Category Archives: tarot

Sylvia’s Mistake and what it means for Professional Intuitives

May 13, 2013 by Miss Bri
Posted in News & Reviews, Spirituality, tarot

Sylvia’s Mistake and what it means for Professional Intuitives

By now everyone knows about the three women who had been abducted and found in Ohio-and many of my friends and colleagues also know about the Sylvia Browne scandal that was brought up in the wake of discovering that one of the women, whom Browne had quite publicly announced was dead, was actually quite alive. For those who don’t know about the story, Jason Pitzl-Walters of the Wild Hunt wrote about it here.

Jason ended his excellent article with the following question:

 

“I have no doubt that most Pagans engaging in psychic work are sincere, which calls me to ask how responsible they feel they are regarding life-or-death predictions, and what recourse do they engage in should a prediction turn tragic? Rather than become defensive, and work to distance ourselves from the hucksterisms of Browne, I think this is a call to introspection. How do we prevent ourselves from becoming the things that Browne now embodies to an outraged public?”

 

I think this is a really good question and after perusing the comments tied to the article I felt that it deserved a full response from someone who works as both a professional intuitive and ritualist, and who advocates for the building of sustainable and profitable businesses in the field of Sacred Arts.

 

WARNING: This is a long article y’all. If you are familiar with the Wild Hunt piece and the comments that accompanied it then the first two sections will be of interest, otherwise scroll down to the final section titled, The Sylvia Situation. (I won’t judge, I read the end of novels first all the time).

 

 

Why should Pagans be concerned about Sylvia?

The first issue that needs to be addressed is relevancy. Why should Pagans be concerned about Sylvia Browne’s “mistake”? The fact of the matter is that in the general public’s opinion working as a tarot reader, practicing any divinatory art, or billing oneself as a “psychic” often equates to being Pagan. This stems from a lack of understanding of both the intuitive arts as well as Paganism but the association is present and its strong.

 

In addition, while its true that not all professional intuitives are Pagan and not all Pagans practice an intuitive art (like cartomancy, tasseomany, palmistry, scrying, etc) it is true that many Pagans do have an interest in developing these skills for both personal and religious reasons.

 

The third reason I believe Pagans should be concerned about this issue is that both professional intuitives and modern day Pagans share a similar position in society-we are often misrepresented, misunderstood, mocked, marginalized and have to be especially assiduous in asserting and protecting our civil rights. Because the two groups are closely related in popular imagination, because there are many people who do belong to both groups, and because we experience many of the same social and political challenges, its vital that we take an interest in each other’s welfare-especially if we do not want characters like Sylvia Browne to write our stories for us and the general public.

 

 

The Business of Intuitive Professionals and Sacred Artists:

Another thread of comments attached to the article that I found very disturbing were those voicing the opinion that anyone who asks for money in return for using their intuitive gifts is de facto a charlatan. This is something that I know some of my Pagan brothers and sisters have had to deal with as well, when wanting to be paid for ritual services for instance-I label it the “Spiritual Gifts Should be Free Syndrome.”

 

The idea that all tarot readers are con artists out to make a quick buck belies a lineage of predictive readings and oracle casting that goes back to the beginnings of human culture. Traditionally those who possessed the art of seeing were paid-perhaps not in money, but food, gifts, and even offerings were made in return for their predictive powers.

 

It is true that in the world of “magic for hire” there are many scams and unethical people taking advantage of ill formed superstitions and clients who are often desperate, afraid, and have nowhere else to turn. But its equally true that there are many top of the line professional intuitives who have assisted people in getting out of abusive relationships, finding gainful employment, asking for (and receiving) raises, starting new romantic relationships, having happy and peaceful marriages, and fostering better relationships with children and step children (just to name a few of the situations that I often read for).

 

These people do their work because they feel Spirit-called, because they have actual talent, and because they want to be of service. They often work in places that are hostile to intuitive arts of all kinds and take on potential danger to themselves and their families (not to say anything of the day to day shame many feel when asked “what they do for a living?”) Nevertheless they do the work because they are committed, they care, and as Jason said, they are sincere.

 

Deciding that someone is a scam artist because they ask to be paid for a skill they are employing to your benefit is both foolish and unkind and its reveals a massive double standard that we have in the general population when it comes to those working in the Sacred Arts. Doctors are not right 100% of the time and often the medications they prescribe can cause terrible side effects that patients were not sufficiently warned about-and in many situations patients are misdiagnosed completely-yet a doctor still must be paid. The positive effect that a therapist exerts over a situation may or may not be obvious-yet we pay for the time we spend with them regardless of results. A lawyer cannot ever guarantee to win your legal case-yet they too have fees that must be paid, win or lose. An investment banker requires you to entrust them with a large sum of money on the promise that they may be able to make that money increase for you-they are paid-with both the initial investment and often with concurrent fees. In all four cases the general public does not question the professional’s right to earn a living by their skill.

 

Why is it then that in the case of a professional intuitive asking to be paid for our services we are seen as suspect at best and charlatans at worst? Is it because the work we engage in is too “fringe”, resistant to measurement, or subjective? What then of the artist who paints or  the writer who tells stories? Their work is much harder to measure, some indeed might think it strange, and art of course is quite subjective-but most of us would agree that the artist or the author also have a right to earn a living from their work.

 

I believe that we should be supporting those working in the Sacred Arts field with everything we’ve got. I champion the rights of my friends and colleagues to charge for their work and to earn a damn good living from it-I believe that their services are of value and make my community, my town, my state and my country better. I also champion an increased level of professionalism within the Sacred Arts communities-and that includes a critique of why Sylvia Browne’s approach to this work is problematic.

