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What is the most important thing the angels can help you with this winter? Through January 31nd, 2019

All Rights Reserved. Click Here © Tarot-n-Tea, Ritual Tea All images and articles are the property of Tarot-n- Tea unless indicated. All 1 other images/articles are Ritual Tea Magazine used with permission. December 2018

December 2018

“Connecting with Angels”

Letter to the Editor by Mario Zeleny “What do I do with my box?” ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. p. 3 In Your Box Your December Teas by Mario Zeleny ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. p. 7 Tea and Water Part 2

How to by Mario Zeleny p. 9 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. In Your Box Crystals, Condiments and Teaware by Mario

Zeleny ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. p. 13 Connecting with Angels by Babbo Zelini ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. p. 14 Tarot Forecast November-December by Babbo Zelini ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. p. 24 In Your Box Candles, Tea Towel and Diffuser by Mario Zeleny ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. p. 31 Angels Embrace Ritual Tea by Babbo Zelini ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. p. 32 Tarot Forecast December – January by Babbo Zelini ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. p. 41 In Your Box Cookies and Seasonal Gifts by Mario Zeleny ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. p. 42 Angel Oracle Correspondences By Babbo Zelini ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. p. 43 Tarot Forecast January-February by Babbo Zelini ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. p. 48

Calling all Seers!

That means you….

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This holiday bread is addictive and after your first taste you may not want to share it! Thankfully, it is super easy to make!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cold black or oolong tea • 8 ounces mixed dried fruit • 8 ounces self-rising flour • 4 ounces superfine sugar • 1 large beaten egg • 2 tablespoons orange marmalade Directions: The day before:

Brew extra strong tea. Using dried fruit (not candied fruit) of your choice, place the fruit in a small bowl and pour the cold tea over the top. Soak the fruit overnight if possible, or until the fruit swells.

The day of baking:

Grease a standard sized loaf tin. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl combine the flour, sugar, egg and marmalade. (If you do not have superfine sugar, you can process granulated sugar in the food processor.) Then, pour in the fruit and any tea left in the bowl. Stir thoroughly. Put into loaf tin and bake in the oven for 1 hour. Allow to cool slightly before removing from the tin.

Optional Drizzle:

Make concentrated tea by using the regular amount of tea with a small amount of hot water (enough to cover the tea). We are looking for a couple of tablespoons of yield. Strain the tea and add small amounts of powdered sugar until it reaches desired consistency of drizzle. Add the drizzle before serving to individual portions.

3 Ritual Tea Magazine December 2018

Letter to the Editor

Season’s Greetings!

Dear Mario and Babbo:

I received your “Got Ghost’s?” box and I loved everything in it! There’s just one problem… I don’t know what to do with the contents. I know how to make tea and drink it, but beyond that I just don’t get it. What would you advise?

Sincerely,

Gabi L.

Thank you for taking the time to write. We are really grateful you shared your experience. First, we are happy you liked the box and had a good unboxing experience. The fact that you are not sure what do with the rest of the box means that we didn’t do part of our job very well.

Before I answer your question, I wanted to share that because you contacted us with your experience, we will be changing how we do things. First, we are going to make it clearer to subscribers that the information about the contents of the box can be found in the magazine. Next, by Spring 2019 we hope to add a permanent section to our magazine covering some basic questions about tea making and rituals. Beginning with this magazine edition, we are including rituals that you can do following the theme of the box.

To answer your question:

Just about anything that you do repeatedly is either a habit or a ritual. A habit is an absentminded performance of a ritual. It’s when you cannot remember the drive to work because you were actually thinking about something else… not the driving. We do this with lots of things like tying our shoe, turning the lights on and off, checking the door before we go to bed, taking a shower or raking leaves.

4 Ritual Tea Magazine December 2018

Letter to the Editor

Habits are only bad when they have a negative impact on your life. A ritual is something we do in a prescribed way every time we do it except, only we are fully present while we are doing it.

For the tea ritual, westerners typically rush to make tea often choosing any kind of water, tea and tea ware… and then drink it while they are doing other things. Is this bad? No, this is consumption. However, when an activity or object is approached in this manner all the time, then the activity and the object is devalued. We also miss out on a lot of benefits. It is no longer is anything special. It is just something we consume. There is no relationship; our role is only as a taker and we are just a consumer.

When we slow down and become present to where we are at and what we are doing… when we devote our time and attention… this is where the magic happens inside and outside. The contents of your box not only facilitates this kind of relationship with tea but also enrich it with meaning and intention through the contents in your box and their themes.

There is no right way or wrong way to use the box. And we hope that our suggestions are just a starting place for you to create your own unique experiences. We supply a number of different items in your box, so you can set up your tea ritual in a variety of ways. The symbols and colors used in the boxes empower an intention during your tea ritual. In the “Got Ghosts?” box, the aim was to connect with things that “haunt” you as well as connect to your ancestors. This could be as simple as laying out your tea towel, lighting a candle, setting up your tea ware and preparing your water so you can sit down and spend some time looking over your tarot reading, journaling your responses to the reading, or exploring what things haunt you.

© Yasmeen Westwood, Printed with Permission

It could also be as simple as drinking your tea while meditating on the meaning of the death card or how to get in touch with your own Queen of Cups energy. The tarot cards each have their own energy and symbolic meanings. If this is something you want more of in your life, then that tarot card becomes the symbol of that thing. Symbols hold power to change us and the world around us. Symbols remind us of things like who we are striving to be like, the goals we really want to see accomplished, or reminds us of things like accessing compassion when someone we love is really getting on our nerves. Symbols are a way of keeping the energy present when we need to focus on other things. 5

Ritual Tea Magazine December 2018

Letter to the Editor

Symbols are reminders, inspiration, physical manifestation of intention and a representation of types of energy.

Every one of us has a special shelf, table, or niche where we keep symbols that means something to us like a stuffed cow from when we were young, a special card our grandmother sent us, or our last picture with a beloved friend. To a mindless consumer, these things are just a stuffed animal, a picture and a card. To you these are symbols with powerful meanings that evokes something deep inside you when you look at them, touch them or spend time with them.

Whether you spend 5 minutes or an hour, or you are using all the stuff in your box or just a few things… it doesn’t matter. What matters is you begin practicing, you begin spending moments in “down” time from daily life, and you are doing something that is meaningful to you. The things you use in this ritual that stimulate taste, smells, sight, sound, tactile, and your mind and heart through symbolic meanings all combine like a unique recipe to reinforce and associate the time you are spending and the intention you are creating in your mind, in your body, in your spirit and life.

If you begin to do this ritual consistently, over time you and your world will begin to change in magical ways.

Thank you again for writing and allowing us to share the magic of Tarot-n-Tea with you.

All my Best,

Mario

6 Ritual Tea Magazine December 2018 Happy New Year!

Babbo would like to give you a gift as a thank you for being a part of Tarot-n-Tea and making our year so great!

If you would like a custom New Year Reading from Babbo using your own questions in a six-card reading AS A GIFT, please sign up below.

New Year Gift Readings are available only to the first 3 people to sign up.

New Year Reading- Sign me up! TarotnTea.com/product/nywb

7 Ritual Tea Magazine December 2018

Delivered by Angels By Mario Zeleny

I can honestly say that your box was brought to you by the angels. I faced unreal circumstances during the last 30 days to manifest this box. During the last two weeks, I have been calling on the angels and they have worked over time to answer. However, there are some issues with the box for me. While trying to reconcile all of the near misses and disasters (the last one was having hundreds of dollars’ worth of cookies destroyed on the day the boxes needed to be finalized and mailed), I realized the box is a lot like life. We have plans. We work really hard to create the life we want but, in the end, life becomes what it will… flaws and all. I could get wrapped up in anger and resentment, but instead I have chosen to see the mini-miracles that actually got this box to your door. Choosing to see the divine at work in stressful, detrimental and devastating situations is incredibly positive and yet the reality is we are left with things that are mysterious, confusing, and perhaps even “wrong”. For instance, the tarot cards on your teas were supposed to be same tarot cards that your tea is named after. They aren’t. Somewhere between ordering the tea, actually being able to get the tea that I planned on, and changing the teas a few times, I order the wrong cards off an old list. What do you do with that? I couldn’t go back and change anything; it was too late.

Babbo said it reminded him of when he gets a tarot reading he doesn’t like. He just wants to throw it away and start over. And, yet this is what Spirit would have for him. It may not look good or feel good. He continued to explain that when he could move past this and allow the reading to exist as it is and accept it, things begin to change. Often the very reading he thought was horrid and awful, ended up being one of the best, most insightful readings.

And, after a few hours of accepting that this is what is supposed to be and trying to find the gift in the situation, I realized a few things: 1) Your teas have become another tarot reading; 2) We always have a choice and can change things; it really is how we choose to look at it.

Tea Tarot Reading Think of a situation you want to know more about that directly concerns you. List off six aspects of information you would like insight on. For example, I would like to know if I should be looking for another commercial kitchen? My questions are: 1) What is the energy in my current situation with my kitchen? 2) What am I not seeing in this situation? 3) How can I make the current circumstances better? 4) If I did those things, how much impact would it make in changing the situation? 5) How would things turn out if I contracted with another kitchen instead? 6) What should I watch out for in contracting with another kitchen?

Put your teas in a large bag and mixed them up. Without looking, take one tea out at a time and put it down in front of you in a line. Go ahead and make sure all the teas are card side up without reorienting the card. If they are upside down leave them that way.

