigil on paper, leave it in sunlight

Carve the sigil into a candle, let it melt away

Sigils In everyday life

Eating and Drinking

Carve the sigil into your food before eating it

Draw the sigil under your kitchen table

When drinking tea, draw the sigil in the bottom of your mug with honey

Trace the sigil on the bottom of a pot before cooking with it

Draw the sigil on the bottom of your favorite cup

If you’re at a bonfire/cooking over a flame, carve the sigil into your food with a toothpick before you roast it (Hotdog, mashmallow, etc.)

Draw the sigil on a piece of bread, toast it

Draw the sigil in a pan with cooking oil, then cook

Draw the sigil out of ketchup on your food

Put pancake batter in a squeeze bottle, draw your sigil in the frying pan with the batter

In Art and Music

Incorporate the sigil into an art piece that has to do with the intent

Paint the sigil over a picture that didn’t turn out the way you wanted

Draw the sigil anywhere on your body and draw a pattern around it, don’t wash it off, let it fade on its own

Trace the sigil onto a pair of headphones/speaker with your finger, listen to music that matches your intent

Draw the sigil on the inside of your sketchbook cover

Draw the sigil and scribble it out

Draw the sigil on paper and tape it to the bottom of your laptop/tablet/phone if you write, draw, or make music digitally

Place the sigil in front of music speakers

Draw the sigil onto a CD that you love, and play it

Imagine the sigil in your mind while dancing

Draw the sigil on a dry erase board and erase it

Draw your sigil on the ground with chalk 

To Keep it With You

Draw the sigil on a piece of paper and put it in your purse

Draw the sigil on the bottom of your shoe

Sew the sigil into your clothing

Draw the sigil on paper and keep it in your wallet

Draw the sigil on your skin with water/oil/marker/etc. depending on intent

Tattoo the sigil onto your body (This only applies to certain sigils)

Draw the sigil on the back of a necklace you always wear

Draw the sigil on your nail, then paint over it with nail polish

Draw the sigil on your car steering wheel

Draw the sigil on your face with concealer, then blend it in

Put the sigil in a locket and wear it

Technology

Take a photo of your sigil, then delete the picture

Draw the sigil on paper and place it under a charging device

Draw the sigil inside your phone case

Set the sigil as your phone lockscreen, charge the phone

Draw the sigil on paper and tape it to the bottom of your laptop/tablet/phone

Download a sigil app

Directing Your Own Energy

Body Energy and Visualization

Visualize the sigil in your mind, think about the intent of your sigil

Draw the sigil on the ground/write it on a piece of paper and sit on it while meditating

Exercise while visualizing the sigil and your intent

Leave the sigil under your pillow during acts of passion

Masturbate while thinking about the sigil

Draw the sigil on a vein (wrist works well)

Recite a chant that goes with the sigil’s intent

Draw the sigil on paper and rub it between your hands

Draw the sigil somewhere on your body, tap it when you think about it

Draw the sigil on paper and stab it

Draw the sigil with blood as ink (controversial, not recommended)

Draw the sigil on your palm and clap your hands

Other

Draw a sigil on the corner of your homework assignments

Gather static electricity and touch the sigil

[the-hermit-path]

I appreciate posts that encourage people to use biodegradable components in spells that will be buried or left outside, or in offerings. This is a good start. A well intentioned offering that can’t break down isn’t distinguishable from litter, from where I’m standing.

But I think sometimes that our conception of spellwork and offerings are too tainted by capitalist exchange. Leaving something shiny for my local land spirits or my attic ghosts feels like leaving a tip. And while I have service industry friends I tip when I visit them at work, of course, for the most part, unless it’s one component of a relationship with other facets, leaving payment isn’t the path to a lasting mutual relationship. So what is?

I build and keep relationships by sharing food and drink. By helping and being helped. By doing work together. By offering space and hospitality. With time spent together, and sometimes with sex. So my offerings are the same.

Food, libations, and smoke are hardly novel suggestions for offerings, but I think it’s important to conceive of them, not as a thing left, but a thing shared. Frankly, I regard the ceremonial set, with their strict heierarchies and geometries, with a mix of pity and horror. I don’t even want my relationships with people or animals to look like that! Why would I duplicate or seek out those structures when I cross the hedge? I don’t willingly spend time with anyone or anything that presents themselves as powerful and dangerous, and to be honest, I tend to doubt that they’re truly either. I generally think they’re just hungry. I love spending time with those who are adaptable, strong, effective, interesting, and kind. They’re good company and good to have around, whether you’re wearing your skin or not.

So instead of leaving offerings, I recommend doing work. If you want to befriend a forest, clean it up. If you want to court a river, haul away the plastic that washes ashore. They won’t forget you.

Pictures are from the river near my house.

[the-hermit-path]

IG: moonandcactus

[the-hermit-path]

more information on Celtic Cross readings, if possible?

Why the Celtic Cross is King

There are a myriad tarot spreads. You can make your own, or use none. Just pull as many cards as you like and read them as you want. As with food and fashion, we each have a preference. But there is a reason the Celtic Cross deserves so much reverence.

1) It respects you and your question.

The Celtic Cross is not designed to give rushed, biting and abrupt answers. It recognizes that your question is important to you. So it takes the time to explore every detail of your situation before giving you advice and a prediction.

2) It kindly proves itself to you.

Fortunetelling involves powers beyond the natural. Powers that require humility to be harnessed. (So never trust a reader who arrogantly promises 100% preciseness.) To minimize the trickiness of the business, the Celtic Cross states what you already know: your past, hopes, fears, pains, secrets, goals. If it accurately describes these things, you can trust its promise of what tomorrow will bring.

3) It allows for great interaction.

When interpreting a spread, it is crucial to look at how the cards are connecting. Is the Page of Cups offering his chalice to The Magician? Is the Knight of Swords on his way to attack the King of Wands? The way the Celtic Cross is laid out lets many interactions come about.

How to Perform It

It has dozens of variations. Each reader has a fancied version. Below is a sample of the one my grandma taught me. I use it faithfully.

1) The Hierophant (reversed) – The Present

What is happening at the moment?

2) Three of Wands – The Problem

What needs to be remedied?

3) Two of Pentacles – The Past

What led you to where you are?

4) Seven of Pentacles – The Near Future

What happens next?

5) Seven of Swords – The Conscious Goal

What does your mind want?

6) Four of Wands – The Buried Truth

What lies in your subconscious?

7) Eight of Swords – The Advice

What will the Fates have you do?

8) Six of Swords – The Environment

Where are you in the broad view?

