mercifulflame

[mercifulflame]

Credit: IG - @ jewelsharee

[mercifulflame]

Transitions between the Wheel (For the four seasons)

This is from my personal practice with observing the wheel of the year and my focus on each transition between the sabbats. I honor the current seasons in between. Each transition has it’s importance to self care and managing the home and garden. I will probably add to this later cause some paragraphs I wrote I feel like are a bit vague. Some of these transitions are not meant to be 100% literal and static but I feel like they are good areas to focus on for that moment in the year.

Yule->Imbolc Resting

During the thick of winter when it’s too cold to do anything and always dark, it’s the perfect moment in the year to rest. The focus is on relaxing, taking extra time to sleep and care for the body especially to not get sick. Winter is also ‘spa’ season because the air is so dry and harsh it’s a good time to soak in hot baths and scrub away dead skin and moisturize with protective lotion. Do not try to make new plans, yet sit home, rest and reflect. 

Imbolc -> Ostara Cleansing

When winter thaws it’s a great time to clean the home and prepare for spring. Personally, I also like to do a body cleanse since I tend to eat a lot of processed (yet delicious ;-;) foods all year round. This also makes up for all the heavy foods I’ve been eating since Summer (all the BBQs) to Winter comfort foods. As I clean the home and get rid of stuff that has accumulated over the year, I clean the body. Also the focus is on cleaning the home as well. Breathing in the same air, especially if its full of dust, is really unhealthy and it’s good as the days are getting a little warmer to open up the windows for a few minutes to allow in fresh air to circulate. This is also the time of year I throw out old furniture, accumulated things and rearrange furniture in the room as well.

Ostara -> Beltane Sowing

Spring is a great time to germinate sprouts along with other seeds and clean the backyard or garden to grow plants. If you like to compost it’s a time to start mixing in the vegetable/fruit/plant scraps with the soil. Spring is also a great time to sow bigger changes in life as well. Something about the warm new season brings an air of flirtatiousness and ‘socialness’ that makes it perfect for making new friends or finding a partner. (Probably because people can finally come out of hibernation). It’s also a fantastic time to work on your image and portfolio and apply for long term jobs that begin in the summer or fall. Spring is the season for new beginnings and putting long term plans into action.

Beltane -> Litha Growing

A tradition I like to do on Beltane is repotting of plants and gardening. Repotting plants is a tradition I try to focus on every year because it’s very easy for house plants to die due to dead soil. Plus it makes the inside of the house super vibrant and lively to have fresh new soil in pots. From this point to summer solstice is the point of growth. Growth in the garden but also growth of personal goals. May and June feel like hectic months where there are so many events and opportunities to advance your work or change your social scene, that if I am not personally progressing, I focus all of my attention on my growth.

Litha -> Lughnasadh Thriving

Its the heat of summer! It’s time to get out and feel the intense hot energy and use its power to focus on goals and networking! Where I am there’s usually an exciting event every week where it’s an opportunity to make more connections and meet more friends but also since its warm and nature is so vibrant it’s time to take some days to relax and get away to enjoy the heat and life of nature. Go to the beach, go hiking, swim in a lake, sleep under the stars. Be active since the efforts will pay off. 

Lughnasadh -> Mabon Reaping

This is the time you earn what you’ve sowed both literally and metaphorically. If you have a garden its the time it will start giving back. If you are an active goer of a farmers market you will notice how beautifully abundant the stands are. If in Spring you’ve sent out tons of job applications, and in Summer got the job you’ve wanted and worked hard, then by now you should start seeing some results. If there are no results being seen it’s a time for reflection and re-strategizing. There is a second chance in this time to start again before the cold and the holiday season bulldozes through.

Mabon -> Samhain Harvesting/Gathering

This is the time to gather and harvest. Usually family tends to gather now since it’s the holiday season. There’s not much other than gathering to be done since family and holidays are bombarding you from all sides. Also there is an abundance of food. This is great to store for the next transition which is

Samhain -> Yule Preparation

This is the moment to prepare for winter. My warddrobe completely changes here, I take up knitting projects that were abandoned last Imbolc, and I store food and herbs for the winter to use. Also making preserves from things in the garden or hand knitting clothes make great presents for the winter holidays. This is also a time to prepare the garden for hibernation. Take in potted plants, harvest the last of the herbs and food (that are not potted). Make sure plants you do not want to die have a place to chill in the house.

[mercifulflame]

When Writing Spells

If you want to keep something close, bury it in your back yard.

If you want to attract something, bury it under the front door step.

If you want to destroy its influence, burn it.

If you want it to move away and sink, throw it in running water.

If you want to disperse it to a distance, throw it into a crossroads.

If you want to fix its influence, inter it in a five-spot pattern.

If you want it to work by means of spirits, bury it in a graveyard.

If you want to hide its point of origin, conceal it in a tree.

If you want it to work in secret, give it in food or drink.

If you want it to work by stealth, hide it in clothing or on objects.

If you want its influence to begin or strengthen, throw it East.

If you want its influence to end or weaken, throw it West.

If you want its influence to rise and fall cyclicly, float it in a tidal estuary.

[mercifulflame]

You need to keep your mind on reality and stay focused on your real world goals. Things need to be taken care of within a certain amount of time and not pushed aside until last minute. You're coming up on the aspirations and goals that you've been working so hard to attain. #tarot #dailytarotreading http://bit.ly/2PT4mIE

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[mercifulflame]

owning a cat makes you immune to demons

[mercifulflame]

“There comes a time when you have to stop crossing oceans for people who wouldn’t even jump puddles for you.”

