Witches have a long history of negative public perception. The word “witch” is thought to have originated from the Celtic word “wicce,” which means weaver or wise. Witches were formerly the healers or crafty women of the village. As the new religion of Christianity expanded across the country, the keepers of the ancient Pagan practiceswho were largely witcheswere demonized and, as we know from history, persecuted. They were dragged into the misunderstanding and darkness underground (or beneath the night sky).
Let’s consider witches as the agents of magic and transformation for the sake of Halloween, though. They combine the energies of this world and the next in a unified way through spells, rituals, and even herbal concoctions (yes, frequently prepared in a cauldron). This allows them to solve issues and heal people.
If you have the Witch card in your hand, magic is definitely afoot and you can weave your own change through life! You need to realize that you actually do have power. It can also be a sign that others feel intimidated by your growing self-confidence and that they don’t like the way you’re changing. Stay encouraged and be ready for this. Instead, you’ll attract better opportunities and new friends.
** This is how the oracle’s author sees things. In reality, the word “witch” has a considerably more nuanced derivation, and there is ongoing discussion regarding it. I advise conducting research on it using historical documents and the Online Etymology Dictionary.
In This Article...
What in tarot is the witch card?
Witchcraft is the practice of evil power as well as natural and supernatural activities. In the past, a witch’s magical abilities were frequently utilized for prophecy, rather than only being used for evil. The Witch of Endon, who resided in Palestine, was one of the most well-known ancient witches. According to the Bible, Saul, the first king of the Hebrews, talked to her ahead of the conflict with the Philistines.
The dark witch leans more toward naughty and nasty meanings when a Tarot card is read. Generally speaking, the white witch represents positive features and promising futures. Due to their strong observation and attention, both kinds of witches are particularly well-suited to reading and interpreting Tarot cards.
The reader of Tarot fortune-telling cards quickly feels a close kinship to the symbolic images, regardless of whether they are an avowed witch or warlock or simply drawn to the fascination and secrets of the occult. The mystical images on the cards form a connection of concepts and symbols that the reader or diviner interprets as happenings, both current and past, as well as potential outcomes in the future.
Four court cards, the valet, knight, queen, and king, as well as the fourteen pip cards that make up each suit in the Tarot deck make up the entire coven from ancient times. Currently, there are only thirteen cards in each suit of playing cards, which is a similar number to the thirteen members of the majority of contemporary covens.
The magick circle is the most sacred location for worship and learning. Within the boundaries of the circle are strong and compelling influences. An initiate standing at the magick circle’s entrance symbolizes the transition from ignorance and blindness to perception, knowledge, and wisdom.
Swords, which are equivalent to the suit of Swords or Spades, are used to represent the north, or magnetic center, of the magick circle. The suit of Batons, Wands, or Clubs represents the south side of the universe, which represents conflict. The chalice of wine, which corresponds to the suit of Cups or Hearts, represents the east side of the universe, which is a representation of profound knowledge. The west side of the universe, which is symbolized by paten cakes or coins, denotes meditation. It is comparable to the Coins, Pentacles, or Diamonds suit.
In an old lyric, it says: “The sorceress Visions that are old and bold in fortune. In the perspective of the devil, every woman is a witch, and every witch is smart. Witchcraft-influenced divination is an age-old practice. People with clairvoyant abilities frequently discover that the fervor and passion of particular magical rites enhances these abilities. There are several different Tarot packs that can be used for witchcraft readings.
The artist Fergus Hall’s Tarot of the Witches deck, which appears in the film “Live and Let Die is the perfect Tarot pack for coven readings since it features full-length characters in captivating dreamy imagery.
Is the contemporary witch tarot deck suitable for newcomers?
Here are a few recommended decks:
One of the most well-known tarot decks is the Rider Waite deck, which was first released in 1909. Because it’s simple to locate information on how to interpret the cards, it can make a fantastic starter deck. The Rider Waite tarot deck has been updated as the Modern Witch deck. The African spiritual practices are depicted in the Akamara tarot deck. Cards of the Tarot Illuminati deck have vivid colors and intricate artwork.
The witch tarot of today contains how many cards?
The dynamic Modern Witch Tarot is a variation of the traditional Waite-Smith Tarot. Instead of being classically witchy (pointy hats, wands, etc.), it is geared for contemporary witches. Modern witchcraft has a reputation for being welcoming and inclusive, making it appealing to those who are frequently marginalized. Because of the Modern Witch Tarot’s brilliant design, it is a champion at portraying people of color, LGBTQA and femmes, the young, middle-aged, and mature. However, this does not exclude the use of this deck by cis women (and male allies).
