Articles — divination

Pennies, acorns, and cracks: The magickal truths behind 7 old superstitions

Posted by Michelle Gruben on

Pennies, acorns, and cracks: The magickal truths behind 7 old superstitions

"I don't really believe in it, but I'll do it just in case." That's the definition of a superstition. Even though such practices seem quaint or illogical, some part of you feels that you should heed them...just in case. Superstitions are remnants of old occult beliefs preserved in folklore for the rational age. If you practice magick, as I do, it's easy to see that many folk sayings conceal old truths about how magick works. Their core ideas are so old and so true that they cannot be erased. Though we may think of them as relics of a religious...

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What's up with the blank rune? How (and whether) to read it

Posted by Michelle Gruben on

What's up with the blank rune? How (and whether) to read it

The blank rune is a curious appendage to most rune tile sets. Called the “Wyrd rune” or “Odin’s rune,” this mute little tile is a topic of much debate among rune readers. The 24 Elder Futhark runes are—among other things—an archaic alphabet and a divinatory system. Each character has three broad levels of meaning: a phonetic sound, a worldly object or concept, and a spiritual/esoteric idea. The blank rune is no exception to this schema. It represents, respectively: The sound of silence (phonetic), the absence of things (material), and the unknown/unknowable hand of Fate (abstract). That’s why it’s associated with...

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New Witch's Runes!

Posted by Michelle Gruben on

New Witch's Runes!

    We're excited to announce the completion of our new Witch's Runes! Our exclusive set of eight rune tiles will be available in the shop at the beginning of August 2018. (Hooray! They're here.) The Eight Witch's Runes are an extremely accurate, concise, and portable oracle. The system has its roots in the early human art of lithomancy, where stones, bones, and wood tiles were shuffled as a method of divination. The Witch's Runes use simple, evocative symbols to provoke a universal response. Our Witch's Runes are burned onto round tiles of Baltic Birch. Each set comes with a...

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Deck review: Secrets of the Mystic Grove

Posted by Michelle Gruben on

Deck review: Secrets of the Mystic Grove

Is there anything as satisfying as digging into the shrink wrap of a brand new deck of cards? Heck no! So today we’re pulling off the plastic and taking a look at the newest oracle deck from US Games, Secrets of the Mystic Grove. Secrets of the Mystic Grove came out in June 2017. It contains 44 cards with images by Portland-based artist Mary Alayne Thomas. The accompanying book is by Arwen Lynch. (Lynch has previously co-authored the Fairy Tale Lenormand­­­ with Lisa Hunt. Mystic Grove is Thomas’ first oracular offering.) I’m pretty much a dedicated Tarot reader, and I...

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Tarot beginner? Straight answers to 9 newbie questions about the cards

Posted by Michelle Gruben on

Tarot beginner? Straight answers to 9 newbie questions about the cards

Interested in getting started with Tarot? You’re in for a remarkable journey. When used intentionally, Tarot has the power to teach you about yourself, reveal hidden knowledge, and totally change the way you look at the world. As an avowed Tarot nerd, I sometimes forget what it’s like to be brand new to the cards. I’m often at a loss for words when I try to talk about Tarot to absolute beginners. This article is all about getting back to the basics of Tarot. The following questions come from customers (and strangers) who have asked me about Tarot. If you’re...

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