All Tarot and Oracle Deck collectors will have at least a couple of decks that they have disconnected from. Yule is the time when many people reconnect with friends and family. If we think of a deck as a person who we have a relationship with it might just be time to reconnect. It may sound slightly crazy but you can take the time to hold the deck and explain why you’ve been out of touch. You might briefly describe what has been going on with you if you must explain your disappearance, but don’t put yourself down. No mea culpa about how bad or shameful you are. Just reconnect — don’t try and solve all the relationship issues of the past.
Engaging in the challenges that appear in the Instagram Community is a great way to reconnect, build a relationship with your deck and develop your tarot reading skills all at the same time. There are a vast number of challenges to choose from and most can be done at your own pace.
Two that have caught my eye this month are Deckember 21, which encourages participants to showcase their favourite Majors and Inner Landscape of the Dark which provides a way to mine your inner landscape.
Personally I love to work with Josephine Hardiman’s Challenges. She consistently posts thought provoking work which you commit to doing every second day. Her latest is the Goodbye to 2021, which is very appropriate for December.
Over to You
The Lions Gateway Tarot by Jessica Henry who has a new edition available.
The Lions Gateway Tarot is a beautiful Indi deck which I ordered in 2020 before the cost of postage spiraled out of control. I was very excited to get it but it has languished as, like a Wattle Bird I have taken off the feed on what has appeared to be juicier nectar.
I am not in to making New Year resolutions but I am prepared to adopt a different view with the decks I have in my collection and commit to building a closer relationship with them.
Identify a deck you are prepared to reconnect with and spend some time completing a challenge with this one deck.
Santa letters originated as missives children received, rather than sent, with parents using them as tools to counsel kids on their behavior. For example, Fanny Longfellow (wife of poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow) wrote letters to her children every season, weighing in on their actions over the previous year (“I am sorry I sometimes hear you are not so kind to your little brother as I wish you were,” she wrote to her son Charley on Christmas Eve 1851). This practice shifted as gifts took on a more central role in the holiday, and the letters morphed into Christmas wish lists. But some parents continued to write their kids in Santa’s voice. The most impressive of these may be J.R.R. Tolkien, who every Christmas, for almost 25 years, left his children elaborately illustrated updates on Father Christmas and his life in the North Pole—filled with red gnomes, snow elves, and his chief assistant, the North Polar bear.
Santa Claus may owe his earliest influence to Odin (also known as Wodan), a god revered by Germanic peoples in Northern Europe as early as 2 B.C.E. Odin was celebrated during Yule, a pagan holiday that took place midwinter. During this time, Odin was said to lead the Wild Hunt, a ghostly procession through the sky.
While sending a letter to Santa Claus might seem like a pretty straightforward process, it’s had a colorful—and at times controversial—history.
If one work can be credited with helping kick start the practice of sending letters to Santa Claus, it’s Thomas Nast’s illustration published in the December 1871 issue of Harper’s Weekly. The image shows Santa seated at his desk and processing his mail, sorting items into stacks labeled “Letters from Naughty Children’s Parents” and “Letters from Good Children’s Parents.” Nast’s illustrations were widely seen and shared, being in one of the highest-circulation publications of the era, and his Santa illustrations had grown into a beloved tradition since he first drew the figure for the magazine’s cover in 1863. Reports of Santa letters ending up at local post offices shot up the year after Nast’s illustration appeared.
Whatever your views there is no doubt that at this time there is a lot merit in identifying what you would really appreciate being given. Appropriate gift giving saves a lot of unwanted items ending up in landfill.
So let us turn our minds around to how we might repurpose the traditional letter to Santa and what sort of wish list we might generate.
A Courier Might Just Bring Me
I am very dependent upon YouTube reviews on decks now. After having been disappointed by some that I have purchased on a whim, I now take quite some time before ordering anything.
It will come as no surprise, given my habit of taking journeys of imagination, that I would love to acquire The Weaver’s Oracle, which has been around for quite awhile. The Weavers’ Oracle book and 52 cards are created from thirty years of Carolyn’s paintings, mythic tales and work with women’s archetypal mysteries. It forms a wild alchemy of images and words that lay down original and inspiring trails into oracle lands.
Two other decks, which like the Weavers Oracle feels out of my reach thanks to exorbitant postage costs when having things delivered to Australia are by Faina Lorah.
I would also like to find, on my doorstep, some recycled bits and bobs for my cubby/studio down in the back yard.
Chimes
Cool home made Tibetan style Prayer Flags
Unusual pots to plant lovelies that flourish in shaded areas
A full sized skeleton
Solar powered fairy lights
A Crystal Skull
Over to You
I can dream about getting something like this Crystal Skull. It would stretch the budget but, whatever! No one said I couldn’t lust for something like this.
