Wheel of the Year - Litha

This is a tricky time of year for those of us in the southern hemisphere who are trying to follow the Wheel of the Year. While the weather is telling us it is most definitely midsummer, most of those around us are celebrating Christmas, a traditionally winter celebration. Although by now here in the southern hemisphere we are used to Christmas being associated with warmer weather and not the wintry Yule as it is based on.

Wheel of the Year (Southern Hemisphere)

Christmas is a big celebration in my family, but more so for the chance to get together rather then anything else. So with the combination of warm weather, feasting and outdoor fun it is not so hard to imagine celebrating the sun, in warmth and joy. So along with some of my other midsummer decorations I display are my Litha beads that sit with my Litha Oracle card. I actually made a set of 8 seasonal beads, one for each turn of the Wheel of the Year, if you want to see how I made these Litha beads you can visit HERE.

This Oracle card for Litha, seen below, is from the Witches' Wisdom Oracle deck. Although I do not tend to use this deck as an oracle, mostly just using the cards for display, I find it an enchanting deck to own. The deck includes 8 cards for the seasonal sabbaths in the Wheel of the Year, as well as directional cards, elemental cards, and many other people, place and object cards related to witches and magic.

Witches' Wisdom oracle cards - Litha

Wheel of the Year - Beltane

As the seasons change, the northern hemisphere is now experiencing Samhain, the gateway to winter, with all the fun of Halloween. However here in the southern hemisphere we are now entering Beltane, the gateway to summer, and summers here in the southern hemisphere get very hot.

Wheel of the Year (Southern Hemisphere)

Already there is a noticeable change in the weather with the days becoming warmer, though thankfully the nights are still cool and comfortable. Summer doesn't really hit here until the nights are about as hot as the days. Which is not a fun experience when you don't have air conditioning.

Above are all eight of my seasonal beads, you can read more about how I made these by visiting HERE. The beads for this season are pictured below with the Beltane card from my Witches' Wisdom Oracle deck. Although I tend not to use this deck for the oracle deck that it is, but more for display purposes, it is still a lovely deck that I enjoy using along with my seasonal beads.

Witches' Wisdom oracle cards - Beltane

Embrace The Magical

So in my last post I explained about living in the southern hemisphere and how here, October is not autumn and the lead up to Samhain or Halloween, but is instead the lead up to Beltane. I also mentioned how I prefer to celebrate the season as I experience them and not how the other side of the world may be experiencing them. And I stand my this, I do. But I just couldn't help but join in #embracethemagical.

Kelly from The Truth In Story started #embracethemagical on instagram, something she has done for a few years now to celebrate the magical and spooky month of October. Initially I wasn't going to join, as I said, I prefer to celebrate the seasons as I experience them, but then I thought that embracing the magical didn't have to mean October or Halloween. 'Embracing The Magical' was something that could be done any time of the year.

So for each week in October The Truth In Story will have weekly Tarot spreads available as well as daily keyword prompts for single card Tarot draws. These will be available on her instagram and also on her community tab on her youtube. If your interest in Tarot or other divination methods I recommend watching some of her videos. 

For this first week of #embracethemagical I am using the Deviant Moon Tarot, I know it leans more towards spooky Samhain then it does bright Beltane, but I only recently got the big book for this deck and really wanted to use it. To follow along with my 'Embracing the Magical' journey, visit my instagram.

The Tower card below from the Deviant Moon Tarot was the first card I pulled, a day before #embracethemagical officially began. A sign that, although I am experiencing Spring, it is fine to shake things up a bit with a dark and strange deck, for as surreal as the imagery might be, the insights found are quite positive and affirming.

Pocket Witch Dolls

So today is the 1st of October and for many people, mostly those in the northern hemisphere, it is a month of spooky and magical things in the lead up to Samhain or Halloween and the beginnings of Winter.

I however live in the southern hemisphere and here we are entering a month leading up to Beltane. It couldn't be more different and yet the weather here has been rainy and overcast of late and admittedly it does get lonely trying to follow the seasons when it feels like you are going against the whole world.

So as a sort of mash-up between what I am experiencing and what it feels like the whole rest of the world is experiencing, I made these pocket witch dolls. Little not so spooky but still very magical witchy dolls but with a spring floral twist.

