When the holidays roll around one of the first things that many of us think of after the first sparks of joy and excitement about the impending gatherings, celebrations, and festivities, is the inevitable feelings of being tired. OK, let’s face it, feeling downright exhausted! It happens to the best of us during the holidays. Between decking the halls, trimming the tree, shopping, and going from party to party and family to family, the fun of the season often catches up with us. There are a few real simple ways help eliminate some of that exhaustion or even avoid it altogether. While things like meditation, Reiki sessions, and doing some aura cleansing can all help, some of the more mundane steps can be very helpful in making the way for magickal healing and self care to take root.

Eat Healthy
Well, let’s be honest. This is pretty close to the last thing that happens for the larger part of us during the holiday season. Even the most healthy of veggie dishes is covered in some manner of sauce, often involving cheese and milk, and none of the desserts that we tend to have after these fatty, starchy meals are healthy either (you’re not kidding anyone with fruit tarts). Obviously you should enjoy the holiday meals and treats that only come this time each year, but it’s also important to remember that this isn’t meant to be a free for all for the entire month of December. When you’re not attending a specific event, eat healthy, even more so than you might normally do. This helps to add a little more balance to what you’re doing to do your body by eating a little more poorly during the holidays.

• Have a cup of green tea twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. Green tea is a natural antioxidant and can help with keeping things a little more balanced during this heavy eating season.

• Before heading out to a dinner or party for the holidays have a salad at home. A big salad! Since the chances are you wont be eating a great deal of vegetables this helps with the healthier eating but it also means you wont be going on an empty stomach which gives you a much higher risk of overeating.

• If you are a meat eater, try and keep your meat intake at home down during December. Especially if you know that you’ll be attending dinners and parties where meat will be the main dish. Eating a good deal of meat can make you tired and sluggish because it weighs down your digestive system and your personal energy.

• If you typically keep desserts and sweets in the house, try and cut out buying them on your own during the holidays. Most of us tend ti either over do it on the cakes and cookies during the holidays at parties and gatherings but many of us also end up taking home a doggie bag or plate of leftover treats. The more you have on hand the more you’re going to eat!

• And when it comes to taking home leftovers after a holiday dinner, be mindful of what you’re bringing home. Will you eat it? When bringing home a plate from holiday gathering be sure that it is food you will eat and will enjoy, otherwise let someone else take it! Also, don’t bring home more than one meal’s worth of leftovers. This is both practical and helpful to your body. Leftovers usually aren’t worth much after two days and, again, if you have more than you would eat in a sitting that means overeating.

Drink Water
This time of year tends to be filled with soda, coffee, and alcohol in our cups. This is all fine in moderation but we still need good old clear and healthful water. Our bodies need the water, not just any old liquid. When we’re not getting our water we can become dehydrated which causes fatigue. Soda, coffee, and other caffeinated beverages are not truly hydrating and the added caffeine only tires us out more, especially when it’s in excess. Alcohol is a sedative and when put on top of coffee it tires us out even more.

• Be sure to drink the usual 6 to 8 glasses of water a day. If you’re going to be out of the house, traveling to a gathering or visiting friends and family, take along a travel bottle filled with water. Find whatever way you can to get that hydration in.

• Be mindful of how much coffee and other caffeinated drinks you have in a day. Also be sure to cut yourself off from having them too late in the day. Unless you plan on driving late in the evening or know that you need to be awake, try and cut your caffeine off by around noon or 1pm each day. Excessive caffeine only makes you more tired and has the opposite effect that most people are after.

• Alcohol should always be consumed in moderation but remember that it is a sedative and will make you tried, even if you don’t drink in excess. Alcohol can also make you dehydrated so be sure that if you’re drinking alcohol to take breaks in between to drink water so as to help with some of those feelings of fatigue that come with drinking.

Get Some Exercise
This time of year more than any, for more reasons than one, exercise is extremely important. Not only does it help with keeping us from gaining the extra weight that comes with all this eating and drinking but it helps to relieve stress that can only add to our feelings of exhaustion. All you need is to find a half hour during the day to do something physical to help aid in getting a good night’s sleep during this time of year (and really any time of year).

• If you have a gaming console with motion capabilities, purchase yourself an exercise game or one of the many dance or sports games that are on the market. Playing one of these for a half hour will not only go by super fast but it will be fun and wont feel like exercise.

