View Full Version : Playing Card Oracles; any advice for first timer?
Im very new to Oracles. Never really bothered with them before, but sense I could get into them. I have the Playing Card Oracles (by Ana Cortez and CJ Freeman) by US Games which I have just got and - what a gamble! - I bought it knowing nothing (not even checking out images here) and when I opened it up, I loved it! Intuition again!
Id love to hear from anyone who uses it, who likes it and how to bring the best out of it. Do you use the spreads in LWB or pluck cards out to supplement other readings?
It has an interesting atmosphere this deck. It attracts me; the strangeness draws me in...
I also bought the Paracelsus Oracle (lo Scarabeo)and canīt find anything about that here on AT. Any links either to the net or to previous threads would be greatly appreciated.
HearthCricket
13-03-2008, 07:01
Funky deck, isn't it? I love it! I have used it on its own and actually with the Bohemian Gothic, as well. There is also a larger book to go with it. I love the quirkiness to it and its dark humour. Actually, it goes nicely with the Fanastical Tarot, as well. Or sometimes I just pull out 2 or 3 cards from it and read from that.
As for the Paracelsus, I haven't got that one, but I do have the Nostradamus, which I love to pieces! Give that one a try! :)
6 Haunted Days
13-03-2008, 12:52
Im very new to Oracles. Never really bothered with them before, but sense I could get into them. I have the Playing Card Oracles (by Ana Cortez and CJ Freeman) by US Games which I have just got and - what a gamble! - I bought it knowing nothing (not even checking out images here) and when I opened it up, I loved it! Intuition again!
Id love to hear from anyone who uses it, who likes it and how to bring the best out of it. Do you use the spreads in LWB or pluck cards out to supplement other readings?
It has an interesting atmosphere this deck. It attracts me; the strangeness draws me in...
I also bought the Paracelsus Oracle (lo Scarabeo)and canīt find anything about that here on AT. Any links either to the net or to previous threads would be greatly appreciated.
I've used this deck and system over a year, it's a wonderfully mystical way to read PC's.
There are a few threads on AT here, do a search. You'll get most of your questions answered! Also Ana has her own forum for this deck, book, system. You can take a course on learning her system from her.....pricey though.
Thanks for that. I already found one thread whilst meandering through old ones... I see it was quite a craze here on AT at the the end of 2005!
It seems to me such a vivid deck. How essential do you think the book is 6HD? Im tempted to skip the book on this one and just train the intuition...
You know it reminds me of the illustrations for Susannah Clarkīs book Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. You must know this book about 19th Century English Magick, being ( I see from your profile) into high Victoriana. The same wispiness and oddness. Im sure they were inspired by this book. Positively certain. Thatīs partly why I like them...
You should definitly not skip the book, very useful spreads in there for actually using the deck in a very directed manner.
This deck gives me amazingly accurate readings and is (besides the Lenormand) the best deck for questions of timing.
P.S. Sorry if I sound bossy...:)
Amazon kept recommending these for me, and I finally bought the deck (it isn't here yet) but I know I need the book to make them work. Prolly could use the book and any ordinary playing card deck, correct? so the book is the heart of it. I requested a long time ago for this oracle to be included on AT's list of decks, but since 6HD has used them for over a year, would it be possible for her (hint, hint) to do a review? now that the deck is finally listed with some pics, there isn't much of a review. Amazon's reviews are by people whom I don't necessarily know how much they know...and the one dissenting voice is because they're "ugly"... whew, that's 'deep'.... so, I'm anxious to read this thread and learn what I can
Well, if I make any headway with them, Id be happy to write a review, but Im a long way off that point right now seeing as Im only just getting acquainted with them. But, presumably, to write a review, one has to have considerable familiarity, practice and to have researched the product well; i.e to have read any accompanying book :) But Im not going to order anything off amazon right now. But definitely later. Im doing the IDS with Vieville and this involves not getting drawn into to other conflicting systems! But thatīs until the end of this month for me. Plus I see amazon say it takes three weeks to arrive anyway..
Weīll see.....
6 Haunted Days
14-03-2008, 11:41
Thanks for that. I already found one thread whilst meandering through old ones... I see it was quite a craze here on AT at the the end of 2005!
It seems to me such a vivid deck. How essential do you think the book is 6HD? Im tempted to skip the book on this one and just train the intuition...
