Posts Tagged ‘Tarot’

News & Submissions 9/4/2012

Tuesday, September 4th, 2012

Arts & Entertainment:

New movie in production based on Rose Hall’s ‘White Witch’ legend
Albany pagans looking for future films related to witchcraft and the occult will definitely have some entertainment to look forward to next year. According to an article appearing in the “Jamaica Observer,” a new thriller film called, “The Rebellion: The Legend of the White Witch of Rose Hall,” is slated for production and release in 2013. The movie will be produced by Raquel Roxanne, directed by Rodrigo Retamoza III, and written by Nadine Barnett Cosby. The film will be based on the famed and haunted history at the Rose Hall Great House in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Read full story from examiner.com

The Sims 3 Supernatural Review: Witches, Fairies, Werewolves And Magic
With vampires, bots, imaginary friends and other strange beings brought into our Sims 3 communities thanks to previously released expansion packs for EA’s game, it’s hard to imagine things getting any weirder around the neighborhood. And then comes Supernatural, an expansion pack that unleashes a few new types of beings into the world, giving the player new ways to play the game, and new powers for their Sims to use and abuse at their discretion.

The following review contains spoilers, details and screenshots from the Sims 3: Supernatural expansion pack. It is based on game-play with a Macbook Pro with OS X Mountain Lion. This game is an expansion pack and requires the base game in order to play. Read full story from cinemablend.com

Education:

Aliens, witchcraft and zombie philosophers: 8 unconventional courses at University of Michigan
University of Michigan sparked a national debate nine years ago when the school offered a course titled “How to be Gay.”Last year, Michigan State University raised eyebrows when it offered a course called “Surviving the Coming Zombie Apocalypse.”

This fall, U-M doesn’t seem to be offering courses quite as controversial or off-the-wall as those two, but the school definitely has a few oddballs sprinkled in its course packet.

The unconventional offerings include courses that explore whether aliens really exist, whether Robin Hood was real and what famous thinkers would be saying and doing if they were alive today. Read full story from annarbor.com

Lifestyle:

Beyond the surreal
A career Wicca, Ipsita Roy Chakraverti is on a mission to dispel myths surrounding witchcraft and save the lives of women victimised by superstitionFor Ipsita Roy Chakraverti, the world of the paranormal and metaphysical is not some make-believe hocus pocus, or the stuff that scripts sensational television drama. It is her life’s work. A popular Wicca, or witch in lay terms, she not only administers Wiccan ways of healing, but has also made it her mission to travel to remote villages across India, especially where innocent women are declared witches and then murdered, to dispel myths about “witchcraft”. Read full story from thehindu.com

News:

Ghana witch camps: Widows’ lives in exile
When misfortune hits a village, there is a tendency in some countries to suspect a “witch” of casting a spell. In Ghana, outspoken or eccentric women may also be accused of witchcraft – and forced to live out their days together in witch camps.A rusty motorbike speeds across the vast dry savannah of Ghana’s impoverished northern region, leaving a cloud of reddish dust in its wake. Arriving at a small group of round thatched huts, the young motorcyclist helps his old mother to dismount to begin her new life in exile.

Frail 82-year-old Samata Abdulai has arrived at the village of Kukuo, one of Ghana’s six witch camps, where women accused of witchcraft seek refuge from beating, torture or lynching. Read full story from standardmedia.co.ke

Witch hunts targeted by grassroots women’s groups
EAST LANSING, Mich. — Witch hunts are common and sometimes deadly in the tea plantations of Jalpaiguri, India. But a surprising source – small groups of women who meet through a government loan program – has achieved some success in preventing the longstanding practice, a Michigan State University sociologist found.Soma Chaudhuri spent seven months studying witch hunts in her native India and discovered that the economic self-help groups have made it part of their agenda to defend their fellow plantation workers against the hunts.

“It’s a grassroots movement and it’s helping provide a voice to women who wouldn’t otherwise have one,” said Chaudhuri, assistant professor of sociology and criminal justice. “I can see the potential for this developing into a social movement, but it’s not going to happen in a day because an entire culture needs to be changed.”  Read full story from news.msu.edu

Media:

Christians take discrimination cases to Europe’s top court (Source: CNN)

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Feel free to leave comments regarding the articles posted.

If you’re interested in guest blogging or would like to submit an article or event, contact me at pagansworld.org@gmail.com.

Thanks for stopping by!

Lisa

News & Submissions 8/07/2012

Tuesday, August 7th, 2012

Archaeology:

A ROMAN SHIPWRECK IN THE ANCIENT PORT OF ANTIBES
A team of archaeologists from Inrap have uncovered a Roman shipwreck in southern France, in what was once part of the bustling ancient port of Antibes.

Antibes was known as Antipolis, a Greek colony originally founded by the Phoenicians of Massalia. The date of its origin is uncertain, but situated on the coast of Provence, Antipolis occupied a privileged position on the sea routes linking Marseilles to the Italian coast and contained a natural harbour – Anse Saint-Roch – which protected shipping from prevailing winds. Read full story from pasthorizonspr.com

News:

Possible da Vinci painting found in Scottish farmhouse; could be worth $150 million
Fiona McLaren, 59, had kept an old painting in her Scottish farmhouse for decades. She reportedly didn’t think much of the painting, which had been given to her as a gift by her father. But after she finally decided to have the painting appraised, some experts are speculating that it may in fact be a 500-year-old painting by Leonardo da Vinci and potentially worth more than $150 million. Read full story from yahoo.com

Paranormal:

Witch Claims That The Loch Ness Monster Is Actually A Ghost
Kevin Carlyon, a ‘white witch’ and official ‘Protector of Loch Ness and the Loch Ness Creature’ is planning on holding a mass seance at the famous Scottish site in order to make contact with ‘Nessie’ who he believes is a ghost.

Carylon named himself as protector of Nessie after he cast a spell over Loch Ness which would prevent Swedish ‘monster hunter’ Jan Sundberg from capturing the mythical beast when he visited the Loch in 2001 on a Nessie hunt. The pair have since traded insults via email in an ongoing feud which lead to Sundberg threatening to cut Carylon an extra “asshole” and shove his head through it. Carylon responded by outing Sundberg as a convicted child molester. Read full story from themorningstarr.co.uk

Former owner of haunted Oaklands Mansion identifies himself in EVP
Oaklands Mansion in Laurel, MD, dates from 1732 and was once a prosperous plantation on over 1,000 acres. Through the years, it’s sheltered a number of different families. The Staggers family purchased it in the 1920’s and it’s still owned by a descendant today.

This once magnificent mansion, which now sits in the middle of a modern housing development in Price George’s County, has fallen into disrepair. Restoring it to its former glory is a labor of love for the owner, who has boyhood memories of visiting the house. His memories include imported Persian rugs on the gleaming hardwood floors, the elegant flocked velvet wallpaper and crystal chandelier in the dining room, and the large working fireplaces. In its day, Oaklands Mansion must have epitomized the opulent lifestyle of the southern aristocracy. Read full story from Examiner.com

Media:

Explaining Sikhism (Source: CNN)

Pat Robertson Blames Atheists for Sikh Temple Shooting (Source: YouTube – RWWblog)

Close-knit mosque community shaken by fire (Source: CNN)

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Feel free to leave comments regarding the articles posted.

