TW-Suicide/murder, not me, I'm fine.
I've debated about sharing this, but it has really upset me. I just heard a story about a family in Sweden that is dead because of the horrendous ignorance and mistreatment by medical professionals surrounding ME and CFS. Their one daughter was diagnosed and the other showed the same symptoms but was yet to be diagnosed. In Sweden, the primary medical "treatment" for ME and CFS are the biopsychosocial model of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Graded Exercise. The parents saw how the treatment was harming their daughter. They saw their other daughter with the same symptoms. They likely had already gone through the ringer with child protective services there because if you refuse CBT/GET for your child your child can be taken away from you and forced to do a treatment that makes them MUCH worse. These parents saw no hope, no help, no future for their daughters, and decided to kill their children and commit suicide.
Doctors and science FAILED this family. Doctors violated their oath to "First, do no harm..." This family is dead because of the biopsychosocial model of treating ME and CFS. It is quite literally torture to tell a person with a physical illness that it's all in their heads and they need to think positive, address abnormal thoughts about exercise, and exercise more. Many patients with ME and CFS end up with PTSD from being gaslighted and ignored by medical professionals.
This is what is happening with the condition I've been diagnosed with, CFS. We patients KNOW that our illness is physiological, NOT psychosomatic. Newer scientific studies are now proving this. We KNOW how devastingtingly bad CBT/GET are for us. They make us worse because our illnesses are PHYSICAL, NOT in our heads. We also know how damaging these "treatments" are because many of have tried them and ended up WORSE. I ended up practically bedbound for a time after trying GET under the supervision of a physical therapist after it was prescribed by a doctor. Telling a person with ME or CFS to exercise more is like telling a diabetic to eat more sugar. Yet medical professionals continue to gaslight us, ignore us, make fun of us, minimize and dismiss our symptoms, and prescribe dangerous "treatments" that not only don't help us but actively harm us.
I'm VERY glad to see and say that the CDC has FINALLY removed the recommendation for CBT/GET from their list of treatments for CFS on their website. The work is NOT over. Doctors need to be re-educated. Those in other countries are STILL being abused and harmed by these "treatments" which if you don't do them you may not be eligible for disability benefits. Children are being stolen from caring parents and institutionalized and forced to participate in treatments that not only don't help cure them but actively harm them. THIS MUST STOP! We need educated doctors who look for the root causes and go beyond testing only basic bloodwork. We need doctors who believe us. We need REAL treatments that don't harm us!!
Monday, January 22, 2018
Thursday, December 21, 2017
Winter Solstice 2018
A wonderful Winter Solstice to you all!
Morion Quartz, Fossilized Sand Dollar, Orange Calcite, Sunstone, Golden Calcite, Pyrite, Citrine, Carnelian
Earth Magic Oracle Cards by Steven Farmer (c) 2010 Hay House
Please also follow me on social media (Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest): @RenaraTarot
Thursday, December 7, 2017
2018 Unravel Your Year and Find Your Word is HERE!
It's not about hitting goals, it's about moving in the directions of your intentions. ~Susannah Conway
Since December 1st I've been eagerly opening my email daily, hoping that the 2018 Unravel Your Year workbook and 2018 Find Your Word course/workbook would be there. Today it FINALLY came! I know, quite impatient of me, considering it's only December 7th. 😊
There's a wide variety of "plan your year" goal and intention setting workbooks, courses, and resources out there. These two have become my favorites. I used them last year and they were SO incredibly helpful.
It can be hard to find intention/goal setting resources that are actually helpful when one deals with chronic illness. Our lives, shaped by limitations, are so different from that of healthy people. While not perfect, these are the ones that I've found that best work for me. I'm SO excited to be using them again for 2018! Best of all, they're FREE! Though I would be willing to pay a reasonable fee for them, I like them THAT much.
2018 Unravel Your Year Workbook by Susannah Conway
Find Your Word for 2018 Course and Workbook by Susannah Conway
Do you use any yearly goal/intention setting workbooks, courses, resources? If so, please feel free to share in the comments.
Please consider also following me on social media (Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest): @RenaraTarot
Monday, November 6, 2017
#TarotObsessed, The Tarot Version of #OracleObsessed
Back in July I saw an excellent YouTube video on Oracle Decks by Imogen Walters with the hashtag #OracleObsessed. You can view the Original Video Here. I'm not on YouTube, so I did a blog response instead. You can see my #OracleObsessed blog post HERE. Since I'm also really into Tarot, I decided to do a Tarot version of answering the questions as well. So here are my answers to #TarotObsessed.
