In The Cards:: Deck Review by Katarina Elaine

by Katarina Elaine

Divine Feather Messenger Oracle Deck

Overall: 4 SPIRALS 

Cardstock quality: 5 SPIRALS 

Booklet quality: 3 SPIRALS 

Collectability:  common 

Reader level: beginner 

Additional points for cuteness +2 SPIRALS 

Where to find it: Aquarius, local new age shops, online

The Divine Feather Messenger is an oracle card deck by Alison DeNicola with Artwork by David Scheirer. The observation and interpretation of bird appearances as portents is an old, multicultural practice. It only makes sense that a modern divination deck, or five, like this one would eventually be created with bird symbolisms as the theme. I like this deck because it is downright adorable. Working with this deck opens me to the same giddy feeling of finding a colorful feather in the park. It brings me joy!

The Divine Feather Messenger deck contains 44 cards, with unique artwork on both sides. David Scheirer’s artwork was done in lovely pastel toned watercolors. The card designs are clean and simple while still beautifully depicting a variety of feathers and corresponding birds with realism. The side of the cards showing birds, anything from hummingbirds to ostriches, has a brief written message for the reader.

The best way to use this deck is for morning predictions about one's day, or for quick and practical guidance. It wouldn’t be particularly helpful for solving complex situations or giving in- depth readings. The four special ‘white’ cards which are White Owl, White Eagle, White Swan, and White Turkey, help the reader to recognize when they are living in accord with their higher selves, or in tune with spirit. That bit of reassurance is always nice.

The Divine Feather Messenger deck is best for a beginner reader. It could potentially bore a more advanced reader unless they appreciated it for the sake of the artwork. Like most oracle decks, reading with intuition is the encouraged style, but this one can be understood even without having developed intuition. The messages that are written directly on the cards make understanding this deck a piece of cake. Readers might like to consider keeping this deck along with a collection of real feathers, and to look out for some real birds bringing messages to them, once they have begun working with these cards.

Katarina Elaine M. is a thriving artist, published author, professional tarot reader, speaker, performer, and healer. Her love for wild creatures and deep connection to nature has been inspiring Katarina’s surreal fantasy creations her whole life. A dedicated eclectic Wiccan; she believes in using her various gifts and skills to inspire and help others as a community witch.

In The Cards:: The Hermit by Carrie Johnson

The Hermit
Number: 9
Planet: Mercury
Sign: Virgo
Element: Earth
Kabbalistic Path: The path of Yod

When contemplating the stereotypical life of a Hermit, the harsh view of society could quickly turn to a wretched waste of life.   But the Hermit is far from wasting his life. In fact, it is quite the opposite. The isolation that The Hermit seeks is representative of an internal connection so deep that other simple-minded people in the human world do not understand.   When the Hermit comes to you in a reading this signifies a rebirth. The Hermit is the ninth card of the Major Arcana; the close significance is the human gestation is nine months, but this birth is spiritual in nature. The time that The Hermit spends in self-imposed isolation is preparation for a bigger purpose, a journey into the true purpose of life.   There may be parts of you that feel alien, and when this card comes to you in a reading, the Hermit can act as a teacher, a prophet so to speak, and guide you as you seek your own personal truth. The Hermit can ignite dreams once forgotten, spark ideas and dreams, and visions of the future. If this card comes to you reversed this message is significant in the fact that you have forgotten your own inner power.  Perhaps you have given up on your journey due to the harsh cruel world that keeps weighing you down. Your shadows can begin to take over if you aren’t engaging in the spiritual connection that your soul craves. You have shut yourself off from the world and are at risk of becoming that waste of life. Do not forget the worth and value that you bring to the world. Any adversity you are facing can be overcome by taking a deep look into the shadows surrounding the choices of your life right now.

Image source: http://www.sacred-texts.com/tarot
Pamela Coleman Smith

I’m Carrie Johnson, a transformational life coach and psychology witch.   I help people see the beauty in their dark side by reaching beyond the grips of anxiety.  I also provide Dark Shadow readings, you can find me on Facebook to book a session.

Luna's Lair, with Luna Motherowl

Hi Luna,

Lately I am being pulled toward working more with energy healing. I really have only a small amount of knowledge on this subject and until recently didn't feel the need to study on it, but it is as if the gods are calling me in a new direction. There is an overwhelming amount of reading material on energy and healing and I have no idea where to start. Do you have any book recommendations you could share with me to point me in the right direction?

Blessed Be, Leslie S.

Greetings Leslie!

