How will you connect with the Pagan Goddess that lives within you?

How to Discover the Goddess For You 

As Goddess energy is universal, shapeshifting, and multifaceted, many of the same Goddesses appear across cultures, taking on different names throughout time. You may resonate with one particular depiction of a Goddess as she was known in a specific time or place. You may research the transformation of a certain Goddess over centuries and honor all of them as the same entity. Many witches honor a more general, all-encompassing Goddess as one comprehensive aspect of the Divine. 

As there are infinite interpretations of Divine femininity, there are endless Goddesses and emanations to learn about. Working with Goddess energy can help you awaken the Goddess within! It is highly important that you reflect on your inner divinity and develop a relationship to your higher self to develop awareness of the type of energy you would like to cultivate. It can also be very helpful to reflect on your own ideas of gender identity and energy. These journal prompts can aid you in connecting with your needs when it comes to working with Goddess energy:

–> What beliefs do I hold when it comes to the terms “masculine” and “feminine”? Are these beliefs limiting or inspiring?

–> Which traits in myself do I want to strengthen or transmute? Do I view these traits as masculine or feminine, and why?

–> Do I associate my feminine traits as positive or helpful? Why or why not?

–> How have women, and mothers in particular, inspired me?

–> Which aspects of my gender identity have I had difficulty accepting or expressing? Which Goddess exhibits these traits in a way I understand or admire?

–> Which aspects of myself do I consider “Divine”? 

–> What skills, talents, or spiritual gifts do I want to honor in my practice?

How Do I Choose My Goddess?

Many beginner witches ask, “How do I pick my Goddess or Matron/Mother Deity?” Many experienced witches say you do not choose your Goddess, rather you get chosen by her. If you keep an eye open to the signs and synchronicities around you, reflect on the recurring themes in this stage of your Divine path, and meditate to allow spiritual messages in, a Goddess will likely make herself known to you. If a specific symbol, animal, or name has appeared to you repeatedly, this may be a deity trying to come through. Search for deities associated with these motifs, and you are likely to find a Goddess who has shown you more than one sign! It’s important to note that you are not required to work with any deities as a witch, but if you choose to open your heart to Divine energy, it can be extremely beneficial to your practice!

Have you been seeing signs and synchronicities, suspecting that they may be from a Goddess of the Witches? Are you ready to begin your research into the Dark Goddesses available to support your craft? Here are 5 Pagan Goddesses who are loved amongst witches…

Hecate
One of the most worshiped and accessible ancient Greek Goddesses is Hecate, who is heralded as “Queen of the Witches.” She is thought to have originated in Egypt as the Goddess Heqet, a popular Goddess who rules magick and fertility. As she is a powerful sorceress, she helps all witches who contact her manifest their dreams, become confident in their spellwork, and be supportive of one another with their magickal talents. She is a Goddess who encourages you to take matters into your own hands and use your tools to affect change in your community and protect yourself. If you are interested in sorcery, spell work, esoteric studies, and helping others with your magick, Hecate is the perfect Goddess to begin your journey with! Like her mother Nyx, Hecate is associated with the Triple Goddess Symbol. However, she is often associated with the Maiden phase of the Maiden, Mother, and Crone.

If the following signs appear to you, Hecate may be initiating you into her craft:

–> Ravens

–> Black dogs

–> Black Cats

–> The Moon

–> Torches

–> Bonfires

–> Matches

–> The Triple Goddess Symbol

In this video, our magickal guide Rebecca Phoenix will show you how to dedicate an altar to the Goddess Hecate, should you choose to work with her! 

Nyx

Mother of Hecate and primordial Greek Goddess of the Night, Nyx is another beloved Goddess who is protective and encouraging. As she is believed to have mothered over 1,000 deities and taken several lovers.. A maternal role is one you can expect when you accept her nurturing and fiercely protective energy into your life. As she created affection, magick, sleep, death, and much more, her powers are expansive. However, she is most recognized for her psychic abilities and can help her followers grow in their divination practices. 

Nyx was so protective of her gifts that she stayed in a shielded cave in Tartarus, the depths of the underworld. Only those dedicated enough to embark on a treacherous journey to her cavern could receive her wisdom. This speaks to her nature as a matron deity– if you don’t heed her advice with care, you may be subject to psychic chaos! She is a tough matron, but can help you increase your confidence, beauty, sensuality, psychic abilities. She will also encourage your protection spells, such as banishing, revenge, and psychic shielding rituals. Represented by the Triple Goddess, Nyx embodies all phases of womanhood but is most often depicted in her role as the mother.

The following correspondences may be a sign that Nyx is offering her Divine wisdom to you:

–> Owls

–> Bats

–> Horses

–> Bulls

–> Chariots

–> Stars

–> Horned and winged creatures

–> The Moon

–> The Wheel of Hecate Symbol

–> Labyrinths

–> The Triple Goddess Symbol

A depiction of Nyx pulling the night across the sky in her chariot of black horses from a vase ca. 500 B.C., courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum.

Aset (Isis)

The Egyptian Aset, more commonly known by the Greek translation of Isis, is another popular Goddess who is largely known for her healing and resurrection abilities taken from the Sun God Ra. When her jealous brother Seth murdered and dismembered her lover King Osiris, out of her true love and mourning, Aset transformed into a bird and found the scattered pieces of her husband in order to revive him. Being empowered by the Sun, Aset and Osiris conceived their son Horus, who is depicted as having the head of a falcon. Because of his father’s undead state and subsequent reign of the underworld, Horus was said to have both Aset’s Solar Energy paired with Osiris’ powers of darkness.

Her miracle child, devotion to her husband, and close relationship with her supportive sister Nebet-Het all speak to Aset’s prioritization of family and her determination to keep her family unit together. She is a wonderful Goddess to work with if you are interested in heart healing, growing in confidence and determination, working with spirits of passed loved ones, manifesting a devoted partner, healing family issues, or reviving a past situation via magick.

If you encounter these signs and synchronicities, Aset may be initiating you under her wing:

–> Eagles

–> Cows

–> The Sun

–> Mummies

–> Thrones

–> The Tyet Symbol, also known as the Knot of Isis

–> The Ankh

–> The Eye of Horus

–> Horns

Queen Nefertiti being lead by Isis by Charles K. Wilkinson, -1213, courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum.

Baba Yaga

If you’re interested in working with Crone energy, the Slavic ogress Baba Yaga is a Goddess of Death who offers the unhinged power of a woman who rejects feminine beauty standards and gender roles with reckless abandon. Not only does she allegedly kidnap, cook, and eat children with her two identically named sisters in their forest hut decorated in human skulls, she flies around in a mortar and pestle, smoking a pipe and guarding the waters of life as a companion of Death to feed on fresh souls. In some descriptions, she is said to have knives for teeth and eyes that can turn you to stone. Despite her naturally haggard appearance, she uses a beauty elixir, but only in order to trick or misguide others. 

Needless to say, Baba Yaga is fearless, unforgiving, and disorderly in her approach. Those who are pure of heart can earn her good graces and receive magickal gifts and wise advice from her. Many who study Baba Yaga awaken to the cyclical nature of life, seeing that creation and destruction go hand in hand. If you practice chaos magick, are reworking your relationship to feminine standards, or would like to embody the shameless energy of the Crone, you may consider opening yourself to her limitless power. Baba Yaga can help you shake up your creative process, experience ego death, unlearn limiting beliefs, release shame, and surrender to your most primal desires.

These signs and synchronicities may be a sign that Baba Yaga is entering your practice:

–> Howling Winds

–> Tea Kettles

–> Black Tea

–> Russian Foods and Desserts

–> Hunting Birds

–> Skulls

–> Cauldrons

–> The Sun

–> Hansel and Gretel tropes

–> Chickens and chicken legs

Crafting a horrible little hut for Baba Yaga on your altar is a wonderful way to honor her in your practice– if you can handle it!

