I used to write a lot of deck reviews. When I did, my focus was on giving people the necessary basic facts about the deck that might help someone choose the right deck for them. This always included card size, type of art work (pictures included), what kind of deck it was (tarot, oracle, Lenormand, etc..), the information the companion book provided, any changes/irregularities in the deck format or content, and more. In the end, choosing a deck is a personal matter, but I felt such information is helpful when you are on the hunt for new additions to your reading experience. In the course of researching and using approximately 250 decks for review I learned a lot about the diverse ways these decks can be used, so I also started including other ways decks could be used to enhance not only one’s readings, but other facets of spiritual work as well. I also learned much about how the various spread types and reading styles can influence a reading, the reader, and one’s overall experience.
So, if you read, whether that is for yourself or for others, what’s your style?
Some people prefer larger, more elaborate, spreads (like the Celtic Cross) to glean as much information as possible, while other’s prefer smaller, less complicated, spreads. These can provide quicker, more general answers that can be elaborated on later, provide a general direction for the reader to expand on, and so on. If you are the type who likes to mix things up a little, you might choose the spread based on the question you are asking, the time you have, or the type of deck you are using.
Once you have chosen your deck and spread, asked your question, and dealt your cards, you may end up with more questions. Now you require clarification, which can be gained by drawing more cards. Some might choose to shuffle and deal again, perhaps asking the question differently or asking about a certain aspect of the previous reading. Other’s prefer to pull clarification cards. This can be done by simply shuffling and asking about that card/answer. However, there is nothing stopping one from grabbing another deck, or even from another system entirely! (Aside from cards you can also use runes, crystals, and other divination systems).
Mixing tarot and oracle cards can bring about some very interesting results. Oracle decks answer questions quite differently than tarot. Many provide information about the energies that surround a situation rather than describing the situation or the people involved. This can be quite helpful, as sometimes it can be much easier to change or enhance the energies that are influencing you or the situation than directly changing the circumstances directly.
This brings us to the other uses for the cards. Clarification does not have to end with the reading. Using the card that is causing you concern or confusion in meditation or journeying may bring you more insight. As well, meditating or journeying with a card that represents the energy or outcome you would like to manifest can also be helpful. These same cards can be used in spell work to achieve your goals or desires. If you are using your cards for shadow work, the same principles apply.
So, how do you tarot? Do you use multiple decks? Do you use only certain spreads? Have you ever made your own spread for a particular situation? Do you use your cards for something other than readings? I would love to know.

Spiritually speaking, when the topic of animals is brought up, the first thought usually goes to power, spirit, or totem animals. As a spiritual guide or companion, these can be any type of animal since no physical contact with a living creature is required. Connections with these creatures can be made through meditation, visualizations, pictures, sculptures, jewelry, or any other way you can think of. As an added bonus this means that those guides or companions can also be creatures that are either mythical or exist on other planes of existence (such as dragons, unicorns, phoenix, etc..).
 
However, there are plenty of animals that are called (or we call) to guide us, usually referred to as totem animals, that we can have physical contact with. We keep these animals as pets, companions, work animals, and sometimes familiars. When we keep animals as pets they actually perform some spiritual or energetic work for us that we may not see. They are energetically attuned to others and their surroundings in ways we may not be, allowing them to sense stagnant or unwanted energies that may be held or brought into our home and ourselves. Spending time with them or allowing them roam free within our home space can help break up these undesirable energies, allowing them to release and creating space for more positive and inviting energies to come in. Many studies have shown that owning a pet can decrease a person’s stress levels and increase physical and emotional health. The two main animals that come to mind, of course, cats and dogs.
 
Cats are a popular choice for a familiar, as they are usually known (in the spiritual community) for their ability to see and sense things humans usually cannot. Given this ability, they are often regarded as excellent spiritual protectors. In some cultures they are considered psychopomps; able to travel between the planes to guide souls or deliver messages (covered in a previous post). Studies have also shown that the frequency of a cat’s purr has healing benefits, and energy healers may consider them aura cleansers.
 