9) King of Pentacles – The Hope or Fear

What does your soul crave or dread?

10) Queen of Wands, Nine of Wands, The Sun – The Ultimate Outcome

What does the future hold, after all is said and done?

11) The World – The Underworld

What lies beneath that can help or hinder?

How to Interpret It

STEP 1: Read the cards in order, one by one.

Then read the Ultimate Outcome cards as one: The Queen of Wands is reprimanding the man in the Nine of Wands. But he is supported by The Sun. All will be well for the querent in the end.

STEP 2: Compare the Near Future with the Ultimate Outcome.

The man in the Seven of Pentacles has put life on pause, anxiously awaiting what is next. Then it comes: first, it will be bad (Nine of Wands), then he will be glad (The Sun).

STEP 3: Compare the Buried Truth with the Hope or Fear.

If it is a positive card, it is the hope. Otherwise, it is the fear.

The two positions are aligned. A buried need for stability (Four of Wands) and a desire to be solid and steady (King of Pentacles). The querent is clear about his wishes.

STEP 4: Compare the Conscious Goal with the Ultimate Outcome.

It all happens as hoped for. The querent wishes to get away with something (Seven of Swords). And after a bit of scuffle (Nine of Wands), he does (The Sun).

STEP 5: Compare the Advice with the Ultimate Outcome.

The querent needs to stop acting the victim (Eight of Swords). Once he moves forward, he will face the punishment he fears, yes (Queen of Wands and Nine of Wands). But it will all work out (The Sun). No rainbow without rain.

STEP 6: Close the reading.

For this, you have ten more things to do.

All the best to you. 🌹

[the-hermit-path]

Ward Types and Components

For the purpose of this article, “ward” is defined as: a wall of energy with a purpose. These are different types of protective wards and components. 

Anti-Detection: Prevents you/your area from being sensed by hostile forces in the first place. 

Reflection Ward: Repels any outside magical attacks.

Wall Ward: Simply prevents entry/provides a barrier, just like a regular physical wall does. 

Offensive Ward: Damages the intruder upon entry/touch. 

Redirect portal: Entering this ward will teleport the intruder to another place. 

Illusion Wards: Mess up the intruder’s senses in some way. Can make the ward much thicker than it seems to be, or even cast the illusion of being somewhere else. 

Binding Wards: Condense into a binding that will limit the intruder’s ability in some way. 

Minor Hex/Debuff: Cast a curse on the intruder. This can be temporary, wearing off as soon as the intruder leaves or a short time afterwards, or permanent (as can be). 

Sensor:  This component senses anything and feeds that information to the other wards/to other security systems in place. 

Warnings: A ward component whose only purpose is to warn the intruder. This component contains a prerecorded message. Usually of impending doom if the intruder proceeds. 

Energy Drainer: A component that drains the energy of the intruder, so as to tire them out. Can also be used to redirect hostile energies elsewhere, where it cannot harm you. 

The more detailed and aggressive portions, and the portion on recommended ward layers, have been cut out for the safety of the community. To see the complete version of this and other articles on advanced magic, please join my Patreon here. 

[the-hermit-path]

I remember my dreams

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please link back to my blog if redistributing across other platforms :)

[the-hermit-path]

Methods for Spells

TO BIND- wrap in black thread, drip wax over, or seal in a jar and hide it in the dark.

TO BANISH- burn an effect to ash and sweep off the back door step, cast it out a window, or bury in the ground and spit on it

TO ENCOURAGE-  plant it by the front door/steps, bury by a window, or place it on a windowsill

TO HIDE- place in a jar painted black, cover with cloth and bury, or wrap with a ribbon

TO CLEANSE- bury it in a bowl of  salt, burn herbs and pass through the smoke, or lay it in a moonwater bath

TO GLAMOUR- leave under the full moon, hold its reflection over a mirror with herbs, or 

TO WISH- place before a candle and blow it out, drown a coin in water, or let seeds blow into the wind

TO COMMUNICATE- (with a spirit or deity) - anoint a candle, leave out offerings, or open the front doors and windows

TO WARD- leave part of the spell in four corners, draw lines around the protected area, or plant an object of projection in the north, east, south, and west edges

TO CURSE- spit on it, drag your nails down it, or stick sharp things in it

TO DISCOURAGE - plant or bury by the back door, or burn to ash

TO JINX- say it three times out loud, or say a word the same time as someone else

TO MANIPULATE - use wax, use poppets, or tie several strings to pieces of an effect

TO BENEFIT - light a candle, charge a crystal, or create a talisman

[the-hermit-path]

Planets in retrograde and karma

Karma can be described as a conditioning, we bring from past lives. In past lives, we sow seeds with our actions and thoughts that bear fruit in our present life. Karma can be understood as a balancing mechanism that the Universe has and helps us become aware of our actions. It is the law of action and reaction: act and consequence are part of the duality of our life until we reach unity through the alchemical wedding.

Astrology has taken a fundamental role in the lives of most people: we consult the horoscope daily (it must be consulted with the ascendant, not with the sun sign), we care to know our natal chart, we are interested in our solar revolution… However, apart from conventional astrology, we must also talk about karmic astrology. Karmic astrology explains what karma we bring from other lives and how we can correct it in this present life. It is important to keep in mind that, the greater the obstacles in the physical body, the greater the chance of a soul to settle its karmic debts and achieve faster spiritual growth. Obstacles are stumbled if they are overcome positively, and the soul that, in the body of flesh, jovial faces and overcomes physical impediments, grows faster than another that, according to physical norms, has everything to live by. The reward is not in the physical form, but in the spiritual development, and the more the obstacles to overcome in a physical life, the less the soul will need to return to the physical form to polish the coarseness of its character.

We can differentiate some types of karmas:

Present karma (fate or destiny) is which must be found in the present life of the individual. This karma is unalterable and a sequence of experiences that the person has to confront in this incarnation. From a spiritual approach, the help of a spiritual teacher (mentor), the practice of magic, positivity or the intervention of the Gods can reduce the impact of karma on the life of the individual.

Future karma is what we manufacture in this life, whose effects will have consequences in the next incarnation. It is important to keep in mind the following sentence: “Do what you want, as long as you do not harm anyone.” Within not harming, we include ourselves and, therefore, we must lead a healthy life, free of excess (any type of excess: food, laziness, sex…). Excess helps us create negative karma and also affects our ancestral energy. Assuming responsibility for our actions and attitudes, taking into account everything we do will be what we will receive in the future, we can make a positive karma. Meditation or other similar practices will help us to know ourselves and know which areas of our life we ​​are neglecting or damaging.

