As a professional tarot reader I have a tenuous relationship with oracle decks. Oracle decks by their very nature defy convention. They are their own little world inside of itself, immune to the rules and structures that make up traditional tarot decks - and in that way they are both intimidating and intriguing.

Doing tarot readings and lessons each day I’ve become accustomed to the rules that define tarot. I’ve become comfortably familiar with the meanings and symbols of those 22 archetypes and the traditional 4 suites. So, when faced with something new, like the Supra Oracle deck, I think to myself ‘Do I really want to learn a whole new system just to read this deck?’ Usually with oracle decks the answer is no, but with The Supra Oracle, my answer is entirely different.

The Supra Oracle deck is by far the best oracle deck I’ve come across to date. As with all decks created by Uusi the design details are immaculate. The corresponding book is wonderfully well written, and the box and cards are of great quality. I imagine anyone who owns a deck by Uusi takes a sigh of relief when opening their deck for the first time, thinking ‘Ah, yes, this is deck worthy of my time.’

The designs themselves are aesthetically minimalist with references to sacred geometry, alchemy, Jungian psychology, and Medieval gnosticism. It’s clear that a lot of research went into the development of these designs and that each card was carefully thought out. The Supra Oracle deck weaves these symbols to create a cohesive magical world; a world that gives space for you and your own subconscious to fill in the blanks with your own interpretation.

But here’s the real reason I’d like to recommend this deck to you and it’s a reason that’s difficult to explain in words. That’s because it’s really a feeling I’m trying to explain. It’s a feeling I had when opening the box and thumbing through the cards one at a time. As an intuitive I do occasionally get profound feelings or sensations from time to time and as I felt these cards in my hand I experienced an unusual feeling of weight, as if each card weighed as much as a dinner plate. The cards seemed to ground me immediately and shift the worries of the day far away from my mind. As I tried out my first few spreads my subconscious immediately entered a state of flow and I was able to relate to each card in such a meaningful way that is hard to describe.

The idea of learning a whole new set of card meanings no longer felt intimidating. That’s because deep down I already knew how to interpret the cards. It was like I knew all along and these images merely brought forth the knowledge from within. So, I encourage you to pick up this deck and experience it for yourself, you might be surprised by the magic that appears within.

At first glance technology and tarot may seem like opposing forces.  As technology continues to fuse into our society more and more of our daily routines incorporate screens, apps, and websites.  Tarot on the other hand is an ancient tool for self-reflection which happily exists outside the confines of modern scientific understanding.  Yet, divination and technology have been bedfellows for quite a long time. I fondly remember the scene in Big where Tom Hanks comes across the mysterious Zoltar machine causing much unexpended magic and amusement.  Later, as phones & computers became an ever present part of our lives apps and websites began to offer tarot experiences with a simple tap of the finger.  

Recently I came across a website, 7Tarot.com, which provides whole tarot spreads and readings.  You pick a tarot spread and the cards are laid out before your screen in a fancy animation.  Then you pick out your cards and your reading is determined. So, how are we to reconcile the readily increasing interplay of divination websites & apps with the wider purpose of tarot?  

Tarot is meant to be an introspective act where we delve into the depths of our subconscious and pull out inner guidance that assists with the multitude of decisions we face.  In my view, there are two types of tarot readings. One type of reading, and the one we’re most familiar with, occurs face to face. This type of reading is often more lengthy and allows the reader and the querent to deeply connect while they use the cards as avenues for greater self discovery.  

The other type of reading is one that is meat to be quick, fast, and fun.  In my opinion, tarot does not always need to be an intensive endeavor. Tarot cards as we know them actually began as a playing card game in 1400s northern Italy so it makes since to me that tarot can have a wide range of purposes, experiences, and benefits.  So as a professional reader I view electronic readings with a light heart.  While one on one readings will always be my personal preferred method, the important thing is that people in the world need guidance and I’m happy that tarot (in any of its many forms) will be there to help guide them.

What are your thoughts about the interplay of technology & tarot? Share below in the comments.

The Empress... She’s been on my mind a lot recently.  Especially as this past weekend I celebrated Lammas, which is a Pagan harvest festival.  One of the key symbols of Lammas is grain and the bread that is made with it.  The Rider-Waite Smith Empress card is full of abundant nature and fertility symbols.  Right at The Empress’s feet is a field of wheat that promises continued abundance and the happiness that comes when you know that all your body needs is provided for.

