Llewellyn Publications's Blog, page 31

Author Lisa Freinkel Tishman, PhD, brings us a new way to work with and think about our cards. You can find out more about her book HERE. She explains the difference between mantic tarot and mindful tarot in this excerpt:

“Mantic” Tarot

In a recent blog post, Tarot expert Mary K. Greer quotes educator Parker Palmer’s famous dictum: “Wholeness does not mean perfection: it means embracing brokenness as an integral part of life.” She goes on to challenge the Tarot community:

Many people come to Tarot readings in hopes of “fixing” their lives—obtaining information and guidance that will help them make the “right” decisions and no mistakes—guaranteeing perfection. I ask you, as a Tarot reader, how can we help the querent “embrace brokenness”?

My challenge in this book takes Greer’s (and Palmer’s) point even further: how can we help the querent, the Seeker – how can we help ourselves— embrace our fundamental unbrokenness?

The majority of Tarot readers today focus on the work of inner transformation and self-realization. But even so, most readers are still bound within the confines of what I call “mantic Tarot”: the Tarot of prediction and prophecy. (Mantic, as used in terms like cartomancyor geomancy, comes from the ancient Greek word mantis, or “prophet.”) We may be reading with an aim toward personal growth instead of old-fashioned fortune telling, but nonetheless we typically begin with a problem or a question. Something is broken, missing or inadequate. We may not be seeking our fortune or our future, but we nevertheless begin with a sense that something is wrong. What I call “mantic Tarot” seeks solutions. Mantic Tarot sets out from the standpoint of lack and dissatisfaction. Mantic Tarot begins by looking elsewhere, seeking elusive meaning and shrouded answer. Mantic Tarot is fixated on the future, and often stuck in the past.

All of this is very natural, and very ancient. The mantic impulse is probably as old as human written language itself. As long as we humans have been readers and writers, using visual symbols to record and convey our ideas, we have no doubt felt the urge to interpret naturally arising phenomena – the structure of entrails or bone remaining from an animal sacrifice; the wheeling constellations in the night sky; the pattern of dregs left in a cup — as if these too comprised a written language, a text that could be interpreted and obeyed. We grant meaning and intention to the random occurrences of our world. Psychologist and Tarot author Arthur Rosengarten refers, in this light, to our drive toward an “empowered randomness.” We grant a non-human world the power to speak.

Mindfulness… and Tarot

In a mindfulness class, the inquiry is where integration and insight begin to take place. Inquiry can also be the occasion for joy, laughter and community.

Inquiry forms a crucial component of Mindful Tarot as well. Mindfulness practice requires the clarity and precision of inquiry. Like a good wine connoisseur, we need ways to observe and articulate nuance. With its deeply rich vocabulary of archetypes and images, Tarot invites us into a finely-tuned interpretive practice. We may think that the cards respond to the questions we ask, but the practice of Mindful Tarot reveals that the reverse is actually more accurate. When we spread out the Tarot, it is we who are responding to the questions posed by the cards.

First and foremost, Mindful Tarot is a practice of inquiry. It is a deep dialogue with the cards and a thorough investigation of this present moment. Through the language of the cards, Mindful Tarot helps us “pay attention on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally.”

Readers, please enjoy this guest blog post by Jolie DeMarco, author of the new High-Vibe Crystal Healing.

We all want love in our lives, and it’s about time we enhance our body’s frequency to attract the love vibes we want and deserve! Here are three powerful crystals to attract the love you desire.

First, we need to clear your energy of any old relationship debris. Hey, who wants to be around a person that complains or holds a bunch of old baggage? No one! Let’s get you cleared before we bring in someone new to your life. If you are stressed to the max and can’t seem to shake the blues, let me guide you to cleaning those old vibrations you are holding. Let’s create some attractive, loving vibes to replace the junk!

