Wishingstone - Aspen - Tumblr Blog

JRPT - just Red Panda things

- licking the air to smell the fresh air

- climbing trees to see the world

- riding a bike so it feels like jumping from branch to branch

- listening to bamboo gardens

- stretching your arms up to let out your aggression

- Chewing sunflower seeds whole

- Chewing raw carrots as if they were roots

- Mlem spontaneously

- Sleep with your limbs hanging fleely off the edge of the bed

- Find egg recipes (golden rice- put raw egg into rice immediately after it’s out of the cooker)

- Find bamboo leaf substitutes

- Sit in hot bath like a hot spring and shake off the water

Red Panda Regressor/Therian Tips - Masterpost

I love red pandas with my whole heart, and I both regress to and am kin with them... But I don't see much about them! So I'm compiling a list of tips that help me feel more Red Panda :))

List Below the cut!

Foods (including Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten Free, and Kosher options):

Red Pandas eat mainly bamboo, despite being classified as carnivores (?) due to their teeth shape (???). I don't think there are many edible bamboo snacks, but here are a few that feel like bamboo to me! Also, Red Pandas eat things like bugs, small mammals, birds, and eggs, but the bamboo makes up ~95% of their diet. Did you know they eat up to 20,000 bamboo leaves every day? That's about 13% of their body weight!

Veggie straws - sea salt (All Of The Above)

Sour Gummy Worms (Gluten Free)

Pretzel Sticks (Some are Gluten Free, Vegan/Vegetarian)

Goldfish Crackers (Vegetarian)

Animal Crackers (Some are Gluten Free, Vegetarian, Kosher)

Eggs any way you like (Non-Kosher in some cases- be careful!, Vegetarian, Gluten Free)

Grapes (All Of The Above)

BelVita Breakfast Biscuits (Vegetarian, Kosher)

GoGurt Tubes (Gluten Free, Kosher)

Clothing & Accessories:

Pretty much anything oversized and comfy

Fall colors

overalls

dark colored tights

hiking boots or sneakers

fingerless gloves (claw feeling!!)

Fake fangs <3

red panda tail/ears (I'm making my own from yarn!)

hoodie with hood up

Behavior:

Snacking

Napping

Climbing

Being hyper in evenings or mornings!

Making sounds! Chuffing and huff-quacking are favorites >:3

Putting your hands up all scary-like

H i s s

Activities:

Going to the playground and climbing or swinging

Climbing trees!

Watching media with red pandas, like documentaries or Turning Red!

Cuddling up in a big nest and taking a daytime nap

If you can, getting carried or given a piggyback is quite fun too. If you can't, give a pillow or a large stuffie a big hug and cling to it!

Napping or hanging out in hammocks

Tummy time

Will recieve updates!

I would like to offer this resource for therians, an extensive list of all of Sir David Attenborough’s nature documentaries that are available on soap2day, and a full list of what species* they each (notably, prominently) feature the natural behaviors of, separated by episode, and omitting species that were only shown dead, juvenile or being predated on. This took me a while (I have been working on it since Prehistoric Planet’s release) because I did in fact have to watch every single series in full in order to list all the species and the episodes are around 50 minutes long, but enjoy.

Long post ahead:

Keep reading

i want to read warrior cats without actively having to sit down and read warrior cats. i want to know the lore and the characters and the relations and the themes and everything else that would allow me to draw fun fanart. but i havent been able to binge a book since middle school 😔

Hello sorry for an ask. I am very sick, my asthma is at its maximum level, my nose freezes, I have no medicine or food. I am in bad shape financially, I am a black disabled, who uses multiple medications, I pay for my food and lodging

Unfortunately I do not have all the resources to keep me safe, that is why I need your help, whatever you can contribute to me will be of great help.

Does anyone have anything to help this person? I can't support you financially but can anyone else?

Vent art

we do need to revisit the wording of "you can't have your cake and eat it too" because i don't think it clearly enough conveys that it's more that you can't simultaneously retain a cake and also get to consume it (which would render you cakeless). for years i was like But why not....it's my cake....?

oh my god

silhouette of the moon

goodnight pure love, in the dew and the dark the crystallized path to the moon is through the sea you stand at the crest of our hill feed me with stalwart and honeyed spoonfuls the deluge when the screen door clapped shut after the storm, a limpid climax

i take all that is yours your kiss to my neck stirs agua viva, eternal to my soft tits, a small gasp— the crack of my neck awakens a familiar death i have died for a thousand lovers and mocked their promises.

do you see the white horse who stands below the crest of the hill? he knows only of those who have treated him well and of those who run bristled brush through wild mane. maybe his secret place is yours to claim. through the barbed fence you must have turned on the lights they are distant and still

a hideaway is a simple dream for those who resist desire.