If you’re interested in guest blogging or would like to submit an article or event, contact me at pagansworld.org@gmail.com.

Thanks for stopping by! Well wishes to you all, have a great day!

Lisa

News & Submissions 1/10/2012

Tuesday, January 10th, 2012

Arts & Entertainment:

Warner Bros. to adapt ‘Discovery of Witches’
David Auburn is looking for witches and vampires and has come on to adapt Deborah Harkness’ “A Discovery of Witches” for Warner Bros. and producers Denise Di Novi and Allison Greenspan.

Studio acquired the property last summer. Story centers on a reluctant witch and a 1,500-year-old vampire. The witch — a direct descendant of the first woman executed in the Salem Witch trials — accidentally unlocks an enchanted manuscript and finds herself in a race to prevent an interspecies war.

David Auburn is looking for witches and vampires and has come on to adapt Deborah Harkness’ “A Discovery of Witches” for Warner Bros. and producers Denise Di Novi and Allison Greenspan.Studio acquired the property last summer. Story centers on a reluctant witch and a 1,500-year-old vampire. The witch — a direct descendant of the first woman executed in the Salem Witch trials — accidentally unlocks an enchanted manuscript and finds herself in a race to prevent an interspecies war. Read full story from varitey.com

Racing the Rez Documentary Reaches KickStarter Goal!
On New Year’s Eve we posted a story about the incredible documentary Racing the Rez, which was $11,215 shy of of the $15,000 at the time.  A scant nine days later, director Brian Truglio and his team have reached their goal.  There are still three days of fundraising left for the film team to help build up their outreach program.  We reached out to Brian to see how he was feeling, and what comes next.  Here was his response:

The money, of course is, important, and the reason the KickStarter campaign exists, but I’m most blown away by all the support and excitement around the project.  The running community is really something special and unique.  Having Christopher McDougall‘s support means the world to me, it’s unbelievable that a writer and runner who is one of my heroes is supporting Racing the Rez.” Read full story from indiancounrytodaymedianetwork.com

Health:

How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body
On a cold Saturday in early 2009, Glenn Black, a yoga teacher of nearly four decades, whose devoted clientele includes a number of celebrities and prominent gurus, was giving a master class at Sankalpah Yoga in Manhattan. Black is, in many ways, a classic yogi: he studied in Pune, India, at the institute founded by the legendary B. K. S. Iyengar, and spent years in solitude and meditation. He now lives in Rhinebeck, N.Y., and often teaches at the nearby Omega Institute, a New Age emporium spread over nearly 200 acres of woods and gardens. He is known for his rigor and his down-to-earth style. But this was not why I sought him out: Black, I’d been told, was the person to speak with if you wanted to know not about the virtues of yoga but rather about the damage it could do. Many of his regular clients came to him for bodywork or rehabilitation following yoga injuries. This was the situation I found myself in. In my 30s, I had somehow managed to rupture a disk in my lower back and found I could prevent bouts of pain with a selection of yoga postures and abdominal exercises. Then, in 2007, while doing the extended-side-angle pose, a posture hailed as a cure for many diseases, my back gave way. With it went my belief, naïve in retrospect, that yoga was a source only of healing and never harm. Read full story from nytimes.com

News:

Muslim group’s anti-gay leaflet was hate crime, court told
A group of Muslim men publicly distributed a leaflet calling for gay people to be given the death sentence, a court has heard.The pamphlet was entitled The Death Penalty? and showed an image of a mannequin hanging from a noose. It said sodomy was a sin that led to hell, that it used to be punished by hanging, and that people practising and allowing homosexuality would suffer, the court was told.

Five men – Ihjaz Ali, 42, Mehboob Hussain, 45, Umar Javed, 38, Razwan Javed, 27, and Kabir Ahmed, 28, all of Derby – are alleged to have handed out the document outside and near the Jamia mosque in in the city in July 2010, and to have put it through people’s letterboxes in the neighbourhood.

They are accused of stirring up hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation, in the first prosecution of its kind since legislation came into force in March 2010. They deny the charges. Read full story from guardian.co.uk

Sister weeps at ‘witch’ death trial
A young woman broke down in court as she recalled events which led to her teenage brother being tortured to death in east London for being a “witch”.Kelly Bamu, 21, wept as she came face-to-face with her sister Magalie, and her partner Eric Bikubi, both 28, who are accused of killing Kristy, 15.

He was found drowned in a bath at the couple’s flat in Forest Gate on Christmas Day 2010 after being tortured when he was accused of witchcraft by Magalie and Bikubi. The couple deny murder and assaulting Kelly and a younger sister, who were also accused of influencing another child of the family with witchcraft.

The prosecution says Kristy and his two brothers and two sisters were beaten and terrorised for four days. The Old Bailey was told Kristy was tortured with “an armoury of weapons” and had 101 injuries before being placed in the bath of water where he “begged to die”. Read full story from google.com

Media:

Christians Have the Right to Bully Gay Kids (Source: YouTube – OnKneesforjesus4)

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Feel free to leave comments regarding the articles posted.

If you’re interested in guest blogging or would like to submit an article or event, contact me at pagansworld.org@gmail.com.

Thanks for stopping by! Well wishes to you all, have a great day!

Lisa

News & Submissions 8/30/2011

Tuesday, August 30th, 2011

Arts & Entertainment:

New Creepier ‘Apollo 18′ Trailer (Source: Screen Junkies)

Events:

Discover Cherokee Nation at 59th Holiday
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — The 59th Cherokee National Holiday, Sept. 2–4 in Tahlequah, Okla., offers visitors a chance to enjoy activities that are sure to please the entire family. Events such as the powwow and the downtown parade are perennial favorites. But there are other enticing events Holiday guests may not be as familiar with waiting to be discovered. Come learn a few phrases in the Cherokee language or take a tour of some of Oklahoma’s most historic structures. Or just kick back, relax and listen to some favorite sounds.

Eclectic Burning Man festival celebrates 25th anniversary
SANTA FE, New Mexico — Starting on Monday tens of thousands of people will descend on a great expanse of Nevada desert to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Burning Man, a gathering of free spirits, artists, entrepreneurs — and anyone else who managed to get a ticket.

News:

Psychic uses court as medium to fight Alexandria’s ban on fortunetelling
Rachel Adams wants to use the talent she believes she was born to share.

Adams, a mother of two who recently moved to Alexandria with her husband, has opened a fortunetelling business on Jackson Street Extension, Readings by Faith, where she hopes to use her psychic, fortunetelling and Tarot card-reading abilities.