Reserve karma is the karma that we accumulate during the lives we have lived, but which is not active in this incarnation. In thousands of incarnations, we accumulate so much karma that it would be impossible to correct everything accumulated in a single life.

The natal chart is a tool that helps us understand, among many things, the present karma (positive and negative). This is formed by our possibilities, our talent, our hobbies, our problems and our mental characteristics. It tells us about our energy level on a physical, mental, emotional and inspirational level (earth, air, water and fire). Reserve karma is not in our natal chart, since it is not assigned in this life. Nor will we find future karma in our natal chart, since we have free will in all our lives to decide what our actions and attitudes will be, as well as if we want to continue our life mission.

To know what karma we bring from past lives, we can analyze our 12th house or the retrograde planets of our natal chart. Typically, we have two or more retrograde planets, but there are people who may not have retrograde planets. In this case, these people should look at what sign and what planets are in their 12th house. In this post, however, we will talk about how retrograde planets can tell us about our past lives.

If we have Mercury retrograde in our natal chart…

In past lives the dialectical exchanges you made with the world were tense and nervous. You were an impulsive and rash person. Your way of thinking and communicating was impractical and reactive, generating instability and chaos around you. Retrograde Mercury indicates that in past lives the processes of dialectical exchange with the environment weren’t correctly exercised, in the affairs of the house and the sign in which it is found.

In your current life, you will tend to be very demanding and seek perfection in the details. However, you will make mistakes that will generate anguish and feelings of frustration for not being as perfect as you would have liked. Others may see you as someone who easily criticizes others, very prone to order, while making wrong value judgments in relation to people and the world in general. In this life, you must learn order, discipline and you must set and pursue precise objectives and in a careful and methodical way.

If we have retrograde Venus in our natal chart…

In past lives you lacked sensitivity in your emotional area. You had behaviors associated with greed, possessiveness, selfishness and some rudeness in personal relationships (associated with Taurus). On the other hand, there could be a tendency to intrigue (indecision), which came to generate negative feelings in the exchange processes that may have developed with those you were related. You may have been a person lacking in good taste, less refined and who paid little attention to the needs of others (these are defects associated with Libra).

Retrograde Venus tells us in past lives there were mistakes made by excesses in the field of pleasures, or in the area of ​​marriage or other associations. Personal vanity, the actions that sought to exalt your ego set aside giving affection to those around you, so you replaced the affection with a need to just receive, but never give.

In your present life you must learn the affective exchange in the affairs of the house and the sign on which Venus is. The karmic challenge has a lot to do with the rearrangement of your own values. You should avoid making value judgments about people or things. Fundamentally, you must also learn not to judge yourself so much (self-esteem). The lack of inner security prevents the subject from serene relationships, also because of an inner affective loneliness; they are therefore subjected to such tension in emotional relationships that in the end, this person blocks themselves and their own feelings. In this life, the memory of that pain prevents them from being able to give completely and must learn to love or try to love without attachments and without possessiveness.

If we have retrograde Mars in our natal chart…

In past lives you mishandled vital energy by using it only to self-assert yourself. You were a self-centered person (you only worked from your ego) and following the opposite path of the soul. We all reincarnate to transform wrong aspects of our identity and that normally oppose our inner growth. This self-affirmation could occur in the achievement objectives, especially in the sexual field. In past lives you will have had aggressive or excessively competitive attitudes related to the sign and the house where retrograde Mars is located.

In your present life you can be a person with reckless and impulsive temperament. Your attitude and your actions may be too aggressive and with little regard for others. You can also be someone who is too sexually open and your attitude can bother the social group you are in. The subject must learn in this life to live here and now and must try to total the energies at their disposal by putting them at the service of others in a way that digest a part of the negative karma, using better the physical and vital energies that he has at their disposal.

The aspects (conjunction, opposition, trigone…) directed to retrograde Mars can help to understand the type of action that was carried out in your past life. The more negative the aspects, the greater the climate of confrontation with people or with yourself could have been.

If we have Jupiter retrograde in our natal chart…

In past lives you had difficulty processing your own knowledge. Your last lives were developed following inertia: you always remained the same, without living substantial changes in your identity. In your past life you were someone arrogant and proud, without discernment in relation to the people and the world around you. Besides, you could have been someone of little confidence.

In your present life you will have a tendency to repeat this behavior before life and, if there is no concrete action on your part, you can waste your current life in the same way you did in the past.

Aspects directed to retrograde Jupiter can tell us what could have happened in your past lives: there was a poor understanding of the spirit of the law and the application of justice. You were someone who misjudged others and yourself.

If we have Saturn retrograde in our natal chart…

Saturn is known as “The Lord of Karma”. For many astrologers Saturn represents the greatest karmic problem in the life of every individual. The planet Saturn is called “The Lord of Karma” not because it is the only element of the natal chart that symbolizes an aspect of personal karma, but because the position and aspects of Saturn reveal where we find our more specific and concentrated tests. The same as where we often experience pain and frustration.

In past lives you had irresponsible attitudes in relation to house affairs and the sign where the retrograde planet is located. Saturn is the obligatory path for inner growth. The issues Saturn dominates in your natal chart will be those full of evidence for the Universe. The lack of responsibility and the fear of commitment in past lives led you to stagnate in your personal growth. You were a person who experienced many failures caused by your negligence, apathy, indolence, fear or pessimism in relation to job success or studies. You lacked the element of humanity and empathy, which leads people to feel an integral part of the human family. Therefore you worked very selfishly and isolated from the social nucleus that contained it.

The sign it is in tells us what kind of responsibility you avoided taking on your previous lives and what conditions you felt pressured by insecurity and fear. The features you may have developed in such circumstances are deeply rooted in the present life, and there is a karmic urgency that they be resolved in this life.

If we have retrograde Uranus in our natal chart…

Uranus retrograde indicates that in past lives there was a certain resistance to the growth process, for not understanding that your growth required deep intimate transformations. In your past lives there was an exaggerated defense of your own individual freedom, regardless of whether your desire for freedom harmed others.

This may explain the reason for your resistance to change in your current life. In compensation for not wanting to change eccentric behavior samples.

In past lives, you refused to act and understand the area affected by retrograde Uranus, so you showed yourself as someone irritating and generated unstable environments and unpleasant surprises wherever you went. Your impulsive attitude sought to disorganize any transformation about your identity.