 

 

The Sylvia Situation:

I don’t know Sylvia Browne, although I have my personal opinions, I cannot say what motivates her publicly or privately. Unlike others, I don’t necessarily take issue with her (or any professional intuitive) desiring favorable publicity for their work. One of the reasons why our field has been rife with scams and cons is because it has remained in the shadows and when it is mentioned in a broader context it is usually couched in sensationalism or criticism. A lack of transparency can breed corruption and part of being transparent is being publicly seen and available. I think that professional intuitives who seek to make their work better known and understood by the general public have the potential to do the field as a whole much good.

 

With that said, I do find that the biggest mistake Browne (or her handlers) made was in the approach they took in this particular case. To use the above examples, when a doctor is interviewed on a daytime talk show they are not asked to make diagnoses. A therapist is not expected to deliver a radical insight infront of a large studio audience. When a trial lawyer is interviewed they are not asked to demonstrate their courtroom acumen. An investment banker would never be expected to make money appear during the hour between 10am and 11. Why an intuitive professional is asked to “prove” their skill set and/or why they would agree to such ridiculous terms (given the setting) is beyond me, and this, is where Ms. Browne made her mistake. In his article Jason asked two questions of his readers:

 

–How responsible do Pagans who also practice a predictive art feel when making a life or death prediction?

 

–what recourse do they engage in if the prediction turns tragic?

 

The Pagans that I know who practice an intuitive art and the professional intuitives I know (who may or may not identify as Pagan) feel an incredible weight of responsibility anytime we sit with a querant. If you want to cut through the small talk and get to the issues that are really weighing on someone’s heart and mind then become a tarot reader. People trust us with information that they have not told to anyone else-it’s a privilege and a deep responsibility and not something to be taken lightly-ever.

 

In Ms. Browne’s case she was asked whether a specific individual who was missing was still living.

 

Who was asking the question?

The missing woman’s mother.

 

And what was the setting?

A nationally televised talk show.

 

Many of the professional intuitives I know would not read on this question at all—too much rides on the answer and seeing clearly and with objectivity is difficult to begin with-our work is about nothing if not clarity. To answer the question though for the missing woman’s mother is a different thing entirely-in that case the woman’s own hopes and fears would weigh so heavily on the reading that no matter its outcome I would question its veracity.

 

Finally, the setting is wrong. Publicity for one’s work is well and good, but attempting to deliver an intuitive reading-an occasion that should be a personal and private exploration of a meaningful question between two people on daytime T.V. sets one up for failure-if Sylvia Browne truly thought that given these parameters she could deliver an authentic intuitive reading then I have to question her skills as well as her motives.

 

Generally speaking as I wrote earlier, most of my colleagues would not read on this type of a question at all-and those that would usually come out of spiritual traditions that have a very specific approach and ritual parameters for what can be asked, who might ask it, and what type of information might be conveyed back to the querant.

 

The second question is one that all intuitives should ask themselves: what recourse do we engage in if a prediction turns tragic? I believe we should all ask ourselves this question because as we meet and encounter people throughout the years we will brush up against terrible events. Predictions, once uttered, can turn tragic as many a Greek Tragedy warns us, and intuitives need to consider what options are available to us professionally to deal with these events. Here are a few I have found helpful:

 

  • Be honest and admit it if you have made a mistake.
  • Do not make guarantees. I train my clients and prospective clients to be wary of anyone who works in the intuitive or magical fields and makes 100% satisfaction or your money back guarantees. Serious practitioners know that when it comes to intuition and magic mystery is part of the process and no one can say exactly how a situation will turn out. Even if a client does not want to work with me I steer them clear of people offering such guarantees-its part of my educational outreach.
  • Associate with ethical professionals in your field-this is vital for so many reasons. When you are associated with ethical people who work in the same or similar field you can refer clients to them (when you are unable or unwilling to work with them) and you can also discuss issues (like this one) with them and get other points of view that are trustworthy.
  • Be clear in your terms-how do you work? What do you do? What are your rates? What happens if a client is not satisfied? What can you be held accountable for? What can you not be held accountable for? Being clear about these terms in your literature and on your website cuts through a lot of potential confusion.
  • Call in reinforcements. Are you working with someone who needs to see a medical doctor, who requires legal advice or who needs to undergo psychological evaluation? If so, as an intuitive professional it is your duty to tell the client this and to work with them on the understanding (and in some cases with actual proof) that they are receiving the help they need from other experts.
  • Know when to stop—there are people who will seek out reading after reading because they aren’t getting the answers they want or there are those who seek intuitive services for life altering decisions that require more input than your neighborhood tarot reader can possibly provide. Know when a client needs to stop seeking out readings and do not be afraid to tell them-with kindness and firmness.
  • Know who you can help and who you can’t. My experience of the intuitive field is that its full of people who genuinely want to help. But we cannot help everyone. Develop an understanding of what you do well and what you are not as gifted at-serve the people you are meant to serve and if someone comes to you wanting something that you cannot provide-be honest about that.

 

As in any other field, tragedies can and do happen. Ms. Browne made a series of decisions that has now led to a loss of face and to the knowledge that she has caused a family who has already gone through hell, even more deep pain. It is my sincere hope that those of us working in the intuitive field can learn from this and allow the event to shine light on our practices and our professionalism.

 

How to bring Divination & Ritual together forever

May 8, 2013 by Miss Bri
Posted in Divination, Sacred How-To, Spirituality, tarot, Things that are true

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There are some things that are just mean to go together: peas and carrots, peanut butter and jelly, ketchup and fries and…divination and ritual.