• Remember to do something you enjoy so that you’ll want to keep up with doing something each day.

• This doesn’t have to be a hardcore work out! Grab your iPod and head to the local high school track after hours or early in the morning if weather permits and take a 30 minute stroll. If this isn’t possible, head for the mall but leave your credit cards inside! Better yet, go early in the morning before the stores are open. Those groups of senior citizens that go mall walking before shopping hours really are on to something!

Get Rest
Sometimes during the holidays it feels like there just isn’t enough time in the day to get the rest we know we need. And for us Pagans who are honoring muli-faith and multi-family events, it can be even more tiring because we have both our own rituals and events to attend and then those of our friends and family. At night we may find that we’re just too wound up to sleep and that naturally builds over days into being in a zombie-like state of existence. A night of 8 hours of sleep starts to dwindle down to 4 hours and soon we can’t remember if we went to sleep or passed out the night before. Take steps to make sure you’re still getting the sleep you need, which for the average adult is between 6 and 8 hours a night.

• Try setting your alarm for 15 minutes before you would normally get up. When your alarm goes off you don’t need to jolt right out of bed. Give yourself those 15 minutes to gently come into awareness for the day. Make sure that you are fully awake before your feet hit the floor. When you’re not, you only start your day off tired and it’s hard to truly overcome that feeling.

• Consider changing your alarm to something less, well, alarming. Purchase a Zen Timer alarm clock or look for a clock that had different nature sounds that can act as alarms. Many of us now use our iPhones or other smartphones as alarms and many offer different tones for using the alarm that are removed from the loud electronic buzzing that we grew up with. Being gently woken from your sleep state helps to keep you from feeling suddenly tired all over again once you’re awake.

• For the last hour before you plan to go to bed shut down the computer, turn off your phone, and turn off the television. Spend that hour reading, meditating, or doing something else that has you still, quite, and less stimulated. Electronic stimulation before bed makes it hard to fall asleep for many people and only has our minds reeling with all the things we’ve dealt with during the day. By taking the time to either meditate or read a book purely for enjoyment we have the chance to step outside of our routine and all that we’ve had going on for the day so we can truly relax and unwind.

While all of these tips are naturally good healthy living ideas, they are especially important for this time of year. With the stress we are often under with the holidays we quickly become run down and our immune systems weaken making January flu and colds common occurrences. But it’s also important for us magickal folks to keep in mind because a state of fatigue means that we’re going to be dealing with low energy, something that may be a concern if you do energy work for yourself or others regularly (especially professionally) or if you plan to work magick and ritual for the Sabbat.

Be sure to have a happy, healthy Yuletide season so that your new year starts out with a bang!

2011 One Witch's Way Companion and Datebook. The 2012 edition is going to be leaps and bounds ahead of last year!

The 2012 One Witch’s Way Companion and Datebook is in the works!  The book will be up for sale on Amazon.com, RowanPendragon.com, The Witch’s Parlor, and One Witch’s Way around mid-December.  The book did extremely well last year and offered an alternative to the more corporate produced Pagan and New Age calendars and datebooks by providing more information and substance for a reasonable price.  This year the book is expanding even more and will have a more traditional datebook feel while providing more magickal information, more articles, and more useful information than last year!

As part of the growth and expansion, I’m selling advertising space in the book for those who would like to get their business out there and keep it in the minds of readers all year long.  There will be a section in the back of the book titled Services and Resources, which will be referenced in the Table of Contents, where ad space is available.  The book is being done in 6×9 size which allows for three possible ad space sizes: 1/3 page, 1/2 page, full page.

Requirements:

• Must provide a black and white print ready image file in either PNG, JPEG, or GIF format.
• Must be a Pagan friendly or Pagan run business.
• Groups, churches, covens, and circles are welcome.
• Services such as spiritual counseling, tarot and psychic reading, and coaching are welcome.

The price for ad space is:

• 1/3 page = $15
• 1/2 page = $25
• Full page = $40

The deadline for submissions will be December 5th, so act now if you’re interested!  All orders will be handled privately and must be paid for through PayPal.  An invoice will be sent to you upon approval of your ad.