1. What was your very first Tarot deck?
My first Tarot deck was the little novelty deck you found in the checkout line at Barnes and Noble or Borders Books. It's called Tarot Nova. I felt so daring and even a little scared to purchase it. I had relatively recently left Christianity, where Tarot cards are taboo, evil, of the Devil, etc. My heart was pounding as I included it in my purchase and paid for it. So funny to think of now...
The first deck I got to actually learn Tarot with was Ciro Marchetti's Gilded Tarot in the Easy Tarot Kit.
2. What is your current favorite deck?
I can't pick just one. Currently, it's a tie between the Ceccoli Tarot, the Happy Tarot, and the Joie de Vivre Tarot.
3. What's your most used deck?
Probably the Joie de Vivre Tarot. Though at the moment, possibly the Ceccoli Tarot.
4. What's your least used deck?
I have to admit I have a few (well, more than a few...) decks that I just don't use very often. That's something I should remedy. Maybe I'll take this question as a kick in the butt suggestion to use them more often. The least used one is probably the Thoth Tarot (literally never been used), but there are a few others used just as infrequently, much to my chagrin... Fantastical Creatures Tarot, Zerner-Farber Tarot, Whimsical Tarot, Fairy Tale Tarot, Animals Divine Tarot...
5. How did you learn to read Tarot cards?
I started off by reading books. I'm a HUGE bibliophile and learn best by reading. So I started with Mary K. Greer's Tarot For Yourself and her book 21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card. At the time, the deck I was trying to learn on wasn't working for me, at all. Things weren't sticking and I wasn't understanding. I got so frustrated that I set Tarot aside for a while. I still had the desire to learn Tarot. I found a deck that ultimately worked incredibly well for me, the Sun and Moon Tarot. Meanings just started popping into my head when I looked at the cards. I finally understood what others meant when they talked about intuitively reading the cards. So I went back to the books and my learning progressed rapidly. I read more books and lots online. Then I took a class at a metaphysical shop, which gave me even more information and I connected with others interested in the cards too. My learning has never stopped. I continue to read books, websites, blogs, participate in Facebook groups, and more.
6. What do you use Tarot cards for?
I use Tarot cards for all sorts of things, lots of different types of questions. The thing I use them for the most is for helping me cope with chronic illness. It's difficult, living with chronic illness. Sometimes I need to hear a supporting and encouraging message. I like to combine them with Oracle cards. I spend a lot of time at home and don't often have a specific question I want or need answered. An Oracle card gives me a topic or message and Tarot cards give me more info on that message. I also enjoy giving professional Tarot readings to help others.
7. How do you read the cards? Guidebook, intuitively, a bit of both?
When I read for others, I read intuitively. When I read for myself, it's a combination of intuitively and the guidebook. When I'm working with a new deck I lean a bit more heavily towards the guidebook. I really like to learn about the cards through the author's perspective.
8. Do you use spreads?
Generally, no. I usually draw 3 or 5 cards to answer a question. If I do use a spread, it's usually a small one, typically a 3 card spread. I had difficulties using spreads with Tarot for a long time. Then I found a suggestion by Barbara Moore to try using 2 or 3 cards per spread position, instead of just one card per spread position. That actually helped me a LOT. This meshed well with my experiences working with card pairs and triplets, which I explored after learning about the technique being used for Lenormand card readings. So if I use a spread I use 3 cards per spread position.
9. Do you mix Tarot cards with other divination systems (Oracle, Lenormand, Runes, etc)?
YES!!! I LOVE combining Tarot cards with Oracle cards and Runes. One of my favorite methods is to pull an Oracle card for a topic/message. Then, I pull 3 Tarot cards asking what else I need to know about that topic/message. Last, I draw a Rune asking for anything else I need to know. It's a favorite combination method that I came up with. I combine them in other ways too. I just LOVE combining them. I also combine Tarot and Oracles together in more freeform ways as well.
10. In your opinion, what makes a great deck?
The artwork. If I can't connect with the artwork then the deck is a no-go for me. Different things appeal to different people or even appeal to the same person at different times. Fully illustrated Minor Arcana, not just pip cards. Good cardstock is a must too. No keywords on the cards. I HATE keywords on Tarot cards. They really distract me, sometimes making it impossible for me to read with the deck.
11. What do you feel are the differences between Tarot and Oracle cards?
Tarot has set systems and Oracle cards do not. Within the few Tarot systems (Rider-Waite-Smith, Thoth, Marseille, etc) the decks within each system will have a similar structure. So, for the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot decks, they're generally going to have 22 Major Arcana, 40 Number cards of Ace-10 each of some version of Swords, Wands, Cups, and Coins, and 16 Court Cards, some version of Page, Knight, Queen, King for each suit. Working within a system, there's transferable knowledge between decks even though the theme of the decks may vary.
