Transcendent Tarot: “Not All Who Wander Are Lost”
Welcome to our newest series, my witchy lovelies! We decided we wanted to begin a deep delve on one of the most iconic tools at the fingertips of nearly every witch, the Tarot Deck, but through a slightly different lens than normal.
More often than not, the Tarot is used as a divination tool to offer clarity to questions or concerns we might have, with cards being chosen by fate to provide these answers. However, we found it might be intriguing to use the unique energies of each of these cards purposefully. Throughout this series, we are going to explore the complete tarot deck, card by card; not only for the lessons each has to teach us, but how you can utilize the individual spirit of each within your practice through recipes and simple spellwork. Without further ado, let’s get started.
No. 0: The Fool
As per usual, the best place to start with any journey you embark upon is at the very beginning and our first card, The Fool, is all about new beginnings. You might be wondering why, although this is the first card of the Major Arcana, it is bestowed the number 0. The reason for this is because the number 0 represents the boundless potential energy this card possesses. The Fool is symbolic of the infinite dance between beginnings and endings and everywhere in between those points.
The figure featured on this card is seen standing on the precipice of a cliff; gazing off into the distance blissfully unbothered at the possible dangers in front of them. By all accounts, this would be why we refer to them as “The Fool”, however, while we can worry all day about these potential hazards that might befall them, we can’t truly be certain what is ahead for this character. Perhaps there are platforms just out of sight that they can jump on to or maybe in that bundle they carry is a rope to help them traverse safely down the cliff. Better still, our friend The Fool might just be relishing in the excitement of this journey and simply enjoying the view.
In its upright position, the lesson this card tries to teach us is that sometimes you just have to shake off inhibitions, accept the opportunities life is placing before you, and enjoy the ride. The Fool is guiding us to join him in letting loose and having a bit more fun, because even through its ups and downs, the adventure of life is one to savor as much as we can.
As with all Tarot cards, The Fool’s message is slightly different when in its reversed form, but we can harness this energy to our benefit as well. Often, we can get so bogged down by calculating all that could go wrong if we take a leap of faith, that it sometimes paralyzes us into inaction. The Fool reversed speaks to you saying it is okay to be scared about what the future holds, but to not let all the “what ifs” stop you from reaching your happiness. When you are ready, The Fool will be there with a hand outstretched inviting you to join them. If you need time to gather strength and courage for those first steps on your path, take it; just don’t allow yourself to grind to a complete halt.
Harnessing the Energy of The Fool
If you’ve decided that you are ready to follow in the footsteps of The Fool, here are a couple of simple recipes that you can have in your kitchen spellwork repertoire to capitalize on this card’s energy and help empower yourself for the journey ahead of you.
Quick Bruschetta with Lemon Feta Vinaigrette
This bruschetta is so easy and lightning quick, the longest part of the whole thing is waiting for the bread to toast! It is the perfect recipe to whip up for when you are ready to grab the bull by the horns right now.
Tomatoes provide clarity to help keep your eyes on the prize and when paired with shallots, keep you out of the way of misfortune and poor health that might try to slow down your progress. Cheerful and bright lemon in the vinaigrette helps you to maintain a positive mindset, allowing the thyme and feta cheese to bolster your courage and lead you to success.
Quick Bruschetta with Lemon Feta Vinaigrette
Ingredients
- 2 pieces bread of your choosing, sliced thick (abundance)
- 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, halved (clarity, good luck)
- 1/2 shallot, sliced very thin (health, protection)
- 1 Tbsp fresh parsley (warding negative energy)
- 4 Tbsp lemon juice (positivity, cleansing)
- 2 Tbsp champagne vinegar (boost success)
- 1 Tbsp honey (attraction/manifestation)
- 1 Tbsp fresh thyme (courage, attract success)
- 1 Tbsp dijon mustard (bolster faith, protection)
- 3 Tbsp crumbled feta cheese (prosperity, vitality)
- 6-8 Tbsp avocado oil (clarity, health)
- Salt and Pepper to taste (protection)
Instructions
- Toast your bread either in a toaster or a preheated oven until your desired crispness. Set aside
- In a medium bowl, combine the lemon juice, vinegar, honey, mustard, and thyme. Once combined, slowly drizzle in the avocado oil and whisk until emulsified. Carefully stir in the feta and season with salt and pepper to your liking. Set aside.
- Place the tomatoes, shallots, and parsley into a bowl and add in your desired amount of vinaigrette. Gently toss to coat.
- With a spoon, arrange the bruschetta onto the toasted bread. You can store any extra vinaigrette in a resealable container for up to 1 week and extra bruschetta for 3-4 days. Enjoy!
“Fools Rush In”
To me, there is little more fortifying than a nice warm drink, especially since April can still be quite cold here in New England and fortification is essential when choosing to forge your path in life. As a base for our drink, we chose a bold Earl Grey tea for its ability to awaken and sharpen the senses, while also serving to soothe any frayed nerves. In keeping it classic, we opted for lemon and honey, to boost positivity and to aid in manifesting the most favorable outcomes in regards to the opportunities awaiting you. Irish whiskey rounds out this hot toddy, bringing the abundant and prosperous energies of grain with it. As a quick side note, if you want to make this during the warmer months, this drink can absolutely be transformed into a stellar spiked iced tea!
Fools Rush In
Ingredients
- 1 bag Earl Grey tea (alertness, awakening)
- 6 oz hot water
- 1 1/2 oz Irish whiskey (abundance, prosperity)
- 3/4 oz lemon juice (boost positive energy)
- 3/4 oz honey (attraction/manifestation)
- 2-3 lemon slices
Instructions
- Brew your tea and allow to steep for 5 minutes, or until desired strength. Remove and discard the tea bag.
- Add in your honey, lemon juice, and whiskey and stir well to combine.
- Garnish with lemon slices and enjoy!
- Alternatively, if you'd like to enjoy this as an iced tea, brew your tea with 2 bags and allow to cool. Once cooled, add in your lemon juice, honey, and whiskey and pour into a tall glass over ice.