There’s just one problem. Fortunetelling is forbidden in the city’s code of ordinances. Read full story from thetowntalk.com

Witch Hunting in Assam – Capital of Black magic to national shame
The history of witch hunting dates back to several hundred years. During the period of 14th to 17th century, persecution of witches had led to the torture and murder of thousands of innocent women and men, even children. Jeanne d’Arc (Joan of Arc) was burned alive at the stake for heresy at the age of 19 on May 30, 1431. It was believed that she was called to save France from England by supernatural voices when she was just 16. Her victories were legendary, but eventually she was captured and executed. That was history, but the sad part is that such practices still prevail in the world, – in different names, customs and beliefs. Whether it is Joan of Arc from history chapters or Hermione from a Hollywood blockbuster series Harry Potter, people still secretly believe in such practices,- some call it Voodoo, some call it witchcraft and some calls it Black magic. Read full story from timesofassam.com

Polygamist Leader Warren Jeffs Has Pneumonia, Is Not In Coma
Jailed polygamist leader Warren Jeffs is suffering from pneumonia and is not in a medically-induced coma, as has been widely reported, a source familiar with Jeffs’ condition tells NPR.

According to the source, the 55-year-old leader of the nation’s largest polygamist group was sedated, pharmacologically paralyzed and placed on a ventilator as part of his treatment for pneumonia. The source spoke on the condition of anonymity due to federal medical privacy laws that do not permit disclosure of medical treatment without permission of the patient or family. Read full story from npr.org

In Libya: ‘Biggest Fear’ Is Gadhafi Disappearing, Continuing To Fight
The news that ousted Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi’s wife and three of his children have fled to Algeria underscores “the biggest fear” for many Libyans, NPR’s Lourdes Garcia-Navarro reports from Tripoli — that Gadhafi will elude capture and that his forces will continue to battle for weeks, months or perhaps years. Read full story from npr.org

Religion:

Christian wants atheist registry
Florida pastor, Michael Stahl has suggested that an organization and website be created that would keep track of known atheists. The website would list by city and state all atheists with their photos and some personal information such as place of business. It would not include a physical address which seems to contradict one of the main purposes of the site.

Pastor Mike compares atheists to “convicted sex offenders , ex-convicts , terrorist cells , hate groups like the KKK , skinheads , radical Islamists , etc..”  He claims that the purpose of this organization/website called, “The Christian National Registry of Atheists” is to inform the public of known atheists so that they can be proselytize to and their businesses can be boycotted. Read full story from examiner.com

Muslim festival brings rare joy for some this year, but not all cheer
(CNN) — For Christians, the wild celebrations of Mardi Gras come before the solemnity of Lent, a last chance to celebrate before the abstinence marking the 40 days to Good Friday and Easter.

Muslims do it the other way around. First comes the month of daytime fasting during Ramadan, then the eruption of joy called Eid al-Fitr, marked with gift-giving, new clothes, donations to the poor, feasting and festivities.

But as the sighting of a crescent moon officially marked the beginning of Eid on Tuesday, feelings are decidedly mixed for many Muslims. Read full story  from cnn.com

Media:

TRENDING: Bachmann points to ‘great sense of humor’ after God joke (Source: CNN)
(CNN) – Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann defended her recent comments about natural disasters in Washington, D.C. serving as messages from God, saying she was joking.

Texas pastor opens drive-in church (Source: CNN)

Blogspot:

Feel free to leave comments regarding the articles posted.

If you’re interested in guest blogging or would like to submit an article or event, contact me at pagansworld.org@gmail.com.

Thanks for stopping by! Well wishes to you all, have a great day!

Lisa

Tarot Journal – The Major Arcana As A Journey

Wednesday, August 24th, 2011

The Major Arcana As A Journey

Lesson 3: Intuitive Tarot Certification Course

Welcome to the third installment of my Tarot Journal. I realize there are a few cards missing in the Fool’s journey, but look to the end for a brief overview of the cards in the Major Arcana. (This post is based on homework given)

The Fool is starting a journey, it may be new to him, perhaps a road he has been down before. He first meets The Magician, he learns about power, potential and not to be afraid of what is to come, and how to stay grounded. The Magician shows him how to carry out plans, but be sure that he knows what he wants and stay committed. He also learns to be creative and how to use his talents.

The next stop in the Fools journey is that of The High Priestess, she is opposite of the Magician. She balances what he has learned so far. The fool is learning to look beyond the obvious and delve into his subconscious. He is also learning patience, how to step back and look into things a bit deeper, follow his intuition.

His next stop is with The Empress, she is a vision, she is mothering, she is the earth mother. She teaches him to embrace life and all that it has to offer. It can be anything from human beings, material possessions, as well as taking care of emotional needs. It’s now time to balance what has learned so far.

The Fool comes across The Emperor, he’s not necessarily as appealing as the others. He is a father type, he teaches him about structure and authority. Now there are rules, he must learn discipline. There are some things he can and cannot control. At this stage in his journey he must tie up loose ends before he can move forward.

He now comes across the Hierophant. He reinforces the teachings of the the Emperor, but throws in religion, education and society. Now we have conformity, fitting in at school, in groups, clubs and being loyal to others. The fool needs to learn how to grow and develop in society.

I’ve seen all of these cards play out in my life. As for following them, well that’s a different story. I can relate to the Magician, I’m not afraid of what’s to come. I’m constantly searching and using my creativity, but I tend to put too much on my plate at once. I can relate more to the the High Priestess, I love to use my imagination and intuition. But looking deeper into things, tends to get me in trouble. The Empress, in my case, is something I love, mother nature in all her glory. I love to just follow the natural course of things. Then there’s the Emperor, I’m not a big fan of authority and have a hard time with order, although I do find myself to be disciplined when it comes to any of my crafts. With the Hierophant, I definitely have a problem with conformity. I’m a free spirit and tend to do my own thing. I follow rules, but I also break them, as long as no harm is done. Never been much into groups, obviously, I’m a solitary witch and follow my own path.

I see these cards being the foundation of the great quest. They are the beginning and will be revisited many times again. There are many cycles in our life, and it always comes back to the beginning.

I would have to say the High Priestess is the one card that sticks out to me the most. She’s mysterious. I like to look beyond the obvious, sometimes a little patience is needed to see what is not there, especially when it comes to my art work. When I’m starting a new project, jumping right in is never the answer. I like to find my creativity in a dream world. That place between sleep and awake is where I find the answers.

The Lovers: The Fool has come across an equal, another person to take with on his journey. He’s now establishing  a bond, the relationship may or may not be sexual. There is a feeling of love and/or physical attraction. The Fool has come to a crossroad, he has to look at his morals or ethics.  He is struggling with temptation, trying to figure out right and wrong. At this point he has to figure out where he stands, before making decisions. He’s starting to question the lessons learned thus far, and starts to look into his own personal philosophy. He needs to find out where he stands and stay true to himself.

The Chariot represents the Fools transition into adulthood, no more teachers. He is now determined to reach his goals and be successful, his attitude has become dominant. The fool is self confident and has found faith in himself, he is  disciplined and has much more self control. He has his own identity, his own interests and knows who he is at this stage.

Now that he has become self confident, he needs to learn strength. Strength is not necessarily physical, it can also be emotional. At this point the Fool needs to find patience and compassion. With all that he has accomplished, there maybe setbacks, he needs to be patient and find inner strength. He will have to be strong enough to accept help from others, and maintain his composure. There’s a lot of patience to be had when dealing with downfalls, but he must refuse to get angry and find the strength within himself.

