Oracles of August

July 30, 2024 Laura Pensar

First Friday is on the 2nd this month. Melossa is amongst a small group of artists at The Bauer who will be doing interviews with ZNTL for KC Crossroads. The interviews will be livestreamed via ZNTL Entertainment's Youtube channel starting around 5:15pm on Friday. Tune in and cheer on our Melossa as she talks about her art and her process!

Work in progress view… Melossa hand-cuts each layer to build depth in the background before adding the specimen she has spread.

Monarch Mimic Queen Art

$85.00

And now for the FUN stuff in the shop!

So many new ethical acquisition / sustainably-sourced pelts with absolutely gorgeous colorings… As always, we’ve been busy in the studio finishing pieces… from art domes and globes to mounting specimens and making frames, there’s a little bit of something for everyone…

Oracle-made spell vial honoring the essences of nature. House Sparrow’s are associated with connection. In this vial we have built up “Sparrow’s Spell” with a base of Aventurine crystals for emotional healing, Chamomile blossoms for calm, and a pink carnation for gratitude.

Framed Ball Python Skull

$160.00

For honoring this Summer season and incorporating nature into your rituals… Dani Brown’s “Weaving Magic Through the Year” guides you through the process of creating your own wreath as an evolving nature journal. The Spell Card stationary set lets you make notes and record your practices. The new seasonal Sea Witch Botanicals incense sticks are here! Lammas (one of my personal absolute favorites) has a soft sandalwood and rose scent while Litha is bright and energizing. These are limited and they go FAST!

Weaving Magic Through the Year

$11.00

Spell Card Stationary Set

$26.00

August also means… THE WORLD TAXIDERMY CHAMPIONSHIPS!!! Alessandra and Melissa will be headed up to Coralville, Iowa August 7th through 12th. (Don’t worry, Kansas City, I’ve got you! I’m hanging back here in the studio so we will have our regular shop hours Wednesday through Sunday 11am to 6pm.) Alessandra has been working on some breathtaking articulations for the competition… so send the good vibes! Stay tuned for photos and news about their trip!

- Laura

Oracles of June

June 4, 2024 Laura Pensar

Happy June! We are all back in the studio after a wild whirlwind of April and May events and travel. All three of us are back in the studio together and hard at work on lots of projects. We have been putting together a ton of Animal Guide and Entomology Kits to send out to shops across the country! Oracle-made work can now be found in brick-and-mortar small businesses in 12 states and 14 cities across the US! Check out our list of stockists to see if there’s one near you.

Speaking of our Entomology Kits… they got an upgrade!!! Now every Mini-Ento Kit and Double-Feature DIY Bug Kit include a pocket-sized copy of The Bare Basics of Bug Pinning book. This means the kits truly come with everything you need to pin the specimen; a self-contained DIY at-home project kit. We are so thrilled with these kits as they truly fulfill our mission of empowering the at-home learner with the information and tools to deepen their knowledge and connection to the natural world.

And because we also believe in the power of group learning and hands-on workshops, Alessandra is planning more classes! First up will be two insect-pinning classes: Butterfly (Friday the 21st) and Cicada (Saturday the 22nd)! Details aren’t out yet… you’ll have to keep your eyes peeled on our email newsletter when it comes out. That’s where you’ll get all of the info and be able to sign up with priority access!

Animal Guide Kit

$30.00

Mini-Ento Kit

$44.00

The Bare Basics of Insect Pinning Zine

$20.00

By now it’s hard to escape talk about the 2024 cicada emergence (sounds so wonderfully dramatic, doesn’t it?) But actually it is pretty dramatic… the predicted numbers of cicada which will emerge from the ground per square foot is truly mind boggling. As a Midwesterner the sound of cicadas and summer are so inextricably linked. The massive numbers that will be calling out nightly these next few months will just be like summer amplified! You may wanna carry a pair of earplugs with you this season.

In the studio we’ve been making sure to highlight some cicada love and honor this fascinating insect as a symbol of summer, transition, and song. Melissa’s been creating lovely spread cicada domes and small frames. Laura made a cicada-themed fortune scratch card. We’ve been framing cicada specimen, making cicada ento-kits, and of course planning the cicada pinning class with Alessandra. So please do come in and geek out with us about these noisy wild-eyed summer visitors and tell us all about your cicada encounters!

Enjoy your Summer, friends! Whether you’re off on adventures or soaking in some sun on your own porch… let the sounds, smells, and sights of the season bring you joy! If you’re in KC during our shop hours (Wednesday through Sunday 11am to 6pm*) *We will be closed for vacation on July 3rd and 4th.

