Oracle's Card of the Month: November '23

For November I pulled the Rose card from the For Strange Women Oracle deck. A card of romance and relationship. Roses have been associated with love since ancient Greece. The red rose is sacred to Aphrodite. It was said that all roses used to be white until Aphrodite cut her ankle on a rose thorn while running to save her lover, Adonis. Her blood stained the roses she ran past red thus connecting them to her and passion.

The Romans considered roses to be symbolic of romance, secrecy, and luxury. Roses were put in the bedroom and petals were thrown at celebrations. Even today roses continue to be an icon of romance and are given as a token of affection.

As the winter approaches it may be a good time to call in some romance. Fill your space with warmth and glamour. Light candles, burn a sensual incense, drape luxurious furs over your furniture, display flowers and art. Romance isn’t only for lovers.

Pink Amethyst is a rare form of Amethyst found in Patagonia. It is said to bring emotional balance and overall peace through calm, understanding, and grace. Crystal towers with sparkling caverns and soothing hues make for a simple romantic touch to any table or shelf.

Ethically/sustainably-sourced furs add a luxurious and tactile element to your environment. Persian Lamb, Rabbit, or Muskrat pelts look lovely as a surface covering on tabletops.

In the Oracle studio we love highlighting the beauty of nature in our art. One particularly romantic piece is our framed snake and florals assemblage. Some traditions associate serpents with desire. This taxidermy snake is nestled in a cushion of lush green foliage and soft pink flowers.

Things made by hand have an intrinsic romance to them. November 25th is Small-Business Saturday… and we’re hosting a slow craft pop-up! Please Send Word will be in the shop with their handmade goods.

November marks Oracle’s 10-year anniversary! We’re celebrating this month by featuring the individual work of our 3-person team. It’s a Pop-Us (get it? Instead of pop-up it’s a pop-US). Art by shop owner and lead taxidermist Alessandra Dzuba, assistant taxidermist and lead illustrator Melissa Chepren, and me… studio manager and lead writer Laura Pensar. Drop in and help us celebrate a decade of Oracle Natural Science!

Alessandra Dzuba

Melissa Chepren

Laura Pensar

This November, fall in love with the changing seasons… get cozy AND sensual (they aren’t mutually exclusive after all)! Cheers! - Laura Pensar for Oracle Natural Science

Oracle's Card of the Month: October '23

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

Oracle's Card of the Month: August '23

August is a transitional month as schedules change and the heat of the Summer brings its full energy. For August we turned to The Forbidden Forest (playing cards by the Toronto-based design studio Humble Raja) and pulled the High/Red Joker!

The High Joker is Wild Light. Unpredictability, spontaneity, and general antics out in the open. This Joker brings their wild side into the light and embraces all the chaos under the sun.

The High Joker in The Forbidden Forest has popped some fresh cut Summer flowers into a skull and made a lively vase out of decay. But on closer look we see that what appears to be a skull is truly just a vase with strategically placed blooms and leaves… not so scary after all. A reminder that even in the light of day things may not always be as they seem.

This month embrace your wild side and let your individual quirkiness see the light.

Hyenas seem like a fitting symbol for the wild energy of the High Joker. With their unusual vocalizations, ability to seemingly double their size by raising the hair along their back, and bone-crushing teeth (just check out the jaws on this Hyena skull!)… Hyenas are very unique creatures. So take up space, gnash your teeth, and make whatever noises feel right. Get wild.

Tourmaline is a highly sought-after crystal… and the green variety is particularly lovely. It can range in color from a pale mint green to a deep emerald hue. A great stone for staying brightly active during the heat of the summer. Green Tourmaline is said to be associated with healing, strength, vitality, and wholeness. A gentle reminder to tap into your stamina and embrace all aspects of yourself.

This month we head out to Denver for a pop-up and jam-packed weekend of classes at RitualCravt! Oracle will be there along with Tyler Thrasher, Moth & Candle, and Weaves-Shoots-And-Leaves. There’s a Candle Divination class, Spider Magic class, Wreath Art class, and Bone Articulation workshop! So if you are in the Denver area come take part in the fun! Our KC studio will be closed while we head West (August 17th-20th), but we will be back to normal shop hours August 24th!

