How To Read Tarot Cards When You Don’t Know Shit

Please read this if you practice witchcraft, especially if you're a baby witch

Everyone says "do your research!" and absolutely, but this does not just apply to making sure you're using the right crystals in the right places or not being disrespectful towards whatever forces you're working with. Do your research in the most logical, practical, basic sense so that you don't accidentally hurt (or kill - yes, some of these mistakes can be literally deadly) yourself, your pets or children, your plants, the environment you're working in, etc.. I don't just want to scream at baby witches but use some common sense. You're working with chemicals here, not just energy.

- Salt is one of the most popular things to use for cleansing rituals. Putting it on soil will destroy it. Drinking it won't kill you, but there's a reason they say not to drink salt water no matter how thirsty you are. In small amounts you'll become dehydrated. In large amounts you'll get sick and likely start vomiting.

- Not all essential oils are safe for skin use, or for inhalation in terms of children or pets.

- Not everything is safe to burn. Again, remember that you are inhaling this when you burn it.

- Not safety related, but water can harm certain crystals. And sunlight. And salt. Research your crystals.

- Herbs can and do have side effects. We often talk about the medicinal benefits, but just like there's medicine you shouldn't combine, don't combine certain herbs or medications.

- Know what chemicals you're working with and what shouldn't mix. I recently saw someone create a hex jar with bleach and urine and go "Why is it doing that?" Because that's chloramine gas and it can kill you.

- Don't attempt to bring anything into nature that could risk the safety of what lives there. Something as simple as a lit piece of paper can start a forest fire. Leaving an offering? Make sure it won't kill any animals that eat it.

(This isn't chemistry related, but I also recently, as in today, saw someone ask about cleansing a route they regularly hike on. Let's reframe this: Would you consider it rude to go into someone's home as a guest, decide you enjoy being there, and then attempt to cleanse it of the owners? Yes. Because it is rude. And you're sure to really piss off anything that's living there. And aside from that, it's useless to attempt. Whatever is living there is a lot more powerful than your smoke - you're outnumbered and overpowered.)

- All this goes to say, if you do not know for damn sure that something is safe for you and everything around you to burn, ingest, inhale, or in any way combine, don't do it.

We are witches, of course we always want to go to antique shops, thrift shops, bookstores, apothecaries.

ambiguous mental illness ❌️

my curse #MyCurse ✅️

What about altars?

Anything can be an altar — and you don’t necessarily need one to communicate with the Gods. If you choose to have one, it should come from love and affection for the deity, from a genuine desire to honor them.

You can use pictures, statues, or simply items that represent the deity. It’s usually placed in a quiet spot in your home, somewhere that makes you feel calm and safe.

Active, And Passive Sigil Activation

Once you have your sigil all charged up, and filled with your intent all there is left to do is to cast it into the universe to gain what you want, and desire. This casting into the universe can be done in two ways actively, or passively. Both of these ways have their own benefits, and setbacks, but it is important to determine which way you should activate certain types of sigils, because it changes the way the energy is released into the universe, and allowed to manifest. So we will be taking a look at both these activation styles, and when they would be most effective to use over the other one.

Active Sigil Activation:

In active sigil activation the energy is usually released all at once, or in a very immediate fashion. This is usually done through the means of destroying the sigil to allow all its energy to manifest at once. This type of activation is good for sigils that only have to be used once, or in a single situation. Sigils I would use in this activation method would be sigils for banishing, exorcising, purifying, cleansing, manifesting, summoning spirits, removing negative energy, removing spiritual blockages, removing emotional blockages, and one off curses, among many others.

Ways to activate active sigils:

Putting the sigil on a piece of paper, and burning it in fire

Putting the sigil on a piece of paper, and submerging it in water until it dissolves.

Putting the sigil on a piece of paper, and ripping the paper in half.

Drawing the sigil in to the sand at the beach, and letting the sea wash it away.

Drawing the sigil in the air with your energy, and pushing through it in order to destroy it.

