It's in the cards

Photo taken from the workshop I ran at our Sacred & Sensual Retreat, May 2025

I have an ever-growing collection of Oracle cards. My interest began in childhood and my cards are very precious resources to me. Varying in shape and size, the cards have been created by a range of artists: all with the intention of using colours, lines, shapes, images and words as a tool for insight in guiding one’s inner knowing.

As part of the body Wisdom and Creative Self-Discovery work that I offer, I often use Oracle cards in personal or group sessions as a non-intrusive way to cut through the rational process of thinking and go straight to the subconscious intuitive Self. 

Using Oracle cards is a great introductory process to ‘arrive’ in the space together. Oracle cards can assist participants to become aware of what matter is most present for them and to set the tone for tuning into Self. I choose a deck that I feel will be the most appropriate for that person or that group (yes, I let my Intuition guide me here) and I spread the cards out in the middle of the room. 

I invite the individual or group participants to take their time viewingthe cards and then ask them to choose the card they are most drawn to. There might be a card that really sticks out to them or a card that has something on it they are curious about. They could be attracted to the colour, a shape, a particular symbol, a word. I ask them to try to go with the feeling rather than thinking about it, or overthinking about it and trying to pre-empt how the card is going to be used. We are unique individuals and are subconsciously drawn to things that we cannot necessarily explain. 

Once a card is chosen (and I do ask that they try to limit it to one but notice within themselves if they feel interest in another card, or if they are torn between two) I then invite them to take a moment to be with the card. 

How we interpret the meaning or message in the card is completely up to us — but our first impressions are very telling about what our Intuition might want to communicate. 

Illustration by Grace Recla, Chapter 1 of Body Wisdom

INVITATION TO PLAY WITH CARDS

I invite you to play with this Oracle Card process. 

Take some intentional time to be with your Oracle Card deck. You may want to light a candle or take some breaths as you sit with the cards in your hand. 

If you do not have an Oracle Card deck, some alternatives could be to: 

• use an image or a piece of art work you are drawn to

  
  

• pick up a book and open it to a page and read the first sentence which catches your eye

  
  

• find a place outside in nature where you can be in stillness and begin to notice your surroundings and how nature is communicating with you in this moment.

  
  

  You may wish to begin by setting an intention for the pulling of the cards. You might have a question you want answers to, or to feel your way into a topic or theme you are seeking guidance on and then be present with the rising feeling 

Allow yourself to be guided by how you wish to play with the cards. You may want to shuffle them; you may wish to spread the cards out; you might enjoy sifting through them and seeing which one/s pop out. There is no one way and there is no getting it ‘right’ or ‘wrong’. You will develop your own unique rhythm with what suits you on any given day. 

Once you have drawn a card, take the time to sit with and really look at your chosen card. 

• Become aware of what you notice.

  
  

• What catches your eye first? A colour, a shape, a symbol, an

  
  

  expression?

  
  

• Is there a particular feeling present when you view the card?

  
  

• Where does your mind go? Do you have a memory that rises? What does it make you think of ?

  
  

• Ask the card: What is its message for you? Allow answers to come — whether these are something you feel, think of, say aloud or write down.

  
  

Create time to reflect on this experience. You may like to journal what the process was like for you, what thoughts came to mind, what feelings arose. Note down anything that was present, anything that made you curious, that you found interesting.

Playing with Oracle Cards can be a fun, non-threatening way to foster a playful relationship with your Intuition and how it can communicate with you.

This is a process of meaning-making, playing with how we receive messages. I often find that I may not necessarily know or understand the message at the time and that’s okay. I am being present with what is. I track it in my journal so if I want to I can refer back to it in the future. This space allows for shifts in perspective and fresh levels of understanding to click in over time.