Faeries' Oracle

[ravenscape]

I'm not sure if this is the right forum to put this topic. I hope so. I'm curious about other people's experience with this oracle deck. I've never messed with oracle decks before purchasing this one. Tarot is another story. ;)

I've written up my first reading with this deck. It was quite surprising to get such a strong sense of connection to a strange deck, especially a non-Tarot deck.

I bought the Faerie's Oracle last weekend. I wasn't planning to buy it, was actually looking at the Sacred Circle Tarot deck for about the hunnerd and eleventh time. But, I came home with the Faerie's Oracle. I love Brian Froud's artwork, always have, so I guess it was inevitable that I'd eventually succumb.

So a day or so after buying the cards I opened up the book and took a look. The book suggests not skipping straight to the section on meanings, but to work through the earlier exercises first, and I was game.

When I do this with a Tarot deck, I usually don't gain a great deal, because I already know the basic meanings of cards, and the types of symbolism that are usually utilized by Tarot artists.

But the symbolism of the Faery deck is quite different and compelling, and the cards don't have suits. There are "majors" but they don't correspond to Tarot majors at all.

So, I found that I was able to do the "naive user" exercises and actually be a naive user. And the first reading simply knocked my socks off.

It was a getting acquainted exercise. Go through the cards and pick the one that you're most attracted to, or like for whatever reason, do the same to pick the card you like least, and finally turn the cards upside down and spread them out/mix them up, and pick the one you feel you should - for whatever reason.

It was amazing. The card that appealed to me was no great surprise "The Green Woman" - Wildness, natural magic, gratitude, and creativity. An image embodying such things would have to appeal to me.

The card that most repelled me REALLY repelled me. There was no contest between it and the next most repellant card. The Title was "The Soul Shrinker". Imagine my surprise in discovering that the meaning of this card is cruelty, malice, gossip, curses, destruction, and oddly - blessing. The card could not have better nailed some issues that have weighed heavily on me in the last couple of weeks. The blessing aspect of this card goes thusly - every time a person grasps how gossip, malice and curses harms the receiver -- and the receiver -- the Soul Shrinker grows a little less ugly. Ultimately it's a card about compassion, understanding, and forgiveness. What a wake-up call.

The final card of the three is a gift from the Universe, so to speak. It may show how to resolve the issues or heal from the issues that are described in the second card. Or it may illuminate the choice of the first card in terms of transition or in terms of an emotional or spiritual turning away from something about ourselves that we don't want to embrace or accept at the moment.

One card had caught my eye already, the two times I had rifled through the deck. I was looking forward to reading more about it, though I definitely wasn't drawn to it or repulsed by it. But it did make me uncomfortable on some undefinable level. I mixed the cards and spread them out before me, then ran my hand about an inch above them. I was strongly drawn to one corner of the mixed up spread out mess. I put my hand down on the cards in that section, and got a strong sense of the one card that I should choose. I was a little off-put about getting such a strong call from a strange deck. Didn't quite trust myself. So I passed my hand above the cards again, feeling for any other calls. Nope, nothing like that card over in the corner, half-underneath another. So I picked it up.

It was the card that had caught my eye, called the Dark Lady. Where the Green Woman exudes playfulness and confidence, the Dark Lady is brooding and powerful. The sort of creature described as "fell" in Faerie literature.

Anyway, I stared at the card for a while trying to decide what she meant to me, then went off to the back of the book to read more. She symbolizes unconscious power and wisdom, rituals, mysteries, and secrets.

Three for three, definitely. The Green Woman beautifully illustrates those aspects of spirituality, paganism and magic that I am comfortable with in myself, and the Dark Lady represents all those things I avoid and fear that I'd lose something as valuable as I would gain if I were to take that leap into more serious practice of my beliefs and development of my talents.

I like wild magic, the unpredictableness of those moments of sublime coincidence. I like being intuitive and untrained, if that makes sense. And I can continue to develop spiritually in that direction, or I can get more serious. It's the choice I've been avoiding for over a year.