the sun rises but the path is no longer clear the moon is a better guide for love and gasping panic; a mistress with secrets textured.

grim ink spills in two moments— nine degrees north of the crimson override switch and when sea foam returns the love it has stolen to the boiling sand the tides at sunrise are still ours; the moon is nervous the sun will find her, and so a silhouette pulls me down, bruises my thigh if only the mistress taught me to swim to recondite places to pull my knee to my chest and stand with no hands

but i am no student i become the current that pulls you to darkness i am the silhouette, i fear the sun will expose me i fear that you will, too

i needed to wrap my arms around you electrify your pectorals with virgin fingers but you ride fast and balance on footpegs as if you are the jungle itself, as if you are fucking me from behind your tenderness a net of breathless surrender i sliced you in half with a towel for the blood one for now, one for tomorrow if there is time will saltwater clean your wound? will words free me of ancient vices?

if you awaken from pure sleep find me in another dream we dance in 5/4 rhythm on the tapestry of time your benevolent hands meet the shores of my waist you will understand the ways of the moon watch her nudge the tides to shore then flee from the radiance of the sun.

becoming a better student ₊˚⊹♡

Prepare for your classes ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

Wake up on time. We don't want to be stressed first thing in the morning, right?

Eat breakfast. So you will be able to better focus in class.

Assigned reading and homework. Make sure you are prepared for your classes!! :)

Review your notes. Going through some of your flashcards before class is really helpful.

Check your bag and charge your devices. Ensure you have everything you need: Books, homework, chargers, pens, water...

In Class ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

Listen and pay attention. You can save yourself a lot of trouble by simply paying attention, trust me.

Take notes. My favourite note-taking method is the Cornell method; I can make a separate post on that!! <3

"Quick notes." If you struggle with note-taking, try taking quick and messy notes. You can clean them up once you get home!!

Engage. If you have any questions or don't understand something, make sure to ask!! Most teachers really appreciate students who speak up. :)

No distractions. Turn off your phone, no chatting, you'll be glad...

After class ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

Finish your assignments as soon as you can. Go home, put on a cosy outfit, have a snack, and get working!! <3

Prepare flash cards. A great way of reviewing your notes, too... :)

Update your Study schedule. Write down any assignment and due dates, reading you must do, upcoming tests, etc...

Clean up your notes. Review them, highlight the important parts, and maybe even make them look cute!! :)

Don't avoid topics/Subjects you dislike. I know it is tempting, but you can't avoid them forever, so you might as well get them done

Structure and routine ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

Goals and Priorities. Keep them realistic and manageable.

Time management. Having a set schedule makes studying less overwhelming; it takes some discipline but is so worth it!! <3

Develop a routine. Figure out what works best for you; I prefer studying in the morning or at night.

No "zero days". Even if you can only do a bit, do it!! NO. ZERO. DAYS.

Remember your goals. Dreams will keep you motivated; remind yourself of what you're working for!! <3

Self-care and balance ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

Don't forget about your hobbies. You need to do things that make you happy, so make time for those things!!

Maintain a balanced diet. I know chocolates and junk are tempting, especially when you are busy studying all day, but you're not doing yourself any favours.

Sleep. Sleep. Sleep. 8 Hours. Non-negotiable.

Exercise regularly. Even if it's just a walk, put on some headphones, listen to music, and give yourself a break. <3

Care for your social life. Reach out to your friends, make plans, and keep in touch; a good work-life balance is critical!!

Romanticising ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

Study dates. Meet up with your friends at a cosy cafe, discuss your work, and have some fun!! Studying doesn't have to be all serious all the time ;)

Silly Pinterest boards. Visualising your goals will help you find motivation!!

Music to set the mood. I have a bunch of playlists on my Spotify that might help!! <3

Cosy sweater and candles. The cosy Rory Gilmore vibes haha...

Getting a coffee before class. A little treat before things get serious... Simple pleasures, you know? :)

Babes, The hiatus is OVER, and I'm finally back!! I got a lot of asks on studying, burnout, and school in general, so I thought, why not start off with a little student guide?? I Hope October has been kind to you, and school hasn't been too overwhelming (though I know it, unfortunately, has been for many of you), and I'm glad to finally be back!! <33

As always, Please feel free to add your own suggestions and tips in the comments!!

✩‧₊*:・love ya ･:*₊‧✩

I think my issue is that whenever I get super interested in something the characters actually get like imbedded into my brain and then when I go do stuff i feel like they're all watching me over my shoulder

Like I'll be taking a shit or something I'll get embarrassed because I can FEEL their discomfort

CHARACTER ASK GAME!!! 💫

Send a character + one or more of these question!