And finishing out the month, we will be hosting Handsome Devil Puppets for a special KC show on Monday the 28th. HDP shows are always a special experience. Tickets tend to sell out quickly so if you think you want to be there you may want to reserve yours now.

This August I hope you can feel at-one with your inner Joker and when life throws you a wild card keep it light! — Laura Pensar for Oracle Natural Science

Oracle's Card of the Month: July '23

July is Summer break… which somewhat ironically is hardly a break at all for many of us! This month we’ve pulled the Spoonbill + Labradorite card from the Obsidian Oracle deck by Megan Buccere.

This card is associated with taking a break and introspection. While it may seem counterintuitive to be thinking in terms of taking a break just as Summer activities are ramping up, it’s important to remember the value in rest.

“There’s no shame in retreating from the world to indulge in some introspection. Don’t be afraid to give your mind and spirit what they need . . . give yourself time to breathe and think.” (From the Obsidian Oracle guidebook by Trish Sullivan).

This month take a break here or there to center yourself and tend to your needs. Maybe wade through some shallow water and feel your way forward really connecting to your tactile senses.

The Spoonbill’s skull is so distinctive from other birds, including its close relative the Ibis, because of the flat spatula-like bill. The Spoonbill’s nostrils are close to the base so that it can breathe while the rest of its bill is submerged in water. Spoonbills forage by slowly wading through shallow waters and feeling for food with their sensitive bills. While they remain in large colonies, they are focused as they take care of their individual needs.

Labradorite is a stone associated with connecting to your inner vision and higher awareness. Labradorite has an iridescent quality known as labradorescence: “the peculiar reflection of the light from submicroscopical planes orientated in one direction.” Each piece of labradorite is a unique visual experience, a world of its own.

This month our friends from RitualCravt in Denver will be coming to KC for classes and a special market pop-up in Oracle! Friday, July 21st Jess Ellis (Atropos Curios) and Alessandra Dzuba will teach “The Magic of Spiders” workshop. Saturday the 22nd will be the pop-up market from 11am to 5pm here in the Oracle studio. And Saturday evening Missy Rhysing will lead a Beginning Past Life Meditation workshop.

And following our own advice… we will be taking a very small break ourselves. Oracle will be closed on Sunday July 2nd. (But back in the studio and open again on Wednesday July 5th!)

This July I hope you can find some time for yourself amongst the hustle and bustle of the Summer. — Laura Pensar for Oracle Natural Science

Oracle's Card of the Month: June '23

June is for Lovers! This month we are using a new (to us) deck: The Numinous Tarot by Cedar McCloud. With June being Pride month and the official beginning of Summer, the Lovers seems like a perfect fit.

“This card represents not just romantic love, but the love between family members, between friends, between mentor and mentee; the love we have for out planet, our pets, our favorite foods, our hometowns, our heart homes; every caring connection that lights us up from the inside and encourages us to be our best selves.” (From the Numinous Tarot’s guidebook).

I love this interpretation of The Lovers. And here the illustration is very much a circle of community and loving support. Traditionally, the Lovers card is also about choices and decisions. So considering the people we choose to bring into our circle, the things we show preference for, how we choose to fill our hearts and the hearts of others.

This month, try focusing on the threads of connection that bring you joy, light you up, and help you to feel and express love in all its forms.

June 10th we will have a special artist pop-up with Tyler Thrasher from Tulsa and Mickey Alice Kwapis from Chicago! Tyler is bringing his glow-in-the-dark plants and bouquets… a unique way to give your dear ones flowers! And Mickey will help you create special memento lockets!

Here at Oracle we are all enthusiastic about insects! And we are so happy to have our brand new instructional zine out “The Bare Basics of Bug Pinning.” Alessandra wrote this fantastic zine on everything you need to know to start pinning your own insect specimens at home! So if you (or someone you care about) loves bugs like we do, pick up a copy!

We are also super excited to announce the release of “Persephone’s Broom Closet!” This zine is a collaboration between myself (Laura) and Melissa (our lead illustrator). Filled with magical tips to clear and renew your space. Fall in love with your home all over again (or maybe for the first time!)

The 21st is the Summer Solstice! We will be offering custom dressed candles and special bundles in the shop Wednesday the 21st through Saturday the 24th! Stop in for a little summery seasonal pick-me-up.

