is for oracles
I believe in the oracular nature of our world – that there is guidance and support available to us in each moment, and that our lives are filled with signs of this. Signs everywhere. We only need to look and listen and open our hearts. This to me is the magic, the fun, the joy – looking for the connections, acting on the inspirations, opening to the deeper mysteries our conscious brains can’t quite wrap themselves around.
Last night I had a dream about butterflies – a lovely group of butterflies. Which by the way is called a kaleidoscope – isn’t that utterly marvelous?! A kaleidoscope of butterflies! This beautiful gathering of butterflies were in all different colors and patterns, and as more people gathered to see this delightful sight, it turned out that each butterfly chose a person’s head to land on. It was amazing and fun and utterly joyous. And the fun thing was the understanding, in the way that you can understand things in dreams that don’t make awake sense, it was so clear why each butterfly chose their particular person. By looking at the butterfly it was easy to see those characteristics they represented with their colors, their patterns, their energies reflected in the chosen person. So it was like each person now had a symbol that everyone else could see and interpret. It was one of those whoa-this-is-big-and-ultra-exciting-and-I-recognize-this-is-a-remembering kinds of moments that are just too great to hold in the sleep state and so is the way with such states of excitement, I popped myself out of the dream and into wakefulness.
But what a wonderful dream! And so rich with image and metaphor and bigness and beauty that I’ll be unpacking it for a long time, treasuring it deeply and being forever grateful.
Every morning one of the first things I do as I start my day is tune into my higher self and my guides and see what flower essence will be a delicious fit for me that day. And so it wasn’t really unexpected, but still delightful, that today’s choice was an orchid essence from Living Trees called Laughing Butterflies. It’s a very light-hearted, playful essence, and of course has me laughing in delight. I’m quite a fan of the orchid essences from Living Tree and especially love that the maker of these essences has such a deep and loving relationship with the orchids as evidenced by the wonderful photographs he’s able to take of them. Here’s a picture of the Laelia anceps orchid from which this essence was created. And so today I’m particularly grateful for this essence and all the magic surrounding it.
And it seems a perfect segue into talking about an oracle deck that I like – Teresa Deak’s Gratitude Tarot. Teresa calls herself a Butterfly Shaman – she’s a photographer who created this deck because it was such a spiritual experience for her dancing with beauty and gratitude as she photographed nature. You can take a peek at the cards and read more about them and her here. There is an app available of the deck and that’s how I like interacting with it.
Now what about you? What color butterfly do you imagine you might be? Had any wonderful dreams lately? Have an oracle or tarot deck you’re particularly enjoying in the moment? What has today brought you that you’re grateful for? Do tell – you know I love to hear.
I am grateful for the wonderful walk I took this morning with my dog Poppy. There were literally thousands of leaves sprinkled across our path. I love everything about Fall and the leaves were like a walk through joy.
I think I’d like to be a cobalt blue and white butterfly. Teresa’s deck is a wonder. So beautiful and meaningfull.
Walking on a path of leaves is such an autumnal pleasure. I can never stop myself from skipping kicking crunching them. And a cobalt/white butterfly sounds glorious – what a stunning addition to the autumn palette.
Another treat to read your post, Deborah.
Next year is my year of the I Ching. I have decided that I am going to choose two OTHER books and any and every I Ching book to read for the entire year. I am also allowing myself any books that are about studying the Tao, but that is it. A supreme focus on learning the I Ching for 2014.
I loved your bits about the butterflies. I never knew that they were called a kaleidoscope. I ALWAYS learn something when I stop by here and read your posts. You are such a natural teacher.
Oh wow Amy – I admire your disciplined commitment! While I’d never be able to agree to only two “other” books, I can feel the depth that such a laser focus will bring to your practice. I love the I Ching as well, and look forward to your year of exploration.
Deborah, this post is beautiful! I love the way your dream is so similar to the Intuitive Butterflies I send – the colours and patterns meant for each person. It’s wonderful! It always feels to me that the colours are part of the feelings and gifts those butterflies are offering – whether it is calm and ease or bright energetic inspiration or something completely different. They really make a difference. <3
And thank you so kindly for talking about my Gratitude Tarot and its app. I'm so glad you like it and that you enjoy the app, too!
Sending you big hugs and beautiful butterflies,
~Teresa~
Thanks for popping by Teresa – what a delight. I love how you work with butterfly energy, incorporating the colors and patterns as energetic signatures when you send them off to bless people. Such fun!
I am grateful to be in a warm home today. Snowing and windy outside made me grateful for a toasty fire place and the ability to be working out of my home not having to brave the elements.
I imagine myself as the beautiful Monarch butterfly. I do love the color orange!
Oooh a toasty fire and the delight of working from home while getting to peek at the wintery elements sounds delish. And Monarchs really are beautiful aren’t they?