October 2008 Appalachian Pagan Alliance newsletter

Editress Ginger Strivelli

This year we again joined in the Western NC's Pagan Community 
'Earth Religions awareness month' events, by hosting The 
annual “APA Costumed Brunch” on Samhain. It was well attended 
this year, with several of us APA ladies and some other local 
Pagans meeting at the Fiddlin' Pig BBQ. It was so enjoyed 
in fact, that we planned to have another APA Ladies Brunch 
right after new years. Our Leading priestess Ginger Strivelli 
also participated in the Annual 'Ask-a-Witch' event held 
during Earth Religions Awareness week.

FROM OUR BOOK OF SHADOWS:

Forms of divination:      

TAROT:


Tarot cards are of course the obvious type of divination 
magical work, most of us are familiar with...some of us 
like myself who do on line tarot readings I sell on ebay, 
are even more familiar with it as our daily 'work.' 
I suggest new learners of the art of Tarot start with 2 
decks....the traditional swiss woodcut original imagery deck
...and also a modern deck that has the actual 'prescribed' 
meanings printed on each card (like the 'walking the wild 
spirit' tarot) OR where the meanings are very obviously 
shows the Whimsical deck is a good one as it's images are 
based on fairy tales...so the princess and the pea themed 
card means 'being oversensitive.' These 'right' meanings 
for each card do need to be understood, like the 
'traditional' meaning of each of the most ancient 
woodcut tarot designs, as the 'book' teaches them. 
However I teach all my students of the tarot to also 
'read' each card as the message that that image sends 
to them personally, as that is how the Gods, the Universe, 
'spirit' whatever you call It will send the reading answers 
to you by the cards you are reading. Two readers may indeed 
correctly read the same card to mean two different things 
depending on their personal view of the image. The Gods 
may send a card with a serpent image to a reader who 
has a fear of snakes as a message of 'danger' and send 
the same serpent image card to another reader who had a 
pet snake as a child who she misses terribly as a sign 
of 'longing' because of the way she reads that image. 
Both are correct. Lastly tarot cards are much like a piano. 
Anyone can sit down and bang out some notes. It is within 
everyone's limits to 'read' the cards to some degree 
of success. However with some lessons, some practice 
many people can learn to play chopsticks or even Bach's 
melodies. Some people pick it up easier and quicker 
than others because they are born with a talent a gift 
for it. But no one is unable to because of a lack of 
that talent gift...they may only be able to bang out 
noise, or with lots of effort and practice and learning 
play Mary had a little lamb, but they can play. That 
being said, most readers can not with any great 
success read for 'themselves.' The act of divination 
in Tarot requires questioner and reader...and it is 
best if they are not one and the same. Some of my personal 
favorite decks I recommend most are; The tarot of the 
Ages, Ramses the great, Cloisters,,and Sacred Rose.

SCRYING:


Scrying can be done in water of course...but also in grain 
(either in a bowl like water or still in the field in the 
wind,) clouds, crystals (balls and points,) stars, fire, 
and other such mediums of Nature. In the traditional 
bowl of water method...start out with a dark bowl (wood 
or glass or metal not plastic or other unnatural material,)
rain water or spring water is best particularly if caught 
without touching it. It's helpful to add a layer of oil to 
the top of the water. Egyptian Lotus oil is ideal, but corn,
olive or such will work. You can use scented oils if you like 
it may make it easier for you to read or may be distracting it depends on your 'gift's in divination.

RUNES:

Runes are not one of the sharpest tools in my own magical 
tool box, but I can report it is a popular way to dine the 
future and seek advice form the Gods. I suggest a set of 
runes handmade by your own hand in clay or stone....and I 
suggest a good book or teacher familiar with the art. I'd 
say it is much like my tarot-piano player metaphor and anyone 
can have some success with runes, while some people are gifted in their use.

OTHER DIVINATION METHODS:

Other forms worth noting: I-Ching, Numerology, Astrology, 
Palmistry, etc....none of which I can personally do much 
of a 'lesson' upon. (Distrust upon sight any Pagan Priestess 
Teacher who claims she knows ALL topics well enough to teach 
you, she's a fool and you will learn to be as well as her 
student.) Reading entrails or bones are again not the sharpest 
tool in my magical tool box, or in many people's for the last 
several hundred years, but it worth noting for historical 
reference that such were used as told for divination by 
ancient Pagans....African tribes and South and Central 
American tribes particularly...but also in Europe and Asia. 
It seems odd to us now, but at the time was considered 
quite an 'art.'

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