The Maine Oracle - Groundhog Day

Well, the Global Pandemic marches on...

I have worn a mask, stayed home for the most part and have marveled at those who would quibble with experts in the field of epidemiology.

Day after day it goes on.

The situation in the United States is out of control.

Day after day.

Over and Over.

The Maine Oracle has noticed.

Wear a mask. Stay safe. Help is on the way. 

 

Don't Move That Mountain

Staying at home last week felt just a bit more difficult than previous weeks. 

I felt just a bit more unsettled, a bit wearier.

I pulled three cards for guidance from three different divination decks.

From left to right I drew the sequence which is described below. 

 

The Past   “The Hive” from my own deck, The Maine Oracle.

Familiar workplace and social gatherings are now a memory.

The Present Passing  “The Magician” reversed is from The Rider Waite Tarot Deck.

The new normal is anything but; the tables have been turned. It is time to pick up the pieces. The Magician is the alchemist, bringing together resources and clever devices to fashion a new way of life. Cash, inspiration, unity of purpose and tenacity are all required.

The Future  “The Mountain” is from the Lenormand Oracle.

This card brought to mind a gospel song, “Lord, Don’t Move That Mountain” by Inez Andrews. I always say that I am not particularly religious or attached to any rigid notions of an All Powerful Deity. That said, I believe that there is great inspiration to be found in the following lyrics:

“Oh Lord you don't have to move the mountain
 But give me the strength to climb
 And Lord, don't take away my stumbling blocks
 But lead me all around”

 Stay strong and stay safe.

The Maine Oracle - Keep On Keeping On

Today I asked for general guidance from The Maine Oracle, and an interesting set of cards emerged.

1.  "Snip" in the Past Position refers to the recent and abrupt changes to routine, "separation or alteration" has definitely become the norm.

2. "Maintenance" in The Present Passing Position underlines the need to continue all precautions. Now is not a time to relax one's vigilance. This card is showing up frequently.

3. "Chickadees" in the Future Position bodes well for a reunion with friends, family and society in general as long as we all adhere to the guidelines suggested by the best of our leaders and health care professionals.

 

The Maine Oracle

is 

A Deck of 61 Divination Cards

Downloaded, Designed and Illustrated in The Great State of Maine

by Dorette Amell

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Maine Oracle - A General Reading for April 1, 2020

Yesterday, throughout the day and off and on, I experienced a most unpleasant feeling of being rudderless, combined with a low grade anxiety percolating just below the surface.
Today the experience calls to mind a radio station, fading in and out.

Before heading off to the "Feather Ball" I asked The Maine Oracle for insight. 

I slept very well, and this morning, while it is understandable to feel unsettled, along with the entire planet, I have a more philosophical take on my current reality.

1. "The House" while confined to my particular "House" I must pay particular attention to quality of my thoughts. I am responsible for taking action to elevate my thinking. On the other hand being too hard on myself for missing the mark is equally counterproductive. These are unprecedented times, and there is no one who will navigate them perfectly.

2. "Partnership" speaks to working with local authorities and following the social distancing guidelines to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus. It helps me to remember that "doing nothing and sitting around at home" is giving the folks on the front lines a chance to do their jobs. Staying at home is an act of love. While I have a number of projects calling for my attention, it is alright to have days when I don't feel up to the task. One can't underestimate the emotional toll exacted by isolation and uncertainty. It is often exhausting. Resting and recharging will go a long way. I am doing my bit.

3. "Grace" will continue to grant a "second wind" on those occasions when everything seems topsy-turvy, giving a person what is required to carry on for one more day.

 

The Maine Oracle - Three Cards for a Quarantine

My Mother pulled these cards this morning, asking for general guidance. The three cards below seem to be speaking to what most of us are going through during these days of increased isolation.

1. "The White Owl" in the Past Position

    Last year at this time who knew that we as a 
    global community would be facing our current
    challenge and what benefits may result from the situation?

2. "Spilt Milk" in the Present Position

    You can't unring a bell, and whether or not we asked for
    our altered circumstances, drastic change has been 
    thrust upon us all.
 
3. "The Green Light" in the Future Position

    We are now, all of us, asked to get on with our lives as
    best we can, going with the flow, while following the new
    "rules of the road."  

   

The Maine Oracle - Stay in Your Lane and Maintain

“The Highway” and “Maintenance” cards from The Maine Oracle showed up for a general reading today. “The Highway” card suggests that we are traveling into the unknown, the wisps of mist are worth noting. We are asked to “stay in our lane” or keep a sensible distance. 

