It’s Okay If You Haven’t Pulled Cards In A Few Days. It’s Okay If You Haven’t Lit A Candle Since

30 Tried & Tested Tips for Becoming a Great Tarot Reader

Stop bullshitting people.

Aim for truthful readings.

Be confident when giving a reading.

Avoid blanking when reading.

Avoid the most common mistakes.

Always trust your cards.

Don’t make your cards hate you.

Create a bond with your decks.

Learn proper tarot etiquette.

Don’t believe in superstitions.

Don’t mistake honesty for hate.

Master the Celtic Cross.

Predict timing accurately.

Read reversals the right way.

Treat rogue cards the right way.

Never pull clarifiers.

Never assign a yes or no value to cards.

Learn how to read feelings, thoughts & intentions.

Learn how to read physical appearance.

Learn tarot's astrological associations.

Know the cards’ literal meanings.

Know the meanings of tarot’s colors.

Know the meanings of tarot’s numbers.

Read one spread in many ways.

Deal cards the traditional way.

Have your own reading ritual.

Properly close every tarot reading.

Gauge yourself.

Master tarot.

Be the best reader you can be.

The Significance of Rings

Rings add weight to the area of life that the finger represents, or could reveal imbalances. A ring placed with intent can enhance areas of your life. This can be strengthened by rings with corresponding crystals. When a ring is worn unconsciously, it more likely refers to the negative trait or imbalance that corresponds with that finger. Left hand: Corresponds to your personal and private life. Connected to family and personal identity or internal issues. Your left hand reflects the energy you take in. Right hand: Relates to your public life. Connected to work and your relation to society. Your right hand reflects the energy you give out. Middle Finger Element: Earth Considered the finger of cultural identity. It reflects how you related to justice, law, order, and responsibility. Can also signify inner security or materialism. Consciously placed ring: Reduce anxiety, improve stability, desire for self-development. Unconsciously placed ring: domestic unhappiness, insecurities, judgmental, lack of security. Crystals: garnet, onyx, agate, topaz, tiger’s eye, jade.

Index Finger Element: Water Considered the finger of personal identity, how you relate to and see yourself. Associated with leadership, ambition, and self-confidence. Consciously placed ring: Boost self-esteem, increase authority, improve confidence. Unconsciously placed ring: Damaged self-esteem, feeling not good enough, feeling better than others, controlling personality. Crystals: tourmaline, lapis lazuli, peridot, opal, emerald. Ring Finger Element: Fire Represents your extra-personal identity and self-expression. It represents creativity and love of beauty. If it’s a wedding ring or engagement ring, it represents success in finding a mate. But if bought by the wearer it can represent self-love. Consciously placed ring: Strengthen creativity, express friendliness, improve aesthetic awareness. Unconsciously placed ring: Creative frustration, concern with image, desire to be liked. Crystals: garnet, ruby, pink tourmaline, diamond. Little Finger Element: Air Considered the finger of impersonal identity. It reflects communication and sexuality. Also represents confidence in relationships and strength. Consciously placed ring: Improve communication, express sexuality/sexual identity, gain confidence in regards to relationships. Unconsciously placed ring: Poor communication, lies, difficulty with sexuality/sexual identity Crystals: blue topaz, sapphire, aquamarine. Thumb Element: Ether Your thumb symbolizes your spiritual identity. It relates to your will power, determination, and application of personal energy. It also reflects your ability to reason and apply logic. As the thumb is separate from the rest of the fingers, and a very useful finger, it also represents strength, independent thought, and freedom. Consciously placed ring: Boost energy level, increase will power/motivation, provide comfort, increase reasoning, increase personal strength and independence. Unconsciously placed ring: lack of energy, feeling powerless, lack of control, poor reasoning, feeling trapped, stubborn/stuck in own way, need for control, aggressive/forceful Crystals: moonstone, diamond, amethyst. Rings on all/many fingers This can indicate a negative circumstance that you are being faced with. It shows a likely lack of feeling safe or secure in your world, and that your putting on a front. It can also signify avoidance to deal with issues affecting your life.

Bedridden witch: Elements edition

Little ways to connect to the elements while you’re bedridden or stuck inside.

Earth:

Keep jars of dirt from special places.

Grow cacti or succulents.

Make a mini sand garden.

Hang macrame with crystals or stones.

Keep a bouquet of flowers.