Oracle decks don't follow any set system. Each deck is a system into itself. Decks can have any number of cards, have any theme, have any meanings or messages within them that the deck creator chooses. There doesn't tend to be specific transferable knowledge between different Oracle decks.
12. Do you have any super unusual/unique Decks?
The Justice League Tarot is pretty unique, having all the cards based on Justice League characters.
Emily Carding's Transparent Tarot is VERY unique. It's literally transparent and made from plastic. It comes with a white reading cloth. You can layer the cards on top of each other to create a unique image. 3-5 cards layered together is about the maximum that will work. She also has a Transparent Oracle as well.
13. What's your current deck crush?
The Mesquite Tarot, Monstarot, and the Aquarian Tarot. If also LOVE to find a decently priced copy if the Margarete Peterson Tarot
14. If you could only use one deck from now on, what would it be?
I don't think I could ever stick with only one deck. But if I HAD to choose, probably the Joie de Vivre Tarot.
Well, these are my answers to the #TarotObsessed hashtag. Do you work with Tarot decks? What is your favorite Tarot deck? Feel free to reply in the comments.
Head on over to Twitter and join the conversation with #TarotObsessed!!
Please consider also following me on social media (Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest): @RenaraTarot
1. What was your very first Tarot deck?
My first Tarot deck was the little novelty deck you found in the checkout line at Barnes and Noble or Borders Books. It's called Tarot Nova. I felt so daring and even a little scared to purchase it. I had relatively recently left Christianity, where Tarot cards are taboo, evil, of the Devil, etc. My heart was pounding as I included it in my purchase and paid for it. So funny to think of now...
The first deck I got to actually learn Tarot with was Ciro Marchetti's Gilded Tarot in the Easy Tarot Kit.
2. What is your current favorite deck?
I can't pick just one. Currently, it's a tie between the Ceccoli Tarot, the Happy Tarot, and the Joie de Vivre Tarot.
3. What's your most used deck?
Probably the Joie de Vivre Tarot. Though at the moment, possibly the Ceccoli Tarot.
4. What's your least used deck?
I have to admit I have a few (well, more than a few...) decks that I just don't use very often. That's something I should remedy. Maybe I'll take this question as a kick in the butt suggestion to use them more often. The least used one is probably the Thoth Tarot (literally never been used), but there are a few others used just as infrequently, much to my chagrin... Fantastical Creatures Tarot, Zerner-Farber Tarot, Whimsical Tarot, Fairy Tale Tarot, Animals Divine Tarot...
5. How did you learn to read Tarot cards?
I started off by reading books. I'm a HUGE bibliophile and learn best by reading. So I started with Mary K. Greer's Tarot For Yourself and her book 21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card. At the time, the deck I was trying to learn on wasn't working for me, at all. Things weren't sticking and I wasn't understanding. I got so frustrated that I set Tarot aside for a while. I still had the desire to learn Tarot. I found a deck that ultimately worked incredibly well for me, the Sun and Moon Tarot. Meanings just started popping into my head when I looked at the cards. I finally understood what others meant when they talked about intuitively reading the cards. So I went back to the books and my learning progressed rapidly. I read more books and lots online. Then I took a class at a metaphysical shop, which gave me even more information and I connected with others interested in the cards too. My learning has never stopped. I continue to read books, websites, blogs, participate in Facebook groups, and more.
6. What do you use Tarot cards for?
I use Tarot cards for all sorts of things, lots of different types of questions. The thing I use them for the most is for helping me cope with chronic illness. It's difficult, living with chronic illness. Sometimes I need to hear a supporting and encouraging message. I like to combine them with Oracle cards. I spend a lot of time at home and don't often have a specific question I want or need answered. An Oracle card gives me a topic or message and Tarot cards give me more info on that message. I also enjoy giving professional Tarot readings to help others.
7. How do you read the cards? Guidebook, intuitively, a bit of both?
When I read for others, I read intuitively. When I read for myself, it's a combination of intuitively and the guidebook. When I'm working with a new deck I lean a bit more heavily towards the guidebook. I really like to learn about the cards through the author's perspective.
8. Do you use spreads?
Generally, no. I usually draw 3 or 5 cards to answer a question. If I do use a spread, it's usually a small one, typically a 3 card spread. I had difficulties using spreads with Tarot for a long time. Then I found a suggestion by Barbara Moore to try using 2 or 3 cards per spread position, instead of just one card per spread position. That actually helped me a LOT. This meshed well with my experiences working with card pairs and triplets, which I explored after learning about the technique being used for Lenormand card readings. So if I use a spread I use 3 cards per spread position.