These little pocket witch dolls are very small, the standing witch in her pointed hat is about 7cm tall and the witch on her broomstick is only about 5cm tall. Overall they feel like a good compromise to the season I am experiencing and the season most everyone expects it to be. To read more about how these were made you can visit my post here.

Wheel of the Year - Ostara

While most people living in the northern hemisphere are currently experiencing the Autumn Equinox, I am living in the southern hemisphere and here we are now entering the Spring Equinox. And although the weather had been getting warmer, today was very much a cold and wet day, not at all the celebration of Spring I might have hoped for.

Wheel of the Year (Southern Hemisphere)

Despite the colder weather felt today, it is most definitely Ostara, otherwise known as Easter. Although it feels as though I am the only one to acknowledge this as it seems to me most people where I live prefer to follow the seasons marked by the northern hemisphere and not by the actual seasons outside our windows here in the southern hemisphere.

Above are all eight of my seasonal beads, you can read more about how I made these by visiting HERE. The beads for this season are pictured below with the Ostara card from my Witches' Wisdom Oracle deck. Although I tend not to use this deck for the oracle deck that it is, but more for display purposes, it is still a lovely deck that I enjoy using along with my seasonal beads.

Witches' Wisdom oracle cards - Ostara

Ogham - Sail

Sail (sahl) Willow Tree          S
ogham name (pronunciation) ogham meaning              symbol                       letter

Sail = Willow Tree 'dirty, grey'
Tree Association = Willow

Green Man Tree Oracle - Willow

Kennings: 1 Morainn mac Moin (MM), 2 Maic ind Oc (MO), 3 Con Culainn (CC)
1 Pallor of a lifeless one OR Hue of the lifeless
2 Sustenance of bees OR Strength of Bees
3 Beginning of honey OR Beginning of loss, that is, willow

Auraicept Translation: "The colour of a lifeless one i.e. it has no colour, owing to the resemblance of its hue to a dead person."
Auraicept Notes: Willow in the forest.
Notes on MM: Hue of the lifeless, i.e. hue of one dead, so that he is not living but is dead: or that is Sail, willow.
Notes on MO: Activity of bees, that is willow, for its bloom and for its catkin.

Associations and Cultural Context: The pale hue of the tree and its leaves; some associations with bees and willow pollen.

My Interpretation of the Kennings: Willow Catkins
1 willow catkins become off-yellow in colour once pollinated allowing fertility/new life from death of the old, also the 'dirty grey', off-white/bluish-grey colour of underside of leaves and sallow grey appearance of the bark.
2 willow catkins provide pollen and nectar to sustain bees, enabling growth and reproduction.
3 willow catkins provide pollen and nectar to bees enabling the creation of honey through their own demise, demonstrating the cycles of life.

My Keywords: Cycles, Flow & Intuition

 

Ogham Home

Ogham - Fern                                                                                              Ogham - Nin

The Kennings, Auraicept Translation, Auraicept Notes, Notes on MM and Notes on MO are all found in Auraicept ne N-Eces The Scholars Primer. An online copy of this book can be found HERE.

My Interpretation of the Kennings and My Keywords were formed from information found in the Auraicept ne N-Eces The Scholars Primer as well as researching the meanings, history, lore, folklore and attributes of each ogham as described in the Kennings.

Harmony Tarot Key 0 - The Goldfinch (The Fool)

The Goldfinch keywords (from the book)
Simplicity ~ Travel ~ Freedom

The Fool keywords (general)
Beginnings ~ Innocence ~ Purity ~ Spontaneity ~ Free Spirit ~ Potential

The Goldfinch meaning (my summary from the book)
Freedom, adventure and new experiences are the main themes of this card. There is an emphasis on simplifying your life and finding order in an effort to achieve more freedom and to allow new experiences and opportunities into your life.

The Fool meaning (general)
The Fool represents unlimited potential and carries with him everything he truly needs, which in reality is very little. Being numbered 0 and standing outside of the major arcane, or on cliff edge, The Fool is able to embody the freedoms found in breaking away from social norms and conventions. The Fool is also representative of the beginnings of an adventure, or the possibilities for new beginnings that are present within each moment to bring fresh energy to any given situation. There is also an element of wisdom and enlightenment found within The Fool that comes from obtaining a sense of innocence and being unburdened with material matters.

