Oracles of February

Here we are one month into 2024: February, the month of love and Winter weather. We’re all (somewhat) recovered from the holiday season and the multiple ice/snow storms. We are so happy to be back in the studio working on projects!

Feeling grateful for our community, our friends, our fans, our fellow artists. We made it through the past few years with hard work, quick pivots, true luck… and most of all, with your support! Thank you!

So obviously we’re feeling a little lovey-dovey and we decided to lean into the “month of love” theme. And we mean ALL the love (not just romantic partnerships). It seems like a great opportunity to make sure you let those in your circle know what they mean to you.

And if you’re like us (which given that you’re reading the Oracle blog, there’s a strong chance you are)… then the way to your heart is through science, nature, and magic!

So here are some gift ideas for the curious at heart:

  • Send a bit of fun in the form of a fortune scratch-off card.

  • Set the mood with Smells Like Spells incense. Beauty, intelligence, success, and vivacity.

  • Our bookish friends might enjoy Magic Flowers by Christine Blystone. Part plant folklore and ritual reference, part poetic memoir; Magic Flowers “asks us to dare to love a thousand times — especially when we don’t know if we’ll ever bring some of our deepest desires to fruition.”

  • Why give a regular bunch of flowers when you could honor your love with a beautiful Curioscape art piece by Atropos Curios. Beautiful glasswing butterflies alight upon poppy flowers and lavender over a bed of crystals and a skull cap nestled within a hinged glass curio box.

  • For the loved-one that truly has everything… the heart from the famous two-headed calf!

We’ve been working in the studio creating some fun Valentine-themed gifts. A sweet spin on our signature insect specimen mini-domes make lovely mementos. The Bee Sweet dome has a bee pinned in “mid flight” just above a small rosebud, a moment frozen in time while the Romantic Weevil cheerfully holds up his rosebud.

And because you all loved our Oracle Holiday Ornaments so much… we made Oracle Valentine Sets! Set of three specimen vials each individually labeled with a cute message card. Three styles: friendship, sweetheart, and just-for-fun/suggestive.

Love Oracle? (Awww… we love you too!) Now we can all rep our favorite taxidermy studio everywhere we go! “Science is Magic” illustration of a fox skeleton and dermestid beetles by our very own Melissa Chepren and printed at Oddities Prints in KC. Long-sleeve sweatshirt (with bone motif on the sleeves!) or T-shirt styles available. Warm weather or cold, we’ve got you covered… literally.

- Laura

Oracles of January

2024 is upon us!!! And my goodness it’s coming in with some Winter chill! The beginning of the calendar year has always been a time of ritual, traditions, and superstitions. We are closing out an old year, giving ourselves permission to move on from what has passed and open up our path forward.

Many traditions suggest that one should burn a candle over New Year’s Eve past midnight until it burns itself out for prosperity and good luck. Lighting candles to amplify an intention can, of course, happen any time of year. Simply choose a candle style that speaks to you.

We love all kinds of candles here in Oracle. If you love scented candles… Smells Like Spells has poured soy-wax candles with fragrances “based on old customs, traditions and the belief that every plant or aroma has its own magical purpose.” New to Oracle, we now carry Calamus & Honey!

Their 7-day Pillar Candles are dressed with oils, herbs, curios and prayed over by people practicing a variety of magical traditions including but not limited to Santeria, Southern Rootwork and traditional Witchcraft. Their oils are also perfect for anointing taper candles! And… although I’m most certainly not impartial here… the Moth & Candle limited edition Year of the Dragon tapers are pure hand-dipped beeswax ritual tapers dressed with cedar, juniper, palo Santo, and a dragon blood stone crystal.

If you’re like me, pen and paper play an important part in my new year preparations. Open Sea Design Co. has made these luxurious Spell Cards so you can track the various aspects of your ritual. And Arin Murphy-Hiscock (author of The Green Witch) has released a guided Grimoire… part guide, part journal and magical record book, this hard-bound volume gives you just enough guidance and ritual instruction to get you going in your spell crafting journey.

The Calamus & Honey oils are a fun and quick way to tap into your selected intention(s). This year I am focusing on Road Opening work… making space to move forward in the direction I hope to go. I keep my bottle of Road Opener on my bedroom shelf with my incense and crystal collection. When I feel like I’m going to be working on projects and need some extra ease in the process I dab a quick spot on my wrist and go about my day. So whether you too are seeking new horizons, open roads, a bit of fast luck, or your crowning success… Calamus & Honey has an oil for it! Plus the labels and floating ingredients look so magical!