Perhaps you will share your letter and let us see what is at the top of your wish list. For that matter, folk on Instagram love seeing stuff, so maybe go for broke and show a few witchy things that you would love to acquire.
A war has been raging between the two nations ever since, and Gulliver is asked to help defend Lilliput against its enemies. Gulliver does not feel that it is appropriate to intervene, but he nonetheless offers his services to the emperor.
He cried in the loudest voice, ” long live the mightiest emperor of the state”. Therefore, Gulliver proved his loyalty and he was made a great lord by the emperor.
The Hanged Beast broke the monotony of life in a dank cell by explaining some of the politics any traveller in the world of the Northern Animal Tarot should be aware of. Apparently, as can be seen above, there are four Royal Houses in these parts and they most certainly do not form an alliance. On the contrary there has been a long history of conflict and hostility. As is the case in some parts of our world, mediation has never quelled long held resentments and desires for revenge.
As I listened I contemplated some of the handy mediation skills I had acquired during my 71 years on planet Earth. I rarely produce this card, but I told the Hanged Beast that I had served a ten year stint in a rather complex political, often toxic, environment. It occurred to me that the skills I had acquired on the floor of the chamber, and in countless negotiations, might prove useful if I ever got the opportunity to justify my presence here.
“Oh you will get an opportunity” said the Hanged Beast. “I have already sent a message to the Court suggesting that rather than simmering you in a cauldron in cooks kitchen, you may be of some use here”.
I shuddered! Holy moley! Clearly groups to protect the well being of humans were needed here, but given how we humans treat animals I didn’t imagine anyone would listen.
So the Hanged Beast was actually some sort of double agent, or an informer trying to curry favour somewhere. How intriguing! This really is beginning to be more like being thrust onto the set of Alice in Wonderland or Game of Thrones, I thought, remarkably calmly given what some might deem to be a dire situation.
No sooner did the beast say this than a group of gruff guards appeared. I was marched off, still in chains, to the Royal Court of the House of Swords.
As I stood before the Royal couple I intuited that it was the Queen who held the power here and could feel an instant connection.
Our eyes met and she smiled at me. Then, not unexpectedly, she demanded that my captors explain why they had treated one of her close kin so badly and insisted that my chains be immediately removed, that I be given a nice bowl of steaming vegan soup to nourish me.
Over to You
Having entered the world created by the deck of your choice lay out all the Court Cards. Meditate upon these and decide which court you are compelled to visit. Consider which of your archetypes will prove handy as you face the court.
Fabric some yarn or rather tall, decidedly bizarre story about what you are doing there.
The King and Queen of Hearts were seated on their throne when they arrived, with a great crowd assembled about them—all sorts of little birds and beasts, as well as the whole pack of cards; the knave was standing before them, in chains, with a soldier on each side to guard him; and near the king was the white rabbit, with a trumpet in one hand and a scroll of parchment in the other. Alice in Wonderland
As the Moon rose, casting its light on the world of the Weasels Pond there was a sudden noise behind us. A small infantry, comprising of all sorts of wildlife, surrounded me, demanding to see my passport. When I couldn’t produce one I was unceremoniously marched off to the Royal Palace and chained up in a dank cell. I remembered Gulliver, who was imprisoned by the Lilliputians when he first reached the island because they were frightened by his massive size. I hoped things here could be quickly resolved. However, the Weasel, who was supposed to help me squeeze out of sticky situations, had been charged with being an accomplice, was no where to be seen.
Bereft I sobbed and wailed at the indignity of it all, at my stupidity. What fool encouraged me to clamber into this alien world? I could be tucked up in the safety of my home, but no, I had decided to join what was promoted as an adventure. Shivering and shaking in a dank prison is certainly not my idea of an adventure!
The Hanged Beast from the Northern Animal Tarot
Suddenly the silence was broken by a gruff voice who literally yelled out demanding that I get a grip and shut the horrible wailing noise.
Startled I looked around to identify who was reprimanding me so harshly. As my eyes adjusted to the darkness I spied a beast hanging upside down in a corner.
Now some folk would stain their underwear when finding themselves confined with a Hanged Beast, but not me! I was relieved to find I have a companion, even if that companion was decidedly gruff.
I thought of the Guided Tarot imagery that I sometimes listen to and I decided that I could interview this creature and glean some advice. A Hanged Beast was sure to have some timely suggestions for me about what kind of energy, what kind of action is needed to extricate myself from this prickly situation.
As the Hanged Beast took in my overtures he barely moved. He seemed completely at ease hanging upside down.
“Why don’t you use that new deck, the Archeo, to determine what kind of energy you actually have that you need to manifest” he dryly suggested.
I was confused! This deck was back at home in my work space there.
The Hanged Beast smiled a knowing smile. “This is a magical place. We can beam it up for you” And with that I found the Archeo sitting next to me.
