Oracle Decks 101
I love Oracle Decks.
Stowed away in my office is a secret library containing about fifty decks. There is never a dinner or a voyage in which I don’t have a deck of cards with me. I bring them out while wine is being served at dinner, after a friend discloses a trying circumstance, or if a stranger-turned-acquaintance brings up a loved one who has crossed over; to me, there lies encouragement, healing and answers in the cards.
As an Intuitive, someone who innately perceives someone else’s feelings, general thoughts, life experiences, or desires without having concrete information, I use Oracle Decks in conjunction with intuitive messages to enhance overarching themes during sessions with my clients. For example, ahead of a session I may receive a clear statement like “the time is now,” and then pull an Oracle message that enhances this by saying “you know what to do.” I receive signs, symbols, numbers, and statements from my client’s Light Team, to such a degree, that sometimes it feels as if I am playing an intense game of Pictionary. Pairing both my intuitive translations with Oracle provides richer meaning and deeper context to our time together.
Oracle Decks mystifies most, and tends to be solely associated with persons in spiritual professions. The truth is, anyone can learn to connect, protect, respect and refer to Oracle whenever they most desire, but, and there is always a 'but' when connecting with spirit, it must be done with light, honor and pure intentions. My goal for this piece is to educate you on how to do so, so you too, can experience the magic clearly, and tangibly, whenever you feel intuitive encouragement to do so.
“What are Oracle Decks?”
In its simplest form, Oracle Decks are cards that allow us to connect with the above, and the above to connect with us. “The above” is determined by your belief system: God, the universe, the cosmos, guardians, guides, light teams, deceased loved ones, the list of ethereal beings go on, communicate reassuring messages, loving guidance, and validating answers through these cards. Each Oracle Deck is focused on various themes and contains illustrations, symbols, and context. There are countless types of Oracle Decks from Spirit Animals, to Self-Care, decks on Finding True Love, Messages from Above, Wisdom of Nature, Fairies, Gratitude, Angels, Mother Mary, even Celebrity Spirit.
The first Oracle Deck I ever purchased was the Archangel Oracle Cards, a 45-card deck created by the legendary Doreen Virtue. Based on working with 15 of the Archangels, each card corresponds to one of these archangels covering a theme that the angel typically represents. For example, you may select one card titled “Relationship Harmony” that associates with Archangel Raguel, the Archangel considered “the friend of God” who instills harmony amongst relationships. This particular card states “We angels are opening the hearts of everyone involved. Arguments and conflicts are being resolved now.” Most Oracle Decks, like this one, come with a guidebook that provides a robust message to the card you pulled. By locating the page number within its index, it will direct you to the card's deeper meaning. These guidebooks contain introductions to the particular Oracle Deck you selected, how you can best use the deck, and additionally, how you can pull a card or multiple cards in specific orders to tell a more detailed story.
“Hold up, I am getting witchy vibes from oracle. Is it safe to practice? And if so, does it go against my religion"?”
Of course, I am going to go there. {Grabs broom and smiles coyly}
Also, I am going to bet that if you clicked through to this blog right now, that there are high odds you are intrigued by the mystique of Oracle Decks. The ability for us to receive tangible, literal, clear guidance from the above every day is enticing. But like everything spiritual, it is to be handled with care: covered in light, infused with pure intentions, promoted with love, and greatly revered. It is safe to practice Oracle if you work with the light and the light only. For example, every time I purchase a new deck, I sage it with Palo Santo’s cleansing smoke, I ask Archangel Michael (our beloved angelic bodyguard) to protect the deck in a shield of bluish gold/white light and hold the deck to my heart to connect and bless it with love, light, and pure intentions. This seals the deck with a high vibration that only loving light beings can channel through.
As far as religious matters go, the answer to this lies within you.
I started using Oracle Decks eight years ago with a beloved Spiritual Mentor, and it forever changed the way I perceived life. As a Catholic I feared I was disobeying God for it is our belief that Oracle Decks are parallel to predictive Astrology, Fortune Telling, Tarot Cards, and Psychics, and are all forms of divination that are to be rejected. But then I was finding that answers to prayers and my conversations with God were shining through decks of cards. That these cards turned into a tangible way to communicate with the angelic realm, and opened me up to receive healing, encouragement, and validation. Validation that for me, there is a God answering my exact thoughts right now. Validation that light beings exist that we cannot see, or science cannot make sense of. And validation that I am protected and supported beyond anything I could ever fathom.
For me, Oracle Decks cultivated a rich belief and trust in my relationship with God, within myself and in my life’s journey.
Without diving headfirst down a controversial rabbit hole, my personal sense of spirituality was enriched and the honoring of elements of my religion, predominately in God, was enhanced. I believe we can be both spiritual and religious when love, light and pure intentions are at the heart of most practices. But that is my belief, it may not be yours, and the beauty of the world is that only your soul and heart contain your answer.
“How do I choose an Oracle Deck?”
