#benebell wen

[praisedbeshewhoisnoble]

#Taoist Magic #for beginners #asian witch #asian witchcraft #taoist witch #taoist witchcraft #buddhist witch #buddhist witchcraft #buddhist magic #benebell wen #save

[commajade]

Hiii 🦋🦋i was wondering if you had any books on daoism that you recommend? or daoist authors that u like? i’m on my uni library’s waitlist for tao te ching and chuang tzu.. but it seems like our literary tastes overlap a bit so i really value ur opinion :)<3

Hello! The only one I own is The Tao of Craft by Benebell Wen, which I highly recommend. It's not about religious or philosophical Taoism, it's a very instructional guide on fu talismans and sigil crafting. I don't have any interest in being a practitioner though and skipped through most of that, I really bought it for all the diagrams, very long appendix, and footnotes. She's very straightforward in her explanations and masterful in her knowledge. Her youtube series on Taoist metaphysics is really excellent too for laying out the cosmology in a simple, demystified way.

#asks #benebell wen

[infjtarot]

8 of Cups. Weiser Waite Smith Tarot

A man cloaked in red, with red boots, leans on his walking stick to ascend a hill. He has crossed rocky rivers, leaving behind eight golden goblets, neatly stacked in the foreground. In the background are steep rocks protruding out of the sea. Mountains are green and black. In a dark blue sky is a waning crescent moon with a full moon. There has been an abandonment of past fruits. The Eight of Cups is about a soul-searching journey; ascending to higher emotional ground. The Seeker is leaving behind something he or she spent much effort and care to nurture or develop. There was disappointment in a pack of Cups.

A man cloaked in red, with red boots, leans on his walking stick to ascend a hill. He has crossed rocky rivers, leaving behind eight golden goblets, neatly stacked in the foreground. In the background are steep rocks protruding out of the sea. Mountains are green and black. In a dark blue sky is a waning crescent moon with a full moon.

A man cloaked in red, with red boots, leans on his walking stick to ascend a hill. He has crossed rocky rivers, leaving behind eight golden goblets, neatly stacked in the foreground. In the background are steep rocks protruding out of the sea. Mountains are green and black. In a dark blue sky is a waning crescent moon with a full moon. There has been an abandonment of past fruits. The Eight of Cups is about a soul-searching journey; ascending to higher emotional ground. The Seeker is leaving behind something he or she spent much effort and care to nurture or develop. There was disappointment in a past undertaking and thus the Seeker has abandoned his or her previous work. Note how carefully stacked the goblets are. However, the Seeker is leaving it behind on his or her own terms, at will. The Seeker is looking for more than material success. A search for a higher meaning. The card may also indicate a charitable, beautiful, or kind personality. The Seeker is on a spiritual journey. The waning crescent moon suggests a release, banishment, or a period of deep reflection. The full moon, coupled with the man’s red cloak and red boots, suggest power, strength, and transformation. This is the time for a change, a period of solitude. The rocky water suggests disturbances in the consciousness. The narrative of the Eight of Cups might call to mind the story of Prince Siddhartha, who left his castle and royalty for the ascetic life, to eventually become awakened to the Buddha. The card also resonates with Muhammad, the last prophet, who left behind the life of a merchant to receive revelations from God. Note that the only other times that a face appears in astronomical elements are in Key 18: The Moon and Key 19: The Sun. The anthropomorphism here suggests the human association of our environment and world to a greater purpose or higher meaning. Benebel Wen

#8 of cups #cups #tarot #weiser waite smith tarot #benebel wen

[troutfur]

Jace, you must read the madness that is TBC

One day! One day! Top of my reading list when I can again dedicate time to WC. RN I am reading lots of archaeological research papers, reports, and books and in between my pleasure reads have all been about daoist esoterica.