Listen, you may know this already, but like attracts like—especially when it comes to frequencies connecting. Think of it like this: have you ever been in a group of people and one person starts talking about a fabulous event that happened to them? Yes? Okay, good. Then, one by one, other people want to tell their great stories, too. Think about it: positive people will most likely jump in and join the flow of the conversation. The majority of people will usually stay steady and stick to the lead vibration of what was being shared. Positive talk attracts more positive talk, as do positive thoughts. They are frequencies. They are vibrations that go out and are heard or felt. It’s kind of like programming the people near them. Frequencies exist, even though we do not visually see them. They are out there. (As an example: cell phone frequencies are unseen, but heard though your phone as you answer the call because the frequencies were connected, and then your phone made a ringing noise.) Okay; I think you’ve got it.

If you want to attract a good person in your life, a happy person or one of a certain caliber that you choose, you can change your frequency to attract a person that is similar to your frequency. This is one reason it is important to cleanse your energy first, if needed. This way you can create a positive energy coming from you and of what you want to attract. You can do this with using crystals. Crystals hold and share their frequencies with us humans! The use of crystals promote a natural healing and adjust a person’s auric fields.

So, now that you have cleared your energy, how can you attract love? Simple. Take my love crystal challenge and see for yourself! Notice and feel how your energy changes as your frequency for attracting love is apparent to yourself and others.

Here is what you need: one Rose Quartz, one Rhodochrosite, and one Rhodonite. These are three powerful love crystals. They are game changers: they can clear you and bring attractive vibes!

First, find yourself one quarter-sized, raw rose quartz: this high and mighty pink crystal consists of unconditional love. Pink rose quartz promotes self-love and creates vibes that attract what you desire. Secondly, you need to release, then replace some of your negative vibes with positive ones. Now, get your hands on one dime-sized Rhodonite; this stone is a dusty pink color and has some touches of black within it. This powerhouse cleans out the old love vibes from the past (you know, the negative relationship woes) and erases those vibes as it creates brand new frequencies to attract better qualities. Thirdly, find yourself a stone called Rhodochrosite. This is another pink stone, but brighter than the others. It brings a super amazing frequency; the crystals can tune you to only accepting the right kind of love you desire. To instill this vibration and harmonize with this stone you must state your intention to program this stone to do so for you.

As you are holding all three stones together in your hands, state, “I am and I allow myself to release any other than the light, all lower frequencies will be replaced with love and positive vibrations. I allow myself to meet a person that is my good match.” Then, you would state your credentials. These credentials are embedded by your voice—your voice is a frequency! Those vocal frequencies and those of the three crystals will now harmonize. They will begin adjusting you, simultaneously as they are being programmed to know what vibrations you want to accept. It’s such a positive energy exchange! Let me know when you met your good match—contact me through my website www.CrystalJunkie.com to share your love story!

Our thanks to Jolie for her guest post! For more from Jolie DeMarco, read her article, “Five Ways to Reset Your Life with Tarot.”

We are proud to bring our readers our ninth annual tarot catalog! Discover the newest in tarot offerings from Llewellyn, Lo Scarabeo, and Blue Angel, plus get free shipping on US orders over $30 and 20% savings when you order online with the promo code found on the cover! Hurry, savings good through 8/1/19!

Readers, please enjoy this guest blog post by Leeza Robertson, author of Tarot Court Cards for Beginners, and Tarot Reversals for Beginners, and The Mermaid Tarot.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have your very own mermaid tail? Imagine yourself sitting at the ocean’s edge, with your newly formed tail sparkling in the sunlight, watching its iridescent colors bounce and twist into a hypnotic montage. Contemplate for a second what your tail would feel like. Think about the way it moves differently from your human legs. See if you can feel the muscles as you move your tail around. Now imagine the freeness you feel as you dive into the water and start to swim.

Your mermaid tail can teach you a lot about flexibility and about how you move through all aspects of your daily life. To be flexible means finding ways to keep growing or, in this case, keep swimming. Flexibility also means never getting stuck and can show us to see possibilities where others only see obstacles. In fact, your mermaid tail can tell you so much about your current level of flex, which is why I have devised this very simple five-card spread. This spread will allow you to see what sort of energy is flowing through your mermaid tail and just how flexible you are with it. The cards you pull for this spread will show you if you need to build more muscle, lean more into the waves, or if you just might need to go with the flow.