I've tried another three card reading since then, on a specific subject, and once again the cards gave some unexpected insights, yet were clearly right on the mark.

I almost don't want to delve much further, because the card meanings will become ingrained and the mystery will be gone, unless I purposely stay at a more intuitive, less schooled level.

This is my first real experience with non-Tarot oracular cards, and my mind is thoroughly blown.

[Dio]

This is the deck that I use and I love it. I also like how the creator of the deck has you work with the cards themselves so you can make up your own interpretations rather than having to follow what the book's interpretations are. It's so far been the most 'talkative' deck that I've been able to find and use. I also love that Brian Froud did the artwork for them. Definately my favorite.

[ravenscape]

Yeah...it was inevitable I'd eventually buy this deck given Brian Froud was the illustrator. Have you checked out their website for the deck?

[Dio]

Yeah...it was inevitable I'd eventually buy this deck given Brian Froud was the illustrator. Have you checked out their website for the deck?
Yes I have. It's pretty cool. :hehehehe:

I think the best thing I got to do, though, was sit in and participate in a couple of workshops that Jessica MacBeth taught about the oracle deck. She was a very sweet and charming lady. Gave us all a lot of freedom to work with the decks however we felt was most comfortable, which is the way divination should work in my opinion.

[ravenscape]

How quickly did you define the Zero card? Having only had the deck for less than a week, I've been a little skittish about trying to set it in stone, so to speak.

[Shanti]

The oracle deck is awesome.
My tarot comes first but my oricle always clears any confusion or blurred messages coming from my tarot.
I never do my tarot with out the oracle deck supervising. If the tarot isnt clear, I know its time for the oracle to talk..and it always does.

Its a strange relationship, but the 3 of us work in harmony!!!
My tarot and oracle are inseperateble partners.
And Froud did an awesome job!!

[Dio]

How quickly did you define the Zero card? Having only had the deck for less than a week, I've been a little skittish about trying to set it in stone, so to speak.
You know, I don't even use this card. I haven't felt the need to. So, I never defined it at all..

I suppose if one day I ever feel it necessary to do so, I'll do it then. Apparently it's taking a long time for me. :hehehehe:

[ravenscape]

You know, I don't even use this card. I haven't felt the need to. So, I never defined it at all..

I suppose if one day I ever feel it necessary to do so, I'll do it then. Apparently it's taking a long time for me. :hehehehe:

Heh!

Just curious, and haven't given much personal thought to how I'll handle this. Do you take the zero card out of your deck when using it? If not, when the zero card comes up, how do you interpret it. "YOU'RE NOT LISTENING TO MEEEEE!!" comes to mind :awilly:

[ravenscape]

Oh, and one more question for you both, Dio and Shanti --

How long ago did you acquire the Fairies' Oracle? How long did it take to familiarize yourself with it. Was it your first oracle deck?

Shanti, you mention using it in conjunction with Tarot and I'd like to hear more. Do you do reading for others using both decks?

I have a couple of relationship readings I've promised friends. I was planning to use the Druidcraft, and probably still will, but may do something with the FO as well.

[Dio]

Heh!

Just curious, and haven't given much personal thought to how I'll handle this. Do you take the zero card out of your deck when using it? If not, when the zero card comes up, how do you interpret it. "YOU'RE NOT LISTENING TO MEEEEE!!" comes to mind :awilly:

I just took mine out of the deck. I still have it, I just don't include it in the rest of my deck. I suppose if you kept it in, and ended up pulling it, you could interpret it in any way felt right to you.


Oh, and one more question for you both, Dio and Shanti --

How long ago did you acquire the Fairies' Oracle? How long did it take to familiarize yourself with it. Was it your first oracle deck?

Shanti, you mention using it in conjunction with Tarot and I'd like to hear more. Do you do reading for others using both decks?