 

Most people know what divination is-and a growing number of individuals are using tools like tarot cards on a regular basis to gain insight and clarity and where they are now and where they are likely to head in the future.

 

This makes me so happy. I believe that divination tools like tarot cards assist us in tapping into the well of our own inner knowing-a well that goes back to ancient times when divinatory arts were considered sacred and powerful because intuition was recognized as a force that could improve our lives, lead us to better decisions, and ultimately increase our chances for happiness.

 

And yet…if you do play with a divination tool like tarot cards, have you ever found yourself in this situation: you pull some cards for yourself or a friend and the cards you receive indicate that the situation may be blocked or delayed or that the dreams and goals in question may be unlikely to manifest at this point in time?

 

At this point in a reading the question is always the same: what can I do? A skilled reader may be able to point out a few practical tweaks or modifications for you but the cards are what they are. Perhaps its time to throw up your hands-let go and let God OR perhaps its time to get familiar with divination’s twin sister-ritual.

 

Ritual, especially magical rituals have a dubious reputation at best. On one end of the spectrum are our ancient memories which recognize on some level the vitality of performing a ritual act-as a way to change one’s immediate circumstances, as a way to empower oneself, as a way to connect to the Divine, and to honor specific seasons, events, and beings local to where we live, love, and work. On the other hand, magic ritual is all too easily dismissed as a fringe element or even a Satanic practice.

 

We should pay heed to our ancient memories-ritual acts can be simple, straightforward and incredibly powerful reminder of the cosmos and our place in it as well as the divine purpose that Spirit has laid out for us. I like thinking of ritual as a specific act, performed with a set intention, that seeks to attract the attention of Spirit and say “hello, I’m here and trying to nail it-please help!” And ritual and divination have always gone hand in hand.

 

It only makes sense when you think about it-there are many, many ritual forms in every specific cultural and linguistic tradition. There are different forms because rituals address different areas of life-there are ritual acts to bring back a lover, to bless a child, to increase one’s personal wealth, to make a person magnetic, to honor the land, to devote oneself to a spiritual path and on and on. Divination is an art form that for ages was used primarily as a diagnostic tool and part of what a good diviner was able to diagnose was what specific ritual would be appropriate for a given situation.

 

This entire system is predicated on the belief that every one of us has a unique and coherent being-ness and that our beings, while they do have much in common, also greatly partake of nuance and particularity. For instance, two women who come to me suffering from heartbreak are quite unlikely to walk away with the same ritual recommendations because they are two different people, dealing with two very different situations that in turn involve equally different individuals-see what I mean about nuance?

 

This is where the worker who is familiar with both divination and ritual can come in handy-a reader who is also a proficient magical worker can use her tools (whatever they may be) to “diagnose” your specific situation and, if she knows how to work her system correctly, it will give her the information she needs to recommend specific ritual acts to bless, honor, and move things along.

 

Within the world of Sacred Arts divination is one entire branch of study and ritual magic is another-but perhaps because I have seen the benefits personally of bringing these two powerful modes together I advocate for their integration. Its my passion to teach ritualists more about divination and readers more about magical ritual. There are courses you can take (hint, hint, I’m offering one this summer!) But you can also start the practice of integrating ritual with divination at any time.

 

Try this:

Pick an area of your life where you are feeling stuck and pull a tarot card on it. Before you pull a card ask yourself or Spirit “what can I do about this situation?”then pull the card.

Now, study the card, pay attention to the colors, images, and symbols of the card. What do they immediately bring to mind? Are the colors cool and calming or warm and active? Do they bring to mind a specific element like earth, air, fire, or water?

If you are having a hard time write about the card for 10 minutes (set a timer and do not go over this amount of time). Study what you have written. Do you see a pattern emerging? Words, ideas, or an image that you keep circling back to?

Now, create a ritual based off of this card…it could be as simple as lighting a candle or more complicated like taking a spiritual bath. Maybe you walk away feeling that you need a charged talisman or charm bag-build up a ritual for yourself based on the card.

Once you have the ritual in mind procure the items you will need and pick a special day-here is a calendar of notable days this year-and then perform your ritual act.

Note how you feel before, during, and after the ritual. Pay special attention to what you are hoping the ritual will help augment or change and note if and when those changes occur.

From these few simple steps you are well on your way to creating a life full of magic and possibility!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shuffling the Deck: Death

April 1, 2013 by Miss Bri
Posted in Shuffling the Deck: Tarot Musings, Spirituality, tarot

death

Ai! I have taken a couple of months off from the Shuffling the Deck series and recently remembered that it was time to pick it back up again—but with a few changes. Because ritual forms such a huge part of what I do, each new entry will include ritual suggestions & inspirations specific to the card at hand. I am also adding in some astrological considerations to each card and a poem of prayer that invokes the specific energy and presence of the card.

Card: Death
Number: 13
Planetary Ruler: Pluto
Zodiac sign: Scorpio
Season: late fall through early Winter and the celebration of Halloween, All Soul’s Day, Samhaim, Dia de los Muertos

Maybe its because I’m born on the 13th of maybe its because Pluto features strongly in my natal chart, but the Death card has always been one of my favorites. Its themes include:

Meanings:

Death-literally or figuratively
Descent into the Underworld
Initiation
Equalizing forces-Death and taxes!
The Death card is a wake up call. It reminds us that physical death is imminent and unavoidable and compels us to think, if only for a moment, on whether or not we are living as brightly as we might. This is a question for each one of us-rich, poor, black, white, brown, or red, woman, man, and those in between-because we each must face death it is a great equalizer-we are all on a level field.