You know it reminds me of the illustrations for Susannah Clarkīs book Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. You must know this book about 19th Century English Magick, being ( I see from your profile) into high Victoriana. The same wispiness and oddness. Im sure they were inspired by this book. Positively certain. Thatīs partly why I like them...
IMO the book is very essential, that is if you want to read PC's with her system. It's an awesome book....the stories, insights and magic is fantastic! But of course if you want to read her deck with another system, nothing stopping you! And just using intuition if that's your thing....have at it! But seriously, you can't go wrong with the book....it's incredible.
And yes, JS&MN is in my opinion the best novel in 50 years!! I adore, worship and am in awe of that book! I've read it at least 6x so far, and also collect all the many different editions :) I'm excited yet apprehensive about the movie being done of the book.....hella lot to live up to! As far as the cards being inspired by the book....I don't think so, as in Ana's book she tells the story behind those gorgeous images and they're her father's illustrations he's been working on for like 30 years. Another reason to get the book...awesome back stories to her system and the cards ;)
Amazon kept recommending these for me, and I finally bought the deck (it isn't here yet) but I know I need the book to make them work. Prolly could use the book and any ordinary playing card deck, correct? so the book is the heart of it. I requested a long time ago for this oracle to be included on AT's list of decks, but since 6HD has used them for over a year, would it be possible for her (hint, hint) to do a review? now that the deck is finally listed with some pics, there isn't much of a review. Amazon's reviews are by people whom I don't necessarily know how much they know...and the one dissenting voice is because they're "ugly"... whew, that's 'deep'.... so, I'm anxious to read this thread and learn what I can
I have written a review for the deck/book on Amazon! Witch in the Hollow Hill is me :D
AH HA! thanks 6HD, now I know which review to actually give weight to-- yay! As I said, all reveiws are very high 5/5 except one (why is it there's ALWAYS one person who's gotta give that 1 star review?) so COOL! Maybe Solandia will publish your review here?! ? (hint-hint, Solandia!)
Uh, 6HD, to quote your review on Amazon:
"Some decks and ideas just jump out at you and demand you have them. This is one of them (rare for me!). "
But, to check out the list of decks in your collection, I counted 150 just Tarot, not even including Oracles..... so how would you compare the playing card oracle to the rest of the decks you own? Would you say it's on the short list, do you use it .... frequently, or sometimes or never... was it one of the pretty new decks that went right back in the box after 2 days...? Honestly, seriously, how does it stack up?
6 Haunted Days
14-03-2008, 15:11
AH HA! thanks 6HD, now I know which review to actually give weight to-- yay! As I said, all reveiws are very high 5/5 except one (why is it there's ALWAYS one person who's gotta give that 1 star review?) so COOL! Maybe Solandia will publish your review here?! ? (hint-hint, Solandia!)
Uh, 6HD, to quote your review on Amazon:
"Some decks and ideas just jump out at you and demand you have them. This is one of them (rare for me!). "
But, to check out the list of decks in your collection, I counted 150 just Tarot, not even including Oracles..... so how would you compare the playing card oracle to the rest of the decks you own? Would you say it's on the short list, do you use it .... frequently, or sometimes or never... was it one of the pretty new decks that went right back in the box after 2 days...? Honestly, seriously, how does it stack up?
Nope I've used it heavily since I got it a year ago, it's the main deck I use after any Tarot decks. As far as my collection, the vast majority of those didn't 'demand" to be bought.....a must have if you will. Those are/were the rare ones. I've been reading and collecting 21 years....so many times decks I just want, cuz I love collecting! But it's not a burning need.
Playing Card Oracles was one of those immense love at first sight, a deck and book that deepened and opened up the world of dinvination for me. It's a rare and unique thing, imo anyways.
I got the cards awhile ago...but it took a little while to get the book. I am looking forward to building a relationship with this deck. The book looks like it is filled with a lot of very useful information that is presented in a very understandable way.
Thanks for the tips. I just knew 6HD that Strange and Norrell would be right up your street. And ( as I see from another thread; Ann Radcliffe! ) I comment on these coz I also love them. I do get good vibes from the Playing Card Oracles. I just know Im going to bond well with this deck.