At this stage in my life I can relate to The Hermit in many ways. Lately I’ve been looking for answers that can only come from within. I have found my life going in a new direction and It’s confusing and scary. I need some stillness and alone time to find the answers I’m looking for. Things seem to be coming at me a hundred miles an hour and I need the world to slow down so I can stop and think for a minute.

Even before picking up a Tarot deck, The Death card never bothered me. It’s one of two cards I’ve always been drawn to, Strength being the second one. There are so many misconceptions with this card, most people fear it, thinking it’s the eternal end. I don’t look at it that way, everything in life has an end and a beginning. There are so many stages we go through in a lifetime, whether it be a job, a friendship, a bad TV show and so forth. In the end, there is always something new around the corner. It’s a time of transition, closing one chapter in your life so you can start the next.

Temperance, The Devil & The Tower: (2 Examples of how the three successive cards apply in movies)

In Chasing Amy: Holden meets Amy and is immediately attracted to her. They hit it off immediately and she invites him out to a club. He get’s excited, but there is something he is in the dark about. When he arrives at the club, he gets a big slap in the face. “Turns out, this girl is gay.”

In Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Buffy meets Angel, they fall in love. The relationship goes on for a while. He’s a mystery to her, she knows something is different, but now sure what. The wake up call is, he’s a Vampire.

The Star, The Moon, The Sun: (How the designs reinforce the message on the celestial cards)

The Star (Rider-Waite Deck): The Star card represents hope, inspiration, serenity and generosity. The woman pouring into the stream represents generosity, the ripples show that when we give, we create. The large gold star, (that dominates the scene) shows there is hope, light at the end of the tunnel. It shows that you are on the right path and promises of a better and brighter future. The woman will see the world in a different light, she is inspired to create a new path. It is not necessarily the answer, but it gives her a peace of mind and she is able to relax.

The Moon (Rider-Waite Deck): The Moon card represents fear, bewilderment, Imagination, and illusion. The moon in this scene can represents two possibilities, it holds promise that all you imagine can be yours. It guides you into the unknown, allowing the unusual into your life. At the same time,  it can bring about hidden fears and anxiety, not everything is as what it seems. The dog and wolf could be our animal instinct, just beginning the journey to a higher path. While the towers are the starting point to limitless possibilities, good and evil. This card can inspire insight, as well as bring out fears and confusion.

The Sun (Rider-Waite Deck): The Sun card represents enlightenment, greatness, assurance and vitality.
It follows the Moon card, and in Tarot Readings is a very positive omen. The Sun essentially is a confirmation of what you may already be feeling, all the energy and determination you need to overcome obstacles. It shows that you are on the right path to success and happiness. The baby is rebirth, being taken by a horse on a new phase/cycle in life. It is a feeling of freedom  and honoring oneself, there is a new level of insight. The sun is dominating the scene, shining forth and showing unlimited energy. The light that gives you power, confidence and realizing all that has been accomplished. It’s now time to trust in your abilities and forgive yourself.

Reaching the end of a journey:

The Fool is nearing an end. The journey is almost over, but first he must reach Judgement, as it is necessary. Before moving forward he must look back, be proud of his accomplishments, face his failures, learn from them and put it in the past. It’s a time of cleansing and releasing guilt, he must forgive himself as well as others.

His journey is over, at least this one. The Fool has reached The World, he has a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment. He’s experiencing balance and enjoying a peace of mind. The task is complete and a conclusion is reached. It’s time to savor the present, for the journey is a circular one and now he’s back at the beginning. He can now go into the next phase with confidence and a new perspective.

A Brief Overview of the Major Arcana:

The Fool:

  • Is beginning a new journey, nothing is certain, he has unlimited potential.
  • Nothing is familiar, not grounded.
  • Keep faith and  must trust in oneself.
  • Living in the moment, acts on impulses and feelings. Carefree.
  • Tends to take the foolish path.
  • Needs to stay true to himself and recapture innocence.

The Magician:

  • Grounded, Not afraid to act.
  • Realizing potential and what needs to be done.
  • Set things aside in order to get the job done.
  • Committed, make what’s possible real.

The High Priestess:

  • She balances out the masculine of the magician, by showing the mysterious.
  • Looks into the subconscious, beyond the obvious.
  • Follow intuition, dreams and imagination.
  • It’s time to look deeper and in the unseen, and finding a will to create.
  • Carrying out plans, being committed.

The Empress:

  • The Empress and High Priestess are the two halves of the female archetypes.
  • The earth mother, nurturing and caring.
  • Care for others as well as yourself.
  • She nurtures the mind of the Fool.
  • There are lavish rewards and material possessions, embrace life.

The Emperor:

  • He is fathering, shows the Fool structure and authority.
  • It’s time to learn leadership skills and discipline.
  • Loose ends should be tied up, there is a need for organization.
  • Make order out of chaos, there are rules.

The Hierophant:

  • Conformity, education, religion and society.
  • Coexist with others, not just in churches, but teams and groups.
  • A belief system, cultural heritage, knowing ones faith and an increase in understanding.
  • Growing and developing in society.
  • Following rules.

The Lovers:

  • Encounter a partner along the journey. Sexuality, bond, love and union.
  • Open up to another, mentally and physically.
  • Decision making, struggling with temptation.
  • Permanent unions, family ties.

The Chariot:

  • Entering adulthood and free of teachers.
  • Strength through discipline and self determination.
  • Dominance is a factor, beat the competition and reach for goals.
  • Rise above temptation, and have faith in oneself.
  • Learning to Curb impulses and master emotions.
  • Holding in anger, but getting your way.

Strength:

  • Finding inner strength. Being able to go forward, despite set backs.
  • Patience and compassion, getting angry will only make things worse.
  • Achieving self control.
  • Learn to accept others, be forgiving and kind.
  • Finding perspective and learn to compromise.
  • If pushing too hard, learn to withdraw for a moment.

The Hermit:

  • Focus on inner self.
  • A solitary quest, and a need for time alone.
  • There’s a deeper understanding/truth.
  • Think things over, look within.
  • A desire for a new direction.

The Wheel of Fortune:

  • Unexpected encounters, nothing is set in stone.
  • If you’ve been struggling, you may find the answer you’ve been looking for.
  • Fate, something good may come from an accident.
  • Moving forward in a different direction.
  • A change may show you how everything connects.
  • A greater perspective, discovering a new role or purpose.

Justice:

  • Ultimately, life is fair and just.
  • An impact from the past will come back, be it good or bad.
  • Accept responsibilities, settle past debts.
  • Make decisions for the future, balance all factors.
  • Karma!

The Hanged Man:

  • Pausing to reflect, letting go and giving up control.
  • Live for the moment.
  • Maybe a set back is in order to move forward.
  • A sacrifice is needed in order to get our own way.
  • Truths are hidden in the opposite.
  • Release, when wanting to be forceful.

Death:

  • Not a permanent death, but a time of transition.
  • Might be an important ending, that could trigger great change.
  • Closing one door, to open another.
  • Leave the past behind, start a new chapter.
  • Accepting the inevitable.