To purchase ad space, please email Rowan at Rowan@RowanPendragon.com.

This month, because it’s October and it’s time for Halloween, I decided to work with a deck that has a bit of a darker look; The Twilight Realm, A Tarot of Faery.  Unfortunately I do not have images of this deck to post (and these cards are glossy making them difficult to photograph).  I have included a few in the post to show examples of some of the cards.

The month of October in my Pagan spiritual tradition is a month that signifies the end of one year and the start of another.  In the Celtic calendar the year isn’t divided into four seasons.  As an agricultural society they worked with two seasons, summer, the growing time, and winter, the dying time.  Samahin, pronounced “sow-en”, Gaelic for November, signified the end of summer and start of winter.  Samhain Eve, known to most of us as Halloween, is a night for honoring the Ancestors that use this in-between time as a chance to poke their heads in through the veil between the worlds to pay us a visit.  This is a month where we see the last harvest and the beginning of a time of rest.

Enjoy!

Aries – 5 Rings
October might be a bit of a cold and lonely month for you, but it’s not a time to be sad or feel despondent.  It’s a time to prepare for what’s coming next. There is a chance for your to easily fall ill or fall into feelings of seasonal depression this month if you don’t keep your eye turned to something positive.  Stay aware of what’s happening around you and remember that this is very much an in-between time with Samhain and Halloween occurring now.  Anything is possible, so stay on top of what’s happening around you.

Taurus – 10 Cups
Joy and celebration will be largely on your mind this month.  You may find that during October you’re social calendar is going to fill up quick and you’re constantly being looked at the be the life of the party.  Things at home are going to be busy but happy.  Make sure to take time to decorate for the season and welcome the Ancestral spirits that visit us during this time of year. 

Gemini – Ace of Rings
There are some great opportunities for financial change and growth this month if you’re ready and willing to grab that ring and run with it! If you’re looking to make some personal financial changes before the holiday season in order to afford those expenses that always rack up, now is the time to start putting into place a savings plan into place.  Try and keep things simple this month and pay attention to your energy, making sure to give yourself the necessary rest and downtime.

Cancer – 2 Wands
Much like how the faery in this card is sending her energy to the plant to help it grow, this month will be a time for you to lend your energy to those around you.  What ventures can you be instrumental in being helpful with?  Are there projects going on at your place of employment or something that friends or family are doing that you can lend a hand with?  Look for opportunities this month to put your creative energy to work for someone else as a way to give back to the Universe that has blessed you in the past.

Leo – 7 Wands
If you’ve been feeling like it’s time to give up on something, don’t!  In this card Rumpelstiltskin helps the desperate daughter of the King learn to spin the gold that she must produce for him to save their kingdom.  In the last moment she is saved by someone who knows what it takes to get the job done. The month of October might be a bit of a struggle for you to accomplish a difficult task placed before you, but don’t give up! Help is there if you’re willing to accept and you will prevail over anything.

Virgo – 5 Cups
The faery in the 5 of Cups is a faery that loves the water but she comes here because there is a sense that she can let her emotions flow with the water.  She can cry and her tears are unheard over the sound of the rushing waters around her.  You may find that this is a month for a lot of healing and some emotional release.  But the thing about this faery is she know this is part of her journey and something that she needs to let out.  Know that this is OK and you are loved and supported during this time.

Libra – King of Cups
The King of Cups come forward to hold out his cup for you.  He is kind and compassionate and he’s a strong leader who’s been through everything you’ve been through at one time or another.  He knows how to help you if you are looking to accept some help.  October may be a month for you that has a focus on healing through the help of others.  Taking time to sit in meditation, by water if at all possible, and listen to the messages that water can offer you. Learn to let your emotions ebb and flow like the tides and let those around you with experience help you learn how to ride those tides.

Scorpio – 4 Swords
The sword that has been thrust in the roots of this leafless tree shows a time of rest.  The tree is in it’s winter sleep and the sword has been set aside so it’s owner can also take a breather.  The faery lights guide the tree and the sword and wait for the return of life and energy.  October is going to be a time for you to finally get some rest.  It will be a time for you to put down your proverbial sword and just give in to your body’s need to rest and recuperate.  You’ll be watched over and guarded while you rest and everything will be there waiting for you when you’re ready to come back.

