If you follow us on social media, you have by now seen all our posts about the upcoming 2024 Witches’ Benefit Ball on October 27th. The big day is quickly approaching, and we’ve been so awed by the local businesses and artists that have pitched in and offered their support to make this happen.

We want to talk a bit more about what the Witches’ Benefit Ball is, and what you can expect from this evening now that we are getting closer! We’ve had a ton of questions and I think it’s about time we answer some of them.

This Witches’ Benefit Ball is something we have talked about doing for YEARS and have just never had the resources to truly pull off in the way we’ve wanted. We’ve had such support and growth this year that we decided this was the year. Taylor and I cannot wait to share what we have prepared with you; and we’re very excited to see how this grows in the coming years.

We’ve wanted to host an adult only, ELEVATED witchy soiree for longer than RavenWerks has been alive. We both dreamed of something that would resonate with our friends and give us a chance to make new ones. We always an excuse to get dressed up. The idea was to create something for all of our Samhain and Halloween lovers that didn’t revolve around little kids and candy; an intimate party that calls to your inner Owens Sister. But, we also wanted to come together in a way that could be good for our community. After all, it is coming to the end of the harvest- and now it’s time to share our bounty.

What is the Witches’ Benefit Ball?

Exactly that! An evening of Cocktails, Hors d’oeuvres, Desserts, Music and activities; but with a witchy twist. We’ve had a lot of people ask if it’s a costume party- and the answer is no, not in the traditional sense. Instead, the Witches’ Benefit Ball is more like a gothic cocktail party. Dig deep into your inner Morticia and Gomez, channel your Aunt Francis and Jet, Pull out THAT dress. Now give it a magical twist and make it moody. Think like a gothic 1920’s speakeasy Gatsby party.

What to Expect at the Witches’ Benefit Ball

In addition to the small bites, witchy cocktails, pastries, photo-ops, music, and dancing (if you dare); we’re hosting a tarot reader, a best dressed competition, gifts for every attendee, a DIY floral broom station, and more. We say more because every time we think we’ve hit our cutoff- another member of our community steps forward and offers another hand- so it may very well be bigger by the big night.

A main feature of the evening is our ‘shop small’ raffle. It’s growing by the day and full of unique, handmade art from local artists, experience packages, gift cards, and other gifts from local businesses and community members. A raffle ticket is included with your ticket, but additionals are available for purchase to support our non-profits.

Who does the Witches’ Benefit Ball Help?

Community is one of our foundational pillars. Both building it and giving back to it. This is the first of what we hope is many, many fundraisers and community focused events and opportunities that we hope to create. This year’s Witches’ Benefit Ball is for two non-profit organizations that we love. 100% of the proceeds go to Sustainable Northwest and Purrfect Pals Cat Rescue. This is a completely non-profit event.

We’re also hoping it’ll will help some of our favorite local small businesses and artists to get some extra exposure as well. All of our raffle and giftbag items were donated, designed, and created by friends in Arlington and Mt. Vernon.

Sustainable Northwest:

Sustainable Northwest is a Non-profit organization that partners with communities throughout the Northwest on projects that promote smart water use, clean energy, and healthy forests, farms, and ranches.

Their solutions are as unique as the problems they solve and include entrepreneurship, policy, market innovations, public and private investment, collaboration, and technical assistance.

Sustainable Northwest was founded in 1994 to forge collaborative solutions for conserving forest and community health. Today, their challenges have multiplied with climate change, catastrophic wildfires, and persistent drought harming our region. Yet they remain optimistic that nature, people, and local economies can thrive together.

Sustainable Northwest uses every donation to help fund outreach, seminars, continuing education, policy advocation, business consultation and more in their pursuit to minimize eco footprints in a way that is beneficial for not only the environment but our businesses and communities.

Purrfect Pals Cat Rescue:

Purrfect Pals highest priority is taking in the cats and kittens who need them most… those who other shelters and rescue groups might not have the resources to help. This includes senior cats (though we prefer to call them “vintage”), cats with major medical needs, cats with chronic illnesses (including FIV and Feline Leukemia) and those with behavioral challenges.

Their cat adoption and rehabilitation programs help to place homeless cats, including those with special needs, in loving homes. We believe that every cat is adoptable; some just need more time than others to find the right match. The ultimate goal is to place them with adopters, but some might need a skilled foster family in the meantime. Purrfect Pals’ cats will always have a home with them for as long as they need it. The Purrfect Pals Sanctuary is currently home to 100+ of these special cats.

Join us for a Magickal evening.