I drew a card! It was none other than the Sage who reminded me to pause and quietly meditate upon my situation.
Over to You
Christopher Vogler has written in depth about the stages of the Hero’s Journey, which is what we have probably embarked on. Every traveler is invariably confronted with a number of challenges. Tarot decks take us on these archetypal journeys and have become invaluable tools for writers and artists alike. Then, of course there are some outstanding Archetype decks like Archeo by Nick Bantock and Archetype Cards by Carolyn Myss.
Choose a deck from your collection. Enter it and wander for awhile.
What challenge are you faced with?
Which Major or Archetype helps you shift your perspective and move forward?
Having a tour guide by your side during your trip can enhance your experience when traveling. A good guide will be able to explain the local culture and traditions and give you other local insights about the places you visit.
A good guide will know the best hours to visit the attractions to avoid big crowds, how to avoid rush hour, and tricks to let you experience the most out of major tourist destinations even with big crowds
They can also bring you to off-the-beaten-path spots you wouldn’t have known otherwise and offer personal suggestions on how to get the most out of your trip.
Weasel on the Watch Tower
Having been as spontaneous as the children who climbed the Magic Faraway Tree, as Yule draws closer, I find myself in a new land. It is a world full of magic where shunks ride mooses on sunny days, crows carry swords and raccoons become magicians! It is the Northern Animal Tarot which hails from Canada and the Wild Heart Studio.
This Northern Hemisphere environment is alien to me. I come from the Southern Hemisphere and I am more accustomed to gum trees, browned landscapes and sweeping plains. Moreover, the wildlife that shares this land are very different to the ones featured in this Northern deck.
As the sun goes down and the sky fills with stars in a constellation I am unfamiliar with I come upon a Weasel relaxing by the edge of a small pond. One of his jugs is spilling water back into the pond.
According to Ted Andrews, author of Animal Speak, when a Weasel shows up it is time to examine your life and to develop your observation skills. As a big picture person I cannot deny that I often miss the detail
Andrews poses some questions that I consider as I watch this industrious creature and he suggests that Weasel may be just the adviser one needs at a time like this. Weasel may be able to help me squeeze into small places in this world or through a narrow exit if a hungry bear shows up.
Despite seeing me the Weasel goes on pouring water. I pull out the spreads that come with this deck and ask if we can get to know one another better by doing these spreads together.
Who Shows Up to Guide You?
Alice followed the White Rabbit. The White Rabbit is the spark of curiosity that activates Alice’s spiritual awakening.It is the White Rabbit which Alice runs after and searches for endlessly in Wonderland, a symbol of her quest for knowledge. Just when things seem rather desperate the rabbit appears yet again, and Alice drives on through. Because Alice follows him, he gets things moving whenever he appears during the story. In a way, he was unintentionally some kind of a guide through Wonderland.
There are a range of guided imagery videos online to help you identify your guide or someone to follow. I have always enjoyed working with imagery to be found in books by Ted Andrews such as Animal Speak and Follow the Shamans Call by Mike Williams.
To identify your guide as you travel in a new and unfamiliar world you might turn to a Goddess deck or one of your treasured Animal Decks. Centre and take your time shuffling your deck!
But hey! If you are here and work with cards you know what to do.
Once you have identified your guide spend some time getting acquainted and seeking counsel.
A Message from the Creator of the Northern Animal Tarot
Hello Dear Lovely Soul,
Although we might never meet face to face, I welcome you to meet me. And hope we can share a friendship through my art work.
I’ve been in love with visual storytelling and fairytale for as long as I can remember! Fairytales awoke my imagination and love for learning about how we share our journeys in life and how we connect to each other and the worlds around us. Tarot cards are full of the magic of storytelling. And it can be used for self refection or storytelling as well. Creating a colourful image rich narrative around situations we might need help navigating.
I also love animals and I believe they can take us deeper into story because we can see to map of the story. Rather than being distracted by the humans that might not match yourself you are able to focus on tarot when using animals in the cards.
I’m Mexican/Dutch so I had a mix of many stories growing up. In my case I didn’t have TV so I turned to books. And when I found tarot and all the amazing art work I was hooked! Ive been painting and print making for over 20 years.
Handcrafted items, locally made is my passion. Working locally and ethically is close and dear to my heart. So I’m excited to bring you heavy line art, print making style with the softness of old fairytales.
I’m excited to bring you creative animal styled art to add to your life. Thank you so much for supporting this art project here for storytellers and self healers.
“Unhurt, Alice gets up and catches sight of the White Rabbit as he vanishes around a corner. Alice approaches a long corridor lined by doors. The doors are all locked, so Alice tests them with a key that she finds on a glass table. After searching around, Alice discovers a small door behind a curtain”.
Within moments of deciding to join this Yule Expedition, seeking the creative grail or elixir of creativity, you pass through a special portal and enter an imaginary world.