Temperance:

  • A need for moderation and balance.
  • Showing moderation, by finding a middle ground.
  • A sense of harmony, bringing opposing parts together.
  • Finding just the right mix.
  • Good health, physically and emotionally.

The Devil:

  • The journey is on hold.
  • Stuck in an unhealthy or unproductive situation.
  • Being in the dark, maybe working from something false.
  • Being negative, lacking faith.
  • A reflection that could make one doubt.

The Tower:

  • A wake up call, something is wrong.
  • A slap in the face.
  • A new direction is forced that causes disruption.
  • Accept the surprise and learn from it.
  • A truth must be realized to get an answer.
  • A downturn of fortune, having things shaken up.

The Star:

  • inspiration, but not the final solution.
  • Being on the right path towards goals and aspirations.
  • Having faith in the future, thinking in a positive light.
  • Finding motivation, realizing inner strength.
  • Finding a peace of mind, holding nothing back.

The Moon:

  • A disconnected feeling, easy to lose your way.
  • Can’t think clearly and losing direction.
  • A guide to the unknown that can allow the unusual into ones life.
  • Chasing after a fantasy, seeing false pictures.
  • Possibly having vivid dreams or visions.
  • Unusual thoughts or fantasies.

The Sun:

  • Seeing clearly finally and being confident.
  • Being sure of yourself, without being cocky.
  • Seeing yourself being successful in all you take on.
  • Experiencing freedom and joy.
  • Forgiving yourself and trusting in your abilities.
  • A new level of insight.

Judgement:

  • Being proud of accomplishments and learning from failures.
  • Leave the past behind and move forward.
  • Looking back and making an honest appraisal.
  • Be open to new possibilities and transforming, making a fresh start.
  • Being able to see everything in a new light.
  • Feeling cleansed and unburdened.
  • Forgiving yourself and others.

The World:

  • The end of a journey.
  • Wholeness and balance, savoring the moment.
  • Realizing goals and seeing dreams come true.
  • One journey is over, but now at a new beginning, with more confidence and a new perspective.

My studies at Sacred Mists have been a great experience, It’s been a positive and challenging change. I have a great teacher that is always there to help and guide me, inside and out of class. I love the new path that I am on, learning the Tarot has helped me open my eyes and find answers in my own life. I’m still searching, and have more questions, but I know with all that I’m learning I’m on my way to finding what I’m looking for.

Feel free to post your thoughts, opinions and comments.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great day!

Lisa

News & Submissions 7/28/11

Thursday, July 28th, 2011

Arts & Entertainment:

Scariest Movies
Over the history of cinema there have been many films that have been called the scariest movies. Many of these movies are horrific, gory and frightening on many different levels. Some people are scared by monsters while others are frightened by real life horrors, but all these movies scare people in many different ways. Read full story from screenjunkies.com

Native American:

Navajo Continues Life’s Work With AICF
Early this year W.K. Kellogg Foundation gave the American Indian College Fund (AICF) $5 million for the Wakanyeja “Sacred Little Ones” Early Childhood Development Initiative.

The program is funded for five years and is intended to:

  • improve young Native American students’ skill acquisition
  • prepare them for grades K-12 and post-secondary education
  • improve the quality of early childhood teachers in Native communities
  • bridge early childhood and K-3 education
  • integrate Native language and culture into early childhood curriculum
  • empower Native families and communities as change agents in education for their children

In March, AICF started looking for someone to administer the program, and they finally found someone who fits the bill. Read full story from indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com

News:

War Widow’s Truck Targeted By Vandals
SPARKS, NV – The wife of a Nevada National Guard soldier killed in Afghanistan woke Monday morning to find her husband’s truck vandalized.

Sadly, it was only the latest in a series of incidents which have marked Roberta Stewart’s life since her husband’s death.

The truck was to have been Sgt. Patrick Stewart’s coming home gift, a purchase he and Roberta, had planned together.

In 2005, he and Chief Warrant Officer John Flynn, both Nevada Army Guardsmen were killed when their Chinook helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan.

Monday morning, the truck he had wanted, the one she bought, now bearing new Gold Star license plates as a tribute to their sacrifice, was parked outside her Sparks apartment, it’s windshield smashed by a large brick. Read full story from kolotv.com

Paranormal:

Children of the paranormal
I have been doing paranormal research now for over 11 years now. I have written four books on the subject and dozens of articles. I have also been to dozens of places around the US in nearly 20 states. To this day, in spite of many attempts and visits to notoriously dangerous locations, I have never been attacked or injured by a ghost, spirit, demon, entity, evil energy, ifrit, jinn or anything similarly supernatural. I am starting to feel a bit left out. When is my hair going to be pulled? When am I going to be poked, kicked or prodded? When is my immortal soul going to be in danger? I mean, if you watch some of these shows on television you would think this sort of thing happens all the time. Well, at least once or twice a week and maybe more on “sweeps week” and Halloween. Read full story from examiner.com

Paranormal Activity Found At Terror Mansion
SAN ANTONIO — At Halloween, you pay your money and take a scary tour through Terror Mansion, a popular haunted house in San Antonio.

But now the house is the subject of a paranormal investigation after ghostly orbs and other phenomena were caught on camera.

Photos of Nancy Alanis’ dog, Jenny, taken at Terror Mansion the day before the dog died, gave the first clues of paranormal activity. Read full story from ksat.com

Religion:

Atheists pick the wrong ground to fight
It is so common that zealous individuals take actions that seem wholly against what they claim they stand for it is almost a cliche; those who object to abortion as murder commit murder to get their point across, the heinous mass killing in Norway was meant to “protect” traditional values, Republicans claim to be defending US soldiers while they cut their pay and strip them of benefits, and multiculturalists out to protect “free speech” want to ban objectionable words and phrases.  Neither left or right is free from this hypocrisy, and it continues to hamper public discourse and objective consideration of opposing viewpoints, and a group here in NYC that I agree with in principle has done something I wholly disagree with, attempting to force the removal of a “cross” at the Ground Zero memorial. Read full story from examiner.com

Media:

Montreal First Peoples’ Festival: Fun!
Montreal is North America’s festival city during the summer, and one of the most exciting is the First Peoples’ Festival. This year’s festival—the 21st annual event—takes place August 2–9.

The year’s theme is “And now, the world,” according to Andre Dudemaine, Innu, the co-founder and director of Land InSights, a nonprofit organization that organizes and sponsors the event.

“Artists from First Nations of the whole planet will come to meet their North American counterparts and showcase their works. It is an opportunity here on Native land to reaffirm messages of welcome and peace they left as sovereign peoples to all the world’s peoples,” Dudemaine says on the festival website. Read full story from indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com

Colbert on the Media’s Rush to Blame the Oslo Attacks on Muslim Jihadists
Just because Norway’s confessed murderer is a blond, blue-eyed, Norwegian-born, anti-Muslim crusader doesn’t mean he’s not a swarthy, ululating madman. (Source – ColbertNation.com)

Blogpost:

  • Inciting A Riot – The Super Witch’s Tarot+
  • Pantheon – Guest Post: Drew Jacob on Lúnasa with “The Family”

Feel free to leave comments regarding the articles posted.