—

[mercifulflame]

Tarot Decks $12 and Under

After my tarot deck giveaway, I wanted to post some cheaper tarot options for those are financially unable to purchase expensive decks. The prices listed are just those I’ve seen for the deck itself, not including shipping, as that will depend on where you live. I tried to limit it to variations on the standard 78 card deck, and omitted oracles.

Cat Tarot  $8.34

Fun illustrated deck showing cats and their foibles. Comes with guidebook that reviews say is geared towards new readers.

Ceccoli Tarot Mini  $8.85

Nicoletta Ceccoli’s innocent yet eerie art deck.

Everyday Tarot Mini  $9.95

A really sharp, simplistic art style closely following the typical RWS card imagery. Though the card quality and guidebook are great, people often complain about the plastic box it comes in, so you may have to re-home the deck to a drawstring bag or the like.

The Fairy Tarot  $11.95

A sweet rendition of a standard deck with cutely renamed suits.

Harmonious Mini Tarot  $11.95

Victorian style paintings on each card, departing from the RWS imagery.

The Illuminated Tarot  $9.50 - $9.99

I found a TJ Maxx link advertising this deck at a lower price than usually offered on Amazon, as well as a used/like-new listing on Barnes & Noble’s website. Both listed as including guidebook.

The Lost Tarot of Nostradamus  $9.95

Full deck and guidebook based on the works of Nostradamus.

Manga Mini Tarot  $11.95

While more of an American illustration style, Eastern cultural symbols and themes are made prominent in this departure from standard RWS imagery and card meanings.

Oceanic Tarot  $7.65

Mermaid and undersea themed. Reviews point out that minors do not have unique designs for each card but simply show the number of wands, swords, etc. mentioned on the card. Simple and colorful. Comes with guidebook.

Secret Mini Tarot  $11.95

Marco Nizzoli’s artistic take on typical RWS imagery with a gothic flair. Comes with guidebook.

Tarot Art Nouveau Mini  $11.95

Just what it says on the tin.

Tarot of Druids Mini  $11.95

Celtic imagery with guidebook.

Tarot of Marseille Mini  $10.51

Standard Marseille imagery, reproduction of Claude Burdel’s 18th century tarot.

Tarot of Pagan Cats Mini  $10.76

The typical RWS structure featuring illustrated cats and pagan imagery.

Tiny Universal Waite Tarot  $6.99

The tiniest travel deck you could imagine, keychain sized.

Vice Versa Tarot  $9.67

A creative take on RWS imagery where the front of the card shows what you might expect, and the reverse shows the standard characters from the back to reveal more of each scene depicted. Comes with booklet.

The Zombie Tarot: An Oracle of the Undead  $10.80

A campy, old fashioned zombie apocalypse tarot. Comes with guidebook.

●●●

As a note, all Lo Scarabeo decks tend to come with a small paper guide booklet.

Remember to search secondhand sites like eBay and local shops for used decks. I literally found a $6 listing for the massively popular Prisma Visions tarot on eBay! Buy secondhand from witchcraft and pagan Facebook groups. I got a secondhand copy of the Marigold Tarot for $20 once because I had been following and interacting with a reader extensively on Instagram and she wanted to trade or sell some used decks.

Also, don’t ignore perfectly functional mini decks. I see a lot of people disparage mini decks in favor of wanting “real” full-size decks, and it just feels like people think they’re less legitimate? They’re literally just smaller cards, people. Even as someone who has a growing collection of full-size tarot decks, I still have minis because they’re good for travel and day-to-day reading while out and about. I use my minis for regular readings too, they’re perfectly functional.

Hopefully this offers some alternatives and helps some people who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford a full 78 card deck. Happy reading, folks!

[mercifulflame]

Witch tip

Eat a tarot card to gain it’s powers

[mercifulflame]

Yes/No Cartomancy Reading on Storenvy or DM here.

[mercifulflame]

http://bit.ly/2WqwtBr

#IFTTT #Instagram

[mercifulflame]

You're facing conflict in which you have little control over. Though you may not have control over this conflict, you do have control over your time, emotions, and energy. So use them wisely. This conflict will be painful but swift and over quickly. After it's all said and done, your hard work will be rewarded. You'll have reached your goals. #tarot #tarotreading #tarotspread http://bit.ly/2DQzvbe

#IFTTT #Instagram

[mercifulflame]

http://bit.ly/2J1nXpD

#IFTTT #Instagram

[mercifulflame]

Your resilience and inner strength have brought you this far. Remember that you set your own boundaries and make the rules for your life. While you are in control of your life and actions, don't let something that was said or done in the spur of the moment eat at you. We all lose our self control at some point. It's how you gain it back that matters. #tarot #dailytarot #tarotreading #dailytarotreading #todaystarot http://bit.ly/2JgOajr

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[mercifulflame]

All of my kids were born on Mondays. *What does it MEAN?!*

In relation to anon who had all siblings/themselves born on Thursdays; do you think day of birth might have something to do with what gods you are drawn to/your personality? 🤔 I was born on Friday, and most of my gods are very parental, with 3/5 being mom/aunt figures(possibly 4/7, bc I think Frigg has been poking around a bit).

I don’t know, honestly. I was born on a Thursday, and well, Odin. So, dunno. 

[mercifulflame]

#tarot #tarot readings #cartomancy

[mercifulflame]

You may feel isolated and weak but there is still strength in you. Be sure to treat yourself right, don't neglect caring for your mind as well as your spirit. Finding that balance in your everyday life is crucial. #tarot #tarotreading #dailytarot #dailytarotspread http://bit.ly/2ZYhNMn

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[mercifulflame]

Single card readings currently available for $1. Deck choices include: Linestrider, Night Sun, Bonefire, Wildwood, and Victorian Steampunk. Payable through Paypal, Cashapp, or Venmo. http://bit.ly/2H0NnkY

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