**For 8 weeks, students from XPUB prepared a ritual to perform at the top of Monday morning class. We explored cultural rituals such as the birthday cake and coffee-ground reading, but also more personal rituals such as 'going to sleep' rituals, a personal hard-drive purification, and the creation of worry-dolls.**
For 8 weeks, students from XPUB prepared a ritual to perform at the top of Monday morning class. We explored cultural rituals such as the birthday cake and coffee-ground reading, but also more personal rituals such as 'going to sleep' rituals, a personal hard-drive purification, and the creation of worry-dolls.
Have you ever woken up feeling like there is a word on the tip of your tongue in a language you don't quite understand?
@ -30,14 +30,14 @@ The Smorfia is an ancient art form in which symbols and archetypes from a person
In Oracolotto, the archetypes are used as a storytelling device, an exploration tool for imagination and self-discovery. You may choose to use these cards in the two ways I have imagined or create your own.
1. The first method, and the one I recommend, asks your soul to sit with the cards, ask them a question, read the answer in the following pages and find a language for new or old feelings.
2.
2. The second method requires you to keep the deck next to your bed. Once you wake up, while the dream is still supple and alive, reach for the Oracolotto and try and find the cards that most closely resemble the dream. This allows you to give language to the unformed and reveal the apparent truths the cards hold.
If you have read this far, you may want to remember your dreams and connect to your subconscious, but feel unable to do so. You may never remember your dreams and think that they are random. If that's the case, I recommend using the Oracolotto with the method I first describe. As the subconscious seeps into our daily thoughts and feelings, the deck will reveal hidden patterns.
You may also choose your path, disregard what I said and make your own game, read old or future dreams or even play the lottery. The tools are in your hands.
### ✧ How to care for the Oracolotto
#### ✧ How to care for the Oracolotto
You may have grown up believing that objects do not have spirit. If so, I suggest you tuck the inner sceptic into bed and let the curious child out to play. The Oracolotto, like any Tarot or Oracle, does not believe itself to be an object. It thinks that no object is simply a thing but also exists in a spiritual plane. All objects have a soul, a spirit that connects to yours.
The Oracolotto has a playful and deep soul. It asks to be cared for as a living thing (more like a plant than a pet). It asks to be touched, used, cried on, and laughed with. Most importantly, it asks for a place to rest every night. I would recommend, at your discretion, to free all negative intentions from the cards. This may happen if you do a reading for someone with bad intentions, or a heavy, painful load to carry. Or it may happen if you use them alone in a moment of intense sadness or anger. In such cases, find a way to release these feelings from the cards, leave them out to breathe, or hold them in your hands and think positive thoughts.
@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ Alternatively, and if applicable, you may choose one card and place it on your a
### ✧ How to Lay Out the Cards
.One Card Spread
One Card Spread
A single card can be used for several purposes:
@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ A single card can be used for several purposes:
- Draw a card after you ask a question. The one you pick is your answer.
- Draw a card to help further explain your dream.
.Three-Card Spread
Three-Card Spread
A three-card spread can also be used in several different ways:
@ -70,10 +70,9 @@ A three-card spread can also be used in several different ways:
If you want to arrive at a more fleshed-out narrative, you may choose to do a bigger spread. Information about those can be found in any book about tarot or online.
.keywords: beginnings, unformed potential, taking a risk, answering a 'call', trusting in the universe, overcoming self-doubt, embracing uncertainty.
@ -83,12 +82,10 @@ Coffee is brewing, waiting to be poured into the empty cup on the counter. A spi
If the Coffee appears reversed, it is a warning. The coffee will spill, and it may burn you or others. Be careful not to disregard the consequences of your actions. Your eagerness for freedom and new beginnings may harm others or yourself. Now, you are being asked for consistency and patience. There is a time to be brave and to set off on new paths and a time to be reliable and patient. Wisdom lies in knowing the difference.
**✳**tarot correspondence: 0. the fool.
**✳**tarot correspondence: 0. the fool.
**✳**zodiac correspondence: all signs, the universe.
.keywords: magic, manifestation, setting intentions, directing energy consciously, willpower, concentration, having all the resources you need.
@ -98,12 +95,10 @@ Two old women stand before a table, one pointing above, the other below. Their e
If the Spinsters have appeared reversed, it is a sign that you are ignoring your powers. You no longer see two crone magicians who have chosen the path of spiritual power but two unmarried older women. Do not be fooled. The power is in your hands; your potential lays dormant beneath your doubts and lack of self-esteem. Trust in your ability, and trust the Spinsters to weave you back to an active role within your own life.
.keywords: intuition, subconscious, higher wisdom, knowing something you can't explain, stillness, meditation, spell-work and ritual.
@ -113,12 +108,10 @@ The Bride sits in silence in an underground cistern, two eyes closed and a third
If you are facing a reversed Bride, it is an invitation to examine when you ignore your gut. Perhaps you have allowed your thinking mind to run loose; you have not been listening to your gut. You overvalue the opinions of others or act too hastily. Whichever it is, it is time to be still, reflect and meditate on your intuition.\
@ -128,12 +121,10 @@ The Mother sits on a throne in the middle of the river of life force. A crown on
The Mother has appeared reversed. Juno's warlike nature is more active than her nurturing side. Your search for protection is keeping you from true love and joy. You were guarding yourself, and while you were right to do so, now is the time to let your shield down. Your emotional crops are thriving; you have put in the work. Let go of your war; lean into joy and love.