8 Ritual Tea Magazine December 2018

Delivered by Angels

I have supplied you with keyword for both the cards on your tea as well as your tea at the end of the article. You can now match your tea to the card on your tea. This will give you a general idea of the combined symbolism of both the tea and the card. Write down this combination of keywords for both cards into one definition. When you complete all six cards, you will have your reading. You can further refine your reading by looking at the picture in your cards in relation to the definition you have.

Changing the Energy Using Your Tarot Cards This was my reading. The numbers correspond to the questions below.

1) Queen of Cups Reversed with Seven of Cups tea, 2) Seven of cups with Page of Pentacles tea, 3) Three of Wands Reversed with the Magician’s tea, 4) Four of Wands with the Empress tea, 5) Page of Pentacles with Seven of Swords tea, and 6) Ten of Pentacles with Queen of Coins tea.

While the reading is insightful, my real focus was number three. Why? Because I cannot leave the commercial kitchen I have at this time. So, I really have to find a way to make it better. So, what I will do is swap #4 the Four of Wands with #3’s tarot card. I will now use The Empress with the Four of Wands in this configuration of energy to have a tea ritual around my relationship with my kitchen based on embodying the Empress and Four of Wands. There is still more work to do around this, but I have got information to get me started in a direction that addresses the energy of what is going on in the situation.

Tarot as Power

Tarot has power. The interesting thing is that the power of tarot is present on multi-levels: 1) Symbolic, 2) Informational, 3) Predictive, 4) Archetypical, 5) Pictorial. It’s really quite immense. But for our purposes here, it’s symbolic. A piece of paper with a picture may not seem magical but they serve a valuable purpose.

1. It makes an impression through our senses. 2. It makes an impression emotionally. 3. It becomes a physical manifestation of something we desire or are called too. 4. It holds a space when our focus needs to be somewhere else. 5. It’s a reminder.

9 Ritual Tea Magazine December 2018

Delivered by Angels

6. It’s inspiration.

Whatever the information that the tarot reveals to you, it also delivers choices especially in places where you feel you had none. If you allow it, tarot can open up a whole new world. The key would be in the type of question asked, that the questions are open ended and the questions are very specific… about you and the situation.

When you spend time with a card, it is like any relationship… it become deeper and more meaningful. This relationship changes you, your mind, your heart and your DNA. What do the cards in your box mean to you? Find out by inviting them to tea!

Miscellaneous Tea Notes

Please note: The Queen of Coin’s tea isn’t 7 grams. It’s 5 grams.

The Queen of Coins: Needs to be broken up. There are 2-3 servings there.

Ten of Pentacles Tea: This is blooming tea in the Fortune Box that goes with. Your cocktail glass. Please see cupping notes here:

Ten of Pentacles Tea Happy New Year! The Ten of Pentacles Tea is here to help you end a cycle and begin a new one! Within its light and floral liquor are blessings, best wishes and good energy for the old and new year. The Ten of Pentacles Tea enjoy in your celebration glass for up to Five blooming Infusions. Allow the blessings to bloom in your life with the Ten of Pentacles Tea.

Caffeine Level: Light Ingredients: White Tea, Jasmine Nt. Wt. .141 oz. (4g)

10 Ritual Tea Magazine December 2018 Delivered by Angels

Tarot and Tea Key Words

Teas Keywords Cards Keywords Queen of Coins Refined practicality, Queen of Cups kindness, calm, excellence in wellbeing management, fertility, domestic god/goddess Seven of Cups Opportunities, wild Seven of Cups searching for imagination, purpose, options, probabilities, distracted, Page of Pentacles Manifestation, Three of Wands looking ahead, financial opportunity, expansion, rapid skill development progress,

Magician Ability to make things Four of Wands society, domestic, manifest, knowledge, merriment, balance and wisdom Empress Femininity, cultivating Page of Pentacles determination, wealth. longing, conscientiousness, Seven of Swords Retreat to safety, Ten of Pentacles legacy, zenith, safety, reclaiming heirloom, what is yours Queen of Cups R martyrdom, insecurity, dependence Seven of Cups R lack of resolve, distraction, perplexity Three of Wands R complications, pauses, annoyance Four of Wands R lack of support, fleetingness, home conflicts

Page of Pentacles R lack of promise, self-indulgence, lethargy

Ten of Pentacles R fleeting success, lack of permanence, lack of provisions

11 Ritual Tea Magazine December 2018 D e c e m b e r T e a’ s at Tarot-N-TeA Seven of Cups Tea Queen of Coins Seven of Swords

Seven of Cups Tea arrives to create We all better be on our best It is OK to hatch a sneaky opportunities in places where there appears to be none at all. Part of the behavior with this Queen in the plan, to grab your stuff and lichen family, but classified as a type house. She is ancient. She is escape in to this full-bodied of grass, it blooms in the dead of rhythm. She is fertility. She is black tea that is perfectly winter in the snow about 4000 meters abundance. Within her wisdom, balanced with freshly ground in the Himalayas. It was a tribute cinnamon bits and notes of offered by the Mu Clan to Han she can balance and manipulate emperors during the 14th century day-to-day energies to long term fall-ripened fig. and is said to *improve sleep quality benefits within her chocolaty and high blood pressure. In addition, Sometimes life and people liquor. She won’t reveal all her it boosts immunity, prevents sore can be too brisk, strong and secrets within the hint of throats, stops coughs, help with the overpowering. Take digestion of fat (like after a holiday mushroom and toasted rice but sanctuary in a warm liquor meal), as well as hosts antiviral and you can coax her into a smooth antibiotic properties. Today, it is a of spice and fruit to reclaim sweetness and then will reveal rare and prized tea. your sense of self, herself. Her gift is action with independence and stability. When all the earth of the Northern right timing; so, she will not be a Hemisphere is quiet and waiting, whirlwind of instant gratification. The rich maple notes with a Seven of Cups Tea offers possibilities. warming aroma of sweet It has clean vegetal flavor with some She requires a slightly longer slight bitterness that pairs nicely with steeping time to bring out the cinnamon will consume your honey, ginger and a touch of lemon. earthy flavor. It’s what grounds stress and renew your It’s humble and unassuming; you her. Additional steeping reveals sanity. might pass it by. What a mistake! Do more of her refined mysteries. you feel down on your luck with no Are immovable forces are hope? Drink Seven Cups Tea to reveal Want long term benefits from your robbing you? Reclaim your the possibilities within. day-to- day life? Get your answers sense of self with Seven of *These claims have not been verified by with the Queen of Coins tea. Cups tea. the FDA. Caffeine: Moderate Caffeine: High Caffeine: None Ingredients: Black tea, cinnamon, fig, Ingredients: Puer Tea Ingredients: Thamnoia vermicularis natural and artificial flavors Nt. Wt. .25 oz. (7g) (Ach.) Asahina Nt. Wt. .25 oz. (7g) Nt. Wt. .25 oz. (7g)

Distributed by Distributed by Distributed by Tarot-n-Tea Tarot-n-Tea Tarot-n-Tea Elk Grove, CA Elk Grove, CA Elk Grove, CA 415-415-580-1781 415-415-580-1781 415-415-580-1781 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Sample- Not for Resale Sample- Not for Resale 12 Ritual Tea Magazine December 2018 D e c e m b e r T e a’ s at Tarot-N-TeA Page of Pentacles When we meet the Page of Pentacles Empress Tea The Magician tea, we can sense immediately that she is ambitious in her creamy and This earth mother is ready to lend Take advantage of the Magicians luscious texture floating within those you some power. Tulsi is a sacred appearance within this botanical dancing orchid notes. She is protected, plant that Hindus regard as the potion that bears his name and glean nourished, and remarkably smooth. earthly manifestation of Lakshmi, the all you can from him. She is deeply tied to the earth, nature, goddess of wealth. What gifts does and all of its gifts expressed by her she bring for you? He uses the aromatics and spicy signature chocolate and barley flavors. flavor of juniper to awaken your When you inhale her spicy aroma of senses, purify your aura and clarify cloves you know help has arrived. The best way to describe the sensation your thoughts. He’s added cool-as-a- Her crisp flavor of pepper alerts you of her is that of handmade butter cucumber corn flower to increase to the need to take care of yourself caramels melting on your tongue. your psychic connection to him and first before others. Saying ‘no’ is OK. When you drink the Page of Pentacles awaken your third eye. tea, this sensation is her access to your But this Empress has much to lavish entire being. For she cherishes the upon you and arrives with answers As you sip this lively tea, you’d swear body—it is something which is a to the questions you haven’t yet there was lime in it as the floral of the manifestation of her element. asked. She is divine in cooking with white tea, blends with the juniper and pork, fish and chicken and she the cucumber notes of the corn Stay with her through every sip and dynamite with a casserole. flowers to almost deceive you. That’s her diligence, ambition and loyalty will He is the hostess with the mostess. a little gift he has conjured just for drive you to quickly make plans for the Her divinity takes her from the earth you. future - for it is there where her focus and temples to gardens and lies. kitchens. She is your sacred source He is cunning and capable. The from the Lamiaceae family of Magician has a natural understanding Need a lift and focus for planning, aromatic flowering herbs that of the interworking and relationships scheduling and dreaming up your next includes mint, sage, oregano, of the elements, herbs, the heavens move toward the future? Consult with rosemary, and lavender. And she and the earth. Connect with him the Page of Pentacles tea. has the ability to strengthen you directly with each sip and channel his through the power of her understanding and knowledge of adaptogens preparing you for what it takes to manifest desires. It is whatever transitions await you. very auspicious to have the Magician’ Tea. Do not waste this opportunity. Yes, you are the presence of a goddess. The Empress is here to Caffeine: Light Caffeine: Moderate serve you. Ingredients: Premium White Bai Mu Dan - Ingredients: Black Tea Nt. Wt. 25 oz. (7g) Caffeine: None Juniper Berries - Blue Cornflower - Natural Ingredients: Tusli & Artificial Flavor Nt. Wt. .25 oz. (7g) Nt. Wt. .25 oz. (7g)