The days are longer, the weather is definitely warm here in KC, and school is out (unless you’ve signed up for some extra learning credits)! So spend some time filling each and every choice you make with love. May your June be filled with the people and things you love! — Laura Pensar for Oracle Natural Science

Oracle's Card of the Month: May '23

The King of Clubs is our card for May! The archetype for the King of Clubs is Protector of Fortune (Luck). With a force as unpredictable and uncontrollable as Fortune, this king has a large order cut out for them. So what’s the most safeguarded approach to navigate the winds of fate? The King of Clubs likes to align with the odds and learn from history.

When reading playing cards you aren’t necessarily looking to the images for intuitive prompts… but if you use an illustrated deck, you absolutely can get extra meaning to guide you along. The deck we’re drawing from this month is from the fully-illustrated playing card deck Cabinetarium by Armando Veve.

This King of Clubs features a surrealist carnivorous plant growing in a minimalist-style planter, what appears to be a human arm reaches out of the pitcher body of the plant and towards a fly zooming dangerously close to the fingertips.

One of the things I love about this deck is that the illustrations clearly tell a story, but the circumstances and ending are completely undetermined, making them perfect intuitive prompts. Pairing this wild carnivorous-plant tale with the King of Clubs archetype can go a couple ways…

Are we the fly? In which case, the precautionary approach is to take what we know about the potential “reach” of our adversary and make sure our course remains just out-of-bounds.

But if we are the plant/hand… the lesson to be taken is strike quickly and with precision. If you miss, that fly is not likely to make the same mistake twice.

And perhaps the most bizarre interpretation… what if that hand belongs to a third party rather than being part of the plant? We’ve already established that this plant is in a planter and the fly also appears to establish a relatively normal size for the scenario… but then that hand (and the being attached to it) would be unnaturally small. And then we must wonder, are they trapped inside the plant and reaching desperately for some sort of help? Or are they themselves the predator and simply hiding within the body of the plant? The former is a cautionary tale and the fly becomes a symbol of decay. The latter, will reinforce the need for timing and precision on the side of the predator and awareness and caution on the side of the fly.

So how are we to know which scenario to incorporate into our reading? Well, take a moment to consider which role most accurately fits your current situation. Not that you are a fly or a predator, but… Are you in need of an opportunity? Then the message for the predator applies best here: The soundest way to work with luck is to be prepared to act quickly and with clarity when the opportunity presents itself. On the other hand (ha… sorry) if you are currently working towards something the message would be from the fly’s perspective: keep working towards your goal while being aware of the potential hazards and giving yourself plenty of wiggle room. In other words, this is not a time to be cutting things close, even if it means taking slightly more time or effort, go ahead and exercise caution.

Overall, the King of Clubs asks you to know your own situation and to be aware of what, given your knowledge and previous experiences, will be most likely to help you succeed. Honestly, for a card in the suit of luck and fortune, this King is exceedingly practical.

Since we’re talking about the suit of Luck, deer are often considered symbols of good fortune and abundance. North American Mule Deer antlers are typically wider and taller than those of the Whitetailed Deer.

The book “Walking in the Woods” by Professor Yoshifumi Miyazaki covers the Japanese way of shinrin-yoku or ‘forest bathing.’ In order to be alert and aware of our surroundings (whether as the fly or as the hand…) we need to be centered and calm. A charming book that goes into the practice of being fully present in nature.

In the spirit of our surrealist carnivorous plant scenario from above… the Tevaplanter is a terracotta vessel that acts as a water bank for plants. Water is slowly diffused through the material to the cells. Roots have constant access to water and air. A great way to grow small carnivorous (and other less predatory plants) in your home!

And if you’re interested in learning to read with playing cards… I’m teaching a class on 5/21 here at Oracle: Learn Divination with Playing Cards. A world of insight opens up when you consider regular playing cards symbolically and solitaire becomes more than a game to pass the time.

May, no longer the beginning of the year… but still so much of 2023 is laid out before us. Now is a good time to take stock of where you are. Are you working towards something specific or are you in need of some fresh opportunities? Either way, be alert and be ready. — Laura Pensar for Oracle Natural Science