The regular witch tarot is a tarot deck that follows the traditional structure and symbolism of the tarot, but with a witchcraft theme. It includes the standard 78 cards divided into major arcana and minor arcana. The major arcana consists of 22 cards that represent major life events and spiritual lessons, while the minor arcana consists of four suits – wands, cups, swords, and pentacles – each with 14 cards representing different aspects of daily life. In the regular witch tarot, the cards are illustrated with images that depict various aspects of witchcraft, such as spellcasting, potion brewing, and divination. The artwork often incorporates symbols and imagery associated with witchcraft, such as cauldrons, broomsticks, and mystical creatures. The cards also include traditional tarot symbols, such as the Fool, the High Priestess, and the Tower.
Why the Romans permitted such silliness is based on the nature of the Saturnalia. Held in mid-December, the Saturnalia, a celebration in honour of the god Saturn, was characterised by the relaxation of social order and a carnival-like atmosphere.
Held in mid-December, the Saturnalia, a celebration in honour of the god Saturn, was characterised by the relaxation of social order and a carnival-like atmosphere. The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago, mostly in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1.
The cards also include traditional tarot symbols, such as the Fool, the High Priestess, and the Tower. Like other tarot decks, the regular witch tarot can be used for divination and self-reflection. Each card has its own meaning and interpretation, which can be gleaned through intuition and the guidance of the guidebook that accompanies the deck.
Harking back: the ancient pagan festivities in our Christmas rituals
Professor Marguerite Johnson , from the University of Newcastle's School of Humanities and Social Science, talks about the ancient historical traditions of Christmas in The Conversation.
In the movie The Life of Brian (1979), Reg, played by John Cleese, asks fellow members of the People's Front of Judea:
… apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, the fresh water system and public health; what have the Romans ever done for us?
"Brought peace" is the answer he receives.
In hindsight, Christmas could be added to the list.
When we think of the Romans, gift-giving, carol-singing and celebrating the birth of Christ don't immediately present themselves. Waging wars, general oppression and a never-ending desire to rule the world are more likely to spring to mind.
What have the Romans ever done for us?
But various Christmas traditions come from ancient pagan festivities, including the Roman celebration of the Saturnalia.
Historian and cultural investigator, Polydore Vergil (c. 1470-1555), was the first to record the similarities between certain pagan and Christian practices. He noted the connection between the predominantly English tradition, "The Lord of Misrule", which occurred on Christmas Day and an equivalent custom of the Saturnalia. Both involved masters and servants or slaves swapping roles for a day.
Why the Romans permitted such silliness is based on the nature of the Saturnalia. Held in mid-December, the Saturnalia, a celebration in honour of the god Saturn, was characterised by the relaxation of social order and a carnival-like atmosphere.
Ruins of the Temple of Saturn (eight columns to the far right). Wikimedia Commons
Saturn, once the principal deity of the Italians, was the god of time, agriculture and things bountiful. He reigned over the Golden Age, an era of peace, happiness and plenty. Indeed, the pleasures associated with the Golden Age were perhaps re-enacted in the Saturnalia itself.
The Saturnalia celebrated the god in his role as overseer of a season of anxiety. Winters were harsh and food sometimes scarce. And as the days became shorter and the earth symbolically died, the seasonal time needed to be commemorated and the god kept happy.
The Saturnalia was a lead-up to the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, recorded as December 25 in the Julian calendar.
With revelries and hijinks, feasting and the cessation of formal business, the Romans looked forward to the coming of the light of the sun. With the return of spring, there would be renewed fertility. Crops would grow and farm animals would give birth, providing another year of bounty and full bellies.
As part of the revelries, the Romans exchanged gifts: candles, signet rings, toothpicks, combs, tooth paste, baby rattles, hairpins, woolly slippers, warm caps, tablecloths and, yes, even socks and the Christmas puppy! These were exchanged during or after a feast, served by the head of the household and perhaps his children while the slaves enjoyed their time off.