If you’re interested in guest blogging or would like to submit an article or event, contact me at pagansworld.org@gmail.com.

Thanks for stopping by! Well wishes to you all, have a great day!

Lisa

Tarot Journal – The Intuition & Basic Ethics of the Tarot

Tuesday, May 10th, 2011

The Intuition & Basic Ethics of the Tarot

Lesson 2: Intuitive Tarot Certification Course

All I can say is, WOW! So much useful and interesting information in this course. I learned about 2 very influential men, Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell.

Just a brief overview:

Carl Jung was a Swiss psychologist and founder of Analytical psychology, also called Jungian psychology. Originally he had no plans of studying psychology as it was frowned upon at the time. He later read that psychoses are personality diseases, which was of great interest to him. Jung had many childhood memories that left life long impressions, and realized this is what he was searching for. He was convinced as a boy he had 2 personalities; 1. A typical schoolboy living in the era of the time, 2. A dignified, authoritative and influential man from the past.

He was the first psychologist to say the human psyche is “by nature religion”. Jung was a practicing clinician, but most of his work involved the studies of Eastern and Western philosophies, such as alchemy, astrology, sociology, as well as art and literature. All of which are related to the human psyche found in dreams and the unconscious.

Jungian psychology (aka analytical psychology) is wholeness through the integration of unconscious forces and motivations underlying human behavior. It is the model of the unconscious mind as the source of healing and development in an individual. Jung saw the psyche as mind, but also admits the mystery of soul, and used as empirical evidence, the practice of an accumulative phenomenology around the significance of dreams, archetypes and mythology

Joseph Campbell was an American mythologist, writer and lecturer, known for his work in comparative mythology and comparative religion. Best known for his philosophy: “Follow your bliss.” After visiting The American Museum of Natural History in New York as a boy, he became versed in numerous aspects of Native American society, primarily in Native American mythology. He then became very passionate about myth and the study of and mapping of the cohesive threads in mythology that appeared to exist among even disparate human cultures.

Campbell was highly influenced by Sigmund Freud, but in particular on the work of Carl Jung. In his book The Mythic Image, Campbell quotes Jung’s statement about the Bardo Thodol, that it “belongs to that class of writings which not only are of interest to specialists in Mahayana Buddhism, but also, because of their deep humanity and still deeper insight into the secrets of the human psyche, make an especial appeal to the layman seeking to broaden his knowledge of life.

He had a big influence on pop culture. George Lucas credited Campbell’s influence. Lucas stated following the release of the first Star Wars film in 1977 that its story was shaped, by ideas described in The Hero with a Thousand Faces and. Campbell was further reinforced when reprints of Campbell’s book used the image of Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker on the cover.Lucas discusses this influence the authorized biography of Joseph Campbell, A Fire in the Mind.

On to Archetypes, I was asked What is an archetype? Describe five examples of archetypes and their meanings which have not already been discussed in the lecture material (for instance a heart = love, red= stop, etc.)

An archetype is a symbol recognized universally that can trigger emotions or memories. It can take on different forms (e.g. a color, a sign, person, or place). It’s an idea or image from the unconscious. Also an original idea in which similar things are patterned.

Examples:

  • Tiger: Very warm, loving. Independent minded. Pays scant regard for others feelings while pursuing fun and freedom.
  • Monkey: Wily and cunning. Ignores regimented rules. Free spirit.
  • Rooster: Brave and enthusiastic. Notoriously picky. Highly intelligent. Rarely has wool pulled over its eyes.
  • Dog: Honest, loyal, sincere. Believes in justice for all. Fights for principles. Sometimes bad tempered, self-righteous.
  • Dragon: Charismatic and colorful. Wants to be center of attention. Very arrogant.

I had to pick 2 cards from my deck and explain my perception of them:

Death was my first card. To me I find it an end and and beginning. It doesn’t necessarily mean psychical death, perhaps the end of an era. I can relate to this card in many ways, I had to let many things in my life end in order to have new and stronger beginnings. I believe a lot of people see this card and it scares them, to me it’s like saying “One door closes and another one opens.”

Second card is Temperance. Like the death card, I also see it as an end. There maybe disaster ahead, but these things too will pass. We must find self control and use everything in moderation, or it will lead to something unfortunate.

Tarot cards help you find deeper levels of emotion, through your connection with spirituality. There is something that lies deeper, the unconscious. Tarot reflects hidden aspects of your own life, It a helps you to communicate what you are actually seeing and mentally analyzing.

As far as The Tarot and destiny go, I believe destiny is what you make it. If you do a reading and it may not be positive, that can always be changed. I don’t believe anything is set in stone. I had the choice last year to lay down and die or get up and fight, I chose to fight. Our life is what we make of it. Sometimes we need help along the way and I see the Tarot as a great tool for that.

First and four most we need to realize while doing a reading, nothing is set in stone, as said before our destiny is what we make of it. The cards help show many possibilities in ones life, it just depends on how you chose to use the information you’ve received. People are coming to you for help, so be careful of the information you pass on. You never know one’s personal state of being. Never give anyone a scare, be sure to try and talk to the person and ask them questions. Make sure you have good communication.

Staying positive is important, you want a good connection not only with the person you are reading for, but also with your cards. I believe people, whether you know them or not can always feel negative vibes. That’s not going to make for a good reading and the cards may also reflect what you are feeling. I sound like a hippie.

I’ve been using the Witches tarot and The Rider Deck, I’ve found that I really like The Rider Deck. I just purchased the Dali and The Legacy of the Divine Tarot, I think the cards are beautiful. Does anyone else have these decks, and what do you think?

Feel free to post your thoughts, opinions and comments.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great day!

Lisa

Tarot Journal – History, Mystery & Basic Structure

Saturday, April 9th, 2011

History, Mystery & Basic Structure

Lesson 1: Intuitive Tarot Certification Course

So begins my journey into the world of Tarot. I will be using The Rider-Waite and The Witches Tarot decks. I picked up The Witches Tarot a while back, the artwork is what drew me to it. It has been used a lot in my photography, but never for divination. The second deck purchased was the Rider-Waite deck, honestly a store owner told me that this would be a great deck to learn on, so I bought them. I actually really like this deck now, and pleased that I have it. I’m sure I will purchase a few more decks throughout this course, right now I have my eye on the Dali deck.

An older deck I really like is The Gumppenberg Neoclassical Tarot, circa 1807-1816. The obvious reason I chose it, was that it grabbed my eye. I like the dark and sleek design. It is a 78 card deck, printed on metal engraving plates and hand colored. The Major Arcana is different from traditional tarot, it has Roman numerals and Italian titles. The Minor Arcana are numbered in Arabic in the upper left and right corners. The pip cards in the suit have Spanish type that don’t interlace. The deck has a repeating border throughout, with an alternating oval and round shape. The cards are polished and have a repeating star design with rays alternating around a single dot on the back. Gumppenberg’s name appears on the ace of cups. There was a reprint of the deck in 1980 by Edizioni del Solleone under Vito Areinti’s direction. It was limited to 1500 decks.

