Oracle of ghosts

When the shadows of late autumn come for us, our memories become muse. When the nights stretch so long they begin to swallow all certainty, we seek out the knowing oracle. We invoke a radical trust in the language of the strange- the dream-speak and the crow-song, and we learn to see in the dark.

RECOMMENDED MATERIALS FOR ALL SESSIONS:

  1. A pack of blank (unlined) index cards. They usually come in packs of 100, which would be plenty. You’ll need 65 cards total, but it would be good to have at least 10 for “oops” moments. 3x5 cards are large enough, but 4x6 would work, too.

  2. One good marker or ink pen (plus maybe at least one back-up)

  3. Additional (more optional) materials: Crayons/colored pencils/chalk pastels, either an ink stamp OR stickers to make the back of the cards uniform

    These materials are approximately a $20-30 investment if you’re buying brand new. If you desire thicker paper, you might use watercolor paper cut into card-size pieces (this ups the materials price a bit).

    Here is a packet that provides an overview of the cards and spreads, but it is NOT necessary to have this printed for the class. If you know you like to have things printed rather than on the screen, then go for it:

    Oracle of Ghosts Cards and Spreads

HERE IS A PLAYLIST TO INSPIRE

CREATING THE ORACLE

 

Session One: SUIT I: THE MYTHIC GHOSTS

In the first session, participants will work with the archetypal wheel to create the first 13 cards in their deck using their own life’s story, their own personal myth, as muse. Their own grandmother might become the Mage, or a dear friend, the Rebel. The imagery and poetry for each card will emerge from an Archetypal Pathworking Ceremony during which the participants will be invited to meet the 13 archetypes in their own way, in their own sacred dreamscape.

Session Two: SUITS II & III: GHOSTS OF HARVEST AND HEDONISM

In the second session, participants will first create 13-cards using word-witchery and their memories of Autumn throughout all life stages as muse. A memory of pumpkin carving during childhood might become the “Innocence” card or a spectral encounter might emerge as the “Otherworld.” Participants will then create their third suits for Summer, when a day spent wild at the beach might become “Homecoming” or the birth of a child “Holy Renewal.”

Session Three: SUITS IV & V: GHOSTS OF THE GARDEN AND SNOW

In the third session, participants will finish their decks by completing the final two suits, the Ghosts of the Garden and the Ghosts of the Snow; their memories of springtime and wintertide will be muse. A long, seemingly ordinary afternoon spent digging in the dirt might become “Belonging” or a bizarre New Year’s Eve might become “Shadow.” Participants will be invited to put any finishing touches on their oracle decks that evening, before we move through the spreads on Day 2.

 

WIELDING THE ORACLE

 

SESSION four: THE ORACLE OF GHOSTS

During this final session, participants will begin to make use of their oracles, creating and applying their own three, five, and ten card spreads, consecrating their deck in ritual, and befriending their lifescape oracle. Together, we will create prophecies of our own becoming for the new year and beyond. Re-visioning the past and envisioning the yet-to-come.

An optional sharing circle will take place from 2:30pm-3pm ET. Live participants can choose to stay on for this extended portion of the program (the sharing circle will not be recorded).

Additional Resources:

Digital Oracle Resource

To make an appointment with Kate as discussed during the final session, visit her site here.