— Laura

Oracles of May

April 28, 2024 Laura Pensar

Well there were definitely April showers here in KC… so we’re really looking forward to the May flowers! Lots of beautiful new Oracle-made “paw-quets” and “bone-quets” will definitely be coming very soon…

This past month really felt like a complete whirlwind! Alessandra took some gorgeous new showstopper pieces with her up to The Oddities Flea Market! Oracle was 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.”) And we’re definitely looking forward to doing more in the future!

New Artist!

We are super excited to bring the work of Lana Crooks into our shop! These “textile specimens” are unique hand-assembled sculptures. Her art is such a lovely blend of science and fantasy that fits right into any cabinet of curiosities, art collection, or special treasure display.

And NOW we are getting ready 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!

There are still spots available in the entomology classes Alessandra and Jess (Atropos Curios) will be teaching that weekend: Friday’s “Lepidoptera: The Mystical Beauty of Moths and Butterflies”, Sunday afternoon’s “Cicada Magic” and Sunday evening’s “The Magic of Spiders!”

Those of you anxiously waiting for us to announce our next classes happening in KC… hang tight… we’ve got some really great ones coming up. So keep your eyes peeled on our email newsletter when it comes out. That’s where you’ll get the inside scoop!

— Laura

Oracles of March

February 22, 2024 Laura Pensar

Spring is almost here!!! It’ll be official on the 19th, as a matter of fact. The shift into Spring generally heralds warmer weather and fewer wintry storms, and naturally tends to be a time of renewal and fresh starts. We can finally throw open the doors and windows, sweep out the dust of the winter months… (Persephone’s Broom Closet covers all your basic Spring Cleaning rituals!)

And although the weather patterns have been (ahem, sob) a little unpredictable lately… the sense of renewal and new beginnings that Spring brings is definitely here. We’re looking forward to propping open the front door and watching the block come alive! To celebrate, we’ll be doing our custom candle-dressing bar on the 20th! Come in and pick out the adornments for your Equinox ritual candle or as a gift for a friend.

Which, while we’re on the topic… make sure to sign up for the Spring Equinox Witch Club! Curated by Alessandra and filled with items connecting science, nature, and magic through traditional rituals, new crafts, and intentions that help you reconnect with the natural world. This season’s kit also includes a special new bundle by Atropos Curios! (Kits ship out on the 14th.)

Speaking of Atropos Curios… We’re super excited about their new mini DIY Spell Kits! Thoughtfully created and beautifully packaged little all-in-one rituals. Choose between Prosperity, Self Fortitude, Boundaries, and New Beginnings. They make a great little gift for a friend or a quick pick-me-up when you need one! I, personally, am taking home a Prosperity kit to do on the New Moon.

Dani Brown is the artist behind the amazing evolving art-wreath installation in our shop. Sunday the 17th, Dani will be teaching her “Art of Wreathing” class at Oracle! In this class, participants will learn the basics of safe and respectful harvesting, craft their own unique wreath out of wild-foraged materials, and learn how to begin and maintain their own “Wheel of the Year” wreath practice.

Later this month, Chicago-based artists Mickey Kwapis and Zen Hansen will be visiting! Mickey will be leading a Cyanotype Workshop on the 23rd (space is limited… so don’t wait if you are interested.) Zen will be teaching an Intro to Hair Table-Braiding Art workshop on the 24th (again… don’t wait if you want to sign up!) Their other workshops have already sold out! But they will be popping up in the Oracle studio on Saturday.

If you’ve been in the studio this past month you’ve probably seen some beautiful new art on our walls and in the print bins… our very own lead illustrator, Melissa Chepren, is a full-fledged artist in her own right. And her work is stunning! Just look at this Blue Morpho butterflies piece!

The Oracle team has been hard at work in the studio getting some projects ready for this season! We’ve freshened-up our Animal Guide kits… currently available for Bobcat, Coyote, Fox, and Raccoon. These are great starter kits for a personal collection or as inspiration for incorporating animal energy into your personal practice.

And one last request for anyone who votes in Jackson County, Missouri… Please vote NO on the proposed Royals Crossroads District Stadium Tax. It will have devastating effects on the ENTIRE Crossroads Arts District. The stadium location as proposed will negatively impact small businesses and countless jobs in Kansas City. Please protect one of the most special districts in KC… we need your help!

— Laura

Oracles of February

January 28, 2024 Laura Pensar

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.

Alessandra and Melissa working in the studio.

Oracle Valentines

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.

Science is Magic shirts.

Laura writing for Oracle.

- Laura

Oracles of January

January 14, 2024 Laura Pensar

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.

Melissa assembling a "Pawquet"

Coyote "Pawquet"

Raccoon "Pawquet"

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.

- Laura