Today I'm exploring more into my new oracle deck Angels & Ancestors by Kyle Gray, art by Lily Moses. I wanted to start with a smaller part of the deck and become familiar with the it. Not just memorize the author's meaning of the cards but really fully connect with the intent of the card and what it says to me.
We'll be going back to the deck and pulling four more of the guardian cards. I hope you enjoy.
Guardians
The Protection Guardian comes with the message "Drop your shields". She wants us to release what is standing between ourselves and the things that bring us joy. She is protective and loving. Her intent is to help us drop that which is hiding our gifts and allow them to shine through. She is calm yet assertive and reminds us to release any pain or embarrassment from our souls and reach out past that to grow and embrace the fearlessness and courage we have within. When this card is revealed, it reminds us we are stronger than we think we are and we are protected from harm.
The Magick Guardian delivers the message, "Unlock the Magick Within". Many times we look to the world around us for our magick. The Magick Guardian reminds us that the magick is actually within us. Magick allows us to manifest the power at our will. She helps us direct our will to bring items either into creation or to move items at our will. She holds a cup in her hand showing the magick radiates from with her. When she arrives in a reading she tells us to look to ourselves from the power and not to the external. It is our power and we own that power. She tells us we are the gift and we have the power to make our will, reality.
The Heart Guardian reminds us to "Love and Let Yourself Be Loved" on her card. She can be called on when working with all matters of the heart. Be it love gained or love lost, the Heart Guardian is there to support us in our relationships. The center of the card has the sacred heart which is a symbol of boundless and complete love. Love is around all of us, all beings on the planet. Love should guide us in all we say and do. When this card is drawn we are invited to welcome in others into our lives, and be open to what love can bring us. All relationships, self, romantic and familial are included in this representation.
The Direction Guardian tells us to "Choose Your Path". This card tells us to follow our deepest desires. Take the road that leads to happiness and joy. When we are at a crossroad, the Direction Guardian appears to remind us that we need to choose not the easiest path, and not the hardest path, but the path that leads us to happiness. This card refers to Ezekiel, who met four faces at a crossroad. A cherub, a bull, a lion and an eagle. This reminds us that our messengers can have many faces but are there to support us in a positive manner. When this card is pulled we should understand that there are many directions we can travel. There are no wrong directions, just ones with different challenges and opportunities.
I hope you have enjoyed my take on these Guardian Cards. Next week, I'll be delving further into the Ancestors and Angels deck. Feel free to add your comments or questions - or reach out directly for a personal connection.
Today we're into my new oracle deck Angels & Ancestors by Kyle Gray, art by Lily Moses. I wanted to start with a smaller part of the deck and become familiar with the it. Not just memorize the author's meaning of the cards but really fully connect with the intent of the card and what it says to me.
For this section the author has created a group called Guardians and Messengers consisting of twelve different cards. Today I'll start with ones I have identified as the elemental guardians.
Guardians
The Air Guardian represents the element of air, which is all about thoughts, thinking and the mind. It helps us to overcome any thoughts that have come back to haunt you. It tells us to shift our perception. This direction tells us that if we stop and look at our situation from a different perspective our entire reality will be shifted.
When this card is pulled it is an opportunity to change our way of thinking. Sometimes the mind can play tricks and this gives us a chance to rethink what we have encountered and evaluate our decisions. It guides us to open our minds and see the world in a new way.
The Earth Guardian tells use to stay rooted and grounded. The author depicted this guardian as a non-binary energy. It tells us to take time to connect with energy of the Earth. Feel supported by the strength and integrity of the ground. Take a grounded approach to the world around you. Stop and take a deep breath before proceeding with actions or decisions. When the Earth Guardian appears it reminds to to take care of the planet but literally and figuratively. Relax, ground yourself and then proceed.
The Fire Guardian tells us to ignite our passion and connect with our deepest desires. Though some fear the this aspect we should embrace it. Even as a wild fire ravages a forest, it leaves behind the most fertile ground from which new life will grow. This energy reminds us to embrace our desire and burn away any old hangups that may be stopping us from moving forward. When we see this card we are reminded that the fiery energy of passion is not only in physical love but also in our drive and dedication for all things. From the spark of a first kiss to closing a big deal, we are passionate beings and should embrace that.
The Water Guardian tells us to connect with our emotions. As any water sign will tell you, water is all about connecting with your emotions. Being sensitive and dreamy is something to be embraced. Water is what our very bodies are made of. It lives within us at our core. This reminds us that emotions run deep within our being. The waters can help you unlock intuitive powers and abundance. When this card is pulled, remember to stop and connect with what you're feeling. Close your eyes, take in a breath and really concentrate on what your energies, your emotions are telling you about your situation.
These four cards are really beautiful. I enjoyed learning about them and I feel I will keep them in my deck. I was really pleased to see the author add a non-binary card. We we know from many historical sources there were angel spirits that did not have gender. I found this to be extremely timely and makes this a very modern deck. I love the image on the Air Guardian card.
Next week I'll be going back to the deck and pulling a few more guardian cards for us to examine. I hope this has been helpful and I thank you for joining me.
Today I'm exploring more into my new oracle deck Angels & Ancestors by Kyle Gray, art by Lily Moses. I wanted to start with a smaller part of the deck and become familiar with the it. Not just memorize the author's meaning of the cards but really fully connect with the intent of the card and what it says to me.
Seasons
Autumn is a time of shedding of the old and resting up for the renewal to come. A time when all the things around us, most notably the trees drop their own dying leaves to the ground to make way for the new buds of spring. We also sometimes need to pass off our old selves and allow it do wither away in order to revive ourselves with a burst of color and life. Holding on to the old will weigh us down, releasing that energy will allow us to change and grow. The raven on the card indicates healing in Celtic animal medicine. When it arrives in the spread, it indicates initiation and shows us to be aware of our own needs and desires.