Card One: Where does your mind need to be more flexible?

Card Two: How do you need to be more flexible with your health?

Card Three: Where can you be more flexible with your finances?

Card Four: How does my current level of flexibility affect those around you?

Card Five: Where can I make improvements with flexibility in my daily life?

Remember, this simple spread is meant to be fun. So visualize your mermaid self sitting with your mermaid cards just having a chat with your tail about the lessons in flexibility.

Happy Swimming

Readers, please enjoy this guest blog post by Robin Strom, author of the new On the Hunt for the Haunted.

I did an investigation for a client, and we’d turned up ample evidence that something paranormal was indeed occurring at their residence. And now the homeowner turned to me and asked what could be done about it. I think I had a “deer in the headlights” moment. I’d spent a decade studying what these things were, and neglected the essential step of how to rid a property of unwanted beings. I was like the medical student that studied the onslaught of disease, but neglected studying the cure. The majority of my clients, once they understand what is going on, are happy with the results. Often I hear, “I’m just glad I’m not crazy.” And our group looks for natural explanations first, before assuming paranormal activity. But I have had investigations where a spirit is of an angrier disposition, and the residents just want it out. Our team tries to employ scientific methods to determine if a property has paranormal activity or not. Such cures tend to be of a more touchy-feely in nature, based on ancient rituals and substances. I didn’t want to tell clients I use scientific methods and then tell them to rattle chicken bones. You see my dilemma. Then I realized the old analogy of chicken soup when you had a cold. Would chicken soup actually cure a cold? It might, it might not, but either way it wouldn’t hurt.

First, however, I would try to determine whether the property actually has paranormal activity. Once someone suggests that a property is haunted, then everything immediately unexplained gets blamed on the ghost, and tensions start to mount. But if you can take a proactive versus a reactive approach, you’ll often find that you begin to feel far less afraid. Definitely keep a log of events when they occur. Write down the date, time, witnesses, and the weather pattern. And always, try to rule out natural explanations first before jumping to the conclusion that you have paranormal phenomena. Know that even in cases where a haunting is occurring it’s extremely rare for anyone to be physically hurt. You can also play amateur ghost hunter. Put out a recording device for a few hours and see what you find upon review. If all else fails, call in a reputable investigative group.

Haunted objects may be the easiest to excise. In my book, On the Hunt for the Haunted, I wrote in particular about one house we investigated. The previous owner had died in the house. When the house finally went for auction the unlucky lady who purchased it found the house still full of the previous owner’s belongings, including a ratty, old recliner. This recliner had been where the gentleman had spent most of his final days. The new owner’s boyfriend reported odd things happening to him when he sat in the chair. I tentatively suggested removing the chair from the premises. He did so with gusto, burning the chair in a bonfire. The negative activity ceased thereafter. So, if you bring home that precious antique or thrift store find and suddenly start experiencing strange things, it may be a good idea to take it back where you found it.

Performing house cleansings are popular, as well. Certainly, smudging with white sage is common. Holy water can also be used. Frankincense is also an effective agent, and smells divine. A smell bell can also be used in lieu of these other substances, by ringing it in the corners of the room. The most powerful agent, however, may be asafoetida. When burned as an incense, however, it gives off a foul odor of onions and sulphur, so it’s best kept as a last resort. There are multiple articles on the web that describe how to perform such cleansings in more detail. It’s usually suggested that you start at the top story of the structure, enter every room, hit every corner working from high to low and ending at the front door. You can also say a short prayer as you do this. This may not work the first time, so be prepared to do it more than once. You can also put out a shallow dish of vinegar. This weak acid is thought to dissolve etheric energies, as does salt. Put the salt in the corners of each room or just spread it on the floor, and leave it there for a couple of weeks before removing it.

