So Good, So Dark: Halloween Tarot

For the next eight days, Magaly Guerrero of Pagan Culture is hosting an All Hallows Grim Blog Party with the theme of So Good, So Dark, with the aim "to use our artistic power, intellect and heart to create posts that show the delicious goodness that blooms in the dark."  Participants will be sharing all sorts of creative spins on the darkness - artwork, stories, etc, along with a few giveaways.  Check back to Magaly's website - she'll be offering giveaways throughout the week, and you can find participants' entries in the sidebar.

For me, I'm going to share some of my Tarot treasures - a few of my darker decks (or at least seasonally themed) and books that lend themselves especially to creative exploration or working with darkness and shadow.  What I have is absolutely not the limit of what is available (I find I am not a particularly dark-oriented person these days!), but perhaps it will inspire an interest in working with a new deck or two, or to use Tarot in a different way than simple divination.  For each deck, I'm going to share the Death, Devil or Tower card (the ones most likely to be considered dark and scary) and the back.  And I will also share an exercise from each book I am highlighting using the chosen deck.

The Halloween Tarot
Karin Lee & Kipling West
US Games Systems, Inc.

Our first experience with October darkness tends to not be too frightening - most of us, at least those of us in the U.S. have memories of Halloween, and the (mostly) safe thrill of costumed figures in the darkness of our own streets, our neighborhoods transformed into spooky haunted houses where we are lured in with the promise of sweets, and almost, if not quite, sure that the cackling crone and Frankenstein handing out the goodies are really our best friend's mom and dad.

The first deck I want to share takes us back to those intriguing days of sweet spookiness - The Halloween Tarot. 

This deck is an utterly charming Rider-Waite Smith clone.  The four suits are Pumpkins (Pentacles), Ghosts (Cups), Bats (Swords), and Imps (Wands).  I have found this deck not only to be great fun to read, but also a wonderful introduction to Tarot for children, and those who are a little afraid of Tarot - that little thrill of Halloween fright is there, but in a familiar and non-threatening package.  As a person gets comfortable with these images, they can then compare them to the standard RWS deck, and will find they have developed a good grounding in the symbolism of the system.

But besides all that - it is simply a fun, slightly spooky deck to play with at this time of year.

Death in Tarot usually does not indicate physical death (although it can).  Instead it has to do with transformation - specifically the transformation that rises out of things that have ended.  It's not a comfortable card but it needn't be seen as a 'bad' one, either.

The Death card in the Halloween Tarot is rich with symbol - in the night sky, we can see Saturn (Cronus in Greek - a deity related to Time and a reminder that everything has a timespan).  The vulture and the rat are each scavengers, feeding off the remains of that which has died - and a good thing they do, too, if you think about it.  In the bottom left of the card is a Death's Head Moth and tacked onto the fence is an ankh, an Egyptian symbol thought to mean Eternal Life.  In Death, matter is transformed, not lost.  Death itself - here a skeleton - is shown here as a gardener.  As anyone who has ever grown anything, what dies becomes compost and fertilizer - dirt, which becomes the soil in which new life can grow.  Without death, there could be no life.   The pumpkins and flowers in this garden seem to be quite happy to be there, even if they know it cannot be forever in this form.  Finally, for those familiar with the RWS Death card, the watering can has the five-petaled rose so familiar on Death's banner.

Oh and the black cat?  He's on every single card - try this deck with children.  Even very young kids will enjoy looking for the cat on each image.

Tarot Games
Cait Johnson & Maura Shaw

Tarot Games: 45 Playful Ways to Explore Tarot Cards Together is a delightful book by Cait Johnson & Maura Shaw.   Rather than the 'usual' look at each card, this is, truly, a book of games that can be played with Tarot.  Some alone, some in a group setting, and some specifically designed to be played with children.  Most of these do not require any previous experience with Tarot, but can also be used as a way to shake things up for those who have long experience with reading.  I highly recommend it!