Congratulations on your new journey! You are ahead of the game if you are listening and following the counsel of your gods. So many do not and they miss out on the blessings and growth it brings!

I would suggest that you first get yourself a journal or notebook and your first entry be why you are starting this journey. The next thing is to look up the definition of energy and then the definition of healing and write them both down. Then look up the definition of energy healing and write that down also. Then look up the definition of Reiki and log that. You may eventually desire to become certified in some form of Reiki, but I suggest you study and get comfortable with energy work first.

Here are three fantastic and thorough books on the subject. I highly recommend them!

ENERGY HEALING The Practical Workbook by Christina Mark – This book has 3 sections covering Energy, Health, and Healing. It literally takes you from start to a great understanding on the subject. It is also very easy to understand and has wonderful illustrations and charts.

ENERGETIC ANATOMY by Mark Rich – This would be the second book you should read. It complements the first book by going into cording and has beneficial exercises.

REIKI MEDITATIONS for Beginners by Lawrence Ellyard – I love this book! It also has 3 sections. All about Reiki, All About Meditation, and Meditation Practices. This book complements the first two books very well. It also comes with a CD.

You should be able to find these books on Amazon with no problem.

Good luck my dear and Yule Blessings to you and yours!

Luna Mother Owl

Deity Cafe:: The Norns

by Quilycan

Approaching the great World Tree of the Nine Nordic Realms, Yggdrasil, you can see three women weaving threads of fate and pouring well water onto the roots of the very same tree to prevent its rot. You stop to wonder who they are and what they are doing. A whisper for an answer you barely catch enters your mind: What once was, what is, and what shall come to pass… 

These are the representations of the most notable Nornir: Urðr (Urd) of the past, Verðandi (Verdandi) of the present, and Skuld (Skuld) of the future. Residing in a hall near the “Well of Fate”, beneath Yggdrasil, the three women can be found spinning the threads of life for all living beings, Deity and Humankind alike, and maintaining the tree. The Norns are akin to The Fates in other European Myths. 

Less notable Norns are oft responsible for minor blessings or disasters. At the birth of a child, the Nornir will appear to determine his/her future. Due to being responsible for all life, the Norns are often seen as both malevolent and benevolent. Whenever tragedy occurs throughout the world, the former are nearby. When a mother gives birth, the latter are there, protecting and bestowing the mother and the newborn child with their blessings. 

There seems to be some minor contradictions on the etymology of the Norns between the Skaldic Prose, Prose Edda, and Poetic Edda, and earlier interpretations from scholarly sources. In one such opinion, the Norns are Jotuns or giantesses from Jötunheimr. The Prose and Poetic Eddas are considered the most important findings regarding the Norns, as most of the cited information seems to come from those sources. In both Eddas, it is agreed that the three main Norns are maiden Jotuns and the lesser Norns (those overseeing childbirth and lower details) take on the forms of Æsir, half-elves, dwarves —depending on their parentage. A portion of the Skaldic Prose, Prose Edda, and Poetic Edda are all included in the Nornir Wikipedia article with translations available.

*Personally, my favorite sources for information on the Nornir or Norse mythology in general, tend to be the direct texts themselves. There are a few books on Amazon for fairly cheap ($5 or less) and some great websites from Pagan Practitioners who focus on Nordic Mythology in their practice. I have included the titles and links below.

Books:  The Three Heads of the Well: And the Norns of Teutonic Mythology- Carolyn Emerick Norns in Old Norse Mythology- Karen Bek-Pedersen Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norns
Websites:
https://thenorsegods.com/yggdrasil/ https://norse-mythology.org/gods-and-creatures/others/the-norns/ 

https://norse-mythology.net/norns-the-goddesses-of-fate-in-norse-mythology/ 

https://mythology.net/norse/norse-gods/norns/ 

http://www.northernpaganism.org/shrines/norns/about.html

Image from: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Die_Nornen_Urd,_Werdanda,_Skuld,_unter_der_Welteiche_Yggdrasil_by_Ludwig_Burger.jpg

Crystal Corner:: Lapis Lazuli

by Emily Gabbert

Lapis Lazuli is a metamorphic rock made up of a mixture of different minerals, the main one being lazurite. In fact, it doesn’t even have a crystal system as it classifies as a rock. It is often blue or purple mottled with white calcite and brassy pyrite. “Lapis” is latin for stone, but “Lazuli” can be traced from latin, to Arabic, to the Persian name of the place where the stone was mined. It pretty much translates to “blue”, but is also the base of that word in various modern languages.