Distributed by Distributed by Distributed by Tarot-n-Tea Tarot-n-Tea Tarot-n-Tea Elk Grove, CA Elk Grove, CA Elk Grove, CA 415-415-580-1781 415-415-580-1781 415-415-580-1781 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Sample- Not for Resale Sample- Not for Resale Sample- Not for Resale 13 Ritual Tea Magazine December 2018

F e a t u r e d A r t i c l e

Tea and Water Part 2: Time and Temperature

Doing Tea All Wrong how you should make it. This is an believe in (even though it is often underlying principle in marketing: imaginary at best). The second I was lazy. I couldn’t find my “we” are going to tell you what problem is that you are allowing teaspoon and didn’t want to look for lifestyle is good for you—what it someone else to tell you what to it. So, I grabbed tea with my hands looks like, smells like, and tastes like. value, how to behave, what to choose. (not recommended) and put it in the This is done for a very good reason: Free will? What free will? Finally, gaiwan. I filled my gaiwan and you do not have to think, and the there is little room for individuality, turned around to do some work and company controls your experience innovation, and creativity. This is a forgot about it. Typically, the brew and expression of their brand. If soul-sucking situation that reminds time for gaiwan hovers around thirty consumers have to think, the me of the scene in Jim Henson’s Dark seconds. It had been five minutes at perception on our part is we have to Crystal, where where the Skesis drain least—maybe longer, I don’t know. “work,” and most of us don’t want to the essence from the pod people to do that. I cannot tell you how many keep them young and the pod people times I have heard the phrase: “Just become zombie slaves. tell me how to do it.”

When the consumer likes what you tell them, bam! You are a winner. If they don’t like it, it’s the company’s fault. The consumer is blameless. The company tries harder to make you see it their way. Eventually, you may come to see it their way, and The amount of tea recommended is they become the winner again. three grams, but mine was six to ten Marketing knows that to make you grams. And you know what? It ended happy is not to ask you to work or to up being the best cup of oolong I ever think and to give you the lifestyle had, and I did it all wrong! transformation you paid for—or at least make you believe you got the This taught me something very lifestyle transformation. important about the tea ritual and what that perfect cup of tea is: there What’s wrong here? For starters, are no rules. There is only the place you are giving yourself over to the you start from. There is no goal other “ideal” the company wants you to If you are into zombie marketing, than a fulfilling relationship and more power to you. However, if you ritual. are into valuing individuality, valuing creativity, getting in touch with what Everyone, it seems, is an expert you like and your core values, then about tea. These experts can whip up you will need to think and a chart about how much tea you use experiment. Instructions, books, for the amount of water. What stories, and articles are only a place to usually happens is someone copies begin, and that is all. I don’t care that from someone else and there is very F e a t u r e d A r t i c l e there is an alphabet after the expert’s little variation among sources. name, or they received their expert 14 scrolls from a panel of the gods. What this means is someone else Ritual Tea Magazine telling you how tea should taste and December 2018

Unless we are talking about care where the water comes from, how it is Tea Amount operating a nuclear power heated, just as long as we can make our tea and The general guideline for the plant or flying a 747, no one is move on. I was appalled when I realized this. amount of tea is around three an expert in your life but you. grams per six to eight ounces. For gongfu style for a single I began to understand why the tea ritual was person who will consume three That being said, the Chinese designed like it is in Asia—it is a working have been drinking tea for over together of the person and the tea, not to five “cups,” the recommendation remains the five thousand years. They have domination or submission. It wasn’t about same. cultivated not only the plant forcing something or trying to “get something but also the experience. When out of it” for us. It is about flowing. It is a This is a great place to start but I began to study tea, I was conversation. It is a cultivated relationship that not a guideline to live by. The shocked to discover all the takes time and attention. only way to know is to wisdom that has been lost on experiment. Higher quality of tea tends to require less amount the Westerner concerning tea. of tea than store-bought brands. When I first began to learn and Temperature Guidelines experience the Chinese way of What And there is a considerable tea, I finally got to experience Tea Description Temperature You See difference in the varieties of firsthand how another culture, Shrimp eyes Tiny 135–145°F teas. Oolongs tend to require like the Asian culture, bubbles less tea while green and white experiences a Westerner. I Crab eyes Small 145–160°F may require more. found that we became brutal in bubbles our treatment of tea; we White Fish eyes Medium- 160–170°F tea, sized Water Temperature dishonored the wisdom that spring bubbles Guidelines had been cultivated for green thousands of years in the way teas, Free will, innovation, and of tea. We wanted it bigger and Japanese crossing the line with water faster; we conformed tea to us. green temperatures is all permitted, tea In the process, we took the with some caution. Teas are Green Fish eyes to Larger 170–185°F individual as they are traditional tools that had been tea a string of (break the processed very differently from designed over the centuries to pearls surface, cling to one kind to another. While your work with tea and made them side) puer can tolerate the boiling into other things that “fixed” Oolong A string of Extra- 185–205°F water, many oolongs cannot. In the tea, because in wanting tea pearls to large fact, there are many kinds of bigger and faster tea, it made dragon eyes bubbles the tea bitter, stronger (not (beginning tea that are vulnerable to better), more astringent, and to boil) scalding. There is nothing poorer in quality and nutrition. Black Small Soft, 190–205°F worse than a cup of oolong that tea dragon eyes rolling has been hit with hard boiling boil water. Yuck! The fair cup in the Chinese Puer Big dragon Hard, 205–212°F ritual became the creamer, eyes rolling Here are some industry and the gaiwan became the boil sugar bowl. Teapots became guidelines to help you begin five hundred times bigger, and (see table to the right). cups that started small have grown larger and larger, with The hotter the water, the more some resembling Western quickly it will steep the tea, soup bowls. We scaled our and steeping time will need to tea. We gulp tea. We don’t be reduced. Hot water can 15 release the tannins, Ritual Tea Magazine December 2018

F e a t u r e d A r t i c l e chlorophyll, and other compounds too quickly and can make the tea unnecessarily bitter or astringent. If the water is too hot, it can cloud the tea and reduce a complex tea down to a single note.

Never assume that your first cup of tea is all that the tea has to offer. I found that some high- grade oolongs are perfect at the shrimp-eye to the fish-eye range temperature range. Using hotter water, the taste is corrupted. It took mistakes, accidents, and a deliberate relationship with the tea to understand this. Aside from the relationship part, you will not hear mention about mistakes, accidents, or doing things wrong as a positive discovery in most tea books or websites. This is very sad and gives the wrong impression. Mistakes are the midwives to personal discovery and innovation.

Steeping Time

Once again, steeping time is not universal. Not only does steeping time change based on the style you take your tea (Asian or Western), but also each of tea will require their own steeping time regardless of its classification. Not all green tea can be brewed the same because it is green tea. Within each classification are so many variations that respond individually to temperature and diffusion that to tell someone to just follow “this chart” is grossly erroneous and misleading. Below are just a few considerations to consider when steeping your tea:

Usually referred to as fanning, your grocery-store pre-bagged tea is usually done steeping within a minute, unless you lower the temperature. Because Highly processed so much of the surface is exposed to water, even at lower temperatures, broken leaf diffusion occurs quickly. I have heard it said that whole leaf takes longer to diffuse than bagged tea, often because less of the surface is exposed to the water. This may be true as a fact, but not a fact when making a determination for steeping time. There Whole leaf, large leaf some are whole-leaf teas that are ready to drink in about a minute. It is the individual properties of the tea that dictate diffusion time and the room that

is allowed for the tea to steep.

The tighter and more compact the tea is, the longer it will take to diffuse.

Every type of oolong will dictate to you its preferred diffusion timing. Rolled

Oolongs and twisted Oolong takes longer because of its tight shape that must unfurl. Experimentation is the only way to go.

There exist some high-grade whole-leaf teas that do not need a long diffusion

time, some under a minute. For many higher-grade teas, the shorter the steep High grades may be better.

There is a wide variety of puer and thus a variety of diffusion times. Like oolong, puer changes taste with the amount of time it is steeped, which is Puer why it is preferred for the gongfu method of tea that promotes multiple

steepings. Puer gets stronger the longer it is diffused and never gets bitter. If

you use the Western style of tea, try altering the steeping times to cultivate

the taste that appeals to you.

White tea is the least processed and is often very delicate. Many varieties can Whites be ruined with too-hot water and too-long steeping.

16 Ritual Tea Magazine December 2018

F e a t u r e d A r t i c l e

Steeping More than Once

Many teas are tastier and more satisfying when brewed with less water and at shorter times. Typically, this is referred to as the gongfu method. If you do not prefer gongfu, try changing your teacup to a demitasse cup and a smaller teapot in the range of 300–500 ml. This adapted Asian method requires an electric kettle and a strainer (if there is none in the teapot). Add 2.5 g to 3.5g of tea to the tea pot. Add the appropriate temperature of water to the pot, filling the pot halfway to three-fourths of the way, depending on how big it is. You want enough water to fill one to two cups of tea. Diffusion time is twenty to thirty seconds. For some other teas, less or more time may be preferred.

Fill the cups of tea. When you are ready, reheat the water and refill the teapot to steep for another cup. Only loose whole-leaf tea does best with this method. You can re-steep most teas two to three times minimum this way. For some teas, subsequent steepings may require longer steeping times for preferred taste.

