This month we pulled The Ship card from Lulu’s Lenormand. In traditional Lenormand decks the ship takes the form of a tall ship with sails out on the sea. The Ship card refers to movement, travel, and foreign places. It can be a call to get out and explore or a signal that your “ship is about to come in.”

In a world of daily international travel and global communication, Lulu’s Lenormand takes the Ship’s province even farther outside with a vintage-style UFO (or UAP as they’re now labeled). Take the appearance of this Ship as a sign to not only get moving or explore new places… but also as a call to get “outside of the normal.” Investigate places both outside and within.

This October get outside of your comfort zone, get weird, and look to new horizons!

If you’ve been in our studio this year you’ve seen the ongoing installation art piece “Odyssey of the Oracle” by Dani Hurst Brown. This large hand-woven wreath has become a beautiful document of the turning seasons. Dani has now released a zine that takes you through the practice of “Seasonal Wreathing” in which the creation of your own handmade wreath becomes a work of art, a nature offering, and a diary of the year.

For a cute pick-me-up or to gift as a little token of friendship we have new enamel pins by Kitty with a Cupcake! The Kitty Tarot Death card and the Pocket Familiar bat are adorable and fill that Halloween fun need.

This month we head out to Philadelphia. Alessandra and I will be joined by Tyler Thrasher, Ash Miyagawa, Jane Almirall, and Sweet Destructor for a weekend pop-up event at Bloodmilk’s Sphinx and Snakeskin 45 N 2nd St, Philadelphia. Friday the 13th 6-9pm and Saturday the 14th 12-5pm. If you’re in the Philly area come say hi! And KC folks, Melissa is holding down the fort in our studio so we will be open our normal hours still!

If you’re looking for some ideas for trying something new… Oracle has several classes on the roster for October. On Friday the 20th I (Laura) will be teaching a Candle Divination class. That Sunday the 22nd Alessandra will teach a Scorpion pinning class. And on Thursday the 26th she will give a Bone Lecture.

So this October have some fun trying out new things, stretching your wings, and go for a wild Autumn ride! - Laura Pensar for Oracle Natural Science

For April we went ahead and chose Lulu’s Lucky Lenormand deck because it has such a Spring feel. The Clover card speaks of luck and auspicious opportunities. But the essence of Clover is fleeting. Your ship has come in, but there IS a departure time. This luck won’t just wait around for you to decide whether or not you’re on board. This is a seize the moment card.

So much of the way we work here in the studio at Oracle is reliant on what becomes available to us because we source our materials as sustainably as possible. That means when we are presented with and purchase certain items there is no guarantee that we will get it again. The trick is knowing what to say “yes” to and what to let go. As a small business we just can’t say yes to everything after all… and as an individual you need to be discerning with your time and energy too!

So recognizing the opportunities that line up with your best interests is key. Taking time to assess not only where you want to go but also the things you’re enjoying and benefitting from in the here and now is essential.

Practice checking in with yourself as you make simple day-to-day decisions. Trying to decide on what to order at the cafe? Ask yourself “what is the best option right now?” And whichever choice flashes through your mind at that second… order that one! (Narrow it down to 2 or 3 viable options before you ask yourself this question…) Figuring out which sweater to grab before heading out the door? “What is the best option right now?” And without rationalizing it… the one that flashes into your mind first is the sweater for the day!

By flexing your intuitive muscle this way regularly and with low-stakes choices helps you gain confidence in knowing which opportunities are right for you. You don’t always have control over what options you are presented with, but you can be confident that you will make the best possible choices you can with what you’re working with.

Much like the challenge of playing a card game, we have to work with the cards we’re dealt. If you know me, you know I LOVE playing card metaphors… almost as much as I love playing cards themselves! And Oracle has added a few GORGEOUS decks to the shop and I will be teaching a Divination with Playing Cards workshop next month!

Some believe skunks to be a lucky omen and are often viewed as messengers of Spring. Skunks remind us to trust our intuition and move with quiet confidence in our own power and ability to defend ourselves. The striking beauty of black and white stripes in the skunk’s tail is a visual reminder of balance and patterns. The small skunk skull reminds us that big power can come in tiny packages.

Setting up a crystal grid is a stabilizing meditative practice. When you feel like you need a little extra boost of intuition, setting up crystals in a formation to help you feel connected to spirit can be helpful.

April brings with it, if not warmer weather and sunshine, at least the promise of sunnier times soon ahead. As the world “springs” back to life keep your eyes open for opportunities as they emerge! Like the skunk, move calmly and with confidence knowing you have the capacity to handle what comes your way. And when you see that lucky clover, pick it up and carry it with you! — Laura Pensar for Oracle Natural Science