Beltane Celebration

On Saturday May 10th, Lexa will be giving a free lecture on Tarot and celebrating the May with Nancy Venus and the Copper Cauldron Coven in Wantaugh Park, Long Island. This is their 15th Maypole Event. For complete details click here.
Blessed Beltane!

Thirst for The Waters of Enlightenment

Dear High Priestess

I am having some problems finding a coven or group of pagans and witches to work with. I checked out some open circles but I got a really weird vibe. Honestly there seem to be a lot of creeps out there. There was one group that had too simple an approach for me and another that was way too complicated for my tastes. I also spent a good amount of time with another group as an outer court (uninitiated member) only to find out that they had no intentions of sharing true mysteries and initiating me. I guess I should count my blessings because at least I live in a big city and there are lots of choices. I have a country cousin and she has little to no options but on the other hand, she's surrounded by nature and the goddess and can easily tune in on her own. I was hoping you might have a spell or some good advice to help me find my way. How will I know which group to work with and do you know of something I can do to lead me to the right coven for me.

thanks and blessed be
The Seeker

Camel Watch

Dear Seeker
I posted this film from today's news just as a reminder that the thirst for the waters of enlightenment are REAL and the well so dry that we can even see the physical manifestations of it. Unfortunately, like you, the camels of today's world are also thirsting. They are thirsting for water as you are thirsting for the words and teachings of the Goddess. And the way things are going environmentally, even your cousin may soon have serious problems getting in touch with Mother Nature. I ask that you say some prayers (along with all the other readers) for the Camels in Afghanistan. I ask you to do this because the magick I offer up as a solution to your dilemma, involves the energies of this amazing creature.

In the Tarot, the wisdom and secret teachings of Wicca are represented by the High Priestess card. The High Priestess is also the one who leads the coven and reveals the mysteries.

The Gimel meditation is based in Kabbalah and helps to align you with the energies of the High Priestess card. It brings personal revelation and reveals your own internal store of wisdom as well as revealing the teachings of the Goddess. If you wish to become an initiated witch or a High Priestess yourself, do the Gimel meditation three times within the 28 day lunar cycle. Begin on the new moon, repeat on the full moon, and once again on the dark moon.

The third Hebrew letter, Gimel (ג), is assigned to the High Priestess. Gimel (or Gamal) means Camel; a strange, mysterious and exotic creature like the Priestess. The Camel also has somewhat of a bad reputation, and is said to be obstinate and bad tempered. Similar things are said about the Lesbian, the Feminist, or any woman who cuts her own way in the world without a man.

The Camel is more positively regarded for its ability to hold on to nourishment. Unlike the horse, it is able to store nutrients in the body and survive long arduous journeys through the desert without eating or drinking. The High Priestess represents the preservation of the old religion or goddess cults. She stored the ‘fat’ or knowledge of the goddess and delivered Her ways safely through the barren wasteland of patriarchal dominance.

How is it that so much information survived about Goddess worship even though the Church Fathers spent over 500 years (13th to 18th Centuries) trying to eradicate witches?! The High Priestess is the "herstory" of women secretly stored in the belly of time. Like the Camel, who provides its own sustenance when no external source is available; the pagan soul essentially lived off an internal spiritual hump after their temples were destroyed. Although the last witch burning of the Inquisition took place at the end of the 18th Century, it was not until 1951 that the Witchcraft Laws were repealed in England, making it legal for witches to practice and speak openly about their faith. That’s an awful long time to go without ‘water’!

The most interesting feature of the camel besides its hump is the cleft in the upper lip. Kabbalistic lore speaks of an angel who presses a finger to all human newborns as they enter the birth canal. By making an indentation in the upper lip, the infant forgets all knowledge of previous lives. The Camel, with its exaggerated cleft reminds us of how the wisdom of the generations is guarded. (And the thirsty Camels of Afghanistan remind us that we must guard the material wellbeing of Mother Earth as the Patriarchy continues its dominance and rape of Her land and forestry. We must guard well as mankind is not content to destroy the spiritual wealth of the Goddess but is hellbent on devastating her physical treasures as well.)

Here is the Ritual for the Gimel:

Gimel shares the same numerical value as the word Chochmah meaning "Wisdom". This is the most valued possession of the Priestess. To make yourself worthy of guarding her mysteries, press your index finger against the cleft of your upper lip and vibrate the word "Chochmah".

The Ch’s must produce a guttural sound as if you were clearing phlegm from the throat and getting ready to spit. Camels are known for their treacherous spitting, but spit is actually a sacred form of magick.

