The Hidden Path

[Stephanie Taylor]

I want to take this opportunity to annouce a new project. If you're familiar with the Well Worn Path deck, well, a companion deck is being released this coming Septernber!. It will have the same back of the card design as does the Well Worn Path, be the same card size, and is by the same artist, Mickie Mueller. This allows the decks to be shuffled together into one deck if desired (however both decks stand on their own as well). There's 40 cards in the Well Worn Path deck and 40 in the Hidden Path deck, so you can have a deck of 80 cards, which will expand your readings.

The Well Worn Path presented the 40 foundational teachings, and the Hidden Path presents the 40 mystical teachings. The Hidden Path deck also features all eight of the Sabbat cards. You can see some samples of the new deck here:

http://www.wellwornpath.com/

I hope you enjoy the preview!

[Vinny Mirabella]

Wow, that's great and thanks for spreading the word! I really like the cards and can't wait to get my hands on them. I'm excited about using the Sabbat cards with the solitary ritual arrangement in the Well Worn Path book.

[*Rasenna*]

Stephanie,

Does the new companion book include the same kind of guided mental journey through the imagery of the cards? I loved the way the first deck dealt with the Crone of Cottage as a mystical teacher for what the deck conveyed in its teachings. I hope you've continued all this with the Hidden Path!

[SoulFire]

I want to take this opportunity to annouce a new project. If you're familiar with the Well Worn Path deck, well, a companion deck is being released this coming Septernber!. It will have the same back of the card design as does the Well Worn Path, be the same card size, and is by the same artist, Mickie Mueller. This allows the decks to be shuffled together into one deck if desired (however both decks stand on their own as well). There's 40 cards in the Well Worn Path deck and 40 in the Hidden Path deck, so you can have a deck of 80 cards, which will expand your readings.

The Well Worn Path presented the 40 foundational teachings, and the Hidden Path presents the 40 mystical teachings. The Hidden Path deck also features all eight of the Sabbat cards. You can see some samples of the new deck here:

http://www.wellwornpath.com/

I hope you enjoy the preview!

Thanks for telling us about this. 'Tis a neat idea.

[Mickie Mueller]

Hi Rasenna,

Yes, it is my understanding that will be guided meditations for each card and that the entire journey continues through these cards. During the process of creating the art for the deck, we discussed the concept extensively, and they wrote the book as the art was being created. I haven't seen the book yet, so I don't have any details on that. Perhaps Raven or Stephanie could better field that question.

I will say that as you see the cards for The Hidden Path, you will notice that there are many of the same elements from the Well Worn Path, you will see some of the magical places and tools of the Crone of the Cottage's world and you will notice that we get to explore more pages from her Book of Shadows as well. I think you will really like seeing the Sabbat cards! I was careful to make the illustrations blend well with the look of the first deck!

Blessings!!

Mickie




Stephanie,

Does the new companion book include the same kind of guided mental journey through the imagery of the cards? I loved the way the first deck dealt with the Crone of Cottage as a mystical teacher for what the deck converyed in its teachings. I hope you've continued all this with the Hidden Path!

[SidneyCozzoi]

Ohh, I'm excited, looks like a fun one... I might have to pick them up! Thanks

[Mickie Mueller]

I actually can't wait to get these cards into my hands myself! Even though as the artist I (obviously) have seen them all, there's nothing like opening them up and thumbing through the actual deck, it's like getting a new box of crayons as a kid!

You can actually see a few of the cards on my site and Raven and Stephanies site as well. Keep checking back, as we will be unveiling a few every month! Fun!
http://www.mickiemuellerart.com
and you can actually pre-order them from this link
http://www.wellwornpath.com

Blessings!
Mickie

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[raven grimassi]

Does the new companion book include the same kind of guided mental journey through the imagery of the cards? I loved the way the first deck dealt with the Crone of Cottage as a mystical teacher for what the deck conveyed in its teachings. I hope you've continued all this with the Hidden Path!

it is my understanding that will be guided meditations for each card and that the entire journey continues through these cards. During the process of creating the art for the deck, we discussed the concept extensively, and they wrote the book as the art was being created. I haven't seen the book yet, so I don't have any details on that. Perhaps Raven or Stephanie could better field that question.

First, my apology for the excessively late reply. Stephanie and I have been buried in projects and have just recently surfaced for air.

Yes, the new deck does have a guided imagery journey designed to connect people to the inner mysteries. Like The Well Worn Path deck, The Hidden Path deck is tied to the folkloric figure known as the Crone of the Cottage. But also, like WWP, the new cards are for divination as well as for performing solitary rituals and mystical alignments.

If you are familiar with the Well Worn Path deck then you know that the images are focused on areas in the Crone's cottage and outside on the land surrounding it. What we have done with The Hidden Path is to take the imagery into the Otherworld, and to show parallels that connect the world of Mortal Kind to the Realm of the Elven or Fay.

