Celebration! Cartomancer for the Covenant of Hekate

 Today I celebrate great news! I have been accepted ad the cartomancer for the Covenant of Hekate's  newsletter, Noumenia News. My first publication features cards from the Angels and Ancestors deck.  Take a moment and check out Noumenia News's information on the Covenant of Hekate's website.  You do not have to be a member to subscribe!  There's tons of great information in there and I highly recommend reading it.

Angels and Ancestors by Kyle Gray with art by Lily Moses

I'm thrilled to be back on the staff at Noumenia News. A few years ago I resigned my position as Editor in Chief after birthing this amazing piece of volunteer work in the name of the goddess. From the beginning the goal was provide a place for the members of the Covenant to come together and share their works of art and experiences around Hecate. 

Today, I feel like I am returning home. I look forward to working with the other staff members and I hope to provide a service to the community as a whole.

My readings will be listed each issue using, for now, either my go to deck, Angels and Ancestors or I may use decks that I will be reviewing.  Ultimately, I will be featuring my own, self printed cards (yes, I'm making the cards from scratch and printing them myself) dedicated to Hecate.

The images are created by my wonderful partner and best friend Elijah and will include a pdf booklet that will outline the meaning and layout of the deck. I'm using an old process to create this magical item the same way witches have done for years. I'll be making them by hand and crafting a single card at a time. The first deck will be mine to work with and get a connection to. Afterwards, I may offer printings for those interesting in obtaining a deck for their own work.  

Below is an example of one of the cards in the deck. I'm super excited about getting this deck completed and can't wait to share a few readings with you.

 

Crossroads Card from the Crossroads Oracle by Renee Sosanna Olson

Art by Elijah Trent Olson

Look for Issue 56 of Noumenia News here.

Thanks for joining me on this journey. 

Namaste

Sosanna

Angels and Ancestors - Final Thoughts

 Last week was my last pull of the section of the Angels and Ancestors Oracle by Kyle Gray and Lily Moses that I chose to keep in my working deck.  I wanted to post a follow up to my interpretation of the cards with a review of the cards in general. 

Overall the deck is beautiful. I mean that's really what attracts us to Oracle or Tarot cards anyway. The art on these cards is stunning. I love the way the imagery tells the story of the card. When I went through each card and followed the author's note on them I noticed there were a few things that didn't quite match.  For example, the Sun and Moon cards did not play off each other in a way one would expect. The same with Arrow and Broken Arrow.  I would expect these two examples to be opposite of eachother but when you sit down and read the author's intention you see that they certainly are not.

One annoying thing about Oracle and Tarot cards in general is that they're always so bloody big.  I have small hands. Shuffling these oversized cards is hard, but add my small hands and there's almost no way for me to do this. I have managed to work with this but I am working on creating my own deck of cards and they will NOT be oversized.  (smiles) 

I will say however, this is one of my favorite reviews of a deck of cards. The colors, the images and the authors choice to use people of color and to include non-binary representations was fantastic. I do highly recommend checking out this deck.

Blessings

Sosanna

Witchcraft Therapy - A Review

 This is a review of the Book Witchcraft Therapy, Your Guide to Banishing Bullsh*t and Invoking your Inner Power by Mandi Em. 

Publisher Link

Author Facebook

This is a great little hard cover book with bright blue graphics in the shape of flowers, crystals and feathers across the front and back of the book.  The size is perfect for tossing in a bag to read on the beach or at your favorite coffee or tea hangout.  The print inside is a nice size and it easy to read.  It is an average length book coming in at 217 pages not including the index. 

The index in the back of the book is of nice size. I always like it when an author includes an index. To me, an index makes the difference between a so-so book and a great book. I need to be able to get to your information quickly.  Help me find it by adding something like this author did with this six page index.

The author begins with a brief introduction into magic.  They provide techniques around energy work, grounding, creating magical spaces, manifestations, rituals and more.  There's even a brief section on safety when I found welcoming.  Coming from a family where more than one of my ancestors dresses caught on fire I can say watch your robes there because in a minute it can all go up in smoke!

One of the first things you'll notice about this book is that our author isn't your typical "thee and thou" magical writer. This book is written in a modern language with slang and the occasional "curse" word.

It isn't offensive, but very entertaining and I can feel the energy on each page.  

I'm not going to rewrite the spells included in the book, but I will say that they are simple to follow and include a host of supporting dialog that I believe would be great for a witch of any level. I really enjoyed the section on the cleansing practice for realigning energy. 

The journal prompts for breaking old habits I think is essential for anyone (witch or not) to learn.  WE need to learn to this in all aspects of our lives today.

The forgiveness spell on page 181 was another one of my favorites. I can see how doing with as a self healing exercise would be fantastic. 

Overall I found this book easy to read and frankly a joy to review.  The modern language and peppy step of the spells really appealed to me. I can see any young witch really being drawn to this book.  I highly recommend this as a graduation gift, a house warming or birthday present. I believe the age level for this is probably young adult up through mature. I do believe that anyone would benefit from this book.

