Oracle Cards

lovebytenz
Aug 19
2 min read

Updated: Oct 30

A friend of mine recently invited a group of women away for a weekend, where we each had to bring a question that we needed an answer to, and an item we wanted to share. Oracle cards were a really popular item for sharing. Bundled in exquisitely embroidered pouches, or contained in pretty boxes, and woven kete, the beautiful designs, and the mystical ritual of divining messages was both uplifting and thought-provoking.

The creative journey

Doing things that bring you joy is incredibly important in the practice of self-care. Slowing down, and stepping back from normal routines, helps you become more present to the moment you are in. There are so many simple ways to elevate your spirit, such as an act of kindness towards a friend or stranger, taking a walk in nature, or giving yourself time to be creative. Beautiful design elevates our spirit, and Oracle cards are a mini canvas for daily inspiration. You could create an oracle deck infused with mythology and mystical symbolism, fractal art, calligraphy or illuminated manuscripts. Use coloured paints, black ink, collage, photographs, textiles, or start with a digital design and finish a paint wash. Make one card every week for 12 weeks or immerse yourself for an entire weekend. The energy that permeates everything is constantly offering us ways to feel the flow, through flashes of inspiration or an intuitive nudge, and oracle cards simply allow that gentle breeze to whisper its wisdom.

My favourite Oracle deck is by Louise Hay. The stylised Oracle card was actually designed digitally, which can be a creative catalyst for making or finishing things by hand.

More ideas for making Oracle cards

Artist Karen Michel's video below captures the meditative aspect of making your own Oracle cards; she starts with a standard card set, lightly sanded and primed on both sides, then adds her unique designs with acrylic and metallic paints. Karen uses the same colour palette for all the cards, which adds to the harmony of the finished set. Each card has it's own keyword, stamped using permanent pigment ink, then sealed with mod podge. The final step is my favourite, where Karen seals each card (including inking all sides) with a protective layer of clear paste wax, then applies and blends a black acrylic paint wash, to create a gorgeous, aged patina.