Dogs are also popular, and considered protectors, but on a more physical level. That said, I have witnessed dogs “see” things that others have not. They are, of course, considered excellent loyal companions, and can also help decrease stress levels and elevate a person’s health. Petting them, playing with them, and even talking to them can be very therapeutic. They can act like furry little emotional sponges that always seem to know when we are not well or upset. They often teach us lessons about joy, devotion, and balance.
 
Maybe you aren’t a cat or a dog person though. There are so many other creatures we can create these bonds with that probably don’t get as much credit as they should. They can perform the same energetic break up/cleansing just by being present, and also have spiritual reasons we may be more drawn to them. These include (but are not limited to):
 
Hamsters/Gerbils: As a guide they can teach about resourcefulness and cycles.
Rats: Linked to the unconscious and the shadow self.
Snakes: Always given a bad reputation, but are more accurately associated with transformation, hidden wisdom, and the primal life force.
Turtles: Teach stability and patience. As the saying goes “Slow and steady wins the race”, in this case, to wisdom.
Fish: Are linked to abundance, but, as creatures of water, which symbolically represents the emotions, they are also linked to the deep inner thoughts and emotions that area present in the quiet depths of self.
Lizards: These creatures love to bask in the sun, and therefore, are connected to solar energy. They also tech transformation and adaptation.
 
Each of these creatures can come in a multitude of varieties, each one with a more specific message, so I am speaking in generalities here, but the overall message is there. On a side note, you are not limited to physical contact with just house pets. One can create a special bond with larger animals like horses, goats, pigs, sheep, etc.. as well. You can connect with more wild energies in other ways as well, like making friends with local crows/ravens or other birds, creating bee and butterfly gardens (fairies love gardens too), or contributing to charities that support wildlife preserves or other helpful resources. It is, however, not a good idea to feed wild animals, as they may become dependent on you, or stray too close to people who would not see that as desirable (too many animals lose their lives like this).
 
There are a few reasons that animals can show up on a spiritual level in your life. Whether you choose them or they choose you, it may be as part of a soul contract. Aside from the physical health benefits, they are excellent teachers of concepts like patience, unconditional love, and presence. They can also accurately reflect or emotional state (especially dogs and cats), which is helpful in shadow work. Not to mention, as more than one school of thought teaches, the physical manifestation of ailments/dis-ease can be rooted in emotional or spiritual issues that are not dealt with. 
 
So, are you a dog or a cat person? Or perhaps you prefer some other kind of companion? Do you work with spirit, power, or totem animals that you also have as a pet? Has your pet ever alerted you to something you did not otherwise notice? Do you, like me, feel rather incomplete when you don’t have an animal companion at home? Have you ever thought of your pet as more than just a house companion? I would love to know. 

A psychopomp, from the Greek word Psychopompos, meaning “guide of souls”, is a spiritual entity that is most known for guiding souls to the afterlife. Many cultures across the world have deities and/or creatures that perform this task. These are some of the few beings that can enter the underworld and return safely on their own. Some of the most popular that you might be aware of are Hermes, messenger of the Gods and guider of souls (among other things), Anubis, the God of funerary rights and protector of graves, and Charon, the ferryman that transports souls across the river Styx. However, the Aztecs had Xolotl, The Celts have Ankou, and Haitian Vodou has Papa Ghede, to name a few more. Valkyries from the Norse tradition also fall under this category, as they are tasked with choosing the souls that are to enter Valhalla after dying in battle (though, this is not the only way to get into Valhalla. If you know, you know).
 
Spiritual entities like this are also known for delivering messages between worlds. Archangel Michael is one of these, though you may know him better as a spiritual protector rather than a messenger. Across many cultures there are also animals that are able to cross into the other world, as well as other worlds/planes, to receive or deliver messages. These include (but are not limited to) familiar ones like ravens (not just Odin’s companions Huginn and Muninn), crows, and owls, as well as other, perhaps not as familiar/well known for this like vultures, deer, frogs, bats, and dogs. While they do not guide souls to the afterlife, they are still often considered psychopomps due to their ability to cross between worlds.
 