Saliva, blood, semen, and vaginal secretions are all used in sympathetic magickal rituals to create links between the practitioner of the spell and the person upon whom the magic is being worked. Its magical use is mentioned in the Koran, Pliny of ancient Rome wrote that spit could heal a wound, ancient Semitic tribes spit on the ground to ward off evil. Hopi Indians spit to rid the mind of negative thoughts, and in Scotland and America, pacts are sealed with spit. Almost every culture around the world has ritualistic folklore about spitting. The common themes are both the bringing of good luck and the warding off of bad vibes.

As you ‘spit’ wisdom (or Chochmah) out of your mouth, ask that you be led down a good path in your quest for knowledge of the occult. There are many unsavory characters operating under the guise of Wicca. Ask that you be steered clear of those that abuse the craft. Ask that you be led towards a loving, wise, and empowering coven. So Mote it Be.

For more Kabbalistic meditations and rituals based on the Tarot, check out TarotPower; 22 Keys to Unlocking Magick, Spellcraft, and Meditation.

Haunted Evening

Sat June 23 11pm
Hosted by Lady Rhea
"To celebrate Gay Pride “Ruby Fruits” is bringing you an unprecedented approach in entertainment to celebrate our unique personalities.

Lady Rhea author and creator of The Enchanted Candle book, and LGBT Wiccan advocate is celebrating Gay Pride with Ruby Fruit’s first “Haunted Evening” open mike. There are millions of ghost stories out there. What is yours?

Your hostess Lady Rhea will be inviting you up to the open mike for ten minutes or less to tell us your ghost story. Lady Rhea will be sharing some of her own personal haunting’s and antidotes to ghosts with you.

Special Guest Psychic Lexa Rosean author of the Supermarket Sorceress Series will be on hand to tell stories and available for readings.
Magickal Realms staff psychics will be available for readings with your loved ones. All readings $1.00 a minute, 10 minute minimum.

Some Haunted Evening, you will see a stranger, you will see them floating, across a crowded room. Then when you look up, you will see that they are not there. To find you are spooked beyond compare! Tell us your story. $5.00 admission fee.

Rubyfruit is located at:

531 Hudson Street, NY NY 10014

That's between W.10 St & Charles St
in world-famous, historic Greenwich Village

Tel: (212) 929-3343

By train:

#1 to Christopher St/Sheridan Square. Walk 2 blocks west on

Christopher St or W.10 St to Hudson St. Turn right and walk north 1 1/2 blocks.

B, D, F, Q, A, C or E to W.4 St. Walk west on Waverly Place. Continue west on Christopher St or W.10 St to Hudson St. Turn right and walk north 1 1/2 blocks.

A, C or E to W.14 St., or L to 8th Ave. Walk south on 8th Ave (which becomes Hudson St). Continue to just past Charles St.

Beltane Magick is Just Around the Corner!

Gather ye Faires large and small Come ladies and lords one and all!

That's right - it's almost time for the...

14th Annual Maypole Event

Saturday, May 5th, 2007, 11 AM to 6 PM,

Wantagh Park, NY, 2007 Raindate: Sunday, May 6th

Lexa will be giving a lecture on the Sacred Tarot. There will be other workshops on the magickal arts and wonderful craftspeople selling god/dess and wiccan wares. We will dance the Maypole and jump the joyous Beltane fires. Who will be crowned as new May King and Queen?
Come and join in the celebration of this ancient and sacred fertility rite which brings prosperity to all who participate.

for more info about this blessed event check out this link:
Beltane Magick


this is a family friendly event!

blessed be
Lexa

Tarot Card Magick

Ruby writes:
Hi lexa
How are you, sis?
Say, I wonder what are the correspondences for drawing more clients to get tarot readings. I'm thinking the emperor card …but I'm not sure, never done a spell for that.What is working for you usually:)?
Thank you sweetheart
Ruby

Hey Bro

how the hell are you! I keep answering your emails and they keep bouncing back so I hope you read this here and leave me a comment! The Emperor is not a bad choice except that it is ruled by Jupiter and as you know Jupiter always makes MORE of what you have. That's great if your business is already booming but if you have ONLY A FEW or NO CLIENTS - be careful as Jupiter will make MORE of this abysmal situation! I actually have a spell for Tarot readers in my book TAROT POWER using the Wheel of Fortune. This is a great card as it can increase psychic ability as well as your financial fortune. Other good choices are The Empress, The High Priestess, The Magician, and of course our friend down below...

In conclusion, my dear Ruby, the best card I suggest you use is...

YOUR BUSINESS CARD

GIVE IT OUT WHERE EVER YOU GO!!!

You are The Devil

Materiality. Material Force. Material temptation; sometimes obsession

The Devil is often a great card for business success; hard work and ambition.