.keywords: belief systems, ancestry, study, tradition, conformity, learning about the past.
@ -143,12 +134,10 @@ A priest stands in front of you, with one hand hidden and the other towards the
The Church is upside down. Its integrity is questioned; the status quo stumbles. The pressure of conformity weighs heavy; the belief systems of others hang above your head. This card is now urging you to move. Tradition can be a teacher or a jailer, and in this case, it is trapping you. It may be time to shake your ancestors' wishes away and start anew upon a path you paved yourself.
.keywords: love (of all kinds), making heart-centred choices, compassion, partnerships and relationships, equilibrium, harmony.
@ -158,12 +147,10 @@ Two hands reach for each other, the space between them filled with light and eye
Due to the nature of this card, up is down and down is up. However you pull this card, it shows you both the Yin and the Yang. In this case, sourness is prevalent. The eyes look away, giving you space to identify within yourself why a commitment has turned sour. Your inner voice is unbalanced. Use your heart for your choices and seek out harmony.
.keywords: focused*action, s*elf-belief and confidence, commitment, drive and determination, hard, passionate work, assertion.
@ -173,12 +160,10 @@ A chariot flies across a starry sky with two half moons. Inside it, a man dresse
When reversed, the Bird is spinning further and further out of control. It may be due to an attempt to control too much or an underdeveloped assertiveness. Loosen the reins. Redirect your chariot. Some things are beyond your power to change, and others wait for your confidence and hard work. Assess which is which and begin riding.
.keywords: inner strength and courage, dignified resistance, emotional labour, heart.
@ -188,12 +173,10 @@ A naked woman covered in flowers looks to the side, casually taming the lion in
The lion is now overpowering as the Breasts appear upside down. This is an indication of weakness; your strength becomes feeble as your self-confidence lessens. Your emotions are no longer a power but an overwhelming force you cannot control. Do not let anger or pain dictate your choice; find your strength once again.
.keywords: introspection, solitude, retreat, working things through on your own, claiming space and time for you, self-guided or guided study.
@ -203,12 +186,10 @@ A figure cries in an underwater cocoon, wrapped in a cape of hair and seaweed. T
The tears fall upon you as the Crying card is reversed. You have relied on yourself too much and become over-isolated. The cocoon has served its purpose. The time for solitude is over. You may let others in or leave your safe space altogether. The time for crying is over.
.keywords: positive luck, change, predictions and prophesies, feeling like something is 'destined' to happen, an interconnected bigger picture.
@ -218,12 +199,10 @@ A table is set with plates spelling out the ancient names for tarot and wheel. I
The Set Table has been turned the wrong way. This indicated elements outside your control, spinning your fate. Luck has not been on your side, and you may have been unhappy with your circumstances. Take a moment to analyse what could have happened. Are the elements toying with your luck internal or external? Is there someone to blame; if so, who? Whatever you find, trust that the Table will be set again, and out of darkness, a new light will be born, informed by your discoveries.
**✳**tarot correspondence: 9. the wheel of fortune.
**✳**tarot correspondence: 9. the wheel of fortune.
@ -233,12 +212,10 @@ A woman, Justice, walks the steps out of darkness, and a lament distorts her fac
When the Lament appears reversed, it indicates a flawed system, a hidden truth or a bias. This injustice may have been committed against you or by you. However it happened, the scales are not balanced, but soon they will be as someone faces consequences. It also begs for you to re-balance your perspective. Look at the issue from both sides and hear the Lament.
**✳**tarot correspondence: 11. justice.
**✳**tarot correspondence: 11. justice.
**✳**zodiac correspondence: libra.
**✳ 85. purgatory's souls or ll'aneme o priatorio**
### ✳ 85. purgatory's souls or ll'aneme o priatorio
.keywords: passivity, cost, holding back, patience, allowing events to unfold, meditation and mindful practice, inner peace, self-acceptance, overcoming ego
@ -248,12 +225,10 @@ A man dangles from a branch, his wings closed by his sides, his braid falling be
As Purgatory's Souls appear reversed, they tell a different story. They are not hanging but anchored to the soil. You are pulling yourself further down, digging your heels in on a decision that has to be made. Your inaction now is pointless; it will just delay the inevitable. The souls already can, the punishment has been lifted. And yet, here you still are. You must face your inner turmoil to move on.
**✳**tarot correspondence: 11. the hanged man.
**✳**tarot correspondence: 11. the hanged man.
**✳**zodiac correspondence: pisces.
**✳ 48. the talking dead or 'o muorto che pparla**
### ✳ 48. the talking dead or 'o muorto che pparla
.keywords: the ending of a cycle, letting go and saying goodbye, a ritual to honour change, not resisting, honouring the seasons of life.