Sagittarius – 5 Wands
These elfin guardians stand by and keep an eye on their passage, making sure to guard against anyone that may come to pass that shouldn’t.  For the most part they don’t mean to cause trouble or harm but not everyone understands or knows they’re motives.  This month be careful that your joking and playful actions do not become confused or misunderstood by those around you.  It’s possible that things could be taken a bit too far by some and could cause you more drama than you really need.

Capricorn – The Devil
This faery is stuck, stuck between two rocks and in a tight place where trying to escape could mean more pain and more difficulties.  Maybe it’s better to just stay put.  October may be a time where you find yourself either hitting rock bottom with something or feeling like you’re at that point where you have to decide if making some serious changes to escape your difficult spot will be worth the pain that changes can bring.  The faery in this image shields her face from her own reflection in the water to avoid seeing what’s happening.  Don’t avoid your reflection; find what needs to be changed and start making those steps toward freedom.

Aquarius – 4 Wands
It’s time to stop and take a moment to acknowledge your accomplishments and the successes you have had this year.  These two faeries are stopping from their work with the plants and the flowers to let the other know what a great job they have done.  We often work so hard that we miss out on our success and we often never slow down enough to congratulate others on a job well done.  Take time during the month of October to not only celebrate your accomplishments from the year but also to pat the back of someone else who has worked hard and done well for themselves.  It’s a matter of showing gratitude and appreciation to others; the world will always reward you for that!

Pisces – Princess of Rings
This Princess is a healer.  She comes along to help others find their potential and make sure that they are caring for themselves so they can live out that potential.  With her arrival for you for the month of October she signals that it’s important to pay attention to your health this month.  Don’t let the darkening season be a reason for you to start slacking off on your health and activity.  Take a little time to look at your diet and your exercise routines and see if there are any things that need to be changed to keep you going or to inspire you to maintain your health over the coming winter months.

During this time I will still be popping in on Facebook and Twitter and I will be checking my emails, but unless there is anything extremely urgent I will likely not be replying to many messages until after I return to work.  I am expecting to have a little down time each night where I’ll be checking in, however during this time I will not be doing readings or scheduling consultations.  I am leaving all the purchase buttons active during my vacation time and I will be contacting everyone with confirming emails during my time off but I will not be scheduling or performing readings or sessions until after October 11th when I have a chance to get everyone scheduled.  If you have any questions about this, please don’t hesitate to email me!

Many Blessings!

Lacking self-confidence is a lower energy emotion that is often developed out of fear.  Sometimes those fears are obvious and sometimes they are long held ones who’s root causes are so deeply planted within us that it can take quite some time to find them and heal them.  But even with these deeper elements there are small steps we can take to being to turn around that feeling of low self-confidence.

What makes you feel good about yourself?
The first thing to do in creating a self-confidence boost is knowing what things make you smile, make your heart sing, and make your soul dance.  When we are lost in these states of being we naturally find ourselves stronger and more confident.  When we can identify the things that put is in this state of mind we can call them back up when we need to feel this sensation.  These feelings and emotions can help put us in the right frame of mind to feel a great boost of confidence.

Find what triggers your insecurities.
Just as important as finding what makes us feel happy and safe is knowing what makes us scared or vulnerable.  We shouldn’t try to avoid these situations but as we identify them we can become more prepared to face them.  We can also take the time to examine them a bit to discover why these specific scenarios may put us on edge.  Where is there a change for healing here?

What are your methods of approach?
When we identify the situations that make us feel less confident we can examine how we address them and what our approach is to these events.  Through this we can begin to find what methods might be working and which ones need to be changed.  For example, you may be a woman who has difficulty with being emotionally open with men.  You may be able to trace this back to an event with your own father or other male authority figure from your childhood.  The reaction and approach you have with men now could very well be a hold over from something you did as a way to protect yourself in childhood.  Once you can identify your behaviors and ways of reacting and responding to men you will be better able to find ways to improve and change that way of acting and being to behave differently in these situations.
Begin your change by visualizing it.
One of the best ways to really start being self-confident is to see yourself confident and to feel this sense of strength and power.  Visualize yourself in one of your low power situations and really see and feel yourself in that moment.  What would you do differently to have yourself feeling empowered?  This is a safe personal space so feel free to imagine yourself doing things vastly different than you ever have before!  Visualize the changes; what would you do and say differently? Then begin to allow the feeling of empowerment from this visualization penetrate you in real time.  Let this become your action state of being.  Feel the power from within to do these things and to make these changes in your life!