The eight Sabbat cards are designed to capture the imagery and magic of both realms, and each card can be used as a centerpiece or focal point for seasonal solitary rituals.

The extra bonus is that by combining The Well Worn Path deck with The Hidden Path deck you can have a complete teaching system for Wicca and Witchcraft beliefs and practices. We are referring to this system as the Ash, Birch & Willow system. If you are interesting in learning more about this system it is outlined in my book Witchcraft: A Mystery Tradition. Plus I would be happy to discuss it here or in my author forum section here on MW.

[mydnight_temptress]

I am soo excited! I can't wait to get it when it comes out! I got the Well Worn Path for my bf, and have enjoyed using it!

[RhiamonButterfly]

okay, someone please post here and tell us the release date is earlier then expected?LOL

[Stephanie Taylor]

okay, someone please post here and tell us the release date is earlier then expected?LOL

As they say - "Time flies" and so September isn't really so far away! And, by sheer coincidence _whistle_ the deck can be pre-ordered now:

http://www.ravensloft.biz/items/divination/hidden-path-oracle-deck-cards-teach-divination-detail.htm

http://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Path-Oracle-Raven-Grimassi/dp/0738710709/ref=pd_bbs_sr_5/002-4112987-4476061?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1182371959&sr=8-5

:tarotwitc

[wolf]

Are there any plans to release a version with both sets of cards in it for those of us who don't have the first one? Perhaps with a tasty discount.

[raven grimassi]

Are there any plans to release a version with both sets of cards in it for those of us who don't have the first one? Perhaps with a tasty discount.

This is something we are hoping will one day be the case. Many people are not aware of this but authors have very little say in such matters. The Publisher pretty much calls all the shots and has final say in all matters.

When Stephanie and I first pitched the idea to our Publisher we presented it as an 80 card deck. For us personally, we are combining the two decks together into one divnation deck so we can have the 80 card deck we first envisioned.

[Cerulean_damselfly]

I checked the "Witchcraft: A Mystery System" with a quick search through Amazon.com's "look inside" because it sounded wonderful to have both cards and associated books and a teaching system....unfortunately I could only find a topical listing of tree names and a few dates associated with them. I'm not certain if my quick search was at fault or not.

My mind is leaping forward to guesses, but would love to hear what you mean...how the cards, your teaching system ideas and the "Witchcraft: A Mystery System" might all tie together. Perhaps if the user looks as the sabbat cards as sample meditation guides and laid out into a wheel of the year layout? (That's a guess on my part).

Very delighted to have the release date so near and to hear any thoughts,

Cerulean_Damselfly

[raven grimassi]

I checked the "Witchcraft: A Mystery System" with a quick search through Amazon.com's "look inside" because it sounded wonderful to have both cards and associated books and a teaching system....unfortunately I could only find a topical listing of tree names and a few dates associated with them. I'm not certain if my quick search was at fault or not.

My mind is leaping forward to guesses, but would love to hear what you mean...how the cards, your teaching system ideas and the "Witchcraft: A Mystery System" might all tie together. Perhaps if the user looks as the sabbat cards as sample meditation guides and laid out into a wheel of the year layout? (That's a guess on my part).

Very delighted to have the release date so near and to hear any thoughts,

Cerulean_Damselfly

I think you are referring to the book Witchcraft: A Mystery Tradition, yes?

If so, this book contains the essential teachings of what we are calling the Ash, Birch, and Willow system of training. It conveys the commonality of inner traditions rooted in pre-Christian European pagan religion and spirituality. Central and core to the book is a focus upon the structure of the Sabbats and the interwoven story of a mated goddess and god figure who share a relationship reflected in the changing seasons.

The book was written long before we designed our decks, The Well Worn Path, and The Hidden Path. But what we did was to draw upon the teachings of Ash, Birch and Willow, and to use the card images to record and preserve the inner traditions. This is sort of akin to an old story about the origins of the Tarot. The story is that, during the era when the Christian Church was orchestrating the destruction of pagan writings (as in the case of the Library of Alexandria in Egypt), the Egyptian priests had the essential inner secrets of their religion painted on 78 pieces of papyrus. These were entrusted to a small band of initiates, with the instructions to flee with the images, and to never stay long in any one place. In this interesting tale, the story goes on to suggest that these traveling Egyptians (over the course of time) came to be called Gypsies (a distortion of the word Egyptians). I always liked this story (whether fact or fiction).