This weekend I went to a Unitarian Church service.  I had never been to a Unitarian Church before but I saw that they were in fact doing a special pagan service on Lammas so I decided to attend.  This particular service was run in tandem with a local Chicago coven and the service was indeed Pagan themed.  We called in the directions and invoked the God and the Goddess.  Though what was really inspiring was the ‘sermon,’ which spoke of the value of grain and bread - for both us but especially our ancestors.  For us bread is a common commodity, easily found at our local grocery stores and bakery.  For our ancestors, however, bread and grain was truly a matter of life and death.  I can only imagine what it must have been like to worry anxiously over a carefully tended field and then to finally reach the height of Summer were upon that Lammas day the first of the grain was carefully harvested - such a powerful moment that represented both a successful farming season and the reassurance that one would not starve during winter.  

While most see The Empress card as tied to the Goddess Aphrodite, I think of her more like a combination of Ceres, Demeter, Persephone, and Aphrodite.  All represent love and abundance in their own way.  And with Lammas, they all remind us to be thankful of what we have in our lives.

Aphrodite reminds us to love - to love ourselves, each other, and mother Earth.  

Demeter reminds us of fertility and the love one has for their children.  

Persephone gives us hope when we are in the darkest of winters.  

And Ceres— Ceres gives us the grain, a comforting reminder for us all to be thankful for the bounty we share each day.  

What does the Empress card and the harvest festival of Lammas symbolize to you?  Share in the comments below. I’d love to hear what you think. I also have another post about Lammas that I wrote last year.  You can read it here if you're interested. 

Blessings! 
- Scarlet

We live in the golden age of tarot my friends.  It seems that every week there’s a new tarot deck being published from the multitude of amazing artists out there.  This means endless possibilities for your own tarot practice, which is exciting but can also get overwhelming at times.  My own personal deck collection has expanded a lot recently and honestly I’m starting to run out of shelf space for them.  I’ve come to the realization that I need to be more intentional about which decks I choose to purchase. I want each deck I own to best reflect my own personal reading style and artistic preferences.  So, I put a list together of things to consider when trying to find a deck that best fits you.

1) WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT LEVEL OF TAROT KNOWLEDGE?

Some decks are of course easier to read with than others.  When I teach tarot to my students I almost always recommend they start with the Rider-Waite Smith deck.  This is because the images on the Rider-Waite Smith deck are clear, fairly simplistic, and contain easily distinguishable symbols.  I find that the narrative style of the Rider-Waite Smith deck is great for beginners who are still working on memorizing the card meanings and symbolism.  

For advanced readers certain decks might seem too simplistic and maybe you prefer a deck that challenges and adds to your understanding of tarot. The good news is that there are tons of decks out there jam packed with elaborate symbols and cryptic imagery.  

2) DO YOU PREFER HISTORIC OR CONTEMPORARY?  

Some tarot readers love researching and understanding historic decks, such as the Visconti Sforza and the Tarot de Marseille.  Though decks from the 15, 16, and 17 century might not be for everyone. Often the minors in historic decks are in pip form (meaning they only have symbols similar to a playing card deck) as opposed to the narrative imagery you might find in later decks.  It can definitely be a challenge to read the Minor arcana in more historic decks so you should consider your preference when making a choice.

Tarot de Marseille (Historic)

The Fountain Tarot (Contemporary)

3) ARE YOU MORE SYMBOLOGY FOCUSED OR INTUITIVE?

I view learning tarot as the development of two skill sets.  The first skill I teach is how to interpret and understand the vast array of symbols that appear in the tarot images.  Once the symbology is learned the card’s traditional meaning becomes clear and easy to remember. Then I focus on teaching people how to grow their own intuitive skills in order to enhance and bring additional meaning and significance to their readings.  With an understanding of symbolism plus an advanced intuitive ability you gain the ability to read tarot with accuracy and intention. However, like most things in life you will most likely be more drawn to one of these aspects than the other. Maybe you prefer a deck full of symbols that can read like a novel, or perhaps you prefer more etherial decks that allow your intuition to fill in the gaps.

4) WHAT ARTISTIC STYLE APPEALS TO YOU THE MOST?

I view tarot as a form of art and we all have our own aesthetic preferences when it comes the type of art we prefer.  Maybe you like minimalism, computer generated, watercolor style, woodblock prints, black and white, etc. No matter what your artistic preference there is sure to be a deck out there for you; it’s just up to you to find it.

5) HOW DOES THE DECK DEPICT YOUR FAVORITE CARD?

Do you have a favorite tarot card?  For me, I really resonate with the Hermit so I don't purchase a deck until I’ve looked at how the artist interpreted that card.  If I don’t vibe with the deck’s depiction of my favorite card I usually don’t purchase it. You want to make sure that the decks you own are ones that you’ll want to use again and again and this is a good way to make sure all your deck purchases will be tailored to your preferences.

