{ Mind Killer Monday: Bear }

April 17, 2017 Alessandra Dzuba

Well, I decided to dust off my beautiful Scrying Ink deck for this week's focus card and - because Lenormand decks are direct as hell, I pulled Bear for us. Bear represents the ten of clubs and most frequently indicates personal finances and money issues for the querent. Taxes are due, finances are on the mind and so Bear has turned up to say, 'Oh hello, your anxiety about money is giving you stress, I just thought you'd like to know what you already knew. You're welcome, enjoy.'

Lunar platter by Sweet Destructor, who rules.

If you are among the lucky few who are not freaking out about financial strain, you may be wondering what else can the Bear mean for us in a reading? In a career focused reading it can mean that showing aggressiveness or strength is beneficial at that time so pull up your big girl pants and get at it! In issues regarding personal health, it usually signifies weight loss or gain - a good reminder is for you to think about how bears survive their Winter hibernation by gorging on food in the Spring. (This one is relevant to me personally, as yesterday was a *personal best* for epic snack consumption and napping). Oh, and the Bear can also represent a matriarchal figure as well, so call your mom. Finally, when romance is on the brain the Bear can signify a robust, even aggressive suitor, if you know one of those...maybe rethink things if your S.O. is acting possessive or pushy. Also, let us not forget the direct and even literal ways of Lenormand tarot communication, for you boys who like full-figured fellers, I've got good news - this card could mean a 'bear' for you!

*These three 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!

{ Natural Voice with Laura Frank }

April 14, 2017 Alessandra Dzuba

We are partnering up with someone really awesome to do something amazing.

Y'all. I am ridiculously excited for this workshop we are offering next month! Laura Frank of Inner Space Yoga is coming to Oracle on May 7th to offer her beautiful Throat Chakra opening workshop, Natural Voice! Check it out:

++ Natural Voice: A Throat Chakra Workshop ++

Song and mantra are powerful tools for self healing and connecting with the whole in nearly every spiritual practice around the world. Singing in a group allows one to surrender the ego and enter into a group meditation. All are welcome, especially those who feel blocked or insecure in any matters relating to the throat chakra, communication, and singing. We will work together to find the natural voice and heal past traumas associated with the throat chakra in a safe, ceremonial space.

What to expect/bring:

People should dress comfortable enough to do some light stretching. We will be sitting the floor for a period of time, so people may want to bring a cushion, folded blanket, or back jack. It is important to stay hydrated, so people might want to bring water to drink. Also, people should bring a small, meaningful item or talisman to charge at the altar like a stone, scarf, charm, piece of jewelry, etc.

This class will be held at Oracle (130 West 18th Street, KCMO 64108) on Sunday, May 7, 2017 from 4:30pm-7:00pm.

+++ This workshop will include +++

- An altar building ritual and teachings on how to work with a 7 directions altar.
- A discussion about medicine songs and chants.
- A discussion about the throat chakra.
- Breath work and yoga to activate the Vishuddah (throat chakra) and expand lung capacity.
- Group learning and singing of medicine songs.
- Creation of an original vocal score for a therapeutic and heart opening experience.

+++ About Laura Frank +++

Laura is native to and based in the heartland, Kansas City, Missouri where she owns Inner Space Yoga. It is her mission as a yoga studio owner and teacher to provide a safe and nurturing space to heal, grow, learn, and expand consciousness.
Laura has a background in performing arts. She has trained, performed and taught with vocal and movement masters around Europe and the US for the past 15 years.
In the past, she worked in these traditions to generate material for performances but when she found herself on the path of initiation, Laura recognized the healing power of movement, song and mantra. She currently works with and studies shamanic healing practices from Central and South America with her teachers Santiparro in the US and Shipibo Maestros Don Sina and Bawan Meni in the Peruvian Amazon.

It's going to be incredible and I hope you can make it, I'll be there! You can register for this workshop online, here!