When I was learning to drive I was told to keep my focus further down the road, and not on the hood ornament, that is to say, during any journey there is usually a sense of what one wishes to accomplish upon arrival. 

These trying times will end, until then “Maintain the High Ground” and “Deal Fair and Square”. Difficult days ask us all for more than the usual diligence. 

The “Maintenance” card follows, a very interesting bit of repetition and emphasis I think. “Maintain” was something that was said a lot when I was younger, as in “Be Cool”. “Maintenance” suggests a bit more than mere Spring Cleaning this year. 

Whatever can be done to lighten your passage through these peculiar circumstances will bring surprising rewards. All of those things that have been waiting for a time when there is more time are still there. 

“When fishermen can’t go to sea they repair their nets.”

The Maine Oracle - The Crybaby to the Rescue

Some days are just Crybaby Days, here is today's draw from The Maine Oracle.   
Pandemics are bad enough, I don't help the situation by dwelling on worse case scenarios. There are professionals dedicated to the task of plotting such possibilities. 

This is where "The Crybaby" can go to work. 

The Crybaby is here to take away the overwhelming urge to awful-ize. 

Flatten the curve, read a book... remember books? Watch an epic film, sort your socks... 'Twill be what it will be. Thank you Crybaby for helping me to move on, just for today.

The Maine Oracle - On The Current State of Affairs in the U.S.A.

Life in The United States today is fraught with uncertainty. What with partisan division, vitriol and calls for unity often coming from the same sources on different days...  I thought I'd ask the cards to take a look at the national temperature.

"The Easy Chair" in the Past position suggests voter apathy, often the result of feeling that individual opinion matters little. On the other hand, perhaps too many for too long have been too comfortable... disinterested in, or unaware of the forces leading to a general feeling of unrest. Looking the other way, a person may unwittingly allow the ascent of those who do not necessarily have the greater good at the top of their List of Things To Do.

"The Lighthouse" in the Present position certainly references the ongoing political contests across the country. There is a search underway for a candidate who is up to the challenge of the Presidency, a "Dependable Beacon" who will keep the Ship of State from running aground.

"The Bean Supper" in the Future position offers reason for optimism. A Bean Supper is an opportunity for folks from all walks of life to gather, regardless of petty grievance. Here is Community and Nourishment. All are Welcome. Here is Inclusion. Prepare for Better Days.

The Maine Oracle - The Fish, Cast Off and The Troll

These are the first three cards of The Maine Oracle. It occurs to me that they belong together, and form a continuum... backwards, forwards or forwards and backwards. Originally these images were all painted in casein media. I made pencil drawings based on the paintings and these were adapted for use in my deck. For me, this group of cards/paintings/images describe an ongoing struggle. 

The Fish prevails when disappointment and unrealistic expectations are left behind as represented in the Cast Off card. The Troll enters again and again to challenge the idea of personal progress, fueling insecurities while luring The Reader into the trap of second guessing.

Shaking off The Troll becomes easier over time. Learning to Cast Off unwanted baggage will become more of a relief, and less charged with the fear of letting go. Heeding the lessons of The Troll and Cast Off cards will allow The Reader to return to the ways of The Fish, breaking the surface and rising from the depths into the light. The cycle goes on. Three steps forward, maybe one or two backwards, but always moving a little further in a good direction.

The Maine Oracle - Card #1 The Fish

This Fish is showing off a little, and why not? This is the first edit of The Fish card. The font, prompt and background have been edited, as can be seen in my post of January 26, 2020.

 The Maine Oracle

Divination Deck 

  Dorette Amell    
©2019

The Maine Oracle ...Economy

The image for the "Economy" card was inspired by a difficult morning in April. I had been invited to two different events on a Saturday afternoon. Each event had its attractions.

I became more and more unsettled as I tried to figure out how I might make an appearance at both gatherings.

The Great Scot came to mind, and represented something beyond mere frugality. I thought of him after I had made my choice... I finally decided on a child's birthday party, complete with a Piñata and a Bouncy House. 

The card asks us to look at the choices we make in light of energy available, as well as emotional resources.

That said, you also might want to hang onto your wallet and pay those bills... "see surrounding cards" as they say.

Economy 
12 x 9"
Graphite on Stonehenge Cotton Paper

from The Oracle Series
soon to be digitally colorized and included in The Maine Oracle Deck