Brighid

Brighid, the Celtic ruler of Hearth and Home, is another popular Pagan Goddess. Associated with the element of fire and the spring season, this adored matron deity is yet another emanation of the Triple Goddess, though she is most often depicted as the Maiden. As the Maiden, she is always expanding her knowledge of earthly matters and talents. She is known for being a charming poetess and a gifted creator of any domestic craft. She is skilled at cooking, playing instruments, and performing all forms of divination.

If you are looking to become an expert on any creative subject, Brighid can boost your domestic talents and passion for the material. If you are a witch in a creative rut, she can provide you with inspiration, skill, and motivation! Brighid is the perfect Goddess for those who want to manifest or improve their home, become an impressive host, fortify their physical health and nourishment, beautify themselves or their surroundings, have children, or grow their abundance!

These signs and symbols may be a sign from the Fire Mother Brighid:

–> Serpents

–> Rabbits

–> Fireplaces

–> Wheat

–> Spring Flowers

–> Flower Crowns

–> Basil

–> Instruments

–> Baby animals

–> Eggs

Weaving a Brighid’s cross is a lovely way to connect to the Goddess while crafting a protection and prosperity symbol that can be placed above your doorways or at your altar.

How To ‘Work’ With Your Goddess

So, you’ve recognized the presence of a Goddess in your life. Now what? Well, just like any friend in the earthly realm, you need to work to bond with your Goddess. There are endless ways to do this, and each witch’s relationship to a Goddess will be personal and unique. Here are some of the most common ways to bond with a deity in order to gain their wisdom and keep their presence a powerful and benevolent force in your practice.

1. Give her an offering.

2.Depending on the Goddess, the nature of this offering will vary. Many common offerings to Goddesses are food, baked goods, tea, fruit, fresh flowers, homemade art, figurines, jewelry, poetry, shells, stones, or water. Make sure to research your Goddess to find out what they like, and take note of their presence following the offering to learn what works and what doesn’t!

3. Build your Goddess an altar.

If you work regularly with a Goddess and want to honor her in a more permanent way, you may choose to create her an altar space. Consecrating a sacred space just for her offerings and rituals is a wonderful way to prove your dedication to maintaining a relationship. Altar items may include a photo or figurine of your Goddess, her favorite flowers, animals, and colors, offerings, and specific tools you use when working with her. Be sure to keep this space tidy and refresh offerings frequently to make it a welcoming space for her.

5. Connect to her through Divination.

Goddesses are enigmatic and serve a unique purpose in every witch’s life. To receive personal messages from your Goddesses use divinatory tools. Some examples are tarot and oracle, pendulums, tea leaves, meditations, or any other form of divination you prefer. Divination can reveal visions from your Goddess and give you psychic insight directly from her! 

In this video, Rebecca Phoenix will share with you the best divination tool for communicating with any Pagan Goddess or just the general archetypal energy of the Goddess. She also demonstrates a divination ritual for you to connect with your deity!

4. Speak to your Goddess often.

The easiest way to keep an open line of communication with your Goddess is to speak to her out loud and let her into your heart. Tell her directly what you are thinking and feeling and trust that she can hear you. If you are struggling to hear her response or are unsure of her presence, ask her to show you a sign, such as an animal she is associated with.

5. Research and read about your Goddess.

As much as you communicate your desires and feelings to her, it is important that you show the same interest and commitment to her by learning her story, her varying emenations, her roles in society throughout history, and her correspondences. This will ensure that she can make herself known to you in endless ways, and that you are honoring her in the correct ways.

Closing the Circle

Be patient and open minded when seeking a Goddess to work with in your practice. Remember that it’s completely normal for Goddesses to come and go throughout your life. There may be times when you strongly feel her presence, and times when she seems quiet, or even absent. It’s very common for a connection with Deity to ebb and flow, as it helps to lead you to your next destination. Do not panic if a Goddess does not seem present in your life – she will probably return at some point, and the timing will be perfect when she does. These absences can also be an opportunity to connect with another Goddess for this season of your life.

I’m sending you so much encouragement and positive energy as you tap into Goddess magick. May it supercharge your practice and bring you the wisdom and support you seek to enhance your journey!

With Love,
Galena Stormrider

The post 5 Pagan Goddesses To Work With: For Witches And Mystics appeared first on Simple Mystic Miracles Magickal Spell Casting Blog.

The Lovers tarot card, which is the harmonious number 6 in the tarot’s major arcana, often depicts two lovers on either side of a fork in the road. Watching above their diverging paths is Archangel Raphael, a symbol of divine love and emotional healing. At this point of the Fool’s Journey, the recipient of the tarot reading is faced with a choice– to love someone, or to focus their efforts in another direction. While most often interpreted as a sign of romantic love, the lovers on the card are sometimes portrayed as Adam and Eve. This card often represents relationship choices that are highly consequential, and encourages us to consider our endeavors with deep care! This card asks you to consider if the relationships are truly serving their greatest purpose.

In the upright position for a single person, the Lovers card may be inviting you to consider the prospect of love as a possibility for you, and honestly assess what you could gain or lose by stepping into romance. This card is often a sign that personal growth and healing can be achieved through fostering a more intimate connection with another, whether it is a friend or a romantic interest. This is a sign to say “yes” to deepening your connections, and refusing to open your heart could lead you down a less desirable path!

This could also be a sign that you have two options, both of which seem favorable. This is a sign to consider our long-term fulfillment while heading our intuitive feelings. Failing to trust your intuition at this time can lead to unforeseen obstacles down the road, even if you are unsure of why in the present moment.

The Lovers card is also associated with the mutable sign of Gemini, which is known for being flirty, chatty, optimistic, wavering, and indecisive. You are being asked to commit to one path at this time, and communicate clearly with your spirit guides and those you love about your actions and intentions. This is not the best time to avoid or put off important issues, especially if they are important to your partner. If you have the options of two lovers, you are being asked to pick one without cloudiness or deceit.

The most common depiction of the Lovers tarot card. The Lovers are often depicted as Adam and Eve, and are guided by Archangel Raphael.

In the reversed position, the Lovers card may be a sign that your love life will be redirected in order to stay on a path more aligned with your greater purpose or different blessings you are meant to receive. It could also be a sign that you have chosen a romantic situation that looks ideal on paper, but could distract you from your goals or end up having negative consequences in your life. Additionally, we may be asked to walk away from someone less ideal to make room for more positive or fulfilling partnerships. This may also be a sign that while a choice is apparent to you, you could be more successful on your own than in a partnership. This can also apply to business partnerships or even roommate proposals, though these types of business partners usually work rather closely.

Either way, when we are seeking relationship advice from the tarot, the Lovers is a sign to pay close attention to how your personal connections are affecting you in both the short and long-term. It also reminds us that our relationships should be symbiotic and inspire gratitude for the universal beauty in one another. Ask yourself if your close friends and partner(s) are supportive of your goals– not only by their ideals, but by their actions!

This card also speaks of self-love. When we have unity and harmony within the self, we can create healthier relationship dynamics and feel confident in these “either or” choices. A healthy relationship with the self ensures that you will make the best decision in this situation, regardless of this card’s position. This card often predicts that through being intentional about your heart healing and practicing self-compassion, you have developed a stronger relationship to your higher self and have grown in self-awareness.

Without self-awareness, we may feel uncomfortable taking a chance on love. However, knowing oneself deeply and loving oneself makes it possible to be interdependent with others while still having confidence in our ability to meet our own needs should the Wheel of Fortune turn out of our favor in love. Though trust takes vulnerability, self-assurance and inner peace make the risk of love a calculated and informed one. If you’re considering opening your heart to another, ask yourself what you will need to take this risk with full faith– not in your partner, but in yourself, your spiritual practice, and the inner wealth of magick you have to overcome any sticky situation.

If you have recently pulled the Lovers card in any position, here are several affirmations you may find useful during this time:

• I give love unconditionally and indiscriminately.

