MagiStream

You're welcome!
And yes! It's good to have a good support system. Some people, myself included unfortunately, are ostracized for not following the typical religion of the area or their families.

dykebeetle wrote:thank you! thats honestly what ive been trying to do- my gf helps a lot (they bought me tarot cards and some crystals for our 1 year anni), so im hoping eventually, ill get the hang of this eeee

As a tarot devotee I had to chime in here. Using and studying the cards can truly help you to connect to your inner self, and help you figure out the spiritual path that is right for you. The best part is that the cards don't belong to any one specific spiritually, they can be used with any path/religion that you choose to follow.

Like many of you, I've pieced together the parts of various spiritual paths that speak the most to me. It takes some trial and error (at one point, I was trying to be a Christian and a Satanist at the same time), but it's well worth the effort. Best of luck to you on your quest!

here! I'm sorry, I'm just cracking up at the mental image of someone trying to be a Christian and a Satanist at the same time... reminds me of my late-teenage attempts to be punk when I didn't know yet what punk meant beyond angry and aggressive in pointy weird clothes with crazy hair. The fact that I was (and still am) short, fat, and about as intimidating as a plush toy didn't help.

Sharl wrote: The fact that I was (and still am) short, fat, and about as intimidating as a plush toy didn't help.

Hee hee - that sounds just like me!

My Christian Satanism basically consisted of reading Joyce Meyer books while listening to black metal.

I have multiple Tarot decks because I so badly want to learn how to read them, but there are so many cards and so many interpretations that I get overwhelmed and just... set the cards aside. I'm 100% sure there are super easy ways to learn, but I have a terrible habit of sticking with what I know and stubbornly refusing to even try when something looks too difficult.

One day. I'll work with these beautiful cards.

I also wish crystals didn't cost so much, lol. I do like having them around me, but I'd love a couple of columns and wands without breaking the bank

HobbitFeet wrote:I have multiple Tarot decks because I so badly want to learn how to read them, but there are so many cards and so many interpretations that I get overwhelmed and just... set the cards aside. I'm 100% sure there are super easy ways to learn, but I have a terrible habit of sticking with what I know and stubbornly refusing to even try when something looks too difficult.

One day. I'll work with these beautiful cards.

I also wish crystals didn't cost so much, lol. I do like having them around me, but I'd love a couple of columns and wands without breaking the bank

Learning the cards can seem overwhelming, especially when you're trying to learn how they fit together in
different combinations (I still have difficulty with that sometimes). A good way to begin is to study one card a day - it's a lot less stressful than trying to learn the whole deck at once, and it gives you time to absorb the myriad meanings that each card has. In addition to learning the traditional meanings of the cards, I also like (even prefer) to use my intuition and let the images on the cards speak to me. I find I get deeper, more personal readings this way.

As for crystals, try a metaphysical shop if you have one nearby. My local shop sells tumbled crystals from 50 cents to three dollars. Remember, it's not the quality of the crystal (although these are lovely, even though their inexpensive) that counts, it's how you use them.

@HobbitFeet I'm more into the runes myself but also dip my toes into tarot once in a while. Even after 20+ years I still need a book to interpret the cards. I only know the major arcana and some of the lesser. Need to look up around 20 percent of them.
My advice with a reading is to make a picture with your mobile phone and save it for later or, if you are old-fashioned like me, keep a special diary for all your readings. You'll start to see the interconnections and learn a lot faster too.

And no crystals should not cost that much...unless you'd like your own crystal place (cannot blame you if you do) Do beware of their source though; some crystals are mass harvested for a very greedy market and damage local nature, Especially Morocco is a bit tricky. I prefer to pay a bit more for a nice piece than buy budget stones myself but if I need something cheaper there's always a few with cracks or other flaws which still work fine.

I know! I always try to buy my crystals (when I *do* actually spend a little bit of money on something I like, cuz let's be honest no one has much $$$ these days) from individual sellers or small shops. The only problem with that is it still weighs on my conscious as to where THEY got them from...

And I do runes too, rather than Tarot. (Although I love tarot too). These are fun because I like memorizing all the runes... Not to mention you can always make your own pieces!

Hello, I'm an Eclectic Pagan who is from a pretty strict Christian family.

We feel your pain, boo. lol

Does your family know? Are they polite about it? Or is it a 'don't ask, don't talk' situation?