1. Why do you like or dislike this character?

2. Favorite canon thing about this character?

3. Least favorite canon thing about this character?

4. If you could put this character in any other media, be it a book, a movie, anything, what would you put them in?

5. What's the first song that comes to mind when you think about them?

6. What's something you have in common with this character?

7. What's something the fandom does when it comes to this character that you like?

8. What's something the fandom does when it comes to this character that you despise?

9. Could you be roommates with this character?

10. Could you be best friends with this character?

11. Would you date this character?

12. What's a headcanon you have for this character?

13. What's an emoji, an emoticon and/or any symbol that reminds you of this character or you think the character would use a lot?

14. Assign a fashion aesthetic to this character.

15. What's your favorite ship for this character? (Doesn't matter if it's canon or not.)

16. What's your least favorite ship for this character?

17. What's a ship for this character you don't hate but it's not your favorite that you're fine with?

18. How about a relationship they have in canon with another character that you admire?

19. How about a relationship they have in canon that you don't like?

20. Which other character is the ideal best friend for this character, the amount of screentime they share doesn't matter?

21. If you're a fic writer and have written for this character, what's your favorite thing to do when you're writing for this character? What's something you don't like?

22. If you're a fic reader, what's something you like in fics when it comes to ths character? Something you don't like?

23. Favorite picture of this character?

24. What other character from another fandom of yours that reminds you of them?

25. What was your first impression of this character? How about now?

26. FREEBIE QUESTION!!

sonnets to an old friend (myself)

I mourn your loss and sometimes I dream that nothing has happened, but so much has happened yet the words so much are full of empty nothingness yet again. When did you go away? where did you go? no one knows the answer, and even though I've prayed into the corners of my mind & the crevices of my heart over and over again the tune of wondering endlessly never gets old, because the mouth of mine that used to run and traverse vast lands has been shut with the curse of knowledge, knowing how people will perceive, knowing what they'll think even if it's not what they say, because I know people and people know me and it's a burden. Because I know what people must think, I've known all too well what people think, and what they say, I'm sensitive, socially inadequate, stupid, overly attached, talk too much, attention-seeking, overly obsessive, talk weird, act strange, project onto others, don't know how to shut up, a burden. Because no matter how many gifts someone can give you, no matter how many things someone can say to bribe you the very mouth that speaks kind words can sting you with its poison because anything that talks is destined to betray you. But as they say there's no point in dwelling on the past anymore, but there is a point if it never left, if you're still everything they've said about you, except someone worse, somehow in an attempt to mask every emotion, every trait they critique, every trait you critique doesn't go away because it's who you are, who you've been, who you will be because change, intimacy, fear, love, desperation, & lies are all the same truth

(but were you ever really there? are you gone? or are you lost in the labyrinth of my soul?)

Can we talk about Gundam Tanaka

I just can’t get over my love for Gundam Tanaka, this is mostly analyzing  and theories so major spoilers for his free time events and chapter 4 below the cut ahaha

Keep reading

character inspo meme!

send 🎧 (or “music”) + a character name to find out what songs/style of songs inspire receiver’s writing of that character!

send ✏️ (or “write”) + a character name to find out what writings (poetry, books, authors, styles, etc.) inspire receiver’s writing of character!

send 💬 (or “tropes”) + a character name to find out what tropes inspire receiver’s writing of that character!

send 🎨 (or “drawing”) + a character name to find out what drawings/paintings inspire receiver’s writing of that character!

send 📺 (or “viewing”) + a character name to find out what tv shows/plays/etc inspire receiver’s writing of that character!

send 🎮 (or “gaming”) + a character name to find out what video or board games inspire receiver’s writing of that character!

send 📚 (or “stories”) + a character name to find out what tales or folklore inspire receiver’s writing of that character!

send 🌳 (or “environment”) + a character name to find out what areas/settings inspire receiver’s writing of that character!

send 🐻 (or “creature”) + a character name to find out what animals or creatures inspire receiver’s writing of that character!

send 👤 (or “people”) + a character name to find out what other characters inspire receiver’s writing of that character!

send 🎖 (or “bingo!”) + a character name for receiver to list off any random thing that inspires their writing of that character!

mundane headcanons

🌅 morning routine

at what time do they generally wake up?

do they tend to wake up early and take their time, or would they rather rush it?

how many alarms do they need to wake up?

are they a morning person?

bathroom first or breakfast first?

do they take a shower to wake up?

coffee, tea, milk or juice?

sweet or savoury breakfast?

what do they like to have for breakfast?

do they prepare their clothes before going to sleep, or do they prefer to improvize?

do they spend a lot of time dressing up, fixing their hair and/or putting on makeup?

