Well thanks for your comments.
This is projects that I've wanted to do for a long time and some of the content, such as incorporating a puzzle was something I had originally intended for the ToD but could'nt get to work within the tarot format.
That was part of the decision to not do any more Tarot decks. But the extra flexibility of an Oracle seems to be a perfect platform.
Its still very much in the early stages in terms of finished cards, although many have been drafted out, as has the overall theme that connects them and how the cards might be used in sets etc etc.
While I have a lot more freedom in creating the imagery, it won't be unbridled artistic licence. I have discussed and explained the concept confidentially with a group of local readers, and they seemed very positive about the reading possibilities.
Having said all that I really have no idea about when it might be finished, or how it might be published. As I undersatnd it, the Oracle market is even smaller than the Tarot one ???? Furthermore the images I'm producing are a lets say... a little out there. Its definitely not a fuzzy collection of angels thats for sure. So I'm not sure if it will have enough market potential to appeal to a major publisher.
There are some images already posted in the "I wonder what" thread of the deck creation forum. Attached here is another (just a work in progress though. Not the final version).
As for the puzzle and prize. All I can say it will be very challenging, in fact I doubt that any one person alone would be able to solve it. I envisage people working together to solve it. The cards will incorporate clues, but in a subtle way. So if someone doesn't wish to participate in the puzzle, then the deck will function perfectly well in its primarily purpose of divination and meditation.