If we have retrograde Neptune in our natal chart…

When Neptune is retrograde, the person had no sensitivity or spirituality. You lacked to develop or manifest a passive attitude in relation to the spiritual or sensitivity implications that the circumstances demanded. In some past lives you could have a relationship with negative psyche: any magical practice directed solely towards personal gain. You were a person vulnerable to the forces around you that could create wounds in your identity.

People born with this planet in retrograde can be extremely sensitive, tend to live in a fantasy world and find it difficult to set foot on the earth but at the same time are able to see beyond that illusion, understand the world in ways that others would never have imagined and when they transcend their feelings of feeling strange in the world they can become guides that see beyond what we perceive. People with retrograde Neptune in their natal chart should not approach doctrines that promote mediumship, since they are vulnerable to the densest (or negative) levels of these currents. If you want to approach or practice any kind of magic, these people must do it from unconditional love and knowing that everything you learn will be for the common good and not for your personal benefit.

If we have Pluto retrograde in our natal chart…

Karmatically speaking, Pluto is a link between the individual’s previous karma and the jarma you are generating in your present existence. It is a point of the current psyche of the person that must transform from the root and that, surely, not even the person’s own will will be able to stop.

Retrograde Pluto indicates that the individual will be living mass consciousness within themselves (especially those related to the house and the sign where the planet is located). In these matters, you will feel within yourself what the world of your time is collectively elaborating, through the unconscious clash of different opinions and different emotional and emotional motivations. The person will feel the great evils of humanity in the first person: you know that you cannot change it and yet you feel that it is a personal matter. You will feel the collective issues or problems as yours. The subject will be forced by the events of their life to transform: the death (real or symbolic) of people, ideas and things in which they believe will lead them to the transformation that will give them access to a higher stage.

Edited on December 31st, 2019.

[the-hermit-path]

Everyone loses things and I am no exception. So this locator spell is designed so that you can find whatever items you might have lost. This spell uses a techniques called map dowsing and can be used to find anything that is lost (people, pets, items etc.).

For this simple little locator spell you’ll need:

A scrap piece of paper or a map (seriously if you’re looking over a large area don’t go out and buy a map - just use Google Maps and print out what you need)

A pen

A pendulum (or a long pendant necklace).

And four candles (You really only need these if you’re looking over a large area)

First you need to draw (or print out) a map of the area where you think you lost the item. So say you lost your wallet and you think you lost it in your bedroom. You would first draw a sketch of your bedroom on a piece of paper as if you were looking down on your room from above. You would make sure to draw all main features of your room (bed/ desk/ bedside table/ door/ windows etc).

Now place an ‘x’ on the map where you remember having seen the item last.

If you are looking over a large area place the four candles at cardinal points on the map [North, South, East and West]. If you want to carve sigils or anoint these candles then go ahead. Once placed, light the candles going clockwise around the map (North, East, South, West).

Now, get the pendulum and in wide clockwise circles let it swing over your map. While the pendulum circles the map, visualise your item glowing in their hiding place or floating towards you. Look where the pendulum is focused (8 times out of 10 it’s near where you’ve placed the ‘x’) - your item should be there.

If the pendulum doesn’t focus on one particular area and instead continues to circle until you pull it away - you’re lost item isn’t in the area you’ve drawn/printed out.

[the-hermit-path]