Spring is a time of growth. It is a time to watch our seeds sprout and allow those changes that we have put in to come to fruition. Animals are coming alive to mate for the season, our buds on the trees are alive with potential. This is a time to bring our new ideas and inspiration. Opportunities, abundance and growth are afoot when this card comes up in a spread. The card shows the fertile wild hare which in Celtic animal medicine indicates intuition and rebirth. The arrival of the hare can bring dreams into reality.
Summer is a time to bask in the warm glow of the sun. To feel the energy and power of the sun light and allow personal endeavors blossom. Get out into world and feel a connection to the planet. This is a great time to use that extra energy of the sun to create new things or further a project that needs a little push of creativity. This card showcases a honey bee, wings spread with amber honey combs around it. The honey bee is said to be a messenger between our world and the spirit world in Celtic mythology. When the summer card reveals itself in a spread look for messages that may be coming from the spirit world regarding clarity, change and opportunity.
Winter is a time when we stay close to home and care for ourselves. It is the dark time, when the sun is scarce in the sky and our minds move to making sure our basic necessities are met. We take care of what we need and then move forward. It is a time or retreat and hibernation. This card features the image of a wolf, cross seasonal, solitary yet pack orientated and strong. Wolf medicine teaches us when we may need to stay together or go at it alone. When the winter card appears in our spread it tells us to move ahead of fears. While we want to move out of the dark, we need to become comfortable with the unknown and remember that we have light coming.
So this is an introduction to the Season cards in the Angels and Ancestors Oracle deck. I found it to be a good experience sitting with just the four cards and learning about them. I really liked the connection this has to Celtic animal medicine. My sister does Celtic totem readings and you can find her at her page Bone Songs on Facebook.
I hope you found this useful and thank you for helping me explore and connect with this deck while adding my energy and intuition to the Angels and Ancestors Oracle.
Connecting with magical tools is a very personal experience. There are many tutorials on how to do just that with all types of magical tools. From tarot cards for reader to hammers for carpenters, all tools need a connection. Some more than others. Learning the imagery of the deck for example, is one of the first steps of connecting with the cards.
Jessica Devine provided this video below on her take of connecting with the various magical tools in the witch's broom closet.
The only thing I would add to this is follow your own intuition when approaching each tool. Some may not resonate with keeping the deck under the pillow. Some may connect more by adding a daily reading of each card or by putting them on the wall as reminder. I may use a whiteboard tool to connect. It is a deeply personal experience and should be approached as such.
As Eli and look to begin vending again with our new shop Ethereal Grind, I've been getting my tool kit together to go back to providing my readings and consultations for clients on site. This meant I needed to find a new deck for this new endeavor. That of course can only mean one thing. ROAD TRIP! We headed out to Raleigh to stop by our favorite shop, Dancing Moon. Dancing Moon has been open here in NC for 30 years and has a huge selection of magical tools and materials. They have a resource library and are quick to share their knowledge with new comers and sages alike. I highly recommend stopping by if you have the chance.
Let's get into the cards.
This deck was published by Hay House with Kyle Gray in 2018. Their website has the following description:
We are surrounded by countless guides who want to share their knowledge with us to bring healing and change. Among them are the Angels and Ancestors.
In whichever culture or religion they appear, Angels have always had one mission: to love, help and guide humans. On the earthly plane, Ancestors are the wise ones, healers and warriors who have offered to share their knowledge and magic with us. In this empowering 55-card oracle deck, Celtic, Native American, Aboriginal and Earth-based spiritualities bridge the gap between this world and the next. The Angels and Ancestors know what you need to know, and by using the accompanying guidebook you'll learn how to unlock their secrets and messages, and live a life touched by divine, magical guidance.
This deck is fabulously illustrated by Lily Moses. Her art is stunning and the main reason I chose these cards. You can see more of her work here.
As I thumbed through the assorted oracle card decks, I tried to connect with them. The look, the feel the energy that was in each. My very first thought was, God these cards are huge. I have small hands and just getting my hands around the deck was a challenge. Many sets were a turn off just because they wouldn't fit. Having the cards "feel" right is to me, one of the most important steps in find a good divination tool. It has to fit or its forced energy and that energy, will never fit.
As I began looking through the decks on the shelves, deciding which to pull out of the box, I bypassed the majority of the angel cards. I tend to stay away from religion and more towards the magical. This deck just spoke to me. I pulled it out and began looking at the stunning artwork. The multicultural nature of this deck is beyond compare.
I walked around the store this deck and one other in my hands just to see who wanted to leave with me. Eli helped a customer learn to use a singing bowl while I admired the buddha statues. I contemplated on the energy I felt coming from the cards. Which were speaking to me? Which was the one who had the message for me? As I walked closer to the front of the shop, Eli looked at me and said, "One is who you are, the other is who you want to be."
Always, be who you are. I sat the other deck back on the shelf and knew the ancestors were working through this deck to guide me on my choice. I look forward to spending some time over the next few weeks with these cards; getting to know them and sharing that experience with you.
Truth In Story did a wonderful walkthrough of this deck. I loved how she talks about each card here and gives her take on then. I also like how she shows taking out elements that don't feel they fit into the deck. Last night as I was walking through this deck, my very first deck I felt, well this energy doesn't fit. I'm going to set this one aside. I was a little concerned as I have had only real experience with the tarot. When I saw her do the same thing, it resonated with me. I'm glad to see I was on track with this. So have a look at these beautiful cards.
Thank you for spending some time with me today. I look forward to getting back in the swing of writing, learning and sharing my magical world with you.
Posts
