Tag: metaphysical-oracle

This and that…


Here’s a new-to-me deck that I’m very much looking forward to exploring: Colette Baron-Reid’s The Spirit Animal Oracle. The illustrations by Jena DellaGrottaglia are superb, so you may see a lot of these on here for the art alone. I like oracle decks in general a little more than tarot. The guidebook for this one is detailed but without giving overlong explanations.

I was eager to pull a card at random. Then I had to laugh.

I write a character who often reminds others, “Two things can be true at once,” (as related to things that may seem to be in opposition). He’s just about to get a taste of his own medicine in that regard in the scene I’ve been working on. I guess Dolphin is letting me know I’m supposed to be writing–but hey, Dolphin, this AND that are true: I need to be writing, and I needed you to remind me.

What, after all, is friendlier than a nudge from a dolphin? Sometimes, it even saves lives.

Crows on my mind

Had some drama with my website again last night as I was closing down. Seems to happen frequently these days, so I’m glad for their 24/7 customer support, but I’d be even gladder if whatever is causing these problems would be found and become a distant memory.

I had a bunch of home business stuff to take care of this morning, so I’m not getting started writing until after noon. My problem with this character is I KNOW the ultimate resolution of his story arc, but I’m not altogether sure how to get there. Since he likes to think of himself as having characteristics of a crow, I took out MJ Cullinane’s Urban Crow Oracle deck for fun.

I pulled Distance, Risk, and Balance. These happen to all be important elements of the character’s life, so I figure the message is that as long as I write him true to who he is and was created to be, we’re all good regardless of where my thoughts may be straying.

CDs are in the changer because I’m in the library, with dogs (like Eva) taking turns hogging the fire. Tonight before I stop, I’ll post my day’s playlist (assuming the site cooperates).

I hope good actions, good feelings, and tech cooperation are part of your day.

ETA: Today’s playlist. A lot of CDs. Maybe some were not as long as others, because it doesn’t seem like I got an abundance of writing done while all these played. (Of course, I also left them playing while I ordered a few household items and prepared and ate dinner.) I think I can bring the chapter to an end by the time I go to bed. The next chapter should be more fun and faster.


Lana Del Rey, Lust for Life and Norman Fucking Rockwell; The Doors, Waiting For The Sun; Eagles, Their Greatest Hits and Hotel California (my other Eagles albums were drowned and some have been replaced with albums); Steve Earle, Guitar Town (Steve Earle is so talented; this one is Tom’s, but I really like it); The Escape Club, Dollars and Sex; Melissa Etheridge, Yes I Am; Your Little Secret, Breakdown; Lucky, and Skin. Tom’s the bigger Melissa Etheridge fan, but I like her, too.

Photo Friday, No. 817

Current Photo Friday theme: Arranged

Today, I arranged cards from a couple of decks to see my characters as archetypes based on animal energy. Then I also started matching them to archetypes from Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung’s list of twelve that includes Innocent, Ruler, Creator or Artist, Sage, Explorer, Rebel, Hero, Magician or Wizard, Jester, Everyman, Lover, and Caregiver.

Tarot Etc. Thursday No. 22

Last week I featured the 15 Tarot decks I have. Here are the rest of the decks or similar items I’ve located throughout Houndstooth Hall.

I’ve featured four Oracle decks. If you Google the difference between Oracle and Tarot cards, you’ll find a wealth of information (some of it contradictory–good luck!). My decks are:


Celtic Astrology Oracle Cards


The Illustrated Crystallary Oracle Cards


The Urban Crow Oracle


Messages From Your Animal Spirit Guides Oracle Deck

In addition to my Tarot and Oracle decks, here are other items I have on my shelves. Like these, that I should use MORE OFTEN.


Mindfulness On the Go (2014) is a small book by Jan Chozen Bays with twenty-five mindfulness practices that can be done anywhere. These are meant to get a person into the habit of cultivating “the gratitude and insight that come from paying attention with body, heart, and mind to life’s many small moments” (from the back cover of the book).

The Relax Deck (2000), designed by Henry Quiroga, with illustrations by Katarzyna Klein and Hannah Firmin, includes fifty cards with images on one side, text on the other side, all meant to help the user relax. Here is a sample card:

I think this is one of my favorite decks I’ve ever bought for just making me BE STILL AND BE for a while. It’s very refreshing. Not only does it provide inspirational exercises, but it even shows you how you can use the cards in a game with others. I haven’t done that. Yet.


