A Curious Oracle
“Once upon a time there was a girl who just wasn’t that into oracle decks...”
While my first love and preferred form of divination is tarot, I pretty much just love cards, in all of their various formats, shapes, and sizes. Still...when it comes to oracle decks I often find myself disenchanted almost immediately upon opening the box, at which point the cards are shelved until I find someone who might appreciate them more than I do. Needless to say, this will not be the case with A Curious Oracle deck. I can honestly say without a doubt, that I am most definitely keeping this tiny little treasure for myself.
I initially had it in my head that I might occasionally use A Curious Oracle as a companion to my regular tarot readings, but so far, I have very much enjoyed using them all on their own. So wonderfully detailed and packed with strong spiritual symbolism, I find the cards can be used as a system or not. Each individual card is extraordinary unto itself.
As well as using them singularly, I have also used them in both my tarot and rune readings, whereupon I immediately received additional guidance and intuitive insight. I see where they could easily be combined with pretty much any form of cartomancy or divination casting system. They especially compliment Holly DeFount's other deck, The Incidental Tarot, of which I am also a big fan.
Measuring just 2.25 x 3.25 inches, A Curious Oracle 2nd edition has a wonderfully silky smooth matte finish. It comes in a simple and elegant kraft box, which includes a brief description of each card’s divinatory meaning.
As noted on her website, this original art oracle deck is self-published by a boutique printer in the U.S. in small, carefully crafted editions. And as mass-produced decks are slowly but surely losing their charm for me, I find this extremely appealing. The first limited artist’s edition of 60 decks sold out in August 2015 so I made a point not to miss out on the 2nd Edition.
The deck is comprised of 49 cards, which are divided into 7 sets of 7 steps. Okay, first of all, I happen to love the number seven! Second, I just really like the system that she has come up with here. As a divination tool, it manages to work really well. Again, this is coming from a die-hard tarot card reader who rarely strays from the tarot system. But I like the system she has created so well I have been using it on a regular basis for myself.
On her website, Holly offers several different layouts that you can use with her oracle deck. I have been using her State of the Soul layout, which utilizes the set structure of A Curious Oracle to give a full picture of what is going on energetically at the present moment. And of course, this particular 7 card spread works remarkably well with these cards.
I have no idea what medium she uses but Holly's brilliant use of color and texture is quite stunning. I'm not sure if she sells the artwork from this deck as individual prints but there are several I would like to have for my walls. At least half the deck!
Simple and expressive, with profound symbolic meaning, A Curious Oracle delivers deep spiritual messages directly to the soul of the reader.
You can purchase A Curious Oracle on Holly DeFount's Etsy Shop, Forge & Fountain. The last time I checked the second edition of 100 was still available...but probably not for long.
A Curious Oracle System
Sets of 7
SET 1: Body ~ This set encompasses the realm of physical incarnation. It speaks of matter, the body, the home, the environment, and the planet. Questions of physicality, maturity, healing, inhabiting, and dying are governed by Set 1.
SET 2: Motion ~ This set encompasses the concept of motion and transit. It speaks of physical movement, movement through time, the ebb and flow of direction, and mechanisms of change. Questions of patience versus anxiety, growth and change, travel, and expansion are governed by this set.
SET 3: Intuition ~ This set encompasses the realm of awareness, insight, mystery, and the invisible connections that bind us with the fabric of the universe. It speaks of following the inner voice and delving into the unknown; it governs questions of that which can be perceived but not measured.
SET 4: Heart ~ This set encompasses the realm of Love, creativity, and connection. It speaks of romantic and familial love, the primal urge to connect, create and nurture. Questions of desire, trust, fidelity, and belonging are governed by this set.
SET 5: Intellect ~ This set encompasses the realm of the mind; perception, learning and communication. It speaks of thought, memory, analysis, and engineering. Questions of narrative, history, academia, philosophy, and problem-solving are governed by this set.
SET 6: Blessings ~ This set encompasses instances of “gifts from the Universe.” Blessings may include fortuitous events, gifts, or waves of energy entering your sphere of existence. Often operating independently of questions asked, this set may shine an unexpected light in the darkness.
SET 7: Spirit ~ This set encompasses the realm of Spirit, or the unseen. It speaks of the soul, destiny, and Magic. Questions of the mystery, karma, life and death, and the nature of the Divine are governed by this set.
The 7 Steps
Step 1: Manifest ~ Represents the initial appearance of the quality encompassed by its Set. It corresponds to questions of birth, beginnings, or the emergence of a new energy or direction in the querent’s life.
Step 2: Relationship ~ Represents the energy of connection, duality, and relationship within the quality of its Set. It corresponds to questions of personal and environmental relationships, the flow of energy between opposites, and how the querent interacts with others.
Step 3: Growth ~ Represents the natural progression of the energetic quality inherent in its Set. It corresponds to questions of timing, movement on a projected path, and the expansion and evolution of the matter, both physical and conceptual.
Step 4: Structure ~ Represents a phase of stability, completion, and containment of the quality or energy encompassed by its Set. It corresponds to questions of order, planning, building, acquisition, and accomplishment.
Step 5: Lesson ~ Represents the quintessential challenge at hand, the energy or action at the root of the querent’s issue. It corresponds to questions of hesitation, fear, obstacles, problems, or failure.
Step 6: Healing ~ Represents that which will help to illuminate difficult situations, heal old wounds, or solve a problem at hand. It corresponds to questions of unseen challenges, repetitive obstacles or patterns, and rising to the next level of experience.
Step 7: Epiphany ~ Represents a stage of reflection, completion, or realization within the energetic quality of its Set. It corresponds to moments of true lucidity when faced with a problem or profound question, and indicates a sense of revelation and relief.
