My Fool's Journey - Part One
One time the universe told me to buy tarot cards and I accidentally bought an entity into my home. What can I say? I was a Fool about to embark on a journey of a lifetime.
A few years ago, I was in tumultuous times. I'd recently moved to rainy Manchester. My mental health was more than shaky; the past was catching up with me. Despite this, I clung to the belief that things would be okay. They are. I’m there now and looking back. This is the first part of that story.
I used to have a strange habit of waking to bold statements dropping into my mind. They were often absurd, e.g., "I CAN and WILL wear two leather jackets!" Okay then?
I’d recently moved into my dream flat. My bedroom was an expansive attic room with a sloping ceiling. It became a sanctuary for both self-discovery and for feeling hopeless. The skylight above my bed was a nice window to the moon on clear nights. The rain on the glass above often sent me to sleep.
Tarot had found its way into my life years beforehand. A close friend offered a reading when I was at a crossroads. She revealed herself to me as a witch. I was sceptical but curious. Since then, I had other readings and met other witches. I also started exploring pagan celebrations, beginning with Yule. There was a new world to explore but I didn't know how to start walking my path.
One summer morning, under my skylight, "I should buy tarot cards" rang as I woke. With that, all my bedsprings 'boinged' in turn. It was the only time they ever did that. Thanks, universe. I heard you.
One problem: I didn't know where to buy tarot cards. But, I knew of a shop my friend had told me about in Liverpool. So, off to Liverpool, I went. A woman kindly bought me a tarot deck from the back of the shop - tarot cards weren't available as they are today.
I kept exploring the treasure trove of this shop and came across a few teas. There was a handwritten card by some Astral Projection tea. It said: "WARNING, MAY BRING IN SHADOWS" or words like that. I didn’t heed the warning and decided to buy the tea because it sounded cool.
I got home, brewed my tea and started throwing cards. It began with the unethical practice of reading into people without permission. The energy felt electric. I don't read into other people like that now, I know better. But at the time, I was a Fool at the beginning of my journey.
After exhausting myself and the cards, I readied myself for bed. As I slipped into that liminal space of awakness and asleep, I felt my crown chakra open. That was new.
The brightest, whitest, loving light shone down through the top of my head. It was dazzling and beautiful. I couldn't help but force my gaze into that loving light. As I did, the light diminished and faded. The tea warned me about shadows but didn't prepare me for light.
A few nights later, I sat in bed, writing about my tarot experiences in my journal. Something kept drawing my attention to my doorway. At first, I dismissed it as a trick of the light or a mouse scurrying by. Yet, the shadow grew bolder and more distinct. I glimpsed a tiny shadow man sneaking out of my doorway. It seemed the tea had bought in a shadow after all.