omygod this is why i still post them on here, messages like these are so heart felt and sweet. i did not know that my journals were even on pinterest but i just looked up my url on there and there are so many of them there and i am almost in tears because, wow someone appreciates my art so much and i am so touched right now. i go to pinterest to look for inspiration so knowing that someone else would do the same with my work makes me feel so proud of myself and believe me when i say that i need that very much at times.

I wrote this for devinaswitchyhaven, who asked for a spell to help her have an awesome birthday. To me, a good celebration is about sharing time and energy with the people you care about, and coming away feeling renewed and loved. I hope this spell helps her have that experience on her birthday!

Tools and Materials

three cups (they don’t need to match, but make sure they’re a good size for your chosen beverage--e.g. tumblers are not a good fit for gin)

a candle (preferably yellow, orange, or whatever color makes you happiest)

your favorite beverage (or, if needs be, you can use water)

matches or a lighter

Optional Embellishments

herbs or stones symbolizing energy, friendship and happiness (see reference list below for ideas)

small objects symbolizing the people you will celebrate with and/or things that make you happy (or write names and happy ideas down on pieces of paper)

the three of cups tarot card and/or other cards that represent positive things you want at your celebration

Directions

Inscribe your birthdate or the date of your celebration on the candle. In a clear, clean area, preferably in sunlight, arrange the cups in a triangle and place the candle in the center. Use whatever embellishments you like to invite joy and happiness into the cups. Prepare yourself for magic using grounding and centering or your preferred method. Light the candle and pour your favorite beverage into the cups, filling them to the brim. If you like, play, sing or hum “Happy Birthday” or one of your favorite upbeat songs. Think of things you like about your loved ones and, if you like, say them aloud. Concentrate (or say aloud) the things you would like to share with them. Let the candle burn out. To finish the spell, drink all the liquid in one of the cups, then either share the remaining two with loved ones (refrigerate them if necessary) or pour the liquid into the earth.  If you like, keep something from your arrangement with you on the day of your celebration.

Magical Correspondences

These are from my own research--use your own research and judgment to determine if they would fit for you.

Happiness/Joy: agar agar, anise, azalea, bee pollen, beech, calamint, catnip, celandine, cherry, cyclamen, geranium, hawthorn, High John the Conqueror, hyacinth, lavender, lily of the valley, neroli, marjoram, meadowsweet, orange, oregano, purslane, quince, rose, saffron, St. John’s wort, tangerine, witch grass; agate, amber, amethyst, citrine, carnelian, garnet, moss agate, rhodonite, rose quartz

Energy: allspice, angelica, astralagus root, belladonna, coffee, mint, oregano, paprika, sunflower, tangerine, vanilla bean; agate, amber, carnelian, citrine, gold, hematite, jade, moss agate, rhodochrosite, rutilated quartz, sunstone, tiger’s eye, topaz, tourmaline

Friendship: acacia, apple, bee pollen, bluebell, citronella, gardenia, gum arabic, meadowsweet, myrtle, passion flower, rose, sweet pea; emerald, garnet, jade, lapis lazuli, moss agate, pearl, peridot, rhodochrosite, sapphire, sugilite, topaz, turquoise, unakite

Variations Use two cups for a romantic celebration, e.g. an important date.

Use nine cups for a big social event.

Use ten cups for a wedding or the birth of a child.

Hi!

For me, tarot started with getting a deck from a friend when she wasn’t allowed to keep it (her parents were very Catholic and would only allow her to use one kind of deck and only if she would learn from someone they knew in Mexico where she’s from - I wonder if she ever took them up on that?). At first I tried to learn from the book that came with it. It was a very nice book, but it’s never really done anything for me. Even now, if I need to look something up for that deck, I’ll use any other resource. 

I had a stilted relationship with Tarot for a long, long time. My mother didn’t want me to use it (or anything else witchy) in the house. I respected her wishes and kept my tarot deck and anything else outside of the house at a friend’s house. A friend I rarely saw.

When I moved out, I went a little nuts and picked up three more decks. I started to do more readings. From then, I’ve been working with on and off. I don’t remember the cards well, but they tell me enough once I look up the basic meanings. 

I mostly get the meanings from what I see in the cards (if the deck is one with good illustrations) and how I feel about them. Some of the cards give a feeling the moment I come close to them (Death is a beautiful, safe card for me, the Lovers is a very private card that I hate drawing for other people because it’s always been my signifier)

Basically, though? I don’t think I’m going to stop learning.