Washing Your Tea

This section should have come first as it is something to be done before drinking tea, but most Westerns have never heard of it. Most loose-leaf whole-leaf tea should be washed before drinking. It removes dust that accumulated during processing. Washing tea is also very helpful for tightly rolled or twisted teas in that it “wakes it up” and gets it ready for steeping.

Take hot water and pour it over the leaves to slightly above the surface. You can give the vessel a quick but gentle swirl and then pour off the water. You do not want to let the tea stand; water needs to be quickly poured off; you only want it to only rinse the leaves and not diffuse them.

When I first heard about washing tea early in my journey, I was skeptical. I then made a practice to about a month to taste test numerous teas. I washed them first and then critiqued subsequent steepings and compared this to the western way of taking tea. This method proved to be superior.

Please note: Do not wash highly processed tea. This will only leach much of the tea. Highly processed tea doesn’t need washing.

Too busy for this?

Changing our habits and perspective is no easy task especially for Westerners who tend to prefer to run on autopilot for day to day life. Change something or learning something new can often disturb our equilibrium even if that equilibrium isn’t good for us.

Rather than trying all these approaches every time you have tea, dedicate time each week to specifically concentrate on your tea ritual. You can also try adjusting or changing just one aspect at a time.

Cultivating a successful relationship with tea and creating a consistent ritual tea practice could very well provide you with insights for tackling other difficult life changes and goals. You just need to begin. You don’t have to be perfect nor do you have to do it every day.

17 Ritual Tea Magazine December 2018

In Your Box

Tea Set December Crystals Sugar Cube Stars The Fortune Ritual Tea Box Opalite Angel: Opalite is a man - Our sugar star cubes are lemon features a tea set in a travel case. made stone. There are some flavored and comes in a petite It was chosen for its white color natural stones known as opalite size to add just a touch of as well as for the “wings” on the but they do not share any of opal sweetness to your tea. side of the tea pot. When using qualities. If you look online, you will loose leaf tea, fill with 3-5 grams rarely find anyone that tells you Both condiments were included of tea and steep for 30-45 that this stone is glass and man- in our box this month specifically seconds. Tea can be steeped made. I believe it is because the for the Seven of Cups Tea. again up to 3-5 times depending perception of such an origin on the tea and amount used. devalues its ability to help in many The honey (through bees) and Please use one hand to pour the people’s eyes. the stars have connection to the tea. Put your thumb and middle air and sky… the domain of Items that are made by man have finger on each wing and your first Angels. energy just like naturally made finger on the lid. Please only fill material. The associations for this with water to the top of the wing. opalite is the color white, blue and Like your guardian angel, the the shape. Opalite is associated wings protect your fingers from with understanding, improvement the heat. of communication and provides peace and stability. In the form of angel, it symbolically connects us through these aspects directly to the divine.

Honey Flights Angel Cup

Honey A: 1. Orange, 2. Lemon, This sturdy cup is emblazed with 3. Lime the angel graphic that matches the season’s tea towel. This cup Honey B: 4. Raspberry, 5. Pina is perfect for small and multiple

Colada, 6. Wildflower infusions. Symbols have the Blue Calcite: Induces serenity and power to connection us to our soothes the nerves. Blue calcite is Honey C: 7 Lemon, 8. Peach intentions, to change our brains also known to enhance intuition and insight. It purifies and What Bag did you get? and our DNA if used consistently and intentionally. amplifies energy and intentions. 18 Ritual Tea Magazine December 2018

Connecting with Angels

A Different Look at Angels

In every culture, every major religion (and most minor ones) there are angels—divine messengers and guides. There is obviously something very valid about this concept and experience. What are the details that tie all these experiences together? What is universal wisdom? How can we apply this to our own journey?

This article will take a look at connecting with angels from common universal experiences and understanding as building blocks for your own angel mythology, communication and experiences.

What are Angels?

The word angel means “messenger.” Angels are universally thought of as spiritual guides, messengers, or those who carry out a special act to benefit mankind. Angels are universally thought of as intermediaries between the divine and mankind. They are entities that travel between the worlds. They can appear as animals, humans, beings of light, insects, clouds, and especially birds. They can be just about anything. It is universally agreed that angels are, for the most part, invisible on this plane of existence. However, when the need arises, they can be visible but often within a recognizable form. So, to witness an angel, we must somehow make a decision that the natural form we are seeing is an angel; otherwise, a visitation doesn’t occur. I expect angels have been involved in all of our existence as messengers and helpers; we just often do not recognize it.

There is a passage in the Bible that I am very fond of: “Be watchful lest you entertain angels unaware.” What it taught me was: (1) you never know who is actually sitting in front of you and who you are talking to, (2) you are to treat everyone with respect as you would treat an angel, and (3) important information (messages), help, and guidance can come in any form.

The Iconic Angel Form

Angel archeology can be traced back to ancient Samaria. Before this, there were mostly tribal communities whose mythology, medicine, and divine source were overseen or interpreted by a shaman. Shamans of this period almost universally can be connected to flying, and this is reflected in their garb; the arms of which were often decorated as wings. A lot of shamanistic concepts can be found in the mythology of angels in Samaria. Much of these basic concepts about angels was also passed down and became a part of Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. The universal concept of the winged humanoid form or beings of light is a concept that continues today and is a common experience for those who have encountered or contacted angels.

19 Ritual Tea Magazine December 2018 Connecting with Angels

Why the humanoid with wings and a halo, or the being of light? Why do angels continue to be seen this way? There are not a lot of answers, and it seems as if it is an aspect smoothed over by the angel experts, so we can all move on, away from the science. Angel theory is very threatened by science, with good reason. Science can explain a lot of what we might be seeing and hearing. However, if a spiritual account has any reality, then it is never threatened by scientific explanation because it simply doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter if your eyes were playing tricks. It doesn’t matter if you might have had a transient ischemic attach (little stroke). Truth is truth. If it means something to you, if it triggered significant symbolism and meaning, if the message was helpful, and if the experience was healing and positive, who cares? It is still divine.

I, a “non-expert,” would like to offer a few other explanations about where the angel form might have emerged from. Someone who stands in front of a very strong light, like the sun, can be seen to have light beams coming from their head and shoulders. And, in front of a light so strong this being would not be able to be made out by the observer, rendering this person “invisible”; you know someone is there, but you can’t see them. To make the image even more dramatic, if the light is that strong, then the observing person would also be squinting, creating even more beams of light. I happen to be fond of this very practical explanation because there is the interplay of light and shadow that for me represents balance. Balance is something I associate with the divine.

Leaving all this behind, what matters most today about the angel form is that this symbol has been heavily engrained in the Western culture. It carries centuries of energy within it. Whether you believe in the angel form or not, it doesn’t matter because of your cultural conditioning, education, and symbolic exposure. Even for a nonbeliever, this form is heavily weighted and will trigger something in most individuals. The question today is, what associations and triggers does this form create in you? When you figure this out, you have found power. For most of us, this would equate to power enabling us to connect with angels because of what it means to us.

How do symbols connect us with angels? The question can best be answered with how we communicate with animals. We communicate through symbols (humans communicate through symbols too…its just a simpler analogy with an animal). For dogs who take walks, the symbol for this is the leash and the word for that is walkies (or whatever word you might use). When we communicate with animals, we use symbols in pictures, objects, sounds, and perhaps even smells (for those professionally-trained animals). When the divine tries to contact us, it will use the symbols and archetypes that mean something to us. Many of those are driven by our cultural conditioning, even if we do not believe in the expression or portrayal of the idea, like angels having wings and halos.

Communication with angels also works the opposite way. We use symbols, items of meaning, colors, sounds, shapes, and smells to alter our perception and open us up to the divine. When used consistently, these things can condition us to instantly drop our secular selves and instantaneously access our intuition, inner wisdom and to even cross the bridge to commune with the divine. 20 Ritual Tea Magazine December 2018 Connecting with Angels

Universal Signs and Symbols of Angels

After this article, you will find a table filled with angel correspondences. The correspondences are common symbols associate with angels. This table is only a place to begin. If you want the connection with your angels to deepen and to be clearer, then you will need to create a table of your own. You begin with finding symbols that connect you to angels:

1) Certain symbols have always been associated with angels. Though the symbol may not have a lot in common with what you believe, the weight of the symbol is still significant in your life. 2) You feel a connection to a symbol and associate it with the angelic realm for a reason you cannot explain. 3) You like the symbol’s historic association with angels. 4) You have your own experience with a particular symbol and angels. 5) You have created the symbol yourself, like a sigil.

Journaling will be the next step in developing your conversation with the angels. When you begin to journal—to record your angel rituals, intentions, the symbols you use as well as your results—these symbols begin to change for you. New symbols will emerge, and you will begin to develop your own angel-symbol associations. Over time, your connection to your angels will deepen, your conversation will be clearer, and your understanding will be more acute and profound.

These symbols and how they play out in your experience will begin to emerge as omens and signs. The relationship you develop with your angel has the potential to provide you with peace, comfort, and strength. There are many similarities between the relationship you cultivate with your tea and the relationship you wish to cultivate with your angels.

Angel Hierarchies

It’s astounding, the complicated lives of angels. Whatever you choose to believe is fine. However, this kind of detail can be more distracting than helpful. And when it comes down to it, do you care which of the nine realms your angel came from?

There is an important point to the hierarchies and organizational definitions of angels. This organization is attempting is to define the energy of these spirits. Don’t worry; we will not be exploring the many levels of angels here. Rather, we will be defining the individual universal energy of specific angels that have consistently been active throughout angel history. There are many angels, each with their own energy but all with the ability to assist us. You don’t need to know their name or rank to connect with them, but it helps.

