Wednesday, December 27, 2006

The Complete Book Of Tarot Reversals

The Complete Book Of Tarot Reversals Cover

Book: The Complete Book Of Tarot Reversals by Mary Greer

Mary Greer pioneered the psychological, experiential methods of reading tarot that have now become the norm. Her earlier books, especially Tarot for Your Self, are full of exercises to help beginning readers develop a personal relationship with their cards. I thus expected Tarot Reversals to follow this same pattern...a sort of workbook for getting comfortable interpreting reversed cards.

How do you read reversed tarot cards, the ones that appear upside down in a spread? In The Complete Book of Tarot Reversals, author Mary K. Greer addresses this commonly ignored or misunderstood situation. The most common wisdom about reversed cards is that they indicate resistance or problem areas. In fact, some readers simply abort a reading if too many cards show up as reversals, assuming that the person is too unreceptive, depressed, or dishonest to work with the reading. "Receiving too many reversals can make you feel like you have been dealt a 'losing hand,'" writes Greer, "but hopefully, this book will help turn that around." In fact, Greer claims that reversals offer a portal to the more mystical and esoteric influences in our lives. They "provide an opportunity to reach below logic and lead us into the realm of potentials and underlying causes where everything is connected and Magic happens." Greer (Tarot for Your Self), a seasoned reader and tarot teacher, suggests 12 possible reasons for a reversal. For instance, it could indicate a blocked or resistant situation or it could be due to the questioner getting ready to break through the condition pictured. Greer then offers Interpretations of all 78 tarot cards (both reversed and upright), while giving more lengthy coverage to the fascinating twist of reversals.

Although there are some very valuable exercises in this book, nearly 70% of it is devoted to card-by-card interpretation, typically a page or so describing the upright meanings of the card, then a somewhat lengthier description of the reversed meanings. These descriptions are an incredible resource for any tarot reader, especially if you use reversals in your readings. There is nothing even remotely comparable anywhere else. (Other tarot books explain the meaning of the upright card, but limit reversed meanings to a few keywords.) Besides the welcome in-depth look at reversed meanings, these card interpretations are just plain good, reflecting Greer's decades of experience as a tarot reader and teacher. A welcome inclusion is shamanic/magical meanings for each card, and healing/disease implications as well. This section of the book holds its own against any of the card-by-card interpretation guides on the market today. Although this book is part of Llewellyn's series on "advanced topics in tarot", a complete beginner could learn how to interpret cards very well by using this book.

The remainder of the book consists of general advice on using and interpreting reversals. Greer goes far beyond "reversals as opposites", describing twelve different senses a reversed card can have. The book includes a lengthy listing of words that can be used to modify the upright meanings of the cards. This is very useful, especially if your own deck is a little too far removed from conventional meanings to make use of the card-by-card descriptions.

There are a number of excursions into various tarot topics, such as elemental dignities, and some really interesting spreads. I could hardly read a page in this book without coming on something new I wanted to try out.

Although this book is not intended to be a substitute for a basic tarot book, it could probably be used as such without much difficulty. And as a resource for working with reversed cards, it is unique and indispensible.

Buy Mary Greer's book: The Complete Book Of Tarot Reversals

Books in PDF format to read:

Raymond Buckland - Bucklands Complete Book Of Witchcraft
Ralph Blum - The New Book Of Runes
Pamela Ball - The Ultimate Book Of Spells.pdf
Anonymous - The Secret Book Of Artephius

Sunday, December 3, 2006

Divination For You

Divination For You Cover This seems like a fairly good time of year to be talking about divination. What
is it, why do we do it, and what's in it for us? Lots of people think it's a
way of avoiding responsibility - if the future is preordained, we might as well
go back to bed.

Of course, that's not it at all. Divination is the use of any one of several
methods to obtain Information which is not directly accessible to the conscious
mind of the person asking the question. Whether you use cards, crystals, a
pendulum, ink, lead, dice, the flight of birds or anything else, what you are
really doing is opening your end of a channel to higher wisdom. I consider the
"actual" source of that wisdom irrelevant and immaterial; it could be one's own
subconscious, the collective unconscious, the Gods' will, telepathic insight, or
a big computer buried in the Balkans. It's still additional information which
is not as tainted by ego and intellect's limitations as most.