Remember, you have the power to let go and change!
This is often easier said than done for most people but it isn’t impossible!  Like many things, practice makes perfect.  You need to try it a few times, getting your feet wet and getting a handle on how this change works before it really takes effect.  So many people will approach this inner healing with the “it’s just so hard to really do” mentality that all they do is make it more difficult for themselves than it needs to be.  Keep in mind that many of your fears that have caused low self-esteem have been build up over a period of many years, so they naturally will take time to release.  Going into this work expecting things to change overnight is only a secret form of self-sabotage.  You know deep within that a hurt that developed for 20 years is going to take more than a weekend to heal.

Just remember that you have the ultimate control over where things are going to go for you in your life; you have control over your self-confidence and power of self in your life.  Once you are willing to accept this responsibility, knowing that blaming others is never going to get your to a place of healing and that only your own actions toward change will, it becomes so much easier to being to take those steps toward healing your life.

The Color Wisdom Card reading consists of 5 cards. Each card is analyzed in depth; your reading includes an explanation of the vibration and meaning of the color, a retelling of the card’s story, and how it fits into your life and answers your questions.  These cards and the readings they provide are incredibly healing.  With each of these readings I also include affirmation, energy, and healing work to assist you since these cards greatly dictate that sort of help.

These readings are done through email in PDF format because of their length and depth.  Each reading comes with photos of the cards along with all the reading information.

Color Wisdom Card Reading – $75.00

A sample of some of the Color Wisdom Cards

In March 2010 I finally got my hands on the full collectors deck which I did a review of back then. From the moment I opened it I fell in love and it became my regular reading deck. But, like I said, this was quite a departure for me. I most typically work with either Rider Waite Smith clones or darker themed Gothic decks. Despite this I found the earthy, Goddess energy of this deck to be exactly what I needed at the time and many of my clients connected with it as well. Unfortunately many people that would ask about where they could purchase the deck weren’t able to afford this special collector’s piece so when Joanna announced that the deck would be available as a mass release by Llewellyn Worldwide in September 2011 there was hope for more people to get this amazing deck!

And now it’s here! Llewellyn did an amazing job with translating Joanna’s gorgeous artwork from her original pieces and the first version of the deck into a deck that anyone can afford to have. The set comes with the full 78 card deck and a fantastic 269 page guidebook that includes explanations, meanings, and affirmations for all the cards along with a selection of tarot spreads designed just for the theme and energy of this deck. The deck is the perfect size while not compromising the art itself. The deck focuses on the natural world and has a definite Goddess feel. I would highly recommend this deck to anyone who has an affinity for earth-based spirituality who is looking to try out a deck that breaks away from the RWS style.

When I get a new deck I need to connect with two specific cards otherwise the deck just doesn’t work for me; I need to like the High Priestess and the Hermit cards. And in this deck I love both! There are a few changes to the traditional cards, beyond just the change in the suits. In the Gaian Tarot the elements are used for the suits rather than a symbol of them, for example rather than Cups we directly have Water, and so on. But a few other cards take on a bit of a different incarnation as well such as The Tower is now Lightning and The Devil is Bindweed, one of my personal favorite changes in this deck.

I had a chance to interview Joanna a little about her experience with creating this amazing deck and the wonderful community that she has created out of the deck, the Gaian Tarot Circle.

1. One of the things that you have expressed as a reason for doing the work of the Gaian Tarot was from your connections to the natural world and the people in your community around you. Why did you decide to express this in the form of a tarot deck rather than some of the other art forms you’ve worked with over the years?

I love the structure of the tarot. It’s almost as if I had a ready-made form that I could pour my content into. The 78-cards of a classic tarot deck is divided into Majors and Minors, with the Minors divided into four suits. This structure is elegant, and carries a long history as a Wisdom-Keeper. People have been using tarot cards for several centuries, and the structure of the deck itself resonates with wisdom and spiritual growth.

On another level — tarot cards are fun! They are more user-friendly, in some ways, than a painting you hang on the wall or a book that you read. Every time you use the cards, you have a new experience.