9. Do you mix Tarot cards with other divination systems (Oracle, Lenormand, Runes, etc)?
YES!!! I LOVE combining Tarot cards with Oracle cards and Runes. One of my favorite methods is to pull an Oracle card for a topic/message. Then, I pull 3 Tarot cards asking what else I need to know about that topic/message. Last, I draw a Rune asking for anything else I need to know. It's a favorite combination method that I came up with. I combine them in other ways too. I just LOVE combining them. I also combine Tarot and Oracles together in more freeform ways as well.
10. In your opinion, what makes a great deck?
The artwork. If I can't connect with the artwork then the deck is a no-go for me. Different things appeal to different people or even appeal to the same person at different times. Fully illustrated Minor Arcana, not just pip cards. Good cardstock is a must too. No keywords on the cards. I HATE keywords on Tarot cards. They really distract me, sometimes making it impossible for me to read with the deck.
11. What do you feel are the differences between Tarot and Oracle cards?
Tarot has set systems and Oracle cards do not. Within the few Tarot systems (Rider-Waite-Smith, Thoth, Marseille, etc) the decks within each system will have a similar structure. So, for the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot decks, they're generally going to have 22 Major Arcana, 40 Number cards of Ace-10 each of some version of Swords, Wands, Cups, and Coins, and 16 Court Cards, some version of Page, Knight, Queen, King for each suit. Working within a system, there's transferable knowledge between decks even though the theme of the decks may vary.
Oracle decks don't follow any set system. Each deck is a system into itself. Decks can have any number of cards, have any theme, have any meanings or messages within them that the deck creator chooses. There doesn't tend to be specific transferable knowledge between different Oracle decks.
12. Do you have any super unusual/unique Decks?
The Justice League Tarot is pretty unique, having all the cards based on Justice League characters.
Emily Carding's Transparent Tarot is VERY unique. It's literally transparent and made from plastic. It comes with a white reading cloth. You can layer the cards on top of each other to create a unique image. 3-5 cards layered together is about the maximum that will work. She also has a Transparent Oracle as well.
13. What's your current deck crush?
The Mesquite Tarot, Monstarot, and the Aquarian Tarot. If also LOVE to find a decently priced copy if the Margarete Peterson Tarot
14. If you could only use one deck from now on, what would it be?
I don't think I could ever stick with only one deck. But if I HAD to choose, probably the Joie de Vivre Tarot.
Well, these are my answers to the #TarotObsessed hashtag. Do you work with Tarot decks? What is your favorite Tarot deck? Feel free to reply in the comments.
Head on over to Twitter and join the conversation with #TarotObsessed!!
Please consider also following me on social media (Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest): @RenaraTarot
Monday, September 11, 2017
Using "Dark" Decks and Cards
Recently, a person in a Tarot Facebook group asked about "dark" decks and cards. They were lately feeling attracted to some decks that could be considered "darker." They brought up concerns about attracting dark or negative energies and entities when working with "darker" decks.
For me, reading cards has nothing to do with entities or dark energies. The way I look at reading the cards, they are helping me connect my subconscious with my conscious, dipping beneath the surface, as it were. So when I read cards I'm not contacting or connecting with any type of dark energies or dark entities. I'm connecting with me, my subconscious, my intuition. The cards are a bridge to help me understand what I need to know.
So it's my opinion, based on my personal perspective, that if you're looking at some "darker" decks, then maybe there's a message those decks can help you connect with easier than other decks. It has nothing to do with dark or negative energies or entities.
For me, different decks get the message we need to hear across in different ways, like a different tone or bedside manner. Sometimes we need to hear a message bluntly, no nonsense, no bullsh*t. Sometimes, we might be in a place where we need the message, but said in a gentler way, a more comforting and supportive way. You'll still get the message you need. The different decks are about the tone and bedside manner of how the message comes across.
And I've done some practice readings using multiple decks for the same spread. Not to try to get a different answer or an answer I want to hear, but to compare what the different decks are saying, how they each answer the same questions. It's awesome how so often, the same or similar message is given by multiple decks or tools for the same question or spread. :-) Just said in a slightly different way or perspective.
I'd also like to address the false equivalency between "dark" and "negative." Far too often, these two things are seen as equivalent. What's dark is negative and what's negative is dark. I don't agree with this. For me, "negative" implies bad or harmful, maybe even evil. "Dark" is dark, in shadow. It's deep, deeper, something that hasn't been brought into the light (awareness or conscious thought) recently. It's what's tucked away, hidden, buried, consciously or unconsciously. You may not want it to be brought into the light/up to the surface (awareness), but maybe it needs to be. That's not negative or bad or evil. For me, "dark" does NOT equal "negative."