With the Well Worn Path, and The Hidden Path, decks we wanted to do something like the tale related to the Tarot. So we took the essential core teachings of Wicca, Paganism, and Witchcraft, and we incorporated them into reflective imagery. Each deck comes with a companion book, which provides the inner teachings within each card image, as well as the divinatory meaning of each card. The books also present layout designs for doing readings. In the Well Worn Path system, the Cauldron Spread is for major readings, the Pentagram Spread is for quick readings on a specific topic, and the Crossroads Spread is for making decisions.

In the Hidden Path deck, the Looking Glass Spread is for major readings, the Wheel of the Year Spread is for looking at events and situations month by month in the year ahead, and the Three Realms Spread is for examining the influence of spiritual factors that are contributing to your life experience.

So what you have with these two decks, their companion books (included in the kits), and the book Witchcraft: A Mystery Tradition is a complete system. The system contains all the core teachings along with ritual formats for initiation, Sabbat celebration, and full moon rites (which makes this ideal for the solitary practitioner who is without a local community or personal teachers).

With the cards and books a teacher could literally construct a course of study (like a Year-and-a-Day program) for new students, as well as an in depth course for exploring the inner mysteries with more seasoned students). With the cards and books a student could self-teach and train within a complete system with deep roots and valuable inner connections.

We have been told that people in the military, and people with privacy issues in the home or in general, are using the decks for ritual. This is because a person can lay out an altar, the four tools, Goddess & God figures, Quarter Guardians and the Elementals, with the cards alone. We have been told that at sea some military people are using the cards on their bunk bed for practicing ritual without anyone being the wiser.

We provide a template for performing rituals with the cards, and as you mentioned the Sabbat cards can be used for meditation (but also as the focal point of a solitary rite). The primary template design allows the cards to be placed in a pattern that creates "sacred space" for any type ritual practice.

I would be happy to go more into specific details if you want to continue and expand the discussion. Specific questions will help. :)

[Cerulean_damselfly]

Thank you kindly for giving such a clear outline!

Yes, you identified the book that I was looking at (and putting in my shopping cart now at Amazon.com!) and answered my questions beautifully.

I'm going to refresh my use of the WellWorn Path this summer while I'm waiting for the Hidden Path.

Many thanks at the quick and detailed answer. Sorry that my question was vague.

Regards,

Cerulean_Damselfly

[raven grimassi]

Thank you kindly for giving such a clear outline!

Thanks for thinking my reply had clarity. I rarely receive that kind of review. ;)

I'm going to refresh my use of the WellWorn Path this summer while I'm waiting for the Hidden Path.

One of the things I think you will find interesting is the different setting for the decks. The Well Worn Path, as you know, is set in and around the Cottage of the Crone. She is a legendary figure of old European tales who serves as a go-between for the realms of the Faery and the world of mortal kind.

In the Hidden Path the setting is in the Otherworld beyond. The links here are important and vital connections. We designed the second deck by doing a lot of astral work so that we could draw back the images that are living connections, doorways, and ascending steps.

The decks are really more of an experience than they are tools, although tools indeed they are.

As you work with the Well Worn Path, look to the last few cards as preparation for the continuing journey. You have the deck so you will know what I mean.

One question, if I may: Have you performed the Rite of Inward Journey from the Well Worn Path book? If not, look it over and consider whether you want to do so in preparation for the next step into the Hidden Path.

Many thanks at the quick and detailed answer. Sorry that my question was vague.

No it was not vague; I just wanted to be sure I was replying to a correct understanding on my own part. One thing my editor oftens says to me: "It is not what you meant to say that counts, because what is always remembered is what you actually said"

[Stephanie Taylor]

okay, someone please post here and tell us the release date is earlier then expected?LOL

:tarotwitc

Good news. We just heard from the Publisher that the printer will have the decks ready ahead of schedule. This means they will be in-house at the Publisher's warehouse the first week of July. I'll post when we know for sure what the actual date of availability will be!

[Stephanie Taylor]

Update, the Hidden Path deck has been released ahead of schedule. Originally the release date was September 20007, but it's available now. Here are some early reviews:

http://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Path-Oracle-Raven-Grimassi/dp/0738710709

http://www.sacredsource.com/prodinfo.asp?number=CR005

You can obtain autographed copies from:

http://www.ravensloft.biz/items/the-hidden-path-oracle-kit~pre-order-/list.htm

[moonbride]

Wonderful! I received the Well Worn Path deck this spring and absolutely fell in love with it. I've been excited about this one coming up so I will head over to one of those links right now!

[RhiamonButterfly]

my local Books-a-million had it!!!! woohooo....I'll let ya know what I think after I look at it :) I've been waiting for this one forever ;)

[raven grimassi]

If anyone wants to see the deck, here is a link. Click on the image of the cat, and then you will be taken to the home page. Then on the left panel click on "the cards" and you will be routed to a page with graphics of the entire deck.

http://www.thecrossroadsoracles.com/