We’d love for you to join us! If you want to learn more about the Witches’ Benefit Ball, our beneficiaries, the raffle, purrfect pals wishlist, or to purchase tickets, you can check out the event page here.

If you’d like to donate (either to the charities directly, or to the raffle), please email info@ravenwerksguild.com

You can also get sneak peeks of the event, and chat with others about it on our facebook events, as well as our instagram. We can’t wait to see you!

Happy Harvest,

Mikaela

Happy Tarot Tuesday! Let’s talk today about another simple ‘spread’ for self-reflection. I say ‘spread’ loosely this time, as this is technically a single card pull. Despite being small, it’s great for getting to know your deck and heavy on the introspective aspect- which I will always love. For this spread we will again be using the Dreams of Gaia Deck by Ravynn Phelan- but you can use any deck. Today we’re going to be talking about the “Guide Spread”.

The Guide

There is only one card to define in this go around, because well, it’s a single card draw as we’ve said. This card is meant to guide you, help you reflect on something that is prevalent in your life at this time, and can be used to help you reflect on your actions preemptively. Sometimes a guide card may only be relevant for a day. Maybe you happen to pull a card relevant to something that is a larger or more ongoing issue. On a rare occasion a card may need to keep you company for longer than a day.

Performing the Guide Spread

My regular recommendations for tarot apply here: give yourself ample time to complete it and find a quiet space where you can relax and focus. Keep a journal or notebook handy, as well as your guidebook. Find appropriate lighting and light a candle or incense if that helps you relax, same with music/background noise. The point is to intentionally relax and be present in your reflection.

Shuffle. There is no right or wrong way, just shuffle. Stop when it feels right, or your hands get tired. Whatever comes first. Whether you cut your deck or not is up to you.

Before you delve into meanings and reflection, spend some time looking at the artwork, just examining the card. How does its artwork make you feel without immediately knowing what it means?

Review the meaning of the card and take into account if it is upright or reversed/blocked. Reflect on how this may affect your day, if there is something happening that this could help/ hinder with? I find this a good tool to reflect on whatever quality the card is addressing and assess whether I think this is a strength of mine or maybe a weakness I need to pay attention to as I go about my day.

Take your time with this part of the process, as sometimes there are the immediate reactions and the secondary ones after you’ve had a few minutes to think and consider. Don’t judge your reflection as positive or negative. You are simply examining the prompt as it is.

Closing the Reading:

Take a few minutes to write about your experience. This is where we want to be thinking about how this makes us feel. Note that I do not say “where we judge the reading”. That’s not the point, you can feel positively, or negatively, or inspired, or melancholy- whatever it may be; without judging the answer. One is a sensation, the other is a statement. Be careful with this.

Keeping a journal will give you something to look back on, a way to notice trends, and a second round of reflection that is slightly different. Some people (like myself) process differently when we’re writing and the act of moving your hands to reflect things helps anchor the process into linear thoughts when your brain might otherwise be a basket of ferrets on espresso.

The point is that this is between you and yourself. Which means that honest reflection is not only encouraged, but necessary- especially if you can get out of the habit of judging yourself and just letting yourself feel what you feel without commenting on it.

Now you’re ready to go about your day with a reflection excersize done and your mind prepared to be present and take the day as it comes!

We’d love to hear about your experiences with intentional living and I hope you give this a shot.

All the best,

Mikaela

Holy Crow, It’s November. With the start of Daylight savings time and the onset of the holidays- we are quickly approaching the close of yet another year. For a lot of people, this is a time of gratitude (as well as a time of stress. but let’s manifest the positives, shall we)?  For me this is also a good time to start reflecting on myself and my year.  

We’ve covered the history of tarot and its traditional applications. As well as gone over my personal beliefs on its uses. If you missed that post, you can find it here. I figured now would be a good time to go over one of my favorite (and to me one of the most useful) spreads.  

Types of Tarot Decks and Spreads: 

As we discussed previously, not all spreads can be used with all decks. Some decks are designed more towards the traditional fortune telling. A few that focus on a particular subject or aspect. Then there are those that are more Oracle based, or introspective; these are my favorite. However, at its core, this one can be used with most I have found (if not with a little bit of modification).  

I originally found this spread as part of my favorite deck. That might be why I am more inclined to this one, but also, it prompts a lot of reflection and self-dialogue; which is what I am looking for. It’s very straightforward (or as straightforward as the concept of tarot can be) and very simple. This is not one of those spreads that involves 13 different cards in different positions, personally that’s not really my style, but we’ll build to that sort of stuff eventually, for educations’ sake. This spread only calls for 3 cards. 