6) DON’T FORGET TO READ REVIEWS

Before choosing a deck it’s best to first check out what other people have said about it.  There are hundreds of tarot bloggers out there like myself that enjoy writing deck reviews so you should be able to find many well balanced reviews that can help make your decision a little easier.

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I hope these six strategies help you when pondering your next (or first!) deck purchase.  Remember that it’s a journey and it may take a while to find a deck that you really resonate with, but when you do you’ll form a connection with it that will last a lifetime.  Happy deck hunting my friends and good luck!

Do you struggle with deck overload or being overwhelmed by all the options out there?  Share your thoughts and any additional strategies in the comments below. For more tips and tricks to finding a deck you’ll love you can watch my corresponding Youtube video:

If you're ready to take the leap and start learning more about tarot, I have a special offer where you can try out my Tarot Certification Course with a one-on-one lesson with me through Skype.  Sign up below to begin your own tarot journey!  

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The Marseille deck is one of the classics when it comes to tarot. Its bright cheerful colors and bold lines are striking and playful at the same time. Its characteristic style comes from the method of block printing that was used to create this deck. It took no fewer than four master craftsmen to complete these designs: a paper maker, a designer, a form cutter, and a printer.

The designer would first draw the images on a block of wood. For Tarot cards, the blocks were quite large, with many rows of cards carved into a single piece of wood. Next, the form cutter whittled away the background, leaving raised images that were then covered with ink. Afterward, paper was laid on top of those raised images and rubbed with a wooden implement to transfer the ink. When the ink was dry, the images were colored in by hand or with stencils. Once dry, the cards were cut apart and glued onto heavy paper.

This elaborate procedure is why the deck features only a few colors. It’s minimalism when it comes to color and design make this deck a bright stand out worthy of any tarot readers attention. The more that I learn about tarot history the more honored I am to be part of this ancient tradition. I feel that when you use a classic deck, like The Marseille, you’re able to tap into it’s amazing history which only adds to it’s powerful divinatory capabilities.

What are your thoughts on the Marseille deck? Share below in the comments.

Often I think many of us dream of discovery when it comes to finding our next deck. A deck of tarot cards can be like a book of magic - shouted in secret until discovered dusty and forgotten in a corner of some antique shop. As if it was waiting, waiting for you, to come pick it up and learn it’s secrets.

Yet, most of the time we come across our decks in a much more ordinary way, perhaps purchased on amazon or at your local metaphysical shop. The Wild Unknown deck is certainly not an elusive find; you can purchase it just about anywhere. Does its popularity make it any less meaningful or inspiring? I personally don’t think so. Perhaps its very popularity makes its symbols even more profound. All across the world expert readers and novices alike have picked up this deck and been inspired by it’s striking minimalism and nature-based symbols. Of all the decks out there, this is the one that I attribute to beginning the resurgence of tarot in contemporary culture. Where that leads us - who knows. But I for one am excited when I think of how many people, like yourself perhaps, that has begun their journey with tarot.

To me, it doesn’t matter which deck first strikes your interest in tarot. What matters is that you’ve arrived and you’re ready to learn about all the amazing ways tarot can change your life. Your first tarot deck is like your first love - never to be forgotten. My first deck was the Rider-Waite Smith deck and it has stayed my constant companion for over 15 years now. I don’t mind at all that it's a popular deck - what matters is that it brought me to a path that I’m honored to be on.

What was your first deck? Was it a more popular or obscure deck?

There are a multitude of different types of witches out there in the world and I'd like to give you an introduction to some of them.  To begin with, I think it's important to first define what a witch is.  To me a witch is simply someone who practices witchcraft. Witchcraft is something you do, like ritual or spellwork, and it’s not necessarily a belief system in of itself.  So, you don’t need to follow any specific religion to call yourself a witch or to practice witchcraft.  There are, however, many witches who use witchcraft as part of their religious practice.  So it's up to you to determine which path best fits your own spiritual journey. 

1: Gardnerian Witch

A Gardnerian Witch is someone who follows the belief system of Gardnerian Wicca, which was created by Gerald Garner in the 1950s.  Gardnerian Wicca is hierarchical system that consists of a high priest and priestess as well as various initiations. So, one is not a Gardnerian Witch until they have learned their specific traditions and have gone through proper initiation.

2: Alexandrian Witch

Alexandrian Witchcraft is like Guardian Wicca in that it is a formalized belief system which contains it’s own traditions and initiations.  Alexandrian witches follow some of the similar traditions in Guardian Wicca, but also incorporate ceremonial magic as well as the Qabalah.