The Goldfinch imagery (meanings I found in the image)
GOLDFINCH ~ represents infinite possibilities and foreknowledge and is an emblem of endurance, fruitfulness and persistence.
THIRD EYE ~ represents a state of enlightenment, mystical intuition and insight.
LADYBUG ~ represents good fortune, happy resolutions, true love, innocence and the need to make the right choices. They also promise positive transformations.

 

Harmony Tarot Home

The card meanings and associations found here are my own and make sense to me. While being heavily influenced from the accompanying guidebook, they have been further developed through research and study, as well as personal experiences and workings with the cards. Your own associations and opinions about these card meanings may differ.

Pictish Swirl Alphabet

The Pictish Swirl Alphabet was named for the Pictish peoples, but was not actually created by them. The Picts were a real group of people from the early middle ages living in what is now known as Scotland. It was believed to be the Romans who named these peoples Picti, meaning painted or tattooed people. As so little is known about these people, it is not known what they actually called themselves, so we are left with calling them Picti or Picts.

As there is so little known of these people that the Romans called barbarians, their true history and mythology is a mystery, and unfortunately susceptible to misinformation and misrepresentation. This I fear is what happened when Raymond Buckland wrote his book Scottish Witchcraft and Magic: The Craft of the Picts. Here he introduces the term 'PectiWita' for his neopagan religion based on Wiccan practices and what he claims to be Pictish witchcraft.

Despite the obvious inaccuracies and liberties taken in Robert Buckland's work, there is the creation of the Pictish Swirl Alphabet that, although not ancient and with no historical basic, is a fun way to introduce a magical element into magical working. It was this Pictish Swirl Alphabet that I used in creating my Goddess Rainbow Dolls, there are 15 handmade dolls in total, visit Set1, Set2 and Set3 to see these dolls and how I made them.

Mists of Avalon Oracle by Rose Inserra - A Review

illustrated by Nadia Turner

Through these cards it is hoped that a deeper and more meaningful connection to the ancient Goddess and the Otherworld realm will be formed. Here it it said that this Otherworld place is Avalon, combining the realm of the Divine, the enchanted Faerie realm and the Isle of Avalon itself. But whether you agree that all three realms are one and the same or three separate realms, all have strong links to Glastonbury, "our modern-day Avalon".

It is here in Glastonbury and its surrounding sacred sites that we are able to pierce the veil of the mists that separate our earthly realm from that of myth, legend and the beyond. Weaving together the stories of King Arthur and Avalon, the tales of the faerie folk as well as sacred Divine entities, in order to bring you closer to the great Mother Goddess.

The 36 cards in this deck are separated in the guidebook into three sections, the Landscapes of Avalon, the Mysteries of Avalon and the Guides of Avalon. Although the Landscapes and Mysteries may not be your typical advisors, the guidebook does well to offers just as much insightful information and thoughtful messages for these Landscapes and Mysteries cards as it does for the Guides found in this deck.

Landscapes of Avalon

Of the nine Landscapes of Avalon offered within the deck there are only two that are beyond the reach of our earthly realm, 'Camelot' and 'The Isle of Avalon'. There are also another two that are more abstract in location, 'The Holy Thorn', which can be found in any one of the Glastonbury thorn trees, and 'The Sacred Grove', also found in any grove of sacred trees. The remaining five cards are well known landmarks of Glastonbury steeped in myth and legend.

Mysteries of Avalon

The Mysteries of Avalon consist of six cards, two of these are the revered objects of legend, 'Excalibur' and 'The Holy Grail'. Another two of these are concept cards, 'The Dragon' as order through strength and power, and the 'Sacred Union' as joy through growth and vitality. With the last two cards being those intangible places of 'The Mists of Avalon' and 'The Otherworld'.