#shilling for Benebell Wen again: both I Ching the Oracle and The Tao of Craft are fantastic! #very thorough introductions to Chinese metaphysics divination and spell crafting

[hermitsmirror]

🔔 PICK 🖤 A 💜 CARD 🔔

Close your eyes. Breathe deep. Open your mind to the peaceful dark and quiet within. Let it become an ocean over which the stars begin to glitter. Float on the waves and watch as dark water catches starlight and becomes a font of inner wisdom. Then pick a card from the Spirit Keeper Tarot, Revelation edition by Benebell Wen.

Will you pick left, center, or right?

If you need more time to find your center and that spark of light within the infinite possibility of that space between worlds, take that time. Let new portals open, and find your way to the one that calls most strongly.

How does that feel? I hope it allows you to step into the future with confidence and clarity and peace.

Now pick a card (if you want) and read its message in the reveal.

Let me know how it resonates, and share the post with those who might benefit from some inner wisdom.

If you need a more in-depth reading, you can always schedule one with me!

#tarotblr #tarot #pick a card #witchblr #pac reading #tarot reading

[ayashitetsuko]

Izzy the Hierophant: The Major Arcana that reminds us to get back to work

As a tarot student, I am fascinated by the interpretations made by fellow tarot enthusiasts in the Our Flag Means Death (OFMD) fandom, on which Major Arcana card best represents Izzy Hands. Popular fanmade decks such as The Cat Bandit Tarot by artist Jennie Planet see him as The Devil—a force that keeps the lovers apart—and Judgement—beating Ed down when he was already at his worst. Valid as they are, these interpretations see Izzy as a negative influence, but I like to offer an alternative take. 

I see Izzy’s energy and role in the canon (and eventually, in my personal life as the viewer) as the Hierophant. An energy often found uninspiring, but when used correctly, it can help people make their dreams come true. 

In her book The Holistic Tarot (2015, North Atlantic Books), tarot master Benebell Wen uses Tradition, Conventionalism, and Institutionalism as the keywords that explain the Hierophant card.

“The Hierophant is a holy man, an important figure in his society … People rely on him to be a channel between heaven and earth. In a reading, the card typically indicates a desire to follow conventions and norms, a traditionalist—one who holds traditional values,” she writes. 

The Hierophant is often seen as the card that calls for querents to be conservative. Instead of thinking outside the box, it expects them to open the manuals and follow the instructions. When discussing making our dreams come true, the Hierophant energy is often seen as an obstacle—curbing creativity and exploration in favour of traditions. 

We did see these traits displayed by Izzy in various scenes, such as in Episode 4 when he demanded Ed to come up with a defensive plan after they noticed a Spanish ship coming their way or when he threatened to blackmail Lucius for … you know what he did.

While these scenes might cement Izzy’s role in the story as the Bad Guy, his role is also a reminder of the importance of maintaining a structure—even on a pirate ship. Because this structure, no matter how dull it is, enables us to function and create the impact we want in our personal and professional lives.

The Hierophant energy

The Hierophant card is known for having a restrictive–perhaps even oppressive–energy. In my early days as a tarot student, I tended to roll my eyes whenever it showed up. It was not the kind of nuance I wanted as a young person. But eventually, I learned how the Hierophant energy could positively impact one’s life when used wisely. Instead of preventing progress, it can help with it. 

As someone who works in the tech startup community, I regularly meet people driven to succeed. Buzzwords such as “innovation” and “disruption” are being thrown around lightly; everybody wants to be the next big thing that changes the world. Big ideas, even the most unrealistic ones, are cherished and encouraged.

But people are being brought back to Earth rather quickly in this industry. There are even statistics to prove it: Up to 95 per cent of startups fail simply because they cannot find product-market fit, according to various sources. In layman’s terms, they create products and services that nobody needs. This is why startups are commonly advised to implement rigorous market research and product testing to prove that their ideas work; to have the discipline to do more than just talk.