Animals are not the only corporeal beings that have been known to survive venturing between worlds to guide souls. While we may see earthly spiritual leaders as guides of souls while they are on the earthly plane, shamans are an exception here. They are not just spiritual leaders and healers. In some shamanic practices they not only help guide souls into/towards the afterlife, but also help usher souls into life as they are ready to be reborn.
 
These spiritual beings play in important role in the life death cycle. Regardless of our belief system, we cannot know with any certainty what awaits us after our earthly physical experience has come to an end. I do not believe we are meant to. Death is not a topic most societies talk about freely and openly (though perhaps we should start?). I would hope that the thought of the existence of such powerful spiritual soul guides would be a comforting one. I am curious to know if it comforts you at all…? Have you ever encountered or worked with one of these psychopomps in your spiritual practice, or even your everyday life? Have you ever received a message from a creature or entity that is known to cross worlds like that? I would love to know.
 
Just as a little side note, a fun fact if you will. In psychology a psychopomp is considered the mediator between the conscious (ego) and the unconscious self, or maybe it is one’s Higher Self..? Sounds to me like a whole other topic for discussion. Tea anyone? 

​Our ancestors lives revolved around cycles Their very survival depended on understanding the cycles of the seasons that dictated what food would be available, and what shelter they would need. They respected the cycles of day and night. The protective life-giving light of the sun, and the mystery and uncertainty of the dark. Eventually marking the phases of the moon as spiritually significant.
These days, we don’t put as much importance on these cycles. Unless they are part of your spiritual practice, or your job (like a farmer), we don’t pay them much mind beyond what we need to wear, what the driving conditions may be like, what holidays are approaching, or what vacation we would like to book.
While we may all but ignore most of these cycles, there are two that are natural to our body. If you are a woman you are familiar with your menstrual cycle, and how it affects (or sometimes dictates) your life/schedule. We also all have a natural circadian rhythm. This is your internal biological clock that not only regulates your sleep cycles, but also other processes like the release of hormones, and body temperature. While our bodies naturally regulate these cycles for us, as humans, we spend a lot of time and energy exerting control over them, trying to bend them to our will. Whether through pharmaceuticals, technology, or just our own will power, we work to alter these rhythms to suit our needs or current lifestyles. We do this with they larger cycles too, like the seasons, creating mechanisms and evolving technology to grow crops, manufacture meat, and manipulate the weather.
While these advances have benefited us in many ways, like being able to sustain larger populations, it has also caused disconnect between ourselves and our planet, and even within our own bodies. Instead of working with/respecting the natural cycles we strive to control them, but at what cost?
What do you think would happen if we, as a society, decided to eat what our bodies needed, according to what should be available in that season, and adhere to the larger cycles of work and rest, according to the seasons? Would our physical health improve? What about our mental health? Would it cause us to have to cooperate and coordinate within our communities more? What kind of society do you think we could/would build if we listened to our bodies and lived in accordance with Earth’s natural rhythms?
There are plenty of people out there that do try to do this. Whether that is through their spiritual practice, or to create a more practical (and peaceful) lifestyle (like homesteaders and even preppers). Regardless of the reasons, more and more people are looking to reconnect to this planet and each other. Our current societal structure of 9 to 5 work days, high stress, convenience foods, and lack of self-care make returning to a “simpler”, less anxiety inducing lifestyle difficult, but not impossible. As more and more people gravitate towards this, I wonder how we, as people, and as a society at large, will evolve and change.
How about you? Do you listen to your own natural cycles? Is it a spiritual or more practical practice for you? If you have made these kinds of changes, did you notice what affects it had physically, mentally, spiritually (if any)? If you haven’t, are there changes you would or would like to make? I would love to know.