As we settle into that question we consider what parts of our life might be in the process of dying back-and whether they are making room for more of the same or for something precious and worthwhile. Death symbolizes endings, it is final, it is done-it brings the possibility of closure to experiences that may be dragging out for too long sucking at our life force and creativity.

And finally, Death is communion, especially when we come out of (or to) a tradition that honors the ancestors who have gone before and seeks to learn from them. 

Rituals:

Honoring and listening to your dead-your ancestors and those of your lineage. You can do this by building an altar for your ancestors, visiting a graveyard where family members are buried and keeping up the grave sites, or simply by displaying old photos of deceased family members around your home so that you become more aware of their presence…and wisdom.

Working with Deities whose domain is the underworld-Kali, Ereshkigal, Hades, Porserpina, Dummuzi, Hel, Hekate, Santisima Muerte, Anima Sola. If Death is around you, if you feel like you are going through an underworld descent then learning about the Deities that preside over the underworld-and seeking their aid-is a wise course of action.

Culling-one can cull a herd of animals, a garden, or the attic-the process is inherently the same. We begin the culling process by asking the question: what needs to be allowed to die back, get harvested, be slaughtered so that new life may emerge?

Poetic Prayer:

This beautiful poem from by Pablo Neruda captures the first meaning of the death card beautifully:

You start dying slowly
if you do not travel,
if you do not read,
If you do not listen to the sounds of life,
If you do not appreciate yourself.

You start dying slowly
When you kill your self-esteem;
When you do not let others help you.
You start dying slowly
If you become a slave of your habits,
Walking everyday on the same paths…
If you do not change your routine,
If you do not wear different colours
Or you do not speak to those you don’t know.
You start dying slowly
If you avoid to feel passion
And their turbulent emotions;
Those which make your eyes glisten
And your heart beat fast.

You start dying slowly
If you do not change your life when you are not satisfied with your job, or with your love,
If you do not risk what is safe for the uncertain,
If you do not go after a dream,
If you do not allow yourself,
At least once in your lifetime,
To run away from sensible advice…

Can a Tarot Reading make you more Virtuous?

March 11, 2013 by Miss Bri
Posted in Spirituality, tarot, Things that are true

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Over at Apple and Root I have been thinking about words and what they do and don’t mean. One word that comes up a lot for me especially when I am talking about my intuitive reading services is the word clarity. I often say an intuitive reading can help you gain clarity and indeed it can.

However I am also, truth be told, a little underwhelmed by the word clarity.

Clarity implies a refining of vision, an ability to discern sharply between different objects and to bring one object or a group of objects into sharp relief. An intuitive reading can certainly accomplish that. When we look to our intuition, that deep knowing that resides in the soul, bones, guts and sex as well as the head we often experience clarity because we are seeing with our whole self, not just our eyes.

Well and good but my experience with intuitive reading and the intuitive arts generally is that we turn to the sacred not only when we need to know what to do but when we need to understand why we do what we do. We are looking for more than clarity. We are looking for insight into our deepest selves. This desire touches upon the idea of virtue. At least as Plato and Aristotle understood it, wherein virtue is not simply doing the right thing or a set of right actions, but being able to give and account of why we do the right thing and in a given instance.

Virtue is usually now only talked about now in scholarly or religious circles concerned with philosophy or ethics but the fact is that as virtue is concerned with identifying and giving an account for the best act, choice to make, path to follow it should concern us as well.

In many cases we may get lucky and fall into reflexive right action making the best decision without understanding how we arrived there. That is instinct and it is a powerful force but in so many cases we must understand not only how but why which choice is right. That is virtue and it relies and is found where reason and intuition dance. This is why a system of divination like Tarot appeals to people from many different walks of life and it’s also why Socrates, that most famous philosopher was catalyzed into action by an oracle.

So yes, an intuitive reading can provide clarity but it may also make you more virtuous.

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Introducing the Sovereignty Spread!

February 26, 2013 by Miss Bri
Posted in Charms & Enchantments-Ritual Magic, Divination, Spirituality, tarot

Mid week article! You all know these only happen when I am really excited. I woke up around 4:00am central time on 2/25-the day of the Full Moon in Virgo-and this spread was in my mind-as if I had dreamed it up-which I do not remember doing…I played with it for awhile, and decided that it was perfect. I give it to you, dear readers, that you might play and prophet from it!

 

The Sovereignty Spread

The Sovereignty Spread is inspired by the Arthurian tale of Sir Gawain and Lady Ragnell and the variant on that tale told by Chaucer’s Wyfe of Bath. In short, within the story a riddle is posed to a Knight of the Roundtable (or in some cases King Arthur himself)-what is it that a woman desires most? He must provide the answer or forfeit his life. The Answer? Sovereignty.

Sovereignty derives from the Latin word super meaning “above.” To be sovereign is to have a bird’s eye view of the situation-to see one’s place clearly, to be blessed and in turn to be a blessing to others.

This spread is predicated on the truth that in assessing a situation we cannot accurately and 100% of the time detect how someone else is feeling-nor can we truly and fundamentally change another person (most of the time). But we DO have control over ourselves, our feelings, our thoughts, and we can change our own attitudes to improve a situation-thus gaining Sovereignty over our lives.

And…although the story specifically talks about women-Sovereignty and the self-knowledge and self-authority it implies, is something we ALL need.