So what do we do with it? The same things we do with any other information; add
it to what we already know and develop a synthesis that can help us do our
decision-making. The easiest way to analyze the process is with a concrete
(well, maybe jello) example:

A young man has been between Relationships for some time. He wants very much to
link up with the great love of his life, but is not aware of anyone on the
horizon. He is putting himself in a position to meet new people, presenting
himself as attractively as he can, and generally taking care of business, but no
results. He has to decide whether to take a work-related course at night or
not. It will take a lot of time and there are not likely to be any women
attending. His progressed horoscope is neutral. He gets his cards read. They
say:

[PAUSE]

1. Nothing at all about love, but a lot about skilled craftsmanship and
satisfaction through work. He decides to relax and wait for a better time,
takes the course, and is rewarded with a modest promotion which enhances his
satisfaction with his job.

2. A lot about increasing social activities, leading to the start of a new
romance, leading to great happiness and satisfaction after some difficulties are
resolved. He does not take the course, and meets a really nice interesting lady
at a party given by a friend (which he couldn't have attended had he taken the
course).

3. That he is overlooking sources of emotional gratification in his current
situation. Given the information, he starts looking around and discovers that
one of his quieter friends is a really thoughtful and insightful person who
helps him learn to know himself better, and that a young cousin needs a mentor
and this Relationship gives him a lot of pleasure and fulfillment. He begins
to feel much more ready for a good
relationship, and much less impatient to have one start.

These examples illustrate the point made above; divination provides you with
choices, and you take the consequences, no matter what the oracles say. Treat
them with respect, not adoration or blind compliance, and may they always show
you the truth.

Books in PDF format to read:

Anonymous - Dictionary Of The Forgotten Ones
Aleister Crowley - Invocation
Brian Swimme On Chardin - The Divinization Of The Cosmos
James Eschelman - Invocation Of Horus
Anonymous - Divination Spreads

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

The Symbolism Of The Tarot

The Symbolism Of The Tarot Cover

Book: The Symbolism Of The Tarot by Pyotr Demianovich Ouspenskii

Born in 1878, Pyotr Demianovich Ouspenskii in Moscow, Russia, Ouspensky was to become one of the most influential philosophers of his day. Somewhere along the way, he developed an interest in the Tarot, as have many philosophers down through the centuries, and wrote this book of Tarot Meditations. As are all of the books in this series, The Symbolism of the Tarot has become an old classic and is often quoted in books on Tarot and the occult (hidden) down to the present day. I have faithfully copied this book in its original content.

You will see many words spelled in turn of the 20th century English spellings, and a few out-and-out misspellings. In the interest of giving you the book in its original content, I’ve made no attempt to edit it in any way. This is the way it was written and this is the way I’m giving it to you.

WHAT IS THE TAROT?

“No study of occult philosophy is possible without an acquaintance with symbolism, for if the words occultism and symbolism are correctly used, they mean almost one and the same thing. Symbolism cannot be learned as one learns to build bridges or speak a foreign language, and for the interpretation of symbols a special cast of mind is necessary; in addition to knowledge, special faculties, the power of creative thought and a developed imagination are required. One who understands the use of symbolism in the arts, knows, in a general way, what is meant by occult symbolism. But even then a special training of the mind is necessary, in order to comprehend the "language of the Initiates", and to express in this language the intuitions as they arise.” P. D. Ouspensky

The entire basis of Tarot is in its symbols and how they interact with the mind. This book is how they interacted with the mind of P. D. Ouspensky! It will make an invaluable addition to your Tarot-study collection !

Download Pyotr Demianovich Ouspenskii's eBook: The Symbolism Of The Tarot

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

Alice Hoffman - The Book Of The Sagas
Robert Wang - The Qabalistic Tarot
Aleister Crowley - The Soul Of The Desert
Max Heindel - The Message Of The Stars
Pyotr Demianovich Ouspenskii - The Symbolism Of The Tarot

Sunday, November 5, 2006

Cleaning Your Scrying Mirror

Cleaning Your Scrying Mirror Cover Make an infusion tea of mugwort. Do not boil the herb. Instead, in a non-metal
container, bring the water to a boil, turn off the heat and add the dried or
fresh herb. Stir, cover with a lid and steep for at least 30 minutes, stirring
the infusion several times. Strain, then use or store in a glass container with
a lid, in the refrigerator. This is an excellent wash for cleansing magick
mirrors, Crystals and crystal balls. Witches choose the Full Moon as the time to
consecrate a magick mirror because moonlight has the effect of changing it with
power then not in use. Wrap your mirror in a black velvet or silk cloth and keep
it in a special box, away from the light.

