Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card a deck Review: Silver Witchcraft Tarot by Barbara Moore, artwork by Franco Rivolli. Published by Lo Scarabeo.
This deck is profiled in the Total Tarot course collection in magazine numbers 42 and 43.
This deck is profiled in the Total Tarot course collection in magazine numbers 42 and 43.
A delightful medieval style tarot deck, the Book of Thoth was the first deck that was made exclusively for divination and the author claimed it was the legendary Egyptian Book of Thoth, a magical text from the God of Wisdom and magic, created in 2,170BC!
The deck was later also known as The Grand Jeu de Oracle. In 1789 the French occultist, Jean-Baptiste Alliette, known as Etteilla, created this deck. He claimed he had resurrected an authentic Egyptian tradition, and based this deck upon it. Of course, we know now that the Tarot is not Egyptian in origin.
Sample card: XI Justice. Astrological correlation Libra. Justice will make itself known when you see situations from all angles. Justice takes things slowly and deliberately and makes a just decision. All actions have consequences. Therefore, Justice knows that fairness is a priority, and understands that there will always be somebody who feels hurt if you don’t do things their way. When this card appears in a reading, you must take a stand and do what’s right for you. Upright meaning: equality, balance, decisions, fairness. Reversed meaning: dispute, dishonesty, lack of accountability, corruption.
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: The Priestess Path - 13 Powerful Lessons to Build Your Inner Strength by Stacey DeMarco. Published by Rockpool Publishing 2023. UK £16.99 : US $18.95 June, 2023
Are you considering becoming a priestess? This book explains what the path involves, how to get the best from your training, and it suggests 13 useful lessons to learn along the way. Several major deities are detailed, such as Gaia, Pele, Odin, Brigid, Aradia, and others with their myths (stories with a truth), their respective tasks, how to walk the path of each, their specific meditations and invocations. Ceremonies are outlined, such as births, naming, puberty, hand fasting, and croning. The seasonal rites for Northern and Southern hemisphere are given, and there is a useful reference section.
We look back at the earliest deities and we find a resurgence of interest in the sacred feminine to redress the imbalance of power that has dominated our world. The essence of the divine feminine is ready to be amplified!
Sample Card: Crone of Cups “The Crone of Cups is she who has full control of her emotions. She has lived a lot and now knows how to control that which has destabilised her in the past. She can be someone who doesn’t show what they feel because her gazes are forward-looking, broad and rational. Often she represents people who have roles that listen and care, such as psycho psychologists, doctors and healers. She prefers not to show her vulnerability, but knows well that this too can be a great strength. Here, Yemaya is the water of a lake, calm, with the defined borders, reflected in the sky.”
These cards are dedicated to goddesses and help with female empowerment in each goddess myth, archetype and ancient divinity. All celebrate the fearless spirit of women. Multi cultural card deck with figurative artwork featuring women in all kinds of lively and colourful roles. suits are Wands, Swords, And Pentacles, with Court Cards titled Page (child), Knight (adolescent), Queen (woman) and King (crone). Each King is shown as a Crone, a goddess of complete wisdom. Each Major Arcana card is associated with a classical goddess plus a woman of our time, the Minors are ordinary but inspirational women, made divine through skill, work, or other contribution.
Nice drawer pull box containing quality cards and full colour instruction book. The deck is divided into 4 suits: Roots (blue and being), Trunk (brown and healing), Leaves (green and wisdom) and Flower, Fruits and Seed (russet and power). Each card presents an attractive tree and title. Booklet information adds subtitles, botanical species, properties, myths, cultural associations and a channelled message from the tree deva (nature spirit). Thereare readings for upright and inverse cards.
Information is provided on how to use the deck, think of your question, shuffle, deal and chose your spread. Spreads suggested are Single-Card Question that has a sample reading, Past, present and future (3 cards), also with a sample reading, Horseshoe Spread (7 cards) also with a sample reading. It is suggested you keep a record of your readings.
Sample: Oak diva message I am strong and steady and I am an essential part of the age a child mysteries of the forest. If you’re calling me I can give you alter physical power and inner emotional strength whenever you need them let me show you the way.
These cards have extraordinary fabric and collage images, created by Amy Zerner, an award winning artist. Her husband and co-creator has supplied the text, which I can recommend as insightful and wise in helping to get the best from a reading. Together they have produced other excellent tarot publications: Enchanted Tarot, Instant Tarot, Enchanted Love Tarot, Creativity Oracle and the Enchanted Worlds Book.