3. Solitary Witch

A solitary witch is someone who performs spellwork and rituals alone and without a coven.  This may be by choice, or perhaps they just haven’t yet found a group of fellow witches they would like to work with.  A solitary witch can incorporate various different paths based on their interest and may or may not use witchcraft as part of a wider spiritual path or religion.

4. Eclectic Witch

An Eclectic witch is someone who pulls from various witchcraft traditions for their spellwork and rituals.  They rely on a variety of different cultures, beliefs, and systems to formulate their own personal witchcraft practice which may change and evolve over time. 

5. Traditional Witch

A traditional witch is someone who takes a historical approach to witchcraft.  They look at old grimoires, witch trials, various witch lore, and historical accounts to lay the foundation for their own spells and rituals.  Often traditional witches focus on working with the nature and history of the place they live and may work with the genius loci, or the local spirits.

6. Hereditary Witch

A Hereditary witch is someone who was born into a family that practices witchcraft.  Usually their knowledge is passed down through generations and each family may have their own traditions and belief system.  Though, just because someone is born in a witch family it does not necessarily mean that they will be more knowledgeable or powerful than a non-hereditary witch.

7. Hedge Witch

A Hedge witch works with the liminal spaces and the spirit realm.  In the past a ‘hedge’ would mark a boundary of a village or settlement and thus represents the boundary between our physical reality and the spirit world.  A hedge witch may be skilled at crossing that boundary through practices like astral travel.

8. Kitchen Witch

A kitchen witch enjoys making their home and surroundings a sacred space.  They often like to incorporate witchcraft with their cooking and put their energy and focus into to the food and the meals they create.  They care deeply about the ingredients, and may have their own herb and vegetable garden.

9. Green Witch

Green witches are extremely nature based.  They are likely to be in-tune with the seasons and often use natural materials to create their own magical tools.  They most likely try to perform all their spellwork and rituals outside in nature when possible.

10. Cosmic Witch

A cosmic witch incorporates astrology and astronomy into their witchcraft.  They most likely closely follow the alignment of the planets and they will often will coordinate their spells and rituals based on the location of the planets and the moon.

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What type of witch are you?  Share in the comments below!

You can learn more about these types of witches in my corresponding Youtube video below:

If you’re a fan of woodblock prints, Hermetic Qabalah, and obscure occult references then you’ll definitely enjoy The Alchemystic Tarot.  This deck is jam packed with symbolism and ideas that span multiple religions and spiritual systems. The artwork is derived from woodblock images found in books from 1600 - 1900 CE.  The creator of this deck, D.W. Prudence, clearly has an in-depth understanding of ceremonial magic and various western occult traditions. It’s delightful to find a deck that really uses and incorporates vast amounts of knowledge.  I’m a complete sucker for a puzzle to solve (see my review of the English Magic Tarot) so I love the idea of sitting down with these cards and researching the origins and symbolism of the woodblock print images.

Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a big fan of the Rider-Waite Smith deck - I’m a tarot classics girl, what can I say ;) - so I do tend to initially scoff at decks that deviate considerably from the RWS system.  While the Majors do fit in well with a classic RWS understanding of tarot, the Minors are a bit different. To begin with, instead of using Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles we have Alchemists, Mystics, Shekinah, and Magicians.  I’m pleased to see that the Minors do have full detailed images as opposed to minimalist pips and that each Minor card seems just as jam-packed with symbolic wisdom as the Majors. Rather than the Minors showcasing narrative scenes, like in RWS, the Alchemystic Minors relish in advanced inclusion of numerology, hermeticism, and Qabalah.  

The detailed and often obscure references contained within means that this deck is definitely not for beginners.  There is a guidebook, which helps considerably with understanding the enigmas presented - though I still would recommend this deck for people who already have a base understanding of occult systems and history.  Personally I plan on using this deck to help with my own personal tarot study and knowledge of the occult.  However, I don’t think I will end up using this deck often for my client readings as it might be tricky to interpret this deck through a lens that examines our daily lives.  As my tarot clients well know, my reading style is very therapeutic and practical so this deck might not be the best fit for my professional readings.  Though someone who has a different reading style might find this deck to be right up their alley.

My main issue with this deck is not the complexity of understanding required to read it properly - instead my biggest issue is the design of the artwork.  The concept of using woodblock prints is wonderful and the woodblock prints chosen for each card I find to be well thought out. My issue is with the execution of the overall aesthetic design. The backgrounds use various saturated colors with radiating beams of light.  While this design choice might work well for a psychedelic themed deck, I find the colors distracting from the gorgeous design of the woodblock prints. I would have personally chosen plain backgrounds and a more matte finish to create a historical feel that better encapsulates the design of the woodblock images. Though, this is just my own artistic preference and I’m sure many will enjoy the bright background colors.