Guides of Avalon

It is, however, the Guides of Avalon that make up the majority of this deck with twenty-one cards featuring the individuals of King Arthur's court along with a handful of goddesses. Also included are the mysterious characters of 'The Lady of the Lake' and 'The Priestess of Avalon' alongside the elusive 'Faerie', the otherworldly 'King of the Faerie Realm' and the mystical 'White Hart'.

goddess cards

Being a deck devoted to the Goddess there are six goddess cards, five of which are said to be the revered goddesses of Avalonian tradition, Cerridwen, Rhiannon, Arianrhod, Branwen, and Blodeuwedd. The sixth goddess card in this deck is for Brigid, who is linked to Glastonbury through Bride's Mound, a place in Glastonbury considered to be a liminal space and said to have been visited by Brigid in her aspect as a Saint.

The Chalice Well & The White Spring, The Holy Grail & Excalibur

While there is a heavy emphasis on the Goddess within this deck, there are included a number of cards that carry masculine energies to help provide a more balanced feel to this feminine focused deck. The complementary cards of 'The Chalice Well' and 'The White Spring' as well as 'Excalibur' and 'The Holy Grail', unite both masculine and feminine energies within each pair. 'The Dragon', 'The White Hart' and 'The King of the Faerie Realm', along with 'Merlin', 'King Arthur' and his knights round out this deck nicely.

masculine cards

The guidebook offers a guiding quote for each card, a message capturing each cards essence, a couple of pages of information about each card and an affirmation for each card. There are also three spreads in the guidebook, as well as a bit of information about how to use these cards. Also included is a short sentence about number allocations for the cards having further meanings and a mention on reversal cards, but nothing about these are further explained in the guidebook.

three-card spread

While the messages and quotes are well thought out, inspiring and contemplative, and the affirmations empowering, I found that the general information provided in some cases felt not quite enough. In reading the guidebook I did wish for a little more about the cards inclusion in this deck, more specifically in their connection to the Goddess as stated in the introduction. Possibly a page of reference materials for further reading about this would have a nice touch.

Guinevere & Igraine share keywords Beauty & Feminine Power

The Lady of the Lake has keyword Otherworld, and card The Otherworld

The keywords on the cards fit the style and appearance, with each keyword being relevant and connected to each cards energies, but there are the same keywords repeated for several cards. Of the 36 cards in this deck only eight have keywords that are unique, all other cards shared one or more keywords. With several cards having similar energies, it would have been nice to have highlighted their individual traits with keywords of their own, or possibly synonyms could have been used to reduce the repetitiveness.

However the true magic of this deck is found within the cards themselves, for it is within these images we experience the guidance and wisdom of this enchanting deck. Whether you return to the guidebook again and again, use it as a starting point for additional study or just read it once and put it aside, it is within the images that you will further your understand and develop your relationship with this deck and, despite my skills with a camera, in person the beautiful artwork does not disappoint.

The artwork brings the Landscapes of Avalon to life, portraying a feel of wonder and enchantment about them, that I imagine would be present at their real world locations in Glastonbury. The Mysteries of Avalon has beautifully rich artwork that conveys a depth of feeling and magical influence. But it is within the artwork of the Guides of Avalon that we are able to observe the unique characteristics of each individual so subtly and skilfully presented, revealing their wisdom to those ready to listen.

Created by Rose Inserra, with illustrations by Nadia Turner, this deck is a walk-through of the many sacred sites, myths and legends associated with Glastonbury and its surrounding areas. The vibrant colours of this deck are enhanced by the smooth, easy to shuffle cards that are housed in a quality two piece sturdy box. With cards measuring about 5in x 3.5in, and at AU$29.99, this Rockpool Publishing deck is a powerful link to a place rich in history and lore, creating a keen experience within these cards of the magic of Glastonbury itself, for those unable to visit in person.

This item was sent to me for review from the publisher. This review reflects my personal thoughts and opinions. Your opinions and experiences may differ to my own.

Wheel of the Year - Imbolc

As I live in the southern hemisphere we are now entering Imbolc and today was a lovely warm day to introduce this new season. It was so nice enjoying a warm day after the cold months we've just been through, those of us in the southern hemisphere that is. I understand that a lot of people will be experiencing a cooler change in the northern hemisphere, but that is how the seasons turn.