• I am opening my eyes to the love that surrounds me.

• I am receptive to the kindness of others.

• I am deserving of help, affection, and support.

• I am constantly blessed with opportunities to see the good in others.

• My intuition should be honored in all my decisions. Although the reason may be obscured to my conscious awareness, it will be revealed at the perfect time.

• Loving my flaws allows me to have deeper empathy for others.

• By the grace of the universe, we are all given opportunities to express love. I will take one today.

• I am responsible for my happiness and achievements.

• True bondedness is the anecdote to neediness.

• I surrender to the flow of partnership, which wanes and waxes.

• I am receptive to the discernment of the cosmos and the Divine.

• Every experience is an opportunity to deepen my relationship with myself and my guides.

• With intention, prayer, magick, and divine support, I have nothing to fear.

• The love meant for me will always find me.

• Healing myself heals others.

• We are all connected.

How To Work With The Lovers To Draw Your Soul Mate

Whenever you receive the Lovers card, you are being called to explore what it is you want in a relationship. What are the qualities that you truly want in a partner? What qualities do you want to exhibit yourself? How do these things coincide or conflict? 

Though simply put, these questions are rarely easy to answer! Luckily, these magickal activity tutorials can help you increase your self-awareness and self-love, magnetize romance toward you, and help you receive clarity about your past, present, or future circumstances.

• Take a spiritual bath inspired by the Lovers:

Spiritual baths cleanse your energetic field of any blockages, and when supercharged by this free love spell ingredients, create a potent and luxurious self-care experience that magnetizes you toward your desire. In this video, I discuss the concept of spiritual bathing and demonstrate drawing a bath that will encourage heart healing so you may find a new lover!

• Create a love altar to attract a new love! 

Did you know that altars can be dedicated to a specific magickal purpose, amplifying the intent behind your spellwork? In this video, your magickal guide Sirena Moon explores the use of altars dedicated to a specific purpose, and demonstrates the set up and maintenance of an altar dedicated to attracting a new love!

• Perform your own love reading with your favorite tarot deck! This Lovers Relationship Divination Spread I’ve designed will offer you insight into the qualities Spirit sees in your next or current romantic partnership.

Tarot Card Spread Used For A Tarot Love Spell

1. The Overall Vibe of Your Partnership: How might it feel when the two of you are together?

2. Their Characteristics: How might they act, behave, and carry themselves as an individual?

3. Their Feelings: How do they feel toward you?

4. Your Healing as a Partner: How could the relationship help you grow?

5. Their Healing As a Partner: How could the relationship help them grow?

6. Your Achievements as a Union: What can you accomplish as a team?

7. The Timeline: When might you meet this person, or if you already know them, when could your relationship advance?

8. Advice: What should you do to encourage a happy and healthy love life for yourself?

Pro Tip: Remain open minded, and know that these possibilities are always subject to the free will of you and your potential love interest! Additionally, keep in mind that the Divine will always want you to explore a possibility for a reason, even if it seems unlikely to you.

• Create a list or vision board to reflect on aspects of the relationships you enjoy and/or desire.

• Give a gift to a friend (no holiday required).

• Write 5 reasons you are grateful for another in your life.

• Reflect on a time you made a difficult decision.

• Refine elements of your self-care routine that you would like to implement or enhance.

• Reflect on how you can be a better friend or partner.

• Stick to one of your personal commitments (this increases self-love and self-respect).

• Reflect on a time when you successfully implemented a boundary with another person.

• Cast a love spell using the power of the lovers.

Casting A ‘Tarot Spell’ For Love (Your Free Love Spell)

Because the Lovers asks us to think critically about what we need in our relationships, this tarot card can promote healing and romance when used in magick. You may choose to meditate on this card before performing a free love spell, include it as an ingredient in a love bottle or pouch, or carry it in your pocket or purse to encourage Divinely guided encounters and decisions. 

Because the card represents crossroads in which love is a key element of an important choice, you may sleep with the Lovers under your pillow to encourage visions that will inform you on these decisions and show you ways to increase love in all areas of your life. You may also call upon Archangel Raphael to assist you in your heart healing, using the Lovers as a petition paper, and writing a prayer to him on the back of it.

To protect your relationship, you may anoint the card in a protective sigil using a shielding oil such as frankincense, patchouli or cedarwood. You may encourage receptivity to love in yourself and others by doing the same with a prosperity sigil using an oil such as jasmine, lavender, or neroli.

Pro tip: use dried herbs in your spells in order to grind them in your mortar and pestle and to prevent molding!

When considering your spell ingredients, here are some of my favorite herbs and oils!

• Dried apple shavings or seeds for fertility and health in relationships

• Cassia for self-assurance, intelligence, and self-respect

• Cinnamon for sensuality, passion, and excitement

• Chamomile for friendliness, pure intentions, and peace

• Chili flakes for sexuality, motivation, and intensity

• Lilies for beauty, softness, and receptivity

• Orange for renewal after a tough or stagnant period in love

• Rosebuds for new romance

• Dried rose petals for unconditional love

• Hinoki for collaboration, balance, and coordination

• Lavender for psychic communication and relaxation

Here are some of my favorite stones for love!

• Diamonds for love that withstands all weather
• Moonstone for intuitive and emotional romantic connection
• Ruby for passion, admiration, and family
• Angelite for forgiveness and empathy
• Celestite for angelic guidance and protection
• Opalite for even temperedness and calm communication
• Aquamarine for inner strength and bravery
• Rose Quartz for beauty and self-love
• Red Jasper for self-confidence and attraction

Overall, the Lovers tarot card always brings us the invitation to dive deeper into our understanding of ourselves and the spiritual purpose of partnerships. Remember that connections are meant to flow and evolve over time, just as any other cycle of life. Whether you are single, in love, growing in your self-love, or ending a connection, think carefully about how you give and receive love, and reflect on the impact those habits have on your wellbeing. When you see this card, your eyes and heart will be opened to the universal love that surrounds you in all its infinite forms!

I’m sending you compassion, empathy, and heart healing for the highest good of all. Don’t miss an opportunity to love today, even if it’s through one small act of kindness!  I hope you enjoyed your Free Love Spell with a “Tarot Twist”!

With Love and Gratitude,

Galena Stormrider

The post Tarot Spells: Free Love Spell With The Lovers Tarot Card appeared first on Simple Mystic Miracles Magickal Spell Casting Blog.

In order to help you set up an altar, I will show you the basic elements of a witchcraft altar, as well as how to decorate, cleanse, and protect it. Each altar is as unique as the witch who crafts it, so I encourage you to take these tips as a guide, not a rulebook!

This simple altar uses a triangular shelf to add height and storage space. The triangle represents manifestation and creation. Which shapes might you incorporate in your sacred space?

What Should Your Witchcraft Altar Include?

As you begin brainstorming what your magickal workspace will look like, remember that altars come in all shapes and sizes. The magick of witchcraft comes from tools and symbols that resonate with your personal power. Therefore, you have the freedom to use anything and everything that feels sacred, important, or relevant to you, as this is your sacred space! Use the birth of your altar to practice your creativity and resourcefulness.

Firstly, you will need to decide on the best location for all your magickal workings. A witchcraft altar can be used for meditation, spellwork, divination, and ritual, so think about the atmosphere, privacy, and amount of space you will need to perform these activities comfortably. Typically, witches will choose to use a table, dresser, nightstand, or desk as their altar surface. You may want to cover the altar surface with an altar cloth that feels magickal to you. 

People who are in the broom closet, or keep their magickal practice hidden, may choose to keep their altar hidden, or set up a witching altar that is small, obscured, or travel-sized. A simple candle on a nightstand can be the perfect altar for a witch that needs to go noticed. There is also something quite mystical and mysterious about keeping your magickal tools hidden in a drawer, chest, or shoe box.

A box containing a witch’s altar tools such as candles, crystals, a lighter, and a bundle of sage.]