{ Suggested Reading }

April 13, 2017 Alessandra Dzuba

I am of two minds when I find something that is AWESOME. The selfish part of me wants to keep it to myself like a beautiful, happy secret...but then the nagging guilt sets in, at which point I start feeling compelled to share this wonderful thing - because what kind of awful, garbage monster would I be if I kept this to myself? Such were my feelings when I discovered a new-to-me blog, The Woman Who Married A Bear, written by woman whose expertise is relevant to my interests - earth activist, plant sorceress, tarot reader and all around badass - Milla Prince.

Milla Prince, plant witch and noted badass.

Y'all. Some real talk, if you will.

I didn't grow up with very healthy associations with food. My family didn't treat it as medicine, but rather food was often viewed as some kind of ruthless enemy, lurking in the shadows, waiting to fuck up your body in some awful way when you succombed to consuming it. Eating was not an act of pleasure or joy, and on the rare occasion in which you did eat something that you actually enjoyed, it was shameful and viewed with suspicion. It won't surprise you to learn that we did not garden as a family and we sure as shit did not go foraging for edible plants. That said, these are things that have interested me as an adult. For the last ten years I have endeavored to repair my relationship with food by growing some of my own and even foraging for mushrooms. I am learning how to identify edible, wild plants and (thanks to Jill McKeever, who has workshopped several plant medicine classes with Oracle) also how to keep myself healthy with our little herb homies. I am learning How To Plants, Y'all. (Look down. I know what these are now!)

Milla Prince's blog and instagram account have brought a special joy to my life. As I learn more and more about the medicinal and nutritional properties in certain plants (and how to identify them!), I have found her site to be a tremendous resource and an integral part of my plant education. Milla writes so eloquently about her culture, her experiences and the knowledge she has gained therein. I have found myself captivated by her stories of tradition and folklore. This incredible woman is all about connections, plant-based or otherwise - and I happen to love that sort of thing too, so I enjoy all of her non-flora content as well. If you, like me, are interested in developing your knowledge of plants and herbal medicine, or simply are curious about energetic connectivity (and or sartorial excellence in power-clashing prints), I HIGHLY recommend that you check out her work! (I would be remiss if I didn't mention her wonderful herbal shop, Fireweed & Nettle, which you should also check out!

++ This podcast is fantastic, btw, Milla Prince discusses witchcraft, her childhood in Finland and the tradition of plant healing with which she was raised. Have a listen, you won't be sorry.

{Muggle Monday: Ten of Pentacles - Citrine edition!}

April 10, 2017 Alessandra Dzuba

Hi Y'all. I hope you are well, nice to have some sunshine days lately! The card I pulled this week is a lovely one to get - the Ten of Pentacles! Let's take a deep dive, shall we?

The Ten of Pentacles

I know it doesn't always seem like it, but with the Ten of Pentacles, we have all that we need. The pentacles signifies security and abundance - at the number ten we have reached the pinnacle of our material wealth. Now, I'd like to take some time to discuss abundance a bit because traditionally the pentacles are tied to monetary wealth, but I think it's important to recognize that abundance comes in many forms, not just financial. Our health, our happiness, feelings of satisfaction with our various relationships all fall under this umbrella of 'abundance'. This type of comfort and fulfillment gives way to the Ace of Wands and makes room for creativity and growth in the spiritual realm. This card is also about wisdom, our experiences have been our teachers and we have reached a point in which we know how to best invest our time and energy. Our ideas and investments can take flight - we got this.

++ Citrine ++

Citrine is known by many other names, I've heard it called The Success Stone, The Merchant's Stone, and The Prosperity Stone. This bright stone has energies of good fortune and success and is used in meditational practices to manifest personal success and abundance. More abundance, you say? That's right! Citrine is believed to bring good health, fortune, happiness, confidence and personal wisdom to those who use it. It's a super good one y'all, citrine is my homie.

*Fun Fact! Most Citrine you find on the market is actually amethyst or smoky quartz which has been heat-treated. Heat-treated citrine shares the same metaphysical properties as naturally occurring citrine, though it is more rare.