Wheel of the Year (Southern Hemisphere)

We sit now halfway between Yule and Ostara, otherwise known as Christmas and Easter, and at the very beginnings of Spring. So for this season of Imbolc I created my seasonal beads. There are eight in total, one for each turn of the Wheel of the Year. Below you can see all eight beads I made, and to see how these are made you can visit HERE.

For this new season of Imbolc I have my Imbolc beads displayed alongside my Imbolc card from the Witches' Wisdom Oracle deck. This is a deck I use manly for displaying the different seasons with its seasonal cards. However it is a lovely deck and I would like to work with it more in the future as more then just cards for display.

Witches' Wisdom oracle cards - Imbolc

Ogham - Fern

Fern (fairn) Alder Tree           F
ogham name (pronunciation) ogham meaning              symbol                       letter

Fern = Alder Tree
Tree Association = Alder

Green Man Tree Oracle - Alder

Kennings: 1 Morainn mac Moin (MM), 2 Maic ind Oc (MO), 3 Con Culainn (CC)
1 Vanguard of hunting/warrior bands OR Defence of warrior bands
2 Milk container OR Guarding of milk
3 Protection of the heart OR Protection of the heart, that is, a shield

Auraicept Translation: "The vanguard of the Warrior-bands is alder, for thereof are the shields."
Auraicept Notes: Alder in the forest.
Notes on MM: Shield of warrior-bands, i.e. shields for Fern, owing to their redness in the same respect: or because the alder, the material of the shield was from Fern. Shield, that is Fern.
Notes on MO: Guarding of milk, that is the alder of the forest, for it is it that guards the milk, for of it are made the vessels containing the milk.

Associations and Cultural Context: Shields were made from Alder wood, as were milk buckets.

My Interpretation of the Kennings: an Alder Wood Shield
1 wood shields for defence, wood also used in blacksmiths fires to make spearheads and arrows.
2 wooden vessels/buckets for containing and protecting/guarding milk.
3 wood shields seen to provide strength and defence due to it bleeding crimson sap when felled.

My Keywords: Defence, Protection & Guidance

 

Ogham Home

Ogham - Luis                                                                                              Ogham - Sail

The Kennings, Auraicept Translation, Auraicept Notes, Notes on MM and Notes on MO are all found in Auraicept ne N-Eces The Scholars Primer. An online copy of this book can be found HERE.

My Interpretation of the Kennings and My Keywords were formed from information found in the Auraicept ne N-Eces The Scholars Primer as well as researching the meanings, history, lore, folklore and attributes of each ogham as described in the Kennings.

Forest Fae Messages by Nadia Turner - A Review

Within this little box you will find, as promised, "Curious messages of enchantment" from the Forest Fae. These unique creatures found within this mini deck are a wondrous blend of both the natural world and the fantastical. These are creatures who live on the threshold between our world and theirs, inviting us to cross the boundaries and glimpse into the magical world of the forest to learn from its wisdom. All beautifully brought to life by Australian artist Nadia Turner.

Through each of the 40 cards in this deck you are introduced to a new and distinctive Fae creature who is ready to offer you their words of inspiration, encouragement and insight. Some of these messages are simple and to the point, such as "Take pride in yourself". However other messages are more nuanced and require more thought and reflection, as can be seen in the message "Watch the shifting shadows and be a caretaker of silence".

These Forest Fae cards come only with simple instructions found under the magnetic lid of this sturdy solid box. Sit quietly, shuffle the deck and ask your question or the Fae for guidance. But there is a warning found here too, for the Fae are often as willing to help as they are to confuse or even to ask questions of their own. The design on the back of the cards gives the impression of looking up from the forest floor to the moon high above, as mysterious as the Fae who dwell beneath.

For the past week since these cards arrived I have pulled a card a day to discover what messages the Fae had for me and it has been a joy to see the new Fae creatures that have met me everyday. This deck contains Fae that are a mixture of fauna and flora, such as 'The Witch Hare' and 'Owl Song', as well as the 'Mandrake Spirit' and the 'The Green Man'. There are also more traditional Fae figures included like 'The Troll Fae' and 'The Gnome'. But then there are also Fae that are altogether something other, such as 'The Sentinel' and 'The Silent One'.