The cards:  

The Aspect:

The first card, or the card on the left side of the triangle, is the Focus card. In this spread this is ‘the Aspect’ it represents a facet of yourself that needs to be addressed. This is the main source of reflection.

It could be in regards to a particular question or issue in your life, or it could be something that your attention is otherwise focused on. For good or ill, or just something that is; this card represents something that is prevalent in your life currently.  

The Soul:

The second card, or the card on the right side of the triangle, is the Soul Card. This card represents a facet of yourself that is one of your strengths. You may still need to address something within this strength (especially if this card appears inverted or reversed in the spread). However, it is an aspect that you are completely capable of addressing.

This card often seeks to highlight a strength that I may have neglected, taken for granted, ignored, or failed to harness. It can be a tool to remind you of skills and knowledge to help you on your journey or address your current question or situation. 

Let Two Become 1:

the final card, or Apex of the triangle, is the binding card. This serves to present you with a possible path or course of action that may allow you to marry the information set before you. It typically forces me to consider alternate solutions to whatever my current situation is.

This is the card that says, “this is your problem or obstacle, that is one of your best strengths, and here’s how you use that strength as a tool to solve your problem”. This is the card that helps you find wholeness and balance within whatever your quandary is. 

Setting up:  

Now that you know what each piece is for and represents, let’s go through the actual process. Make sure you set aside adequate time to really complete the reading. It’s not like in the movies where you shuffle a deck, flip a couple cards and have wisdom imparted from the beyond. This is a guide and a tool for meditation. Adequate time to reflect is really the whole point.  

I prefer somewhere quiet, where I know I’m not going to be interrupted, or my attention and focus called away constantly. Honestly, I typically try and wait until I am home alone, just for my own piece of mind and my dislike of being perceived. But, realistically this isn’t easy or doable for many of us, and I get it. Still, find a quiet space. A chair with an end table will do. Cross-legged on your bed is fine if that works for you. Hell, a blanket on the floor works if that’s your vibe. The point is to find a spot that is comfortable and that you feel you can relax in.  

I like dimmer lighting. Not for the hocus pocus fortune teller vibes, but because I find most artificial lighting to be really harsh and it hurts my eyes. I’ve switched most of the lights in our house to be flickering torch lights so the light is more diffuse which helps significantly. But again, not necessary. I just find it helps relax the muscles of my eyes, therebye allowing me to more easily relax as a whole.  

I typically light a candle, or incense, or turn on an oil diffuser. Again, not technically necessary; but something I find to be hugely beneficial. Meditation is a multi-sensory process. Having a scent or oil within that experience that is different than the average smell of your space can help you focus in the moment, and if you build the habit using the same sent every time you can pretty much Pavlov yourself into that state of focus and relaxation more easily over time using that scent as a trigger.  

You can play music if you want. I know a lot of people that use abstract music or ambient meditation tracks in the background. Personally, that has never helped me because I find it too distracting for myself. But I do see the value in it for other people.  

Performing the Tarot Spread: 

Get comfortable, spend a minute or two settling into a position that is easy to maintain. Let your body work through its fidgets. Spend a moment or two focusing on your question or current situation. Shuffle. There is no right or wrong way- you can’t over shuffle. I tell people to shuffle until it feels right, focusing on your question as you do so. It is up to you to decide if you’d like to cut your deck or just deal from the card on top.  

Make sure you pull all three tarot cards the same way. That means if you are side turner- all three cards need to be turned to the side. If you are a top flipper, then you need to flip all three long ways as you deal. This is how you get accurate pulls. Otherwise, you may end up inverting a card that wasn’t meant to be inverted, or vice verse. 

Your first card should be placed to the left side of your cloth, blanket, table, or space. The second card should go to the right. When you pull your third card this should go at the bottom, or inverted apex of the triangle closest to you.  

Take a moment to just look at the cards, see what the artwork looks like, what it might mean, how it makes you feel. Make sure you have your guidebook handy; begin reading the meanings of each card, reflecting on its overall meaning as a card, but also in regards to its position in the spread. Each tarot card on its own has meaning, but the same card might inspire totally different thoughts in the ‘aspect’ vs the ‘soul’.  

Once you have looked at and reviewed each card individually, take a few moments to reflect on their meaning together. Especially the ‘two become one’ card. Ask yourself follow up questions. Be honest with yourself during your evaluation. Nobody else is here to judge you, and the cards themselves are not a judgement. The only person that stands to gain anything is you. All the cards serve to do is present possibilities and prompts.  