Perhaps the most misunderstood of all the major arcana, the Devil is not really "Satan" at all, but Pan the half-goat nature god and/or Dionysius. These are gods of pleasure and abandon, of wild behavior and unbridled desires. This is a card about ambitions; it is also synonymous with temptation and addiction. On the flip side, however, the card can be a warning to someone who is too restrained, someone who never allows themselves to get passionate or messy or wild - or ambitious. This, too, is a form of enslavement. As a person, the Devil can stand for a man of money or erotic power, aggressive, controlling, or just persuasive. This is not to say a bad man, but certainly a powerful man who is hard to resist. The important thing is to remember that any chain is freely worn. In most cases, you are enslaved only because you allow it.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Consulting the Oracle

For those of you who remember the Dilemma post, KW needs to decide whether to stay with her lesbian lover (LL) or get back with her ex husband (EH) (who is now remarried with kids.) The Witch Dr will attempt to help KW gain insight into this situation through the use of astrology and the tarot. KW will also be making comments on these posts so we can get some feedback on the reading. KW has asked 3 questions:

1. With whom would I be able to have the most satisfying relationship?

2. Will he ever leave his wife?

3. Both he and I are attracted to each other; is this a phase? Guilt for the way we treated each other in the past; in other words, is it 'real'?

Witch Dr will begin with Question #3. Is this a phase? Is it real?

KW is a Libra with Scorpio Rising. Her ex husband is Aquarius with Pisces Rising. KW's sun rests in his 7th house which is a perfect placement for marriage. There is no doubt that these two were (and still are) compatible. At the same time, EH has a natal Saturn placement in his 7th house which means he will get divorced (most likely from a Libra) and we know that this has already happened. This placement creates long lasting bonds with Librans but also constant power struggles. If this was a cause of the initial break up, it is likely to occur again. However, since he is older and wiser now, the Saturn may very well act in their benefit and the power struggles may soften with age.

I would not question that the natural attraction between KW & EH is real and continues to live and breathe. However, EH has the transiting Neptune conjunct his Natal Sun in the 12th House and right on the cusp of the Ascendant. This would indicate that EH does not see things clearly at this time. In fact, he may even be slightly delusional. The same transiting Neptune is conjunct KW's natal Moon and this configuration is a very dangerous one. It can cause relapses of drug or alcohol addiction so she must be extremely careful and make sure to get all the support she needs. It also creates that classic "bewitched" feeling that I fondly like to refer to as the "psychotic state of falling in love". Those under the influence of this transit often fall in love with totally unavailable or inappropriate partners. This coupled with all the Scorpio in KW's chart will most likely result in great disappointment once the desire is fulfilled. Because it is probably more likely that she is in love with longing than in love with EH.

My analysis would be that this is not REAL as far as whatever romantic and intensely passionate feelings have arisen between the two of them however, there is a strong foundation in the chart for a deeper more reality based kind of love. "What in the hell does that mean, Lexa" , is what you now may be asking. Well, it means simply that sometimes it is better to marry when you are not "in love". The charts suggest that these two would need to see how things fall out in the daily life through real contact (not just emails) and not just sex (which will probably work out just fine.) When consulting the Tarot on this question, I am told that it is not real but rather something from the past that refuses to let go because the issue wants to be healed and resolved so that she can move on. The tarot also says that EH is interested and willing to have an extra marital affair...

Gnostic Tarot

Dear Lexa,

Thanks for the kind-words at my blog. I have a question about the tarot: do you think there is a connection in their origin to the Cathars/Gnostics?
Best wishes for the holidays!
warm regards,
Matt Janovic

Dear Matt

I believe there are definite ties between the Cathars/Gnostics with regard to the development, study, and design of the Tarot.

We know that some of the most illustrious modern occult figures such as Dr. William Wynn Westcott and MacGregor Mathers (Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn), Aleister Crowley (Ordo Templi Orientis), Arthur Edward Waite (Fellowship of the Rosy Cross), and my favorite guide and teacher, Paul Foster Case (Builders of the Adytum/B.O.T.A.), dedicated their work and lives to connecting the dots and retracing the mystical origins of the tarot cards. These roots include ancient Hermetic, Kabbalistic (both Christian and Jewish), Rosicrucian, Masonic, and Gnostic teachings.

The closest direct connection I have found between the Tarot and the Gnostic/Cathars comes from a work entitled Occult and Mystical Freemasonry (1643 - 1943) MARTINISM History and Doctrine by Robert Ambelain. Ambelain includes a discourse on an esoteric signature used by the occultist Martinez de Pasqually which is referred to as "figure four":

"This mysterious sign figures frequently among the inscriptions discovered by O. Rohn in the grottoes of the Aude region, in the heart of the legendary region of the Albigensian see, in the grottoes of Ornolac, most notably of Lambrives. These inscriptions were attributed by all the examiners to the Cathars who took refuge in these caverns.
When the Cathars, gnostic survival in the Middle Ages apparently disappeared, the same "figure four" was then adopted by another great society of thought, which we have named the Agla. Agla was an esoteric society in the Renaissance period, grouping together apprentices, companions and masters of Guilds associated with Books, librarians, engravers, printers, stationers, and book-binders, as well as card makers who created the first playing cards and the first Tarots."