On an individual level, the Hierophant energy is one I tap into to achieve my goals. To be productive, I need to run my days smoothly. This means clearing my housekeeping tasks before leaving home, logging off social media during work hours, and ensuring I eat my vegetables to stay healthy. They are boring AF, but they provide me with a structure to keep the machine well-oiled.

When I look back on my life, all the times I managed to achieve and create something good for myself (and hopefully others) are when I stopped daydreaming and started implementing the Hierophant energy into my daily life. While it is important to explore new ideas, all of them will be pointless without the structure that ensures it is being developed properly. 

Now, back to Izzy

One might see Izzy as a traditional pirate who is resistant to change. I mean, what the fuck is even a retirement? It does not exist in this line of work. 

This context places Izzy as a counter to Stede Bonnet’s “fresh, groundbreaking” ideas about piracy. It is easy to see Izzy and his beliefs as outdated and needing disruption. But we must remember that piracy is a dangerous business. While pirates generally entered the business with a ready-to-die mindset, a structure that allows the crew to be functional and prepared to handle risks should be appreciated instead of being seen as a threat. 

This is especially more relevant in a situation where a leader struggles to function properly. Ed is a smart and gifted captain, but his short attention span and mood swings have made it hard for him to function on some days and for the crew to maintain their trust in him. His wit may have allowed them to survive another day, but will it be sustainable without a system to ensure that? What happens when he is having his moment? At the very least, they would need a plan.

This is a calling for us to look into our own lives and see: In which area do we need a first mate to yell and remind us to focus?

--

This article was first published in Above All Else: An Appreciation of Izzy Hands, a zine dedicated to Con O'Neill's Izzy Hands from Our Flag Means Death.

#izzy hands #our flag means death #tarot #tarotblr #izzy hands zine #above all else #fandom zine #contributor spotlight

[knightofchariot]

Tarot Books List - part one

1-2-3 Tarot: Answers in an Instant Donald Tyson 101 Tarot Spreads Sheilaa Hite 21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card Mary K. Greer 22 Paths of Inperfection Matt Laws 360 Degrees of Wisdom Lynda Hill 365 Tarot Activities Deanna Anderson 78 Degrees of Wisdom Rachel Pollack 90 Days to Learning the Tarot Lorri Gifford A Guide To Mystic Faerie Tarot Barbara Moore A Guide to Tarot and Relationships Dolores Fitchie & Andrea K. Molina A Guide to the Nomadic Oracle Jon Mallek A Keeper of Words Anna-Marie Ferguson A Sephirothic Odyssey Harry Wendrich & Nicola Wendrich A Wicked Pack of Cards Michael Dummett & Ronald Decker & Thierry Depaulis A Year in the Wildwood Alison Cross Absolute Beginner's Guide to Tarot Mark McElroy Alchemy and the Tarot Robert M. Place All Love Goes Before Me Stewart S. Warren An Introduction to Transformative Tarot Counseling Katrina Wynne Ancient Mysteries Tarot: Keys To Divination And Initiation Roger Calverley Angel Readings for Beginners Elizabeth Foley Animals Divine Companion Lisa Hunt Best Tarot Practices Marcia Masino Beyond the Celtic Cross Paul Hughes-Barlow & Catherine Chapman Book of Thoth Aleister Crowley Brotherhood Tarot Companion Patric Stillman aka Pipa Phalange Buddha Tarot Companion Robert M. Place Chakra Wisdom Oracle Toolkit Tori Hartman Choice Centered Relating and the Tarot Gail Fairfield Chrysalis Tarot Holly Sierra & Toney Brooks Complete Guide to Tarot Illuminati Kim Huggens Confessions of a Tarot Reader Jane Stern Conscious Channeling From the Akashic Rozàlia Horvàth Balàzsi Creator's Tarot Nicole Richardson Daily Spread Tarot & Oracle Journal Alyssa Montalbano Dark Goddess Tarot Companion Ellen Lorenzi-Prince Designing Your Own Tarot Spreads Teresa Michelsen Destiny's Portal Barbara Moore Deviant Moon Tarot Patrick Valenza Discovering Runes Bob Oswald Discovering Your Self Through the Tarot Rose Gwain Easy Tarot Ciro Marchetti & Josephine Ellershaw Easy Tarot Guide Marcia Masino Easy Tarot Reading Josephine Ellershaw Encyclopedia of Tarot Volume IV Stuart Kaplan & Jean Huets Enochian Tarot Betty Schueler & Sally Ann Glassman & Gerald Schueler Essence of the Tarot: Modern Reflections on Ancient Wisdom Megan Skinner Explaining the Tarot Thierry Depaulis & Ross Caldwell & Marco Ponzi Explore the Major Arcana Judyth Sult & Gordana Curgus Exploring the Tarot Carl Japikse Fortune Stellar Christiana Gaudet Fortune's Lover: A Book of Tarot Poems Rachel Pollack Going Beyond the Little White Book Liz Worth Good Cat Spell Book Gillian Kemp Guide to the Sacred Rose Tarot Johanna Gargiulo-Sherman Heart of Tarot Amber K Hieros Gamos: Benediction of the Tarot Stewart S. Warren Holistic Tarot Benebell Wen Integral Tarot: Decoding the Essence Suzanne Wagner It's All in the Cards: Tarot Reading Made Easy John Mangiapane Jung and Tarot Sallie Nichols Kabbalistic Tarot Dovid Krafchow Kaleidoscope Tarot Leisa ReFalo Karmic Tarot William C. Lammey Learning Tarot Reversals Joan Bunning Learning the Tarot Joan Bunning Light-Of-Day: Tarot & Dream Work - A Practical Guide Gigi Miner Magic Words: A Dictionary Craig Conley Meditations on the Tarot Anonymous Messages from the Archetypes Toni Gilbert, RN, MA, HNC Mirror of the Free Nicholas Swift My Tarot Journal Katrina de Witt Mystical Origins of the Tarot: From Ancient Roots to Modern Usage

