The Witches Ball

Come one, come all, to the Toledo Witches Ball!

Dance with the witches!

It's that time of year again, the air is getting cooler, the leaves are changing and the nights are getting longer. 

This means that's it's almost time for another Witches Ball of Toledo! 

If you are in the Toledo, Ohio area, I encourage you to stop out and see me, along with all the other wonders that the ball will hold. 

We will have fire dancers, tarot card readers, magic shows, vendors of all sorts, food, drinks, costume contests, dancing and we'll be honoring our ancestors in a Samhain circle.

Samhain

Here's some more info~

When~October 25th at 6pm

How much~Tickets are only $12 per person, or $20 per couple. (18yrs and older or accompanied by an adult)

Where~ This year it will be located at the F.O.P. hall on Monroe st. 
255 Gradolph St. Toledo, Ohio 43612

Call 419-810-1478 for more info or to purchase tickets
You can also purchase your tickets at the Once in a Blue Moon shop.
4348 Monroe St, Toledo, Ohio 43612

Facebook event page.

Hope to see you there! 


~*~Vadoma~*~

Learning the Tarot pt. 2

The Root Meanings

Elemental Meanings~
Each set of cards has a numerological and elemental association. Keeping these in mind will help you with your readings.

As you have noticed by spending time you your deck that there are 4 suits, with each card numbered one through ten. Each number has a basic meaning, as well as each suit. Let's start with the suits.

Wands, Swords, Cups and Pentacles

The suit of wands are associated with fire.
They are made of wood. Wood signifies growth and energy. The energy that burns within us. Meaning the wands usually deal with our passions, will and desires. The stuff that fuels are inner fire.

The suit of swords are associated with air. 
Swords can be used as weapons or useful tools. So can the mind. Our thoughts can be used as weapons or for good. The swords signify your mental state, communication and sometimes conflict or cruelty. The air concept comes from the idea that swords can be stormy or clear and calm, just as the mind can be.

The suit of cups are associated with water. 
Cups are used for holding water. Water nourishes, cleanses and refreshes. It is also reflective. They can stand for deep waters, like and ocean, unknown and vast. Much like our subconscious. Water flows, much like our emotions. As cups usually deal with our feelings.

The suit of pentacles are associated with earth.
They usually show up on your cards in the form of coins. Showing that we are grounded to material resources or money. Pentacles signify wealth, security, careers and even health. The things in life that make us feel grounded.

The Major Arcana are associated with our souls or spirituality. 
They deal with morality, karma, spirituality and our philosophies.

Numerological Meanings~
Just as each suit has a basic meaning, so does each number.

Ones or Aces~ They are associated with beginnings, since it is the first number.
 It can also stand for self or the ego.

Twos~ Connections, balance or decisions.

Threes~ They can signify the connection of the twos, making a third. So creativity and reproduction are the main key words here. They can also signify resolutions.

Fours~ Stability and structure. Like a table with 4 legs, they are sturdy.

Fives~ Signify changes are life challenges. Things in life that make for new learning experiences.

Sixes~ Overcoming the challenges of the fives. Adjustments, and finally peace.

Sevens~ Life's tests and inner growth. Mastering things in your life, possibly things you have learned to     adjust to from the 5 and 6's.

Eights~ Success, power and moving on with your life.

Nines~ Satisfaction, endings or accomplishments.

Tens~ Life moves in cycles. The tens signify the beginning of a new cycle. The last chapter of your life has   been closed, now to start a new one.

The Court Cards~ 
The suits of these still follow the elemental meanings of the suits mentioned above. However they also represent a person in most cases. The rank of each card is used to define whom the card is speaking of.

Pages~ A young person, usually a child. It could pertain to someone who is childish or playful as well.

Knights~ A teenager or young adult. Someone still immature, who is trying to find their place in life.

Queens~ A mature woman. She is usually focused and intuitive.

Kings~ A mature man. He is strong and direct. He could represent a boss in a career spread.


Using what you know from the elemental meanings above you can glean a basic understanding of what each court card means, and the personality of the person the card is representing.

Example, the Page of Cups could mean an emotional child in the querent's life. Or the Queen of Swords could be an intelligent older woman. It will be easier to know who the card is speaking about based on other cards in the spread. Say our Queen of Swords in next to the nine of swords, this could mean an older woman going through a hard emotional time. Someone who is anxious or worried. Your querent would then relate this card to his mother, who is dealing with her emotions and is letting them get the best of her.