It is interesting to note that the Cathar/Gnostic mysticism and teachings were deeply rooted in France and the oldest surviving deck, the Paris Tarot, is housed in the Bibiothéque Nationale in Paris. I doubt this is a coincidence.

Thank you for your most intelligent question and may the Gods and Goddesses of Fortune and Wisdom bless you with illumination, enlightenment, and prosperity in the New Year!
In Lux
Lexa

A Solstice Spread

Dear Lexa
I know you are a great psychic and priestess of the wicca. I am wondering if you know of any special readings that can be done for the Yule or Winter Solstice. With the cold months coming, I am wishing for some insight and wisdom to see me through until the spring. Any guidance you can offer will be quite appreciated.
blessed be
a friend and fan in Great Britain

Dear F&F
thank you for your inquiry. Below is a wonderful tarot spread
that I would love to give you as a gift for the season.
Have a cool Yule!
blessed be
Lexa

A SOLSTICE SPREAD
by Lady Venus

At the Solstice we greet the new born Sun King; the wheel turns and the days begin to wax full. The sun is the central life force of our solar system. This tarot spread combines the sun and planetary energies with the 78 sacred symbols of the Tarot.

Shuffle and cut the cards as usual. Place four cards in a vertical line, beginning at the bottom of the line. Place the fifth card across the fourth card. Then add six cards above the fourth card. You should have ten cards in a vertical line and one card crossing over the card in the fourth position.

• The first or bottom card represents the Sun. Its' meaning will connect to and shed light on all the other cards. It represents the self or what is central to you at this time.

• The second card is the Mercury position, the planet closest to the Sun. This card reveals your creative and communication skills, as well as what others are saying about you.

• The third card is Venus and shows the love energy around you. (what you are giving out as well as receiving.)

• The fourth card is the Earth position and represents your health, wealth, and material well being.

• The fifth card (card crossing the Earth) is the Moon and symbolizes the emotional life and feelings connected to the Earth card. The moon position can also reveal psychic awareness.

• The sixth position is Mars. This card reveals your ambition and/or sexual energy. If the card is negative it may mean you have sexual blocks (the Devil),trouble releasing your anger (eight of swords), or perhaps you are too combative (five of wands).

• Jupiter is the seventh card and shows your potential growth (spiritual and financial), and the strength or weakness of your physical and psychic protection fields.

• The eighth position, Saturn, shows the lessons you are learning and the restrictions placed upon you at this time.

• Uranus in the ninth position informs you of unexpected events (positive or negative). It also reveals how much raw untapped creative energy you have at this time. Compare this card to the Mercury card. If they compliment each other, you are receiving Divine guidance and utilizing it properly.

• Neptune in the tenth placement represents your dreams or fantasies. Compare it to the Venus card to understand whether you are expressing your love energy or suppressing your true desires.

• The eleventh and final card is Pluto and unveils the darker issues in your life. It shows your spiritual power as well as the demons you must face and conquer. If the card is positive it means you are on the regenerative side of a disturbing issue in your life. If the card is negative it may mean you are spiraling downward and letting your inner demons have the upper hand.

This spread can be used to ask a question or to examine an issue, but I recommend it more as a general checkup to look at your planetary aura. If you want the reading to be of the highest spiritual or meditative order, use only the 22 Major Trump cards. If you are asking a question of a more earthly nature, use all 78 cards. Look for similar suits and which positions they fall in as that will indicate a relationship between those planets. Here are some examples:

• Ace of Wands in the Mars position, Seven of Wands in the Mercury position, and Ten of Wands in the Saturn position indicate a relationship between these three planets. Perhaps your Mercury energy is moving in many different directions or people are offering you many different opportunities. Mars is saying to single out a particular goal and move on it. Saturn tells you the lesson is to be responsible and carry that goal out to its conclusion.
  
• Two of pentacles in the Earth position, Three of Pentacles in the Moon position and Four of Pentacles in the Jupiter position. You are debating whether or not you should make a change. You feel good about your work, yet the Jupiter card is telling you to wait before making any kind of expansion, especially if it's financial.
  
• Seven of cups in the Venus position and Three of Cups in the Neptune position. Looking at the seven alone, you might conclude that there is disillusionment in love. However the three and seven together mean that wishes will come true and inner needs and desires will be fulfilled. You are definitely on the right track in love, and probably overwhelmed that your inner needs are finally being met.

This spread uses eleven cards in all. Eleven is the number of Nuit, the Egyptian sky goddess. Her body encompasses all the stars in the heavens. The Solstice is also a time to honor the Goddess; Great Mother of the Lord of Light. Blessed Yule.