Oracles of April

April and Spring are here already! While the weather (in KC at least) is still up and down from day to day… the sun has been showing itself more often than not. Plants are blooming, animals (and people in cars) are acting wild.

We’ve all been hard at work in the studio getting so much new work ready! Our in-house made double-pane glass frames are back! These go so incredibly fast, so if you’ve been hoping for one you may want to visit us sooner than later. There are also plenty of new freeze-dried taxidermy pieces ready… cute chicks, dapper baby ostriches, a fancy sassy chicken. Ooo annnnnd… did you hear about our giraffe skull?!

April also heralds the official start of the Crossroads First Friday Art Walks! April 5th Melissa and I will be in the shop 11am to 7pm so come in and say hi while you’re out taking in the Arts District!

Meanwhile Alessandra will be heading up to Chicago. She’s taking some showstopper pieces with her up to The Oddities Flea Market! Oracle is so completely honored to be included in this nationally known show curated by Ryan Matthew Cohn (you may have seen him as an expert on The Science Channel’s show “Oddities.”) So if you are in Chicago April 6th and 7th, stop by and say hi! She’s been working on a series of taxidermy/articulation projects… the outer taxidermy only partially surrounds a completed skeletal articulation. They are stunning. But we’re looking for the right phrase to describe this process… Skeledermy? Skeleton Tax? Probably not… we are open to suggestions.

While Alessandra is on the road, the KC Studio will be open our regular hours (Wednesday through Sunday 11am to 6pm). So KC folks, be sure to visit Melissa and I in the shop! We’ve got some fun new projects we’re finishing up while the boss is away…

And just around the corner in May we will be heading to Denver for the Fauna Faire at RitualCravt May 11th, 12-6pm. The line-up is stellar and we are super excited to be joined by Atropos Curios, The Blacksnail Forge, Jane Almirall, Opal & Gold, Sweet Destructor, and Tyler Thrasher! No tickets necessary… just pop on in and see the unique works we’re all bringing!

While in Denver, Jess Ellis (of Atropos Curios) and Alessandra will be teaching three different classes together that weekend:

Friday, May 10th is “Lepidoptera: The Mystical Beauty of Moths and Butterflies” an educational and magical workshop led by these two entomology enthusiasts! You will learn about the ecological, environmental, and spiritual importance of moths and butterflies AND pin your own Sunset Moth in class that you will take home with you.

Sunday, May 12th is “Cicada Magic” a journey to the Underworld through the lens of a beautiful and mysterious invertebrate. In this workshop you will learn about cicada biology, behavior, and mythology while pinning a sustainably sourced cicada specimen of your own!

Sunday evening on May 12th Alessandra and Jess will teach their final class of the weekend, a definite fan favorite… “The Magic of Spiders!” Both of your teachers for this class are not only passionate arachnid enthusiasts, but are also spider caretakers! In this hands-on workshop you’ll learn about spider biology and ecology’s well as their mythology and spiritual symbolism while pinning your own sustainably-sourced Orb Weaver spider specimen.

Happy Spring, friends! May your month be filled with rejuvenating time outdoors and the wonder of the natural world.

— Laura

{ Valentine Gift Guide For Black Hearts }

Valentine's Day is upon us, and for some of you, this fact may fill your black heart with dread. Admittedly, it's a schmaltzy holiday, replete with unwanted Teddy bears trapped in heart-shaped balloons, subpar chocolate offerings and heart-themed jewelry (as ubiquitous as it is repellent, shudder). If you have ever been on the receiving end of these crummy, landfill-destined gifts, it's possible you may loathe Valentine's Day just by that association.

I am here to offer several alternatives for those of you who like good presents and who want better things for your loved ones, to make Valentine's Day (or Friendentine's Day) great again (but for real, think Halloween For Lovers)!  

:: Framed Insects And Butterflies :: Each beautiful piece at Oracle is preserved and framed by the artists in the shop, making every single specimen a unique and special work. I am especially enamored of the dried flora pieces created by Alessandra Dzuba and Ash Miyagawa, they are romantic and timeless and would surely win the heart of the natural science lover that you know!

:: Jawbone Talismans :: Our jawbone talismans are intuitively created in shop and are imbued with blessings to bring protection and abundance to the recipient. Each piece is constructed with loving intention and care, and no one talisman is alike - perfect for the Brujas and Brujos in your life.

:: Witch Club ::  -  Witch Club is a monthly subscription box and makes an excellent gift for someone who is looking to amplify their spiritual practice! Available for purchase in monthly, three month and six month installments - each month our Witch Club members receive crystals, incense and resins, dried herbs and flowers, and a special, hand selected monthly bundle to incorporate into your ritual or meditation practice. Items are chosen with the lunar cycle in mind but can be used however you see fit! This is a wonderful gift that keeps giving into extra innings because Love should be celebrated all year round!

