The Magical Mundane

Oct 12, 2023

Happy Friday the 13th (Early)

First, some housekeeping. Then, if you make it to the bottom, I have a treat for y'all.

Let's dust this blog off. It's been a while. Times have changed, people have come and gone. We've even been through a world pandemic! Yet here we are, you the reader, and I, the blogger. I am still married to my best friend but we are officially empty nesters. We have a whole new plethora of animal friends some of you may or may not have met. I assume some, if not most, of you will arrive here via my social media accounts and will know all this. For my old blogosphere friends who happen to get this update as part of their Blogger notifications, "Hey! Welcome back to my space!"

The biggest change by far though is where I have gone on my tarot journey. When last we met, I was exploring. Now, I get to read for others. And that is a big reason we are back to this space. More and more social platforms are becoming ridden with spoof accounts and scammers. These platforms are doing the bare minimum to protect legitimate accounts and many times letting the false ones flourish while removing the original content creators.

While I still intend to utilize and share on those platforms, I plan for this blog to be a safe harbor for my new fledgling tarot business, Magical Mundane Tarot. It will pair with my newly refurbished YouTube channel.

Finally, I offer you this treat. Someone on a Facebook group I am on was looking for a Friday the 13th tarot spread. Most we found were geared toward shadow work and superstitions. I went ahead and made us a slasher spread where the card positions were based off of plot hooks throughout the franchise. Feel free to use and share to your hearts content. If possible, please tag me. Links are just below image.

Happy Friday the 13th! May you have the luckiest of days!

Aug 19, 2015

Mandalas

A quick mandala made from fallen oak bark with lichen, twigs
and leaves in my driveway.
It took less than 5 minutes to make.

In a post on Facebook, someone asked me about mandalas. Here is some information you might find helpful.

The word Mandala comes from Sanskrit and means circle. In Eastern spirituality, you will see some pretty complicated examples but in its loosest form it is basically a circular geometric pattern. It usually radiates out from a central point and is symmetrical in nature. In other words if you fold it in half, you will see that both sides line up. While there is a lot of information on the symbolism, the information I am presenting here is geared toward a New Age/Pagan/Witch aspect.

Mandalas can be made out of any number of materials. They can be drawn, painted or burned onto paper and wood or etched into metal. They can be laid out physically with man-made or natural objects. They can be completely made of the same object, IE shells, stones, crystals etc or they can be any mixture of items. They can take a few minutes of your time or they can take hours or even days, months or years depending on how complex you make it.

One of the primary purposes of creating your own mandalas is meditation and focus. It helps train your mind to focus on the task at hand and let the outside noises and distractions stay outside. You may find mandala making pretty relaxing for your body even if your mind is hard at work laying down the pattern. Try not to plan too much before you start, let your mind work out each step as you go. This really is a really fun way to see what your creative side comes up with but at the same time, is a great exercise for conscious thought.

Now as a pagan, witch, druid, etc., how can we incorporate them into our practice? Mandalas can be used as a meditative or relaxation practice as above. They can be made as an offering to deity, They can be used as decor on our seasonal altars. Or they can be even more. Since the creative process in itself helps promote conscious focus this is a great time to focus on what you want to achieve whether it is healing for a friend, attracting love, protection, and more.

As many experienced witches will tell you the major hurdle of any spell work is focus and intent. No matter how much someone tells you that this herb or this stone or this candle works wonders, if the focus and intent is not there the spell is more than likely going to fail. Spells are not like prayers. Spells require the witch to do the brunt of the work. So no matter what materials you use, keep your focus on the intent during the process.

Here is a step by step process for making a basic mandala:

1) Choose a spot where you will remain undisturbed and if you live with others make sure you tell them to do not disturb.
2) Collect your materials. I do not put too much thought in this part as often I make mine on the fly and with whatever is nearby but if you are doing spell work you may want to at least collect materials that work with your intent.
3) Sit and relax for a bit in your chosen work area. Clear your head of outside influences and breath.
4) Start at the middle and lay down your base. I usually start with an equal-armed cross (a plus sign +) and something at the center of the arms.
5) Work your way outward and try to stay symmetrical.
6) Stop whenever you are satisfied and enjoy!

If you are doing spell work, you may want to place it in a safe location until the spell has manifested. At that point dispose, bury or just dismantle and return to nature.

For those who need or want the symbolism to help focus their work, below are some suggestions.

Love: rose petals, apple wood & blossoms, rose quartz, stems of lavender.

Protection: sage leaves, willow branches, agate stones, violets

Healing: basil and rosemary stems, amethyst, juniper

These are just a few suggestions out of many options. Many pagan/new age books and websites list correspondences. If you do a search for Magical Correspondences you will see that the possibilities are endless.