Can the cards be used in negative or harmful ways? Absolutely. Any tool can be misused and abused. But that doesn't make them inherently negative, bad, evil, harmful, etc. It's all in how we use the tool, for what purposes, and our intentions. So if your intentions are to use the cards to help, yourself and/or others, don't be afraid to work with a "darker" deck. It may be just what you need at that time.
I'd like to add a final caution... There's a lot out there, especially recently, about doing things like Shadow work and that type of thing. Sometimes, things are in the dark for a very valid reason. Bringing things out of the dark and doing Shadow work is not without some risks. Please educate yourself before pursuing this work, especially for others. Please don't hesitate to work with an appropriate mental health professional if things come up that are especially troubling or difficult for you to deal with. Cards can be used in conjunction with conventional professional mental health care. It's not an either/or situation. Seek professional care and assistance if you need it.
Please also follow me on social media (Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest): @RenaraTarot
For me, reading cards has nothing to do with entities or dark energies. The way I look at reading the cards, they are helping me connect my subconscious with my conscious, dipping beneath the surface, as it were. So when I read cards I'm not contacting or connecting with any type of dark energies or dark entities. I'm connecting with me, my subconscious, my intuition. The cards are a bridge to help me understand what I need to know.
So it's my opinion, based on my personal perspective, that if you're looking at some "darker" decks, then maybe there's a message those decks can help you connect with easier than other decks. It has nothing to do with dark or negative energies or entities.
For me, different decks get the message we need to hear across in different ways, like a different tone or bedside manner. Sometimes we need to hear a message bluntly, no nonsense, no bullsh*t. Sometimes, we might be in a place where we need the message, but said in a gentler way, a more comforting and supportive way. You'll still get the message you need. The different decks are about the tone and bedside manner of how the message comes across.
And I've done some practice readings using multiple decks for the same spread. Not to try to get a different answer or an answer I want to hear, but to compare what the different decks are saying, how they each answer the same questions. It's awesome how so often, the same or similar message is given by multiple decks or tools for the same question or spread. :-) Just said in a slightly different way or perspective.
I'd also like to address the false equivalency between "dark" and "negative." Far too often, these two things are seen as equivalent. What's dark is negative and what's negative is dark. I don't agree with this. For me, "negative" implies bad or harmful, maybe even evil. "Dark" is dark, in shadow. It's deep, deeper, something that hasn't been brought into the light (awareness or conscious thought) recently. It's what's tucked away, hidden, buried, consciously or unconsciously. You may not want it to be brought into the light/up to the surface (awareness), but maybe it needs to be. That's not negative or bad or evil. For me, "dark" does NOT equal "negative."
Can the cards be used in negative or harmful ways? Absolutely. Any tool can be misused and abused. But that doesn't make them inherently negative, bad, evil, harmful, etc. It's all in how we use the tool, for what purposes, and our intentions. So if your intentions are to use the cards to help, yourself and/or others, don't be afraid to work with a "darker" deck. It may be just what you need at that time.
I'd like to add a final caution... There's a lot out there, especially recently, about doing things like Shadow work and that type of thing. Sometimes, things are in the dark for a very valid reason. Bringing things out of the dark and doing Shadow work is not without some risks. Please educate yourself before pursuing this work, especially for others. Please don't hesitate to work with an appropriate mental health professional if things come up that are especially troubling or difficult for you to deal with. Cards can be used in conjunction with conventional professional mental health care. It's not an either/or situation. Seek professional care and assistance if you need it.
Please also follow me on social media (Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest): @RenaraTarot
Thursday, August 17, 2017
In the Wake of Charlottesville
I'm sorry this response is a bit late. I had a horrendous migraine for 2 days that made typing and posting incredibly difficult.
I watched what happened in Charlottesville. I waited and listened for Trump's response. It was NOT ACCEPTABLE. It was NOT ok. There are no "two sides" when it comes to Nazis, white supremacists, fascists, and hatred. There is a right side-the side of opposing intolerance and of supporting human rights and a wrong side-the side of hatred and bigotry, period. Trump has shown himself to be on the wrong side. He has said too little, too late, and said the wrong things. Our President has equivocated between Nazis/white supremacists and those who oppose them. There is no forgiving that.
We are SUPPOSED to vehemently oppose Nazis and hatred!! The statues they're protesting the removal of SHOULD be removed. It's not about rewriting history. It's about NOT honoring what doesn't deserve to be honored. "We should always remember the past, but we do not necessarily need to revere it."
A woman died opposing Nazis on US soil. Let that sink in a bit... People in this country have relatives who fought (and died) against the Nazis in World War II. People who fled from or escaped the Nazis live in this country. I can't even imagine what they are thinking right now...