Making the sigil out of dust, or powder, and then blowing it away to destroy it.

Making the sigil in your mind, and then imagining it being destroyed to activate it.

Putting the sigil on food then eating it.

Drawing the sigil on a firework, and then set it off.

Drawing the sigil on a balloon, and then pop it.

Drawing the sigil on your body, and then wash it away.

Singing the sigil out loud for all to hear.

playing a music, or an audio sigil out loud for all to hear.

and much more…

Passive Sigil Activation:

In passive sigil activation the energy is usually released overtime through a very moderate, and controlled fashion. This is done through the means of charging a sigil, and keeping the sigil around with you, or in the area where the energy is needed for it to continuously produce its energy. This type of activation is good for sigils that are needed to continuously affect the world around them. Sigils I would use in this activation method would be sigils for protection, luck, empowerment, healing, psychic abilities, transformation, attracting energy, retaining energy, changing, and continuous curses, among many others.

Ways to activate Passive Sigils:

Putting the sigil on a piece of paper.

Drawing the sigil on your body.

Carving sigils into a candle, and lighting the candle.

Carving sigils into soap, and washing your body with the soap.

Making a sigil amulet.

Writing the sigils upon stone.

Placing the sigil as your computer, or phone background.

Posting an image of the sigil online.

and much more…

Morning star

Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis) by Will Burrard-Lucas

follow-up to this post

I'm calling it, "how to do magic as if you are magical and the whole of nature is listening"

say = think, sign, write, or any vehicle of communication

presence of energy = candle, incense, sunlight, moonlight, breeze/wind, running water, yourself while you're already feeling those emotions/thoughts/beliefs, etc.

Cleansing object: blow on object, wipe it off

Cleansing object: wash it in the sink

Cleansing self: take shower

Cleansing self: change clothes

Cleansing self: listen to music

Cleansing space: light a candle in the room

Cleansing space: open a window, let air flow through

Cleansing space: sweep/clean floors

Blessing object: look at the object. say, "you are special." also mean this in your heart. give it a lil kiss or a lil pat with your thumb

Blessing space: pat door frame. say, "you are a special room." feel how the room is special and good. tell the room you love it

Charging object: bring object into presence of energy and ask it to fill itself up. tell energy you would like it to fill up the object. leave the two to their privacy

Charging space: exactly as "Charging object" but you cant move the space so you gotta find a way to get the energy to it

Dedicating object: tell object to prepare itself for its new life. tell it that its fate and destiny are about to be forever changed. speak to whomever object will be dedicated to. say, "this is for you. i give it to you. you own it now"

Enchant food or beverage: tell food or beverage what you want it to do. realize you will spend some of your energy to enchant it. say, "I spend my energy to craft my reality." stir food or beverage for a few moments until you suddenly feel more tired. say, "this is magical now, and whoever consumes it will absorb that magic"

Enchant object: tell object exactly what you need it to do. tell it you will feed it energy so it can be born to its new purpose. bring object into presence of energy and ask it to fill itself up. tell energy you would like it to fill up the object, specifically to fulfill the objects new purpose. leave the two to their privacy. when you return, tell object, "i have captured power in you, you are magical now, and you will be forever." (optional: repeat daily for 3 days)

Cast spell 1: exactly as "Enchant object," but object is a candle, incense, or sigil. Once enchanted, burn into ashes. dispose of remnants in a strange way

Cast spell 2: put together a lot of little objects into a container, instructing each one to its purpose. then tell the entire container its master purpose. then enchant the entire container exactly as "Enchant object"

Cast spell 3: take some string into the presence of energy. tell the string it will hold some magic in knots. tell the energy you will capture it in knots. tell yourself what you will capture in the knot. tie the knot. say, "I have captured power." repeat until there are enough knots

Curse others: exactly as any "Cast spell," but your purpose is always to harm another

Curse self: much easier than "Curse others." all you need to do is speak bad words about yourself to others

Undo spell: exactly as "Cast spell 1," but its purpose is to be the exact opposite of the unwanted spell, so they equalize each other

Undo spell: exactly as "Cast spell 1," but its purpose is to be a little knight who rides across the land to slay the first spell-dragon

Undo enchantment: say to object, "yesterday was the last day of forever. it is time for you to go back to your old life. let go of the magic within you, and return to your long sleep." bury in salt or earth for 3 days.