I have a couple of relationship readings I've promised friends. I was planning to use the Druidcraft, and probably still will, but may do something with the FO as well.

I got my deck about 6 years ago, I think... I remember I connected to it immediately. I have also played a little bit with the R.J. Stewart Dreampower Tarot which is more of an oracle deck as well. But the Faerie Oracle was definately the first oracle deck that I've done readings with.

[gwendar]

I love this deck.
I bought it last summer, but sad to say, I don't use it enough.
Pulled it out last night, though. :p
It's always amazing. I always gain something from using it.
The first time I ever had someone read cards for me, she used this deck, and it was scarily accurate!
Thinking about it makes me want to play with it some more! :D

And I haven't drawn on the Zero card yet, either, though I still keep it in the deck. It hasn't yet come up in a reading though...

I find there are certain cards I draw all the time, too. Mainly, Death and Himself. Himself has been my favourite card since the first time I looked through the deck. (He popped in to visit me last night, too!) And I always pull death cards, whether tarot or oracle, so it isn't surprising... :lol:

I don't subscribe to any particular religious/spiritual views at the moment, but I have to say, Himself, he just feels like The God to me.

Ok, I'm done rambling, but if you ever want to chat about this deck, I'll listen! :D

[Semjaza]

I find there are certain cards I draw all the time, too. Mainly, Death and Himself. Himself has been my favourite card since the first time I looked through the deck. (He popped in to visit me last night, too!) And I always pull death cards, whether tarot or oracle, so it isn't surprising... :lol:

I don't subscribe to any particular religious/spiritual views at the moment, but I have to say, Himself, he just feels like The God to me.


I feel the same way, the Himself card has a strange pull. As well as The Dark Lady...

I found that this deck reads true, more so than a lot of tarot decks I've owned. Perhaps the nature of the deck makes it more responsive?

Cheers,

Semjaza
FFFF

[ravenscape]

The Tarot deck that I've felt most connected with is Druidcraft, though I occasionally use other decks for meditation purposes. Working with Faeries' Oracle, even to the small extent that I have so far, has been something else, though. The cards seem immediate, and extremely relevant. The connection I have with Druidcraft seems more distant, and more veiled in symbolism. The FO may not be straightforward, but it's direct.

I can't put it in better words than that, at least yet.

[gwendar]

I sort of feel that with tarot, it can be very insightful, but there's something missing. The Faeries' Oracle feels real somehow, like I'm really connecting with the Universe in some way ...
If that makes sense.
The faeries are just so vibrant and full of life.
And I like faeries, anyway. :D


Edit:
Oh, and I forgot to mention:
Earlier today, it was only about a minute before I saw this post that I was thinking I would like to see the thread discussing the FO. :p Neat!

[ravenscape]

I sort of feel that with tarot, it can be very insightful, but there's something missing. The Faeries' Oracle feels real somehow, like I'm really connecting with the Universe in some way ...
If that makes sense.
The faeries are just so vibrant and full of life.
And I like faeries, anyway. :D


Edit:
Oh, and I forgot to mention:
Earlier today, it was only about a minute before I saw this post that I was thinking I would like to see the thread discussing the FO. :p Neat!

There's a thread devoted to FO??? LINKY!! :awilly:

[gwendar]

Oh, ooops. I made a typo, sorry! *blush*
I meant to say,
"I would like to see a thread discussing the FO."

Sorry I got you all excited!

[ravenscape]

LOL...OK...so this IS the thread discussing FO, then.

What types of spreads do you like to do with this deck? I'm still in the mostly-reading stage and thinking about whether this deck would work well with some of my favorite Tarot spreads.

I've been having very good results with a hexagon spread using the Druidcraft deck. It's a relationship-exploration spread. Might give that a try with the FO.