I have friends who are afraid. I am afraid. But we must stand strong and constant in our opposition to hatred and intolerance. We must try to be as peaceful as possible, while recognizing that sometimes force is justified and necessary. We cannot go backwards. We cannot allow history to repeat itself. We cannot tolerate intolerance or hatred.
These are trying and unsettled times. Please take care of yourself and those you care about. There's nothing wrong with stepping back and unplugging for a bit. Do what you can, where you can, when you can.
6 Ways Spirituality Can Reinforce Oppression and Racism
I've seen these happen. I really appreciate the suggestions for how to change.
I Need to Talk to Spiritual White Women About White Supremacy
As a spiritual white woman, I appreciate this article. I'm looking forward to reading Part 2.
I watched what happened in Charlottesville. I waited and listened for Trump's response. It was NOT ACCEPTABLE. It was NOT ok. There are no "two sides" when it comes to Nazis, white supremacists, fascists, and hatred. There is a right side-the side of opposing intolerance and of supporting human rights and a wrong side-the side of hatred and bigotry, period. Trump has shown himself to be on the wrong side. He has said too little, too late, and said the wrong things. Our President has equivocated between Nazis/white supremacists and those who oppose them. There is no forgiving that.
We are SUPPOSED to vehemently oppose Nazis and hatred!! The statues they're protesting the removal of SHOULD be removed. It's not about rewriting history. It's about NOT honoring what doesn't deserve to be honored. "We should always remember the past, but we do not necessarily need to revere it."
A woman died opposing Nazis on US soil. Let that sink in a bit... People in this country have relatives who fought (and died) against the Nazis in World War II. People who fled from or escaped the Nazis live in this country. I can't even imagine what they are thinking right now...
I have friends who are afraid. I am afraid. But we must stand strong and constant in our opposition to hatred and intolerance. We must try to be as peaceful as possible, while recognizing that sometimes force is justified and necessary. We cannot go backwards. We cannot allow history to repeat itself. We cannot tolerate intolerance or hatred.
These are trying and unsettled times. Please take care of yourself and those you care about. There's nothing wrong with stepping back and unplugging for a bit. Do what you can, where you can, when you can.
6 Ways Spirituality Can Reinforce Oppression and Racism
I've seen these happen. I really appreciate the suggestions for how to change.
I Need to Talk to Spiritual White Women About White Supremacy
As a spiritual white woman, I appreciate this article. I'm looking forward to reading Part 2.
Wednesday, July 26, 2017
Blog Response to Imogen Walters' #OracleObsessed
I just saw an excellent YouTube video on Oracle Decks by Imogen Walters with the hashtag #OracleObsessed. You can view the Original Video Here. I'm not on YouTube, but I thought I'd do a blog response instead. The questions are great and I'm excited to answer them.
1. What was your very first Oracle deck?
My very first Oracle deck was the Nature Speak Oracle by Ted Andrews. I was new to the whole "cards" thing and starting to explore Paganism. These nature based cards seemed to fit my interests at the time.
2. What is your current favorite deck?
Tough call! I have 3 or 4 favorite decks currently... I don't know that I could pick just one. If I HAD to choose I'd say the Sacred Creators Oracle by Chris-Anne and the Wisdom of the Oracle by Colette Baron-Reid. Nope, couldn't pick just one.
3. What's your most used deck?
Probably Witchlings by Paulina Cassidy. It's upbeat and cute but gives in touch messages.
4. What's your least used deck?
I have to admit I have a few decks that I just don't use very often. That's something I should remedy. Maybe I'll take this question as a kick in the butt suggestion to use them more often. The least used one is probably Oracle of the Dragonfae, but there are a few others used just as infrequently, much to my chagrin...
5. How did you learn to read Oracle cards?
I "learned" while I was studying Tarot. I started with Tarot first and branched into Oracle cards. I can't say I ever specifically learned to read Oracle cards. I bought a few decks, read their accompanying books, tried some Tarot techniques with them, loved the idea of Lenormand card pairings for working with Oracle Cards, and just basically played and continue to play around with them. So I guess it's mostly experimenting as I go. I also do a lot of Oracle readings for myself, so that's decent practice, I guess.
6. What do you use Oracle cards for?
I use Oracle cards for all sorts of things, lots of different types of questions. The thing I use them for the most is for helping me cope with chronic illness. It's difficult, living with chronic illness. Sometimes I need to hear a supporting and encouraging message. I feel Oracle cards tend to do that a bit better than Tarot does.