I decided to demonstrate this spread by asking about the Milagro Roots Phone Fest-I was feeling stressed out about the event on the morning of the 25th so I asked:

What’s the deal with the phone fests? Are they a good idea? A bad idea? Worth it? Not worth it? Please explain!

The Spread:

We work with 9 cards-9 is a magical number and distills into 3-another magical number.

Begin by shuffling the cards with your question in mind.

Fan the cards out and cut the fan into three stacks.

Pull three cards from the bottom or top of each stack.

The first stack yields cards 1, 2, 3

The second stack yields cards 7, 8, 9

The final stack yields cards 4, 5, 6

Reading the Spread:

Card #1: How Am I Holding the Situation? This card gets down to your fundamental attitude about the situation-your thoughts, feelings, fears, desires-all of it.

For me the card is the Devil-and that is accurate. I had been sick all weekend, work was piling up on Monday, I had final touches to put on the phone fest and I was feeling very chained down to the whole thing-as if I had no freedom as if was enslaves to this idea and not at all sure that was where I wanted to be. Honestly just pulling this card really helped me-with an attitude represented by the Devil no wonder I was second guessing myself!

Card #2: What is the block? This card outlines what the major blocks or obstacles between you and success.

My card was Death (the Devil and Death as my first two cards, awesome.)  Reflecting I realized that the Death card was quite apt. One of the reasons that the phone fest was nagging on me was because it was nested in a whole host of other half finished projects. The Death card was telling me I was neglecting my duty to kill off one project-finish it completely-before moving on to the next. No multitasking-uni-tasking!

Card #3: What is the blessing in this situation-often this is really what is the blessing I am ignoring or not seeing in the situation?

My card was the 4 of Wands-and how apt! The Four of Wands celebrates union, collaboration, and community support. The Blessing are the clients and people who show up for a phone fest-the folks who want to listen and learn-all of you guys-you are the blessing.

Card #4: What is a hidden factor effecting this situation that I need to be aware of?

For me this card is signified by the Hanged Man. I could take a very lofty interpretation of this and say-well I have sacrificed parts of myself for knowledge before-I should reflect on those experiences and mine them for information on how to rock this project. OR I could be very practical and say-this is one of your hang ups Bri-you always take on too much and have a habit of not finishing one thing before moving onto another one-check yourself girl!

Card #5: What is the most likely outcome if I do nothing? The Sun-the phone fest will still rock, you will still help people, settle down and open up to your own radiance. Not too shabby.

Card #6: What will be revealed in the near future that might help me? This can also be a who question-as in what person (or spirit or ally) will show up to assist?

The card I received is the Page of Coins-this could mean a specific person, like my amazing VA, or it could mean something more abstract-like a really sweet email from a student or client telling me how much they love the phone fests and how awesome they-thereby encouraging me to keep moving forward-in an earth manner that finishes one thing before starting something else!

Card #7: What specific attitude do I need to change & how should I do it? 

For me this is symbolized by the 4 of Swords-as a Air sun sign the first thing the earthy structure of the number four says to me is…ground it baby. Ground these ideas-give them structure and presence. This card resonates directly with the Death card I pulled as my obstacle-it features a coffin for heaven’s sake! The attitude to change is the flighty, ungrounded, anxiety that comes from doing too much at once. The antidote is to finish one thing off completely and put it in its proper resting place (in this case a PDF file program) before turning your attention to the next thing. Words to live by.

Card #8: If things go as well as they can what is the Best outcome I can expect to achieve from this situation? The Magician-more magic, alchemy, union and the creation of something greater than ourselves. Pretty damn good-committing to the phone fests is looking better and better.

Card #9: What Ritual act is required to achieve the Exalted Outcome?-What do I need to do, say, think, pray, believe, in order to achieve the exalted outcome?

Here I got the 10 of Cups-this is a card that for me is about home, family, spending time with my kiddo, and spending time blessing the land around my home, also a time of connecting with my beloved-basically the message here was-don’t work so damn hard-you are chaining yourself to the Devil, yo! Go outside, play, have fun, listen to good music, plant some stuff, build an altar to honor the full moon–chill-ax.  Love it when that is my ritual prescription!

Feel free to use this for yourself or clients-if you do I only ask that you give proper attribution to it by citing me and this blog post!

What is Root Magic?

January 10, 2013 by Miss Bri
Posted in Divination, Spirituality, tarot, Things that are true, Working the Roots

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I thought it would be a good idea to say hello to some of the new readers of the blog by writing about one of the terms that I use frequently on my site-and that I still consider to be one of the best descriptors of what it is that I do-Root Magic.

Now you can probably tell from the name of my business that I like roots. A root fixes a plant in place providing nourishment to all the parts of the plant in order for the rest of the plant to grow, spread out, and flourish exactly as it is meant to do. I believe our own roots-our family traditions, ancestor knowledge, and folk ways do the same things for us in our lives and so first and foremost root magic pays attention to those things-the traditions you grew up with, the beliefs and little rituals that you learned from your kind of crazy aunt or your loquacious grandmother. In some cases family ties are not so tight but individuals still feel pulled to a specific tradition or set of beliefs-often that is ancestral knowledge pulsing through your blood and should be heeded.