I was saying to Le Pendu earlier, itīs a way of loosening up, away from tarot, a system Im not familiar with, a new system and Im just really loving being "unfettered" by excessive meaning. Of not dwelling on textual meaning, what the LWB or "instructions" say. Im training intuition. These cards just speak voloumes, and I donīt have all those layers of symbolism and learned stuff which I have with tarot which Ive been accumulating over the last 25 years. I find this deck hugely liberating. Of course I love tarot and its still central, but I never knew how liberating it is to float free with other systems and have no background to anchor us. Just put out feelers, and FEEL..
(but at some point I will get the book. For the moment, Im having a great time)
Iīll check out your review
6 Haunted Days
14-03-2008, 23:45
Thanks for the tips. I just knew 6HD that Strange and Norrell would be right up your street. And ( as I see from another thread; Ann Radcliffe! ) I comment on these coz I also love them. I do get good vibes from the Playing Card Oracles. I just know Im going to bond well with this deck.
I was saying to Le Pendu earlier, itīs a way of loosening up, away from tarot, a system Im not familiar with, a new system and Im just really loving being "unfettered" by excessive meaning. Of not dwelling on textual meaning, what the LWB or "instructions" say. Im training intuition. These cards just speak voloumes, and I donīt have all those layers of symbolism and learned stuff which I have with tarot which Ive been accumulating over the last 25 years. I find this deck hugely liberating. Of course I love tarot and its still central, but I never knew how liberating it is to float free with other systems and have no background to anchor us. Just put out feelers, and FEEL..
(but at some point I will get the book. For the moment, Im having a great time)
Iīll check out your review
Yes, it is very liberating and freeing isn't it? It's wonderful to break free from Tarot, no matter how much we love it, once in awhile and get a deck that speaks to us and has no heavy duty baggage! The cards in this deck themselves have such intense evocative images, I love the 5, 9 and of Spades....oh the ace too. And ....shoot just realized I adore about every image in this deck! Too many to list.
And with your ID name, I knew you had to be a rabid fan of that genre like me. BTW Le Fanu is a huuuuuge favourite of mine, he's an obsession of mine! Did you know that on Places upcoming Vampire Tarot Le Fanu is the Knight of Holy Waters?! What great taste you have. })
Of course Le Fanu is - after MR James - probably my favourite Victorian ghost writer. But best of all are the TRUE Victorian ghost stories! And of course the name Le Fanu just sounds - to me anyway - so odd and spooky! Quite apart from what he wrote about; that monkey in Green Tea; SO disturbing! Fascinating to discover Le Fanu is making an appearance in a tarot deck!
I adore this deck. I love the 2 and 3 of clubs, and also 8 of hearts. So many other wonderful ones. Such an atmospheric deck. Great size, great feel. I love the wind cards; they give a kind of "current" to a reading. Atmospheres entering our lives. As if we are being indeed "blown" by different energies
Just feeling so free of baggage!
I think the Playing Card Oracles would make a wonderful ODW study...I don't think you would ever get bored with it.
I'm toying with the idea myself for a summer ODW study.
Diorbhail
15-03-2008, 20:07
[QUOTE=6 Haunted Days]Yes, it is very liberating and freeing isn't it? It's wonderful to break free from Tarot, no matter how much we love it, once in awhile and get a deck that speaks to us and has no heavy duty baggage!
That's exactly how I feel! I absolutely love Tarot and always will, but off and on I have felt the urge to try reading with playing cards and actually started to have a go using the Hedgewitchery system mentioned on another thread. I quite liked that but like many things in my life, fell by the wayside. However I thought I'd give it a go again and today these wonderful cards arrived! I have a modest tarot collection which I enjoy inmmensely but a few of those decks actually provoke a physical reation - a thrill running through me when I first looked at them. Do you know what I mean? And this is how it was this morning when I looked at these cards. I'm very excited to study them in depth! I bought the kit so I have the book also. House is a mess :( - daughter had friends over so was tripping over various bodies this morning :bugeyed: -so I really MUST clear up today but this evening I shall begin! :)
Glad youve got this deck. It really is quite extraordinary. Free of all baggage, &c. Im sure youll enjoy it. I feel that the starting point of each card is just ripe for intuitive reading. The LWB gives JUST enough to be a springboard. And then youīre off! My only complaint - but I.ll get used to it is that the court cards are - as ever - a little less forthcoming than the rest of the deck. Just like tarot really. I think court cards are always doomed to be more difficult, but the pips here say so much anyway, so I know that soon, with pracice, Iīll get the hang of them.
