Mystical Shaman Oracle-Simply Stunning!

My mom, the giver of life (and a whole whack of exquisite gifts which can be found in sacred spaces of our house) has done it again. This set of cards was one of her gifts for me on Christmas, 2021.

They are called the Mystical Shamn Oracle by Alberto Villoldo, Colette Baron-Reid and Marcela Lobos, illustrated by Jena DellaGrottaglia. <<< Hey, quick note: Click on this link to see other artwork by the artist. Soulful, beautiful stuff!

I thought – at first – that it was the artwork that made these cards special. It is, after all, stunning! The cards are the colors I love so much… golds, browns, rusts with pops of greens and blues… and, ahhhhhh… my blood pressure goes right down just looking at them.

But there is SO MUCH MORE to love!

First, the cards are simple to read. No small print jammed into a small space. Here is the card I pulled today. It is, “The Witness”.

I immediately felt a kinship as I’ve talked quite a bit in the past about witnesses. In fact, you’re ALL my witnesses, aren’t you?

And, a short PS right here in the middle: Thank you for traveling this road with me.

So yes, witnesses. But!!! If you notice, it doesn’t not say Witnesses. It says, Witness. As in: One Witness.

This card is asking something different of ME!

And this is where it gets really interesting!

I originally read “Essence” as “Incense” and immediately smelled frankincense. I know this because it’s one of the few scents I can tolerate without getting a migraine.

I have this … I’ll call it a gift … called Clairolfactance or Clairsalience which is the ability to access psychic knowledge through the sense of smell. It doesn’t happen all the time – and it’s always about the dead, not the living. I’ll just be sitting there when I notice the scent of “funeral flowers”… my grandmother’s perfume… or, as in this time, incense.

I’ve talked about it here and there throughout this blog but not often… mostly because I’m not sure what it means beyond the obvious. What is the obvious? I’m ***onto something***!

What am I onto?

Well, in this case, it’s synchronicity. Just moments before I got the cards out, I had written on Facebook (where I still have a personal page):

I used to spend hours online and worried if I’d missed a birthday or forgotten to hit the like (or love) button on a post. I worked hard not to leave anyone out. I was building community, I reasoned. The empath in me was so busy trying on the shoes of others that she forgot to tie her own shoes. You know what happens next. She trips over her own laces. So, from here on in, I’ll be standing solidly in my own space. Shoes tied. If you want me to see something, please tag me.

So, with this in mind, what am I onto?

Only this: I have spent an inordinate amount of time trying to take care of others and control the people and situations around me.

I seem especially invested in re-living the pain I have caused others by my prior choices, especially those surrounding the years 1999-2000.

In essence (there’s that word again) I have been re-punishing myself and re-injuring others with my persistent inability to LET – EFFING – GO.

My intention was never, ever to harm anyone, but harm, have I done. <<< I’m very serious but this sounds like Yoda! Maybe that bit of levity comes because it’s necessary. I have cried more than a million tears, I know, over the poor choices I have made through the years that affected others. More than once I have said, “This is it! I need to stop doing this to myself!”. And, more than once, I have gone back to it.

Time to get out of my own way.

Way past time! Put on my own shoes… tie the laces. Zip up my dungarees. Button my coat.

I’m only responsible for myself.

What a concept!

Oh yes, there is wisdom to be found in the legends and sacred symbols of those who have come before me. These cards are a stepping stone to my learning. I plan to learn A LOT – about myself – this year!

Will you come too? There’s room for all of us to learn and grow!