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Kinds of Angels

The angel division could be described as followers and leaders, though religious mythology has other explanations. Often referred to as angels of heaven, these angels do as they are commanded and function with the roles they are given. Fall Angels, however, are angels who chose their own destiny. Their leader “The-Angel-That-Must-Be-Named,” did something unique at the beginning of time, as the story goes. The-Angel-That-Must-Be-Named found the first humans and told them the truth. The-Angel-That-Must-Be-Named has been blamed for everything under the sun because he enlightened the first humans to the actual state of their relationship with god. The humans chose knowledge versus living in darkness and ignorance. Was it because god lied to them that they choose to eat the apple, or because they felt that God was cheating them out of something?

The-Angel-That-Must-Be-Named and his band of angels have been banned to hell by church “authorities” for listening to their own hearts, following their own feelings, and making up their own core values. This story has been retold in various accounts throughout written history. It was the beginning of the “us and them;” a convenient place for religious authority to imprison their followers with fear and hate. As such, those who don’t follow along, who do not agree with what they are being taught, who question and follow their own independent thinking are condemned like the fallen angels.

The dark and the light is a spectrum of energy that doesn’t have any level of good or bad associated with it. Good and bad are values and judgments of men and have no place in the divine spectrum. The dark and the light, like the sun and the moon, each have their essential roles to play as one cannot exist without the other. One is because the other is. You can think of dark and light like a tarot card. One way is upright, and the other is reversed. Reversed cards don’t mean “bad, wrong, or evil”—they never have. It is just another way of looking at energy. For clarity, we have relabeled it as energy that reflects and energy that absorbs. We can also equate that to external and internal as well as a whole host of other pairs of opposites that describe a spectrum of energy, like waves and particles. One end of the spectrum is the wave and the other end is the particle. The middle is the wave and the particle exist together in varying degrees; this where the movement happens.

This does not mean you cannot work with the Shadow Angels. The Shadow Angels can be very helpful. However, care must be taken with the names, symbols, and other associations you choose to use in your spiritual work. Not because of them but because of us. We are conditioned from a very young age to believe certain things. It is very hard to overcome the effects of our family, culture and religion even if we consciously choose not to believe them. We can unconsciously manifest fear and doubt.

On the next page, please find a chart of reflecting (upright) and absorbing (reversed) angels.

22 Ritual Tea Magazine December 2018 Vocations Names Roles Names Roles Upright Upright Reversed Reversed (Reflect) (Reflect) (Absorb) (Absorb) Guardian, Michael Cameal Belial Gadreel Protection, Guides Teaching Jophiel Metatron Azazel Barakiel Messengers Gabriel Sandalphon Ministering/Healing Raphel Zadkiel Marchosias Semyaza Ministers of Justice Raguel Caim Mastema Knowledge and Raziel Metatron Amezyarak Araqiel Wisdom Angels of Mercy Zadkiel Anael, Jeremiel Semyaza Zagan Prosperity Gamaliel Pathiel Zagan Exael Prophecies Uriel Ariel Ezequeel Hauras

The divine is always here to lend assistance; however, it may not be the form you were expecting. If that is the case, it might make you feel that you haven’t been heard or understood. There are a number of historical accounts of wrestling with angels. Do we resist what the angel has for us because we are trying to enforce our will and expectations? I am sure that happens, but I believe it is because we do not understand. Our understanding comes via a relationship. Without it, we see things out of context and may believe them to be wrong.

The Universal Experience

The first ancient myths concerning angels often tell of men seeking out communication with angels or guiding spirits. By the time Judaism, Christianity, and Islam climb on the angel bandwagon, gone are the men seeking them. Angels now happen to appear to assist only the chosen people and to smite everyone else. In fact, a reading of the Old Testament has proven to be some of the finest inspiration for the entertainment industry’s most violent and depraved movies. The sacred documents of the world’s three largest organized religions are the first documents that expose terrible and violent depravity of angels. These are not the fallen angels either. One angel was said to hunt down Moses to kill him because he didn’t cut the foreskin off his son’s penis. Other tales tell of tens of thousands of people killed or of whole cities destroyed by angels. The Archangel Samael is said to have intended to kill the fetus of Jacob but was stopped by Michael. Uriel flooded the earth, and Michael throws a temper tantrum if you don’t listen or you question him like the way Agent Smith took away Neo’s voice in the move The Matrix.

23 Ritual Tea Magazine December 2018 Connecting with and Experiencing Angels

In fact, when you read the ancient written accounts of angels, it makes you wonder which sets of angels are the fallen ones and who are not.

Very few historical accounts include a seeker making deliberate contact with an angel, until much later. Who can blame them with the stories that had been told? People are recorded trying to contact angels in medieval times, and it hasn’t stopped since. There is little to no reports of any angels ever having an adversarial relationship with seekers, except for the “fallen” angels, which seems mostly due to cultural and religious beliefs and conditioning.

Initiating Contact

Seekers wanting to connect with angels can use many methods such as ritual in the form of vocalization, meditation, contemplation, resonance, graphic symbolisms, talismans, charms, fetishes, and amulets.

Most of these aspects are more than we can cover here other than briefly to mention them. Vocalizations are in the form of chanting, singing, prayers, and mantras. Resonance is the association of sound frequency with specific intentions or certain attributes focused at angels. This actually makes a lot of sense if you believe that angels are light. The idea is that the intentions or attributes of a frequency match with the angel you are seeking or the color they are associated with. Talismans, charms, fetishes, and amulets (often not called by these names due to their occult associations) can be in the form of the symbols and correspondences associated with a particular angel; this also includes statues and other types of effigies.

These methods accomplish the connection through a couple of means. It is the expression of energy sent in the direction of who we wish to contact, as it is when we seek to contact the people in our lives—like a flare, the ringing of the phone with caller ID, or your call on the CB Radio. These methods also connect us, mentally, spiritual, and physically, with our intuition and inner wisdom; it opens us up and creates a bridge, so we can begin to access connection to the divine. In other words, it changes us. These practices also serve to keep our intention at the forefront of our focus. It keeps us alert, aware, and watchful.

A Guide to Understanding Angel Messages

It is believed that angels are forever trying to communicate with us, and it is us who cannot hear them. I don’t know if I believe that entirely; why waste the energy if we are not going to listen? I believe they wait patiently for us and intervene in extraordinary circumstances where we do not

24 Ritual Tea Magazine December 2018 Connecting with and Experiencing Angels realize it was them at all. At other times, it is undeniable that we are getting some supernatural help. If we show any interest, the angels are always eager to be heard as well as to hear us.

But as with pet analogy, we need to begin simply. The chart in this section lists some common signs and omens associated with angels. However, they may or may not be applicable to you. You have a unique relationship with the divine. It begins simply by acknowledging the presence of angels and asking for a sign. The problem is our doubt and fear, the head games we play with ourselves.

1) You are doing something wrong.

If you believe you are doing something wrong, or even if it was taught to you that communicating with the spirits was wrong (even if you no longer believe it now), you can feel like you actually did something wrong. Fear and doubt of this nature can put a halt on developing your relationship or connecting with angels. You must deal with this issue first. If any of this violates your core values, then it is not good for you at this time.

2) Feeling like you might be making this all up.

If you do not tackle this issue head on, it will not only corrupt your ability to send and receive help and messages but also disconnect you from your inner wisdom and intuition directly. You must find a way of building confidence. There are great articles on the Internet with ideas to help. One way is by sending an intention out through prayer, meditation, or ritual, asking for something simple to come into your life. Then start paying attention to synchronicities and where it shows up. Keep a journal; this is important. For instance, say you live in an urban area and you ask the universe to send you horses (something not found often in the city), the symbol of travel and the energy to get something moving. Now start paying attention. Where are the horses? When and how do they show up? When you are satisfied, change it to something else. When you start trusting more, instead of asking for some kind of symbol, ask for an answer to a question. This one is a little bit harder because you must decide if what you are receiving is the answer or not. You need to go with your gut on this. Your gut will either influence your feelings through bodily sensations, thoughts, and ideas or completely change your state of being to show you what the answer is or is not.

3) Being afraid you are not getting, or you are missing the message.

If you are fearful of not getting a message, I suggest you return to building up trust and faith in your intuition first. When I asked for things and I didn’t get what I asked for, I thought for the longest time I wasn’t being heard. I expected to hear what I wanted, so therefore I heard nothing. Over time, I learned that though I may be disappointed, there was a reason why I didn’t get what I wanted, including the crap that I tried manifesting through rituals. I learned why enough times so that I don’t spend time wondering why anymore. 25 Ritual Tea Magazine December 2018 Connecting with and Experiencing Angels

Sometimes, what we ask for cannot be given to us now. We are not ready for it, our life cannot support it, and there is no opportunity primed for it. There has been plenty of times that what I wanted didn’t show up for years.

That is not to say that you have to wait years to get a reply from your angel. What I am saying is that what stops us from hearing a message or seeing an omen is fear and the expectation that we believe we already know what the answer should be or should look like. Lack of trust within ourselves or contrary beliefs will stifle our reception. The same can be said about any relationship.

How to Get Started with Your Own Practice

In doing research for this article, I wanted to include a lot more information. But as my research went on, it was apparent that angels have been made to fit systems. I reached my breaking point when I began to research signs that angels use to contact us, and I found 1) They were all copies and derivatives of each other, 2) The signs explained were the exact same ones for ghosts! Is this a bad thing? No, not at all. I have no doubt that your guides and angels will honor what you believe.