Today, I decided to try a simple game from the children's section, called Autumn Leaves:

"The player mixes the cards, then stands on a chair and drops ten cards, one by one, from this height. Only the cards that land face up are read.  These may indicate attitudes or beliefs that the player is beginning to outgrow or needs to let go.  Let the child tell you what he or she sees in the "autumn leaves."

 

Out of 10 cards, I had 8 show up upright.  These could be read separately, considered as various things that it might be time to put away as the season turns toward Winter.  Or they could be arranged as a narrative.

My inclination was to pay a little extra attention to the 10 of Pumpkins overlaying the 9 of Pumpkins - it is burying the qualities of the 9.   

The 10 shows a party where a pumpkin is being used as a pinata - the tree is full of jack o'lanterns and there is a crowd of people in costume waiting their turn to take a whack.  It's a social setting and looks fun.... but on the other hand, little is as it seems.  Who are these people under their masks?  What do the jack o'lanterns waiting to be hit represent?  It's a lot of activity, but it could be pretty stressful and noisy.  This 10 generally has to do with family legacies, and it makes me worry about things being broken open 'for fun', and not so nice games being labeled as good times and social obligations where no one is really open at all.

It's burying the 9 of Pumpkins, which shows very nearly the opposite scene - a pleasant, well dressed woman stands alone in her thriving pumpkin patch, keeping company with an owl, a symbol of wisdom.  Her pumpkins are still growing, not cut into jack-o-lanterns, and she wears no mask.  She's found a place of serenity and quiet - a haven from the noise and gameplaying.  With the 10 hiding this, I see here a suggestion that it what may be needing to be put away is social experiences and family dynamics  that disrupt peace.  It can be a wonderful thing to enjoy the company of others, but make sure it's the people you want to spent time with.

~~~

A couple of giveaways to point you to, today:

Samhain's Sirens has a tutorial for making seasonal masks and is giving away two of them, one for Fall and one for Spring.

Meanwhile, Pagan Culture has a gorgeous chest by Eliora called "Reach Through the Darkness to Those You Love", full of things to help honor our Ancestors.  Lovely!

See you tomorrow!

~ Lynda H.

A Weekly Tarot Spread

I pulled out one of my decks at random to do a weekly spread I've been working with for awhile.   The deck I chose is called simply "Tarot" - it's one of the Running Press Mini Kits that you can often find on the display racks near the checkout at book stores.  It is a shame they never gave it a more specific name, and it bugs me to no end that the artist gets no credit - it's actually a sweet little deck that packs a lot of symbol into some simple images.  The bright colors on a black background have a folk art appeal I like a lot.  It comes in a sturdy little box, complete with a small but attractive booklet and makes for a good portable deck, since the cards are only about 2.5"x 3.5".

So here's the spread (and my reading for the week)

Weekly Challenge Spread

1.  Main Challenge of the week.
2. Lesson that this challenge calls me to learn.
3. Best approach to learning  this lesson.
4. Outcome of integrating this approach into my week.

So the first thing to look at is that there are no Major Arcana cards here, nor any Pentacles - this has to do with daily level living, and is mainly in the realm of attitudes and thoughts rather than outward things.

1.  Main Challenge of this next week.
VIII Wands
Here, we see the 8 of Wands portrayed as a wheel - wands (energy and will) make up the spokes and the axle at the center is a clock or stopwatch.  This has to do with getting things done - a desire to get rolling on projects.  This card tends to be about speed and fast momentum toward one's target.  Often, this card will be 8 wands flying through the air like spears, but I rather like the idea of them as parts of a wheel - a vehicle for forward motion.  That the stopwatch is what holds them together also works well for me - having deadlines is a good motivator for getting things done.   I think many of us do better when there is a little tension.  A deadline keeps us from simply spinning our wheels and procrastinating.

So - the main challenge of this next week is setting and meeting my deadlines, and avoiding procrastination!

2. Lesson that this challenge calls me to learn.
VII Cups
The figure on this card is the opposite of grounded - she's balanced on a tied around a pair of stacks of cups.  The cups aren't stabilized at all, and the whole thing looks very fragile.  The figure carries an additional cup in one hand and hides behind a mask on a stick (wand) - energy is being put into portraying herself unrealistically, and her precarious walk not only isn't going anywhere real, but it's likely to shortly fall down.  These cups are emotional in nature... hopes, and fears and dreams and moods.  The sense here is one of performing according to how one 'feels' like doing, shifting one's balance with every shift of emotion, rather than steady progression toward any real purpose.

The lesson, in terms of setting and meeting deadlines and especially avoiding procrastination is to not be distracted by whim and feelings, and to ground myself in a more solid and disciplined path.  Stop 'playing around' and focus.

3. Best approach to learning  this lesson.
X Swords
Here we have a figure seated on the ground, with ten swords (hilts like spades) stabbed into his back. This is one of those cards no one likes - being stabbed in the back hurts!  But because it is the 'best approach' to the learning the lesson of better grounding and discipline, it first calls to mind for me how often procrastination leads to betrayal of self and others, and how many great plans are 'murdered' because of slipped opportunity.  In addition, looking at it from a basic elemental level, we see that swords are mental energy and 10s are he end of that element's influence, so we can also see that it advices that it is time to stop thinking about things and just do them, already.

And so, the best approach to learning the lesson of grounding and discipline as a way to meet the challenge of avoiding procrastination is to use one's honoring of commitments to self and others to take action rather than merely 'thinking about' getting things done.

4. Outcome of integrating this approach into my week.
Ace of Swords
This Ace, also with a spade hilt, has to do with mental potential - fresh ideas and attitudes, new understandings.  The Ace is wrapped in living greenery because it is the seed of mental growth.  It is a gift that comes from keeping to right thoughts, and opens the way for new challenges and rewards to come.

The takeaway here is that by clearing away poor attitudes and habits, remembering the integrity of keeping commitments as a way to develop a good grounding in disciplined action, in order to keep deadlines and avoid procrastination, one can clear away old tasks and open the way to new mental challenges and lessons. 

The outcome is a clear vision for the future.