@ -263,12 +238,10 @@ A deer's skeleton lays on a blooming prairie. Close by, another deer looks into
If the card is reversed, it appears that the Talking Dead is forced to be still. Changes frighten you, and you may resist them. Your life is now stagnant; the sunrise is eternal as the sun never reaches the sky. Trust that change will lead you wherever you need to be. It is not a matter of avoiding what has happened but of learning to live with what it brought in the hope that better things lay ahead.
.keywords: balance, harmony, blending of dualities, seeking the middle path, not making extreme decisions, taking a non-binary attitude, testing the waters, self-care, grace, gentleness.
@ -278,12 +251,10 @@ A large, genderless, dark figure stands in the sea. On their forehead shines a t
The Warm Soup now pours upwards from the ladle. Something has been thrown off balance in your life. The coming times require meticulous care of the balance. Equilibrium must be restored. The costs may be too high for what you receive from the universe. You must reconsider your choices, find the weak point that has thrown you off the balance and adjust it.
.keywords: bondage, addiction, materialism, destructive behaviours, harmful cycles, choosing to get free, or choosing not to get free, confronting fear, committing to your freedom.
@ -293,12 +264,10 @@ Five little devils dance naked. They hold each other's hands, forming a chain. T
The Devil being upside down immediately reveals the bondage. You are aware of your chains. The unhealthy dynamics in your life that keep you trapped are finally emerging into the light. Caution, this does not imply freedom but may entail further temptation, which leads you to crawl back into your trap. This time needs your complete attention; use your newfound awareness to break the chains and escape your jail.
.keywords: revolution, disaster, shock, mourning, blowing apart old structures, demolition of the status quo, toppling systems of power, potential, rebuilding after disaster, a blessing in disguise as a disaster, rehabilitation, regeneration.
@ -308,12 +277,10 @@ An ancient maritime pine tree towers in the night. Above, the all-seeing Storm i
In this situation, the Storm that topples the pine tree is coming from within. The issue is within your response to the situation and your worries within your head. Your perception is bringing you great pain. Take care not to become a vortex of negativity, be mindful of your feelings and take responsibility for how your responses affect you and those around you.
.keywords: hope, love and support, coming home to yourself, self-care, healing, being true to yourself, being guided by your intuition, integrity, honesty, a positive new start or new vision.
@ -325,12 +292,10 @@ When Christmas appears reversed, you may have lost your hope. Life's challenges
.keywords: shadow work, getting in touch with your wild nature, listening deeply to your intuition, secrets, signs and symbols, non-rational, witchcraft, magic and spell-work, lies and deception, deceiving yourself, wearing a mask.
@ -340,12 +305,10 @@ A wolf drinks from a pond filled with blood. Close by, a wild dog turns away fro
When reversed, the Blood shows a moon shining in the front. The inner confusion is clearing. However, you may find yourself deprived of a mask you are not ready to let go of. Manipulation has been exposed, whether you were the victim or perpetrator. Things will soon be lighter, but first, they will be heavy. Mental health struggles as the truth emerges, and you initiate a process of complete honesty with yourself.
.keywords: positivity, saying yes, joy, practising gratitude, success, things coming together, life's simple pleasures, allowing yourself to simply be, connecting to a dynamic life force.
@ -355,13 +318,11 @@ Two children on a horse laugh in harmony. They hold each other's hands and wave
Laughter is reversed, but do not panic. Victory is just not as close as you thought it would be. A setback has brought you back into a quieter place. There is a key element missing before you may achieve the state of perfect joy. The effort will now need to be given to finding once again things that make your heart swell up with joy, the things that make you walk so light you feel you may just fly away. Follow them, and soon Laughter will come back.
**✳**tarot correspondence: 18. the sun.
**✳**tarot correspondence: 18. the sun.
**✳**zodiac correspondence: leo.
**✳ 43. the gossiping woman or 'a donna o' barcone**
### ✳ 43. the gossiping woman or 'a donna o' barcone
.keywords: liberation, freedom, casting off shackles, laying down of old baggage, total accountability for self, integrity, honesty, forgiveness, allowing yourself to move forwards.
@ -371,12 +332,10 @@ A woman with rollers in her hair stands on a balcony, looking down, where a floc
Now the Gossiping Woman can not see you. This is an indication that you refuse to acknowledge the hurt or pain that was caused to you and the pain that you have caused yourself. However, you must own your mistakes and let them be. When the Gossiping Woman is reversed, it asks you to find forgiveness for yourself and others. It will be hard work and may take a great amount of time, but the Gossiping Woman watches and is rooting for you to free yourself of this burden.
.keywords: completion, a sense of wholeness, knowing who you are in the world, having a sense of place, feeling deeply connected to all things, reaching your goal, celebration, jubilation.
@ -386,6 +345,5 @@ Three friends are celebrating, drinking Good Wine and dancing on the world, surr
The Good Wine may not be drunk yet; completion is not yet within reach. The end seemed in sight, but you tried cutting corners, and there is still work to be done. The result will only bring fulfilment, if the effort has been thorough and earnest. Keep dreaming, keep working, and soon the Good Wine will be yours.
Stephen Kerr
1 year ago