And . . . I’m a Capricorn, and I love a challenge. Painting 78 in-depth images was a big challenge. It taught me a lot about persistence.

2. How has your personal spirituality and views on sacred earth played into the overall creation of the deck?

My personal spiritual path and my relationship with the sacred earth are the fertile soil from which the deck grew. There is no division between the two. It’s a very authentic deck that came straight from my heart and from my experience. <Rowan – not sure if you were getting at something else with this question. Please ask another for clarification if you need to.>

3. You’ve done such an amazing job of being able to take some of the traditional cards and bring them into a earth spirituality incarnation. Were there any cards in the deck that you found particularly challenging to do this with?

Not really. There is only one card in the entire deck that is set completely inside, and that is the 3 of Air. (The 3 of Earth is set in a kitchen, but there is an open window to the outdoors.) There are no obvious references to the natural world in the 3 of Air, except for the feather in the jar and the stylized birds on the man’s shirt. When I created the minors, I would meditate on the energy of the number and how it might be expressed through the qualities of the suit. Three means flow, abundance, harmony, manifestation to me; and Air is all about thought, communication, writing, the mind, meditation, clarity, decision-making etc. I thought about the act of writing, and how thoughts and ideas often rush through us and out onto the keyboard or through the pen when we write. So I decided to show a man writing in his journal, surrounded by shelves full of books. I didn’t realize until later that I hadn’t put in a window. I thought about doing the card over and adding a window, but decided to leave it as it is. The shadow side of the card (or the reversal) could emphasize the stuffiness of a room that gets no fresh air. Sometimes we get stuck in our own minds and there can be a lot of pain and frustration when that happens. So the card carries a continuum of meaning, from positive to negative, as every card does.

4. Did you find that there were any cards in the Gaian Tarot that ended up taking on a different meaning or interpretation from the more traditional tarot meanings just based on the premise of the deck?

Oh my, yes! This happened quite a bit with the Minors, because of the way I put together the energy of the number with the quality of the suit, as I mentioned above. I didn’t look at the RWS cards and try to come up with a different take on Pamela Colman Smith’s imagery. Instead I came up with my own. Some of the cards do carry a reference to the RWS cards but others don’t. For example, the Eight of Fire shows meteors streaking across the sky, which is a clear reference to PCS’s eight wands flying through the air. But the Tens are completely different from the RWS Tens. I see the Tens as being cards of transition. They are each mini-death cards, because they stand at that place of death and rebirth, before cycling back to the Aces. So instead of a man lying on the ground with ten swords in his back, we see wild geese flying across the sky, heading south for the winter: bittersweet transition. Instead of a man burdened down by carrying ten wands, we see a forest fire. Up in smoke! Some folks have seen my Ten of Water, the “dead fish card,” and bemoaned the loss of the happy family looking up at a rainbow. My Ten of Water shows the salmon cycle, with dead salmon by the side of the stream, but spawning salmon in the river, bringing forth new life.

5. The amount of time that went into creating each individual card, up to 100 hours each, is quite impressive. With the whole package of the book and deck taking you nine years to complete, did you have moments where you thought you might have taken on too much? Did you have times where you were ready to throw in the towel and give up? How did you push through to eventually complete the deck and the book?

Oh, you bet I did. There were times when I just had to step away, for days or weeks or even months. The task just seemed overwhelming at times. But I am a pretty persistent person, and I had a vision and a goal. I knew that the deck was touching a chord in a lot of people, because of the feedback I received as I posted the images on my blog. Sometimes I despaired of how long it was taking me. I never would have imagined it would take nine years. But life got in the way, as so often happens with creative people.

I did feel that I had a calling and mandate from Spirit to create this deck, so not finishing it was never an option. It just took sure-footed, plodding persistence.

6. One thing that I love about the Gaian Tarot is how you’ve managed to create a whole community out of the deck; it’s so much more than just a divination tool for those that really want to dive into it. What made you decide to create the Gaian Tarot Circle? What are some of your hopes for having a community like this connected to the deck?