Don't worry, we will dig deeper into the card meanings later. This is just a very basic understanding of the cards. The tip of the iceberg so to speak.

                                                                ~*~Bright Blessings~*~



Lesson 1 here.

Learning the Tarot pt. 1

Part one; Choosing the right deck for you. 

No matter how intuitive we are, sometimes we need a little help along the way. This is where the tarot comes in. It's a great tool to help guide us in our lives. 

Maybe you are interested in learning how to use your intuition and read the cards yourself, but you find the task to be a bit daunting. I know it can seem that way. With so many cards to learn, that all have slightly different meanings to each person, to which spread to use for the question at hand. And of course let's not forget those cards all have reverse meanings! 

I've decided to start a simple series on tips to learning the tarot yourself. I'll break it down into smaller parts, making it easier to do this one step at a time. 

The very first thing you need to do is find the perfect deck for you. This alone can seem like a chore. There are so many decks to choose from. Some of you may have been blessed with a deck as a gift. I would suggest starting off with that deck, for it was meant for you! If you haven't been given a deck, it is ok to buy your own. Just take your time and choose one that really resonates with you. Looks at the art, the colors and feel the energy the deck gives you. Does it just feel "right"? This is the first step in using your intuition. You will simply know when you have found the right deck for you. 

The Rider-Waite deck is one of the original decks, many find it easiest to interpret. 

Once you find your first deck, you will want to spend some time with it. Like getting acquainted with a new friend. Some people like to sleep with their deck, wrapped in silk, under their pillows for the first few nights. This will help the cards pick up your vibrations. 

Another thing you will want to do is use your cards. Shuffle them, look them over, take time looking at and holding each card. Even if you have no idea what the card is supposed to mean, use your intuition and see how each card makes you feel. Does it invoke negativity? Does it make you feel happy? Does the card tell you a mini story? What is going on in each card? Just the act of holding and studying each card will bond you to your deck. 

While going through your deck, try a little exercise to open yourself up, and get your intuitive juices flowing. 

Take each card, and while you are looking at it and getting a feel for each one, make three piles. A positive pile, a negative pile and an indifferent pile. 

After you have separated your cards into piles, go back with a book and see if your idea of each card matches up with what the book says the card means. Did the Devil make you feel uneasy? If so, does the book say this card is negative? What about the Death card? Did it make you sad, or did you feel it was indifferent, neither bad or good? Take a few notes, see which ones you were correct on. You may be surprised with just how intuitive you are without knowing what each card represents. This is a great beginning. 

Death means a change. The death of something old, to make way for something new. 

Take a few days to do this with your cards, use them, sleep with them and really just spend some time with them. This is really the first and very important key into beginning you tarot reading journey. 

And it most certainly is a journey. So don't rush it. Take your time. Realise that the tarot is mysterious, and you will never fully master it. You will continue to learn more and become better and better at using your cards. It's a fun journey, so sit back, relax and enjoy the ride. 

The High Priestess

Today I want to talk about one of my favorite cards. 
She is shrouded in mystery, she is calm, she is a mediator. 
She guards our unconscious. 
She wants us to be still, to reach within ourselves. To use our intuition. 
She sits between the dark and the light, veiled in between our awareness and our subconscious. 

She is The High Priestess.

She wears the color blue to show she is knowledgeable. 
Her crown the Crown of Isis, the sign of the Triple Goddess, showing she is spiritual. 
The moon under her feet shows her rule over intuition. In fact, the planet associated with this card is the Moon. The Moon is the ruler of our emotions. The Moon represents our deepest personal needs, our basic habits and reactions, and our unconscious. 

When she shows up in our readings, it is a sign to pay attention to our dreams, and to symbols around us. Rely on our intuition, and tap into our subconscious side for answers. 

She appears to us when things seem out of balance in our lives, and there seems to be no logical answers. 
Take time meditate, and to really pay attention to signs and symbols. Look beneath the surface. This is where your answers will come from. 
You hold an infinite amount of possibilities within yourself. 

If she keeps showing up in your cards, it's a sign to listen to yourself, and be ready to accept change. 

As your intuitive powers open up, you will find yourself being more creative in many areas. From your line of thinking and reasoning, to your hobbies or careers. We craft our lives, so being more creative is always a plus!

~*~Love&Light~*~