I was asked to pick out a card from the Major Arcana that I felt most represented me. I didn’t even have to look to pick out my card. Strength has been something I’ve needed for a long time now. I feel that it represents my life significantly over the past 12 months. Not only have I risen above and beyond so many hardships, I’ve seen my entire family do the same. They are a part of me as well. Honestly, I didn’t know I had it in me until last year. I’ve seen death, pain and struggle. I know I have more obstacles ahead, but today I stand strong!

The next two question kind of go hand in hand, which suit and card in the Minor Arcana call to me and why? The Swords seem to call out to me the most. I see a fight to be had, whether it be my mental or physical ability. I see a defense mechanism popping up, always on the lookout for what’s to come. I will welcome anything, but will fight off anything negative. With that said I feel most connected to The Queen of Swords. Again, I feel a lot of fight and strength in this card as well as being defensive.

Another question was, Do the Swords represent Fire or Air? I would have to go with Air. Air is something that is all around us, It connects us with all the elements. I see the swords as being the same way, I find it the strongest of the suit. I live day to day looking for what mother nature is going to send me, based on the wind. If I’m golfing or wakeskating, air could screw it up with a nice gust of wind. This is how I’ve lived for a long time and is also when I feel the strongest. This may change as I learn and grow with the Tarot.

On a final note, there’s much controversy in the world of Tarot where The Fool (0) should be placed. One theory by French occultist Eliphas Levi wrote in his book The Dogmna and Ritual of Transcendental Magic place it between 20 and 21, some occultists still follow this sequence. In my opinion, I would place it as the first card in the Major Arcana.

I’m looking to find out how other people view Tarot, feel free to post your thoughts, opinions and comments.

Thanks for stopping by! Well wishes to you all and have a great weekend!

Lisa

News & Submissions 3/29/2011

Tuesday, March 29th, 2011

Headlines:

Witchcraft accusations and human rights abuses in Africa
Witch‐hunts have become epidemic throughout Africa. Although witch‐hunts have historically been viewed as gender specific, with a large percentage of victims still identified as elderly and solitary women, recent reports show that victims of witch‐hunts include both women and men of all ages. read full story from paganrightsalliance.org3

Events:

“GhostFest: Paranormal & Horror Convention” – The heads in charge couldn’t have picked a better place than Salem for this weekend’s GhostFest: Paranormal & Horror Convention, which kicks off tonight.

Archeology:

Archaeological research visualizes urban life in ancient cities
A new archaeological research project at the University of Kent, south England, will reconstruct urban life in cities such as Constantinople during a period of history that has long remained hidden from view.

Reconstructions of daily life in ancient Roman cities such as Pompeii are plentiful, thanks to centuries of archaeological research. But that is not the case for the later Roman or ‘late antique’ period (AD 300-650) that saw the long transition from the Roman Empire to the Middle Ages.

This is set to change now – thanks to a three-year project called ‘Visualising the Late Antique City’ – that will see the University’s Dr Luke Lavan, a lecturer in archaeology, leading a team studying artwork, excavated artefacts and the ruins of ancient cities from around the Mediterranean.  Although Constantinople is now obscured by modern development within what is now Istanbul, other sites in Turkey, Tunisia, and Italy are expected to reveal much of the urban landscape of the period. Read full story from pashorizons.com

Arts & Entertainment:

4 Reasons Why David Gordon Green’s Suspiria Remake Could Be Great
In between fielding questions about Natalie Portman’s thong bikini in Your Highness, director David Gordon Green confirmed that he hopes to remake Dario Argento’s horror classic Suspiria next. As someone who really likes horror movies, I’m usually somewhere between disheartened and furious each time Hollywood announces a remake of another one of my favorite 70’s films. But a remake of Suspiria actually has real potential. Read full story from movieline.com

‘Ghost Adventures’ crew to probe `Idol` mansion
Washington: The ‘Ghost Adventures’ crew believes there may be demonic activity inside the haunted ‘American Idol’ mansion and they want to investigate the place as soon as possible.

Zak Bagans, the lead investigator of the ‘Ghost Adventures Crew’, insisted the alleged paranormal activity inside the Beverly Hills mansion where the ‘A.I.’ finalists were staying sounds legit and “possibly demonic.” Read full story from zeenews.com

DVD Review: Devil’s Playground
Devil’s Playground is one of the best examples of a schizophrenic horror film I’ve seen lately – and I don’t mean this in a good way. It hovers between horror, action and movie of the week melodrama, switching in tone so fast that you’ll probably give yourself whiplash as you struggle to make it through the full 90 minutes. Read full story from brutalashell.com

Lifestyle & Religion:

How Can A Bunny Lay Eggs?
While the Easter bunny may play second fiddle to Santa Claus in the pantheon of holiday myths, the wiggly-nosed critter actually has deeper historic roots than ol’ St. Nick.

The Easter bunny’s origins predate Christianity, whereas Santa Claus came to popular attention in the 4th century. Like the Easter eggs it is said to circulate, the Easter Bunny is an icon of fertility. The arrival of spring on one hand is a symbol of renewed life for people, but it also is the mating season for rabbits and hares, and it’s the time when birds lay eggs. If you put that together with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, you wind up mixing Easter with the Easter bunny. Read full story from krdo.com

Cambodia: where fear, magic and murder intertwine
BOMNOK, Cambodia — In the midday swelter of early hot season, Pah Eang shivered and walked into a mountainous forest she’d once visited every day. She said she was scared. She hadn’t been to this place, open and silent, in five months. Not since the killings and whispers of magic.

Pulling at her red sweatshirt, Pah dissolved into the Cardamom Mountains that ripple through western Cambodia, and began her search for a place that keeps this 22-year-old awake at night and plagues what’s left of her family. Her path wound deeper until everything was quiet and the only mark of humanity was a bamboo-thatched hut in a clearing so idyllic the savagery of what had occurred there was difficult to imagine.

Last September, Pah’s father and younger brother were killed around 1 a.m. in this hut. The father, Pheng Pah, 46, was stabbed to death while his son, Pah Broh, 15, had his throat slit. When the bodies were discovered the next morning, some villagers in this deeply rural community 25 miles from a paved road rejoiced. They said the father and son were “sorcerers” and had deserved to die. Read full story from globalpost.com

The Episcopal Church:The Way of Balaam
Manchester Cathedral to host tarot card readers and healers at ‘new age’ festival screamed a headline in a British broadsheet. The cathedral will also feature crystal healers and ‘dream interpretation’.

Fortune tellers, meditation experts and traditional healers will fill the pews during the day-long festival in May. The Bishop of Manchester, Rt. Rev Nigel McCulloch, said he wanted to celebrate ‘all forms of spirituality’. Bishop Nigel said the unconventional activities are not incompatible with Christian belief. Read full story from virtueonline.com

Gingrich fears ‘atheist country … dominated by radical Islamists’
Hours after declaring Sunday that he expects to be running for president within a month, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said he’s worried the United States could be “a secular atheist country, potentially one dominated by radical Islamists,” in the foreseeable future, according to Politico. Read full story from cnn.com

News:

BP managers could face manslaughter charges over Gulf oil spill
The US authorities are considering charging BP managers with manslaughter after decisions they made before the Deepwater Horizon oil well explosion last year killed 11 workers and caused the biggest offshore spill in US history.