I love the Gaian Tarot Circle! I love the community of people that is growing around this deck. The seed idea for the GTC was planted when the Limited Edition deck was published, and I started to get feedback from a lot of folks on how they worked with the deck. I was amazed and delighted to hear that people were discovering things in the cards that I didn’t consciously put into them. I realized that, while I had a lot to teach and share about the deck, I also had just as much to learn about the deck from others. So the idea of creating a membership site for people who love this deck was born.

People who are drawn to this deck also have a deep love for the natural world, which is not surprising. They come from all sorts of different spiritual paths and traditions, and all are respected. There is a small fee to join the circle, and I have found that the fee acts as a kind of gatekeeper. It keeps away the internet “trolls” and people who are just mildly interested. I have been really amazed at the kind of community that is created on the twice-monthly phone calls and on the forum. Even though we haven’t met in person for the most part, we are getting to know each other’s voices and personalities. Sometimes we do meet in person, at events like the Readers Studio and BATS and the upcoming Gaian Tarot Retreat. That makes our online connection even richer.

My hopes for the community? To have a safe place where people can share their spiritual growth through the deck and through their relationship with the earth; to support and be supported by others; and where we can co-create a new paradigm for living on the planet, one that is based on respect and love for each other and for the sacred earth.

I want to thank Joanna for taking time to answer these questions and to share some insight into her wonderful tarot offering to the community. Please be sure to grab a copy of The Gaian Tarot from Amazon or your local metaphysical bookstore!

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Training Programs
All training programs are designed with you based on what you are specifically looking to learn and how long you wish to study. Are you looking for a complete year and a day program to learn the basics of Wicca? Or are you looking for something more specific to learn meditation, shamanic journeying, or spellcraft? Training will take place through email and Skype. You’ll receive written lessons, video, and audio lessons.

The cost of these lessons will be based on the type of program desired and the amount of time spent each week in training. Payments can be main in one lump sum or in monthly or weekly payments. In the past students have paid as little as $10 a week and some have paid for $300 for long courses. I like making these training programs personal to the individual so the cost and time involved vary from person to person. I am always happy to work with the individual to keep costs affordable and available to the honest and genuine seeker.

Before We Start
Before we get started with putting together a program for you, you’ll need to answer a few questions for me.

1. How old are you?
2. Do you have any experience with magick, Paganism, Wicca, etc?
3. What have you done so far with regard to learning the Craft? (This includes just reading books; please share the titles of those that you have read.)
4. What are your reasons for wishing to learn this path?
5. How much time and effort do you feel you’ll reasonably be able to put into your training on a daily basis?
6. What is your current day to day life like? Do you have a job, relationship, children, or other day to day responsibilities that require your time and energy? How stable are these current situations for you?
7. How do you feel you learn best? Video, audio, reading, in-person one-on-one training?

If you’re interested in getting started on a path toward being a Witch, please answer these questions in an email to me and we can begin talking about what direction to take possible training together. Be sure to also ask me any questions that you feel you need to! Just as much as I’m feeling you out with these questions, please feel me out as well and make sure I’m the right teacher for you!

In this section of my site you’ll find reviews for tarot and oracle decks, books related to tarot and similar subjects, and articles about reading tarot, working with tarot for other purposes like meditation, and articles about how to get the most for your readings including how and why to follow up with your reader.

I’m also going to be doing a weekly tarot discussion focused on the deck Tarot of the Sidhe by Emily Carding. I’ll be pulling a card a week at random, talking about the symbols and messages in the card, and then using that card to give some insight for the week. I encourage you to participate in the discussion within the comment sections of those post. Please feel free to share your own insights into the cards and ask questions if you have them.

As I get started I’m going to be sharing some posts from my blog One Witch’s Way which deal with tarot reviews and topics. Please feel free to comment and share those as well!

Click Here To
Visit My Tarot Blog

By many within Wicca, working with angels is often seen as somewhat taboo; in recent years, however, the practice has certainly increased. Many modern day Witches often shy away from the angelic realms because of their associations with Christianity. It’s understandable, and if you feel uncomfortable with the idea of working with angels for that reason, then that is perfectly fine! I felt this way once, but have come to see the angels in another light, one that has opened new doors on my spiritual path.