~~~

Before I go, I'm going to point you over to Samhain's Sirens once again - today's entry includes a neat craft project to help us honor our Ancestors, as well as a giveaway of some lovely flourite earrings. Te giveaway is open throughout the weekend, until Monday morning. Go check it out!

~ Lynda

Our Samhain Shrine

Far too late into the season, we finally got our seasonal shrine decorated for Samhain/Halloween. Our actual altar (laid out in ADF Druid style with the Well-Fire-Tree configuration) doesn't really vary and is on a smallish surface that doesn't allow for much seasonal decoration.  The shrine, on the other hand, provides a surface to put things during ritual, as well as room enough to explode the room with some seasonal lushness.

This year, it's got a bit of a witchy feel to it, and a good bit of whimsy - because as much as  I love the serious intent of Samhain, I am and always have been a big fan of a good secular Halloween.  As a kid, Christmas only trumped it as my favorite holiday because there were presents - otherwise, Halloween was by far more fun and interesting!

The tree always operates as our seasonal centerpiece - here covered in autumn leaves and flowers, and decorated with a few lacy plush pumpkins, witchy shoes and hats.  There is also a couple Day of the Dead skulls (one homemade by me, another a gift from my daughter Jackie), and an owl ornament.

I am badly in need of some ravens, I think.

The vase contains more autumn color - sunflowers and wheat, as well as some light-up twigs and peacock feathers from our wedding, and to either side are some tin witch hats that can hold votive candles inside, and a couple dollar store skulls resting in more fall foliage.

Resting on a clay leaf is a wand made by Eliora of Enchanting Elegance, and beneath the tree is my crystal ball.