🚿 personal hygiene

how often do they take a shower/bath?

shower or bath?

shower/bath in the morning, afternoon or evening?

do they use specific perfumes?

do they prefer their shampoos and soaps plain, or do they like to smell like something specific?

do they have specific shampoos, conditioners and body wash, or do they go with a 3-in-1?

what's their go-to flavor when it comes to toothpaste?

🍕 food breaks

do they have set times for their meals, or do they eat whenever they feel like it?

do they have a proper meals everyday, or do they tend to skip or get just a snack for lunch/dinner?

are they a home-cooking kind of person, or do they rather get takeouts?

if they eat at work/school, do they take time to prepare even just a sandwich at home before going out?

do they tend to have any make-ahead meals?

do they tend to have leftovers?

how often do they get fast food?

how often do they go to restaurants?

🧹 chores

are they the one doing most chores in the house?

which chore is the one they dread doing the most?

do they wash the dishes right after a meal, or do they leave them in the sink until it's impossible to ignore them?

do they have the dreaded "laundry chair" where they put dirty clothes on?

do they make their bed in the morning, or leave it undone until it's time to sleep?

🚗 transports

do they have a driving license, wether it's for a car or bikes?

do they have any other kind of driving licences ( planes, ships, buses... )

do they own a car?

do they own a bike?

are they the kind of person who think of their car as if it was their baby? perfectly clean, not a scratch, almost overly protective of it?

do they use public transports? if so, do they like using them?

do they like going on trains?

do they like going on boats or ships?

do they like going on airplanes?

📱 phone

what phone do they have?

do they use specific ringtones depending on who calls them, or do they use just one for everyone?

how often do they check their phone?

do they keep their phone's audio volume on, or do they prefer the vibration or? or do they rather have it silenced?

how many apps to they have on their phone, give or take?

do they have games on their phone?

what's their background and lock-screen?

💻 social media

are they registered to any social media?

how often do they log in?

how many followers do they have?

do they follow a lot of people?

how easy is it for them to block someone online?

what do they tend to post online ( art, videos, just starting fights online... )?

did they ever get in an online fight?

do you think they'd have callouts about them?

😴 sleeping routine

at what time do they tend to go to sleep?

do they take anything to help them sleep ( medicines, chamomilles, warm milk... )?

how much does it take for them to fall asleep?

are they a light or a heavy sleeper?

do they snore, talk and/or move a lot while sleeping?

do they dream often?

what kind of dreams to they tend to have?

do they prefer to be in complete darkness to fall asleep, or are they ok with a bit of light?

do they need the door or the windows open, or do they prefer them closed when they go to sleep?

what's their usual sleeping position?

where is their bed? with a side against the wall, in the middle of the room... ?

PLEASE talk about Congo, Haiti, and Sudan, with the same fervor you give Palestine. PLEASE care about black struggle and suffering.

a Palestinian from my local group of activists is fundraising to bring her family to Canada. Najlaa is currently less than halfway to her goal of $80,000. please consider donating to help her family.

donations will go towards:

1. Covering the expenses of accommodation in Cairo, Egypt, throughout the visa and biometric process.

2. Meeting the cost of flight tickets from Cairo to Canada.

3. Securing affordable and suitable housing.

4. Addressing monthly necessities such as groceries, utilities, clothing, and shoes.

5. Ensuring access to healthcare and therapy, crucial for the well-being of our family members.

6. Providing monthly financial support until they secure employment.

gofundme.com

Donate to Bringing Najlaa's Family to Safety in Canada, organized by Najlaa Alzaanin

To all compassionate souls, In this moment of profound vulnerability,… Najlaa Alzaanin needs your support for Bringing Najlaa's Family t

as of April 10, they have been able to start the process of acquiring visas and passports.