Witches who travel often or want their altar to remain impermanent may choose to create a travel altar. These types of altars usually consist of the most basic tools or small, mini-sized tools. They only include what one needs to do spellwork on the fly, and can be kept in a pencil pouch, shoe box, or my personal favorite– an altoid tin! While these types of altars may feel more temporary, a travel altar allows you to practice magick anywhere you go! You may want to include:

• A piece of selenite or clear quartz
• Birthday candles or tealight candles
• Matches
• Chalk for drawing sigils
• A vial of salt water
• Sticky notes or a pocket notebook
• A pen (which doubles as a wand)

In this video tutorial, the gifted Sirena Moon will show you how to create a travel altar!

Lucky witches who have access to the outdoors may even choose to set up their magickal witching altars in nature, especially during the warmer seasons. Communal altars may be set up in public spaces for all to leave offerings or pray at, sometimes to specific spirits or deities. If you decide to set up an altar in a public or natural space, remember to maintain it and make sure your tools and offerings do not become litter in your precious environment! 

Next, you will need to decide which tools you would like to use during your magickal practices. You’ll keep many of these on your witchcraft altar. These are the things you will want to keep on, or nearby your witchcraft altar. Most often, witches will have tools on their altar that represent the energy of each of the five elements. As you call on the elements in your spellwork, the following tools may come in handy…

• Earth: Crystals, a bowl of salt, a jar of crossroads dirt or sand, a pentacle, a bowl of coins. Earth elements are typically kept on the North portion of the altar.
• Air: Incense, a feather, a sage bundle, a bell, bird imagery. Air elements are typically kept on the East portion of the altar.
• Water: A chalice filled with ritual water, seashells, seaglass, driftwood, mermaid or siren imagery. Water elements are typically kept on the West portion of the altar.
• Fire: Candles, a wand, an athame. Note: Wands and athames are considered to represent the element of Air by some witches. Choose the association that works best for you! Fire elements are typically kept on the South portion of the altar.
• Spirit: Symbols, photos, and animal totems that represent specific deities or ancestors you work with, offerings to deities and spirits you work with, or divination tools such as pendulums, tarot decks, and dice. Spirit elements are typically kept in the center portion of the altar.

You may choose only a few of these tools, or you may choose all of them! Experiment with minimalist and maximalist approaches, colorful and monochrome, or larger and smaller spaces. Figure out what feels most inspiring to you, and take into consideration the colors and symbols of any deities you honor, as well as the current season and magickal holidays. 

A public shrine to the Virgin Mary

How To Make Your Witchcraft Altar Magickal

Before you begin practicing at your altar, you will want to ensure this sacred workspace is cleansed of any negative energies. By performing the following cleansing ritual, you will make sure that you’re working on a clean slate and that no lingering energies from the space interfere with your magick. Be sure to maintain the cleanliness of your altar by repeating this ritual weekly, monthly, or as you feel necessary. Many witches, myself included, choose to cleanse their altars toward the end of a lunar cycle to start the new moon with a fresh canvas.

In this video tutorial, I will show you how to set up a beginner witching altar and bless it for magickal use. 

You will need:

• A cleaning rag
• Moon water, holy water, or salt water
• Florida water or another cleansing liquid of your choice
• A sage bundle or protective incense such as Frankincense
• A Divine oil of your choosing such as Frankincense or Jasmine

STEP #1: First, make sure your windows are open as you do this, to allow the negative energies an escape route.

STEP #2: Beginning with your barren surface, start with a physical wipe down. You may use a rag doused in florida water, which has spiritual and physical cleansing properties. You may also use lemon or vinegar water. As you do so, set your intentions for purifying the altar surface.

STEP #3: If you’re using an altar cloth, wash or spray it with the same cleanser you used to clean the table before placing it onto the surface.

STEP #4: Next, light your incense or sage bundle and wave the smoke over your altar. As you do so affirm that this altar is cleansed of all energies.

STEP #5: Using moon water, holy water, or a protective oil such as frankincense, anoint the surface in the shape of a pentacle. This will boost the magickal energy of your altar and recharge it with the power of the five elements. Jasmine oil works well if you’re looking to charge your altar with more lunar energy, which helps aid divination abilities.

STEP #6: Now that your altar itself is cleansed and charged, you will need to cleanse the tools and items you will place upon it. You can do this by waving incense or sage smoke over each tool, and thanking each item for serving you on your magickal journey.

Once your altar is set up and you feel ready to put it to use, you may bless the space with the following consecration ritual.

You will need:

• Letter writing paper
• An envelope
• A writing utensil
• An offering of 5 coins or rose petals

STEP #1: Sit in front of your cleansed and charged altar with the intention of being open to its vibrational energy. What is your altar’s vibe? Maybe it’s a safe and nurturing space where you feel comfortable and relaxed. Maybe it’s an academic space where you will study and put your spiritual wisdom to the test. Maybe it’s supercharged, making you feel powerful and limitless. Maybe it’s all of the above!

STEP #2: As you feel the energy of your altar, get back in touch with your personal energy. How will this altar serve your magickal purpose?

STEP #3: Write a letter to your altar thanking it for serving this magickal purpose.

STEP #4: Place this letter into the envelope along with the offering. Your five coins or flower petals represent the hand of the Divine, as well as the five elements.

STEP #5: On the outside of the envelope, write the following: I bless this altar with the power to aid my magickal workings. Protect me from all unwelcome energies, and serve my unique magickal mission.

STEP #6: Stash this envelope in a secret compartment, a drawer, or in between some books on your altar!

How To Use Your Magickal Altar

A witch working some potent magick at her altar. Many witches choose to adopt this more antiquated aesthetic for historic inspiration!

Now that you’re all set up, your witchcraft altar will serve as a home base for your spellwork, rituals, journaling, and so much more! Many baby witches are unsure of how often they must visit their altar or what sort of magickal workings are best performed there. The truth is, there is no wrong way to utilize your altar! Trust your intuition, and remember that your altar is meant to serve you– and not the other way around. Your witching altar is there for you to visit whenever it intuitively feels good to do so.

Some witches make a point to visit their altars daily and/or nightly, especially to begin or end their day with gratitude journaling. Other witches may practically live at their altars, allowing their mundane tasks to be supported by their magickal foundation. Some may only visit their altars for the eight sabbats or for special lunar and solar events.

The great thing about your altar is that it is always available to you whenever you need magickal support in any task. Nearly every witch will go through periods in which they do not visit their altar as frequently as they would like to. As a result, dust may collect and the magickal energy may become stagnant. If this happens, do not feel guilty! 

As all things in our lives, our magickal practice will ebb and flow. If you find that your altar space does not appeal to you, ask yourself what you can do to liven up the space and make it more practical for you. Consider decorating for the season, finding inspiration online, or choosing an area of your home that is more cozy to work in.

Lastly, do not feel pressured to imitate other witches. We are all unique, and what works well for one witch may simply not resonate with you. While some are inspired by antiquated aesthetics, some witches keep their altars on their tech devices. Appreciate what suits others, but do not give up on finding what suits you!

Your Magickal Milestone

In closing, I hope you find setting up your magickal witchcraft altar to be a fun and creative process. Creating your witching altar is a rite of passage that each witch should be extremely proud of. Congratulations on taking this step toward affirming and supporting your spiritual path!

May your altar be inviting, powerful, and protected as you grow into yourself, witchling! I am sending you Divine love and light in all of your magickal activities.

With Gratitude,

Galena Stormrider

The post Witchcraft Altars: How To Set Up An Altar For A Beginner Witch appeared first on Simple Mystic Miracles Magickal Spell Casting Blog.

How To Practice Self Love Daily

While every person deserves to prioritize their self-care, there are quite a few reasons self-care is vital for witches. Firstly, witchy self-care can increase your magickal power. When you take care of your physical and spiritual bodies, you will have the ethereal energy to cultivate and utilize your magick to its fullest potential!