However, it is apparent that we made angels fit our human systems. We have confined them… even imprisoned them. There is nothing wrong with using this article as a place to begin, but do not let this article or any other writings be your truth. Discover your wisdom yourself. No one can tell you your truth but you. Your discoveries are where gifts wait for you!

Start your angel ideology by journaling. You have a wonderful story to write. Write about your intentional ritual experiences through contact your angels through the use of the correspondence charts in this article. Please look in your box literature for directions on how to access your angel reading workbook. It is a wonderful way to get started on your journey with the angels.

You begin by 1) Asking 2) Watching 3) Journaling and 4) Being Intentional 5) Breaking down the barriers between you and the spiritual world, and 6) being watchful.

This can be as simple as lighting your angel candle, watching the twirling stars and meditating. Visualizing your contact with your angel. Talking to them about how you can begin your relationship with them. And asking them to show you the way.

26 Ritual Tea Magazine December 2018 Connecting with and Experiencing Angels

On the next few pages, you will find angel correspondence charts to get you started with your relationship with angels. On page 26 you will find a luxurious angel tea ritual. You will certainly feel a shift in your energy with this ritual.

Symbolic Description Angelic DescriptionAssociation Gardenia Messages Honeysuckle Prosperity Hyacinth Mercy and Healing Lilacs Joy and Happiness Roses Universally associate with Angels Blue Michael- protection Pink Chamuel- peace Yellow Jophiel- healing your mind White Gabriel- Messages Red Uriel- wisdom Green Raphiel-healing Purple Zadkiel- mercy North Raphael South Michael East Uriel West Gabriel Air Air Fire Michael Earth Uriel Water Gabriel

27 Ritual Tea Magazine December 2018 Connecting with and Experiencing Angels

Symbolic Angelic Symbolic Angelic Description Association Description Association Monday Gabriel Sword Michael Tuesday Jeremiel Shield Michael Wednesday Raphael Scaled Michael Thursday Sachiel Heart Michael Friday Anael White Lilies Gabriel Moon Gabriel Saturday Cassiel Light Gabriel Sunday Michael Scroll Gabriel Sun Michael Pen Gabriel Moon Gabriel Copper Gabriel Mars Jeremiel Trumpet Gabriel Mercury Raphael Flowers that Gabriel Jupiter Sachiel look like a Venus Anael Trumpet Saturn Cassiel Metatron

Leo Michael Cancer Garbriel Scorpio Jeremiel Metatron Aries Samael Cube Gemini Raphael Lillies of the Uriel Valley Virgo Raphel Pearls Uriel Sagittarius Sachiel Lotus Uriel Pisces Sachiel Blossoms Tarus Anael Horn Of Uriel Libra Anael Plenty

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In Your Box

Star Tea Diffuser

Our Fortune Box Features a smartly designed metal diffuser in the shape of a star. The star basket is actually on a hinged system making it easy to open

and close. Angels are associated Tea Towel Fortune Box Candle with stars as well as planets in Our in-house designed tea towel Inside the Fortune Ritual Tea Box stories and accounts throughout featuring the angels of the four you will find an Angel meditation history. directions. Surrounded by stars candle. The animated metal star and snowflakes layered in the mobile fits inside the frosted angel candle holder that features design, the four angels surround an angel wing pendant. The the divine wheel remind us of the pendants are different for each cornerstones to all relationships: box. Light the tea light provided Belief, Honor, Connect and and enjoy the stars twirling Celebrate. adding motion to your ritual.

You can stare at the candle while

when you are in your tea ritual and concentrate on the message Swan Tea Diffuser in your oracle card. Or… Pick a word or phrase to focus on Swans are also associate with while you sip your tea and stare angels. Some myths are related into the twirling stars and candle to their glow at night, while

light. others are tied to Venus and her

angelic associate, Cupid. Forecast Box Candle See Angel Ritual on page 33 for Similarly, honey is also tied to We were so lucky to find this information. Venus and cupid as well. There is beautiful candle small enough to no denying to beauty, grace and fit inside the Forecast Ritual Tea grandeur of swans and it is easy Box. Please note: if you remove a to see the connection to angels. tea candle from the metal liner, it You can find this tea diffuser in 29 will fit inside this candle. our Forecast Ritual Tea box. Ritual Tea Magazine December 2018

Ritual Tea: Angelic Embrace

Water is the most magical and versatile element you can work with. It’s abilities and properties are simply unparalleled.

For this ritual you will be taking a bath. If you need to cleanse yourself, it is more appropriate to do this before you take your ritual tea bath as this not the purpose of this ritual.

If your bathroom is less than desirable, I assure you that you can make that different. Start by cleaning and decluttering your bathroom; specifically concentrating on your bathtub.

Next, gather your supplies. What supplies? The ones that connect you to angels. For me, this was taking material I had and putting it artistically over the shower curtain I had. This particular fabric was black with shiny sequins. It was like the night over my head with the shimmering light of stars that reminded me of angels.

Next, I gathered the candles I had on hand. Some of them came from the ritual tea boxes. Next, I gathered crystals I had in gray, blue, clear and white and added them. Stars are a big symbol for connecting to angels so, I added star confetti. I also chose my tea set from the Fortune box, the Tarot of Enchanted Dream deck, a blue bath bomb and bubble bath. I also grabbed a piece of flooring for my table and a sculpture that I have always connected with the divine. Lastly, I included my opalite angel trio (each had broken wing repaired). You can use flower petals, keepsakes, play music, recite poetry, or whatever is sacred to you to connect with angels.

Take all your materials and set up your bathroom in a way that pleases you. Because of time, you may have to do this in phases. Decide on a day and time to do the ritual. Make sure you will not get disturbed. Be sure to anticipate all possible needs so you are not disturbed by interrupting your ritual to get something.

Designing your ritual:

1. Every ritual has phases: the opening, transitions between elements, the closing and the transition back to the mundane world. What are the hallmarks for your ritual? Here are a few ideas: playing a song, singing, prayer, reciting a mantra, meditation, ring a bell… 2. Pick what kind of angel you wish to contact and find an element that connects you with that angel. For example, some angel symbols is light. You could have a dedicated candle to this

angel. Some angels have swords, while others use skulls, hands, books, pens or certain

kinds of flowers. Choose one.

3. Get really specific on why you are contacting the angel and what you need. If you need to, feel free to write it down and include it in your ritual. 4. Do you have power objects that empower you? Feel free to use them. Things like hair decorations, necklaces, putting symbols on your body are all permitted.

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Ritual Tea: Angelic Embrace

5. Creating a symbol that you believe represents the angel such as sigil is very powerful to include in your ritual. 6. Choose a tea that closely resembles the result you are seeking. If you are asking for swift help with a crisis, you want a tea with a lot of energy. If you are seeking healing, you want a tea that promotes healing. Whatever tea you choose is fine as long as it has meaning for you and you like it.

7. Please remember that everything that you are doing is a sacrifice of energy and intention

that is being sent out like a letter or an email. 8. There are no right or wrong ways. The only wrong way is doing something that doesn’t feel good to you. 9. If there is a divination system you wish to use during your ritual, just make sure it is not easily damage by water. 10. Keep a towel handy. 11. Before conducting your ritual, be sure to notate how you are feeling before you begin, your state of mind and anything else that seems important to you.

12. The water, in this ritual, is a conduit, an amplifier as well as a receiver of energy.

13.Before you conclude your ritual, ask for a sign. Expect a sign that is attributed with the angel you are working with as a sign, or specifically ask for a simple one of your choice. 14. Spend as much time as you wish in your ritual. In fact, if you wish to just spend time meditating and experiencing the space you created, it adds a wonderful sense of meaning and allows you and your body to adjust to the ritual space. 15. Before you return to your regular activities, be sure to notate impressions, visions, anything you heard, feelings or shifts in energy.

16. Make notations daily for seven days after your ritual. Write down thoughts, experiences and

impressions that you believe are linked to your ritual experience.

17. For the next, seven days after your ritual at about the same time as you did your ritual, take something from your ritual experience like a prayer, a statement, or a meditation and repeat is again in front of a candle while sipping your tea. 18. At the end of seven days, make a final notation in your ritual journal. 19. Be sure to journal any signs, omens or synchronies as well as answers to your petition when they occur. 20. Give thanks. Giving thanks is an action and not a feeling. What is something that you can

giveaway to others based on your ritual experience in commemoration for all you have

received (even if you haven’t had a direct answer to your petition)? 21. You can repeat this ritual as often as you feel necessary as you work through the issues, challenges, obstacles and new developments related to your petition. You can even repeat this ritual simple for the effects the ritual has upon your being as a treatment for anxiety, frayed nerves, tiredness or anger as a form of self-care and healing. 22. Commemorate. Whether it is a crystal, a symbol you made yourself, a candle holder, it doesn’t matter. Choose something you intentionally used in the ritual that commemorates

your ritual. Something you may use in rituals to come. Something that connects you in a

symbolic and meaningful way with what you experience. This is your power object. Carry it 31 Ritual Tea Magazine December 2018

Ritual Tea: Angelic Embrace

with you when you need to access the angel. Hold it and meditate with it. The more you interact with it, the more power it has. Be sure to keep the interaction consistent with your original intent.

23. Remember to go slow. Make sure you are comfortable. Have had all your needs met. Above all, remember that you are using the water as conductor of your energy and the

energy you are creating with in the ritual. It is also a receiver, so that you may receive any

energy being sent with you from the divine.

