View Full Version : Gentle Rituals (not spells) Using Oracle Cards
We had a recent thread in Talking Tarot about tarot spells. There are a lot of people that think the process is complicated and takes a lot of energy.
The oracle crowd is different than the tarot crowd...so I thought I'd phrase the question with oracles...but really I don't care whether the cards are oracle or tarot.
I've been planning a ritual to ask the goddess/universe for help getting into proper post trauma therapy, something that I have been unable to accomplish due to lots of red tape and just plain falling through the cracks of the system.
I don't have ANY excess energy to harness and direct right now, to perform a proper spell, as described by the experts, as the only way to perform one.
I am up for a ritual that includes self-soothing and using the cards to problem solve, and asking for help.
Does anyone here perform tarot/oracle "spells" that are not really spells, but a little more...gentle...and well...within the ability of beginners and burnt out people?
I don't think I believe in a universe that only answers the requests of the strong, smart and accomplished. This doesn't line up with what I have observed. This reminds me of Christianity where the church leaders would make it all sound so difficult and impossible and only for the perfect, but I always saw more answered prayers among the ex prisoners and highschool drop out moms with several kids from all different fathers, than I did among the "perfect people" who knew all the supposed right words and methods.
SpiritOfTheDogz
07-09-2009, 10:05
It is my belief that and spell will only work on your mind, that is all, it would be just a way of giving you more of an urge to try harder and knock on moor doors.
All you need is faith, I don't mean any church faith or anything like that, faith in yourself to be able to sort out your issues and also (and most importantly in my opinion) faith in your spirit guides, to guide you, ask them and talk to them, they'll be listening, they may not answer staright away but they WILL be listening;)
I do.
Gentle spells, that is.
You're probably tired of hearing from me today...but..
I've found a simple way of doing it that is effective and soothing for me.
I have a small alter and I use Angel Blessing cards or Rune Cards.
I pick cards appropriate to the request I have...stand them among my crystals on the alter..I take a small piece of paper and write out what I would like.
I do not plead, I say thank you for (......) and then what I expect as if it has already happened.
I fold the paper and place it under a rose quartz candle holder...light a candle and let it burn itself out.
I then take the scrape of paper and save it..I have a gourd I put them in.
I'm always amazed when I look through them months later, how most if not all of them have been answered as I wanted.
This is soothing to me as I spend time picking the cards for the alter..planing what to write on the scrape of paper...and the ritual of lighting and burning a candle...usually one that smells real nice. :)
Lark, I'm not at all tired of hearing from you today! :-)
Thank you both for responding. I'm really interested in this topic. Especially from people who have developed their own way of doing things.
The wiccan way is great, and I have learned so much from the books, and I start to go along with the flow...and then...I pull back, knowing it's not exactly my path. I don't know what my path is, so it would be so easy to just join in with an established way of doing things...but...I just don't think it's my path.
It really hit home to me today. I judge religion/spirituality by my low points. If they fail me when I'm most in need...well...something is wrong...at least for me.
Animal totems always feel right to me. Gaia/paleolithic Goddess worship always feels right. I struggle with angels because they are so linked to Christianity with me. I need to do more research on them.
Lark, what do you mean stand the cards among the crystals? Do you stand them up instead of laying them flat. Do you use big crystals somehow for that?
I love candles in rituals. I think I'm developing an allergy. I haven't found an affordable source of colored, soy candles, yet. Crystal candleholders sounds good. The holder could replace the colored aspect of the candle.
Spiritofthedogz my foodstamp ritual was a lot like you describe. It really helped keep me focused on what I needed to do. I have complete faith in at least that use. I like to at least try believing a bit more even if it is a placebo effect, as long as there is no sacrifice involved.
Lark, what do you mean stand the cards among the crystals? Do you stand them up instead of laying them flat. Do you use big crystals somehow for that?
Yes, I stand them up..leaning the cards on different obelisks and spheres I own....I've been collecting crystals for many years.
I find that due to past bad experiences with religions I never feel comfortable doing anything according to a set path or way, the reason I chose this way of life was because it was devoid of all the rules and guilt religions inflicted on me in the past...so I just do what feels instictively right to me, and it's always worked well for me.
Oh, okay, you have crystals in shapes :-) Most of my crystals are tiny ones from the Crystal Wisdom Kit, or bracelets.
I'm thinking of maybe finding a way to wrap the bracelets around a candle? It might be nice to wear it after the candle burns out?
I have some really bad experiences with religion too :-( I'm only about 6 or 7 months into metaphysics spirituality, I just realized. Wow, how did I come that far in such a short time? It seems longer :-0 Strange :-0 I started studying grounding, as part of my trauma recovery, and found a whole new world.
I really want to add more plant life to my altars, but feel a little overwhelmed. I wish someone would make a list of just grocery store herbs and produce. Little by little I guess I will just have to make my own list.
Michaelmassage1
07-09-2009, 14:17
Hello, it is my belief that your rituals are just that, Your rituals. By this I mean finding what feels right to you and doing it with intent. What I love about readings and energy work is the openess and broadness of it. How your intuitive being sees the cards or the ritual. Find the things you enjoy and make them a soft ritual you benefit from. When you gain strength you can up your rituals to another level if you feel the need or want. From what you say the animal cards sound like a great starting place.
have fun and recharge!
Michael
I have a little vase and pick fresh flowers...but herbs would be very nice, lavender especially is a wonderful cleansing herb.
Yes, some of the spheres are big and the obelisks are tall so cards can lean on them.
Michael, yes, that's what I feel. There must be room to individualize rituals to the reality of now. And up the rituals when and if the time is right.
Nature surrounds all of us, and goddess worship is just so...well basic...from the earliest Paleolithic times. It just seems like there must be SOME room to approach the divine from where you are currently at.
Lark, it sounds to me like everything became less forced? Like maybe a veil lifted?
Thank you for reminding me about fresh flowers. I really need to bring them in to my home more. I need to study house plants that thrive in shade. Also go to some florists and see what I can get cheap if I just buy one flower. Flowers are all dying here. We will be getting frosts soon. I will need to find out when flowering branches and bulbs can be forced indoors. Yes, I think I will need to focus on flowers more than herbs. I need to look for some kid's books.
Everyone, do any of you use cards to cast a circle? Which deck? I was thinking of casting a circle with the animal cards. I've done it with my chakra oracle. maybe use the runes to cast a circle? I have a cheap plastic set, I pulled out last night, that I haven't used in a while.
In my mind, spells and rituals are on a par with prayer. It is focused thought on a subject. Even intent is action, when you have no resources to draw on.
And once your intent is set firmly in your mind action won't be far behind.
Best wishes on your journey
I think often we do not even know what we want. By preparing a ritual we decide exactly what it is that we want. Once we know what we want, it is easier to act.
I found a new book I like. "Wicca in the Kitchen". It gives the magical meanings for things that can be bought at the grocery store. So yes, we could make a snack and eat it as part of the ritual, but the book is more useful to me to add items to the altar in their uncooked state, like adding herbs.
avalonian
10-09-2009, 05:19
Maybe if you were to pick out a card (either Tarot or Oracle) that illustrates what it is that you want, or the feeling that you are reaching for by having what you want, and then focus on it, look at it frequently and visualise it in your mind.
I think I'm sort of saying the same thing as AJ (but in a slightly different way).
:) :) :)