Basics of Energy Work - Part One

Expanding Awareness Energy work is a subtle art, a foundational building block to successful magic. Almost all magical practices involve some form of energy work - and there are countless forms - but how it will function from individual to individual will differ greatly. To put it simply, energy work is the practice of manipulating unseen energies. Everything - people, places, animals, inanimate objects, even our thoughts - vibrates at a specific energetic frequency and emits energy. By learning how to identify and tune into these energies, we can use them to direct our magic and spell work. Chances are, you have worked your own personal energy before. More often than not, your own energy will be the easiest for you to tap into. To do this, we need to learn how to expand our awareness. Meditation Meditation is a good practice to have when pursuing any kind of magical endeavor; there are many ways to meditate and there is much to achieve through it. The overall key to meditation is, generally, focus. You are training your mind to simply observe with non judgement; not to simply clear your mind of any thought at all, which is the common misconception. There is not just one way to meditate - if sitting cross legged in a room bathed with incense as you engage breathing exercises works for you, great! Some people meditate through dance, yoga, exercise, crafts, etc. Anything where your mind can drift, “tune out” so to speak, as your body instinctively goes through the motions. There are also several forms of guided meditations that you can use for specific goals, such as attentiveness, visualization, improving memory, empowerment, etc. Elemental meditation is popular among the witchcraft community. What’s great about guided meditation is it extremely accessible through apps and things like youtube (favorites of mine are the fire meditation and the water meditation from magickians!) and makes the whole process of learning to meditate a lot less intimidating.  As meditation relates to energy work, it will sharpen your ability for visualization, increase your focus, have you more in touch with your physical and inner self as both the same and separate entities, and increase your awareness of changes in and around you - all of this working towards an enhanced ability to sense energy and its movement.  What is this mystical “energy?”  If you’re having trouble wrapping your head around the idea of the elusive and all encompassing vaguery of “energy”, don’t worry. The idea may seem intimidating, but they are not inaccessible. If you are struggling, it only indicates that you are human. This will take practice and it will require you to understand the concepts on a physical level. Luckily, these are steps that nearly every magical practitioner, old and new, has and will continue to work on for the rest of their spiritual journey. Every question you have has likely already been answered. Some may just take a bit of research to find! However, I’m going to try and provide at least some cursory information here. To get a real idea of what “energy” feels like, set aside some quiet time for youself. Close the door, dim the lights, turn off your phone. Light your candles and make sure you will be left alone. Sit down on the floor and make yourself comfortable - not too comfortable! You don’t want to fall asleep. Draw in some deep breaths and clear your mind, as you did in your meditation. Continue until you feel your breathing regulated and yourself relaxed. Now, close your eyes and rub your palms together, like you’re trying to warm them up, then pull them an inch or two apart. You should feel a charged sensation tingling between your hands, maybe even like a ball, vibrating and pulsating in your hands. If you concentrate, you may even be able to feel a sort of magnetic resistance if you attempt to push it back together. That’s energy. It’s really that simple. If you don’t feel it at first, just try again. The more you do this, the easier it will become to identify your own and different types of energy all around you through a technique called centering, which will be discussed below.  Grounding The term grounding, sometimes called Earthing, means to recalibrate your energy. Essentially, the purpose of grounding is to shake off “excess” energy and ground yourself back in reality, into the rhythm of the plane on which we exist. And while grounding does restore balance and connectedness, there are greater implications to explore when it comes to grounding. Everything on this earth is shaped by forces and presence of the Earth and cosmos, and as such, “this connection is deeply inherent to a sustainable state of well being. The Earth, as an organic and inorganic system, is constantly bathing all life on the planet with its highly ordered and coherent electromagnetic field. The natural tendency of an organism is to couple with the Earth’s energy field and come to a mutual state of cooperation and harmony within its environment, finding its niche and proper place within a system. What we need to understand is that all systems strive to achieve, return to and/or maintain a state of coherence. Whether one is aware of it or not, we are always taking part in a constant process within our universe, coupling with other energy fields and finding some sort of balance within this space. This happens everywhere within the context of an ecosystem, whenever two forces interact for any reason. The more organized or coherent these fields are, the more effectively and efficiently energy can be [manipulated.]”  Grounding allows us to cultivate a relationship with the earth and facilitate a healthier, more coherent state of being. It allows us to align our energy for more accurate working. Like meditation, there are many ways to ground; a list of some of my personal favorite methods can be found (here.) Shielding and Centering Shielding is important for magical workings as it provides a protective barrier to maintain our center. To do this, you’ll want to get a feel for your personal energy first. A good way to do is something called centering. Throughout the day, you naturally will pick up on all kinds of external energy; some good, some bad, most of it probably neither of the two - either way, it is energy that is not yours. Meditation and shadow work will be useful in identifying what feels distinctly you, but you should be able to know when you’re not feeling entirely you. If you’ve been feeling particularly out of sorts, a good tip to get back in touch with yourself before centering or shielding is to spend some time in self care. Turn off your phone and go to your room or a friendly space in nature, a library, a favorite haunt and engage in a creative project, put on your favorite music, eat your favorite food. Be mindful of your physical space, your body, sensations your are experiencing. Be attentive to you and only you; your wants, needs, feelings, comforts, etc. Take a bath and allow yourself to relax. Your only responsibility right now is you have no responsibilities - if even for just a short while. Just do what you can to access some “me time” to do something you love to do and observe yourself. Take note of what you choose to do that brings you joy, why those things make you feel happy and fulfilled, how exactly these feelings and activities resonate with you. Record this in your Book of Shadows, as it is useful information to getting to yourself on a more intimate level. Learn to recognize this energy and get familiar with what it means to feel yourself. It can be easy to get lost. Centering can get you back, especially when you make these feelings more accessible to yourself.  To center, we’re going to go back to the exercise in the beginning; in a quiet place, meditate and rub your palms together - build up that energy between them again. When you pull your hands apart, you want to visualize this sensation. What color is it? What does it feel like? Is it light? Heavy? Is it vibrating? Focus on the pulsation and how it pushes against you. Allow it to move and grow. Picture it contracting and growing until you no longer can. Pull it in close to you, somewhere you can focus on it - many people use their solar plexus or heart chakras. This is the same energy you’re going to use to shield yourself. Instead of centering this energy, however, you’re going to push it out to envelope you. Visualization in your meditation and centering exercises should help with this; visualizing energy usually makes it easier for people to push it outward. Again, knowing what specifically makes this your protective energy will be useful - what color is it? Texture? Is it elemental? Perhaps your energy doesn’t feel like light, but water or air. Maybe white is a protective color to you or maybe green is, for Earth. Maybe your energy shield is a network of stars in the shape of your zodiac constellation. Maybe the outside is reflective, to reflect any negativity directed your way. Maybe its a shield of smoke, to conceal yourself. No matter what it looks like to you, just make sure it is yours. Don’t feel pressured to commit to something either - your idea of what these concepts look like will grow and change as much as you do.  Push this energy outward and around you, as if you are creating a protective bubble for yourself. To enhance the intensity of desired outcome, surround yourself with corresponding elements. Light white candles or wear black tourmaline. I personally like to use dragon’s blood incense or oils. There are many things you can do in tandem with any of these practices, so long as they make sense for you and are helping you to achieve your desired results. This shield will become stronger the more you do this and keep you protected from psychic attacks, curses and hexes, negative energy, and bad intent.  These exercises are all building blocks to unlocking great power within oneself, but they are also a great power on their own as well. Taking the time and patience to hone these skills will aid you in all your magical endeavors, whether through sharper focus, strong visual associations, enforced protective barriers, and/or knowing your true self above all else. Once you have established your abilities, you will be able to do them any time, anywhere and begin to play more with energy, both internal and external. In the follow up, I will focus on charging and programming. 

[the-hermit-path]

Crystal Safety, Revisited

There’s an awesome post going around by @prettycitywitch that discusses crystal care and toxicity. I noticed a few errors in it, just due to the source that was used, so I contacted her and got permission to rewrite it to ensure the most accurate information possible is spread around in the witchy community. I’ve gone through every crystal in her list and added a few others. 

Everything in this list has been confirmed by the Gemological Institute of America Laboratory (one of the foremost in gemological research), multiple published mineralogical sources, and/or at least two online mineralogical databases. Crystals of particular concern in each category have been bolded; the other listed crystals have a bit of wiggle room.

Crystals affected by sunlight or heat Most crystals (including nearly all in this list) are safe to expose to sunlight temporarily - you can wear them in jewelry during the day, for example, but don’t leave them in your windowsill for weeks. In general, colorless crystals may be left in the sun indefinitely, while colored (especially pink) crystals should be stored in a place that doesn’t get direct sun all day. Heat, on the other hand, can easily affect many crystals, but usually only at high temperatures (steam or a jeweler’s torch), so I’ve only included the ones that could be damaged by relatively low temperatures.