#tarot cards #free tarot #tarot reader #tarot community #tarocchi #tarot spreads #tarot reading #tarot #tarotblr #divination #tarot books list #tarot books #book list

[testosteronetwunk]

Remember awhile back you mentioning in a post that you were critical of Benebell Wen and her approach, and was wondering if you could weigh in on it a little bit? I've really liked her videos and blog posts so far, and was thinking of buying the tao of craft. It's actually been kind of hard to find anyone who critiques her on her non tarot stuff

If you’re not familiar with East Asian occult practice at all, I think buying The Tao of Craft is a solid choice! Buttttt if you’ve already dipped your toe in i.e. the Luoshu square, the 8 trigrams, East Asian astrology, etc, you may already know a good amount of what she’s writing about. I wouldn’t say it’s a surface level book, but it’s not anything too crazy. It’s a barebones guide to talismans and I think by virtue of being literally the only English language resource on the subject, it is a little special. Howeverrrrrrrrr the meat of the book is sprinkled with weird 1970s New Age shit which I know is a term she doesn’t like applied to herself, but it’s literally true. She loooooves to refer to Qi, or even deities as “vibrations”, “wavelengths”, “archetypal energies”, etc. I think she even referred to 観世音 as like “the divine mother wavelength” and said that the Virgin Mary fills this same “archetypal niche.” lol. Like 1/7th of her book is just that, weird reconciliations with wacky Western concepts and practices. For example there’s this legit practice called “Pacing the Luoshu” where a practitioner will take deliberate steps in a particular sequence in front of an altar based off the correspondences of the Luoshu square. For some reason, she “reconciled” it with Pythagorean numerology and the Latin alphabet to create this

Which brings me to my last point which is that even though she *says* she stresses the principles of East Asian occult practice, it seems to me that she just has an “anything goes” attitude towards her work. Like for the most part, the book is coherent until she randomly inserts “reconciliations” to Western philosophy that don’t add anything, but are seemingly inserted to capitulate to Western occultism. Benebell mentioned that when she was young and in college, she only practiced Western occultism, which, combined with the fact that she’s got this weird complex about being Taiwanese American, explains the weird Western interludes. Like her book is a generally good work, but it’s just so dissonant sometimes. Also her hand seals/手印 section is so pitiful.

