Oracle Deck: 30/30 Days

On December 16, I finished my 30-day project: an oracle deck with 30 cards, one a day for a month. I had the idea after seeing an oracle deck by Mosca in a back issue of Art Journaling. Her deck featured self-portraits on every card with a significant word from her journey. I love making art that reminds me of where I'm headed, what I want with a word or phrase. (See "Notes to Self" and the 100-Day Project for examples.) I found so much joy in making these every day. I prepped the cards a week at a time and used a different medium every week. Every day, I began by appreciating the background, rounding the corners and putting on the vermillion edge that unifies the whole deck. Something about those first three steps felt so special and reminded me of the first three steps of the Zentangle Method: Gratitude and appreciation, corner dots, and border.

Here are close-ups of days 21-30.

"Season"

Tissue paper background that made these lovely leaves.

Our cousins met up at Frances' house for a joyful reunion.

Wrinkles make things more interesting, right?

"Systolic"

"Simplicity"

"Create new memories"

"Release"

"Finding fulfillment"

30: Symbolizes on the right path;

connected to the Divine;

continue creative endeavors;

balance, equilibrium;

growth.

(Wow! I looked this up after finishing the deck.)

Here is a group shot of the whole deck and the box they fit in:

Wishing you bright, comforting, and joyful holidays!

Don't "to do"; Oracle Deck 1-20

Hmm. That title just came out of my hat from nowhere. But I'm stickin' with it, as I have with a lot of life this week. The to-do lists usually show up with my morning coffee, after meditation. I like it when they do, and I see them as a tiny road map for the day's destinations that allows me to admire the passing scenery rather than constantly looking at the map. However, some days, life happens, and the to-do lists never make it out of my pen. Usually, it just means I need to put out fires: care for my still ailing husband and beat-up cat, try to keep things reasonably sanitary and orderly, which keeps me sane, make sure there's some healthy eats for us, like homemade soup. And do some art. Some days, I just want to do art and nothing else. :) And luckily, thanks to early retirement, I can sometimes. This week, with my 2 sweethearts at home and needing some TLC, it didn't happen. All the same, I'm satisfied with what did.

Here's what happened:

The new additions, on watercolor and bleeding tissue paper

A lot of these emerged from thinking about rhythm, and dancing along our path.

Ten more days to go... I hope you'll come back to see another batch!