Amber - may crack in heat

Amethyst - may fade over time; safe to expose to sun temporarily

Apophyllite - heat can cause flaking; sunlight is fine as long as the specimen is kept cool

Maxixe (dark blue beryl) - fades extremely quickly to pale brown in sunlight; color can only be restored through irradiation

Azurite - will fade over time with exposure to sunlight; store in a dark, cool environment

Celestine - fades in long exposure to sunlight

Chrysoprase - may fade in sunlight; restoration of color sometimes possible through prolonged storage in water

Fluorite - occasionally can fade in sunlight

Hackmanite - exhibits tenebrescence, a temporary change in color due to sun exposure; will return to original color if kept in a dark area

Hiddenite - unstable in sunlight and heat to a lesser degree than kunzite; however, some darker green hiddenite is much more unstable than kunzite and great care should be taken, as it can fade in a matter of minutes

Kunzite - will fade drastically in sunlight; indoor incandescent light can also slowly affect this stone

Larimar - fades over time when exposed to sunlight and heat

Morganite - deeper colors or more lilac hues can fade in sunlight

Opal - fading is minimal, but sunlight, heat, and changes in air pressure can cause internal fracturing called “crazing”

Pearl (& mother-of-pearl) - may lose color or turn dull in sunlight or heat

Sulfur - extremely heat-sensitive; crystals may fracture or burst if left in the sun or held in your hand

Topaz - irradiated stones may fade in direct sunlight

Tugtupite - exhibits tenebrescence, a temporary change in color due to sun exposure; will return to original color if kept in a dark area

Vanadinite - may darken and lose transparency in sunlight

Zircon - heat-treated stones may revert to original color over time in sunlight; avoid exposure to UV lights (tanning beds, nail salons, etc)

Water-soluble crystals Though many crystals will eventually be worn away by water mostly due to tiny particles of other substances suspended in the water, there are very few that will dissolve in water in any significant way. Contrary to what some believe, most crystals with the suffix ‘-ite’ aren’t water-soluble; ‘-ite’ simply means ‘stone’ and is part of most mineralogical names. 

Anhydrite - not water-soluble, but instead will absorb water and convert to gypsum; store in a dry environment and do not submerge

Boji stone - not water-soluble, but may rust due to iron component

Calcite - somewhat soluble in slightly acidic water; neutral or slightly alkaline water is usually safe; negligible dissolution in air due to gaseous carbon dioxide

Celestine - very slightly soluble

Chalcanthite - easily soluble in water, but must be stored in a humid environment

Chalcopyrite - not soluble, but may rust due to iron content

Fluorite - very slightly soluble

Gypsum - somewhat soluble; solubility decreases in warmer water

Halite - easily dissolves in water; moisture from your skin or humidity in the air can eat away at crystals

Hematite - not water-soluble, but exposed rough areas may rust

Magnesite - slightly soluble; solubility increases with presence of salt

Magnetite - not water-soluble, but may rust due to iron content

Malachite - slightly soluble in water containing carbon dioxide

Marcasite - water may trigger decomposition into melanterite, which contains sulfuric acid

Mica (muscovite, fuchsite, lepidolite, etc) - plate or sheet-like specimens may absorb water into cleavage planes and begin to break apart; aggregated crystals are safe in water

Pyrite - exposure to water, including high-humidity environments, can trigger breakdown

Rhodochrosite - slightly soluble in water containing carbon dioxide

Selenite - somewhat soluble; solubility decreases in warmer water

Sulfur - soluble in warm water; may form sulfuric acid over time if left in a wet or humid environment

Ulexite - dissolves in hot water; slightly soluble in cold water

Acid-soluble crystals A large number of crystals will dissolve in acid. Many only dissolve in strong acids, such as hydrochloric acid - I won’t list those here because it generally won’t be a concern. There is very little information on mineral solubility in weak acids, such as vinegar, so this list is incomplete. But really, why are you soaking any of your crystals in acid?

Amber - “young amber” is soluble in a large number of chemicals

Aragonite - easily soluble, even in dilute acids; effervesces

Atacamite - readily soluble in acids

Azurite - may be slightly soluble

Calcite - easily soluble; effervesces

Lapis lazuli - composed of a number of minerals, including calcite, which may be acid-soluble; acetone and other substances may remove dye

Magnesite - slightly soluble in acids

Malachite - readily soluble in acids; color may also be affected

Pearl (& mother-of-pearl) - soluble in acids; surface will become dull and pitted

Rhodochrosite - slightly soluble in warm acids; effervesces

Smithsonite - effervesces and dissolves in acids

All water-soluble crystals

Crystals affected by salt Salt is a dehydrator, so any hydrated crystal may be damaged by it. Salt has a hardness of 2 to 2.5 and may scratch any mineral softer than this. It is safe to put non-hydrated crystals of a hardness between 2.5 and 7 in salt, but very fine scratches may occur due to impurities; don’t put cabochons or faceted stones in this hardness range in salt.

Apophyllite - may dehydrate in salt, resulting in flaking; usually not an issue unless combined with heat

Cavansite - may dehydrate

Chalcanthite - dehydrates easily, forming potentially dangerous powder; store in a humid environment

Gypsum (including selenite) - hardness of 2; may be scratched by salt; may dehydrate to anhydrite

Opal - will dehydrate and develop internal fractures called “crazing”; store in a wet or humid environment

Pearl (& mother-of-pearl) - may become dull and pitted

Stilbite - may dehydrate

Potentially dangerous crystals

In general, crystals are pretty safe - handling them is usually okay. Many crystals do have somewhat dangerous elements, such as aluminum-bearing garnets, but they’re “locked” in the crystal structure in a way that prevents them from harming us unless the crystal is powdered or dissolved and inhaled/ingested. The occasional garnet or moonstone gem water won’t hurt you in the slightest.

Because there’s no way for this list to be ‘complete’ - I don’t know what unusual stones you might have - I advise you to never make gem waters with or otherwise ingest

powdery, very fine, or fibrous crystals;

crystals which you have not identified;

metal ores;

metals, with the exceptions of gold, platinum, tungsten, and titanium; and

stones composed of a variety of minerals.

Don’t use these crystals for gem water, elixir, massage oil, etc. Don’t put these crystals in your mouth or otherwise insert them into your body.

Adamite - contains arsenic

Amazonite - generally safe, but the color is usually caused by traces of lead; don’t use flaky or powdery specimens in gem waters

Atacamite - contains copper

Aurichalcite - contains copper and zinc

Azurite - contains copper

Boji stone - composition can vary, so some stones may have dangerous components

Brochantite - contains copper

Cerussite - ore of lead; wash hands after handling; do not inhale dust

Chalcanthite - contains copper; wash hands after handling; do not rub eyes after handling; do not inhale; do not ingest

Chalcopyrite - ore of copper

Chrysocolla - contains copper

Cinnabar - ore of mercury; always wash hands after handling; do not inhale dust; never ingest in any form; do not heat; massive (aggregate) cinnabar can contain elemental mercury which is very easily absorbed by the body

Conichalcite - contains copper and arsenic

Cuprite - contains copper; do not ingest

Dioptase - delicate, may break or crumble into powder; contains copper

Eilat stone - contains copper

Galena - ore of lead; wash hands after handling; flaky/crumbly specimens are common, be careful not to inhale dust

Malachite - contains copper

Marcasite - decomposes to melanterite, which contains sulfuric acid; do not ingest; wash hands after handling; do not inhale

Mohawkite - contains copper and arsenic; may contain other toxins

Psilomelane - contains barium

Pyrite - broken-down pyrite can contain sulfuric acid; do not ingest; if pyrite appears blackish or crumbly, wash hands after handling

Realgar - contains arsenic; wash hands after handling; never ingest

Serpentine (sp. chrysotile) - safe unless fibrous; do not inhale; asbestos

Stibnite - very soft; contains antimony

Sulfur - can form sulfuric acid when in contact with moisture

Turquoise - usually safe unless powdery; contains copper

Vanadinite - contains lead; may have traces of arsenic

Wulfenite - ore of lead and molybdenum; do not ingest or inhale

A few final safety reminders

⚠️ Never swallow any crystals, because some otherwise safe crystals can interact with your stomach acids and produce dangerous chemicals.