[crazycatsiren]

Have you heard of or read The Tao of Craft: Fu Talismans and Casting Sigils in the Eastern Esoteric Tradition by Benebell Wen? If you have, what are your thoughts on it?

I've not. I know only a little about Benebell Wen (I've been interested in her Holistic Tarot book), but as a fellow Asian I'd at least take her words on this stuff over a white author's.

[upstartcrow1564]

Ok, so, does anybody out there revere Hekate? No need to speak up, She knows who you are and besides, these things tend to be private. But according to Benebell Wen, the creator of this deck, the Ancient One in the center of the card is Hekate (or Ereshkigal, or Werethekau), so heads up if you worship an Ancient One. You’re exhausted. Of course you are. Life has been hard lately and you’re doing your best to push through with honor. Remember yesterday’s draw where it was gut-check time? Well, in today’s draw that persistence and spark has been noticed. The Ancient One has seen you and has come. Things will slow down now, and there’s still a “trial by fire” vibe to everything, but we’re being told to relax and breathe for a hot minute because things are being worked out. Let go of your voracious need to know and just keep doing your thing. Don’t give up. Wait — and see what happens. [Image shows The Pugilist: Nine of Scepters card from The Spirit Keeper’s Tarot deck, Revelation Edition, the Norse rune Cweorth, the Yellow Die rolled to 6, the Razor Blade charm, the “Intimate” Plaque charm, the Emperor/Pharaoh charm, and the Peace Symbol (Hidden Algiz) charm.] #tarot #oracle #runes #charms #vitki #volva #disir #ancestors #seer #tarotreading #tarotreadersofinstagram #tarotcards #dailytarot #tarotadvice #divination #divinersofinstagram #charmcasting #SpiritKeepersTarot #TheMusesDarling #witchesofinstagram #BeAtPeace https://www.instagram.com/p/CmwkwxEpeEf/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#tarot #oracle #runes #charms #vitki #volva #disir #ancestors #seer #tarotreading #tarotreadersofinstagram #tarotcards #dailytarot #tarotadvice #divination #divinersofinstagram #charmcasting #spiritkeeperstarot #themusesdarling #witchesofinstagram #beatpeace

[infjtarot]

3 of Swords. Weiser Waite Smith Tarot

Three swords pierce through a red heart, which hovers under gray clouds and rain. In spite of the thunderstorm, the color of the heart is bold and bright. The Three of Swords indicates strife, turmoil, loss, and sorrow. There has been a storm of emotions in the Seeker. There is a storm in the heart. There have been deep misunderstandings in the situation at hand, and as a result a storm is coming. The gray of the background suggests that sentiments, which are normally associated with the emotional plane, are suspended in the intellectual plane. The card could suggest political strife, or conflicts as a result of ambition and aggression. There has been pain and heartbreak, and rather than express that as sadness, the Seeker opts for anger; using anger to release pain and suffering. The Seeker may be experiencing quarrels with loved ones over politics, ideologies, power imbalances, and aggression. Note, however, the brightness of the red heart in spite of what the swords, the clouds, and the rain depict. The red here is blood, beauty, anger, passion, intense happiness, and intense agony. While all the other Swords cards suggest a dispassionate or pathological temperament, the Three of Swords is the only card in the suit of Swords that seems to impart a vivid emotion. There is heartbreak because the Seeker has a heart. The number three is associated with fruition and amplification of the status quo. That is why the Seeker is experiencing the storm: a lesson related to ambitions, ideologies, and communication will be learned and the growth to follow will be instrumental to the Seeker’s future successes. Growth and fruition from the experience are to come. Benebel Wen

#3 of Swords #swords #tarot #weiser waite smith tarot #benebel wen

[troutfur]

Do you do arts and crafts? Post a pic of a project you've done:

A homemade mala bracelet! c:

Done on the cheap with dollar store supplies because it's the functionality that matters more than sourcing exotic materials like bodhi tree seeds or sandalwood or any of the other traditional materials IMO.