Proclamation- Enter your bath and remain standing. The proclamation can be done with music or a special song, a bell, cymbal... Whatever you believe heralds the beginning of your ritual. Follow up by stating it out loud or in your head:

“Creator, Ancestors, Spirits of the land and of the directions. Here me, it is I ______and I come before you to thank you that I am who I am, and I get to do this good work. I ask you to witness my ritual today and surround it with your presence and guidance. I ask that my communication and good intentions be made clear and that my body and spirit made ready to commune with the divine.

Invitation- Light a candle and sip your tea. Take a moment.

“I call upon the helping and guiding spirits, please hear me. I invite you to my rite. I honor your presence, you interest, your power. Come bless me here, tonight.”

Enter your bath.

Dedication- This is the why are you here: help, thanks, relationship, healing... This can be in the form of a picture, an object, or a poem. You could also add previously charged oil to your bath that is holding your dedication, or even holy water that you made.

Light a candle or ring a bell. Sip your tea.

Invocation- This is where you actually start communicating the angel by calling to him, explaining you are in need (not what the need is) of his presence and inviting him to bless you with his company. It is very helpful to hold the object that represents this angel. And if you do not know the angels name, make one up. Use your intuition and your gut to come up with a name.

Offering- This is an offering to the angel like a corresponding flower. In my ritual, I used star confetti. This is about the intent and the energy not about what the item is (from the standpoint of the offering). It helps if the offering is meaningful to you in some way.

Sip your tea.

Petition- This part is where you explain to the angel what is going on and why you are calling on him. At this point, just talk to your angel honestly the way you would talk to a person if they were there.

Sip your tea. 32 Ritual Tea Magazine December 2018

Ritual Tea: Angelic Embrace

Meditation- You could stare at the animated candle if you got the Fortune Box, you can have a phrase that you say, you can focus on your breath. You could even do tapping, or Emotional

Freedom Technique.

Blessing- I encourage you to write you own or choose a favorite poem. Below, is something to get you started.

May spirit grant me always... A sunbeam to warm me, A moonbeam to charm me

A sheltering angel, so nothing can harm me.

Based on an Irish Prayer

Emerging-This is a transition leading you out of the ritual. A bell ringing more than once is very helpful, play upbeat music, blow out your candles. Finish your tea.

Does this bath look magical and inviting? It’s a 20-year-old bathroom

that we have haven’t updated yet.

It’s magical because of time and

energy invested. Don’t let less than ideal circumstances get in the way of having a fulfilling ritual.

My power object or talisman: It’s one of my opalite angels. I collected the star confetti from

around my tub and added

it to an organza bag. My

ritual, petition and energy is in that bag.

Here is my flooring “altar” with my angels, tea, and tarot deck.

33 Ritual Tea Magazine December 2018 Limited Supply $29.00 Click Here to Buy Now

© Bethalynne Bajema. Printed with Permission 34 Ritual Tea Magazine December 2018

Your December-January Forecast

December and January is a magical space/time where energy is coming together. This doesn’t necessarily denote balance, however. How it all comes together is dictated by the results of 2018 and the beginning of 2019. It’s a time when endings and beginnings meet. During this time, you can see these results within romance and career/finances. These areas are reflected in realities versus our hopes/dreams. Reality isn’t something most people want to face, so you may be tempted to bury your head in the sand by getting totally caught up in a new focus or goal taking you away from opportunities that are manifesting. These temptations can come in the form of emotional stressors, new year resolutions, getting caught up in place where you feel like you failed and undertaking major life changes under the guise “this year is gonna be different”. The energy doesn’t promote these activities at this time.

While you are being called to making a fresh start connecting with this energy, this isn’t the time to make any big moves yet. You are being called to move away from anger, hostility and stress associated with this time of year. The energy at this time is calling you to just be without judgement on the realities you are facing. The gift and opportunities actually lay in the limitations, obstacles and the unknown. Remaining open and watchful will really benefit you.

This next year is centered on community, relationships and your happiness. Don’t allow yourself to get caught up in illusions, addictions or soul-sucking dark places. While your path is important—working hard, striving for goals, overcoming difficulties— what takes precedent at this time is allowing insight to develop, accessing compassion for yourself and others, understanding how imbalances, obstacles and difficulties are pointing you in the direction of the answers you need and accessing your intuition and insight.

Is nothing happening in your life? Feels like you are not moving forward? It may feel like nothing is happening, but it is! Your dreams and obstacles combine to point the way to answers.

35 Ritual Tea Magazine December 2018

In Your Box

Honey Spoon Cocktail Glass & White Berry Tea

Blooming Tea Shortbread Those of you who subscribed to the Forecast If you subscribe to our Bite into the melt in your

Ritual Tea Box, your Fortune Ritual Tea Box, mouth shortbread with Seasonal Gift is a honey your Seasonal Gift this berries and white tea. spoon. This is a teaspoon… quarter is a tea cocktail glass These shortbreads are not 150 years ago! Teaspoons and a Six of Cups Tea. short on flavor! were generally more petite than what we have today. Put the tea pod in your glass These pair well with any This spoon would have been and fill with hot water. For tea that is not flavored. ideal for tea time. Today, it this tea boiling water is OK. is ideal for honey. If you are While waiting for the pod to However, we had them a person who enjoys a touch bloom, consider taking this with the Jasmine White of sugar, this spoon could Blooming Tea and found opportunity to watch it and work for you as well. use it as a meditation to them to be a perfect pair. contact your angel. Each cookie is 54 calories, Happy Holidays Happy Holidays 6 grams of carbs and 3.7 And And grams of sugar. So, you Merry New Year Merry New Year can eat this! From From

Tarot-n-Tea Tarot-n-Tea

36 Ritual Tea Magazine December 2018 Angel Oracle Correspondences

Our Oracles cards for December come from two oracle decks: The Blue Angel Oracle and the Angelarium. The Blue Angel Oracle has more traditional images where as Angelarium offers a more modern style but is based on ancient accounts of angels taking highly imaginative forms. The oracle cards for each box were chosen randomly. Not only does the card have a message for you, but which deck it came from is also a message within itself-- especially if it is style you would not normally choose for yourself. Our angel oracle definitions are adaptations based on the deck but are not the definition found within these oracle cards.

The angels of the Blue Angel Oracle can be identified by their definition should they appear in your life. It is the big picture focus that appears to grab your attention and causes you to wonder and ask questions. The angels of the Angelarium provides keys to their visitation. Should you encounter one of these keys in your life (you notice it because it stands out to you) you know that this angel active in your life right now.

Angels Meaning Peace What you see in the world that is negative is what is inside you. The path to peace begins with acceptance and love in spite of the negative and in the face of darkness choosing light. Strife has a purpose and lesson; find that then choose peace. Hearts Choose the real you. Happiness awaits you with authenticity. You are safe, loved and protected as you are. Angel of hearts is here to help you. Blue Earth You are called to expansion and evolve into a higher vibration. Rest assured that all is well and unfolds as it should. This should not prevent you from your evolution. A new era for you will be born from your higher awareness and love. Become the new world you wish to see. Crimson Healing has arrived. Dive deeply into reflection and the memories as they come. Allow yourself to feel honestly and follow their progression all the way through. Allow your tears to wash over you like the sprinkling of holy waters. Though you may not know what it is yet, accept healing, love and grace. Enlightenment If you could but realize how noble and precious, you are. If you truly realized the impact of one human being, what would you change about your life, your decisions, your perspective? None of this is reflected in your career, house, home but is only found by consciously traveling the journey within. Forever in My I surround you now as a guardian to you soul and spirit. Feel me in your heart and know you are Light loved and cherished. Pause…surround yourself with symbols… perform your ritual and get in touch with me. Once you feel me, you will know that you are capable of anything. You are enough. Maitreya Life is in an endless cycle and you are your soul’s endless unfoldment. You are a culmination of many life cycles, many relationships and many timelines. Wisdom is buried deep inside you. A new perspective is just a matter of shifting, even just a little bit. Call on the Wisdom of the Ages to awaken deep inside you. That simple act will cascade throughout this present lifetime unfolding more possibilities beyond this one moment. Song You are almost there. You are almost finished and yet, you want to walk away. You are tired and this no longer feels right. It is the final test and a journey of so many. Will you give up now? Keep going and trust. Be guided by the song in your heart. Listen to the song that resonates within you. 37 Ritual Tea Magazine December 2018 Angel Oracle Correspondences