[Hope]

i suppose we should try and get a mod to get this in the right forum area

love
t

[wolf]

If by "Zero" card you mean the "make your own faerie" card, I keep it in the deck. When it comes up I do journey work to connect directly with the Fae and see who comes to me and what lessons they offer.

A friend of mine uses this deck almost exclusively. She says that when the Fae come to you in a reading you can call upon them for help and assistance with your issue and task. She does a lot of meditative work with the Fae this way.

My connection isn't as strong as hers, but I experience the same thing.

Nothing like the Fae to get you out of yourself and jolted into a different perspective.

[Rowan Darkmoon]

I love this oracle!! I have a friend who has done a couple readings for me with it, and it has always been VERY accurate and to the point. However, I've found with this oracle that if you don't address something that it's suggested, the Fae will do it for you. Word of warning if you ask it about something that you don't want to deal with right at that moment. :lol:

[wolf]

The Fae's approach to problemsolving is sometimes unusual, to say the least.

[Rowan Darkmoon]

The Fae's approach to problemsolving is sometimes unusual, to say the least.

Yeah, the first time I had a reading with this deck, I was having some serious problems with credit card debt that I didn't want to talk to my parents about. The Fae advised me to be honest, and I chose not to listen to them. Well, one of my bills ended up going to my parents, when I lived a state away, and my step-mom ended up opening it because she thought that it was her name. You have to understand that my step-mom is the MOST anal woman in the world, and would never do something like that (partially because it's illegal and partially because she values people's privacy).

So, yeah, I ended up having to be honest about it because it was all out in the open at that time. 8O

[mol]

i suppose we should try and get a mod to get this in the right forum area

love
t
Report it and request it be moved! =] I am moving it to Tarot now.

[ravenscape]

Thank you! I figured the thread belonged in one forum or the other :D


I love this oracle!! I have a friend who has done a couple readings for me with it, and it has always been VERY accurate and to the point. However, I've found with this oracle that if you don't address something that it's suggested, the Fae will do it for you. Word of warning if you ask it about something that you don't want to deal with right at that moment. :lol:

Ok...well that's good to know. I need to do relationship readings for two friends, both of whom are considering divorce, but it's touchy due to children and other issues. They can't just walk away and let the chips fall.

I think I'll stick with the Druidcraft for these readings :)

[gwendar]

As for spreads, I don't use them a whole lot with the FO.
But, like I said earlier, I don't use it enough, so I'm guessing when I do, spreads will come eventually.
I find I get good advice from just trying to connect with them and kinda shuffling the cards while thinking of my concerns, and just pulling cards when it "feels right."
I don't know if most people would call that a "proper" way to read, but I find that most people do best with things that feel right, and don't mind so much if it's "proper." But this deck doesn't seem to need to be read like tarot, to me, anyway.
However, once I used a spread called "Sacred Cave." I found it here in the Tarot forum somewhere, I think it was a thread by Amethyst Rose. I can't recall right off how the spread goes, but I think it was 5-6 cards. And it was excellent. I'll see if I can find that and post it for you.

What sort of spreads have you tried, ravenscape and anyone else? :)


Edit: Here's the thread with the Sacred Cave spread. :)
http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?t=3528&highlight=%22Tarot+Games%22

[Hærfest Leah]

I have this deck but haven't used it in a year or so. I like it tho.

[HetHert]

http://www.worldoffroud.com/www/faeries/oracle/index.cfm Click on the link that says Faery oracle on-line half way down the page.

Oh and today I walked into work and went to the metaphysical sorting shelves and found that we had bought a Faery Oracle deck. So I grabbed it!!! YAY! I finally have my very own faery oracle!:boing: :boing: :boing:

[gwendar]

http://www.worldoffroud.com/www/faeries/oracle/index.cfm Click on the link that says Faery oracle on-line half way down the page.