Saturn's association with gift-giving has led scholars like Samuel L. Macey to link him with Santa Claus. But, as Macey knows, Saturn had a shadowy side and, like many Roman deities, there were skeletons in his closet! Someone who decides to eat his children as a means of maintaining power, for example, isn't an ideal Santa prototype. Then again, some kids find Santa pretty scary.
French painter Antoine Callet's 1783 depiction of Saturnalia. Wikimedia Commons
As television was not yet invented, and the internet light years away, the poor old Romans had to occupy their Saturnalian leisure time with human interaction. They enjoyed games, gambled, played dress-ups and recited poetry (some of a risqué nature). Drinking, the modern scourge of the holiday season, was also a feature of the Saturnalia. While some of us take offence at the barbed comments at Christmas get-togethers, the Romans simply regarded them as a ritualised part of the upside-down world of the silly season.
Besides the Saturnalia, there was another important Roman festival with influential ties to Christmas: the celebration of the Unconquered Sun on December 25. According to the fourth century almanac, the Calendar of Philocalus, there is mention of a celebration of the "Unconquered" on December 25, which is most likely a reference to the "Unconquered Sun."
In the same manuscript, December 25 is also listed as the birth of Jesus.
The Calendar of Philocalus is therefore cited by some scholars as potential evidence for the coalescence of the festival of the Unconquered Sun with the celebration of the birth of Christ. David M. Gwynn suggests: "The commemoration of Christ's birth on 25 December … appears to have originated in the west, in part to provide a Christian counterpart to the birthday of the Sun."
By the end of the late Roman period, Christmas was part of the Christian calendar. The pagan festivals may have officially disappeared but traces of the old ways remained.
And so began the long history of Christmas.
This article is part of The Conversation's End of Year series.
This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.
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By A.D. 43, the Roman Empire had conquered the majority of Celtic territory. In the course of the 400 years that they ruled the Celtic lands, two festivals of Roman origin were combined with the traditional Celtic celebration of Samhain.
The reader can use the tarot cards to gain insights into their past, present, and future, as well as to explore different aspects of their life and personality. Using the regular witch tarot for readings can provide a unique and magical experience. The witchcraft theme adds an additional layer of symbolism and depth to the tarot readings, allowing readers to tap into their own inner witch and connect with their intuition on a spiritual level. It also offers a different perspective on traditional tarot meanings and can inspire creative interpretations and insights. Whether you are a witch or simply drawn to the mystical world of witchcraft, the regular witch tarot is a captivating and powerful tool for self-reflection, divination, and personal growth. Its combination of traditional tarot symbolism and witchcraft imagery creates a unique and enchanting tarot experience that can help you navigate life's challenges and discover new depths of self-understanding..
Reviews for "Unlock the Magickal Potential of Regular Witch Tarot"
1. Emily - 2 stars
I was really disappointed with the Regular witch tarot deck. The artwork was subpar and lacked attention to detail. The colors were dull and the overall design did not feel magical or captivating. Additionally, the symbolism used in the cards was often confusing and did not align with traditional tarot meanings. I found it difficult to connect with the deck and its interpretations. Overall, I would not recommend the Regular witch tarot to anyone looking for a high-quality and visually appealing tarot deck.
2. James - 2 stars
As an avid tarot card collector, I was excited to add the Regular witch tarot to my collection. However, upon receiving the deck, I was greatly disappointed. The card stock used for these cards is flimsy and easily damaged, making it difficult to shuffle and use for readings. Furthermore, the guidebook that accompanies the deck is quite limited in information and does not provide sufficient guidance for beginners or even experienced readers. The lack of attention to detail and poor quality materials make the Regular witch tarot a regrettable purchase for me.
3. Samantha - 1 star
I found the Regular witch tarot to be incredibly cliché and unoriginal. The artwork felt like a poor imitation of other popular witchy tarot decks available on the market. The symbolism used in the cards was predictable and did not offer anything unique or thought-provoking. Additionally, the card interpretations in the guidebook were overly simplistic and lacking depth. If you're looking for a truly captivating and original tarot deck, I would suggest looking elsewhere. The Regular witch tarot just doesn't live up to the hype.