This corner of the room makes me happy with it's bright color and magical goodies.

Speaking of Samhain magic - Samhain's Sirens has a sweet entry today, discussing familiars and animal loved ones, along with a whimsical cat plaque for the season as today's giveaway.  Go take a look!

~ Lynda

The Hierophant

Today's Samhain's Sirens post is a fun mix of food, spooky craft ideas, and a giveaway of a 9"x7" lined bag (just right for a Tarot deck, says I!)  Pretty isn't it?

Speaking of Tarot, I've been wanting to get back into a daily (or, being honest, as near daily as I can manage) exploration of Tarot.  How that gets defined depends a lot on whim - a look at a particular cards, an examination of a specific deck, a spread here or there...

Today, I pulled out my Housewives Tarot (a deck that never fails to make me smile), and drew a card asking "What is Tarot?"

I drew the Hierophant, which in this deck shows a television set showing a test pattern (something you young'uns might know nothing about - once upon a time, TV stations went off at night, replacing programming with a test pattern, so we'd know they were still properly broadcasting).

The word Hierophant comes from ancient Greek:  ta hiera, "the holy," and phainein, "to show."  It was the title given to the priest who conducted the Eleusian mysteries - the interpreter of religious mysteries.  As such, the answer to "What is Tarot?" is that it is an interpretation of mystery, and a way to come into the presence of the holy.


The Hierophant in general can be a challenging card for a lot of people - in its aspect as "The Pope" - religious authority, and for many that has some negative connotation, borne of unpleasant memories of being told what to do, and what wasn't allowed, on penalty of spiritual punishment.  While Tarot does have much to offer in the way of spiritual guidance, it does not demand adherence or else.  But it does speak with spiritual authority, and for some (myself included) Tarot - like the Pope - is a way to hear and understand the divine, however the reader interprets that. 

In Tarot the Hierophant is also a teacher - specifically institutional teachings - academic studies, universities, classroom settings, as well as teachings that have an established philosophy and  course of study.  Here again, the idea of authority comes into play - while many of us are happy to learn as we like on our own, or through an individual mentor, at some point nearly all of us will find ourselves striving to learn - and to show our work - according to some previously set standards, and that is the Hierophant at work.  In looking at What is Tarot, the Hierophant tells us it is a system of learning.  While intuition is vital in reading Tarot, the cards do contain set concepts.  The symbols have meanings that are applied on purpose, and learning these symbols and meanings, and  the history behind them deepens and enriches one's literacy in the language of Tarot, and greatly expands what the intuition can comprehend.

For me, the Hierophant is also the Story-Teller.  The keeper of our cultural and historical myths, urban legends, historical truths (and "Truths") that inform us of who we are, what we stand for, what matters to us as a community or society.  "What is Tarot?" - Tarot is the Bard the tells us the story of ourselves.

So back to that TV, and why I think it is a brilliant visual interpretation of the Hierophant.  In modern life, TV (and radio, and the Internet) has become the medium through which we, as a society, interpret and understand our stories, learn what we need to know, and for many, a major way through which we experience, interpret and/or explain our spirituality - you are reading this on a blog about spiritual practices online, after all.  In today's world, we don't so much look to the Pope (or other gurus) as the primary conduit through which our understanding of our spiritual cultural heritage is filtered.... but we sure run it through the mass media filter, for better and worse.

Last thought on "What is Tarot" -  that test pattern.  Incoming programming takes a break, and via Tarot, we're able to 'test' what it means, and what might come of it.  We can use Tarot to forecast what might happen next based on what we have already seen, but we do so in a space set apart from the steady flow of input. We take a break to contemplate the future, via Tarot.

Samhain's Sirens

You know you want it....

Just a quickie update to share with you Samhain's Sirens, a fabulous month-long Samhain celebration, chock full of music, recipes and giveaways.  Every single day between today and November 1st!