*We also carry specially crafted Witch Bundles which are available in shop and online, a wonderful gift on it's own!

++ It is our pleasure to recommend items from these other makers and sellers whom we love ++

:: Chocolate ::  - Fatally Yours Vegan Treats - Holy smokes y'all - when you have a black heart but a sweet tooth this gourmet chocolate box is everything!

:: Divination ::  - Vessel Oracle Deck - I am a huge fan of Mary Elizabeth Evan's Spirit Speak deck and I absolutely love her charming illustrations for this oracle deck. Mary Evans puts so much care into her work and her divination tools have wonderful energy - I want one (subtle hint *cough* gimme)!  - She Wolfe Tarot - This Tarot deck by Devany Amber Wolfe is beautifully rendered with photographs and digital collage - this potent, sexy deck makes an incredible gift for a witch you are into!

:: Jewelry ::  - Mercury Hour - Scarlett C. Dancer's work is so awesome, I would be hard pressed to choose just one piece, but her Love Ballad series is spot on for V Day. - Arcana Obscura -Kate Hockstein creates the most wonderful, occult-themed jewelry - each piece is a unique work of art, perfect for those who like to keep it dark, I love it all!  - Omnia Oddities Studio - Artists Keri Newton and Nate Allen have created this incredible jewelry studio and there is no shortage of excellent adornment here - seriously, have a look and try not to buy everything for yourself!

:: Perfume ::  - For Strange Women Perfume - Jill McKeever is botanical perfume genius, her scents are evocative of magical woods, fairy tale forests and the kind of memories you create by firelight. It can be difficult to buy scents for other people, so I highly recommend giving the gift of the Lunar Amulet series, in which the lucky recipient receives a new perfume every 29 days for 12 months to celebrate the new moon! 

:: Incense and Candles ::  - Ritualcravt - Literally every single thing in this shop is imbued with magic (made by witches for witches, y'all!) and you will find many beautiful offerings for your loved ones. Of particular interest for the upcoming holiday, is this sweet little Love Spell Kit - it has everything you need to bring love to you! That said, if you have gone through a breakup or just aren't feeling this particular holiday you will also find excellent potions for self-care and to mend a broken heart. Ritualcravt blends their incense, teas and dressed devotional candles in shop, by hand - and every single one of them is gorgeous.

{ Magic Monday }

Hi Y'all! Have you had a good summer? It's been a hot minute since I've been able to write, but I've got a fresh, three-card spread to share with you - perhaps one which will be particularly helpful with Mercury all up in Retrograde again. Let's dig in:

Six of Swords, Knight of Wands and the King of Swords from the Pagan Otherworlds tarot deck by Uusi Design; gorgeous Iris printed pelt by Ash Miyagawa. 

- Six of Swords - This is where we are now. I'm not one bit surprised to see this card, which was the last card I pulled for us in June (a 'no shit, Tarot' type of card if there ever was one...) which represents a change for the better after a period of uncertainty. Through our own introspection, we may be seeing things a little more clearly and finding a new awareness. This card can also signify a journey for some, but is always a reminder that our transitions are cyclical and our experiences are transitory. 

- Knight of Wands - BUT! We may be feeling restless, impatient - eager to get this change of scenery (be it mental, physical or both) over and done with. Our sense of courage and desire for adventure is a useful tool for us here, but it can be causing us to act recklessly if we don't take some time to really contemplate our best steps forward. In short, we must slow our collective roll. 

- King of Swords - If we are able to measure our desire for change with rational guidance - and this type of thing takes time, patience and thoughtful evaluation - then we will be coming into our new passage with wisdom and fairness. It's about taking the higher road these days - no easy feat, not ever - and seeking out counsel when we feel unsure. The exchange of knowledge is one we can all benefit from so don't be too proud to seek it out and by all means share what you know! 

*The beautiful tarot cloth I am using is a printed rabbit pelt created by none other than our own Ash Miyagawa, who has opened an incredible shop wherein you will find botanical illustrations, prints and beautiful, unusual goods! You can visit this shop, here!

 *These tarot card readings are intended for us all as a community and are therefore broad. If you are interested in a more specific, in-depth reading - we offer individual readings at Oracle as well! If you would like to schedule an appointment for an individual reading, you can do that here or give us a ring at 816.982.9550. You can also join us for one of our monthly Tarot Workshop & Happy Hour events and learn more about cartomancy!