Root magic could also be called folk magic, green magic, or “low” magic. It is not so much a system as a tapestry that weaves together faerie tales, folk lore, superstitions, divination techniques and ritual work to create a sumptuous image. Root magic is a kind of folk magic because it is derived from specific folk traditions-these vary culture to culture and religion to religion-but there are thematic beliefs that hold the same across cultures and these are often emphasized in root magic. Green magic and Root Magic are often confused because they both make use of the natural world-herbs, roots, leaves, flowers, berries, zoological curios, and every day items like honey, salt, pepper, nails, and pins make up much of the materia magica in this style of ritual work. A root woman such as myself is most happy when she can cultivate, grow, and harvest many of the plants and herbs used in ritual work-I do this and it makes my work deeper and closer to the bone of things. Just as alchemy gave birth to chemistry, root magic developed in hand with early medical techniques which focused on the use of herbs and roots in treatment and which of course gave rise to medicine as its practiced today. Root magic might be referred to as “low” magic because it concerns itself with practical concerns regarding love, money, marriages, babies, and protection and as a system it calls upon the power of the natural world as opposed to “high” forms of magic which concern themselves with angels, demons, and the formation of relationships within the celestial and subterranean realms. I use root magic in a general sense-it has become for me a kind of umbrella term that encompasses several different styles of folk magic that I practice, including Southern-style Hoodoo or Conjure and British-Scottish Cunning Arts. Every tradition is cohesive in and of itself-and usually you can find areas where traditions overlap and/or have the same take on a subject, however its crucial to understand the dangers of cultural appropriation-site and credit what you learn and who you have learned it from and of course do not share things you are not permitted to share!

Finally, root magic pays special attention to place-as in the specific place where you live, right now. The weather patterns, local flora and fauna, local land wights, and the beings that share your little physical place on earth with you are often your greatest teachers. For this reason, in my own experience and in the experience of some of my colleagues root magic can open the way to the otherworld, faerie land, where local spirits may be found flourishing and thriving by those with eyes to see and ears to hear. Root magic is earthy-much of the ritual work is done in the kitchen or in the garden, stories are told over fires and at family gatherings-the lines between myth, reality, and magic are thin indeed and the able magician dances through them gleefully. It is important to note that Root magic is a practice and really, a lifestyle, as opposed to a religion. Its equally important to understand that many fantastic root women and cunning men practice the faith of their day and family (often, if European in origin, that means Christianity or Judaism) while subscribing to beliefs that now are often labeled “pagan”.

Can you learn root magic? Of course! The best place to start in my opinion is with your own bloodline-what traditions, stories, faerie tales, and beliefs are found among your people and/or among the lands in which you live and love? Usually talking to older people and children can provide really good information-or at least leads on these questions. Two other excellent places to look are traditional healing/medicinal remedies and food recipes/traditions that have been handed down. If you are interested in an eclectic approach to root magic and spirituality then you may also want to check out The Miracle Tree Sessions-my year and a day training program!

Holiday Gift Giving Guide Part Two-My fave Digital Prezzies

December 12, 2012 by Miss Bri
Posted in Spirituality, tarot, Things that are true, Working the Roots

Last week I gave you 10 easy+actionable steps to make gift giving more joyful and less awful. This week I want to let you in on a few gift ideas that are not only gorgeous and infinitely useful-they can also save you if you are running out of time for that special someone…

You know how it goes-holiday cards are piled up neatly, gifts have been wrapped, and then you realize you forgot about your cousin Sara or your husband’s sister. The thought of going to the post office has you breaking out in hives. The thought of not doing anything makes you feel like a step or two beneath The Grinch.

Or…maybe you have someone that just eludes your best gift giving intentions-they have everything, or they are super picky, or you have no idea what they are into…

Never fear!

I’m happy to let you in on a little secret…there are magical, wonderful, luxe, digital gifts that are a point and click away. You can purchase them instantly and send them to your peeps no matter how many miles are in between you.

Best part? Many of these goodies are under $20 (That’s TWENTY DOLLARS people!) So if you are at a loss-consider these…

Alexandra Franzen-writer+creative minx has a bevy of very hip products that are also quite useful (I know because I’ve contributed!) Whether you know someone who is finally ready to come out of whatever closet they might be in, an aspiring (She)ro who needs a great template for connecting to big wig donors, or an entrepreneur who desires a gracious way to tell her friends and family that, uh, her website is up and her dream has taken wing, Alexandra has the script you need.

Leonie Dawson makes beautiful guidebooks for your biz+life-they are juicy-colorful and chock full of really awesome ideas, rituals, and prompts. You can snag both of them here for under $20

Kiva Rose and her crew put out a gorgeous quarterly journal-Plant Healer Magazine that is hands down the best periodical on all elements of herbalism-I should know as I have written for it!

Or maybe you need something a bit more luxe for your peeps? 

Danielle LaPorte’s Desire Map is officially here-its amazing and if you don’t already have it, you should.

For the aspiring writer who is *this* close to birthing a book baby-consider Your Big, Beautiful Book Plan-a collaborative project between Danielle and Linda Silversten.

Leonie Dawson also faciliates one of the most beautiful communal online spaces I have seen-the Goddess Circle. Its a luscious, supportive, and hilarious group for women…from around the world and from many different paths. A year of support for $200—like, so much cheaper than therapy!

Dyana Valentine will dream in color+texture for YOU (or someone you love)-a WUKE is one of the most amazing gifts ever.

Heidi Rose is an astrologer full of love+insight+wisdom-snag a session or buy a bundle and save-nothing says love like the gift of the heavens!

And of course…you can also get an hour long intuitive reading with me and gift it to a friend-its an investment in their future after all!