Books in PDF format to read:

Thomas Moore - Candle Magick For Love
Tommie Eriksson - Tree Cults In Northern Magic
Sandra Ingerman - Shamanic Journeying A Beginner Guide
Johannes Kepler - Concerning The More Certain Fundamentals Of Astrology
Benjamin Rowe - A Short Course In Scrying

Friday, November 3, 2006

Tarot Outside The Box

Tarot Outside The Box Cover

Book: Tarot Outside The Box by Valerie Sim

Tarot Outside The Box is a guidebook written for enthusiasts of Tarot cards. Intended more for those who are already familiar with the basics of Tarot readings and seek advanced ways to apply their technique or add creative twists, Tarot Outside The Box includes how to read without a querent, interactive readins, original spreads, creative writing with the Tarot, Comparative Tarot methods, combination Tarot, and much more. Diagrams and anecdotes help illustrate this marvelously clear-minded, inspirational guide.

Looking for new ways to expand your Understanding of Tarot? Renowned Tarot specialist Valerie Sim helps Tarot enthusiasts step "out of the box" and advance their practice to a new level. Emphasizing a fun, relaxed approach, she teaches how to break rules in order to stimulate creativity. Readers learn many valuable Tarot techniques, including the Comparative method, which involves practicing with several decks to fully understand each card and its abundant possibilities for interpretation.

Tarot Outside the Box also offers original spreads, sample readings, and valuable advice for practicing Tarot without querents, engaging in interactive readings (both reader and querent participation), and using Tarot for creative writing.

I find myself really engaged with her writing style, she says just enough, doesn't over intellecualize, and keeps it all clear, and very welcoming and allowing. I had left off with Tarot for quite some time, and had been feeling badly that I had done so, only to read that Valerie had at times left off with it too. So sure, I'm feeling behind, but not left out anymore. I am glad my instincts led me to her book as one of the first I read to re-encounter the cards, because it quickly helped me regain my connection with the Spirits of Tarot.

Those are my thoughts for now, and I may be back with more after I finish the book. I can already say I'd recommend this highly to anyone seeking to both deepen and broaden their connection with Tarot.

Buy Valerie Sim's book: Tarot Outside The Box

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

Frater Achad - The Anatomy Of The Body Of God
Tommie Eriksson - Tree Cults In Northern Magic
Moses Maimonides - The Guide For The Perplexed
Saint John Of The Cross - Dark Night Of The Soul
Ann Groa Sheffield - Groa Top Nine Heathen Books

Monday, October 30, 2006

The Continental Tarots

The Continental Tarots Cover

Book: The Continental Tarots by Christine Payne Towler

In the essay titled "The Major Arcana" I emphasize that "Something happened" to the Tarot in the late 1600s, when a new trend emerged in the images of the Major Arcana. I point to the Marseilles family of decks and the Etteilla Tarots to illustrate my point.

The images shown by Antoine Court de Gebelin in his book Le Monde Primitif further validates this idea.The remainder of this essay is about exploring "what happened." Let's review the situation of Tarot in the first half of the 1600s. Since the early 1400s, both handmade and woodblock Tarots showed a remarkable constancy of internal structure even though some packs were either edited or expanded to meet the needs of the various games for which they were created.

Tarot appeared in 72-card form in Italy around 1450, although this model may represents "splice" between preexisting symbol sets: the twenty-two Hebrew alphabet-keyed set called the Major Arcana, and the Turkish Mamluk cards of unknown provenance, a 15th century version of which can be seen in Volume 2 of Stuart Kaplan's Encyclopedia of Tarot (see essay on the Minor Arcana).

Kaplan also explains that the numerical order the Arcana appear in now is carried over from the French pack by Catelin Geofroy, published in 1557 (Vol. 1, p. 65). Some earlier fragmentary Tarots show Roman numerals on some of their Major Arcana, but not all of them, and not in the order we are now familiar with. Those very old woodblock decks tend instead to follow the list enumerated in a sermon written by an Italian friar in the late 15th century (see illustration opposite page 1 in Volume 1 of Kaplan's Encyclopedia of Tarot). There is also another order derived from the Charles VI pack that keeps Temperence, Fortitude and Justice together in a group. A very small minority of Tarots follow this order, including Etteilla’s Tarots.

