Do You Have Any Tips For Starting To Work With Deities? Theres A Lot Of Info And Its Kinda Overwhelming.

Do you have any tips for starting to work with deities? There’s a lot of info and it’s kinda overwhelming.

I feel like deity work is something I sort of blundered my way into and ran with it, so I can't provide anything too in depth, and I know it's an experience that will be different for different people. But here's some things I've picked up in my personal practice and experience.

Start small. I know when I was a kid, I didn't have a lot of information. I found a list of various deities and wanted to find a way to work with all of them, without knowing anything about them really beyond your generic "So and so is the deity of this thing." So, I would definitely recommend against rushing into things and taking on too much. Get to know the deities, learn their stories, etc. Sometimes you might find a connection with you had previously never thought of.

Adding to that first point, don't try to work with too many at once. I feel like it's like learning most things: if you try to do too much before you're familiar enough with it, you might get overwhelmed or discouraged. Start by working with one deity. Learn about them, talk to them, call on them, leave them offerings. As you get more comfortable, you will find it easier to work with multiple deities.

Look for signs. These aren't always the same for everyone, but sometimes you will feel a deity reach out to work with you. Hera and Hecate both reached out to me in my active practice, and in both cases I couldn't shake the sudden desire to work with them. A former friend worked with Artemis because she would see deer in her yard and feel an undeniable connection to divinity.

It's okay to be the one to reach out to a deity. I've seen advice about how the deities should always be the ones to choose you. Maybe that's true with some deities, but, at the very least, not all. Some are absolutely happy when you make the first move. I sometimes feel like Hestia was always with me, and she was just politely waiting for me to invite her in.

Deities are allowed to say no! This is a big one. I've seen people get discouraged because they worked with a deity in spellwork, but they didn't the result they wanted. A few vented about how they'd never work with that deity again. It can be easy to fall into mindset, especially when it's something you had really set your heart on. But sometimes it just means the universe has a different plan for you. A good example was when I appealed to Aphrodite again and again in hopes of getting back with my ex, but I think she knew that he and I were destined for a more platonic love (he's still my dearest friend to this day), and that my soul mate was, in fact, 600 miles away. Deities don't say "no" as way to punish us, but as a way of guiding us. (But it's valid to feel disappointed and such when those moments happen. We are only human).

Offerings are nice, but I think the gods understand that they can't always be promised. I see people steer clear of deity worship because they aren't able to leave physical offerings for one reason or another (not able to light incense in an apartment, having to hide their practice, finances make buying that extra little treat impossible). Offerings don't always have to be physical. A prayer or little note of gratitude goes a long way. Plus acts of devotion are an offering (self care days for Aphordite, spending a little extra time tidying the kitchen for Hestia, being scared but doing the thing anyway for Ares).

Don't compare your journey with deities to others. I think this is the biggest piece of advice younger me needed in all aspects of things. But definitely applies here. If someone works exclusively with one deity, has a whole altar dedicated to them, and has devoted their life to that deity? Hell yeah. That's great. If someone else feels a more casual type of connection with their deities and talk to them like they're besties? Unconventional, but everyone's path is different. It may come naturally to you, or you may find yourself still having to double-check things five years later. Do what works for you, whatever that may look like.

And finally, one of the most important things to keep in mind: not all deities are open. If a deity belongs to a practice or pantheon that's closed to you, that means the deity is as well.

This wasn't as eloquent as I'd hoped, but I really hope it helps!

so many people use the "and you can quote me on that" line for superbat interactions but not enough use the "you said it right in front of me before we both agreed it was off the record so I'm quoting you no matter what" line.

Bruce, playing at drunken Brucie: and you can quote me on that--

Clark, holding a recorder that now has a ten and a half minute rant about Lex Luthor's fashion sense on it: it's funny how you think you have a choice in the matter

✨ PDF Beauty Books 🎀

✨✨All are available for download! Stay beautiful!✨✨

Kate Somerville: Complexion Perfection!

The Little Book of Skin Care: Korean Beauty Secrets for Healthy, Glowing Skin

Secret Model Beauty: The Best Makeup, Skin Care, Hair, Fitness, and Diet Tips Taken Off The Set By An Experienced Professional Model

Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual

Bobbi Brown Everything Eyes

About Face: Amazing Transformations Using the Secrets of the Top Celebrity Makeup Artist

Kevyn Aucoin Making Faces

Kevyn Aucoin Face Forward

Mary Quant Classic Makeup and Beauty

How to Fake Real Beauty: Tricks of the Trade to Master Your Makeup

Makeup Makeovers Beauty Bible: Expert Secrets for Stunning Transformations

Japanese Secrets to Beautiful Skin & Weight Control: The Maeda Program

World's Best Kept Beauty Secrets: What Really Works In Beauty, Diet & Fashion

Ayurveda: Asian Secrets of Wellness, Beauty and Balance

Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual: For Everyone from Beginner to Pro

Put Your Best Face Forward: The Ultimate Guide to Skincare from Acne to Anti-Aging