 

Shuffling the Deck: Getting Upside Down with the Hanged Man

October 10, 2012 by Miss Bri
Posted in Shuffling the Deck: Tarot Musings, Spirituality, tarot

Two weeks ago I rolled into yoga class on for my Thursday evening level 1-2. It was a day like any other day for me-I had a roster full of awesome clients I had spoken to, had done a wee bit of ritual magic and crafting and was ready to wind the week down starting with this class. I started practicing yoga over 10 years ago when I was in college-I have had periods where I attended religiously and periods where I have not but I have found a studio in my ‘hood that I adore so I am now a weekly fixture. So there I am with my hot pink mat and old yoga pants-kind of thinking to myself that I don’t want to be here. Its going to be another frustrating class of trying to do something that my body doesn’t really want to do. I ignore this internal dialogue (its always present) and get on with the getting on. My teacher starts talking about the shifts in perception that are possible in yoga and my mind drifts immediately to the Hanged Man card and then I know that we will be doing inversions before class is over. Slump. I can rock out a half way decent shoulder stand but I know that head stand is just not going to happen for me-it never does, yet tonight as always I will try. We get to the last 15 minutes of class. Its time for head stand, I am pretty warmed up but not expecting anything exciting to happen. I fold down into dolphin pose, kick up, and hey…there is one leg up in the air and now here’s another! I’m in headstand! It requires effort but less that I thought, what it really required like my yoga teacher said, was a perspectival shift. A movement from holding the pose (and myself) in fear to holding it in love. One small pose, and I know there will be times where its not as easy as it was that Thursday, but it has huge ramifications for how I hold my yoga (and all devotional) practices.

 

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So…how does all this relate to the Tarot card the Hanged Man?

 

Looking at the card we see…

  • A young man hangs from a tree, his left leg tied to a T shaped branch his right leg bent at the knee with his right foot positioned behind his left thigh.
  • His arms are both behind his back and I get the sense from looking at the card that his hands are tied.
  • A halo of light surrounds his head, his face looks serene, and the colors of the card are vibrant.

One of the first things that hits me about the Hanged Man card is how it presents an immediate paradox. Scary title, bright & pretty colors. Scary position held with relative ease and peace. Then of course curiosity sets in—why? Why is this guy hanging upside down? Why does he have a halo around his head? Obviously he knows something I don’t! My saying for the Hanged Man is: knowledge, wisdom, and power gained through sacrifice.

 

In Divination I have been taught 6 distinct ways to interpret this card:

1.) In its upright position it indicates that a shift in perspective is required before the situation can move forward. I often refer to this as a 180 turn around-you thought it was one way but after you see it a bit more clearly you discover its actually a different thing all together.

2.) Also in an upright position it can indicate initiation, the decision to be initiated, Shamanic journeying into the other words (and often the underworld), and/or the endeavor of magical training.

3.) Reversed or upright the card may indicate that self sacrifice is required. This is certainly the case in the second interpretation where sacrifice is the payment the initiate makes, but it is also usually required in the first case as well—usually in order to shift our perceptions we must make an offering of the part of ourselves that refuses to be moved from our current position.

4.) In a reversed position it may also indicate that the querant or someone related to them needs to reconsider their stance or position on a certain issue.

5.) Finally, in a few cases when reversed this card can indicate that the time of initiation is over and the initiate has emerged with wisdom gained through experience and sacrifice.

6.) My uber practical side comes out sometimes when I get this card for a client-we talk about what their “hang ups” are and why they keep standing in the way!

Would you like to know what the Hanged Man tarot card, and the stories of Jacob’s Ladder, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Norse God Odin and his World Tree Yggdrasil have in common?

They are all examples of the Shamanic experiences with the axis mundi or World Tree. In a nutshell the central figure of the Hanged Man card is the Shaman-and the magic he is learning is not the elite, higher ritual magic we find present in the Magician card-rather it is the wilder magic of the shaman or astral traveler who possesses the skill and ability to go from our world into the worlds above and the worlds below-to seek out knowledge and wisdom and bring it back for the betterment of our land and community. This is the esoteric truth behind the Hanged Man card-the shift is perception occurs because the initiate has agreed to sacrifice a part of himself and in return gains the ability to pierce the veil and travel between the worlds.

While that sounds all mystical and magically high minded, the truth is that we all participate in this process to some degree. Whether we are striving to see another person’s position in a disagreement or relinquishing a long held yet severely self limiting belief we are engaging in our own process of moving between the worlds that we know best into worlds that are less familiar. Like Ishtar descending into the underworld to encounter her skull sister and rescue her beloved, we must leave cherished parts of ourselves behind to emerge different, new, and more full complete in our knowledge and wisdom that we were before.

Practice makes Perfect! Spend some time with the Hanged Man by considering these questions:

1.) What are your hang ups? What pushes your buttons like nothing else-is this a belief/feeling/experience that is vital to you or is it limiting you now?

2.) Have you ever shifted your perspective in a radical way before? Tell me about it!

3.) What part(s) of yourself will you let go of for deeper knowledge and wisdom?

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Shuffling the Deck: Justice & How to Bring it on Home

September 5, 2012 by Miss Bri
Posted in Shuffling the Deck: Tarot Musings, Spirituality, tarot, Working the Roots

We have turned on Fortune’s Wheel and now we are delivered to Justice-but what kind of Justice does this card represent?

It is the Justice of God, the universe, mankind? Do we have a card that represents social justice or the great laws of reciprocity and balance? If I had to give you a sentence for this card it would be:

Actions have consequences.

Or, to put it more bluntly,

“What goes around, comes around.”