You can also have a conversation with the spirit. Be firm but not aggressive. Set the parameters with the ghost. I met one woman who felt she had spirits in the house. She told them they could stay, but were to stay out of her bedroom. It worked. You can also tell them to leave completely, if you feel that strongly. I think, truly, the strength of any of these methods is two-fold. First, if there is a spirit or spirits it reminds them to watch their manners. But even more powerful, it allows you to feel once again that you’re in control of the situation.

Our thanks to Robin for her guest post! For more from Robin Strom, read her article, “Conducting an EVP Session.”

Learn more HERE.

It may be called Llewellyn’s Little Book of Tarot but it sure packs a big punch. With images from over 40 decks, 8 exercises, 41 tarot tips, 27 symbolism highlights, and 17 journal prompts, there is a lot to explore.

The design works perfectly with the content. With its full color pages and small, pick-up-able size, it just begs to be flipped through. It invites dipping in and out, as the mood strikes. No need for a big commitment to “study” the cards or setting aside large time chunks for reading. If you are busy and still want to enjoy the benefits and delights of tarot, this book is perfect for you.

Tarot is deep and powerful and maybe sometimes complicated…but that’s not all it is. Just as you can enjoy and benefit from your daily horoscope, you can get a lot out of a more casual tarot practice. After all, all those little bits that you pick up along the way add up.

One really fun aspect of the book is that it is designed to be used as a divination tool on its own. Inspired by the practice of bibliomancy (turning to a random page in a book to find a message), each card entry includes an “instant answer.” If you have a question or want a quick “card of the day” but don’t have cards handy, you can flip to a page and get a quick answer. If intrigued, you can read the whole page…but you don’t have to. Always options, and always ready to fit your needs.

Like a swiss army knife of tarot: serious content, fun facts, easy techniques, and quick, accessible guidance all in one slick package.

Readers, please enjoy this guest blog post by Chic Cicero and Sandra Tabatha Cicero, Chief Adepts of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn as re-established by Israel Regardie and authors of a vast number of books, including the new Golden Dawn Magic.

Magicians, Wiccans, and Neo-pagans are no doubt familiar with the concept of working with the elements to effect magical change in one’s environment and circumstances. The four elements of Fire, Water, Air, and Earth and their attributed qualities have been a fundamental part of Western magical practice from the time of the ancient Greeks. Magical forces have been classified in accordance with the elements ever since. Although the four elements are aligned with physical substances of the same name, in magic these elements are considered divisions of Nature as well as categories of existence and action.

In Golden Dawn magic, the powers of the elements are invoked and dismissed with the aid of four implements consecrated for this purpose. They are the Fire Wand, Water Cup, Air Dagger, and the Earth Pentacle, which are described as the Tarot symbols of the letters of the divine name YHVH. Collectively, these tools have another title, the Elemental Weapons. Countless authors have referred to them as such.

The title “weapons” hearkens back to a time in the ancient world when one of the primary duties of a magician was to perform apotropaic magic, or magic that drives away evil. Some of the earliest magic wands were bundles of sticks or branches. Apotropaic wands used by the ancient Egyptians were made of ivory, curved like throwing-sticks, and carved with the images of protective deities. Eventually, different types of wands and other implements were developed for different purposes, such as the Zoroastrian gurz, a type of mace used in exorcisms. Other objects such as protective amulets were also employed to keep harmful influences at bay.

Implements used by Golden Dawn magicians have very specific functions and uses. Of these, the Magic Sword attributed to Geburah and Mars can aptly be described as a spiritual weapon. The GD manuscripts state that the sword should be used in all cases where great force and strength are needed, but especially for banishing and defense against evil forces. However, referring to the Elemental Tools as “weapons” gives an inaccurate portrayal of how these instruments are employed in our tradition and might be an inadvertent remnant of a medieval worldview from a time when almost all spirits were thought to be hostile and adversarial to the magician.