The deck superficially seems to be relatively simple, but it is incredibly complicated and offers a wide range of human experience possibilities. The deck first appears to be heavily biased toward feminine iconography, yet gender and identity are shown across the gender and identity spectrum, with traditionally masculine aspects presented in a way that leaves room for interpretation.
The Modern Witch Tarot has a conventional format.
It has 78 cards total, plus 1 that the seeker can include or delete based on preference or mood. It is fully drawn. There are 57 cards in the Minor Arcana and 22 cards in the Major Arcana. Despite having the same design as the 10 of Swords, the extra card labeled Everything Is Fine is self-explanatory based on its title alone. Or, the 10 of Swords itself can be utilized in its place. There are four suits in the Minor Arcana. With 10 number cards and 4 Court cards, the deck includes Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles. The Page, Knight, Queen, and King are the court cards. The Major Arcana’s structure and titles are those of A. E. Waites. There is also a top card with a sarcastic message from the deck’s creatoryou may choose to include it as a wildcard or exclude it entirely.
The dimension of the cards, which is about standard for tarot cards at 70 mm x 120 mm, is neither excessively long nor excessively broad.
The card stock has very little flexibility and is clearly thick and heavy. Due to this, the deck is now considerably thick, which some users may find to be rather challenging. The cards have an extremely smooth, high-gloss texture that makes them relatively slippery and (despite the deck’s density) simple to shuffle. It should be noted that some decks with high gloss finishes are prone to peeling, so you might want to use a little caution if you play your cards aggressively.
whenever you shuffle this deck.
Excellent print quality is present. Since this type of artwork isn’t forgiving of printing errors, the level of quality control here is all the more impressive. The colors are solid, without bleeding or blurring, and the visuals have clean, precise lines.
Artist The aesthetic of Lisa Sterles is a lovely fusion of pop and graphic art. This deck excels at immaculate execution since it includes exacting line work with limited shading and block colors. She updates Waite-Smith images to represent modern life by removing some of the traditional (some could say fussy or cluttered) features. While some may compare it to “comic book art,” the pictures lack the monotonous homogeneity of comics; instead, each character is distinctive, with small nuances determining their appearance and emotion.
Sterle’s wide range of solid colors, which include vivid blues and yellows, mustard and tans, candy pink, coral, and dove grey, are reminiscent of Pamela Coleman Smith’s.
The titles of all cards are listed beneath the illustration in black print within a white rectangle, just as the Waite-Smith deck. The graphics are enclosed within a narrow black frame and white borders.
The back of the cards feature an all-seeing eye, a compass, the suit symbols, and other occult imagery. The picture can be reversed because it is symmetrical and balanced.
The cards are delivered in a sturdy box that is upright and has a slide-off cover or top. The cards and the booklet that goes with them fit perfectly within. The Modern Witch Tarot and publisher information are printed on the box, which is primarily white and features images from the deck. An MW ambigram is printed on the bottom half of the box, which is all black. The inside of the lid and base boxes are lined with a white on black design of magical symbols, displaying a great attention to detail. Because it is a sturdy box with padding inside to protect the cards and guides within, it can fit easily into a backpack or shoulder bag. It should be remembered that it is still just a cardboard box and that rough handling may eventually cause damage.
The 56-page guidebook is a cute small hardback published by Lisa Sterle. The card box’s white on black pattern is repeated on the endpapers.
The Seeker is introduced to the ideas of the deck and its purpose in a Forward written by Vita Alaya. The Modern Witch Tarot’s creator explains how she came to design the deck in the introduction, as well as her hopes for you, the Seeker, as you utilize it.
From here, we immediately go on to the Major Arcana.
Each card comprises a separate sheet with a tiny black-and-white copy of the card, a synopsis of the action, and a divinatory interpretation.
There are no illustrations or detailed descriptions of the Minor Arcana cards; only their interpretations are provided. It should be noted that neither the Major nor Minor Arcana have reversed meanings.
Although the descriptions and interpretations are written in a more contemporary style, the divinatory meanings are more updated and suitable for modern life than significantly different from the traditional meanings. Though usually optimistic, the counsel does not avoid discussing the less appealing themes that sometimes come up in readings.
The care and storage of cards, how to get ready for a reading, how to phrase a question, and how to do a layout are all covered at the end of the book.
The one card draw, two 4-card spreads, The Four Powers spread and its alternate The Cunning Path spread, as well as the more intricate 9-card Inner Wheel layout, are all featured.
This deck is odd, strong, and quite eccentric. It is extremely positive in that it is profoundly inclusive. The Modern Witch Tarot can be the deck for you if you feel like there isn’t one out there that is right for you, that understands or includes you. The Modern Witch Tarot gives an old classic a fresh perspective; it’s exceptional without being ostentatious, cool without being superficial, and fun without being irresponsible.