currently at $26,630/$80,000

i want to pry your flesh apart

get it stuck under my nails

i wanna be doused in you

soaked to the bone

i want to scrape my teeth with your bones

give me your heart

and if you don’t i’ll rip it out anyway

i want to see the way you pulse

i need to know if your heart throbs

the same way mine does

if it flutters

if it pounds like that

with my name on your mind

if i had paid attention in anatomy

i’d know if your red oil rushes like that

flushing those round cheeks

was for love or loathe

and maybe i could know if

my fascination with the twitch

of your muscles

and forcing your guts to squirm

the way mine feel like they do

is based on the same

do i love the feel of your

veins tangled like twine

or do i enjoy the thrill of cutting my hands

on your splintered ribs

do i want to see you in shreds

or do i want to break down your parts

and learn you inside and out

the scream was lost in your throat forever ago

so only silence slips past your lips

cherry red and blackberry blue all at once

but your fingers curl on impact

and your nails dig into my skin

finally drawing my blood from me

it feels like it takes forever

for it to snake down my arms

droplets of me joining an ocean of you

isn’t that a bond of some sort

bleeding together

till death do us part

but as we draw it from start to end

is it a rival’s binding or something else

and if i say i want to feel

the sharpness your canines

if that means i can show you mine

to nibble on flesh and veins

to gnaw on bone and muscle

what does that make us

— dog bone

morning dew/eternal blue

friendship is beautiful when it's just me and you, and we say we're dreaming of nothing in particular, yet of everyone too, what I don't tell you is I'm dreaming of you. I sit and pretend I don't whisper and wish and pray and hope someday you aren't just an aubade I sing about who disappears when I wake up, and I dream of us sitting on our lake and watching the sunrise, but when I snap a picture it wasn't real and I'm standing in the morning dew and you disappear back into my mind.

but I still sit and hope you'll be that angelic blue light that appears in candlelit rooms after dark, and I hope you open your soul to mine like I have to yours, I know why you act that way but I don't know if you even know yourself like that, you're too blind to the echo of your voice, you don't fully understand why you act so humane, and why you have so much forgiveness yet so much love disguised as hate in your heart, I know more about how you love everything then how I love you. but do you want to look at me like that? it doesn't seem like you want to when we're standing in the morning dew It sounds like you hate everything I do.

I'll still wait for you, you're not going anywhere but I think I'll wait a little longer until you disappear maybe when you're gone I'll tell you about everything but no one will listen because no matter how many times I can repeat my echo it doesn't matter if the room is empty and the party's over. but maybe one day I'll wake up next to you and you'll kiss me good morning and we'll live in a house in the small coastal town in New Jersey you always wanted, like your characters, like your writing, like all you've ever loved. and maybe one morning when the morning dew rises I'll be laying next to you, eternal blue, I'll be laughing about nothing in particular knowing you love me, and I love you too. (this will never happen, this will never happen, this will never happen)

May Week 1: Diving into Divination

Alright everyone! May has arrived and this month's theme is all about divination! Everything from tarot, to runes to scrying, to other types and forms! We'll try to touch on as many as we can! Without further ado, let's dive in!

Monday - Definitions

Research/ New Page - Let's make a general divination page, and we will make more pages for each individual form of divination as we go! For this page, start with a definition of what divination is, at its base. Look up the history of divination through different cultures. Make a list of the various forms, methods, and types of divination you find. Now, what is divination used for? How has it been used through history and in various cultures? What is your experience, if any, with divination?

Research - Give each form of divination you listed a short description, as the pages we will make later will go much further into detail.

Tuesday - Tarot and Oracle

Research/ New Page - Dive in folks, look up a definition of both Tarot reading and Oracle reading, see how they are similar and different. If you’re familiar with the suits, awesome! If not we will be adding a different suit to study in the coming weeks, along with individual cards. So make a list of all the cards in a tarot and oracle deck, by suit, and we’ll get to descriptions of them all later both upright and reversed. Research traditional uses for these two types of divination, who performed them and where? What kind of questions can they help us answer? What things can they teach and show us? When does tarot reading date back to? Where did it originate? What is and can Tarot and Oracle reading be used for? Gather as much information you can and ask as many questions about the subject you can. The more you find out, the more you know, the better. 

Practical/ Journal - If you know how to perform a reading, give yourself a reading. If you are not a reader, see if you can find one. Mind you, this is a service like any other and I support all readers who charge for readings. Do not be afraid to pay for this service, as it takes another person’s time and energy. Journal both the question you asked, and the result of the reading. 

Practical - Look up various tarot spreads! Or make one of your own. There are a ton alone here on tumblr. Look into them, how to make them, what they ask, how and why and make one! Feel free to share the spread you make!

Gem study- Again, make a new page or a new note about a specific gemstone. What is it used for in magic? What is it used for in non magical applications? Is it associated with any myths, legends, or deities? Where on earth is it found? What are its other associations? 

Wednesday - Runes

Research/ New Page - As with the above, look up and define rune reading. What is it? Where did it originate? Who were the original rune readers? What kinds of questions can we ask during a rune reading? And what kinds of answers and insight can rune readings give us? How do rune readings work? Are they similar to tarot readings? How do you set up a rune reading? What kinds of uses are there for rune readings? Pick a specific rune alphabet, make a list of all of its characters and as we go along this month, or today if you’re feeling feisty, study each rune, its various meanings and how it works within a reading both upright and reversed. Again, find out as much as you can!

Practical/ journal- Either find a reader or with your study into how to perform a reading, give yourself one. Again, I suggest being willing to pay a reader for this, as it is a service that takes time and energy. Journal the question you asked, the rune layout, and the results of your reading. 