Secondly, witchcraft calls on you to work with many different energies. It is crucial that you practice good spiritual hygiene by cleansing yourself of external energies and keeping your vibration pure. When you don’t, it can cause you to feel lethargic, exhausted, or even depressed. You can cleanse your sacred space easily by using incense or sage in your home and at your altar when you clean. Just make sure your windows are open for the energy to leave through. You can cleanse your body by taking salt baths, eating citrus fruits, and using essential oils such as tea tree, rosemary, or lemon. Be sure that any essential oils applied to the skin are diluted with a carrier oil! You can use olive oil, grapeseed oil, almond oil and so on.

Additionally, it is vital for you to practice self-care and self-love by enforcing boundaries with others, yourself, and the spiritual energies you work with. Boundaries in your physical relationships are just as depleting to your personal power as energetic boundaries with the spirit world are.

For example, if you tend to make decisions that please others at the cost of your own happiness, you may betray yourself and give more of your effort to others than you are capable of. This can leave you too tired to perform magick and protect yourself properly while doing so. On the flipside, you may keep strong walls up, never allowing others to help, love, or nurture you. It is important for witches to be receptive to support, from our loved ones and from the Divine. Support helps us to enact our will and receive blessings and our manifestations.

One intentional moment of self love each day can be transformative. What will you do to care for yourself toda

In order to ensure that you have time and space to practice self-care, it is important to assess the amount of time you spend on yourself, your responsibilities, and the needs or desires of others. Answer the following journal prompts in order to analyze your relationship to boundaries:

How can I help myself more?
In what areas do I wish to receive help more often?
In what ways can I afford to give help?

Set boundaries with your own mind. Replace negative self-talk and limiting beliefs with gratitude and loving affirmations. This is key to spiritual success. If you struggle with negative thoughts, you make a self-loving commitment to yourself to speak at least one positive affirmation daily. Seek support via therapy or from your loved ones. Practicing shadow work in order to heal.

Finally, you must also enforce boundaries with the spiritual realm, especially if you are performing healing or divination work. When practicing divination, I draw an “X” over my third eye to signify to Spirit that I am finished channeling. Closing your channels will ensure that you aren’t continually receiving messages, which can be exhausting.

Boost your psychic protection by wearing crystals that transmute negative energies into positive ones and fortify your energetic forcefield. Wonderful crystals for protection are hematite, amber, black obsidian, and black tourmaline. Some crystals known for invoking Divine protection are pink tourmaline, aquamarine, and turquoise. If you work with certain deities, research crystals associated with them to invoke their protection. Be sure to cleanse your crystals in salt or incense smoke and charge them often by the sun or moon!

[Insert Tourmaline.jpg with caption: Black Tourmaline is a powerful crystal that acts as a psychic forcefield for spiritual protection.]

How To Tailor Magickal Self Love Practice To Meet Your Needs

As you set boundaries and dedicate yourself to your self-care routines, make a list of practices that are practical for you. As you consider the following suggestions, ask yourself which practices are most accessible and suitable for your needs. In other words, which practices can you realistically see yourself attempting?

Self-massage: This act of self-love is a wonderful way to wind-down at night. Use lavender or jasmine essential oils and massage your shoulders, hands, and feet to help you relax and grow your compassion. You may also massage yourself with crystals to add extra pressure and imbue your massage with metaphysical properties. Ruby and garnet are known to stimulate blood circulation and bring passion and joy to your life. Jasper increases your courage and motivation. Rose quartz increases your self-love, while Lapis Lazuli can help you gain greater mastery of your mind.

Kitchen Witchcraft: Eating is non-negotiable for your well being. Simply add intention to your cooking to make this a magickal act. Show yourself care by using food to nourish yourself and meet both your magickal and physical needs. Make a list of these needs and note the ingredients associated with them. Here are some ideas to start with:

• chocolate and cocoa powder for love and compassion
• honey for kindness and sweetness
• lettuce for relaxing
• root vegetables for grounding

Cooking with magickal intention can nourish the soul with self caring.

Sound Healing: From your favorite music, to singing bowls, to binaural beats – there are endless ways to show yourself some love through sound. Certain frequencies provide various healing benefits such as chakra unblocking and aligning, deeper sleep, heart awakening, and heightened intuition! For example, music tuned to 444 Hz is known to provide angelic healing. Schumann resonances, or peaks in the low frequency portions of Earth’s electromagnetic field, are a 7.83 Hz frequency that provides healing and serenity through the Earth’s heartbeat. Playing binaural beats and sound bath playlists while you are sleeping or working is a great way to care for yourself and calm your mind without adding an extra task to your schedule.

Subliminal Affirmations: Listening to subliminal affirmations while you work, meditate, or sleep feeds your subconscious with positive, high-vibration thoughts. Choose affirmations you would like to align with in your waking life. The power of positivity is vital for feeling, behaving, and showing up as your best self. Though sometimes the stressors of life can make this difficult. Subliminal affirmations give you the extra boost of positivity your brain needs to recover and bounce back from a tough day, especially if you struggle with negative thoughts. This can passively reshape the language your brain is comfortable with hearing and using in your waking life.

Wash it Off: An easy way to feel lighter at the end of a tough day or week is to cleanse yourself with salt and essential oils such as tea tree, lavender, and chamomile. When you do, use the power of intention to visualize all your worries and burdens being washed down the drain. This is a great way to add a refreshing boost of self-love to your shower routine. Plus it clears your energy field for more powerful magick!

Use the frequencies of sound to fortify your self love spells and daily rituals!

My favorite thing about these activities is that none of them take a lot of time, so they aren’t an added burden to an already busy schedule. When we are not feeling our best, self-care can sometimes feel like another chore. When you are feeling absolutely fatigued or struggling with chronic depression, release expectations of yourself. When you need time to overcome fatigue or depression, worrying about what you think you should be doing can prevent self-care from actually being restful.

It’s also important to note that productivity can sometimes be a form of self-care, though these things are often talked about as separate entities. If you are struggling with perfectionism, procrastination, or work anxiety, you may benefit from productive self-care by scratching things off your to-do list. One quick way to do this is by cleaning your room and taking your work tasks one step at a time. Unburdening yourself in this way is absolutely a form of showing up for yourself and taking care of your inner child so your needs may be met.

Ensure that you strike a proper balance between productivity and leisure by having firm boundaries with your work schedule, and say no to tasks that you may be unable to handle effectively. While not every human is given the luxury of turning down work, each human is inherently worthy of self-love and leisure time. If you may, advocate for this right by modeling self-love, setting standards of self-care and boundaries in your workplace, and being an example for others! When you take time to rest and recharge, you are claiming that your spirit deserves time to be nurtured, just as everyone’s spirit does!

Simple Self Love Spells for the Modern Witch

Use the power of witchcraft to recharge, replenish, and love yourself with these simple, magickal self love spells!

Galena’s Recharge and Replenish Ritual

In this video demonstration, I will show you how to perform a simple recharge and replenish ritual that is perfect for beginner witches.

For this ritual you will need:

• A glass of water for purification
• A fresh lemon or orange to represent solar energy
• A clear quartz or citrine crystal for harnessing light
• A white candle for cleansing

Begin by centering and grounding.

Add the juice of a lemon or orange to your water and place it before you.

Light the candle and hold the clear quartz in your hands.

Close your eyes and breathe deeply, allowing yourself to settle and feel a sense of internal balance.

When you are ready, hold the crystal to your forehead and say to yourself, “I call on solar energy to cleanse and charge me. Illuminate my needs so I may feel powerful once more. I will be patient, graceful, and kind with myself as you replenish my mind, body, and spirit.”

Then, drink the water and keep the crystal close to you as you recover!

Be compassionate and patient with yourself as your energy and motivation returns!

Rebecca Phoenix’s Self Love Ritual Altar

In this video demonstration, Rebecca Phoenix will show you how to dedicate an altar to your self love practice. This is a lovely place to perform the recharge and replenish ritual, as well as other rituals for your well being and confidence.