Binding: exactly as "Cast spell 3," but instead of [energy], take the string into the presence of what is to be bound, and tell the string to tie it up and hold it so it can never be let go

Glamour self: your aura is a constant projection of everything you currently are. breathe in how you want to be perceived and breathe out how you will be perceived. your breath coats your aura like steam on glass. it will also fade like steam on glass. repeat every day the glamour is desired

Close yourself off to spirits: say, "i do not want to be in contact with any spirits. no thank you." believe this in your heart also

Mega close yourself off to spirits: say, "i do not believe in spirits actually, even more than that, they are not real at all; so i have no concerns in coming into contact with them." believe this in your heart also

Open yourself to spirits: say, "i am actually quite fine with being in touch with helpful spirits, or at least neutral ones, but definitely ones that mean me no harm"

Banish spirits: say, "i am the only witch in this house, and i choose what energies are here and what spirits may stay. someone else may have invited you, but they do not have the right to invite you, and i am telling you now that you must go. leave now as a friend or be destroyed as an enemy" believe this in your heart also

Banish humans: exactly as "Cast spell 1," but instruct the consumable object to chase the human far away as its released

Pray: say things, but to someone who isnt in the room with you

Build a shrine: make a mood board dedicated to that being, but instead of digital pictures its physical objects, and all the objects are in one little area. then, perform "Dedicating object" over entire space

Build a spellcasting altar: exactly as "Build a shrine," but the vibe is things that remind you of power and your own power. then, perform "Dedicating object," but you dedicate it to yourself

I am happy to present my own Wamily’s version of finding your signifier card using a Tarot deck.  (Wamily, just in case you don’t know, is a witch family.)  

Please keep in mind that this is a practice passed down and developed by a handful of witches related to me, and isn’t the process that every cartomancer uses.  I hope this helps you on your witchcraft journey!

My own signifier card was found when I was a wee little witch.  I chose the Chariot (which, if you know me personally, is Salt through and through.)  My strengths and limitations are very much found in this card and I am drawn to its imagery indefinitely.  

Comment with your signifier card once you find it!  I am excited to see what you receive.

25 Tarot Books You MUST Read If You Want To Grow Your Tarot Skills! By THERESA REED.

Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom: A Book of Tarot by Rachel Pollack – deep and rich with information, no list is complete without this book.  If I did have to pick a favorite, this may be it.

Learning the Tarot: A Tarot Book for Beginners by Joan Bunning – based on her online course, this book will get any tarot newbie reading the tarot proficiently in no time.

Mary K. Greer’s 21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card by Mary Greer – novel ideas to expand your tarot skills.

The Complete Book of Tarot Reversals (Special Topics in Tarot Series) by Mary Greer – I’m a fan of reversals (they are not mandatory by the way) and this is THE book for those of us who choose to read upside down.  (Honorable mention:  Joan Bunning also has a good book on reversals, Learning Tarot Reversals )

The Complete Tarot Reader: Everything You Need to Know from Start to Finish by Teresa Michaelson – this book has a massive amount of information – it’s like a little encyclopedia

Tarot Masterclass by Paul Fenton-Smith – this book is rarely mentioned but I think it is pure genius.  Not just a tarot primer but also a great section on being a professional tarot reader.  (Honorable mention: Fenton-Smith also has a great beginner’s book, The Tarot Revealed: A Beginner’s Guide )

The Tarot Handbook: Practical Applications of Ancient Visual Symbols by Angeles Arrien – featuring the Thoth deck, this book will help you to understand tarot clearly – even if you do not read with the Thoth deck

The Way of Tarot: The Spiritual Teacher in the Cards by Alejandro Jodorowsky and Marianne Costa – This profound book gets super deep with the Marseille deck.  How I wish I would have had this book when I first started out!