Below I will post some links to a few sites with examples of natural material mandalas as well as other informational sites. As a side note, that first blog link is what really got me into mandalas so my thanks to Amy from Flandrum Hill. If any one has any questions, do ask but make sure you skim through the comments to see if any have been answered already.

You do have my permission to repost this on social media, but please include my information. Do not just copy, paste and claim as your own.

Jessica
www.themagicalmundane.com

Resources:
https://flandrumhill.wordpress.com/2009/10/13/autumn-mandalas/
http://www.mandalaproject.org/Index.html
http://www.unh.edu/health-services/ohep/spiritual-wellness/mandalas-spiritual-practice
http://www.rodalesorganiclife.com/wellbeing/art-mandala
http://www.treehugger.com/culture/kathy-klein-flower-mandalas.html
http://www.crystalwellbeing.co.uk/crystalhealing/makingamandalaformeditation.php
https://spiritualityhealth.com/articles/mandala-art-drawing-your-way-wholeness
http://www.arttherapyblog.com/art-therapy-activities/making-mandala-art-for-self-discovery-and-healing/#.VdTqSPlViko

Oct 17, 2014

The Hierophants Secrets

This post is part of an October writing challenge: Writing the Wisdom of Your Soul hosted by Lyn Thurman of the Inner Goddess Revolution. Every weekday in October, she is providing blog prompts inspired by the major arcana of tarot. The deck I am using is the Universal Fantasy Tarot. I hope you will enjoy this journey with me. Love and Blessings!

The Hierophants Secrets

For this assignment we are to write on the Hierophant as a spiritual mentor and what knowledge we have to share as we channel this character of the Tarot. While I feel I have plenty of knowledge to share, and do so whether people want to here it or not, I am still always learning and growing. When walking a spiritual path, whether Pagan or from a main stream Judaic religion, one must always be open to learning and growth. Otherwise we become stagnant and lackadaisical in our spiritual life.

That would be my number one secret of the universe, Always Reach Higher. Channel the hierophant by constantly reading not only books related to your faith but those of others, of our history as humans, of cultures, ancient and modern. Learn, learn, and learn more. When something contradicts what you believe in or something you read elsewhere, dig deeper. Find out why people believe what they do. What research or studies were done? Then evaluate how that applies to you and your faith. Be open to change and acceptance of new ideas if they call to you.This is my number two secret to the universe, Always Trust Your Soul. It knows on a subconscious level what you need and why. Feed it and it will grow.

I hope my secrets are helpful. I know they work for me and I hope they help you on your path, wherever it may take you.

~Jessica~

Oct 8, 2014

The Emperor: Embracing the Masculine

Yesterday's theme was the Emperor. He represents order, logic and experience. I held off, fine procrastinated, on this post because I really wanted to ponder my thoughts before posting this. I know, I know... this is supposed to be a free writing assignment and we are just supposed to go with it. But in my experience this post is likely to annoy someone.

I have seen this growing trend to embrace our inner Goddess, which I support 100%, but with this trend I have seen the demasculinization of our society. I am not talking about who is the minority and majority, nor am I talking about actual gender and how they portray their sex. I am specifically talking about feminine vs masculine energy and how we honor them as a spiritual philosophy.

In the past, feminine energy was associated with creativity, intuition, and emotions. Masculine energy was the structure, logic and physical. The two make up a whole. If you are denying the masculine in your life, you are going to be incomplete. Rather than accept and embrace both parts, people either deny the masculine altogether or try to neuter him so as to be more politically correct.

This has also overflowed into modern paganism as well. With the resurgence of ancient beliefs, people have jumped headlong into Goddess worship, which again I support. These Ladies deserve our respect and honoring them after they have been in the closet as if a dirty secret all these years is fabulous. But what about our Gods? When was the last time you made homage to a patron God other than as a side note in a ritual? Shouldn't we treat both Masculine and Feminine equally in our spiritual life just as we strive to treat Men and Women equally in our physical life?

We need structure so we don't fly into chaos but at the same time we need the creativity to freely explore our physical world and our inner worlds. We need to be logical but at the same time we need to embrace our intuition. We need to dwell in the physical world and take care of our physical needs but we also need to dwell and care for our emotional needs. It is ok to explore our feminine side but it is equally important to explore our masculine side. Without both in our lives we become unbalanced. The Emperor is a good reminder of this. He is there to balance out the Empress. With the Emperor's protection (order) The Empress is free to tend her garden and make things grow (creativity). I know I need him.

As I touched on in an earlier post, my husband is the embodiment of masculine energy. He isn't controlling but he is the reason that calms my sometimes crazy antics and he is the structure that keeps me running on a decent schedule. He grounds me when I might flit away. On the flip side, I would like to think that I add creativity and spontaneity to his life. We balance each other and the fact that we accept and embrace our differences as masculine and feminine. I believe its one of the reasons our marriage is as strong as it is, finding the person who balances you and whom you balance is the key.