Overall, this is a really fun deck for anyone obsessed (like me!) with occultism and I encourage you to try your hand at deciphering all the symbolic and numerological meanings hidden within.

What are your thoughts of this deck? Would you use it as part of your tarot practice? Share in the comments below.

It's certainly tempting to just immediately say 'No, of course witches don't believe in the devil!'  But today I'd like to take the time to think deeply about this question and I don't think the answer is as clear cut as many would suggest.  To begin with, not all witches believe in the divine or would consider themselves religious.  To me, witchcraft is a practice or something you do and as such it can be completely void of any belief in the divine.  And if you choose to perform witchcraft without the addition of divine energy than of course the answer would be irrelevant as the devil is Christian religious entity.  

There are, however, many witches who do channel divine power for their witchcraft practice.  Sometimes this may include calling upon the power of the Goddess and the God. The god in this case is sometimes called the Green Man or the Horned one and can appear as a satyr type figure with horns or hooves.  This archetype is inspired by pre-christian gods like the Greek God Pan or the Celtic God Cernunnos. This pagan God rules over the wild energy of the forest, our own human sexuality, and is a manifestation of the masculine energy in the world.  Like many pagan Gods, he is neither good nor bad as Pagan societies did not view their religious figures in a rigid binary system.

When Christianity came to Europe it viewed chastity and modesty being righteous and sexual freedom as being immoral.  So naturally, this put figures like Pan and Cernunnos in a difficult spot. Over time Christians overlaid their own story of the Devil with the much older masculine archetypes of pre-christian Gods, which is why the Devil often looks like the Greek God Pan.  This is why it’s so difficult to say if witches work with the energy of the Devil. If a witch is calling upon the divine masculine energy of the wild, are they working with the Devil?

Cernunnos

Pan

The Devil

To complicate matters further, there are also some witches to do work with the Christianized concept of the Devil as opposed to the Pagan masculine archetype.  Some believe that the Devil represents the very embodiment and power of witchcraft. In Christianity the Devil is connected with things such as ecstatic pleasure, celebrations, feasting, and unbridled revelry.  These are things that are often connected to various witchcraft traditions. This concept of the Devil is still somewhat removed from the character of Satan - the one who casts evil doers into the fiery realms of hell.  So in that way, you could say that yes, some witches do celebrate the wild and unpredictable power of the ‘Devil’, but not the fire and brimstone figure that is Satan.

On the other end of the spectrum, there are many witches that do not work with the wild masculine energy at all.  There are some groups, like the Dianic witches, who focus more on the Goddess and the ideas of the sacred feminine.  There are also groups that work with a much more watered down version of the sacred masculine that is very much removed from the idea of the Devil.  So once again I leave you to determine the direction of your own spiritual path and which, if any, divine forces you will choose to work with in your witchcraft practice.

So, to conclude, I think this question is more complicated and I don't believe a 'yes' or 'no' answer would suffice. To practice witchcraft requires a thinking beyond the binary of Good vs. Evil (or God vs. Devil) to which most belief systems are based. 

Unlike the Abrahamic traditions, Witchcraft is not based upon a strict division of what is good and what is evil.  Witches use nature to fuel their concept of the divine and in the world of nature there is no battle between good and evil.  A lion is not ‘evil’ because it kills the gazelle, and a deer is not ‘good’ because it eats only plants. Nature is both cruel and beautiful at the same time.  Likewise, witchcraft can be used for both positive and malevolent gains.  

With witchcraft there is no governing body or official rule book telling you what you can and cannot do.  Witchcraft is not something that was invented and controlled - it has always existed.  The power of witchcraft lays within the plants, the moon, the stars, and ourselves.  Witches over time learned to tap into this natural power and created spells for what they needed help with in their day to day lives.  There have been many witches that have cast curses against others from time to time and there have been many that have dedicated their craft to healing and helping others.  There are some witchcraft traditions, like Traditional Witchcraft, that are not morally opposed to hexes and will perform them if a significant need arises.  There are also some belief structures, like Wicca, where most of the followers are very much morally opposed to casting hexes and curses.   

How you choose to perform witchcraft is entirely up to you, and the moral consequences of those actions will likewise lie entirely on your own shoulders.  Witchcraft respects that you are an individual, capable of defining and establishing your own sense of morality and justice.

What are your thoughts on this?  I'd love for fellow witches to share their thoughts in the comments section.  Do my ideas resonate with you or am I way off the mark?