Tarot Plain and Simple by Anthony Louis – loads of interpretations and a slant towards  beginners, this is the book I recommend to all my students

Understanding the Tarot Court (Special Topics in Tarot Series) by Mary Greer – face it, the Court cards are one of the hardest suits for any tarotist to master.  Greer spells it all out with clarity.  LOVE this one.

Tarot: A New Handbook for the Apprentice, Classic Ed (Connolly Tarot) by Eileen Connolly – this is the first tarot book I ever got my hands on.  It’s still a treasured favorite.  Some might be put off by her Christian undertones but I find the interpretations to be pure gold.  I love all of her works.

SuperTarot: New Techniques for Improving Your Tarot Reading by Sasha Fenton – although this is out of print, it is worth searching for a copy. The techniques contained within will help you expand your tarot skills.

The Secret Language of Tarot by Ruth Ann and Wald Amberstone – a fantastic book detailing the symbols in the tarot cards.

Tarot for Life: Reading the Cards for Everyday Guidance and Growth by Paul Quinn – A modern book with real life examples of tarot readings, this one will help you bring your readings to life.

Best Tarot Practices: Everything You Need to Know to Learn the Tarot by Marcia Masino – another great book that tends to be overlooked, this one has novel exercises and good advice on reading tarot professionally.

Tarot: Your Everyday Guide by Janina Renee – this book focuses on using tarot for dispensing advice.

Beyond the Celtic Cross: Secret Techniques for Taking Tarot to an Exciting New Level by Paul Hughes Barlow and Catherine Chapman – a very different approach to tarot – card counting and elemental dignities explained in a conversational format.

Rachel Pollack’s Tarot Wisdom: Spiritual Teachings and Deeper Meanings by Rachel Pollack – once again, Pollack delivers an impeccable and thought provoking book with new insights for the modern tarot reader.

Classic Tarot Spreads by Sandor Konraad – I’ve had this book for years and learned many a good spread from it.  (Honorable mentions:  Learning Tarot Spreads by Joan Bunning and Tarot Spreads and Layouts A User’s Manual For Beginning and Intermediate Readers by Jeanne Fiorini)

The Spoken Cabala: Tarot Explorations of the One Self by Jason Lotterhand – based on the Thursday night talks from Lotterhand, this book will give you some insight into the Kabbalah and how it relates to tarot.  (Honorable mentions:  Tarot and the Tree of Life: Finding Everyday Wisdom in the Minor Arcana by Isabel Radow Kliegman for a glimpse on how Kabbalah weaves through the Minor Arcana plus The Tarot Workbook: Understanding and Using Tarot Symbolism by Emily Peach which is a great Kabbalah/tarot primer for beginners)

Tarot Decoded: Understanding and Using Dignities and Correspondences by Elizabeth Hazel – every single dignity and correspondence you can imagine is featured here.

Who Are You in the Tarot?: Discover Your Birth and Year Cards and Uncover Your Destiny by Mary Greer – this is a fantastic book that gives deep insights on your personality, life and journey based on your “birth card”.

Tarot for Beginners: A Practical Guide to Reading the Cards by Barbara Moore – the easiest beginner book out there, this one will appeal to absolute newbies and those who are really sure they can’t “get it”.  Moore shows you that you CAN.

Tarot 101: Mastering the Art of Reading the Cards by Kim Huggens – excellent exercises, good reading list suggestions and a unique format make this book one you cannot miss.  Good for all levels.

Tarosophy : Tarot to Engage Life, Not Escape it by Marcus Katz – Hip and modern, full of useful information and exercises – plus it has stuff for all levels (beginner, intermediate and advanced).  It’s a very intellectual book – this is no “tarot for dummies”.