[Insert Rebecca’s Self-Love Altar Video and steps]

Rebecca Phoenix’s How To Practice Self Love Witchcraft Tips for Enchanting Your Beauty Routine

These magickal self love tips from Rebecca Phoenix will allow you to enchant your beauty routine and fortify your hair, skin, and nails for an inner and outer glow.

Did you know that you can give yourself magickal self care just by adding some intentional and magickal elements to your daily skin, hair and teeth routine? Integrating magick into tasks and routines that we already do daily, is a great way to magickally take care of ourselves.

STEP 1: Before washing your face, or applying skin care, or make-up, enchant each item. You can do this by blowing magick into each item before you apply it. Set your intention, and use your imagination to see your breath as a glowing light. Imagine your beauty products glowing with magickal energy, and feel that magickal energy infuse into your skin, giving you an inner and outer glow!

STEP 2: In many cultures it is believed that our hair is an extension of our nervous system. That, like an antenna, it helps us receive Divine messages and sense our surroundings. In this way, your hair acts as a shield, an alarm system, and a conduit between you and the Divine. While you brush or comb your hair, imagine strength and courage being infused throughout the strands. Set an intention to receive messages from the Divine, through your hair.

STEP 3: As magickal practitioners, many of us have had to hide who we truly are. To keep ourselves safe we have had to keep our truth to ourselves, making our words not quite sincere. This can lead to a lack of true self-expression and self-love. Set an intention that while you floss your teeth, you are flossing out these insincerities and any words or expressions that are not in alignment with your highest truth. As you brush your teeth, set the intention that you are brushing in your truest expression, setting your mouth and your voice free, expressing whatever is in your highest good and your highest truth.

Closing the Self Love Circle

Just as you must take physical care of your bodies, magickal self-care can fortify your spiritual health and enhance your power. Even in a busy world, one intentional moment in your day can be reclaimed for self-love. May these tips for self-care inspire your practice and help you thrive on your magickal path!

With Love and Gratitude,
Galena Stormrider

The post Self Love Spells: How To Practice Self Love As A Witch appeared first on Simple Mystic Miracles Magickal Spell Casting Blog.

Many people who are new to reading tarot cards are hesitant, put off, or even offended when they first receive The Fool card. The term “fool” is associated with ignorance, oblivion, and of course, foolishness. However, those dedicated to learning tarot will soon come to understand that the Fool card is actually a sign of optimism, unexpected surprises, and a welcome new beginning.

This is because the Fool is set to embark upon a new journey. And that journey is represented by the major arcana. The 22 cards of the major arcana are often referred to as “The Fool’s Journey,” with each card being a stage of the long and winding path to spiritual fulfillment.

As card zero, the Fool represents all of us at the beginning of our spiritual paths, with a sense of wonderment and uncertainty for what’s ahead. We are all the Fool, and throughout our lives we will always have more to learn and experience.

When first learning how to read tarot cards, it’s important to remember that The Fool is a reminder to us that we are each on a divine path towards enlightenment, and will never reach a set destination of being ultimately “enlightened.” At any point on our spiritual journeys, we will be put in situations where we are beginners again. In these situations, we must surrender our need to control or know what is next, and simply trust that we are being divinely guided.

Following the Fool, each archetype of the major arcana represents a person, experience, or phase of awakening that the Fool encounters as he searches for meaning. As you learn tarot magick, it will be helpful for you to consider adopting the characteristics of the major arcana cards in order to advance your journey as the Fool.

As you learn each card of the major arcana, think of them as a chapter of your spiritual growth, which you may be asked to revisit at any time. Ask yourself why the Fool needs to experience the energy of this card. What wisdom does this chapter teach the Fool?

If you are brand new to reading tarot cards for yourself, consider applying the “Fool’s Journey” to this New Beginning’s Tarot Spread…

Learning to walk the “Fool’s Journey” is the first step for learning how to read tarot cards.

Walking With The Fool When First Learning How To Read Tarot Cards

Knowing the meaning of each major arcana card makes each stage of the Fool’s Journey more understandable. Below is an explanation of each stage of the Fool’s Journey as it relates to the Rider-Waite tarot, the most common deck, and it’s also a good starting place when learning tarot reading.

Note: The Rider-Waite tarot largely reflects a medieval Christian mindset, and it’s a great place to start learning how to read tarot cards. While many find this progression to be quite applicable across cultures, and tarot practitioners are not inherently limited to a particular religion, those who do not resonate with this telling of the Fool’s journey may wish to choose a tarot deck that carries different meanings of the major arcana. There are endless tarot decks to choose from, some with less biblical influence.

The Fool: The Fool is in a state of wonder, ignorance, and optimism. In this card, the Fool is often depicted on the edge of a cliff. This represents the moment before we are plunged deep into the unknown world of mysticism. This is a stage in which we develop our first inkling of spiritual awareness, or the understanding that we can choose to embark on a journey towards finding our purpose. Although he may not know why he is where he is or what he will do next, he develops full faith that the universe will reveal it to him at the perfect time. Thus, his journey begins!

The Magician: The Magician is the first person the Fool meets on his journey. When learning how to read tarot cards, it’s important to understand that The Magician teaches the Fool about manifestation, and manifests each of the four suits (cups, wands, swords and pentacles) into the Fool’s sack. In this stage, the Fool learns that he has the power to use each of the four elements to his advantage, must manage his resources wisely, and that he can manifest abundance as the Magician has.

The High Priestess: The High Priestess is the next person the Fool meets on his journey. The High Priestess reveals to the Fool the power of intuition. The Fool is in awe of her secret knowledge and is confronted with her mysterious allure. In this stage, the Fool is shown the characteristics of tact and taught to trust his intuition when faced with the unknown.

The Empress: The Fool next encounters the Empress, who embodies the feminine aspects of creation. She is often depicted as pregnant in a garden or field of wheat, representing the growth of ideas and planted seeds. From her, the Fool learns compassion, creativity, patience, and the abundance that comes from nurturing one’s ideas.

The Emperor: The Fool then meets the Emperor, who takes care of the practical elements of his abundance with the Empress. Organized and efficient, his Empire runs like a well-oiled machine. The Fool learns from him the importance of efficiency, practicality, delegation, and balancing creative passion with action in the physical realms.

The Hierophant: The Hierophant is the next person to aid the Fool. He is a spiritual leader and a master of religious routine, knowledge, tradition, and history. In this stage, the Fool witnesses the power that comes with spiritual discipline and clear conviction.

The Lovers: As the Fool encounters a romantic interest, he also encounters a fork in the road in the Lovers card. Will he choose to integrate another into his path, or will he continue on his own? Aligning with another means allowing his values, routines, and goals to be influenced, and it is difficult to discern if this will be for better or worse. In this stage the Fool learns about reevaluation, consequence, integration, and values.

Learning Tarot Reading: The Fool Card

The Chariot: The Fool next encounters the Chariot, which is driven by the Magician who has now worked his way up to becoming a prince. The Magician’s manifestation has gained him fortune and stature in the material realms, and the horses pulling his chariot are racing rapidly toward further success. He is a welcomed reminder that success is possible, hard work pays off with determination, and that obstacles can be overcome. Here, the Fool learns dedication, commitment, confidence, and faith in his talents.

Strength: In the Strength card, the Fool encounters a woman being approached by a wild lion. As he thinks to save her, she simply places her hands on the lion’s jaw and closes it gently. The lion is tamed by her quiet power, and entranced by her calm nature. In this experience, the Fool learns that there is a time for brute force and a time to allow one’s inner strength to speak for itself. In this stage, the Fool learns that strength and confidence emanate from within.