7. How do you read the cards? Guidebook, intuitively, a bit of both?
For Oracle cards, I love my guidebooks. I almost always read the guidebook entry when working with Oracle cards. Sometimes I get intuitive hits from the cards themselves. Sometimes the card itself is self-explanatory, but I get intuitive hits when reading the guidebook. The message I'm supposed to get will often "pop" when I read the guidebook.
8. Do you use spreads?
Yes and no. I've never been big on spreads, for Tarot or Oracles, but they're starting to grow on me. I'm starting to use spreads more often lately.
9. Do you mix Oracle cards with other divination systems (Tarot, Lenormand, Runes, etc)?
YES!!! I LOVE combining Oracle cards with Tarot and Runes. One of my favorite methods is to pull an Oracle card for a topic/message. Then, I pull 3 Tarot cards asking what else I need to know about that topic/message. Last, I draw a Rune asking for anything else I need to know. It's a favorite combination method that I came up with. I combine them in other ways too. I just LOVE combining them.
10. In your opinion, what makes a great deck?
A well thought out and detailed guidebook. For me, I love a good guidebook to go with the deck. Because of all the varying themes and messages an Oracle card deck can have, I really prefer having a good guidebook for the deck. Artwork and cardstock are important too, but artwork and theme are so subjective. Different things appeal to different people or even appeal to the same person at different times. Good cardstock is a must too.
11. What do you feel are the differences between Tarot and Oracle cards?
Tarot has set systems and Oracle cards do not. Within the few Tarot systems (Rider-Waite-Smith, Thoth, Marseille, etc) the decks within each system will have a similar structure. So, for the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot decks, they're generally going to have 22 Major Arcana, 40 Number cards of Ace-10 each of some version of Swords, Wands, Cups, and Coins, and 16 Court Cards, some version of Page, Knight, Queen, King for each suit. Working within a system, there's transferable knowledge between decks even though the theme of the decks may vary.
Oracle decks don't follow any set system. Each deck is a system into itself. Decks can have any number of cards, have any theme, have any meanings or messages within them that the deck creator chooses. There doesn't tend to be specific transferable knowledge between different Oracle decks.
12. Do you have any super unusual/unique Decks?
I have three Oracle decks I'd consider unusual or unique. The first is Pathfinders, The Animal Totem Deck. It's an animal based deck with 83 cards, each illustrated by a different artist. It was independently published, a limited edition of 1000 decks worldwide and may be hard to find now. I believe it is out of print.
The second Oracle deck I have that is consider unique is the Tea Leaf Fortune Cards (Amazon). This deck is based on reading tea leaves. The cards are round, like a teacup would be. There's 200 cards, which include 182 symbol cards, 12 month cards, and 6 astral house cards, along with an accompanying book to help you interpret the cards. Because the cards are round and somewhat small, they can be difficult to shuffle. I tend to just swirl them around, though a mesh bag is included for that purpose.
The third is the Rebel Deck Tarot Cards. Not actually a Tarot deck, it's a funny and irreverent Oracle deck that gives short, to the point messages including foul language. Not for the sensitive soul, Rebel Deck is great for when you need that no-nonsense, smack in the head message.
13. What's your current deck crush?
Affirmators! Affirmation cards to help you help yourself-without the self-helpy-ness, Affirmators! Love and Relationships, and Wisdom of the Oracle by Colette Baron-Reid.
14. If you could only use one deck from now on, what would it be?
That's a tough one... I have a bunch of favorites. If I could only pick one, I'd have to say the Sacred Creators Oracle. The more I work with it, the more I'm loving it.
Well, these are my answers to the #OracleObsessed hashtag. Do you work with Oracle decks? What is your favorite Oracle deck? Feel free to reply in the comments.
Head on over to Twitter and join the conversation with #OracleObsessed!!
Please consider also following me on social media (Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest): @RenaraTarot
1. What was your very first Oracle deck?
My very first Oracle deck was the Nature Speak Oracle by Ted Andrews. I was new to the whole "cards" thing and starting to explore Paganism. These nature based cards seemed to fit my interests at the time.
2. What is your current favorite deck?
Tough call! I have 3 or 4 favorite decks currently... I don't know that I could pick just one. If I HAD to choose I'd say the Sacred Creators Oracle by Chris-Anne and the Wisdom of the Oracle by Colette Baron-Reid. Nope, couldn't pick just one.
3. What's your most used deck?
Probably Witchlings by Paulina Cassidy. It's upbeat and cute but gives in touch messages.
4. What's your least used deck?
I have to admit I have a few decks that I just don't use very often. That's something I should remedy. Maybe I'll take this question as a kick in the butt suggestion to use them more often. The least used one is probably Oracle of the Dragonfae, but there are a few others used just as infrequently, much to my chagrin...