Today's kickoff is awesome!  Head over for a sweet Autumnal granola recipe, and enter for two fantastic giveaways - a $200 weblog makeover by PIP Designs and a stunning handmade blank book made by Lapulia Studios worth $332.98.

And then check back daily for more awesome giveaways and other fun things - Samhain is worth a month long celebration, don't you think?

~ Lynda

Frigga and Her Handmaidens - A Tarot Spread

 This entry is a part of the Tarot Blog Hop, which gathers together many tarot themed bloggers every High Day.  The theme for Mabon is Divination and Myth.  From here, you can view the Master List of Participants, travel back to Stella at US Games, Inc., or forward to Chloe at TABI.  Have fun, and welcome!

***

Frigga Spinning the Clouds, H.A. Guerber (1909)

Our Grove held a Norse-centered Autumn Equinox last night, with Frigga and Freyr as the Deities of the Occasion.  Frigga holds a special place for me, as she has been honored on my hearth altar since last Yule.  In preparing for the High Rite, I thought a lot about what she means to me.

Frigga is the wife of Odin, and as such, she is the Norse and Anglo-Saxon Goddess of marriage and domesticity - but it is important to understand that this is not in the sense of servitude or drudgery, but as the keeper of the house and hearth.  Frigga is Odin's partner in the truest sense, and is foremost among Goddesses.  She is the sole deity, other than Odin himself, allowed to sit in Odin's seat, and stories tell of her gentle wisdom in guiding him toward wise decisions. She is the one who keeps things in order - no small feat in world that leans toward chaos.  She helps us to understand the vital importance of 'mundane' effort.  She is also the one who spins out our fate and is associated with divination, sometimes called She Who Knows All, But Speaks Not.

Finally, and this is an important aspect for me, Frigga shows us how to keep Frith in our own homes and in our community.

Frith is an Old English term that means peace or harmony, but more than that - it indicates a relationship of kindred, with rules of behavior attached so that those in frith with one another are committed to stand up for each other, to not engage in unrestrained strife or seek to cause harm to one another. Frith is the sense of security that comes from being within one's tribe. The bonds of blood or marriage confer frith, but so too might a relationship in groups who have come together purposely, such as a spiritual group, or a working group of almost any sort.  I very much like this statement about Frith:

In essence, frith is not an absence, but a presence. It is not the absence of strife; rather it fills the spaces between people with something that is stronger and more important, more meaningful, than strife. That "something" that fills in the spaces is frith: a closely woven relationship with a distinctive pattern to it. If frith were merely an absence of strife, we could not speak of frithweaving: how does one weave a vacuum? One weaves a fabric, filling empty space with substance, pattern, and tensile strength that is created by the interweaving of many threads into a strong whole. Strife can occur between people who are in frith with each other, though there are limits to the severity of expression allowed. Strife is a natural component of existence: consider its linguistic connection to the word "strive", a word that expresses part of Heathen thew. Strife only becomes dangerous when there is no frith, no committed relationship with recognized rules and patterns of behavior, to control and counterbalance it.

 This idea of Frith, both within our household, but also in various groups and communities in which I find myself intrigued me as an idea for a Tarot spread.

I also have been increasingly interested in learning more about Frigga's Handmaidens.  The lore indicates that Frigga had twelve handmaidens, some householders in their own right, each with their own particular aspects and strengths.  In some cases, the stories tell us very little about them - in others, we are able to glean more about how they were perceived.   Diana Paxson wrote a wonderful article, Beloved,  several years ago discussing this, and this is what I mainly worked with in putting this spread together.  In looking over the aspects of the handmaidens, it occurred to me that each of them embody and aspect that is vital to the development and maintenance of Frith.  I will only be speaking briefly of each Handmaiden, so please do go read her article to learn more about each one!

The purpose of this spread is to explore how we might establish, build, and preserve Frith in our kindred relationships - in our household, within our wider family, in our community and meaningful groups.  It can be treated as a general wisdom reading, or be used to hone in on ways to improve group dynamics or to ask ourselves "How can I contribute to the wellbeing of this group/family/community?