{ Mugwort Monday: The Devil }

April 3, 2017 Alessandra Dzuba

I've been toying around with different alliterations with which to title this post, my favorite suggestions by far were, "Muffled Screams Monday' and 'Murder Monday', but those don't really pertain to the subject at hand, so for now I'm going with Mugwort. I don't know.

I thought it would be interesting to break away from my usual three card pull and focus on a single card. This way, we are able to go a little further in depth in investigating the meaning and symbolism of the card and I feel like it makes room for some discussion as well. One of my all time favorite things about Tarot is that everyone has a unique interpretation of the cards and it gives us a fresh perspective when new cards turn up. Feel free to discuss your take on this card on our FB page in the comments, I'd love to know what you think!

Anyways, without further ado, permit me to introduce one of my +life cards: The Devil.

- The Devil - As I've mentioned here before, The Devil is one of those cards that puts fear in some people. I totally get why, I was raised Catholic and have seen The Exorcist a bunch of times - but I feel like this card gets an unfairly bad rap. While The Devil is a trickster and can represent our inner demons (like addictions, bad behavioral patterns, unhealthy relationships, etc), he is also a reflection of our shadow selves and true nature. The Devil calls us to get in touch with our creativity without being afraid of seeing ourselves. When we see this card in a reading, the message is that we need to free ourselves from our material concerns and focus inwardly on more spiritual endeavors. We are asked to remove self-imposed limitations on ourselves and become the people we really are, free of hypocrisy, not hiding behind a mask.

This card brings light with the dark, when we are challenged to face obstacles, we are called to do so without fear. I believe by recognizing and acknowledging the issues at hand, we are able to address them head-on. This is a type of Shadow Work - it's not fun Y'all, but we come out on top when we commit to doing it. The Devil is always a welcome sign for questions concerning creativity as he is evocative of talent, inspiration and intense energy. Try also to remember that The Devil is sticking his tongue out at us TWICE - reminding us that he is a childish, comical creation and we need to laugh at the things which try to smite us.

+I recently had an EXCELLENT reading with Rita of Skeleton Key Tarot, during which I learned that The Devil was one of my Life Cards. Pretty cool - and also, of course, Tarot, of ~fucking~ course! Rita is an incredibly gifted reader (honestly, this was both the best and least expensive therapy I've ever had) and I highly recommend that you visit her if you are interested in getting a reading. She offers small and large readings, depending on your needs. You can follow her on Instagram, here! 10/10 would recommend!

{ Three Card Monday }

March 27, 2017 Alessandra Dzuba

Hi Y'all! Did you have a good break? Mine was excellent, lots of hiking and family time and generally mulling over the brain raccoon fodder I have going on. Let's ease into this week with a little three card pull, eh?

- Page of Swords - This fuckin' guy. Well, so we've been collecting data and obtaining knowledge and we feel prepared to use it....but we still don't have a handle on the most practical application of this information. I feel like we are ready to jump in two different directions, and each path contradicts the other. This Page harbors some doubts and indecision in the face of potential action. Time for us to knuckle down and make an informed step forward....

- Nine of Wands - The thing to remember here, is that we must be true to ourselves (and this very thing should inform our actions). The wands relate to creative expansion, removing any distracting and extraneous flourishes and really distilling a thing down to it's very essence. The Nine of Wands assures us that our endeavor is not one of futility, that we have earned our place through hard work and tremendous discipline. The nine is a symbol of strength, telling us to accept our challenges rather than avoid them.

- Knight of Swords - Time to do this thing y'all. We are going to have to use our words and use them well in the pursuit of justice and truth. Full disclosure: I can't stand the signs at the airport that read, 'if you see something, say something' but you know, with good judgement this applies here. If you see something fucked up, you need to speak up for yourself and for others. We've done well to inform ourselves, we have worked hard to earn our position here and now we can act with courage and conviction. Fear is the mind killer, y'all - permit it to pass over and through you, and then get going!

- Jeff Goldblum - Let us just take a moment of pause to appreciate the beauty and wisdom found in Jeff Goldblum's Jurassic Park character, Dr. Ian Malcom, fictional mathematician and self-professed 'chaotician'. Enjoy.