5. How did you learn to read Oracle cards?
I "learned" while I was studying Tarot. I started with Tarot first and branched into Oracle cards. I can't say I ever specifically learned to read Oracle cards. I bought a few decks, read their accompanying books, tried some Tarot techniques with them, loved the idea of Lenormand card pairings for working with Oracle Cards, and just basically played and continue to play around with them. So I guess it's mostly experimenting as I go. I also do a lot of Oracle readings for myself, so that's decent practice, I guess.
6. What do you use Oracle cards for?
I use Oracle cards for all sorts of things, lots of different types of questions. The thing I use them for the most is for helping me cope with chronic illness. It's difficult, living with chronic illness. Sometimes I need to hear a supporting and encouraging message. I feel Oracle cards tend to do that a bit better than Tarot does.
7. How do you read the cards? Guidebook, intuitively, a bit of both?
For Oracle cards, I love my guidebooks. I almost always read the guidebook entry when working with Oracle cards. Sometimes I get intuitive hits from the cards themselves. Sometimes the card itself is self-explanatory, but I get intuitive hits when reading the guidebook. The message I'm supposed to get will often "pop" when I read the guidebook.
8. Do you use spreads?
Yes and no. I've never been big on spreads, for Tarot or Oracles, but they're starting to grow on me. I'm starting to use spreads more often lately.
9. Do you mix Oracle cards with other divination systems (Tarot, Lenormand, Runes, etc)?
YES!!! I LOVE combining Oracle cards with Tarot and Runes. One of my favorite methods is to pull an Oracle card for a topic/message. Then, I pull 3 Tarot cards asking what else I need to know about that topic/message. Last, I draw a Rune asking for anything else I need to know. It's a favorite combination method that I came up with. I combine them in other ways too. I just LOVE combining them.
10. In your opinion, what makes a great deck?
A well thought out and detailed guidebook. For me, I love a good guidebook to go with the deck. Because of all the varying themes and messages an Oracle card deck can have, I really prefer having a good guidebook for the deck. Artwork and cardstock are important too, but artwork and theme are so subjective. Different things appeal to different people or even appeal to the same person at different times. Good cardstock is a must too.
11. What do you feel are the differences between Tarot and Oracle cards?
Tarot has set systems and Oracle cards do not. Within the few Tarot systems (Rider-Waite-Smith, Thoth, Marseille, etc) the decks within each system will have a similar structure. So, for the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot decks, they're generally going to have 22 Major Arcana, 40 Number cards of Ace-10 each of some version of Swords, Wands, Cups, and Coins, and 16 Court Cards, some version of Page, Knight, Queen, King for each suit. Working within a system, there's transferable knowledge between decks even though the theme of the decks may vary.
Oracle decks don't follow any set system. Each deck is a system into itself. Decks can have any number of cards, have any theme, have any meanings or messages within them that the deck creator chooses. There doesn't tend to be specific transferable knowledge between different Oracle decks.
12. Do you have any super unusual/unique Decks?
I have three Oracle decks I'd consider unusual or unique. The first is Pathfinders, The Animal Totem Deck. It's an animal based deck with 83 cards, each illustrated by a different artist. It was independently published, a limited edition of 1000 decks worldwide and may be hard to find now. I believe it is out of print.
The second Oracle deck I have that is consider unique is the Tea Leaf Fortune Cards (Amazon). This deck is based on reading tea leaves. The cards are round, like a teacup would be. There's 200 cards, which include 182 symbol cards, 12 month cards, and 6 astral house cards, along with an accompanying book to help you interpret the cards. Because the cards are round and somewhat small, they can be difficult to shuffle. I tend to just swirl them around, though a mesh bag is included for that purpose.
The third is the Rebel Deck Tarot Cards. Not actually a Tarot deck, it's a funny and irreverent Oracle deck that gives short, to the point messages including foul language. Not for the sensitive soul, Rebel Deck is great for when you need that no-nonsense, smack in the head message.
13. What's your current deck crush?
Affirmators! Affirmation cards to help you help yourself-without the self-helpy-ness, Affirmators! Love and Relationships, and Wisdom of the Oracle by Colette Baron-Reid.
14. If you could only use one deck from now on, what would it be?
That's a tough one... I have a bunch of favorites. If I could only pick one, I'd have to say the Sacred Creators Oracle. The more I work with it, the more I'm loving it.
Well, these are my answers to the #OracleObsessed hashtag. Do you work with Oracle decks? What is your favorite Oracle deck? Feel free to reply in the comments.
Head on over to Twitter and join the conversation with #OracleObsessed!!
Please consider also following me on social media (Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest): @RenaraTarot
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