Is the judgment card a yes or a no?
The Judgement card is often a neutral card in tarot yes or no readings, but if the other cards in your spread seem good, it tends to lean more toward a yes.
Remember that the Judgement card represents transition and change as well. Additionally, that the results of your actions will impact the world.
As a result, Judgement is a “Yes, you are being called forward” if you are receiving a reading on an important, life-altering issue. Take the initiative and carry out your obligation. But be ready to firmly place the past where it belongsin the past!
Can you interpret tarot cards for yourself?
It’s normal to be a little clumsy when you first start practicing the tarot. Tarot study is similar to learning a new languageit takes time to become proficient. But what happens if you no longer require the booklet and have intimate familiarity with the deck? Are you able to read yourself? No, except for a few rare instances. Simply put, it’s a horrible idea.
You see, the majority of us turn to astrology or tarot when we’re looking for clarity amid a period of ambiguity. In contrast to astrology, which is quite technical, our consciousness restricts our capacity to read tarot cards. Working with your personal interpretation of the cards, you are not constrained by short- and long-term cycles like the planets’ orbits. It might be tricky to go beyond your current circumstances while utilizing the tarot to better understand a trying scenario. Even if all the cards are spread out in front of you, putting them together requires such a broad perspective that it is all but impossible to fully understand the meaning of each card. Basically, any biases you already have will always be reflected in your tarot reading!
How should I maintain my Tarot deck?
While rearranging the cards in the tarot deck is a good approach to purify and clear their energy, there are some circumstances in which you might wish to perform a more specialized ritual. If you’re just getting started with tarot, cleaning your deck can be an excellent place to start.
You might want to clean your tarot deck for a variety of reasons, including:
- beginning with a fresh deck
- readings for other people
- You think you need to recharge.
- Your card readings seem a touch “odd” or “disconnected”
- Your deck hasn’t been used recently.
- Your deck has been handled by others
- You think you’ve been utilizing your deck a lot. A LOT, especially for books with strong emotional content
Why should you cleanse or clear your tarot deck?
Tarot deck cleansing helps keep the energy flowing between you and your deck. Consider it as a little spiritual hygiene to maintain a strong and clear connection. It’s not necessary, but if you have any of the aforementioned symptoms, try a few of the energetic cleansing techniques listed below and note which ones seem to work the best for you.
How often should you cleanse your tarot deck?
This is another way of stating USE YOUR INTUITION: there are no hard and fast laws. Don’t stress if you don’t believe it is necessary for your deck. Alternately, if you like to cleanse them once per week or once per month, that’s great. If it feels appropriate to you, you can even place your favorite crystal on the balcony each night.
If you frequently place crystals on your deck and store it on an altar while not in use, you might not feel the need to cleanse it frequently because this quick ritual will likely be sufficient to keep your deck feeling nice.
There are numerous ways to cleanse your cards, just as there are numerous reasons why you might desire to do so.
Different ways to cleanse your tarot deck
Use holy smoke. Light a dried rosemary, lavender, cedar, sage, or palo santo cleansing wand until it begins to smoke. Hold the smoke a safe distance below the deck while holding the burning herbs in one hand and the deck in the other so that the smoke drifts upward onto the cards. Turn the deck so that the smoke covers it from all angles. Next, safely put your deck to the ground and put out the fire.
On the deck, set a selenite stone (or a black tourmaline or a transparent quartz). It works well to leave it like way for an hour, but I prefer to leave it overnight.
Set them on display during a new moon. The New Moon is energy of a blank slate; you can purify the deck by setting it on a window sill on a new moon night. At this moment, you can also make a brand-new intention for your deck.
Place the cards in a salty dish. A strong and stabilizing cleaner is salt. My preferred choice for a thorough cleansing is this. Allow it to sit anywhere from one to eight hours in a dry area.
Unorderly shuffle. Spread the cards out on the ground, then shuffle them around like a child playing in dirt. This method’s freedom and randomization serve as an excellent reset.
the shuffle and sort. Set up the deck in rows of seven cards across, commencing with the Major Arcana numbers 0 to 22. (see photo above). Next, arrange the cards, Ace through King, one for each suit, as follows: Swords, Pentacles, Cups, and Wands. View the deck in this configuration, then mix everything up (like the chaotic!) and shuffle it thoroughly.
Which tarot cards should a beginner purchase?
It stands to reason that the Rider Waite Tarot Deck is a classic. You can’t go wrong here either, even though it’s not as attractive as the newest decks. It’s reasonably priced and ideal for beginners.