Herb study - Make a new page or note about an herb you have not studied yet. Look up its origins, how to grow it, its culinary, mundane and magical uses, along with its various associations. How was this herb used and thought of throughout history? Does it have any relation to myths and legends? 

Thursday - Scrying

Research/ New Page - Define scrying! What is it? How does it work? What are some common methods of scrying? Where has scrying been used traditionally? Who were the first to scry? How does one perform a scrying? What kinds of information can we glean from scrying? What things can it show and teach us? What is scrying generally used for?  Find out as much as you can about scrying!

Practical/ Journal - Perform one of the simpler methods of scrying that you researched, then journal about the experience! What did you see? Hear? Feel? What did it show you?

DiY - There are plenty of resources on the internet for making scrying and divination tools in general! This prompt is to create a scrying mirror! It does not have to be one of the fancier ones. But make one! There are even instructions here on tumblr, I’m sure! 

Friday - Pendulum

Research/ New Page - Now we’re going to look into Pendulum readings! (and pendulum work in general!) What are the ways we can use pendulums for divination? What kinds of things can pendulums help us divine? Where and when did pendulum reading originate? What can it show us and teach us? What is pendulum reading traditionally used for? Look up different methods of using pendulums.

Practical/ Journal - Make a pendulum! You don’t need a fancy one in order to perform divination with them. Look up a way to make a pendulum with everyday objects and perform a pendulum divination! Journal the process from the making of the pendulum to reading and its results. 

Meditation/ Introspection - We’ve given ourselves a lot of insight this week, asked a lot of questions of the universe and hopefully found some insight and answers into the /whys/ behind all these questions. Take some time to think about the answers you’ve gotten. Journal about all of the results and the way they apply to your life and current situation. 

WHEW! That was a lot, huh? So much to discover! Let's take the weekend and rest, since we got so much work done this week!

Good luck and happy crafting witches!

-Mod Hazel

How to REALLY Learn Tarot in One Day

Reading tarot like a master requires a natural talent for divination. Barring that, years of constant practice will suffice.

But anyone can learn the basics. And it should not take longer than a day to cover. Start in the morning, and by evening, you will be a tarot reader.

This post is Day 1 of the Divination class that I teach. By 8:30 PM, my teenage initiates were already correctly predicting each other’s crushes and the winners of tennis matches.

THE DAY BEFORE

Get a deck and a resource.

Acquire a Rider-Waite deck or a clone of it. You may opt for something else, but be forewarned that you could lose out on a multitude of symbolism. The Rider-Waite may not be the prettiest, but there is nothing more complete.

Find a reliable resource. The Ultimate Guide to Tarot by Liz Dean is a perfect book for beginners. So is Labyrinthos’ website, if you prefer something free of charge.

THE DAY ITSELF

9–10 AM

Pick one keyword for each card.

With a belly full of breakfast, quickly skim through your resource and pick just one keyword per card. For example, “destruction” for The Tower, “happiness” for The Sun, and “wealth” for the Ten of Pentacles. Note it all down on paper or on your phone.

10–11 AM

Associate the word with the image.

Look at your keyword side by side the card. Make an undeniable connection. 

Why is The Tower “destruction”? Because the tower on the card has been “destroyed”.

Why is The Sun “happiness”? Because the child on the card looks “happy”.

Why is the Ten of Pentacles “wealth”? Because the family on the card looks “wealthy”.

Memorization becomes much easier when based on visual correlation.

11 AM–12 PM

Quiz yourself.

Hide your notes from view. Keeping in mind the word-image associations you made, go through each card, reciting its keyword. Put in one pile all the cards you remembered the keyword for, and in another, the ones that escaped your memory.

Then look at your notes side-by-side the second pile to remind yourself of what you missed. Go through the whole pile again, repeating the process until you can recite the keywords for all 78 cards without making a mistake. One card, one word. Should be as simple as pre-school.

12–1 PM

Take a break.

Have a meal. Nap a little. Stretch a bit. Give your mind space to absorb everything you just memorized.

1–2 PM

Quiz yourself again.

You are guaranteed to forget some of your keywords. That is fine. It is why you are doing this again, to strengthen your memory. Be patient with yourself, and keep going through the whole deck until you are no longer making any mistakes.

2–3:30 PM

Pick a key phrase for each reversed card.

Quickly skim through your resource again. Now that you know the upright meanings, reversals should be fairly easy, because they can only be one of three: the opposite of the upright card; the upright card watered down; the upright card made worse.

To illustrate:

If The Devil upright is “addiction”, reversed it is “overcoming addiction” — the opposite.