I decided to explore the idea of angels after watching a woman on television where who called herself an “angel therapist”; she worked with angels to do “angel readings” and as lightworking helpers when she did Reiki. I felt something within stir almost immediately and I decided to start looking into this more. I began exploring some of the more non-denominational expressions of the angels, especially books by Doreen Virtue. While I don’t always agree with her ideas, they have helped to create gateways for me to explore the angelic worlds myself and form many of my own thoughts and ideas which I look forward to sharing with you all; hopefully my experiences will open some paths for others.

In each issue of the Sabbatical I’ll share some of my thoughts and experiences with working with the angels, as well as some tips on opening up to their energy and ways that as Pagans and Witches we can work with their unique and powerful energy. To get us started, I wanted introduce you to some of the major players on the angel stage. These are the Archangels, the “big names” that many of you may have heard in the past, especially if you grew up

Catholic. Most people know of what I like to call “The Big Four”, Archangels Michael, Raphael, Gabriel and Azrael. You might be surprised to know that there are in fact 15 Archangels in total! Below you will find them listed with common pronunciations of their names, the traditional/historical meaning of their name, and a brief description of their work and what qualities they can help bring to your life. This is only introductory information about them as their stories and histories are vast.

Ariel (AHR-ee-el) – “Lioness of God” – She helps with physical world needs such as money, shelter and material desires. She can also help us in work we do to heal the environment and animals.

Azrael (oz-rye-EL) – “Whom God Helps” – He helps departed souls to cross the veil and helps heal the grief stricken left behind. Because of Azrael’s work with the dead, he is often seen as the “angel of death” in the Hebrew traditions.

Chamuel (SHAM-you-el) – “He Who Sees God” – He can help to alleviate tension, stress and anxiety while promoting both global and personal peace.

Gabriel (GAB-ree-el) – “Messenger of God” – He helps those who fill roles such as teacher, writer or journalist, any messenger type position. Gabriel is also known for helping parents with raising their children as well as answering prayers for conception and adoption. Different traditions perceive Gabriel as male and some as female. There are some in the new age traditions who see Gabriel as androgynous.

Haniel (Hawn-ee-EL) – “Glory of God” – She can be helpful to women who have difficulty during their monthly cycles. She can also be called on to help with clairvoyance and its development.

Jeremiel (Jair-ah-MY-el) – “Mercy of God” – He deals with helping us get through difficult emotional times and helps us to evaluate and take stock of our lives, especially when we need to forgive others and create positive change in our lives.

Jophiel (JO-fee-el) – “Beauty of God” – When we need help with healing negative and chaotic times, Jophiel can aid us. She brings beauty and organization into our lives and can lift the energy in negative situations.

Metatron (MET-uh-tron) – The meaning of his name is widely debated but believed to be either “the Angel of Presence” or “He Who Occupies the Throne Next to the Divine”.

Metatron is the angelic ascended spirit of the prophet Enoch. Metatron heals those with learning disabilities and helps to resolve and heal issues developed during childhood. He is often seen as a patron of Indigo Children.

Michael (me-KAI-el) – “He Who is Like God” – He helps to release us from fear and doubt and clears negative energy from our lives. He is seen by many as the chief archangel of protection, and for this reason he is often seen as one of the most powerful and heroic of all the angels. Calling on him at difficult times can bring great courage.

Raguel (Rag-WELL) – “Friend of God” – He grants harmony to friendships and heals misunderstandings. He is seen as an overseer of all angels charged with ensuring harmony between them.

Raphael (Raf-EYE-el) – “He Who Heals” – He helps both the healing process and the guidance of healers. Raphael is considered by many to be a patron to travelers, though his main work resides in the area of healing.

Raziel (RAH-zee-el) – “Secrets of God” – He can help to heal spiritual and physical blocks as well as being able to help with interpreting our dreams or past life memories. In the Kabbalah Raziel is said to be the embodiment of Divine wisdom.

Sandalphon (SAN-dul-fon) – Sandalphon is another prophet who ascended to become an archangel, in this case it is the prophet Elijah. He has many different areas of interest including healing from anger and aggressive behavior. He is also known for being a helper to musicians, especially when music is used for the purpose of healing. He is seen by some as the twin brother of Metatron.

Uriel (YUR-ee-el) – “God is Light” – Uriel is an angel connected to wisdom and philosophy, especially when dealing with insight and new ideas. He is often associated with the “seraphim”, those angels who are closest to the Divine.