"To the awakening of our spirit self"
It is suggested you meditate on the card images and read the message in the book. Questions to ask: What feelings and emotions are felt, what connections do you think of, do the symbols mean something personal, what does the card say about your past, your present life, and your possible future???
If you are tired of skimming surfaces, and are looking for something more meaty, this deck is a good start.
Sample: Card 18 The Moon Keywords: Intuition, mystery, dreams. This card can show up when you are not sure of your path forward. Let go of mental blocks and trust that intuition will lead you forward, shining its light to show you where to step. Don’t just take things at face value, listen to your intuition and feel into whether someone has a hidden agenda. Don’t allow an active imagination to confuse you further as you may be projecting your past fears onto what’s happening around you. Allow yourself time to feel into the situation, investigate. Make sure you are in the centre so that you can trust your intuition. Listen to your dreams as they may be heightened, showing you things you need to see. Look at the cards around the moon to see the deeper meaning. Look at the cards that come next in the reading.
The Journey for Card 18 The Moon. This energy is mysterious and has an immense power, and this could indicate something is hiding in the shadows, something that can’t be seen clearly. Uncover the solution by tapping into your intuition, identify your fears and move forward. Listen carefully to your dreams as they may be receiving intuitive wisdom dropped into your subconscious mind. Trust yourself and your instincts, take time to get into your centre and really know yourself and what you care about.
“Follow your North Star to Find Your True Values”
The North Star, Polaris, has been the guiding light for navigators for centuries. This deck provides the knowledge to follow a course of sincere spirituality. True and well thought out values will keep you on the right path to your destination and to a life of richest personal and spiritual values. Each card offers a different value, and provides a short explanation so your internal persona matches your external persona, so there is no insincerity, pretence, denial or conflict. You live in alignment with your vibrant identity and ongoing maturity.
The I Ching is an ancient method of divination, sometimes called The Book of Changes. It was written about 5000 years ago and is one of the oldest books in the world, and contains wisdom provided in old Chinese poetry of the feudal Mandarin era. Though highly complex, this book presents the matter very simply. The philosophy relates to the opposing energies that exist in the world, but shows that within every polarity is a part of the opposing force that creates eventually balance and harmony. ☯️
From the box lid: ‘I receive your wisdom with an open heart. Thank you for revealing sacred truths that illuminate my soul’s path.’
This deck has a cross cultural emphasis, with women and men of differing ethnicity, skin colour, and age ranges, including non-binary and all genders. Featured archetypes are presented with messages from divine teachings with a name and subtitle, a few words of advice, information and a message, additional meanings and a short invocation. All are positive and uplifting messages that bridge the gap between daily life and a walking a spiritual path. You can ask questions of the cards and receive practical and spiritual advice. These cards don’t completely predict the future and will not take away your free will. They show possibilities, yet you have the power to change outcomes in your life.
Mind Body and Soul Book Review: You Can Thrive After Narcissistic Abuse The #1 System for Recovering From Toxic Relationships by Melanie Tania Evans. Published by Watkins Publishing. 224 pages Paperback: £7.00 Kindle: £6.99
There are full explanations on what a spirit guide is, how to recognise the various types, to see what is wrong and make changes, set high standards, find out what specialist spirits can teach you. There are 7 types explained in this book, i.e., deities, ancestors, ascended masters, nature spirits, animal guides, star beings, and angels. Other explanations are of god, how to align with your higher self, how to avoid egotism, how to serve, to live your life purpose, what are the dangers, are there evil and random spirits, what is cultural appropriation, and what is spiritual bypassing, etcetera. All important points!
This is an authentic 5,000 year old Egyptian styled deck with artwork, translations, and spells with source material from the Pyramid and Coffin Texts. There is information about the Calendar with readings based on 10 day periods. There is more detailed information about the calendar and the stars of the night sky from the author’s book on the topic “Cult if the Stars”.
The topic of planetary welfare is of utmost importance, and this card deck helps us to focus on the planet as our birthplace, our home, our provider and our Mother. It reminds us to reconnect to the Earth, and to ourselves and to respect and appreciate the healing we are offered. Indigenous people have handed down knowledge that we have forgotten about the Earth and its wonders. The importance of the Earth is detailed within the deck’s messages, and the deck can appeal to women (and men) of all races, genders, sizes and skin tones - all are children of Mother Earth.