 

The main images for Justice from the RWS card are:

  • A seated figure in a throne-the figure looks androgynous to me but is usually described as being male-he/she is garbed in rich red robes with green accents which cover the entire body save for the tip of the right foot.
  • Two stone pillars are on either side of the figure & throne, reminding us of the same schema from the High Priestess card
  • In the figure’s left hand is a balance while in the right hand is a sword help upright.
  • A purple veil hangs behind the throne of Justice and above it we see a peek of sunny yellow sky.
 

The first attributes I notice when I look at this card are the two pillars and the sword & balance that the seated figure holds. In Kabbalah there are three pillars supporting the World Tree. The right hand pillar is marked as Severity and the left hand as Mercy.

In order for Justice to be served there must be equanimity between severity through punishment and mercy through reward. Some situations call for a sharp sword to cut through bull and others call for the measured weighing of the balance.

In Divination I have been taught four distinct ways to interpret this card:

1.) Upright: Justice may indicate the need to weigh your actions carefully at this time, remembering that you will reap whatever you sow. Now is the time to gauge a situation, person, or relationship with objectivity, clarity, wisdom and balance.

2.) Justice either upright or reversed can signify court cases or legal dealings. If the querent is asking about a legal case and Justice appears upright then chances are good that the case will be resolved in the querent’s favor. If the card appears reverse then the case may not be resolved to the querent’s satisfaction and/or there may be long delays with the legal process.

3.) Justice in reverse can also indicate that a situation the querent is in will not be resolved fairly and/or the querent has made decisions in the recent past without fully measuring the possible consequences. In both cases further ritual remediation might be helpful and advised.

4.) The Justice card may signify Sun sign Libra so getting familiar with that sign can assist our interpretation of the card. As a Libra myself I can lay out the good points and not so good points of the sign pretty quickly. On the positive side Librans are diplomatic, fair, objective, social, and likable. On the negative side Librans can be picky, indecisive, shallow, vain, and self-indulgent. The card might represent any number of these qualities OR it might represent an individual in the situation whose astrological sign is Libra or has a strong Libran influence in their natal chart.

 

As the Wheel of Fortune reminds us of the dance between Fate and Free Will, Justice brings to our attention the fact that our actions have consequences. In the past justice was considered a cardinal virtue that every had a share in. Oftentimes today Justice is a notion that brings to mind court rooms and law offices. This makes sense because one of the Goddesses that Justice is most heavily associated with is the Greek Goddess Athena-who created the very first juried trial. Read about it in Aeschylus’ Oresteia trilogy, specifically the final work of the trilogy, the Eummenides-VERY good and highly recommended. The Oresteia not only shows us the first trial-it juxtaposes the wild ethos of nature and Dark Goddesses (The Eummenides) with the Olympian Gods and Goddesses and their new concept of justice.

In recent times we have become ever more aware of “voting with our pocketbook” and now understand that creating a fairer, more just, society begins with creating a fairer local community. Supporting local craftsmen, farmers, and artisans is a wonderful way to bring a little more justice into your local network-for as the scales remind us-everything is in relation (though not relative) to everything else. Its also important when this card comes up to make sure that the querent (whether its yourself or a client) is objective when looking at the card. For most of us the knee jerk reaction is to assume that whatever we want is what is most just-but in reality this is sometimes not the case.

Practice makes perfect! Explore the deeper meanings of Justice by considering and answering one or more of the questions below-post your answers in the comments section of this post!

1.) A Just world would look like…imagine what justice at play in the world would look like to you-go wild!

2.) Scales and Sword-when is it appropriate to be severe & when should a situation or person be greeted with mercy & compassion?

3.) Name 5 ways that you can help create a more Just society-I encourage you to begin with your local community-what can you do to make sure that everyone in the community has enough of what they need?

4.) BONUS for the philosopher or policy wonk in you! Justice is a virtue that is found above and beyond the laws of any land. At best laws are signposts pointing the way to Justice. What do YOU think the relationship to law and justice is in 21st century America?

 

image courtesy of mr. smashy

Pay What You Can Day-December 2011

December 5, 2011 by Miss Bri
Posted in tarot, Working the Roots

image courtesy of mr. smashy

 

Hola peeps! So last week in the newsletter I mentioned that I needed two willing volunteers to help me out by volunteering to have me read for them and post said readings on my site-and then a crazy thing happened-my inbox got flooded with the willing! I took people on a first come, first serve basis (and was honored when one of the first comers was a mentor and friend near and dear to me) but I was also thrilled to see so many folks clamoring for a reading. And hey! Its December-we celebrate the birth of the sun, the birth of Jesus, the return of the light, snow (in some places), sparkles, elves, reindeer, shamanic explorations–all good things. I have been very blessed this year and I want to give a little something back. So I am happy to announce December’s Pay What You Can Day! All proceeds are going to the magick4terri benefit. I am also auctioning off a half hour consultation there and really awesome writers like Neil Gaiman & artists like Brian Froud are also auctioning off goods so go check it out!

 

December’s Pay What You Can Day

When: Thursday, December 15, 2011-There are FOUR slots available and they will all go!

What: One Half Hour Consultation & root magic ritual prescriptions

Why: ’Cause I can. And I like y’all. And Terri Windling’s blog rocks my world so I want to help a sister out.

How much: Donations can start at $10 and go up, up, and up! This is supposed to be a gift to you as well as to this month’s charitable cause-so be generous & honor your financial situation-whatever it may be.

Want to sign up? Email me and let me know! I fill these on a first come, first serve basis!

Special Bonus! I am going to break tradition for this one and read with Lenormand cards in the grand tableau style-which means that I will use ALL of the cards in the deck! Whee!

Don’t need a reading at the moment? Share with your friends and have a very merry!