Download Christine Payne Towler's eBook: The Continental Tarots

Books in PDF format to read:

Pyotr Demianovich Ouspenskii - The Symbolism Of The Tarot
Robert Wang - The Qabalistic Tarot
Samuel Liddell Macgregor Mathers - The Tarot
Aleister Crowley - The Zodiac And The Tarot
Christine Payne Towler - The Continental Tarots

Sunday, October 22, 2006

Explaining Runes

Explaining Runes Cover RUNES


For as long as anyone can tell, runes have been around helping people in the
northern European area and now they are making quite a comeback on a worldwide
basis due partly to commercialism and partly due to the unknown uprooting of
many occult practices. People are looking for a better way to live and people
are looking towards oracles for answers and guidance to their troubles. This is
where the runes come into play. In this area, we will be looking at the meanings
of runes and how they can help you.

At this point, we will give only a brief overview of what they are and where
they came from. This is only a survey.

Runes come from the Nordic area where the ancient Vikings once lived, worked,
and fought. Though they were relatively savage in their outings, the Vikings
were people in touch with Earth and the many forces that coexisted with them.
They have a whole lore that includes many popular god figures such as Thor, the
son of Odin. Thor carried a mighty hammer and many of us know him from comic
books. The father of Thor, Odin, was the creator of the Runes and is the most
important holy figure of the Viking people. Odin hung upside down from a tree
limb for a chance of higher knowledge and right before he came down from the
tree limb, he was bestowed with the new system called the Runes. These symbols
were used for writing and magic by the high priests. On this page, we will
discuss the 25 runes most used today and their meanings.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FEHU - Wealth, honesty, truth

Fehu is the light of truth that illuminates the way home where peace and comfort
abide. The desire to know and speak truth. To be true to yourself and others is
Fehu's counsel. The resulting harmony is a wealth beyond measure.

URUZ - Understanding, Strength, Health

Through empowering the components of mind, body, and soul creates a synergy
which manifests the desired reality. Each component supports the health and
growth of the other.
THURISAZ - Introspection, Withdrawal, Regeneration

Withdraw, reflect, review, and the correct path will become clear. Caution
against impulsiveness.

ANSUZ(on-sus) - Communication, Wisdom, Creative incitement

Energy is focused on the creative power of words. Acquiring knowledge through a
wise counselor promotes confidence in scholastic or communication issues. The
rune for a student or apprentice.

RAIDHO (raytho) - Movement, Action, Journey

Travel in comfort. A journey is encouraged, be it from one location to another
or from one stage of life to another. Now is the time to proceed from your
present position on to the next port on your journey.

KENAZ - Recuperation, Transformation, Healing

Recovery from any adverse condition, be it physical or material. A stabilizing
energy that heals and harmonizes. Transformation is highlighted, be it from the
state of disease to health, poverty to security, apprentice to artisan.

GEBO - Gift, Allowance, Acceptance

The gift of love is offered. The attainment of inner balance allows for the
acceptance of love from others. Self-acceptance which honors strengths and
weaknesses. The equal and harmonious union of two whole and complete components
provides a supportive and loving environment to share an adventurous journey.

WUNJO(wun-yo) - Joy, Happiness, Artistic expression

Artistic expression finds a medium. Joy and happiness through allowing the
freedom to pursue inner dreams, desires and ambitions.

HAGALAZ - Compliance, Disruption, Risk

Compliance with the natural flow of life. Struggling creates disharmony. Look
for the silver lining in any cloud, it awaits your joy of discovery. Disruption
occurs when one is out of balance. Do not be afraid to take leaps out of the
chaos.

NAUDHIZ(now-thees) - Deficiency, Tempering, Need

Need creates motivation to achieve or acquire. Focusing of fulfilling needs
creates self-reliance and inner strength. Frustration creates determination,
melancholy can inspire poetry or music.

ISA - Controlled strength, Inner will-power

Pure inner confidence empowers the will to influence and draw support from any
opposing factors. Like ice itself, this rune can be used to freeze a moment
preserving the strength from the situation.

JERA(yera) - Completion, Harvest, Gain

You have built your foundation. Provided that it has been structured with
attention to detail and no short-cuts have been taken, the outcome will produce
a fruitful return. A plant grown with love and care will blossom.

EIHWAZ( A - was) - Patience, Enlightenment, Awareness

Being centered and aware of your position promotes patience at this midway
point. Now is not a time for extremes, be it gains or losses. Knowingness comes
from the central point of being.

PERTH - Change, Rebirth, Revelation

As coal is transformed by intense pressure into a diamond jewel and pearls are
created by the irritation of sand granules, so too can your greatest challenges
be presented as gifts. Change is a reflection of creation not destruction.
Through a diversity comes the opportunity of joyous revelation. A higher purpose
may be revealed.