I like making prayer bead sets because the idea of meditative repetitive prayer while fiddling with a set of beads just appeals to me and I do not want to leave it just because Catholic rosaries no longer resonate with me.

This one I made in the traditional 108 beads pattern common to Hinduism, Buddhism, and other Buddhist-influenced religions. I made it like this because recently I have been reading The Tao of Craft by Benebell Wen, a book about Taoist-style fu sigils and the ways in which the principles behind the techniques can be replicated or adapted by Western occultists.

I made it in green because a) green corresponds to the element wood, associated with growth and creativity and b) I just like green, hahahah.

[hermitsmirror]

Pick a card

I would normally guide you through a visualization, but the spirits want to speak for themselves with the Spirit Keeper's Tarot by Benebell Wen. You'll probably pick the message you need without any deep lulling into the right headspace, but if you need an extra moment, take it. Remember to breathe deeply in and out a few times and feel yourself grounding down into centeredness. Then listen for which card whispers to you. Allow your gaze to linger on each if you want and feel the energetic pull calling you.

I felt these hit a bit punchier than usual. How did they feel to you? If you liked (or didn't like but needed) your message, let me know.

If you want a more personal reading to dig in deeper, schedule one.

And if you want to learn to read tarot more fluently and deeply, sign up for one of my courses or the upcoming full semester of courses.

#pick a card #tarot #tarot reading #pac reading #tarotblr

[theblasianwitch]

hey! I've been interested in pop culture deities. One in particular is Huā Chéng. I feel like he's been calling to me. The problem is that I'm white, and have no idea if it's alright for me to even respond to the calling. Do you have any advice?

I had to do a quick search to know who you were talking about. I actually haven't watched Heaven's Official Blessing. I don't want to speak too much into it as I'm not even sure if he is a true deity, but perhaps a representation of some folklore or other deities within the culture.

Given that aspect, my advice would be to do a bit more research of them. What is he based off of? Who does he represent? Is the connection from an open or closed practice? Is he perhaps an ancient forgotten deity? All questions to consider. When I did a based on search the story is connected to Taoism (which is an open practice) and he is more of a representation of "all gods" so I'm not sure what direction to point you in. I may have to watch the show myself between work and childcare lol

I will say though, if a deity is calling to you, it is good to at least acknowledge the call and accept their presence in your life so long as you have a good intuition for them. Given he may be a combination of Taoist gods, it may be good to look into the Taoist pantheon and see who sticks out to you for a clearer picture

YouTube rec for Taoist witch is Benebel Wen

#answered asks #witch asks #witchy asks #anon asks #asks are always appreciated #asks open #taoism #taoist witch #witchblr #asian witch

[gefdreamsofthesea]

As you know, I've preordered the Spirit Keeper's Tarot and today we were sent an email where Benebell Wen talked about an "issue" with the matte cardstock where the cards may be a bit sticky and require a bit of handling.

And she's just like "if this is a dealbreaker for you, please reply to this notice right away".

It just struck me as I know she's very focused on getting the deck just right but also matte decks being a bit difficult to shuffle is part of having matte cardstock. Like please relax Ms. Wen, it's fine.

She even has a video with instructions for making a powder to address the issue.

[fullmoonfaces]

Full Moon in Gemini, 2021.

Purple ballpoint pen in The Metaphysician’s Day Planner 2021 by Benebell Wen.

#gemini #2021 #monochrome #color