By Ruby Maldonado
Hi, everyone! Welcome to The Witching Weekly! Since there was no article last week, I’ll add in a few more things to today’s! We’ll have a tarot reading, like usual, and for the craft/spell this week, I’ll talk about setting up an altar, and how to choose items depending on who you’re dedicating it to.
This week’s reading was a little bit strange—I chose to do something simple, another “Week Ahead Spread,” and like usual, dedicate it to a reader. I usually have at least three of the four symbols present, but today I only had two of them: coins (pentacles) and swords. Whoever this reading is for is currently struggling with money and their mental health, even if it’s just a momentary lapse. The good thing about tarot is that it is supposed to show you something that you can’t see, or don’t want to acknowledge. Nothing the cards say is set in stone; in fact, they welcome change! It is to encourage you to follow the path you want, not accept the less-than-ideal path you’ve stumbled upon.
This reading consists of four cards, number one in the top left, number two in the top right, three in the bottom left and four in the bottom right.
- My focus/energy to embrace: Five of Coins. This card represents recovery from ruin, potential to reverse a bad trend. You need to be embracing this feeling, and you need to keep going and push through your roadblocks. Courage, passion and perseverance are traits to work on at this time.
- Challenges or obstacles that may come up: Two of Coins. This card represents the flow of money, both in and out, obtaining money to survive, getting what you pay for and energy fluctuations. You need to think before you spend, weigh your options, and decide your priorities.
- How to practice self care: King of Swords. This card represents experience, justice, fairness and analysis. You need to work on stepping back from a situation and really seeing it, not just trying to figure out the best way through it.
- Support from my guides: Knight of Swords. This card represents skills, practice, astuteness and prompt action. Like I said, the suit of swords represents the mind, and this reading feels like a foggy brain, or being overwhelmed and having decision paralysis or anxiety. Try to focus on going with your gut if you feel that you’ve over-analyzed a situation and still can’t find an answer.
Usually altars are for a specific deity, whether that’s a Pagan or a Wiccan one. To choose your deity, you can research some and meditate on any names you feel drawn to, or ask a few different ones, meditating on those. Once you have your deity, it’s time to choose your space. Find an area that only you use, that’s not cluttered or hidden away. Shelves work best, or raised platforms on a desk or on the floor (but beware of pets!). Next, pick your theme. It should represent your deity, with colors and images that remind you of them. Last, collect and arrange your items, beginning by cleansing the area with incense or sage. You can decorate with images you find that you feel connected to, things like rocks, crystals, seashells or even things like jewelry. Herbs and plants or flowers are very good, and you can correspond them to your deity. Things like candles, cloth and bells are also good. Everything on your altar can be thrifted, or bought from a small business. We have a few here in Tucson, but my favorite one is in Southern California, called Lady of the Lake. That’s where I get all of my witchy things. I plan to work on my altar over winter break, so I’ll include pictures after I do!
The last thing I want to talk about is practicing witchcraft. Some people hold off on doing it because they think it has to be like the things they see in movies or on Pinterest, but the fun thing about it is that it really doesn’t! You can make spells on your kitchen floor, add whatever herbs you want if you have the right intention, or even just take care of your things, like talking to your plants and rocks! Pendulums are very fun to use, and you can ask all sorts of questions, even the silly ones.
Anyway, I hope you found something to take from this today!! I’ll see you all next week.