Oh and today I walked into work and went to the metaphysical sorting shelves and found that we had bought a Faery Oracle deck. So I grabbed it!!! YAY! I finally have my very own faery oracle!:boing: :boing: :boing:

So how do you like the deck? :)

[The High Queen of Faerie]

How quickly did you define the Zero card? Having only had the deck for less than a week, I've been a little skittish about trying to set it in stone, so to speak.

Before I read the rest of this thread, I felt the need to reply to this particular post...

Funnily enough, at the beginning exercise, the Zero card was the one I picked as the card that I liked the least. Heh, I'll type up a portion of my 'meanings journal' that I keep, all of which is intuitive.

I hope it proves to be at least a little bit helpful, or at least thought-provoking.


14 Sept 04 . New Moon . Card Zero - The Faery Guide
(From The High Queen of Faerie's Oracle Journal)
There really is no emotional atmosphere for this card. It's blank. The blankness must be to add something, though... it could just mean an emotional state of confusion and not knowing at all what to do. Also... feelings of total helplessness.

This card could symbolise a bit of a stand still, where a descision has to be made. The descision, however, is on the shoulders of the querant alone. This card depicts no outside influences. The querant may be feeling completely confused and have no idea what to do next. The blankness symbolises being up in the air about things, so to speak.

The querant is not leaning one way or the other. What exactly the querant is blank about depends on the question - it could mean confusion. Spiritual characteristics - questioning, perhaps of beliefs. Self-evaluation. Helplessness.

The lack of imagery could symbolise being without a guide... there's no one to take on the querant's responsibilities. No one will do things for them.

[ravenscape]

That's an interesting approach! My zero card is still blank, I haven't had a real sense of what I'd do with it yet. There's a lot going on kind of under the surface in my spiritual life right now. Like waiting for Ol' Faithful to blow.

[The High Queen of Faerie]

Hehe, mine's blank. :P I like it that way.

[tweetykiss]

I just bought a fairie deck but don't know how to use it yet....

[ravenscape]

How's it going with your new deck tweetykiss?

[~Agnes~]

Hi tweetykiss,
which faery deck did you buy? If it's the one by Brian Froud, then the book is excellent and has great information on how to work with the deck.

I love this deck and get amazingly accurate readings with it. :)

[ravenscape]

I'm taking the nanowrimo challenge in November, and I'm thinking I might use the Faeries' Oracle when I run dry of plot ideas. Has anyone ever used this deck in fiction writing? I'm thinking the last series of cards are all excellent plot-thickeners.

[Glanecia]

I drew a picture of a girl I "met" in a very surreal dream of mine -what was freaky was that the girl looked nothing like me, but there was a moment when we were both looking at each other (in the dream) and we both knew that she was me, and that I was her --I could go on and on about details, but I won't :P What I really wanna do is just share the picture I drew for the zero card. I figure this girl (me, but not me...) was the right choice for the card.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y57/Glanecia/my_faerie.gif

Meh! I'm not an artist, but I do like to pretend I am :P

[~Agnes~]

Glanecia,
that is beautiful. What a perfect little fairy.. :)

[Shatril]

I have had this deck for several years, and I used it extensively. The readings were always so powerful. A friend of mine fell in love with my deck, so I bought her one for Yule. She would sit and read those cards almost addictively. Then one night, not while reading the cards, she had a heart attack and died. Her mother, knowing that I gave her the cards, gave that deck to me. They are still sitting on my self, below all the other decks, and for some reason I just can't use my deck anymore.

I have been searching for another deck that talks as loudly. I found the Lakota Sweat Lodge Cards, and boy do they scream. Everytime I read with them they give me a full answer, and even a ritual to perform tha are usually extremely powerful, and cleansing and empowering. If you want to experiment with some really different shamanistic cards, I highly recommend these.

Shatril

[ravenscape]

Thanks Shantril! I'll keep the deck in mind, they sound very interesting. That loud voice is not something I find in every deck, by a long shot.

The deck sounds like something my younger son would very much like, too. He's interested in Shamanism. Most of that section of my library has been in his room this year.