Lapis has been immensely popular from the most ancient civilizations all the way through to modern times. Archaeologists have found beads along trade routes dating to the 7th millennium BCE. It was also used for ornamentation of sacred and beautiful objects, as a pigment for makeup, as well as paint. In fact, ground lapis was the base of the pigment Ultramarine, a paint that was highly prized and popular during the Renaissance. It was very expensive, and often used for the robes of the Virgin Mary, symbolizing holiness and humility. It wasn’t until 1826 that a suitable synthetic pigment was made. It is also believed that most references to sapphire in late classical and into early medieval times actually meant Lapis. In fact, most scholars agree that what we know as sapphire wasn’t known until Roman times, so any reference to sapphire in the Old Testament was likely about lapis.

Magically, lapis is associated with both Sagittarius and Libra, as well as Neptune and Venus. It connects to the throat chakra, and is used in all kinds of psychic work, meditative states, and to assist with altered states of consciousness. It is said to enhance your creativity and imagination, and create depth and clarity in your thoughts and communication. Lapis has also been attributed to all kinds of mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual healing and balancing.

This rock not only has a beautifully striking blue color and lovely polish, but comes with a fascinating history of multiple uses and meanings. It is worth digging into if the stone strikes your interest.

Image from: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lapis-lazuli_hg.jpg

Gifts of Gaia:: Vervain

by: Emily Gabbert

Vervain is one of those herbs with a very long history of magic, healing, and connection to the divine. It was said to be used to staunch the wounds of Christ on the Cross. It has associations with Isis, Juno, and repelling evil. It is an herb of many uses, both magical and medicinal.

There are a multitude of varieties of this herb, though the one we most commonly see in witchcraft is “blue vervain”. It grows about 70 cm tall with toothed, lobed leaves, and delicate, spiky clusters of flowers in white, pink, or purple. There is another variety that grows with toothed, oval leaves, and clusters of 5 petal flowers in similar colors. It seems both of these are called vervain, and seem to be considered to have the same attributes as well.

Magically, it is a feminine herb, associated with Cerridwen, Venus, Aradia, Jupiter, Thor, and Juno. It was said to be a favorite of the Druids who gathered it when Sirius was rising on the dark moon. They used it for divination, consecration, shapeshifting, and initiation. Other cultures have also used it for fertility, purification, protection, and it is said to help with astral work as well. It is also used in love spells, healing work, dream enhancement, and to enhance the properties of other herbs in use in your work. In fact, in the old language of flowers, Vervain stood for enchantment.

Medicinally, it is said to be a good tonic for nerves. It acts as a diuretic, stimulates the liver, and helps with gallbladder issues. It is said to assist women during labor, however it should not be given to pregnant women besides that. It is analgesic, antibacterial, anticoagulant, antispasmodic, astringent, birthing aid, diuretic, diaphoretic, emmenagogue, stimulant, tonic, and many more. Mostly, medicinal use is done as a tea, though external use is helpful as well.

Vervain is said to be the herb of poets, singers, and bards. It inspires artistry, and instills a love of learning. The plant will attract both bees and butterflies to your garden as well. With its multitude of uses, Vervain is definitely an herb to keep on hand in your stash.

Image from: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:270_Verbena_officinalis_L.jpg

Turn of the Wheel

In the final Turn of the Wheel, this post will just give a few correspondences for Imbolc and Ostara

Imbolc

AKA - Oimelc, Groundhog Day, Candlemas

Herbs - Rosemary, Bay Laurel, Angelica, Lavender, Cinnamon, Crocus, Basil

Gems - Amethyst, Garnet, Bloodstone, Onyx, Turquoise

Foods - Blackberry, Butter, Milk, Cheese

Incense - Cedar, Peppermint, Styrax, 

Deities - Brigid, Hestia, Pan, Cerridwen

Colors - White, Pale Green, Brown, Red, Lavender, Yellow

Symbols - Candles, Crocus, St Brigids Cross, Seeds, Besoms, Cauldrons

Ostara

AKA - Vernal Equinox, Eostre, Easter

Herbs - Daffodil, Honeysuckle, Jasmine, Meadowsweet

Gems - Aquamarine, Rose Quartz, Amethyst, Moon Stone

Foods - Egg dishes, Lamb, Bread, Sprouts, Seeds

Incense - Jasmine, Rose, Sage, Ginger, Violet

Deities - Eostre, Pan, Venus, Persephone, The Green Man

Colors - Pinks, Lavenders, Greens, Blues, Yellows

Symbols - Eggs, Bunnies, Daffodils