Sources close to the process told Bloomberg that investigators were also examining whether BP’s executives, including former chief executive Tony Hayward, made statements that were at odds with what they knew during congressional hearings last year. Read full story from guardian.co.uk

Paranormal:

County’s Paranormal Society explores haunted hotel
Could Sonoma State be haunted? You should ask our own team of ghost adventurers, the Sonoma County Paranormal Society (SCPS) headed by Lead Investigator, Sonoma State sophomore and Environmental Studies and Planning major Joshua Goudy and friends. The SCPS spend their free time studying locations rumored to be haunted for proof of life after death.

Goudy and his crew will be visiting the Holbrooke Hotel in Grass Valley, Calif. on Tues, April 12., a location famous for multiple instances of paranormal encounters.

The SCPS is made of a core group of five students of both Sonoma State and the Santa Rosa Junior College with a common interest and the desire to share experiences in their studies of paranormal activity. Read full story from sonomastatestar.com

Science:

Lost in Triangulation: Leonardo da Vinci’s Mathematical Slip-Up
Artist, inventor and philosopher Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) was without a doubt a genius. Yet, there is some criticism. In his book 1434: The Year a Magnificent Chinese Fleet Sailed to Italy and Ignited the Renaissance (William Morrow, 2008) British author and retired submarine commander Gavin Menzies claims that da Vinci swiped most of his ideas from the Chinese. Menzies’s theory was poorly received by the world of science. Besides, isn’t da Vinci’s brilliance beyond question? Definitely, but the Dutch mathematician and artist Rinus Roelofs did find an error in one of the Renaissance man‘s drawings. Read full story from scientificamerican.com

Media:

FLDS Church elder moves to replace Warren Jeffs (Source: Youtube – ksltube)

Blogspot:

Thanks for stopping by! Well wishes to you all and have a great day!

Lisa

Tarot and spell work (Guest Post by Bernadette Montana)

Monday, February 28th, 2011

Many people are interested in learning how to make their spell work more effective.  One way to do this, is to incorporate the tarot into your spells.

Have you ever thought of using the tarot in spells or magic? If you are already working with the tarot (and if you are reading this), then spells are great for manifesting whatever it is that you feel you need in your life. The only requirement is that you always concentrate on your goal. Simply direct your own energy into each of the cards to charge them. If you already work with the tarot, then you will already have a “psychic link” with your cards. I also recommend having an item that belongs or is related to the issue at hand. An example of this might be a photograph of a person, or a piece of jewelry. For money, use a piece of silver or gold etc.

To do almost any spell, pick out the one card (or cards) that most closely represent your intention, light a candle, burn the appropriate incense and say out loud what it is that you need in rhyme. Say this spell three times, let the candle and incense burn out and the spell is done!

Example: Money is what I need, may no harm come to none, so mote it be!

What is the purpose of your working?  Is it for money, love, or protection?  Having the correct implements will help you to achieve the results that you are looking for.

If you’re intention is to have more money in your life, then I would use the Pentacles/Discs as the suit of Pentacles is associated with money.  If your spell is about love, then I would use the suit of cups.  Cups is associated with love and emotions. A legal matter?  I would then use the suit of Swords.  I would use wands if I needed help with school, inspiration, projects or career.

Here is a chart that might help you pick the right cards for any given spell:

The suit of Cups: The element of water. Take a look at a cup. It is very feminine looking. A cup is meant to be filled with some kind of liquid such as water. We shed tears when we are emotional. Tears are made of water. Cups are associated with love, emotions and the feminine. This suit also represents issues of love and/or friendship.

The suit of Swords: The element of fire. If I were to put a sword in your hand, what would you do with it? Would you lay it down? Would you use for self defense? Would you stab someone with it? That says a lot about this particular suit. It is also associated with legal issues. A legal issue can be a battle of some sort. What are you battling? Are you fighting someone, or fighting for your rights? What kind of garbage are you trying to “cut” through?

The suit of Wands: This suit is associated with the element of Air. Wands can indicate a need to return to your “Artsy” side. You have creative, intellectual and artistic tendencies. Try to be rational and think logically.

The suit of Pentacles: The element of Earth. Pentacles are associated with money, but all money around the world is backed up by gold or silver. Where is that metal mined from? It all comes from the earth. You need to be grounded. Your family and traditions that make you feel grounded and more in touch with reality. What makes you feel grounded? Substance and Earth

Intentions Tarot Card
Peace, intuition and beauty The Moon, The High Priestess
For patience and overcoming limitations Strength
Love spells The Lovers, The two of Cups
Self confidence, new ideas, new travels The World
For self acceptance The Hanged man, Strength
To Enhance a Telepathic Link Strength, The High Priestess, The Magician, And The Hanged Man
Magical Ability Strength, The High Priestess, The Magician, The Star
Concentration and Meditation Strength , The High Priestess , The Magician , The Star , The Hanged Man , The Wheel of Fortune , The Hermit , The World
Creativity Strength, The High Priestess, The Magician, The Star and The Fool
Dreams Strength, The High Priestess, The Magician, The Star, The Sun
To Banish Negativity From a Place Strength, The High Priestess, The Magician, The Star, The Sun, And The World
Psychic Attack Strength, The High Priestess, The Magician, Justice
For Protection Strength, The High Priestess, The Magician, The Hanged Man, The Wheel of Fortune, The Tower
Luck Strength, The High Priestess, The Magician, The Star, The Wheel of Fortune
To Overcome a Fear Strength, The High Priestess, The Magician, The Hanged Man, The Devil, And The Sun
To Banish Obsession Strength, The High Priestess, The Magician, The Hanged Man, Temperance, The Moon, The Sun, And The Chariot
To Strengthen Spirit The High Priestess, The Magician, The Hanged Man, The Chariot, Temperance, And The Sun
To Strengthen Love Strength, The High Priestess, The Magician, The Star, The Moon, And The Sun
To Find New Love Strength, The High Priestess, The Magician, The Star, The Moon, And The Sun

As you can see, that the choices are almost endless.  I hope that this helps you in using the tarot in your magickal spells.

http://www.bridscloset.com


Bio: I am a mom to 3 sons, a dog, 2 parrots and a bunny. I own a metaphysical shop named Brid’s Closet in Cornwall, NY. A 3rd degree priestess in the Alexandrian tradition of Wicca, a 3rd degree Reiki practitioner, a professional tarot reader and I teach the tarot at various stores in NY State, I taught the tarot at the Starwood Festival in 2007, 2009 and 2010. A pipe carrier in the Sun Bear tribe. I’ve also written articles for The Witches Voice in the past called What Does It Mean To Be A Pagan In Today’s World and The Good, the Bad and the Tarot reader. I also write for the Sacred Mists blog, and run The Newburgh and Cornwall Witches Meetup, and facilitate two festivals in Cornwall, The Winter Solstice/Yule Ball and The Beltaine festival.

Thanks for a great read Bernadette!

Thanks for stopping by! Well wishes to you all and have a great day!

Lisa