I'm one of those people who think that Doreen Virtue decks are oracle versions of candy floss
- but I have too much respect for you not to engage honestly with what you say.
faunabay said:
I love reading her books and using her oracles just for that reason. They put me in a positive mood - a positive outlook on my day/week/life/etc. Is that wrong? I don't think so - at least for me it's not at all! It's very helpful.
It's not "wrong". How could it be? We all need ways of giving ourselves a lift and fostering a positive mood. I use the poetry of Robert Frost, the operas of Mozart, books like Lord of the Rings (books and film) or His Dark Materials, decks like the Fey, a bunch of mimosa in winter, a lit candle glowing in the dark...I also use two oracle decks, the Angel Blessings and the Goddess Oracle (more below).
If you get that effect from Doreen Virtue decks, then it's good.
faunabay said:
I know alot of you want reality in your readings. Well actually I do too when I'm doing a straight reading to find out which physical direction I should be taking. But I use Doreen's decks to find out what I should be mentally concentrating on to make my life easier and flow better. When I'm focusing on something positive throughout my day it helps me feel positive - which in turn makes my life happier.
Yes, that makes perfect sense. What I don't like about them is their fluffy look. Some of the cards I've seen are just too gooey for me. I am sure there is a certain amount of snobbery in my reaction. But also, I compare them with equally uplifting decks, which I think are just better. Take the example of Healing with Angels. To me, Angel Blessings, Kimberley Marooney's Angel deck, is infinitely better. I use it in the way you describe - "what I should be mentally concentrating on to make my life easier and flow better". It has pictures of angels from European art from the Middle Ages to the 1910s; the book is well-written and does not pass over the dark side of life, but rather, presents the angels as healers of that dark side, as well as the revealers of the light. It is also inscribed in the old angeology tradition of the three book religions (without being a deck that is linked to any one religion - more a spiritual minestrone of angels), and so I feel it has more archetypal richness to it. The Goddess Oracle I find also very good for that reason (though I don't like it as much as the Angel Blessings).
faunabay said:
I totally believe that what you think about - concentrate on - is what you draw to you. So I don't want to use a deck where I could draw a "negative" card as my daily card. One day when I was still using my tarot decks to do daily readings (3 card spread) I got three 5's!! I immediately though "uh oh! wow! this is going to be some day!" Of course it was. Now with all those five's it was definitely a day of change and conflict!
But what's to say I didn't in some way bring about some of that myself because I "knew" I was going to have a day like that?
Yes, I agree. A good positive card at the start of the day will not only help you get through that day, but will actually make you more effective, kinder, more able to do your little bit to take away the miseries of the world. It comes down to how the message is presented, and if it does take into account the shadow with the light. Having said that, the tarot still gives me some area where I might encounter a challenge, and I believe that forewarned in forearmed
- I just make sure I have a positive card to meet it!
I would worry for people who only used Doreen Virtue decks
But I don't think that's your case. And during a hard time, or moments of blues, we all need our own version of candy floss.
However, with all that, I really truly don't think a fluffy or "all-positive" deck is an answer to sadness, misery, abused children, beaten women, tortured men, etc etc. If we're not careful, it can be way to hide our eyes from what we should be looking at - and doing something about (each in our own sphere and way). But a positive deck can give us the necessary courage we need to then look at what is ugly and not positive in the world.
There are also moments when we don't need light, we need a good shake
- Who do you turn to when you need a slap on the wrist? Or a good talking-to? If you are putting your head in the sand over something? - all those messages Kahlie talks about in her post. Personally, I know I need them from time to time, or the positive will just sound hollow.