I also have this box of Mindfulness Cards: Simple Practices for Everyday Life (2018), from Rohan Gunatillake. Again, this is a deck I should use more often. Here are the categories:

And some samples from “Curiosity and Joy”:

Here are some of the other resources I’ve shared on here before.


John Nagiecki’s Animal Spirit Knowledge Cards (2007), beautifully illustrated by Susan Seddon Boulet.

Karma Cards (1991), created by Monte Farber.


Rachelle Charman’s Chakra Reading Cards (2016).


My collection of Rune Stones, that includes The Book of Runes (1984) by Ralph H. Blum.

WHEW! I think that’s everything. As I was compiling this post, I found a few more things that might be of interest to you. They reminded me of the importance of mindfulness, gratitude, and the kindness of friends.


This came from a woman I worked with in 1997. Someone very special in her life was LGBTQ, and I’m not sure if she’d shared that at work with more than a few friends. One day, she overheard my quick, sharp response to someone who made a homophobic remark. You never know who’s listening and how your support might uplift someone who needs it. In return, this little book she gave me has many reminders that I recorded of kind things done for me. They’re a pleasure to read and remember all these years later. I need to start writing in this book again.

I want to reiterate this because of other people’s stories I’ve read or heard lately. BE A FUCKING ALLY FOR MARGINALIZED PEOPLE AND USE YOUR VOICE. You don’t have to yell like I just did. Just please don’t miss an opportunity to speak for those who might not be in a position to speak for themselves.


I was confused when I saw this tiny book tucked away on a shelf, because if you’ve read here for any length of time, you know I’m always quick to say that I don’t put a lot of stock in fortune telling. When I looked inside, I remembered how lively LiveJournal once was for many of us. I knew Todd from there, but once people stopped using LJ, and I stopped using Facebook, I lost touch with many of those folks. Thank goodness he inscribed this book when he sent it, since I’d forgotten how it came to me at Christmas 2008. I hope Todd is doing well.


Likewise, you may have read or heard me say I’m not into spell casting. I’ve seen this go wrong for people who don’t know what they’re doing and are trying to control other people’s behavior instead of working on themselves (did I say that in Church Lady’s voice?). However, the title clearly specifies that it’s a GOOD spell book, and once I read the inscription from our friend Steve V, I realize the fun he had in giving it to me (“Jimmy” is his pet name for our mutual friend James). Steve V is an activist and advocate in Houston’s HIV/AIDS community, and he and James are two of the best people who’ve ever come into my life. Grateful for them always.

Did you make it all the way to the end? I’m thinking that this post marks the end of Thursday’s Tarot Etc. posts. However, I want to transition it to Thursday Thoughts, leaving it wide open for anything you might want to discuss, ask about, or if you want me to look into any of these decks for a specific date or animal or card or crystal or mindfulness/meditation exercise or whatever. You know I read all my comments on every post, so if something strikes you, drop a comment anywhere and let me know anything you might want me to talk about on a Thursday. If you want your interest or question to be anonymous, email becky@beckycochrane.com. If you hit “tarot” in that tags list on the right, you can find past posts of specific decks or similar items. Thursdays, YOU get to choose the content.

Tarot Etc. Thursday No. 17


Another Celtic find. There are 26 cards in the deck of Celtic Astrology Oracle Cards, numbered 1 to 13. As the box explains, Celtic astrology is based not on the stars but on the earth’s plants, animals, and cycles of nature. If you want to comment with the month and date of your birth (NO year necessary), and choose plant or animal, I’ll show you the matching card in comments. (Naturally, if you were using these cards, you’d draw at random and read the description[s] from the book that accompanies the deck.) I won’t be able to say much about the card because COPYRIGHT, but at least it’ll get you a look at the art.

Since our birthdays are no secret, I chose Card 4: Plant:

And for Tom, I chose Card 1: Animal:

Tarot Etc. Thursday No. 16


Back to The Illustrated Crystallary Oracle Cards because this is one of my favorite things lately. No surprise since I love stones, crystals, and minerals.

One of the first gifts of a crystal I was ever given was by Princess Patti: a rose quartz heart. In honor of friendship and connection, I’m sharing this card with you today. I think the message is one any of us may need to hear from time to time.

I see this as: Don’t deny yourself all the love that comes your way all the time because you are waiting for only one kind of love in one kind of way from one kind of source.


