Ostara / The Fool Divinatory Keywords: Beginnings, breath of life, innocence A meditation on one of The Altar Cards (Major Arcana) is intended to awaken a message from within. The voice of each card speaks to you stimulating inner dialogue. Here at the Altar of Ostara/The Fool you are taken on the very first step of a journey into the unknown. These meditations are simply a single layer of questioning, perhaps providing a magical key to a doorway of mystical insight. As you place an Altar Card before you gaze into its rich symbolism. Listen for its message to you! In the companion book a written meditation will be provided to guide you into a contemplative state. From here we move into other realms of The Witches Altar by working with The Pathwork Cards (Minor Arcana) The Pathwork Cards are divided into 2 groups corresponding to the Minor Arcana: 1. The Gods and Goddesses = 16 cards (Court Cards) 2. The Esbats and The Elements = 40 cards (Pips) The Gods and Goddesses correspond to the Court Cards. They can be used conventionally or as an alternative, the seeker may choose to invoke a God or Goddess to EMPOWER or GUIDE them in their meditation or actual ritual work. Fire Court Lugh/King of Wands (“The Shining One”, Master of all Arts and Crafts) Brighid/Queen of Wands (“The Flame of Ireland”, “Fiery Arrow”) Merlin/Knight of Wands (Magician) Salamander/Page of Wands (Fire Elemental) Water Court Mannanan Mac Lir/King of Cups (Lord of the Sea, Grail Guardian) Branwen/Queen of Cups (Lady of the Lake, Venus of the Northern Seas) Taliesin/Knight of Cups (Prophet, Bard, Poet) Undine/Page of Cups (Water Elemental) Air Court Bran the Blessed/King of Swords (God of Prophecy, Bran means Raven) Morrigan/Queen of Swords (Battle Raven, Goddess of War, Shapeshifter) Gwydion/Knight of Swords (God of warriors, magicians and illusion) Sylph/Page of Swords (Air Elemental) Earth Court Cernunnos/King of Pentacles (Lord of the Animals, Spirit of the Woods) Cerridwen/Queen of Pentacles (Goddess of Fertility) Gwynn Ap Nudd/Knight of Pentacles (King of the Fairies) Gnome/Page of Pentacles (Earth Elemental) Note: The Knights are all magicians and the Pages are the elementals. Basic divinatory keywords and mythology will be provided in the guidebook as well as invocations specific to each God or Goddess. Here is an unfinished sample sketch of Bran the Blessed/King of Swords Divinatory Keywords: Wisdom of the heart, wise consul, the sage within. Sacred words, protection, prophecy, mature perspective, regeneration. Mythology of Bran the Blessed: Bran the Blessed was a Welsh god of prophecy and regeneration. His name means “raven”. He and his sister Branwen along with Mannanan Mac Lir were children of the sea god Llyr. In Celtic Mythology he appears as a semi-giant who possessed a magic cauldron that could restore the dead to life. Legend tells us that Bran gave up his magic cauldron to the Irish King, Mathoiwch, who was married to Bran’s sister Branwen. This proved to be a dire mistake, for when Ireland and Britain went to war, Mathoiwch armies were brought back to life on the battle field by placing them in Bran’s magic cauldron. Bran’s armies were devastated, leaving only seven warriors standing. Mortally wounded by a poisoned dart to his foot, Bran requested before his death that his warriors remove his head and take it to the White Mount where the Tower of London now stands. It was buried there facing France, as a protective talisman against invasion. Reason to invoke: Associated with river crossings, you may choose to invoke Bran when decisions need to be made in order to move forward through emotional waters into clarity of mind. Invocation to Bran the Blessed Come to me with giant’s wings Spread out against the night Raven King! Blessed Bran! Whose wisdom I engage Ford the rivers, sword in hand To hear my secret plan. I am whispering to the wind To give you my directions Headless Warrior, Giant, Man Bring me to the light! Fly free beyond your wounded past To guide us both in flight. So see your way across the sea Although the moon is dark King of Swords, Perceiver Your solemn words I seek. Awaiting by my window Open to your magic! ~igraine |
Ostara/The Fool
The Witches Altar is a work in progress crafted by Beth Roth (Igraine) and illustrator Ted Enik We have been working on this deck for the past 4 years. Each card is intricately handpainted so our progress is lovingly slow. On these pages we hope to share with you some of our completed cards as well as unveil some samples in the works! Please click here to read about the concept for this unique and imaginative tarot/oracle deck! |
The Fool |
The King of Swords |