Ive also seen the hedgewitchery thread, but Iīll come clean here; I have no idea what hedgewitchery is. Tried to discover in vain.. The Hedgewitchery system? What on earth is it? A diet?;)
Diorbhail
15-03-2008, 23:04
I just meant the system of reading playing cards explained in this site
www.hedgewytchery.com
Diet - :shhh: who mentioned that word? You must be psychic! How did you kinow I was about to cave in and eat some chocolate with my cup of tea. :D:
ummm, ok... notice Amazon has a listing for two books that go with this set, any difference except publishing dates? is one better than the other, or are they the same...or...? one is 2005 and the other 2006 (I think) anyone know the reason for (apparently) two versions of the book?
ummm, ok... notice Amazon has a listing for two books that go with this set, any difference except publishing dates? is one better than the other, or are they the same...or...? one is 2005 and the other 2006 (I think) anyone know the reason for (apparently) two versions of the book?
The one that says 2006 is the deck by itself $8.50....and the one that says 2005 is the book by itself $19.95....and then there is the set for $22.76.
OOOOOOOhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, it's a set. They waited that long to put out a set. hmm. I read the descriptions *i though* carefully and didn't come up with "set" but that must be. By far cheaper to get set. OK. My deck just arrived today, but I still need a book
6 Haunted Days
22-03-2008, 10:47
OOOOOOOhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, it's a set. They waited that long to put out a set. hmm. I read the descriptions *i though* carefully and didn't come up with "set" but that must be. By far cheaper to get set. OK. My deck just arrived today, but I still need a book
Actually the creator of this System Ana and her father published their own cards and a book 1st.
The book at least the book I received I (I bought the USG book/deck set) is the book that Ana published herself, and then I assume USG bought up the stock and stuck a logo sticker on the back. That's the only mention of USG in the whole book lol.
And you can certainly tell right off it's not a USG book, it's so beautiful, unique and of a very high quality. They use this awesome red/black ink colour.
Far cheaper to get the set ...I bought the book first at a Mind Body Spirit Expo..read it, was very interested in the deck, so then I had to go looking for the deck...found it on Amzon....but if I would have know about the set from the beginning I sure would have gone that way.
Amazon's descriptives suck so bad, I finally figured out that one item is 13.6 oz and the other is over a pound shipping weight... that would account for ONE IS A BOOK and ONE IS A SET. Duh. Why would it be so hard for Amazon to simply STATE THAT????????????????????? grrrrrrrr..... And they recommend them both to you, like you should buy them both, duh, like a need 2 books and 1 deck. Oh Amazon, I both love you :heart: and hate you! :mad:
just looked through my oracle cards -- they came today -- Tendra-ewww! now that's graphic. They kinda remind me of the stuff we used to draw on our PeeChee's in grade school, remember? do they even make peechee any more? Very cool, I like their rough, raw -ness. They emote very clearly
I got it.
I don't think I like it :(
All that talk of Ann Radcliffe and Le Fanu pulled me in.
Hmmmmm. All that stuff on geomancy reminded me of Lenormand and also this deck http://www.harrymargary.com/product_details.asp?id=10 for some reason pics here http://www.wopc.co.uk/uk/margary/lenthall.html
Aerin
O no! :( Iīm sorry, Aerin... A shame you donīt like them..... Id hate to think Id been instrumental in someone spending money on a deck which they then hated...
One has to be very careful in this forum. One never knows who might be eavesdropping and the effects of our enthusiasm!
Those ones you posted are spectacular. If itīs any consolation; I think theyīre much better than the playing card oracles... Id love a set of those...
6 Haunted Days
01-04-2008, 19:17
It happens! If you love a deck you shouldn't be worried about posting about it or being enthusiastic! We all, in the end, decide for ourselves what we want to buy. Some decks just don't do it for us in person that's all.
I don't think I have to careful in posting about a deck I love, what someone buys is their responsibilty, I think she was just saying that the cards she saw and our talk about the authors made her think this deck was for her, but in person it didn't work.
Exactly 6HD!
Most of the time, it works: but sometimes.... it doesn't.
I don't mind, I got it at a reasonable price and I can always trade :).
Aerin
ps that deck is interesting isn't it? The company who publishes these few historical interest decks usually does maps.