Angels Meaning Whisper Heart You are at a crossroads. The decision is important. What is important is why. Why this road and not that? The why has to do with you on the inside and not the outside. Which one will bring fulfillment? What will bring joy? Is success not failing or is success growing, learning and appreciating? Your success is ensured by choosing what you love and align with. How do you define success in a life that is filled with so many shortcomings? Growth, Evolution, Wisdom. Let go and take a leap with faith. Maitreya Life is in an endless cycle and you are your soul’s endless unfoldment. You are a culmination of many life cycles, many relationships and many timelines. Wisdom is buried deep inside you. A new perspective is just a matter of shifting, even just a little bit. Call on the Wisdom of the Ages to awaken deep inside you. That simple act will cascade throughout this present lifetime unfolding more possibilities beyond this one moment. Wings of Light Positive news is coming your way. When it arrives, access thankfulness and conjure all the people it took to provide you the message. All the people who had to cooperate, step by step, to bring you to this place. We do not do anything alone but are intrinsically tied to one another. You are also a person someone is conjuring in gratitude for being a step that brought them a magical moment or a message of good cheer. As this energy combines like a ripple to reach its intended destination, once it has, this act of gratitude is energy sent out to touch others and will ripple through space and time to find you again. Manifestation I have come to assist you in manifesting wealth- spiritually and physically. Wealth is simply having enough to share. Sometimes the sharing is investing and sometimes it is in giving away. Energy is energy- physical or spiritual. What will do you with the energy? Swap your concepts for physical or spiritual wealth. What would you do differently? Doing what you love is the first step and consideration. Healing Accepting is healing. Accepting is faith that there is higher purpose though you cannot see it or sense it. In no way does accepting mean you stop finding answers, improving, growing or evolving. Healing isn’t a state, it is an action of faith. Ascension to Sounds good, doesn’t it? And, there are many benefits to going higher in the light. And this is the Light where you are headed. The downside (there is always a downside) is that the light exposes more and more imperfections, faults, poor quality and failings. It’s one of the aspects of light; to see. While you ascend, remember that whatever you see, do so without judgement and without fear. Know that there is always light in the dark and dark in the light. Both are one in the same; they are just different perspectives. The darkness you see? Those are the blessings. Those are the treasure and there is where your answers come from. You ascend to the light precisely to learn this. Michael We are of one soul. It is not you and them… it is us. The angels are inside you for your soul is the Descent sacred sanctuary and we are the residents ready to offer our support, strength and assistance. You are the past, present and future. Awaken to the joyful manifestation of your empowerment and you will experience elation. Sword of The Sword will be swung not to divide but to open up. Yielding and acceptance will make it easy Orion and not painful. Do not fear the unknown, or fear what you will encounter when you are opened up. Just allow it to flow. Open up to the horizon beyond time, to an eternal sound of your heart, the beat of endless potential, to infinite possibility. Beyond the horizon, emanates a song of knowing. There you will find eternity, like the universe lives inside you. The song of knowing will sing that you are the universe, you are eternity. Chokhmah This angel is the first moment of life. This angel is the moment of contact. He is from nothingness and exists in the moment wisdom is born. Keys: Kindness, Charity, Love

38 Ritual Tea Magazine December 2018 Angel Oracle Correspondences

Angels Meaning Michael Descent We are of one soul. It is not you and them… it is us. The angels are inside you for your soul is the sacred sanctuary and we are the residents ready to offer our support, strength and assistance. You are the past, present and future. Awaken to the joyful manifestation of your empowerment and you will experience elation. Sword of Orion The Sword will be swung not to divide but to open up. Yielding and acceptance will make it easy and not painful. Do not fear the unknown, or fear what you will encounter when you are opened up. Just allow it to flow. Open up to the horizon beyond time, to an eternal sound of your heart, the beat of endless potential, to infinite possibility. Beyond the horizon, emanates a song of knowing. There you will find eternity, like the universe lives inside you. The song of knowing will sing that you are the universe, you are eternity. Sananda I am have arrived to assist you to become a master. I will free you of the obstacles and challenges that chain you to this earth; they will transform into evolutionary steps that escort your spirit to span the entire spectrum. You will become the living master of the eternal continuum. Transfiguration is a process. If you can look upon all your experience as this process unfolding, you will step into the frequencies that will alter your consciousness for ascension. Multidimensional There exists a sacred flame within you that is activated by your command. Fear and worry stop Healing your commands from being heard. Fear and worry build barriers stopping all healing frequencies. Find a way to let go of fear and worry and your commands will be heard again. Ancient of Days There is a most ancient and powerful energy expression that flows through you. It is the power of creation. Activate this and it will guide you and burn through illusions revealing the golden path to the secret temple. Align your seven gateways with visualization and the sound of your sacred word. Once aligned connect both ends—one to the earth and the other above your head to the heavens. You are now a grounded and completed circuit. You now are the primordial creative force; It is there you find the Ancient of Days. Ask for his wisdom. Keter Angel of Spirituality who resonates with the crown. This angel is associate with the first spoken word, or frequency released to create the universe. It is only through respect of our own limitations can we begin to glimpse the shadow of its nature and distinguish it from the light. He is the angel atop the tree of life and is the frequency who flows downward from this point, emanating to this moment in your experience. Keys: Epiphany, Faith, Humility Sananda I am have arrived to assist you to become a master. I will free you of the obstacles and challenges that chain you to this earth; they will transform into evolutionary steps that escort your spirit to span the entire spectrum. You will become the living master of the eternal continuum. Transfiguration is a process. If you can look upon all your experience as this process unfolding, you will step into the frequencies that will alter your consciousness for ascension. Tiferet The is the angel of coexistence. He is the moment of harmony and beauty. He is an equilibrium and has no absolutes. He exists as a microcosm of the whole. Keys: Art, Health and Community. Netzah He is the moment of strength against the adversary. He is the great leader that supports us when our vision is dim. When we have reached our limit, he is there. He transmutes stress and strain, for he is endurance. Keys: Victory, Exercise, Leadership. Hod This is the angel that guides when you choose to surrender and to flow with the energy at play in your life. It is through her that we experience nature as if we were like a child again. Keys: Prayer, Nature, Mysteries. Malkuth He is the angel of the physical reality. He mirrors the continuum through which we can understand the boundaries of this existence. Keys: Earth, Body, Home. 39 Ritual Tea Magazine December 2018 Angel Oracle Correspondences

Angels Meaning Gevurah He is the angel that brings order. She is the hand that separates. She is the help that overcomes the adversary. Inside her gift is also inherent violence which must occur to create balance. She provides judgement to discern what is healthy for us, so we can embrace it. Yesod He is the gateway between physical and spiritual. He is a medium that we can connect with to see the answers to our nature. He is the mirror we scry with to examine ourselves. Keys: New Life, Speech, Doorway. Gabriel The angel of transition between the divine and earthly reality. The light he carries breaks through the known and unknow to banish doubt. Once his light touches you. His blaze will leave you changed. While this angel issues no command, it is his light that aims you. Keys: Lantern, Mirror, Discovery. Raziel Both the container and the speaker of truth. A witness, a scribe to of the whole of creation. We are privy but to a tiny part of the story. Ask him. KEYS: Books, Codes, Cipher. Azrael He guards the shores of mortality, looking to guide souls, like a midwife, from this land to the next. He is another angel of transitions. Keys: Apple, Ocean, Skull Remph This is the angels of cycles, orbits, and revolutions that mark the passage of time. Every life every second and every moment counted like sand. Like a circuit switch opening and closing, Remph stands by counting, recording and witnessing the passages. Remph walks between the past and present, swirling like a dervish between this moment and that. He is the fulcrum between the moments. His movement is our movement. Keys: clock, Torch, Birthdays, Anniversary. Leleil She dances across the sky. She is the one who pass by and fills the night with light, glimmer and glitter. She heralds the night arrival with starlight and she is the last star in the morning light. She is the revealer of shadows and the light in the darkness. Keys: Wind, The Moon, Shooting Stars. Shelegiel He is the bravery face makes in sadness. He stands against the cold and does not shiver. His dance is as unique as each snowflake. He is the sacred quiet in night after the snow fall. He brings relief to those who are burdened. He is the one you can take refuge and recover. Keys: Snowflake, Seed, Pine Tree, Pine Tree Seed. Remiel She is the Shepard with a light who is a guiding force or the shelter from storms. Her light guides us to green pastures. In her care, she reminds us that something beautiful is coming. Keys: A Cane or Staff, Rising Sun, Dove Zadkiel He is the pardoner and he is also the judge. He sees all the cracks in our soul. We call on him to help when we gather our courage to openly admit our wrong doing. He will work on our behalf to find forgiveness. Shateiel When words fail, and the wind dies down, when all is still, you will find him. When the angel arrives, silence grows deeper and we are held by the grip of his presence. Give in and yield to the silence and stillness for he will use it to cure the shaking of your soul. Keys: Feather, A Chair, A Person Kneeling. Sahaqiel He is the gatekeeper who guards the gate between the mundane and the divine. His compassion knows no equal and his protection knows no bounds. Keys: Hand, A Shield, A Ring. Phanuel This angel is always waiting for you. While he waits, he watches. He is eager for the time and can wrap you in his wings of truth. While reality is ever present, it is more difficult to understand because its apparent truth is often different from the Truth. He will hold his torch high and you will see what stands before you for what it is. Keys: Wine, Torch, an Eye. 40 Ritual Tea Magazine December 2018

January-February Tarot Forecast

If you have been waiting for a great time to begin to make changes, set intentions in motion and start new endeavors, this is your time! The Star card is Aquarius and the Fool is Uranus, Aquarius’ ruling planet. We also have a potent full moon with a lunar eclipse on January 21st.

The Star brings you hope, and renewed power and the Fool offers the atmosphere of adventure, questing and curiosity. Not only is this year about relationships and community but so is the full moon in January. The eclipse however offers change and with it, insight. The time to begin to make changes would be in after the full moon.

Adopting the attitude of the Fool and flowing with the adventure the energy brings right now is a wonderful way to experience insights and changes being brought to the surface. You can still have fun and be serious too. Allow things to run off your back but connect with the Star’s energy when sensitive insights are brought to your attention.

Before making any moves to actualize your goal and desires, pay attention to all the information coming your way late January to help you fine tune those goals and decide what dreams you really want to make your move on and what should remain untouched.

A key to remember this time of year, when we are setting off on new goals and adventures, is that we cannot do this life alone. The Fool teaches us to accept people as they are and to enjoy them for who they are. The Star helps us to remember how far we have come in the relationships we have; we have great resilience and wisdom when we have to face challenging aspects.

The Star says that the answers you seek are within your community and relationships. You are worthy and have much to contribute. The Fool says it is an adventure and each of them has a special message to help you on your journey; you just have to take the steps. 41 Ritual Tea Magazine December 2018

©Yasmeen Westwood. Printed with Permission

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