Author: A Solitary Pagan
MABON VERSUS AUTUMN EQUINOX
Did you know there is a controversy using the term Mabon as synonymous for the Autumn Equinox? The name Mabon certainly is a modern addition created by the neo-pagan writer Aidan Kelly. Kelly borrowed the name from the character Mabon ap Modron, a figure from Welsh mythology, but this figure was not originally linked to the Autumn Equinox. There is no historical or archaeological documentation of ...
Mabon ~ Autumn Equinox
The Second Harvest, the First Day of Autumn. marks the second moment this year when night & day are in perfect balance. It is the second of the three Harvest Festivals & centres around preparing food & the home for the impending winter. Mabon is a time to celebrate abundance. give thanks to Mother Nature (or who is applicable to you) for a bountiful harvest & to show gratitude for ...
The Story of the Silent Songbird
There was once a songbird who lived among many voices. Each dawn, it opened its beak to sing, but then stopped. “What if my song is not as sweet as the others? What if my notes are wrong?” So the bird remained silent, hiding its song deep inside. Over time, the forest grew quieter. Though the other birds still sang, something was missing. One day a gentle wind whispered through the trees, “Your so...
The old gods of Europe refer to the deities and mythological figures worshipped in various pre-Christian religions across the continent. Here are some notable examples: 1. **Norse Mythology**:– **Odin**: The chief god, associated with wisdom, war, and death.– **Thor**: God of thunder, known for his strength and protection of mankind.– **Freyja**: Goddess of love, beauty, and fert...
Tarot A Beginner’s Guide 1
Before you learn all the tarot card meanings, it may be in your best interest to learn some of the basics: Tarot reading is the centuries-old practice of using a 78-card deck as a tool of divination—that is, the art or practice of discovering hidden knowledge or unusual insight through divine messages. Tarot card interpretation can be used to answer a multitude of questions by those who have learn...
Tarot A Beginner’s Guide 2: What are tarot cards?
Each card in a deck has its own unique imagery, and the deck as a whole is broken into two categories: the Major and Minor Arcana. The Major Arcana consists of 22 cards, spanning from numbers 0 through 21 that tell “the fool’s journey.” In short, it’s an archetypal story of life. The Minor Arcana is made up of all four elements—fire, air, water, and earth are represented by wands, swords, cu...
Tarot A Beginner’s Guide 3: What is the history of tarot?
Tarot cards are thought to have originated in the 15th century in Europe, more specifically in Italy, and originally the deck was called Tarocchi. The cards quickly gained traction throughout many other European countries after the French conquered Milan and the Piedmont in 1499. The Major Arcana, previously dubbed trump cards, were custom made and painted for wealthy families, including multiple ...
Tarot A Beginner’s Guide 4: What was the original purpose of tarot?
While we know that tarot cards were used in aristocratic society, their original purpose is still not fully known. Whether they were family heirlooms to be passed down to the next of kin, simply a fun customized card game, or something in between is up for debate. What matters now: Over time, tarot cards became symbolic divinatory tools. Their use has far expanded beyond their original purpose as ...
Tarot A Beginner’s Guide 5: What is the difference between tarot and oracle cards?
Tarot decks have to consist of exactly 78 cards made up of 22 Major Arcana cards and 56 Minor Arcana cards. No more and no less. They also need to include four different suits. In the traditional Rider-Waite deck, these are pentacles, swords, cups, and wands; however, some decks use different representations of these same four elements. Tarot will also always include court cards (traditionally pag...
Tarot A Beginner’s Guide 6: How can I learn how to read tarot?
Tarot as a tool of divination is meant to give clarity to the person being read for. That could be either you reading for yourself, you reading for someone else, or someone else reading for you. In order to learn how to read tarot, it’s important to start by understanding the meaning behind each archetypal card. Much as we learn words before we start stringing together sentences, knowing the meani...
Tarot A Beginner’s Guide 7: How do you ask tarot questions?
When you are asking your tarot deck questions, it’s important to set an intention first. Try something like, “I call forth my spirit guides of the purest and highest intention to give me messages of clarity for each question being asked hereafter.” From that point, ask the tarot questions that are both specific and nonspecific. A specific question would be, “Should I move forward with the new job ...
Tarot A Beginner’s Guide 8: Why is it important to clean tarot?
If you’re the owner of the tarot deck you’re reading from—so, reading for yourself—keep your deck clean and treat it with care. Clean your deck by smoking it using sustainably harvested sage or palo santo, bathing it in the aura of cleansing crystals like clear quartz or selenite, or placing the cards under the moonlight. This helps clear energy away from previous readings and any influence not fr...