View Full Version : The Druid Animal Oracle and the Otherworld
Could someone who's familiar with this oracle tell me if it over-emphasizes the Otherworld/Underworld?
I just got it (finally! After falling in love with it eleven years ago!), and did a new deck reading which suggested that this oracle would help me figure out my health/mental state/spiritual state.
So I did a health reading, based on suggestions I found here. And then a followup. There are a few themes that I'm finding resonating through these readings.
1) The Otherworld/Underworld
2) Keepers of mysteries/guardians of knowledge
3) Journeys
4) The Goddess/abundance/connection to the world.
Are these overly predominant themes of the deck, or is it significant that they keep coming up? Assuming it's significant, I apparently need to take an (inner) journey and figure out some deep-rooted problems, and, well, I hesitate to do such a thing while under mistaken assumptions.
So! I'd really appreciate advice or information!
circlewalker
23-11-2007, 00:18
Hi
Sorry there hasn't been a lot of response to your post :grin: The DAO seems to get somewhat sporadic support, not that it is unloved, but doesn't get the same attention as some other decks.
I got mine on a hunch that it would prove important at some time and then immediately got hooked on the Animals Divine deck as well!
Whilst all decks invite introspection and personal journeying in some way or another, there does seem to be a particular emphasis on this aspect in what you've said. I've got to be careful as this is not a reading forum and you haven't said much about the cards in question. I do not think there is a particularly noticeable emphasis on the aspects you've mentioned in the DAO in general, they are simply doing what you asked.
in light
cw
faunabay
23-11-2007, 03:31
I think it's talking to you about what YOU need to listen to. I've had it for quite a few years and not noticed it focusing on what it does with you. My information tends to be more down to earth when I use it. I do see some journey information and connections to the earth, but not too much otherworld things. Maybe that's why you felt drawn to it - it would beable to tell you what you needed to know about spiritual/otherworldly things. ??? I say just go with it. Pay attention to what it's telling you! :)
I've had similar experiences with this deck....but not in a pervasive way. I think it's more that this deck is very capable of touching on and revealing these inner journey issues when and where they exist. You won't find that in every card, so if it's coming up for you....pay attention.
Open Arms
24-11-2007, 21:20
I don't use the book with these cards but read them intuitively - I only look at the book if I seem to be getting mixed messages.... not often but it does happen.
If you are getting these sorts of messages - pay attention!!!
Going by what you just posted is it connecting with your spirit guides that you need to do? A spiritual journey resulting from it??
Hard to say without knowing which cards you are pulling and where you are getting those particular references from....
This is really helpful, even without specifics!
I didn't want to post specific cards here, since it's not a readings forum, but I wasn't quite sure where to post, being brand new to the forum.
Anyway! The cards include Horse (twice in 3 readings), Fire Dragon reversed (twice in 3 readings), Earth Dragon reversed, Cat, and Owl. And Frog. I'm happy to give more detail, but that's one thing that jumped out at me.
It was weird, because I didn't think I was going to use the deck for reals immediately, more just get to know it, but it went "Hey, listen" right from the start. But then I wondered if I was just seeing Too Much Portent in the deck because it's so shiny and new to me. Thus the question.
(I should add -- I can't actually post in the oracle readings forum because I'm too shiny new, and I don't want to post nonsensically just to get my count up to 25, or whatever I need.)
I mostly read intuitively, based on the images -- I almost always ignore books on reversed meanings and figure them out myself, especially -- but I do like to see what the book says, and read the stories they're drawing on and such.
I have no intuition about the dragons just now, so I'm using the books heavily there. No doubt that will develop, in time.
It's just occurred to me that I've seen or heard an owl here several times, lately. I didn't think it was relevant to me, because I have a friend whose long-term spirit guide is Owl, and he's normally been around when it showed up.
But not always.
So perhaps there's relevance there.
wytchwood
29-11-2007, 18:34
The decks does have an element of the Otherworld, it is, after all, a 'Druidic' deck, and Druidry has Shamanic elements. I don't personally find it overly concerned with the Otherworld, there is plenty in the card descriptions to draw from on all levels which could apply to many aspects of life. I do think, though, that with oracles of fewer cards such as Runes, trees, animals etc., it is a bit like reading with a Majors only deck in that all the cards represent archetypes, or abstract concepts on a 'large' scale, and without the more mundane elements of the numbered cards it is difficult to put the reading in a context. Perhaps they may be of best use alongside other readings or for specific type readings.
Zoe xx
I have been working with this deck as my main reading Oracle for about 4 years and love it. The DAO is very good at getting to the point and reading from the get go if one gives it a chance or try. IF you do not know a lot about the culture and spiritual symbolism and such about the Druids and Celts???... Using the Book that DAO comes with is needed, however reading your spreads intuitively first then seeing what else can be add from the Book is a good way to work with this Oracle until you have a real feel for how to work with it. While I was connecting to this deck I read mostly intuitively, for there seem allot to take in so I took my time with the study of it, I still learn new levels all the time. what I mean to say is that I mostly read intuitively, but i also make a point of doing readings with my senses and the book a few times a week to learn.
I have used this oracle for my self and for public readings with great results and returning seekers. Good luck I am sure the oracle is giving the direction/ info you need.
Thank you all so much :)
Guess I know what to focus on, then. I was just second-guessing myself. Which is all the more reason why I need to find the serenity/confidence that lies on the other side, again.