⚠️ Never crush, powder, or dissolve crystals with the intention of inhaling or ingesting them - fine powders and solutions make elements more accessible to the body.

⚠️ Wash your crystals in water and gentle soap before making any gem waters, elixirs, etc. with them. Even if the crystal itself is safe, it may have been in contact with other dangerous crystals or chemicals.

⚠️ Never make gem water, elixirs, etc. with crystals that are on/in matrix (the base rock the crystals grew from). You don’t know what the matrix is composed of, and it may contain dangerous minerals or elements.

⚠️ Never burn, hold in a candle flame, or intentionally heat your crystals. Intentional heating should only be performed by a jewelry or gemstone professional in a controlled environment. The sole exception to this is anhydrite without matrix, which may be carefully raised to 200°C (~400°F), dry heat, to dehydrate it and change any gypsum components back to anhydrite. Be aware that this process can occasionally result in fractures, breakage, or internal damage to the stone.

Keep yourself and your crystals safe, everyone! There’s no way for this list to be complete, because there are thousands of minerals out there, so please feel free to contact me if you have questions about any particular stones!

[the-hermit-path]

Another Sigil Tutorial

Hello everyone! So I had a lot of questions about my other sigil posts and decided to post another method to making sigils. This is another one of my favorites to use! I just really like the way these turn out. I call this the constellation method!

Step 1: Get your Phrase

For this tutorial I'm using the phrase "Protect this place"

Step 2: Take Out Repeating Letters

So any repeating letters you have take them out! *Side note: this step doesn't matter too much because of the method which you will see in a minute but it helps confusion*

"Protect this place" becomes "protechisla"

Step 3: Making Dots

Remember this chart?

So grab this chart and just ignore your numbers. Take what is left of your phrase for us "protechisla" and make dots on all of the letters you see. It should come out looking something like this:

So now we've got our "stars" for our "constelation". Take out the chart and you should be left with an assortment of dots like this:

Step 4: Connecting the Dots

So we have this random assortment of dots and now you get to be creative and connect them however you see fit. Play around until you have something you like. This is what mine looked like after some playing around with different arrangements:

Step 5: Make it a "Constellation"

This is what mine looked like when I was finished.

This is a wonderful method for those who are still in the "broom closet" because they just look like super cute little doodles or constellations. It's a super easy method. Just remember DON'T OVERTHINK ANYTHING!!!!! Make this your own sigil. Follow the method but also do whatever feels right! And most important! Stay safe and have fun with it!!!!!

[the-hermit-path]

The claws are out!

1-What am I holding onto? 2-What can I do to let it go? 3-How can I take control again? 4-What do I need to do to move forward? 5-How can I use this to help me?

Use this spread to guide you into making decisions to improve yourself. It’s brutally honest, so be warned.

my main: kittenblade

tagging: ragabashwitch and arcanemysteries

[the-hermit-path]

A tarot spread I made for when you want to just do a quick divination check up on yourself, or for another!

Card 1: Physical health, how are you doing physically right now?

Card 2: Mental health, how are you doing mentally right now?

Card 3: Spiritual health, how are you doing spiritually?

Card 4: Prescription, what you can do to help yourself in one or more of those areas. You can pull this card 3 different times for each other card to gain more info if you want 💖!

Hope this helps some of you!

[the-hermit-path]

I've been thinking a lot today about the duality and interplay of Brigid as both a goddess of healing yet also so characterized in mythology by Her loss, especially in the intensity of Her expression of grief, to think that even a goddess can be brought to such deep mourning and pain, yet also be the healer. ♡🕯💚

[the-hermit-path]

һєяє ċomєs ʏuʟє 🌲❄

[the-hermit-path]

Major Arcana Cheat Sheet

The Fool: The Fool is a very powerful card in the Tarot deck, usually representing a new beginning – and, consequently, an end to something in your old life. The Fool’s position in your spread reveals which aspects of your life may be subject to change. The Fool portends important decisions ahead which may not be easy to make, and involve an element of risk for you. Approach the changes with optimism and care to gain the most positive outcome.

The Magician: The Magician generally associates with intelligent and skillful communicators. His presence in your spread indicates a level of self-confidence and drive which allows you to translate ideas into action. A practical card, the revelations it brings are best applied to the pragmatic and physical aspects of your life, rather then the ephemeral or theoretical. Your success in upcoming ventures in politics or business will likely hinge upon your own strength of will and determination.

The High Priestess: Your identification with the High Priestess suggests you possess inherent good judgment, in the form of strong intuition. She may indicate that reason should take second place to instinct. Your head must trust in the wisdom of your heart for a change. Yet, she is also an aide by nature, and her presence in certain parts of your spread could be indicative of someone close to you coming to your rescue with their own intuition. Intuition is most effective at seeing what is hidden to the senses, so the High Priestess may also come as a warning of concealed facts or influences that are, or will be, important to you.

The Empress: Traditionally associated with strong maternal influence, the presence of the Empress is excellent news if you are looking for harmony in your marriage or hoping to start a family. Any artistic endeavors you are currently associated with are also likely to be more successful, as this card often finds those exposed to strong bursts of creative or artistic energy. That creative energy may not be in the form of a painting or art project, however: This card also suggests a very strong possibility of pregnancy – not necessarily yours, but you might be seeing a new addition to your extended family or the family of a close friend in the near future! This card is a good portent for you and those around you.

The Emperor: Counterpart to the Empress, the Emperor is signifies a powerful influence, generally male in nature. This can also include concepts in your life historically considered masculine, such as leadership and authority, self-discipline, and stability through the power of action. Its positive influences suggest you may be on a path to advancement or promotion, but it can also be neutral. Often a companion to those destined to take on greater responsibility, it may presage change or loss that necessitates you stepping forward to shoulder a greater burden than you have in the past. Whatever the impetus for the change, it indicates you may possess an uncommon inner strength that will compel you act and to lead.