I need all these books, especially the ones with pictures, because my brain’s encyclopedia region is full of other people’s song lyrics. And trivia about musicians.

Tarot Etc. Thursday No. 14

My thoughts were spinning off in at least a dozen directions this morning, but they all seemed to have animals at their hub. This is a day when I want to get a lot of writing done, so I knew I needed to pull myself together and focus. I handled several tasks unrelated to writing to get them out of the way. Then, since I couldn’t get animals out of my head, I decided I might as well go with this Oracle deck:


The Messages From Your Animal Spirit Guides Oracle Cards deck, created by Steven D. Farmer, was released in 2008 and designed by Amy Rose Grigorius with illustrations by Bee Sturgis. Each card features a unique animal spirit guide with an explanation of what message the animal might have for you. The user asks a question, pulls a card at random, and applies the card’s message to contemplate the answer to the question. As Farmer points out, there is not a lot of detail about the animal or the meaning on the card; he encourages the user to research why this animal might have appeared at this moment. His enclosed guidebook does provide more suggestions about card meanings and significance.

Though, as we all know, there are particular animals I’m drawn to, I decided to be fair, ask a (known-only-to-me) question, and pull a card at random after shuffling the deck. These are very high-quality, thick cards, by the way, and I’m glad Jim gave me the deck (that event was described in this post).

Well, well, well. I, admirer of pigs, collector of many in various forms and shapes for most of my adult life, drew this card.

I’m delighted. Both Farmer’s insights about the card, and the words on the card, are exactly what I needed to hear. I am heeding this wisdom and have already begun taking action. Thanks, Boar!

I’m sure this is a deck I’ll enjoy sharing more of with you later.

Tarot Etc. Thursday No. 13


This beautiful box is one of a set of three that I think were gifts from Tom’s parents. If anyone reading here knows otherwise, feel free to correct me. =)


Instead of a tarot deck, this box is the home of an oracle deck, The Illustrated Crystallary Oracle Cards, created by Maia Toll and illustrated by Kate O’Hara.


Because of my deep appreciation and connection to stones, crystals, gems, and minerals, it’s not surprising that I find this a beautiful set of cards. You can be sure you’ll be seeing more of them in the future.


I didn’t clear the cards or do any kind of meditative work prior to shooting these photographs. When I pulled three random cards for a three-card spread, I was lucky enough to have the stones that are described on each card. (I may need to do a little crystal and stone shopping in the future; always a pleasure.)


Let yourself focus on a certain situation. The first card reflects its surface level. In this case, “The Only Thing” card, a clear quartz crystal, indicates the “intention to become.” I won’t quote the entire description here, but the stone asks what you need to grow intention, direct your will, and amplify its effects, and what can you put down as unneeded? I think this is a good card to help assess the beginning of a situation.


The second card provides a deeper look at the situation, showing you cause and effect and helping you see how the situation is impacting you emotionally. Howlite, the “You Are The Foundation” card, urges you to “come back to center; sit in stillness.” When you allow yourself to find the still point within you, you will better handle the flow of all the outer forces relating to your situation. I imagine a person sitting in a garden or in nature with this card, breathing in and feeling calmer before analyzing the external effects on the situation.


The third card, in this case the “You, Only More So” ruby, goes to the core of the situation. It reveals truths, some of which you might not be aware of, that help the situation move forward or come to a conclusion. Ruby is an amplifier that can lead you to courage and self-confidence, if you have been nurturing those qualities, though the stone can also boost self-doubt and loathing. I’d advise that, rather than seeing any energy as negative, see it as your opportunity to work to eliminate less constructive qualities before you try to resolve the situation you’re asking about. As the book asks, “Are you ready?” This is the time to clear yourself so that you are. Tap into any practice that connects you to your intuition and inner wisdom: meditation, yoga, chanting, prayer, runes, pilates, music, dance–however you nourish and focus your energy.

I look forward to getting to know and use this deck.