The real question is: “Do you choose the Oracle Deck, or does the Oracle Deck choose you?” Kismet comes into play here. Whether you read this piece, are intrigued, and turn to Amazon to pursue your first deck, or in the coming months you find yourself in a metaphysical store in Denver and stumble upon a card deck that stops you in your tracks, both avenues will produce cards that are meant for you.
You see, even if you Google “Oracle Decks,” my belief is that it will auto-populate decks that your Light Team intends for you to view and purchase. My rule of thumb for this fun exercise is to apply the no scroll rule; simply view the decks that are on the page and click through to the one that most appeals to you. Then, trust that it is meant for you.
For the in-store example, if you come across an entire display of Oracle Decks, allow your intuition to guide you: Which cover art speaks to you the most? Or, which one do you pick up first? How does holding it make you feel in your body? If you feel a slight uptick in your being, alongside a wave of excitement, consider purchasing it. If you pick one up, and it feels heavy or not quite right, put it down and select another deck. Spend time with them, eventually you will know the one, or ones, that feel right.
Lastly, is there a theme you resonate the most with? Consider narrowing down your initial Google or Amazon search to “Crystal Oracle Decks” and feel into the ones that surface.
There is no wrong way to select your Oracle Deck, however if you are new to Oracle, I suggest starting with one and slowly growing your library. Learn how to protect, to connect, to bond with and establish the language between yourself and that Oracle Deck before going wild.
“I purchased my first deck, How do I cleanse and protect it?”
After working with Oracle for almost a decade now, I now am the proud owner of fifty decks. I frequent metaphysical stores, also known as spirituality shops, on a weekly basis and enjoy browsing and connecting with new decks as they resonate. Once I arrive home, I want to use them right away, however, I have learned to restrain myself in order to set each deck up for success. I highly encourage you do the same. The steps I take before using a new Oracle Deck include:
Bask it Overnight in Nature: I suggest placing your deck(s) outside to ground and seal it with Mother Nature’s wisdom.
Cleanse it with Palo Santo: This South American tree, also known as Holy Wood, is revered for its spiritual and medicinal properties. Primarily used to cleanse out negative energies and enhance communication with the divine, Palo Santo is a perfect way to expunge any lower vibrations that may have accidentally been passed to the deck during the manufacturing process. It also seals it with pure intention to connect with your Light Team. Simply light the end of your Palo Santo stick and allow the flame to burn for 20-30 seconds, then blow it out and cleanse the deck by placing it above the stick, where the smoke will envelop it. It is important to keep a door or window open at this time: The idea is that any lower frequencies will be carried outside. You can cleanse just about anything, any place and anyone.
Protect it: Place the deck on your heart and ask Archangel Michael to protect it, sealing it with the intention that only light beings are to connect with and communicate through the deck.
Get to Know the Deck: Open it up and read through the introductory out of respect for the creator and the contents of the deck. Understand how they encourage you to enjoy their deck.
Some practitioners ask that you place each card over your heart to seal it with a loving vibration. I find that if you have limited time, placing the entire deck over your heart and infusing it with optimized vibes and white light, that this will do just the trick that you need. I also envision myself or my clients receiving messages for our best and highest good.
“How do I use MY Oracle Deck?”
I use Oracle in an array of different ways. Sometimes, I open my library, pull out a deck that speaks the most to me that day, and ask for an overarching message that my angels wish to share with me. Other times, I get clear on the question I have: “Is it beneficial for me to pursue this opportunity?” and see what the cards have in store. And every so often, I pull three cards: one that is indicative of the past, one that is telling of the present, and one that is foreshadowing the future.
Physically pulling cards is an intuitive action that is done in your style: For example, I shuffle the deck 2-3 times, then spread the cards out in one line in front of me face down, when one card falls to the side or cuts the deck in half, I know that, that is the card I am meant to select. There are limitless ways you can pull cards, but I would go with your gut on which way feels the best to you. Don’t second guess yourself, and know like anything, it takes time to trust the process you develop.
Once you receive your message, take time to reflect on how it ties back to you and your life. Usually, the first thing that comes to mind is the area of your life that your Light Team is trying to emphasize. If nothing comes to mind, trust the 24 hour rule: Leave the card out on your desk, come back to it at the end of the day and see if events have evolved in such a way that this card now makes sense. Lastly, and in full disclosure, there may be times that you pull what I refer to as “the tougher cards to swallow.” Case in point being pulling the “Forgiveness” card that is asking you to let go of a specific grudge and resentment, to forgive and to move on. A card like this may feel triggering for some, but take a deep breath and consider why it is triggering. I bet that if you take pause to subdue your frustrations, that forgiveness does in fact make sense within a circumstance even if you don’t feel like you are the one who is in the wrong.
I believe that Oracle Decks are a tangible way to connect with our guides, who have our highest and best good in mind. Rather than predictive Tarot Cards, Oracles most generally speaking, confirm intuitive feelings of the present. Of course, they can provide beneficial information that can improve your future, but there is always free will involved if you decide to heed their advice. For as Randy Pausch said, “we cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.”
“Each player must accept the cards life deals him or her: but once they are in hand, he or she alone must decide how to play the cards in order to win the game.”
Sources: Doreen Virtue’s, Archangel Oracle Cards