Solitary Witch Oracle is a specialized deck of tarot cards designed for solitary witches and practitioners of witchcraft. This oracle deck consists of 78 cards, each with its own unique symbolism and imagery. The Solitary Witch Oracle is different from traditional tarot decks as it is specifically crafted to cater to the needs and practices of solitary witches. The deck's artwork and symbols are rich in witchcraft imagery, giving it a distinct and powerful energy. This oracle deck is structured in a similar way to traditional tarot decks, with cards representing major arcana and minor arcana. The major arcana cards encompass significant events and spiritual lessons, while the minor arcana cards reflect everyday situations and experiences.
Celtic Tree Months
Patti Wigington is a pagan author, educator, and licensed clergy. She is the author of Daily Spellbook for the Good Witch, Wicca Practical Magic and The Daily Spell Journal.
Updated on June 25, 2019The Celtic Tree Calendar is a calendar with thirteen lunar divisions. Most contemporary Pagans use fixed dates for each "month," rather than following the waxing and waning lunar cycle. If this was done, eventually the calendar would fall out of sync with the Gregorian year, because some calendar years have 12 full moons and others have 13. The modern tree calendar is based on a concept that letters in the ancient Celtic Ogham alphabet corresponded to a tree.
Although you don't have to follow a Celtic path to celebrate the Celtic tree calendar months, you'll find that each of the themes in the Celtic tree months ties strongly to Celtic culture and mythology.
It's also important to note that there is no proof that the Celtic tree calendar actually originated with early Celtic peoples. Joelle of Joelle's Sacred Grove says,
"The lunar tree calendar of the Celts has long been a source of controversy among Celtic scholars. Some even claim it was never a part of the old Celtic world, but was an invention of author/researcher Robert Graves. The Druids are generally given credit by other researchers for creating this system. There seems to be no scholarly evidence to prove otherwise, yet many Celtic Pagans feel that the system pre-dates the time of Druidic influence over Celtic religious matters. It is probably reasonable to believe that the truth lies somewhere in between these three extremes. It is most likely that the tree system was in place, with minor regional variations before the time of the Druids who experimented with it, discovered the magical properties of each tree, and codified all the information into the system we have today."
The Best Guide To Understanding The Wheel of the Year
The wheel of the year is an ancient Celtic calendar based on festivals that celebrated our connection with nature. The calendar revolves around eight festivals, from Imbolc to Yule – each one signaling a shift in the season, weather, and the natural world around us.
On these dates, the beginning and end of the seasons are celebrated, such as the equinoxes and the solstices. This calendar is currently used by neo-pagans; although it’s very common to associate the wheel of the year with Wicca, since it relates this myth to the cycle of growth, maturation, and death of the God, it’s actually a calendar widely used by pagans in general, whether they believe in other pantheons, or even without following a specific religion.
The sole purpose of this calendar is to connect with nature and its cycles, so no pantheon or religion is needed to celebrate the wheel of the year. Celebrating these seasonal shifts with festivities is intended to help us to connect with the spirit of our ancestors, a connection that leads directly to Mother Earth more than to any deity.
This calendar is relatively new, as there isn’t enough information about some of these celebrations, or even their names since oral tradition prevailed in those times. This calendar tries to approximate the traditions practiced by the Gaelic and Germanic peoples.
The Celts had four great festivals: Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane, and Lughnasadh, these are called the “major sabbats”, which are celebrated at the midpoint between each solstice and equinox. Although for the Gaelic peoples these four celebrations existed, they corresponded more than anything to the farmers, since the ranchers saw the year divided into two: half-light and half-dark.
The major arcana cards encompass significant events and spiritual lessons, while the minor arcana cards reflect everyday situations and experiences. The Solitary Witch Oracle can be used for various purposes, including divination, spellwork, meditation, and self-reflection. Each card possesses its own wisdom and messages, allowing witches to tap into their intuition and receive guidance from the divine.
About these celebrations:
There’s evidence in a discovery made in France, where a calendar attributed to the Celts was found in Coligny, called Coligny Calendar. Since then, we have known these four festivals, whose purpose is to indicate the holidays and the change of season.
Later the Celts included the solstices in their festivities, a tradition that the Saxons brought with them, but actually the tradition of celebrating the solstices and equinoxes is inherited from the Germanic peoples. These celebrations are called the “lesser sabbats”, and each of the eight festivals is celebrated roughly every month and a half, or every six and a half weeks and makes up what we now refer to as the Wheel of the Year.
The deep connection between witches and nature is reflected in the imagery present in the Solitary Witch Oracle. The cards often feature elements like herbs, crystals, animals, moon phases, and other symbols associated with witchcraft. This deck encourages practitioners to connect with the natural world and harness its energy. Using the Solitary Witch Oracle is a personal and intimate experience. The cards speak directly to the practitioner, offering insight, validation, and advice on their spiritual journey. Whether used for simple daily draws or complex spreads, this oracle deck serves as a powerful tool for solitary witches to commune with the spiritual realm. In conclusion, the Solitary Witch Oracle is a unique and empowering divination tool for solitary witches. It embraces the individualistic nature of practitioners and provides a means for them to connect with their intuition and the divine. This deck's rich symbolism and witchcraft imagery make it a valuable asset in any witch's practice..
Reviews for "The Solitary Witch Oracle: A Tool for Spiritual Enlightenment"
1. Emily - 1 star:
I was really disappointed with the Solitary Witch Oracle. The artwork was subpar and not visually appealing like other oracle decks I've seen. The guidebook also lacked depth and didn't provide meaningful interpretations for the cards. I found myself having to rely on my own intuition more than I would have liked. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this deck to anyone looking for a high-quality oracle experience.
2. John - 2 stars:
I had high hopes for the Solitary Witch Oracle, but it fell short of my expectations. The cardstock used for the cards felt cheap and flimsy, and I was worried about damaging them with regular use. Additionally, the themes and symbolism in the deck were not cohesive, making it difficult to connect with the cards on a deeper level. While the concept may have potential, the execution left me wanting more.
3. Sarah - 2.5 stars:
The Solitary Witch Oracle was a letdown for me. The messages on the cards were often vague and lacked the depth I look for in an oracle deck. The artwork was inconsistent, with some cards looking rushed or poorly designed. I also found it frustrating that the meanings in the guidebook didn't always align with the symbolism in the cards. Overall, this deck didn't resonate with me, and I wouldn't recommend it to others.
4. David - 2 stars:
As someone who enjoys using oracle decks for spiritual guidance, the Solitary Witch Oracle didn't live up to my expectations. I found the illustrations to be overly simplistic and lacking in detail, which made it difficult for me to connect with the cards on a deeper level. The guidebook didn't offer much insight either and I often felt like I was left to interpret the cards on my own. While this deck might work for some, it didn't provide the depth and resonance I seek in an oracle deck.
5. Melissa - 1.5 stars:
The Solitary Witch Oracle was a disappointment for me. The cards felt flimsy and of poor quality, which was a letdown considering the price. The artwork was also lackluster and didn't evoke any emotional response or connection. The guidebook was too brief and didn't provide enough information to truly understand the meanings of the cards. Overall, I regret purchasing this deck and it ended up collecting dust on my shelf.