As you step into this new world you are greeted by a figure who gives you a special bag filled with talismans for your journey. In your bag you will find a packet of dream seeds, spectacles, a candlestick, a tiny anchor, a medallion with the imprint of the Unicorn and a set of wings. Each bag contains something that has been chosen specifically for each recipient.
Do not misplace this bag or let anyone take it from you. Keep it with you at all times.
Establishing Your Personal Setting
Most of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe takes place in the fantastic land of Narnia, which Lucy and her siblings reach through—you got it—a magical wardrobe.
Narnia is everything we’ve come to expect from a fantasy novel. It’s a vaguely medieval place in which people live close to the land, fight using bows and arrows and swords, and are ruled by kings and queens who live in palaces. Mythical creatures populate it – not only the stock characters of today’s fantasy world like centaurs and dwarves, but more Greco-Roman-feeling characters too, like minotaurs and dryads.
A master class writing website explains that as a writer, you might be tempted to dive right into your plot and start giving detailed character description of the figure who gave you the bag of talismans. Such a character and this story “needs a space in which to exist—that space is the setting. Taking the time to properly describe your setting will give your book more vibrancy and keep your readers engaged”.
So many of the tarot and oracle decks that we love provide us with rich setting. I look at the pile I have bought with me and I know that I can apply path working, meditation or guided imagery techniques with either the exquisite Arboridium Oracle or Tarot of the Sweet Twilight. I know that these decks will ignite my imagination and help me describe the world I have entered.
Arboridium OracleTarot of the Sweet Twilight
Choose a pictorial deck to spend some quality time with. You literally wander inside the image and drink in as much detail as possible.
Using scrap paper get down as many ideas about the environment you find you in as possible. Keep it simple, don’t set unrealistic expectations, include sketches and experiment with using all your senses.
Make this world come alive through writing or your favorite artistic medium. Share with us what you see, hear, smell, sense, taste, feel or simply make a card depicting the world you are entering.
You have permission to do whatever you like.
What Others See
When I stepped through the portal I found myself in a Gypsy encampment (Gypsy Palace Tarot) and was greeted by some very colorful characters.
I stopped to listen to a poets reading.
Like you, I can remember other days, The early morning air so fresh and clean, Caravans as bright as popinjays, Moving through a world forever green. They called us vagrants in those days, my friend, And what were we but entertainers, Travellers on a road that has no end.
Like you, from crossroad dance to county fair, I followed the road wherever it might lead, From country byways to the city square, From lake to shore, and always we were free. They called us vagabonds and rogues, my friend, And what were we but entertainers, Drifting in an ocean without end.
That’s why we thought we knew each other well, Even though we’ve never met before; What you and I know only we can tell, Of days of freedom lost in gypsy lore. The world may change, but we do not, my friend, For what are we but entertainers, Voices in a song that has no end.
In the distance you hear the sound of their laughter, Of tales told and of drink and of dance, It lures, entices and enchants you In to the heart of the gypsy’s night camp.
Far away from the crowd are hung blankets a small fire burns bright on its own Shadows of a woman are seen clear in the night As she holds herself and she dances alone
She steps toward the light of the fire, To reveal such a haunting, pained face How sad is this woman called Sadie Dancing alone in her black satin and lace
In her tent she reads cards for the strangers As the candles burn dim on the shelf Black Sadie sees into their futures, She helps others but can’t save herself
The pain buried so deeply inside her Makes her live in a world all her own Where she feeds it and nurtures it lovingly, She can heal it, but won’t leave it alone
She falls to the ground crying into the night For the girl who once danced not alone, For what she once was, before pain touched her heart For the man, and the life she had known
Her silenced soul screams at the tools of her trade Telling fortunes, for her, hold no place The crystals and tarot are just symbols of fate, Not the real, not the pain she must face
She backs once again into the shadows Where no one can reach her dark place She hides in the folds of her dresses And tears soak her black satin and lace.
Any Creative Medicine back pack will inevitably have some decks stashed in the pockets. There is a hastag currently going around the internet since Katey Flowers presented her #onlytendecks YouTube Video which you will find on this page. Spend some time with your collection and determine which ten decks, comprising of Oracle, Tarot and Lenormand that you will take. These may not be the ten I finally decide to take but it gives you a feel of how I am thinking.
Guardian Tarot
The White Numen Tarot
Carolyn Myss Archetypes
The Wandering Moon Soul Oracle
The Arboridium
Dark Goddess Tarot
Sakki Sakki Tarot
The Northern Animal Tarot
Tarot of the Sweet Twilight
Morgans Tarot
@crowsister selectionGeorgie McClure DecksRosie Red Back Spider Choices
Consider watching a few video responses to Katey’s video and show off the decks you will you.
The Tarot Midwife 