Fortunately, I feel the Emperor is well represented in my life but we can all use the little reminder that he has a place in our lives. Structure, reason and our physical bodies have their own place in our lives. Embrace them.

~Jessica~

Oct 6, 2014

Gardening With the Empress

Gardening With the Empress

Today's theme is the Empress representing nourishment and abundance. Creativity and fruition of your ideas and dreams. What are you thankful for that has already manifested in your life?

My biggest blessing is for a dream I didn't realize I had until it came true, my family. As mentioned in a previous post, meeting my soul mate through a monkey wrench in my plans but its results were the abundance of love that first was just between us and later spread further out to include our two sons. My family has brought me great joy and taught me how to truly love with all your heart and soul, with every fiber of your being. What a fantastic gift to experience love in near divine form as a mortal.

I also feel blessed to live in an area where there are so many natural settings to be inspired by. We have coastal areas, swamps and marshes, rivers, different types of forests, caverns and more. Everywhere you go, there is a new vista to take in. Nature nurtures our dreams, creativity and even our souls. There is something magical that I think Urban dwellers miss out on unless they take the time to seek her out. I am blessed that I have her right outside our door.

The Empress has been busy with me tending this garden of gratitude and I think it has been a positive experience. What's blooming in your garden (what are you grateful for?)

~Jessica~

Oct 3, 2014

The High Priestess and Her Wisdom

On day 4 we are addressing the High Priestess. What secrets does she hold? What does she say about our potential? Here is my conversation with her.

"High Priestess, share with me your wisdom", I entreat her.

"I AM", she responds.

"But what does it mean?" I ask.

"You ARE", she says smiling slightly as if in humor barely restrained.

I dream that night and suddenly her words are clear. I AM and You ARE everything we will ever need to be successful in our journeys. Our potential is only limited by our dreams. If we can dream it, we have the potential to create it.

~Jessica~

Oct 2, 2014

The Magician's Miracle-Maker Kit

For day 2, we are supposed to write about what we want or need to manifest in our soul journey. In my previous post I laid out the foundation of walking in my ancestors footsteps and feeling my roots. Here the Magician takes over from the Fool.

The suits in the tarot represent different elements. Wands are fire, representing spirit and passion. Swords are air, representing the mind and perception. Chalices are water, representing emotions and the heart. Pentacles are earth, representing things of our physical world such as our careers, money matters, health, etc. The Magician, provides us with the tools we need to achieve our goals by presenting us with the wand, sword chalice and pentacle. Here is my kit for for my soul journey.

For the Wand, I would like to say that I already have all the passion and spirit I need and really this isn't necessary for my journey BUT I would be fibbing. If I was as passionate about it as I needed to be I would already be making plans and figuring out our itinerary. I think a part of me is scared to make a journey so far out of my comfort zone. Its one thing to dream about something, it is quite another to take that step off the cliff and begin the new adventure. So for my wand, I need the extra nudge to take that leap of faith.

That leads us into the Sword. It is easy for me to get caught up in the moment. Sometimes, more often than not, I will take the leap before I think. That seems sort of contradictory to the last tool but its about perception. Most of the time, these moments of fancy are not particularly dangerous or have lasting ramifications. This journey may very well have those moments where planning is of the utmost importance. For my sword I would need my husband along with me. He grounds me like no other person or thing can. He would also make the journey twice as sweet because what better way to travel than with the one you love the most.

For my Chalice, I would want to manifest connections with distant relations. Hopefully, I would meet people who are maybe related in some distant fashion. Who connect with me on an ancestral level. We may have no physical proof that we are kin but we would know with our souls. An instant, I remember you from our lives before us, feeling. I would also love to fall in love with the lands I visit. To really feel the spirit of the land on a level beyond the surface. But not to the point where I wouldn't want to return home. So I would also want some soil from or a photo of home so I could resist the urge to stay forever.

For my Pentacle, I would need money. Not instantaneous wealth but enough to make our journey at the least comfortable.On the surface this seems materialistic but our soul can not journey on the physical plane without taking into consideration the bodies needs. I would still need shelter, food and water. Plus its not exactly feasible to swim across oceans. I am already gainfully employed so what I really need is to start saving up. Even though pentacles are about the physical, they can still be about a mindset and that is what I need, a saving mindset.

So here is my Miracle-Maker Kit: A leap of faith, My husband, Connections with the lands and people I encounter, A photo or symbol of home to keep from getting lost, and a saving mindset. What is in you miracle-maker kit for journeys near or far?

~Jessica~