A Work in Progress: The Equilibrium Oracle

This past fall I had the great privilege and joy to participate in the Devotion program, offered by Jamie Ridler. We were asked to choose a project to work on for the season, and I decided to explore an oracle deck idea that I’ve been sitting on for a loooooong time. I ended up bringing four of the cards to life, and realizing that I didn’t want to pursue this exact style for the whole thing! While I figure out where to take this project, here is the “rough draft” for your viewing pleasure. If you want to support this project, a kind email and words of encouragement are welcomed.

I also wanted to share an excerpt from the presentation I gave to the group so that you can get a better idea of what these cards/symbols mean to me and why I’m excited to (eventually) get back to this deck.

“One of the most valuable things I received from Devotion was the evolution of my relationship with what I create. I look at this work and more clearly than ever, can see “The Work” that went into these pieces. Bringing all that I am to all that I do has allowed me to see that The Sun card is tied to my childhood, summers spent lying under the sun and feeling the warmth as both deeply comforting, but also alarming. The Moon too is a reminder of a childhood memory. Unable to sleep, I wandered outside one night and gazed up at the Full Moon, and stood transfixed for an unknown amount of time. I’m still not sure whether that was a dream. But ever since, I’ve been in a love affair with the moon, and have felt that it exists as large in my consciousness as it does in this painting.

In the Wings card, I am again brought to my childhood, and dozens of memories that feature these creatures. In Web, I see how my changing relationship to Spiders (at one point I was terribly arachnophobic) and the way that webs have long entranced me, combine to create this card and its meanings.

It would’ve been an incredible feat, but still very nice, if I could’ve completed this deck during the course of the program and drawn a card for the group now. Since that’s not possible, I thought it appropriate to at least read an excerpt from the Wings card, because, as creators, it’s my belief that we’re always saying something…with our hands, with our lenses, with our paints and our songs.

Wings: Sending Messages. Independence. Fragility

A dragonfly soars through a column of golden forest light. It passes Canterbury Bells, the flickering wings causing them to bob and nod. Dragonflies, who move quickly and gracefully, are often considered messengers of Spirit. They can be found in magical places - at the edges of shimmering ponds, or drifting over wildflower meadows.

Drawing the Wings card may mean that you have a message to share. How do your wings feel? Strong? Have you tried them out yet? Messengers walk (or fly) a terribly fine line, as how their message is received is only partially under their control. They can measure their words, they can try to anticipate confusion, or anger. They can choose the clearest medium for expressing their message. And still, at the end of the day, how well a message is received is still part of the recipient's responsibility. A closed heart or mind or an intention to misunderstand can take your beautiful message and seemingly render it useless. But you can only take responsibility for so much, and you can't control exactly how your message will be received. And because a message is created in part by how it’s delivered, and also by how it’s received, there is space in between for magic to happen.”

By the way - these originals are available for purchase. Send me a note if you’re interested!

These pieces have found a happy home!