The Fire Wand, Water Cup, Air Dagger, and Earth Pentacle are designed to invoke and dismiss the spiritual forces that are associated with each tool. They have a certain bond and sympathy between them, so that even if only one is to be used, the others should also be present. All are inscribed with divine names and sigils and painted in the flashing colors that relate to their respective elements. The Fire Wand falls under the Hebrew letter Yod of the Tetragrammaton and the masculine polarity; it is a potent symbol of the magician’s willpower. The Water Cup is attributed to the letter HehVav and represents the intellectual skills of the adept. Finally, the Earth Pentacle, a circular disk that serves as a container for magical forces, is under the presidency of the final letter Heh. It symbolizes the magician’s ability to manifest his or her goals.

Rather than viewing these implements as weapons to “battle” unruly spirits, we should think of them as talismanic badges of authority. A magician trained in the skills of focused visualization, the projection of willpower, energy movement, clarity of intention, and vibration of godnames, can use them to open portals between different spiritual realms and energies. Perhaps it is time to de-weaponize the elemental tools and recognize them for what they are: consecrated passkeys to the unseen realms.

Our thanks to Chic & Tabatha for their guest post! For more from Chic & Sandra Tabatha Cicero, read their article, “The Pentagram and the Magic of Light.”

Vote now for six Llewellyn titles for 2019 COVR Awards!

Carl Llewellyn Weschcke , by Melanie Marquis (Autobiographical & Biographical Books Category)
Kitchen Table Tarot , by Melissa Cynova (Divination Books Category)
Queer Magic , by Tomás Prower (Contemporary Spirituality Category)
Sigil Witchery , by Laura Tempest Zakroff (Shamanism & Wicca Books Category)
Modern Spellcaster’s Tarot , by Melanie Marquis & Scott Murphy (Tarot Products Category)
Tarot in Wonderland , by Barbara Moore & Eugene Smith (Tarot Products Category)

Founded in 1996, the Coalition of Visionary Resources (COVR) is an organization formed by a unique group of businesses that deal in “Visionary Resources,” and who work with and support each other as independent retailers, manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, and publishers of visionary books, music, and merchandise.

Winners are selected by a process of both judging and reader voting. So vote away, and select your favorite titles! Winners will be announced on June 8, 2019 at the International New Age Trade Show (INATS).

Readers, please enjoy this guest blog post by Judy Martinez, co-author of the new Ghosts of the Grand Canyon.

As I walk through the doors of the local bookstore, I ditch my husband almost immediately and quickly dash towards the New Age section, hoping that this time I will pick up a book on the paranormal that might contain new stories about hauntings that havn’t been written about already. After I search through the chapters of the new books and glance at the pages, I disgustingly set the books back in their home place, walk out of the New Age aisle with my head held low, and wonder why authors refuse to get off their derriere and seek out new hauntings and ghost stories for their books rather than re-telling stories that have already been published.

I knew exactly where to find my husband in the store; he has a smile on his face and is cradling several new books from the Star Wars galaxy. He instantly notices the frown on my face, and tries to hide his excitement about his catches of the day as he asks me if I found anything new. I respond with exasperation: “Nope; once again, the same old stories.” It’s at this moment that my loving husband loses his once-happy grin, shifts all of his new-found treasures into one arm, and puts his one free arm around me to give me a hug (I mean, couldn’t he have put all the books down and used both arms to hug me?). I desperately needed that extra arm of support.

I eventually decided that it was time for me to write a book on the paranormal, about ghosts and hauntings, that included previously un-shared information—new stories that are fresh, exciting, and true. Both my husband Brian-James (BJ) and I were once employed at, and even lived in, Grand Canyon National Park. Every ghost book and article we picked up and read at the gift shops on the Grand Canyon were pretty much all the same stories. It was time for those who are truly interested in the Grand Canyon to know the exciting history of the park, including its many hauntings. That is the main reason we wrote Ghosts of the Grand Canyon.

I still wander into bookstores optimistically looking for any book on the paranormal that might have some new material. Until then, my husband’s arms have a job at consoling my heartbreak and tears. I hope our book will in some way help fill in the gap left by all the other stories that have been told and retold too many times. Our hearts and souls were poured into this book, trying to ensure that you have an informative, as well as entertaining, experience.

Our thanks to Judy Martinez for her guest post! For more from Judy Martinez, read her article, “Four Haunted National Parks.”

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