If the Nine of Cups is “fulfillment”, reversed, it is “fulfillment delayed” — watered down.

If the Seven of Swords upright is “manipulation”, reversed it is “betrayal” — made worse.

Note it all down next to your upright keywords.

3:30–5 PM

Quiz yourself on both upright and reversed meanings.

Hide your notes from view. Keeping in mind the upright-reversed meaning associations you made, go through each card one by one, reciting its upright meaning followed by its reversed meaning.

Like before, put in one pile the cards you had no problem with, and in another, the cards that escaped your memory. Look at your notes for those you missed. Go through the whole pile again, repeating the process until you can recite the upright keywords and the reversed key phrases for all 78 cards, without making a mistake.

5–6 PM

Take another break.

Have another meal. Nap some more. Stretch again. Let your mind and body breathe.

6–7:15 PM

Quiz yourself again on both upright and reversed meanings.

Go through each card one by one, reciting its upright meaning followed by its reversed meaning.

Like before, put in one pile the cards you had no problem with, and in another, the cards that escaped your memory. Look at your notes side by side the cards you missed. And go through the full deck again until you are no longer missing a beat.

7:15–8 PM

Read.

For the last time today, bring out your resource, and from it, choose any spread you like. But if you really want to do it right, the Celtic Cross spread is recommended. Do not worry about being overwhelmed. You can leave the book or the website open on the page where the spread is.

Ask tarot your question. Without looking at your notes, interpret its answer to the best of your ability using the keywords and key phrases you just memorized.

Congratulations. You are now a tarot reader.

But if you wish to keep learning, then keep reading.

THE DAYS AFTER

Day 1 – Day 4

For the next four days, quiz yourself again on both upright and reversed meanings, to really cement them in your mind. Then perform the same spread you did the first time, but ask a different question each time. Interpret the cards to the best of your knowledge. This should only take an hour at the most.

Day 5

By now, everything you learned has been drilled into memory. Feel free to expand your knowledge. Read your book cover to cover. Fully explore your chosen website.

Most of the new meanings you will learn will be related to the ones you committed to heart, so do not worry about being confused. For example, if your keyword for The Empress is “abundance”, you will find that its other meanings are “harvest”, “creativity” and “fertility”. “Harvest” is financial abundance; “creativity”, an abundance of skill; “fertility”, an abundance of growth. They vary slightly, but they are all the same, essentially.

All the best in your tarot journey.

Learn the Most Accurate and Important Tarot Spread There Is

Anyone serious about tarot needs to master the Celtic Cross. Here is why as well as how.

Why It is Superior

There are a myriad tarot spreads. You can make your own, or use none. Just pull as many cards as you like and read them as you want. As with food and fashion, we each have a preference. But there are reasons the Celtic Cross deserves so much reverence.

1) It respects you and your question.

The Celtic Cross is not designed to give rushed, biting and abrupt answers. It recognizes that your question is important to you. So it takes the time to explore every detail of your situation before giving you advice and a prediction.

2) It kindly proves itself to you.

Fortunetelling involves powers beyond the natural. Powers that only a few can truly harness. To minimize the trickiness of the business, the Celtic Cross states what you already know: your past, hopes, fears, pains, secrets, goals. If it accurately describes these things, you can trust its promise of what tomorrow will bring.

3) It allows for great interaction.

When interpreting a spread, it is crucial to look at how the cards are connecting. Is the Page of Cups offering his chalice to The Magician? Is the Knight of Swords on his way to attack the King of Wands? The way the Celtic Cross is laid out lets many interactions come about.

How to Perform It

It has dozens of variations. Each reader has a fancied version. Below is what my elders taught me. I use it faithfully.

1) The Hierophant (reversed) – The Present

What is happening at the moment?

2) Three of Wands – The Problem

What needs to be remedied?

3) Two of Pentacles – The Past

What led you to where you are?

4) Seven of Pentacles – The Near Future

What happens next?

5) Seven of Swords – The Conscious Goal

What does your mind want?

6) Four of Wands – The Buried Truth

What lies in your subconscious?

7) Eight of Swords – The Advice

What will the Fates have you do?

8) Six of Swords – The Environment

Where are you in the broad view?

9) King of Pentacles – The Hope or Fear

What does your soul crave or dread?

10) Queen of Wands, Nine of Wands, The Sun – The Ultimate Outcome

What does the future hold, after all is said and done?

11) The World – The Underworld

What lies beneath that can help or hinder?

How to Interpret It

STEP 1: Read the cards in the above order, one by one.

Then read the Ultimate Outcome cards as one: The Queen of Wands is reprimanding the man in the Nine of Wands. But he is supported by The Sun. All will be well for the querent in the end.