The Hermit: Next on his journey, the Fool encounters the Hermit, dressed humbly in a worn robe. While he does not think much of the Hermit at first, the Hermit reveals immense wisdom and deeper understanding of the universe, acquired by a long period of soul-searching. Here, the Fool learns a valuable lesson in seeing each person he encounters as a teacher. He is also inspired to look deeper within himself, and finds the value of looking within to find true meaning as opposed to only seeking material wealth, public accolades, or external relationships that do not align with his core values.

The Wheel of Fortune: As he is shown by the Hermit how little he truly knows, the Fool is now re-evaluating his priorities, and once again feels that he is at the beginning of his journey. The Wheel of Fortune represents a period of time in which the Fool feels subjected to the whims of the universe and learns that while he does have free will, he does not have control as he once thought. This stage represents the cyclical nature of spiritual growth, a humbling period, and a need to surrender to change. It also represents a need to integrate this change knowing that it is for his highest good, and that the universe is working with him as opposed to against him.

Discover The Meaning Of Tarot Cards

Justice: Following this humbling, the Fool is now forced to see the truth of his whole being, acknowledging his potential, his ignorance, his capabilities, his faults, and his ambitions. Seeing this whole picture, he is now asked to accept the consequences of his past mistakes to move forward with clarity, balance, and accountability by facing a judge in the Justice card. While some truths may be harsh, the Fool learns what he needs to in order to move forward with realism.

The Hanged Man: In the Hanged Man, we see the Fool depicted hanging upside down, representing his changed perspective. His ability to look at things from a new angle leads him to spend time reflecting before taking his next action. In this stage the Fool integrates the lessons he learned from Justice and allows a pause in action in order to fully grasp the situation at hand.

Death: Counterintuitively, the Death card does not represent the Fool’s physical death. After the reflection he has done, the Fool is ready to shed his old habits and transform into a more realized and aware version of himself. He is able to put to death old ideas, roles, and identities which won’t serve him on the next leg of his journey. In this stage, the Fool learns about transformation, rebirth, pressure, adaptation, loss, and flexibility.

Temperance: The next stop on your journey for learning how to read tarot cards, is temperance.  Following this transformation, the Fool is clear-minded about the purpose of the lessons he has learned and can continue his journey with faith in the divine support he’s receiving. Although this rebirth was difficult, enduring transformation for his highest good has renewed both his faith and his discipline in the material realms. In this card, we often see an angel (often regarded as archangel Michael) mixing two liquids together. This represents the Fool’s newfound power of blending spirituality and practicality, sacrifice with abundance, and faith during hardship. In this stage, the Fool also realizes that he can call on angelic support to help him cleanse his ego and stay committed to his new values.

The Devil: Though renewed and empowered once more, the Fool encounters the Devil next – outside influences that attempt to disempower him. This stage is a reminder that there will always be temptation for the ego, and that bad habits may cause him to regress if uncontrolled. This card often depicts a devil who has enslaved two people, but if you look closely, you will notice that their chains are loose enough to be removed at will. This symbolizes the Fool’s need to love himself over his temptations.

The Tower: In addition to the temptation of self betrayal, the Tower card brings upon the Fool a series of tragic misfortunes. In this stage, the Fool feels as though his foundations are being uprooted, and all his stability is compromised. This card depicts a giant tower, representing the Fool’s ideas of security, being struck down by lightning. The Fool suffers from spiritual desolation as he experiences loss and turmoil, and cannot see a way forward. This period, which some mystics and Catholics refer to as a “dark night of the soul” tests the Fool’s faith in every way.

The Star: As the dust of the Tower’s destruction clears, the North Star emerges, instilling within the Fool a glimmer of hope. As he looks up at the stars, he is reminded that he is connected to something greater than his perceived experiences. He enters a period of calm and serenity in which he is able to heal from the pains he has experienced. Although some hits have been taken, the Fool’s faith is fortified and he will continue his journey with acceptance that he is divinely guided. From this point on, he will always be able to find resolution in his spirituality when life is difficult.

The Moon: As he processes all he has learned and experienced, the Fool spends a period of time meditating and reflecting. This brings to the surface many of the doubts and worries he has been carrying, and he is able to process them by releasing fear. As he learns more about himself through this introspection, he becomes aware of what his intuition feels like. His psychic abilities are awakened, and he learns to let go of the fear of the unknown.

The Fool Meets The Moon On The Fool’s Journey

The Sun: As this card often depicts a small child on a horse, the Fool feels childlike joy and momentum once more. The Sun uplifts and re-energizes the Fool, allowing him to feel optimistic and take action towards his new ideas. With his psychic abilities, strength, and faith enhanced, he is ready to go after his manifestations with newfound determination. In this stage, the Fool experiences gratitude, happiness, playfulness, celebration, and excitement.

Judgment: In the Judgment card, Spirit asks the Fool to consider his journey thus far, as he will be tested to see if his desires are in alignment with his soul’s needs. During this phase, the Fool asks himself where he really wants to spend his energy. He is aware that he has an opportunity to defy his past circumstances and is asked by his angels to consider carefully the direction in which he wants to grow.

The World: Having taken his angel’s advice with discernment, the Fool feels a sense of co-creation with the divine. He feels a sense of alignment, and he is sure that he is on a path that is fulfilling and worthwhile. In this phase, the Fool experiences completion, wholeness, oneness, and connection to pure love. He also becomes aware of the cyclical nature of the human experience and sees the bigger picture of the divine order of things.

Overall, understanding the story of the Fool’s Journey can help us remember the lessons of the tarot and see how the meaning of each tarot card relates to our experiences as we travel along our own spiritual paths.

As you create your own path by learning how to read tarot cards, you may wish to meditate on the major arcana. Pathworking, a form of meditation in which you visualize stepping into a particular setting such as one of the major arcana and explore the world within the card. In this video, I explain the concept of pathworking, how it can aid your spiritual journey, and how it is practiced.

Pathworking is a skill that relies heavily on visualization and imagination, so if you need some help with that before attempting pathworking, you can check out my visualization hack video here…

Closing The Circle On This Lesson For Learning Tarot Card Reading

Remember that the Fool’s Journey isn’t linear. No matter how much we learn, there is always value and new insight to be gained by revisiting a phase of our spiritual path, either through reflection on the tarot, direct experience in the physical realms, or through pathworking meditation. Regardless of one’s experiences, we are all the Fool in one way or another, and relating the major arcana to your personal experiences can help you learn how to read tarot cards and gain an enriched understanding of the meaning of the cards and how they apply to your personal journey.

I’m wishing you all the best in your spiritual endeavors. May you use tarot magick to learn more about yourself, the tarot, and the divine!

With Love and Gratitude,

Galena Stormrider

The post How To Read Tarot Cards: The Fool’s Journey appeared first on Simple Mystic Miracles Magickal Spell Casting Blog.

How To Choose The Right Divination Tools For You

To help you identify your strongest sense, and the best divination tools for you, read through the different learning styles and identify which one resonates most strongly with you.

Crystal ball divinations are just one of many types.

Visual Learning Style

If you have a visual learning style, or have intuitive ideas in response to vivid imagery, choose a divination method that triggers visions within your mind’s eye. You are likely to experience clairvoyance (psychic sight), in which you experience visions. Engaging in visual forms of divination may also lead you to experiencing other forms of psychic ability. Witches with this learning style are most likely to learn and remember information best by seeing someone demonstrate or perform an action. You probably love learning from other witches through videos!

You are naturally gifted at interpreting divine messages through pictures. In this case, tarot and oracle cards would likely appeal strongly to your visual senses, as they are a creative and colorful tool, rich with pictorial symbolism.

You may also be talented at automatic drawing, a method of divination that involves channeling divine messages while drawing or interpreting art created by the subconscious.

As a visual witch you may also have a knack for scrying or fortune telling, with crystal balls, mirrors, tea leaves, or incense smoke. The interpretation of tea leaves is called Tasseomancy, and you may look into buying special cups with charts on them that are made specially for interpretation. This may appeal to visual types because you have vivid imaginations, and with practice will see many images when looking into these tools.