This is a whimsical, magical deck that lovers of faeries will enjoy. There are so many uses for this deck, whether you just want to look at the images and enjoy the little messages, or work with these cards on a deeper level. Such as using these cards for daily inspiration, as an insightful oracle deck, as a means to communicate and receive messages from the Fae, as journaling prompts or as a tool to enhance other oracle or tarot readings. I recently used these cards to inspire my latest creative project seen HERE.

There is a very grounding, earthy feeling to this deck despite the airy nature of these Fae creatures. The card are smooth and shiny bringing out the vibrant colours in this deck and allowing for easy overhand shuffling. Newly published in the last few months by Rockpool Publishing, this 40 card mini deck measures about 10cm x 5cm and is only AU$14.99. It really is such a lovely deck to own and explore, or would make a wonderful gift for both adults and children.

This item was sent to me for review from the publisher. This review reflects my personal thoughts and opinions. Your opinions and experiences may differ to my own.

Ogham - Luis

Luis (loosh) Flame or Herb    L
ogham name (pronunciation) ogham meaning                       symbol               letter

Luis = Flame/Blaze 'to shine' or Plant/Herb 'to grow'
Tree Association = Rowan [Quicken] (sometimes Elm)

Green Man Tree Oracle - Rowan

Kennings: 1 Morainn mac Moin (MM), 2 Maic ind Oc (MO), 3 Con Culainn (CC)
1 Luster of the eye OR Delight of the eye
2 Friend of cattle
3 Sustenance of cattle OR Strength of cattle, that is, the elm

Auraicept Translation: "Delight of eye is Luis (rowan) owing to the beauty of its berries."
Auraicept Notes: Elm in the forest.
Notes on MM: Delight of eye, that is Luis, quicken tree, to wit, the flame.
Notes on MO: Friend of cattle, elm. Dear to the cattle is the elm for its bloom and for down. Hence Luis was quicken tree.

Associations and Cultural Context: The rowan was a "delight of the eye" due to the beauty of its berries; rowan berries were used in folk magic for protecting cattle.

My Interpretation of the Kennings: a Rowan Tree / Rowan Berries
1 rowan berries shining/brightness like a flame, or berries with tart, bitter taste bringing tears to the eyes.
2 rowan berries red colour and natural pentagram a symbol of protection for cattle and homes, also branches giving shelter/provide a place of rest for cattle.
3 rowan berries and foliage providing food/sustenance for cattle.

My Keywords: Quickening, Nurturing & Inspiration
(quickening is 'to give or restore life to/to grow' OR 'to cause a fire/to burn', both relate to Luis meaning of flame or herb)

 

Ogham Home

Ogham - Beith                                                                                            Ogham - Fern

The Kennings, Auraicept Translation, Auraicept Notes, Notes on MM and Notes on MO are all found in Auraicept ne N-Eces The Scholars Primer. An online copy of this book can be found HERE.

My Interpretation of the Kennings and My Keywords were formed from information found in the Auraicept ne N-Eces The Scholars Primer as well as researching the meanings, history, lore, folklore and attributes of each ogham as described in the Kennings.

Wheel of the Year - Yule

While the northern hemisphere is enjoying the warmth Litha, midsummer, we here in the southern hemisphere are freezing as we experience midwinter, otherwise known as Yule. Because Christmas is celebrated in December no matter what hemisphere you live in, celebrating Yule in the southern hemisphere can be a bit lonely. But as the weather outside it telling me its midwinter that is what I shall celebrate.

Wheel of the Year (Southern Hemisphere)

I haven't honestly done that much to celebrate midwinter, its been so cold that I haven't really done that much in general. One of the few display items I have out for Yule is my Yule beads I made that sit with the Oracle card for Yule. I made a set of 8 seasonal beads, one for each turn of the Wheel of the Year, if you want to see how I made these Yule beads you can visit HERE.

The Yule card used here is from the Witches' Wisdom Oracle deck. I do not really use this deck as an oracle, mostly I just use the cards within this deck as display cards as seen below. Within this deck there are 8 cards for the seasonal sabbaths in the Wheel of the Year, as well as directional cards, elemental cards, and many other people, place and object cards.

Witches' Wisdom oracle cards - Yule