STEP 2: Compare the Near Future with the Ultimate Outcome.

The man in the Seven of Pentacles has put life on pause, anxiously awaiting what is next. Then it comes: first, it will be bad (Nine of Wands), then he will be glad (The Sun).

STEP 3: Compare the Buried Truth with the Hope or Fear.

If it is a positive card, it is the hope. Otherwise, it is the fear.

The two positions are aligned. A buried need for stability (Four of Wands) and a desire to be solid and steady (King of Pentacles). The querent is clear about his wishes.

STEP 4: Compare the Conscious Goal with the Ultimate Outcome.

It all happens as hoped for. The querent wishes to get away with something (Seven of Swords). And after a bit of scuffle (Nine of Wands), he does (The Sun).

STEP 5: Compare the Advice with the Ultimate Outcome.

The querent needs to stop acting the victim (Eight of Swords). Once he moves forward, he will face the punishment he fears, yes (Queen of Wands and Nine of Wands). But it will all work out (The Sun). No rainbow without rain.

STEP 6: Close the reading.

For this, you have ten more things to do. All the best to you.

How to Use Tarot to Identify Your Soulmate

It is not like performing a traditional tarot spread. You need a conversation with your deck instead.

• There are ten things to ask. Overhand shuffle your cards for every question.

• The card on top and the one at the bottom of the deck are the pair that gives every answer. Read them together.

• Note down each answer, as you need to put them back. The deck should always have 78 cards each time you ask.

THE CONVERSATION

PRESENCE

Is my soulmate presently in my vicinity?

SEMBLANCE

What does my soulmate look like?

NATURE

What kind of person is my soulmate?

SETTING

Where will I meet my soulmate?

INSTANCE

When will my soulmate and I unite?

EXPRESSION

How will my soulmate treat me?

BLESSING

What will I love most about my soulmate?

BLIGHT

What will bother me most about my soulmate?

PURPOSE

What will my soulmate teach me?

DESTINY

Will my soulmate be my life partner?

SAMPLE CONVERSATION

PRESENCE

Is my soulmate presently in my vicinity?

Not yet (The Hanged Man), but he soon will be (Three of Wands).

SEMBLANCE

What does my soulmate look like?

He has long wavy locks (The Chariot) and an athletic build (Knight of Wands).

NATURE

What kind of person is my soulmate?

He is charismatic, cheerful and optimistic (The Sun) with strong Leo energy (King of Wands).

SETTING

Where will I meet my soulmate?

Online (Eight of Wands + Page of Swords).

INSTANCE

When will my soulmate and I unite?

Between three weeks (Three of Swords) and a month (Ace of Cups).

EXPRESSION

How will my soulmate treat me?

He will shower you with presents and attention (Six of Pentacles + The Empress).

BLESSING

What will I love most about my soulmate?

That he is everything you ever hoped for and imagined (Judgement + The High Priestess).

BLIGHT

What will bother me most about my soulmate?

That he can be jealous and possessive at times (Four of Pentacles + The Devil).

PURPOSE

What will my soulmate teach me?

What it is like to love deeply and be loved as much in return (The Lovers + Ten of Cups).

DESTINY

Will my soulmate be my life partner?

Yes, you will get married (The Hierophant) and grow old together (The Hermit).

The Only Tarot Spreads You Will Ever Need in Your Life

Learn these, and forget everything else.

1. The Celtic Cross Tarot Spread

Gives you a comprehensive answer to any question

2. The Soulmate Conversation

Tells you everything about your soulmate

3. The Three Wishes Tarot Spread

Tells you which of your wishes will come true

4. The Two Paths Tarot Spread

Guides you towards making the right decision

5. The True God Shuffle

Reveals which higher power you are connected to

6. The What If Tarot Spread

Shows you alternate realities

7. The True Colors Tarot Spread

Shows you a person's true colors

8. The General Prediction Shuffle

Tells you about your life in general

9. The Life Purpose Draw

Reveals your life purpose in this incarnation

10. The Major Arcana Grand Tableau

Shows you the full year ahead

11. Your True Passion Tarot Spread

Reveals your true passion and how to live it

12. The Life Advice Shuffle

Gives you advice about life's many departments

13. The Sex Life Draw

Reveals your sex life with a current or future partner

14. The Past Life Tarot Spread

Reveals the truth about your past life

15. Allies & Enemies Tarot Spread

Reveals who your allies and enemies are

16. Your Future Children Shuffle

Tells you about any future children of yours

17. Sports Match Prediction Method

Lets you win meaningful bets

18. Age at Death Prediction Method

Tells you how long you will live

19. The High Priestess Tarot Spread

Answers any question about the future

20. The Time Prediction Method

Reveals the timing of any event