Be sure to check back in for my other reviews coming soon!

Namaste,

Sosanna

Angels and Ancestors - Warrior Symbols Three

  Today I'm exploring more into my new oracle deck Angels & Ancestors by Kyle Gray, art by Lily Moses. I wanted to start with a smaller part of the deck and become familiar with the it. Not just memorize the author's meaning of the cards but really fully connect with the intent of the card and what it says to me. 

We'll be going back to the deck and pulling three Warrior Symbols. I hope you enjoy.

Warrior Symbols

Mountains

The Mountains card tells us to Stand Your Ground.  Hold on to your beliefs or focus on what what you believe is right.  Mountains are a symbol of strength and wisdom. The have been here stretching from earth to the stars for all of time.  They are immoveable and unshakable and deliver the energy of resilience. When mountains arrive in our spread we should remember to root ourselves deeply in our believes and stand strong in the face of adversity. If presented with a decision, stop and reflect on the question, as the answer is within.

Moon

The Moon card tells us to Take Note of Intuitive Messages.  Use our intuition and see through illusions presented. The moon has always been a representation of the divine feminine. She is the Goddess to the Sun God.  She has the energy of balance and polarity. The moon is strongly associated with emotions which ebb and flow like the tides of oceans. The moon has different faces some dark and some fully bright. When the moon card is drawn we're reminded that not everything is as it seems and we should watch for those messages that often come from sources other than the typical.

Sun

The Sun card tells us to Enjoy Success and Happiness. Doors are opening, follow up on those projects and paths that are presented. Success is just around the corner. The sun is associate with energy and success. It also represents the god to the moon's goddess representation. The sun brings life and warmth to the planet and is a source of light in the darkness of space. When we see the sun card in our spread we are reminded to look to the future with optimism and happiness. Things are changing for the better. We are the writers of our own story and we have the power to make our dreams come true.

I hope you have enjoyed my take on these cards from the suit of  Warrior.  I'd love to have your feedback or questions. Post your comments here or sent a private message and we can certainly have a chat.  There's a button on the right of the page that will start an IM conversation with me if you choose.  

I have a few slots open for new clients, so if you're interested in that click the "become a client" link at the top of the page.

Namaste

Sosanna

Ancestors and Angels - Warrior Symbols Two

 Today I'm exploring more into my new oracle deck Angels & Ancestors by Kyle Gray, art by Lily Moses. I wanted to start with a smaller part of the deck and become familiar with the it. Not just memorize the author's meaning of the cards but really fully connect with the intent of the card and what it says to me. 

We'll be going back to the deck and pulling three Warrior Symbols. I hope you enjoy.

Warrior Symbols

Arrow

The Arrow tells us to Surround Yourself with Protective Energy.  We need to bring together positive people and energy in our lives now.  Arrows are a symbol of protection and defence. When the arrow appears we should look to protect ourselves from those people or situations that might cause us harm. This isn't an indicator of attack, but a message to be aware of things that may come. When the arrow card is pulled we should follow our intuition about who to trust and what to trust. Things may not always be as they seem.

Broken Arrow

The Broken Arrow tells us to embrace the energy of peace.  Let go of the defensive feelings and allow yourself to take the next step in harmony with those around you.  It has be used in traditional cultures to signify the end of a war or hostility between tribes.  When the broken arrow is drawn this is a symbol that it is time to put down your weapons. To move forward we must put away our fears. Going in peace is the way to ensure happiness for yourself and those around you.

Drum

The Drum Card tells us to Dream and Journey.  Take a journey inside ourselves to find information that will help us on our path.  In some shamanic cultures the drum is the main tool of the healers and help with meditation. The melodic beat has aided in meditation and trance work for centuries. It can help one enter a dream state that will open up the mind to hear messages that lay deep within our psyche. When the drum arrives in our spread we're reminded to listen to the sound of the drum which echoes the sounds of the heartbeat and gaze within ourselves to look for the answers we seek.

Stag

The Stag tells us to Trust and Thrive.  Bring the light of our being front and center and live our destiny. The stag, in Celtic tradition, is the king of the forest.  He brings protection when needed. In some Native American cultures he is honored for being a source of sustenance and utilized in varied methods, from drums and rattles to clothing.  He is a being of fertility and sexuality. When this card presents in our spread we are reminded to trust all of our gifts, all the things that we have to offer to ourselves and to others. Take those gifts, use them to grow and thrive in our current space. We should feel safe, protected and ready to move forward with this powerful energy.  Be proud of who we are and walk the path of the stag.

I hope you have enjoyed my take on these cards from the suit of  Warrior.  I'd love to have your feedback or questions. Post your comments here or sent a private message and we can certainly have a chat.  There's a button on the right of the page that will start an IM conversation with me if you choose.  

I have a few slots open for new clients, so if you're interested in that click the "become a client" link at the top of the page.

Namaste

Sosanna