Tarot Etc. Thursday No. 10


Rather than a Tarot deck, today I want to share the Animal Spirits Knowledge Cards, shown on the upper right in that photo. The art on these cards using paintings by the late Susan Seddon Boulet is absolutely stunning. In all, there are 48 cards:

Animal Deities, Bear, Birds, Bull, Butterfly, Caribou, Cat, Cow, Coyote, Crocodile, Crow, Deer, Dog, Dolphin, Dove, Eagle, Elephant, Fish, Fox, Frog, Goat, Gull, Hawk, Heron, Horse, Insect, Jaguar, Kingfisher, Leopard, Lion, Monkey, Owl, Panther, Parrot, Peacock, Polar Bear, Puma, Rabbit, Ram, Raven, Sea Horse, Scarab, Snake, Spider, Swan, Tiger, Totem, Wolf

In 2001, I was part of a class with a teacher who talked about the spiritual significance of animals. She took us through a meditation session to help us find our spirit guide or spirit animal. Among the things she shared with us is that while our guide might turn out to be an animal we’ve always liked or felt a connection to, the guide is more often one that provides a quality a person lacks. So, for example, a beaver, who is thought of as hardworking and industrious, might be there to help you better develop those qualities in yourself.

In essence, you don’t choose your spirit guide/animal/helper; it chooses you.

In recent years, the concept of the spirit animal became trivialized by popular culture–and I can easily believe I’ve been guilty of saying something dumb like “Starbucks is my spirit animal.” In the realm of “be better, do better,” I’m now aware of how demeaning that can be to worldwide cultures who have long identified animals as significant to their ancestral and spiritual connections and practices: for example, an animal who traditionally is believed to guide a beloved family member from this life into the afterlife.

There’s nothing wrong with having a reverence for animals and feeling connected to or inspired by them, or identifying with one in particular. The point is not to cherry-pick what’s sacred to another culture and devalue or minimize it, and to remember that language matters. With that in mind, what I really like about these cards is that, as one reviewer said, they are “designed for meditations and learning rather than divination.” The back of each card provides the symbology of the animal or concept depicted, with a brief summary of how it has been viewed in different cultures historically.


I picked two cards to show you animals who mean something to me: Ram and Crow (neither one is the animal who came to me in the meditation on spirit guides in 2001; people usually keep their spirit guides or animals private, much the way meditation practitioners don’t share their mantras).

Without giving the full description, Ram symbology includes sacrifice, growth, and divine life. Crow symbology includes renewal, transformation, magic, and abundance. When I pull a card, I study the art for a long time, looking for symbols and meaning personal to me. The description on the back may include the characteristics of the animal as well as how it’s been historically significant to specific cultures, tribes, or myths. After absorbing the art and the description, I place the card with other things that help me meditate/contemplate, such as candles, incense, and stones, and spend time letting my thoughts wander as they will.

In my years of doing energy work, I often see the area around me filling with animals (an experience I hope to include in one of the novels I intend to write one day). I always thank them for joining me and helping me, so in this case, as I finish my meditation session, I’d thank Ram or Crow for being there and for the lessons and wisdom offered.

Envisioning animal guides is always a deeply meaningful experience for me, and while I usually keep such things private, in these times, if animal energy can help you find serenity or insight, I’m happy to explain/suggest it. Even without this deck, you could place a picture or object depicting a specific animal you’re drawn to, do a little of your own research, and use all that for a healing or helping meditation.

ETA: The deck is from Pomegranate (May 1, 2007) and remains available for sale online or probably could be ordered locally from your favorite bookseller or metaphysical shop.

Tarot Etc. Thursday No. 9


Wednesday was the new moon in Pisces, a good time to set intentions and let go of things not serving you–so you can make room for the new!

According to my go-to source, Kevin at Body Mind & Soul, this new moon is a good time for past life readings and astral travel. If you’ve had experience with either and want to share an experience in comments, feel free! This is also a good time to be aware of recurring symbols showing up in your life and reflecting on what they might mean to you.

I pulled a card at random from the Crow Tarot. Maybe the King of Cups has some wisdom to offer you. The stone pictured next to the card in the photo below is a moonstone.


Keywords for Cups: Psychic, Creative, Love, Dreams, Feeling
Element: Water (timely for Pisces)
Card Meaning: The King of Cups is a Zen master who has complete control over his emotions. This regal bird can handle the most tumultuous of situations with grace and compassion. When you receive a royal visit from the King of Cups, it may be a signal to take some quiet time to reflect on the emotions around [a] situation. What emotional triggers seem to pop up regularly to hold back progress?

MJ Cullinane, author

Disclaimer: I am no expert on tarot cards. Because I don’t study or practice with any particular deck, I don’t do readings. I use the cards as a means of introspection. I also enjoy the art, beauty, and symbolism of many tarot decks and how they reflect the personalities and journeys of their creators. Tarot is like other things that inspire me and engage my interest, such as books, music, and art.