At this time I take a few minutes to just sit and meditate. Yes, I am still reflecting on the thoughts as a whole, but as opposed to reading the meanings, and reflecting on myself and actively thinking and examining the cards; this is when I close my eyes and simply sit, allowing myself a few moments to passively process everything.  

Closing the Tarot Spread

When I’m done, and feel calm and settled, I typically spend some time journaling about the experience and my thoughts. This functions both as another form of review, which sometimes prompts new thoughts. But also gives me a tool and something to refer back to if I ever want it, as well as a resource if I ever find myself in a similar situation. I also like to look at my entries at the end of the year as a way of reflecting on my personal growth and journey.  

As a final note:

Don’t take yourself too seriously. Yes, there is a level of solemnity to Tarot, because you should always evaluate yourself with grace and compassion and there’s no point doing it if you’re not going to take it seriously. But, the universe isn’t going to strike you down for not having all the pomp and ceremony in the world or because your card pull wasn’t the smoothest most choreographed thing since Cher’s “Dark Lady”. You should be relaxed and calm. The ambiance tips I laid out are meant to help guide you to that space of relaxation. If it becomes something that is about the ambiance and not about the reflection, peace, and finding inner balance; then that defeats the purpose. 

Have fun! If you’d like to know what Tarot deck this spread came with is Ravynn Phelan’s Dreams of Gaia. You can find more about her, her art, and her other works here. We’d love to hear about your own journey!  

All the best, 

Mikaela  

I had to give up my career in Tarot Reading… there was no future in it. 

Almost everybody I know wishes they knew what their future held. Everybody has questions about the unknown, and we are no different than our ancestors in that regard. Humanity has been seeking their fortunes in everything from the stars, to runes, animal bones, and even their own hands for centuries. It is one of the most popular story conflicts: Do you want to know your future, is it better to know, does knowing affect the future, do you have the power to change it?  

Humans are fascinated by the future, by the idea of free will versus destiny and whether we have any control or choice in the matter. For both those who take it seriously and even those that simply view it as a quirky past-time at carnivals in tents draped with shawls and strange lamps there is a certain amount of mysticism and awe- even among the skeptics.  

Like everything else about the universe, I am fascinated by how things came to be the way they are now. The tale of how Tarot came to be is a fascinating one, so in the words of Scat Cat from the Aristocats “Let me Elucidate here for you”. Let’s read into the history of Tarot Cards, and I’ll share with you my personal beliefs on the uses of Tarot and its value in self-reflection. 

Tarot cards actually started off as a deck of cards used for playing a card game called Tarrochi. They had nothing to do with fortune telling. You can find a link for the original rules of the game {here}. The original Tarot Deck was remarkably similar to any other deck of playing cards you might see. If you live in the continental U.S., you are problem most familiar with Bicycle playing cards. Like your modern Spades, Hearts, Clubs, and Diamonds; Tarot cards were split into 4 houses. Traditionally Cups, Swords, Wands, and Coins. Germany even had a Variation that was Acorns, Hearts, Leaves, and Bells. In those original days of card playing, they were individually hand painted and expensive. Now, originals are exceedingly rare. What sets aside Tarot Decks in structure from other decks of cards are the 21 trump cards- whose values are greater than that of all the other cards; These are what later came to be called the Major Arcana.  

Cartomancy- or the study of divination through Cards didn’t really become a thing until the 1400’s, but it wasn’t until 1781 that the tarot deck specifically became involved. A French Clergyman, Court de Gebelin was the first man to attempt to ascribe any sort of mystical meaning to individual cards. Many people claimed that the concept of Tarot in the Occult sense was brought to Europe from a region in Egypt know as Mamluk. His works went so far as to claim that the cards of the Tarot deck were actually a fractured copy of the Book of Thoth, supposedly written by the Egyptian God of wisdom, magic, and knowledge; which mythologically contained two spells- one that allows the reader to understand the speech of animals, and one which allows the reader to perceive the gods themselves and the knowledge of the future (Jasnow, Richard Lewis; Karl-Theodor Zauzich (2005). The Ancient Egyptian Book of Thoth: A Demotic Discourse on Knowledge & Pendant to Classical Hermetica. Otto Harrassowitz Verlag. ISBN 9783447050821.) though no Egyptologist been able to find documentable proof of jump from Egypt to Europe.  

Several Years later Jean Baptiste Alliette was the first to assign specific meanings to specific cards in the context of divination. Etteilla (his penname) published his work Manière de se récréer avec le jeu de cartes nommées tarots (“Way to recreate yourself with the deck of cards called tarots”). which is still considered the standard reference work of Tarot cartomancy. In 1789 he also created the first true “Tarot” Deck specific to divination, which introduced the structure of major and minor Arcana still used today based off his correspondences between the tarot, astrology, the four classical elements and the four humors. He also founded the first Tarot Society. 