Hang herbs from your walls/ceiling.

Get a little plant starter kit, keep seedlings by your window.

Keep some books on plants and geology around.

Watch nature documentaries.

Keep pebbles and crystals under your pillow.

Make a miniature garden/landscape using fake or real plants!

Reach down and feel the energy of the earth below you. Sometimes this is easier on the floor.

Burn candles that smell like the earth/forest/your favorite place.

Drink herbal tea.

Water:

Get a mini waterfall or fountain.

Keep plants that grow in water.

Get a water essential oil diffuser.

Make a spray from infused water.

Open windows when it rains.

Set up a bird fountain outside.

Fully savor your next glass of water.

Keep blues and sea green colors around.

Watch videos or documentaries on aquatic/marine life.

Watch the raindrops or condensation on your window.

Keep a bowl of water around. 

Listen to water/rain ambiance.

Burn candles that smell like the ocean or the rain.

Use a washcloth to wipe down your face/body.

Keep jars of water from your favorite places.

Air:

Open your window.

Use room spray/mist.

Burn candles that smell like the wind.

Hang wind chimes.

Listen to air/wind ambiance.

Get a small fan for some air flow.

Burn incense and watch the smoke move through the air.

Use your breath.

Hang feathers in your room.

Hang scarves and cloths around your room, watch the breeze sway them around.

Get some air plants.

Use an app that lets you see the sky/night sky.

Watch the clouds from your window.

Meditate, allow your senses to explore the air around you.

Fire:

Burn candles/incense.

Hang red or orange curtains.

Get a Himalayan salt lamp.

Use a wax melter.

Get an electric candle.

Use a heating pad or electric blanket.

Listen to fire ambiance. 

Use the heat of your body.

Watch gifs/videos of fire.

Keep a lighter nearby when you need a little flame. 

Place a little tealight in a fireproof vessel near your bed.

Feel the warmth and strength of the sun.

Build up energy with your hands, imagine it’s fire.

Drink tea with warming spices (cinnamon, cloves, etc.)

Click here for my other posts in this series!

Thanks to @healing-water-witch for giving me the idea and contributing!

Morning star

Bedridden witch: Divination edition

Ideas for practicing divination while bedridden: Varying in energy + mobility required - please don’t push yourself, hopefully there’s options for everyone! Quick note: I’ve only included forms of divination I personally do.

Tarot:

Tarot apps are a great way to pull a card with a tap or two (Labyrinthos and Galaxy tarot have been recommended). 

Spread the deck on a flat surface, and move your hand over to pick (let your hands sense the energy), or pick based on intuition. 

Do a two-card (or more!) spread - you don’t have to lay it out if you can’t sit up, you can hold them in your hand or place on your lap.

Sleep with the deck under your pillow.

Pick one card that represents what you want from the next day and slip it under your pillow or mattress for the night, or place on your altar.

Memorize the meanings of the cards.

Make or buy a mini deck for easier use.

Do the easy “find this card and whatever is above or below it =X” spreads.

More limited mobility suggestions here

Scrying:

Use a black mirror or picture frame with black cloth/paper behind it.

Get a mini scrying bowl and fill with water, cradle it in your hands.

Pendulum:

Wear it around your neck.

Shorten the string so you don’t have to sit up.

Prop your hand on a pillow if you need the strength/steadiness.

Use off of the side of your bed if it’s too long (this can be a bit awkward)

Keep it under your pillow.

Use a mini pendulum or a necklace as a pendulum.

Make a simple board or don’t use one at all, just condition your pendulum with basic movements.

*You CAN use a pendulum even with shaky hands, it just takes a bit of bonding and conditioning.*

More limited mobility suggestions here

Tasseomancy:

Get a mug with two handles.

Keep in a sealable container until you’re ready.

Put a towel over yourself in case you spill.

Use a Tupperware container. No shame.

Runes:

(With a huge thanks to @adragonspath for compiling a list of suggestions!)

Sleep with your runes next to you.

Memorize their meaning.

Draw one rune and meditate on their meaning and how you can manifest them in your life.

Charge them with sun/moon light by your window.

Study their origin and reading methods.

Crystal and wooden runes: connect with the element Earth and the intent corresponding to the crystal/type of wood.

Other materials: meditate on the origin and development of that material. Connect with the corresponding element and intent.