I found it to be very indepth and on target and a bit overwhelming (my experience with Frigga is that she is all about the personal responsbility and does not really let us make excuses for not doing what we can and should).  You may decide to reel this reading out over a span of days or weeks, or even months, to give yourself time to really focus on each aspect.

If you use this spread, please come let me know how it worked for you!  It should go without saying that this should also work well with Runes.

Frigga and Her Handmaidens - A Tarot Spread

Lay out your cards with one in the center, and 12 in a circle around it.  Read the center card, and then work 'clockwise', starting at the 1 o'clock position and ending at the 12 o'clock position.

Center. FRIGGA - All-Mother, Spinner of Fate, Keeper of the Household, Frithweaver
What is the most important thing I must understand about keeping and maintaining Frith in my home and community?

1. SAGA - Keeper of Stories, Poetry and History
What can learn from my past, family or cultural stories or history about keeping Frith?  What is  the past of the matter? What do I already know from experience?  What is our baggage?

2. GEFION - The Giver, Goddess of Good Fortune and Prosperity
What gifts have I been given that assist my ability to maintain Frith?  What abundance do I have to offer to my Kindred?

3. SJOFN - Goddess of Passion and Love, She Who Eases Strife in Marriage
In what ways can I better show my love and affection for those with whom I share Frith?  How can love be applied as an antidote to strife?


4. VOR - Goddess of Faithfulness in Marriage, She From Whom Nothing is Concealed
In what way do I need to use my intuition to develop greater awareness, in order to preserve Frith?

5. LOFN - She Who Pleads for Forbidden Love
What aspect of my life feels 'forbidden' by those with whom I maintain Frith?  What is something I need "permission" in order to pursue?

6. FULLA - Guardian of Secrets and Mystery, Treasure Keeper
What secret treasures do I hide away in order to better keep Frith?  What is important and best kept confidential or known to only a few?

7. SYN - Protector of Our Boundaries, Advocate for Those On Trial
In what area of my life do I need to establish stronger boundaries, in order to preserve Frith?  Where do I need a stronger defense?

8. HLIN  - Goddess of Consolation and Protector From Harm
What area of my life requires active protection from me in order to preserve Frith?  In what way do I need to be a warrior for the sake of Frith?  What is worth fighting for?

9. EIR - Healer, Herbwoman
What do I need to heal in order to better maintain Frith?  In what way can I be an agent of healing?

10. SNOTRA - The Wise, Goddess of Virtue and Self-Discipline
In what way do I need to focus on self-discipline, courtesy and rules of conduct that will improve Frith?  What virtue do I need to strengthen in order to be a better frithweaver?

11. VAR - She Who Hears Oaths and Punishes Oathbreakers
What oath - spoken or unspoken - do I need to make to those who share my hearth, in order to maintain Frith?  What commitment can I make?  What vow have I broken or neglected that needs to be addressed?

12. GNA - Frigga's Messenger, She Who Carries Frigga's Wisdom to the Wider Community
What divine inspiration can I carry with me in my daily life in order in order to widen Frith outward into the world?

***

 I hope you enjoyed this spread and I look forward to hearing how you use it!  Time to hop back onto the Tarot Blog Hop! From here, you can view the Master List of Participants, travel back to Stella at US Games, Inc., or forward to Chloe at TABI.  Happy travels!

Sorry for the Silence

The last entry here is six weeks old, which I know is not  a good practice. My religious practice in general has been scattered lately. Between a freelance project that's consumed a lot of my after-hours time and planning a wedding, my time has been committed and my thoughts have been scattered. In addition to not updating here, I've been neglecting the gods and spirits; my devotional practice has become perfunctory and sporadic, my meditation practice vanished altogether.

It's time to change that. It's also time to start learning how to let life expand without squeezing religion to the margins.