ELHAZ - Protection, Friendship, Union

Powerful protective energies avail themselves. An invisible shield repels
negative influences. Honor this gift with honesty and compassion for others and
the energy will continue to guard you. A rune of harmonic union and positive
influences.

SOWILO - Achievement, Guidance, Clarity

Listen for the opportunity for guidance as wisdom follows. Time to further
education or successful completion of studies. The warmth of this rune is a
blessing of union and the simple pleasures in life. This energy provides a
direct path to victory.

TEIWAZ(Tay-was) - Analysis, Sacrifice, Honor

The gathering of pertinent facts, combined with critical analysis provides a
firm basis from which appropriate skill may be applied. Fairness and equality
are essential. A sacrifice willingly accepted yields success, honor and power.
This runes protection should neutralize competitive situations.

BERKANA - Motherhood, Domesticity, Nurturing

Time for domestic nurturing. This rune may announce a forthcoming marriage or
birth of a child. Simply, it denotes the qualities of nourishing and caring for
the development of an idea, project or relationship.

EHWAZ - Change, Partnership, Creative beginnings.

Growth through physical change, possibly involving travel, residence, or job
Creativity combined with harmonious team effort. A partnership is highlighted
based on trust and loyalty.

MANNAZ - Cooperation, Awareness, Awakening

The rune of humanity carries the message of collaboration, especially between
the conscious and subconscious. Emotional (ego) detachment is uplifting and
provides access to untapped resources. Viewing your situation as an impartial
observer will provide room for objectivity. Remember, energy takes the path of
least resistance, move in balance with the universal flow.


LAGUZ - Intuition, Talent, Initiation

Latent intuition and creative talents emerge. Fear of the unknown should be
replaced with trust in yourself and your instincts. This rune releases
imaginative and creative talents which should be cultivated. Rationality and
analytical thinking should be put aside to allow psychic energy to flow through.

INGUZ - The Void, Intermission, Introspection

The state between the completion of an old cycle and the gestation of a new
cycle. Relaxation, introspection and rejuvenation provide preparation for the
birth of a new and exciting stage on the wheel of life.

OTHALA - Communal energy, Tradition, Stability

Community minded thinking, members of a group working for the betterment of the
whole will provide support and security. Knowing that the foundation is firm
will provide freedom from constraint. Ancestral tradition instills comfort and
confidence. Heirlooms, or inheritances of objects symbolic of loving energy may
be passed down to you. Honor these gifts by preserving the tradition and
evolving from it.

DAGAZ - Truth, Hope, Illumination

This rune is synonymous with the sun's dawning rays supporting an awakening to a
new broader perspective. A change in consciousness may result, manifesting as a
change in previous plans in light of increased knowledge.

THE BLANK RUNE - Unknown, Karma, Universal Responsibility

Knowing the answers to your questions may not be advantageous to your growth at
this time. Knowing may affect your natural actions. Make sure that you have been
specific when posing your question.

This rune also indicates that the karmic wave may be flowing back to you. A
negative or positive vibration that originated with you will be coming back.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


NORNIC RUNE LAYOUT:

The following is a step by step guide to a personal RUNE cast. For the novice
seeker it is not essential to have a traditional hand crafted cache of Runes. An
easy make-shift set can be created by simply cutting 25 equally sized squares
from paper or cardboard. Then inscribe each of the squares with one of the Rune
symbols. For those who are more intent on learning the ancient method and
traditions of the Rune cast, it is suggested that when inscribing each symbol,
its teachings should be meditated upon. This process activates the energy of
each of the Runes symbolic wisdom.

1. Formulate a specific question and meditate upon it.

2. After you feel your question has been sufficiently stated, reach into your
pouch and withdraw three rune stones one at a time.

3. Lay the runes in front of you in the order that they are drawn, successively
from left to right

4. Make sure that the runes are placed as you naturally have pulled them. If a
rune is reverse position, it must be recognized to be in the reverse position.

*Reversed runes will indicate that the qualities invested in the Rune appear
blocked or inappropriately applied. It would denote that the energy of the rune
is available to you if you open yourself to receive.

5. First Rune: Past Influences concerning situation

6. Second Rune: Present influences and energies

7. Third Rune: Probable outcome as it relates to the conditions of the first
two. The future is changeable with a shift in current management.

8. These three runes can also be read as body, mind, and spirit when
understanding or clarification of self is sought.

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

Karl Hans Welz - Armanen Runes
Samael Aun Weor - Magic Runes
Bernard King - Meanings Of The Runes