The Ultimate Guide To The Face Yoga Method

Cartomancy

A tarot styled divination method using standard playing cards. This oracle first appeared in Europe in the 14th century and is still used sporadically today. Practitioners of this divination are commonly called cartomancers. Cards can be laid in a variety of spreads and functions much like a tarot deck. As such, cartomancy decks should be designated and regarded with all the respect of a deck of tarot cards. The meanings of the cards are as follows:

Hearts

• Ace: Love, beginning, happiness, friendship

• King: Fair-haired man, affectionate and generous, but impetuous

• Queen: Fair-haired woman, trustworthy

• Jack: Fair-haired young person, good friend

• 10: Good fortune, joy

• 9: Desires fulfilled

• 8: Invitations/partings

• 7: Someone unreliable

• 6: Unexpected good fortune, generosity

• 5: Jealousy, indecision

• 4: Changes, travel

• 3: Need for caution

• 2: Friendship, success

Clubs

• Ace: Harmony, property, achievement, love

• King: Dark-haired man, honest, open

• Queen: Dark-haired woman, strong, helpful

• Jack: Reliable friend

• 10: Fortune, abundance

• 9: New romance

• 8: Opposition, danger of recklessness

• 7: Prosperity, potential romantic interference

• 6: Business success

• 5: Help from a friend/partner

• 4: Bad change of fortune

• 3: Good partnership

• 2: Disappointment and opposition

Diamonds

• Ace: Money, a ring

• King: Fair-haired man, stubborn

• Queen: Fair-haired woman, flirty, witty

• Jack: A relative, unreliable

• 10: Journey, wealth

• 9: Financial opportunity, surprises

• 8: Declarations of love

• 7: A gift

• 6: Reconciliation

• 5: Successful meeting

• 4: Change for the better, an inheritance

• 3: Domestic/legal battles

• 2: Important love affair

Spades

• Ace: Conflict, infidelity, stress

• King: Dark-haired man, successful, ambitious

• Queen: Dark-haired woman, seductive

• Jack: Dark-haired youth, well meaning

• 10: Grief, despair, imprisonment

• 9: Bad luck, delays, quarrels

• 8: Disappointment

• 7: Possible loss of friendship

• 6: Improvements

• 5: Anxiety, setbacks, interference

• 4: Jealousy, business troubles

• 3: Bitter parting

• 2: Scandal, gossip, deceit

Note: You may choose to include the joker to represent folly, new beginnings, the Universe and to also signify the person receiving the reading.

Bonus: Using Playing Cards to Detect Baneful Magick

This technique relies on reading either red or black cards and nothing else. It can technically be used to answer any yes/no question.

Shuffle the deck and ask, "have I been hexed or cursed?" -while you are shuffling. When ready, stop shuffling and deal out five cards in a row, face down. Then one by one, left to right, turn them over. Black indicates a 'no' response, while red indicates 'yes'. You can see the degree of the curse by the presence of red cards. All black is a clear 'no' and all red is a clear 'yes'. The spread can be read as follows:

5 Black - 0 Red: No curse or negative energy present

4 Black - 1 Red: Blip of dark energy, natural defenses can ward it off

3 Black - 2 Red: Dark energy present, possible jinx

2 Black - 3 Red: Sufficient dark energy, possible hex, cleanse immediately

1 Black - 4 Red: Significant harmful magick present, likely hex or curse. Do a purification/protection ritual

0 Black - 5 Red: Curse confirmed, take serious action to uncross/cleanse/protect. Someone has intentionally tried to harm you with magick.

Anybody else got that Evergiven sized writers block

Magickal Properties of Trees

Acacia: purity, air, and used in initiations, psychic workings, and protection.

Alder: resurrection, rebirth, and fire.

Almond: divination, clairvoyance, wisdom, money, loans, business.

Apple: healing, prosperity, love, peace, happiness and perpetual youth.

Apricot: love

Ash: healing, protection and sea magic

Aspen: Used for phyllomancy (divination by leaf rustling) and for protection.

Birch: new beginnings and births, protection, fertility, purifications and blessings.

Cedar: purification, prosperity, and longevity, spirituality, self control.

Coconut: purity, chastity, healing

Cypress: easing losses, healing, past life workings, and protection. Represents earth.

Elder: healing, love, protection, and prosperity.

Elm: female powers, protection.

Eucalyptus: healing

Fig: fertility, strength, energy, health

Fir: youth, vitality, prosperity magic.

Hawthorn: female sexuality, cleansing, marriage, love and protection.

Hazel: fertility, divination, marriage, protection, reconciliation.

Holly: protection

Juniper: protection, cleansing

Lemon: divination, healing, chastity, neutrality

Linden: Used for prophesies and protection.

Maple: Used for love and divination.

Oak: Used for healing, strength, protection, masculinity and for fertility magic. Represents fire.

Mulberry: knowledge, divination, wisdom, the will

Olive: peace, fruitfulness, security, money, marriage, fidelity

Orange: love, marriage

Palm: Used for male fertility, strength, and virility.

Pine: Symbolizes immortality and represents earth. Pine cones represent fertility. Used for purification, health, fortune, fertility, and prosperity.

Rowan: Used for protection, healing, and strength. Represents fire.

Willow: Represents water. Used in moon, wishing magic, healing, protection, enchantments, and easy delivery of babies.

Tip Jar