Incense smoke can be interpreted for divination purposes.

Auditory Learning Style

If you have an auditory learning style, you are sensitive to sound. You process events in your life through music, or remember important information more clearly if it is told to you, as opposed to reading it. Witches with this learning style are likely to experience clairaudience, or psychic hearing.

Shufflemancy, a form of divination in which one interprets a song chosen from a playlist on shuffle mode, may appeal to your auditory senses. When using this method, it can be helpful to choose a number with spiritual significance to you or the person you are channeling for, and press the skip button that number of times. When performing shufflemancy, you can interpret the lyrics within the context of the situation you’re assessing.

You may also experience ringing in the ears or a sensitivity to certain tones and frequencies. Meditating to binaural beats or sound baths may provide you with many psychic messages. Playing songs while performing other divination forms can add bonus clarification to your channeling. Try using tools such as bells or sound bowls to trigger your psychic skills.

Divination by sound in general is known as alveromancy. Tap into your intuition and ask what a particular sound is making you feel or think. Alveromancy may trigger other psychic experiences outside of the auditory. As a rule of thumb, trust your first thought!

Kinesthetic Learning Style

If you learn by action or movement, you likely have a kinesthetic learning style. Witches with this learning style often learn by “doing” as opposed to watching. Kinesthetic learners are likely to experience clairsentience, or psychic feeling.

While channeling, you may physically embody outside knowledge. For example, your body may take on the feelings and experiences of those you’re divining about. These learning types must be careful to protect themselves from experiencing physical ailments or negative emotions of others, especially if they are particularly empathic!

As a kinesthetic witch you will likely favor divination tools that allow you to connect with divine messages through action. Rolling dice, also known as astragalomancy, may be particularly satisfying to you. It can be helpful to buy dice with special symbols or astrological signs on them, as well as mats made to roll on top of as pictured here.

Dice can also be used in more intricated witchcraft divinations.

You may also receive many psychic messages through meditative yoga or exercise. Some mediums channel messages on the treadmill, because movement can occupy the conscious mind and allow divine knowledge to flow!

Writing and Reading Learning Style

If you learn best by reading text or taking notes, you probably have a reading and writing learning style! As you may have guessed, witches who benefit from this learning style are often talented with automatic writing. Writing, doodling, and scribbling may help you receive divine messages through clairvoyance, clairaudience, clairsentience, or claircognizance (psychic knowing). The product of your writings may reveal psychic messages as well, literally or figuratively.

Witches with this learning style may also enjoy bibliomancy. Bibliomancy is a form of divination in which you flip to a “random” page or passage of a book. That passage is then interpreted as the answer to your question, or as extra insight and clarification into the situation you’re assessing.

When interpreting any sort of writing, look to keywords and phrases that “stick out” intuitively, as well as symbolism occurring in the writing. You may be called to consider the larger context of the entire book or chapter, but it is not always necessary. Your first understanding is usually the correct one in matters of divination!

How To Choose Divination Tools

Regardless of your learning style or sensory strengths, it’s important to choose the divination tools you are most drawn to intuitively. Some other methods are interpreting the numbers of dice, studying the directions of a pendulum’s swing, or throwing bones or cinnamon sticks and interpreting the placement of their landing positions. “Bones” may include literal bones or refer to lots of random charms collected over time.

Experiment with different tools until you find the ones that work best for you. Sometimes, we purchase a tool with high hopes, but do not end up really connecting with it. This is a natural part of the process as you figure out what works with you practically, spiritually, and emotionally. Be patient, give each method time before giving up, and remember that there are an endless amount of divination forms to try on! One of my favorite, affordable tools for divination is a reflective surface of any sort. In this video, I explain the concept of scrying and how you can do this with a bowl of water!

How To Create A Powerful Divination Space (A Divination Altar)

In order to prepare your mind for divination, it can be helpful to create a special place to practice your art. Having a divination altar can boost your psychic abilities!

There are many different options for divination altars and you can make it work for the space you have and your lifestyle. You can use a section of your main working altar, or create a separate altar specifically for divination. You can also set up a temporary space that can be packed away when not in use, on a desk or kitchen table for example. It is totally up to you to decide what makes you feel ready to practice divinatory magick and use your divination tools.

At your divination altar, you might like to include all five of the elements (earth, air, fire, water and spirit) to aid in your practice. Think about what will help you set the mood in order to divine effectively and bring you into a clear, receptive mindspace. Think about the lighting, candles, essential oils, crystals, or talismans that help you feel powerful.

You can bring your magickal tools to your divination altar in order to further empower it too. A simple crystal grid for psychic receptivity is a fine addition to your space, boosting your skills and giving your divination tools extra power. Consider crystals such as Amethyst, Azurite, Angelite, or Nuummite to enhance your psychic abilities. Remember to charge the crystals with each full moon, as this will allow them to carry the intuitive influence of the moon to amplify your divination station.

Your altar may also include items that help you connect to your ancestors, familiars, or spirit guides, such as family heirlooms. Divination tools that are gifted or inherited from ancestors or loved ones are considered to be extra powerful.

You may choose to bless this sacred space through a dedication or consecration ritual, where you declare what the space is intended for, and thank it for serving that purpose. Asking your guides to bless the space and leaving them an offering, such as a glass of water, can ensure your divination is supported by the spiritual realms.

In order to keep this space prime for divination, keep it clean physically as well as energetically. Use things like, cleansing incenses, or Florida water. This will be especially important to do routinely, as divination brings forth many different spirits, energies, and entities that need to be removed for accurate and uninhibited channeling.

In order to protect this space from negative energies, keep a piece of amber or burn frankincense to create a psychic force field from lower entities.

Use a bit of amber to protect your divination altar during your reading.

Now Practice, Practice, Practice!

In order to become a pro at divination, you must also practice, practice, practice! The best way to do this is to build a habit of divination into your spiritual routine. For example, some practitioners pull a tarot card for themselves each morning, or at the start of each week or month. You can replace the tarot card with any other form of divination.

Many witches choose to journal about the message they receive, and then continue to reflect on it intuitively for deeper understanding. Adding this practice to your routine can enhance your abilities and help you remember messages you’ve interpreted before.

It may benefit you to perform an annual “year ahead” divination, to intuit what you may experience in the upcoming year. In this video, I explain how to perform a year-ahead divination using tarot cards, oracles, or other forms of divination.

Top Divination Magick Tips

Find communities that share your passion either online or in your local area. When you spend time around people who are better than you at what you do, you will get better faster!
Get your hands on resources. There are lots of books, courses and workshops you can join online. Each source and every teacher will have something different to offer… fresh “nuggets” of wisdom.

Some of our favorite books to begin studying with are “Divination: Sacred Tools for Reading the Mind of God” by Paul O’Brien, “The Ultimate Guide to Divination: The Beginners Guide to Using Cards, Crystals, Runes, Palmistry, and More for Insight and Predicting the Future” by Liz Dean, and “The Modern Witchcraft Book of Tarot: Your Complete Guide to Understanding the Tarot” by Skye Alexander.

“Medium” is a card-game meant to strengthen your intuition with friends. Made by Greater Than Games publishing, this fun game allows you to test your psychic abilities and connect with others. It can be found at Walmart, Barnes & Noble, or Amazon!

There will be loads more information on the topic of divination available through the SMM blog and other social media platforms both this month and in future. Make sure to check back often for exposure to more tips, tricks, and topics!

Closing The Divination Witchcraft Circle

Remember that becoming a seasoned diviner is a journey, not a race! Be consistent, open-minded, and patient, and divination will become more natural to you over time. Lastly, remember that everyone is capable of divination. Even if some people are more naturally in touch with their gifts, we can all become skilled with practice! I’m wishing you all the best in your journeys to higher wisdom.

~ Galena Stormrider

The post How To Become A Master Of Divination Witchcraft appeared first on Simple Mystic Miracles Magickal Spell Casting Blog.