The Hierophant (Pope): Depending on your own nature, the Hierophant can mean very different things. At its root, it represents doctrine, but doctrine can come in the form of teaching and guidance or rigid authority. Where it appears in your spread is also important, as it is most often indicative of your own approach to the moral, religious, and social conventions of the world. Considered wisely, it helps show the path towards fulfillment. 

The Lovers: Your first instinct will most likely be to associate this card as representing love, but, much like love, it does not possess a simple nature. Not only does love comes in many forms, but the Lovers may indicate important or difficult choices ahead in your life. This is bad, in that the choices it portends are generally mutually exclusive, paths to two very different futures, but also good, in that it also confirms that at least one of those paths will take you to a good place. As such, if you happen to find it in your spread, you should consider it carefully, but not fear it. It tells a story of difficult choices, likely painful, but that the correct decision and a positive outcome are within your grasp. 

The Chariot: You have some hard work ahead of you. It may be resolved quickly, but the Chariot is a powerful card, and the labor you are undertaking will probably trend towards long and difficult. You will quite possibly experience rough roads, long uphill slopes, dead ends, and painful setbacks. A good outcome is only assured if the card is upright, but do not let yourself lose hope: This hard road will instill in you a strength of purpose, the ability to overcome through organization and endurance, and the confidence possessed only by those who have done what they thought they could not. Harnessed correctly, few forces can stand against an individual like that. 

Strength: Strength is the rawest form of power, and you possess it in some form. It is a very happy card if you are fighting illness or recovering from injury. As might be suspected, its influence over you, and the use you put it to, can trend towards light or dark. You likely trend towards facing your problems courageously, head-on, and conquering them through perseverance and will. With this ability to overcome life’s obstacles, though, comes the responsibility to control yourself, and it this card may be a warning to take command of your own actions or emotions before they damage you or the people you care about.

The Hermit: There are times in every life, when one must step back and make a careful examination of their situations and decisions. Finding the Hermit in your spread suggests this is just such a time for you. You are in need of a period of inner reflection, away from the current demands of your position. This retreat can be physical, or a search within. Only a deep and honest introspection will lead to a solution, however.

Wheel of Fortune: Symbolic of life’s cycles, the Wheel of Fortune speaks to good beginnings. Most likely, you will find the events foretold to be positive, but, being aspects of luck, they may also be beyond your control and influence. Tend those things you can control with care, and learn not to agonize over the ones you cannot.

Justice: Justice is a very good card to find in your spread if you have acted with kindness and fairness towards other and, especially, if you have been a victim. It is a significant indicator of a positive resolution, although how and what sort will depend on your own experiences. If you have been unfair, abusive, or otherwise shady and immoral in your dealings, though, pay heed. For the unjust, this card is, at best, a dire warning to change your ways before retribution falls upon you, and, at worst, a simple statement that it is already too late. In neutral cases, it may simply be telling you to seek out balance in your life. 

The Hanged Man: The Hanged Man can be interpreted in two very different ways. All change is a small kind of death, as the old must die to create the new, and it may simply indicate upheaval or change in your future, perhaps beyond your control, but more likely a decision that, for good or ill, you will not be able to turn back from. The other interpretation is one of sacrifice, although whether this sacrifice is small or great may not be easily interpreted. Both interpretations imply permanence, and that you should give very careful thought to the decisions in your life. 

Death: Death is indicative of change in your future. This change can be in almost any aspect of your life, but it will almost certainly be permanent, significant, and absolute. Death suggests a complete severance between the past and the future, and it will likely be painful. Despite the sense of loss that may accompany it, Death fills an important and natural role in life, and leads eventually to acceptance. It is a necessary part of moving forward, and you will find the changes easiest if you embrace them, rather than fight them. Expect the end of a close friendship, a job, a marriage, or even a life, but do not focus too greatly on the negative.

Temperance: An optimistic card, Temperance encourages you to find balance in your life and approach problems with a calm demeanor. It recognizes that opposing forces need not be at war within you. Tread carefully in any major decisions you make, with confidence that good decisions will lead to a good resolution for you.

The Devil: The Devil is in the business of entrapment. It signifies a situation from which there is no escape, or a road leading to one. Forewarning may let you avoid the trap, or it may not. What sort of trap, and how you might avoid it, depends on where the Devil appears in your spread, and what other cards surround it. This card does not foretell doom, only the need for prudence.

The Tower: Dark and foreboding, the Tower is the embodiment of disruption and conflict. Not just change, but the abrupt and jarring movement caused by the unforeseen and traumatic events which are part of life. The Tower in your spread is always a threat, but life inevitably involves tragedy, and you must decide whether you will face it with grace.

The Star: The Star’s presence signifies a period of respite and renewal for you. This renewal may be spiritual, physical, or both. It is a particularly positive sign if you or someone close is recovering from illness or injury. It is a light in the darkness, illuminating your future and your past.

The Moon: Something in your life is not what it seems. Perhaps a misunderstanding on your part, or a truth you cannot admit to yourself. It may also indicate something important being kept from you by another. This may be a source of worry or depression in your life, and the Moon is a strong indicator that you must rely on your intuition to see through the subterfuge.

The Sun: As an inherently good influence, finding the Sun is a positive development. It is suggestive of personal gain, and that personal goals and joy are within reach, if you are willing to invest the effort to actualize them. If you are embarking on a new personal venture, such as marriage or beginning a family, the Sun is of particular influence. 

Judgement: Judgment tells a story of transition, but unlike Death or the Tower, it is not sudden change, or born of luck or intuition, but change that springs from reason. It signifies plans, often long in the making, coming to fruition. If it points towards the future, it may also speak towards the nature of the change; if there is a choice that needs to be made, ruminate and let your mind guide the decision. Logic, in this case, is a better guide than intuition. Be prepared to make a major decision in your life, likely one that will shape the next chapter of your life.

The World: The World is an indicator of a major and inexorable change, of tectonic breadth. This change represents a chance for you to bring about a desirable end to the Old and a good beginning to the New. It is indicative of growing maturity, a sense of inner balance and deeper understanding. It suggests that you may be approaching a more final sense of identity, and the security in the self that comes with age. It also represents the falling away of boundaries, sometimes in the effusive sense of the spiritual, but sometimes in a purely physical sense, indicating travels or journeys in the future.