In the 230 years since, any number of variations, versions, and alternative decks have been designed with different intentions and all distinctive styles of artwork. There are traditional and non-traditional decks and many that deviate from traditional card spreads and meaning standards (these typically come with their own books so you can learn your deck). 

Now for an unpopular opinion. Don’t hate me. I do not think Tarot decks can predict my future. I’m sorry, but I have my earth child feet planted too firmly in the dirt to think that I have some pre-determined destiny or that even if I am free to make my own choices those choices will somehow land me in the same inevitability. That is not to say however that I don’t think that everything happens for a reason and that sometimes the Universe, or God, or the Powers that Be (whatever you choose to believe in or call it) aren’t trying to steer me in a particular direction or impart some little piece of wisdom- sometimes it’s just too obvious to be anything else. But I do believe in taking responsibility for my choices and actions. They are mine, not fate’s.  

Nor do I believe that my cards can answer “questions” or tell me what to do. I do not believe that any choice I make will be “because the cards say so”- they are my choices, and I will make them for myself. I said the opinion was unpopular, please- hear me out. I’ve had a couple people ask me: 

“Well then how come you claim to love the concept of Tarot if you don’t believe in any of it?”  

OR

“What do you mean, come to the cards with a question in mind if you don’t think it’s really going to answer it?” 

What I do believe in is insight. and I DO believe in a higher power, and that sometimes that higher power communicates in ways we don’t understand right away. I do believe in manifesting, or as the late Napolean Hill said, “the Mind attracts the things it dwells upon”. I believe in magic in the sense that sometimes we have to see the world the way we want it to be instead of the way it is and through sheer will and mind power (MANIFESTING) force it to be what we want and need because we will accept no less (I tip my hat to you Elizabeth Haydon). No momentous change came about from accepting things the way they were-I am a dreamer in that sense. I believe in the concept of a transfer of energy and communication (you can call it prayer if you are Christian, or communion with a higher being, or communion with yourself if that is your belief). I also believe that sometimes you need to put yourself OUTSIDE of yourself or your situation to answer something clearly and calmly.  

So, to answer the question: Tarot is an amazing tool for meditation, self-reflection, and critical thinking. some people can put themselves outside a situation on their own, if you need help to find that unbiased look- tarot is a great tool. When I say “come to the cards with a question in mind” it’s because if you are coming to the cards with a question in mind, you are more likely to pull cards that are relevant to you because you’ll find relevancy in the context. Tarot cards are not like horoscopes, they aren’t going to tell you to avoid the color yellow and Chinese food for the day. Instead, they are going to present possibilities and obstacles- sometimes in the form of yourself. 

I ask open-ended questions related to problems I am facing in my life. introspective questions, questions about myself and my ability for growth. By virtue of the way tarot decks are structured and used, the answers are multi-faceted, open to interpretation, and often questions in themselves. Sometimes the cards’ “answer” will be powerful simply because they force you to ask yourself questions and look at yourself differently. Sometimes the answers and solutions are possibilities that would not have even occurred to me on my own. You do not necessarily have to take the advice, but at least you’ve considered something you otherwise wouldn’t have. Through a process of self-reflection that is inherent in Tarot you are now exploring possibilities that wouldn’t have crossed your mind simply because you are too close to yourself or your situation. 

No cards in tarot are good or bad. I always hate it when tarot readers in movies flip a card and go “this is a good card” or inhale dramatically and go “there is great bloodshed in front of you.” I call B.S. They just are what they are, and that is a beautiful thing. It gives you the ability to quit labeling things as good and bad or success and failure and just let it be YOUR decision or YOUR experience.  

Each card has a meaning, and an inverse; and different decks are written with different intentions and spread styles, which is why it is so important to pick a deck that resonates with you. Look at the art, read about the artist/ author, listen to the tone, see if you can find an excerpt from the manual (most specialty decks come with a guidebook). Make sure it’s something that meshes with who you are as a person. If it feels off, it probably is. 

If you are interested in learning more, stay tuned. In the coming weeks we will be continuing our conversation about tarot focusing on different kinds of spreads, decks, how to read cards, examples of the multiple meanings of cards using my own deck as an example, and if I’m feeling particularly brave- examples of readings I’ve done for myself and the meaning I took from them and how they helped me make decisions.  

All the best,  

Mikaela