An overwhelming majority of New Year’s traditions from around the world focus on driving out the old unwanted energies, calling in the desired energies, and protecting that balance throughout the year to come. This stunning Epidote and Quartz crystal cluster makes a unique addition to any collection. Epidote is often associated with abundance and prosperity while Quartz both clears energy while amplifying intention.

Our “paw”quets (dried floral bouquet with a taxidermy paw) act as lovely gifts of beauty and protection. As many of our parts are the result of conservation and abatement programs we do typically have plenty of paws. We take them through a full cleaning and mummification process before hand-sealing the ends and doing finishing touches. We dry the bouquets here in the studio ourselves before assembling these unique nature bouquets. The claws on the paw or foot, in this context symbolize protection while the flowers symbolize beauty. They can be hung on the wall, especially near doorways or windows, or can be displayed on a shelf or altar.

Or stop in and have us help guide you with your intentions for the new year!

The Oracle team, left to right:

Melissa, Alessandra, and Laura

What rituals or practices do you like to do to start the year? Let us know in the comments… we love to know how you all work with the items you get at Oracle!

- Laura

{ Soil Collective x Oracle :: Preservation }

Preservation

The idea of preservation is an interesting one and something necessary and vital to Oracle itself. We as animal lovers have also been focused on the idea to support local farmers, local artists, and the preservation of the natural world around us. We have been itching to show that to you in a literal sense.... in food. January 21st & the 22nd we are collaborating with local chefs to investigate this to its entirety. Welcome to our good friends, Soil Collective:

Throughout the year preservation methods are applied to all types of ingredients through a variety of processes to ensure availability of these particular items when ingredients are scarce and the land is cold. Winter is a time of year that places importance on the success of the hunt, the preserved bounty from the seasons past, and the strength of the wine to get through the frozen nights. 

Oracle is a place that is also dedicated to preservation and the beauty of decay while still celebrating life, if even through death.  Please join us for this thoughtful and original dinner on January 21. Tickets are $70 (includes food, drink pairings & taxes)

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Soil Collective is a group of like-minded chefs dedicated to researching and exploring local ingredients, helping feeding those in need, reducing food waste, and forming meaningful connections with farmers and guests to provide a unique dining experience.

Join us for the experience. For January 21st dinner tickets, please click here xx

If you have ever watched Hannibal, there is a fine line of beauty and death - especially in food. Janice Poon made that a reality for the TV show. Her sketches are just... to die for. For more information and a peek into her brain (not to eat), check out her blog http://janicepoonart.blogspot.co.uk/   

{ Oracle's Grand Holiday Party - Part 3 }

:: Dec 22nd :: 4pm-9pm :: Wanna know our line up for our Holiday Party?! Dang, I am excited - check out these women ::

 

Hungry Foxes

Hungry Foxes is alternative folk artist, Hannah Albina. Her music is meditative yet raw. She sings from her heart and plays from her gut. Currently residing in Kansas City, Hungry Foxes is about to begin work on her first album.

hungryfoxes.bandcamp.com/music

Margo May

“Inspired by everyone from Loretta Lynn to Lykke Li, Margo May has been writing songs since she was 15. Because she was underage at the time, May slowly gained some traction in her hometown, Kansas City, by playing whatever coffee houses and venues would let her on stage. That was a comfortable place for May as she’d worked in professional theatre as a kid. Now that she’s older, May balances her love of acting with her passion for pop, crafting songs than span a spectrum which mirrors her influences. “At the end of the day, though,” May has said, “I know my strength and it is folk music.” Despite appreciating the immediacy of pop, May also understands that folk music ages well. It’s also a lot more portable and playable for a solo artist on the rise, and it suits the sound of heartbreak a bit better.”  -The Blue Grass Situation, 2015

margomay.bandcamp.com

 

Teri Quinn

A Northern girl with a Southern heart living in the Mid-West, Teri Quinn writes tunes that are sweet yet savory. With her clawhammer banjo playing and old time hollerin', she mixes an old fashioned sound with a modern grit. Drawing inspiration from moon phases and matters of the heart, her enchanting presence is sure to bewitch you.

Ana Maldonado

Ana Maldonado will play beautiful music to make your heart sing.

See you all Friday the 22nd!