Other ideas + Posts

Automatic writing

Astragalomancy - Divination using playing dice

Oneiromancy - Interpretation of dreams in order to predict future.

Stitchomancy - Get a book. Ask question, then open book to random page and read what pops out to you.

This awesome post

Bedridden witch: Nature edition

Bedridden witch: Worship edition

All my bedridden witch posts

Limited hand mobility + witchcraft

Here's a reminder that I don't tolerate TERFs in pagan spaces, and if anyone following me is a TERF, get out.

The gods don't subscribe to your hateful rhetoric, and they love all of their trans worshippers.

Lucifer is often surrounded by a light haze, like an aura that blurs the boundaries of his body.

Be silly sometimes

I was at my local book store for some new reading material and saw "Metaphysical AF" by Maggie Wilson and it got me thinking. So much I had to buy a copy.

But it got me thinking about how serious people have started taking the craft. I say this as someone who suffered from this in the being myself. Some time cleansing your space is just lighting a incense opening the door a blaring some music that makes you feel strong or shake your ass. Sometimes your glamour is just looking in the mirror and reminding yourself you are beautiful. Sometimes you write down someone's name, ball up the paper and throw it around to get someone to leave you alone.

The universe can be very serious but it can be just as silly as you

gentle curse

the most convenient way for me to stir up a little trouble for someone who needs a little push in the right direction:

- grab a small jar (or large, it doesn’t matter)

- fill it a quarter way with vinegar

- add any type of brutal pepper and salt

- write out a person’s full name on a scrap of paper

- drop the paper into the jar while stating the intentions

- seal the jar with either a lid or cloth and string

this way the person of interest drowns in their own negative energy until they learn from their mistakes

Tarot Tips

Care and Keeping of Your Cards

Bonding: Carry with you, spend time with each card, meditate with them, do an interview spread, understand your deck's strengths and weaknesses.

Cleansing: Use crystals, sun/moon light, sage/smudging, meditation, salt, and reset shuffles to cleanse and charge your deck.

Respect: Store cards in a cloth, box, or bag in a safe place. Respect and listen to your cards, learn their language, feel their soul.

Birth/Soul Cards

Your birth card represents who you are and what you entered this life to learn. It can be determined by adding together all the digits of your birth date (the same as calculating your life path number in numerology).

Example: June 17, 1994(06/17/1994)- 0+6+1+7+1+9+9+4=37, 3+7=10 making the birth card the Wheel of Fortune.

Yes or No Questions

Yes cards:

• Any card not listed below

No cards:

• The Moon

• The Tower

• The Devil

• Death

• 5 of Pentacles

• 5, 7, and 8 of Cups

• 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and Knight of Swords

Neutral/maybe cards:

• The Hanged Man

• The Hermit

• 4 of Cups

• 4 of Swords

Exceptions:

• 2 of Swords/10 of Wands- the answer is not yet known

• 5 and 7 of Wands- the answer is yes, but you must fight for your prize

*Always look at the card's meaning for more context.

Two Card Pulls

• Do/don't

• Life/death

• Problem/solution

• Now/later

• Logic/emotion

• Yes/no

• Internal/external

• Past/future

• Growth/stagnation

• Love/hate

• Found/lost

• Flaws/strengths

• Dark/light

• Conscious/subconscious

• Stay/leave

• Give/take

• Creation/destruction

Three Card Spreads

• Past/present/future

• Mind/body/spirit

• Stop/start/continue

• Problem/lesson/advice

• You/them/the relationship

• Opportunity/challenge/outcome

• You/path/potential

Divination Tricks

For a situation that is not going your way: Find the Wheel of Fortune in your deck, the two cards on either side of it may present a solution to your problem.

To bring money: Pull the 1st, 5th, 10th, 20th, and 50th cards in your deck. They will tell you how to increase your wealth.

To find the root of a romantic conflict: Find the Lovers, the cards on either side are issues affecting the relationship.

To heal from sadness: Find the Moon and the Sun, the cards in between are the steps you must take.

To look to the near future: Find your birth/soul card, the first card underneath it is what's coming soon.

To know what you must do to care for yourself: Look for the Empress and consider the card behind her.

To find the cause of stagnation: Look for the Hanged Man, the card under him is what's holding you back, the card in front of him shows how to overcome it.

To help stop a conflict: Find the 5 of Wands, the card behind it will reveal the solution.