{ Oracle's Grand Holiday Party - Part 2 }

:: Dec 22nd :: 4pm-9pm :: If you saw our previous post, here is another sneak peak of the rest of the artists that will be attending our grandiose Holiday Party!  Come join us and these talented women for our extended holiday hour and last minute shopping that will be perfect for some  fun time and family friendly event (especially for those out of town guests)! We will be turning Oracle into a mini market of our local artists and locally made goods, along with live music of some super talented KC musicians! 

:: Here's a sneak peak of four out of seven local makers attending ::

 

Amanda Lee - Pleasesendword

PleaseSendWord brings you small batch witch crafted herbal medicines. All work rooted in a belief in body sovereignty and radical autonomy. Self care as ritual / ritual as self care. for magic. for medicine.

She has spent years of study to come back to Kansas City with her knowledge of green witchery, salves, teas, and tinctures. More info here http://www.pleasesendword.com/home

Evie Englezos - Sweet Destructor

Sweet Destructor is Evie Englezos,- printmaker turned ceramicist and volunteer wildlife rehabber. While working she thinks about earth and the natural world, the beauty of mystical thinking, death and humankind's desire to cheat it, past and future histories, ancient and recent mythologies, science and fiction and fantasy, the joy of creation and the necessity of destruction. You know, the regular stuff.
http://sweetdestructor.bigcartel.com

Teri Quinn - Rattlebone Design

Sustainably sourced creations with natures curiosities. Teri Quinn creates works of art out of materials gifted to her by our sweet mother nature. From statement jewelry to wall art, she packs in her magic to grace your home or body. She will also be part of our magical musicians songwriters that will be playing for the evening, more info to come.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/rattlebonedesign 

Tara Tonsor - Lost & Found Design

Midwestern vibes, nature-enthusiast, and a curious wanderer. This is Lost & Found Design. Tara Tonsor started this company in 2006, taking apart found jewelry, hand-me-down items like my grandmother's charm bracelet, and thrift store sales. Five years later, discovering laser cutting. Blending graphic design & illustration, she translates hand-drawn artwork into new technology techniques. Using natural materials such as wood, leather, and bronze paired with modern design, Lost & Found Design has now branched from jewelry into home goods, and can personalize items you see listed.
lostandfounddesignus

See you all Friday the 22nd!

{ Oracle's Grand Holiday Party - Part 1 }

:: Dec 22nd :: 4pm-9pm :: We will be having a grandiose Holiday Party and extended holiday hour for not only last minute shopping but a fun time and family friendly event for the family! We will be turning Oracle into a mini market of our local artists and locally made goods, along with live music of some super talented KC musicians! 

:: Here's a sneak peak of three out of seven local makers attending ::

 

Laura Tyler - Sticks and Stones

Laura Tyler, creator of Sticks and Stones Ceramics, is a Kansas City artist who is influenced by the desire to collect nature and to bring it into domestic spaces.  Laura grew up fascinated by her grandmother’s home collections, taxidermy covered walls, and plant filled rooms.  Now, as an artist, she finds influence from her grandmother’s home collections of nature.  Laura collects animal bones, arrowheads, shells, and rocks that act as references for her work.  These collections are manifested through Sticks and Stones’ sculpted clay skull mounts, dinnerware sets, and rock-like planters.  She strives to continuously find ways to bring Midwest flora and fauna into her ceramic work.

Andrea Bledsoe - Recrudescence

Located in Kansas City, MO Andrea Minnette Bledsoe specializes in still/motion styling and jewelry design. She utilizes molten metals, electroplated flora, as well as vintage and modern elements to create limited runs of unique adornment. Her styling and design work has been featured in branding campaigns, music videos, runways and creative media content.
See more at.... www.ambstyling.com

Sandy Leppin - Rook and Owl Studio

Rook and Owl Studio is a one-person operation producing artwork that is one part goth, one part nerd, and one part trickster for eccentric and curious souls. The Studio is run solo by Sandy Leppin, a multidisciplinary artist who has worked for years in various theaters across the United States as a scenic designer, scenic artist, and properties artisan. With her extensive background in combining craft and vision, she uses Rook and Owl Studio as a space where history, mythology, humor, and pop culture spark into life through fresh lenses. Leppin is an ArtistINC Kansas City fellow. She has also received two Kennedy Center Commendations for Achievement in Scenic Design, the Mordecai Gorelik Award for Excellence in Scenic Design, and was included in the Toronto World Stage Design Exhibition.
See more at.... http://rookandowlstudio.com