One of my psychic school teachers told us he had more than 200 oracle decks. My collection is in the low double digits and to keep it from growing exponentially, I put myself on a one-in-one-out plan where every new acquisition necessarily leads to a gift. It also makes me pause before buying a new deck - is it worth giving up an oracle that I already know and love?
The answer was a BIG YES when I spotted Barbara Meiklejohn-Free's Sacred Sites Oracle Deck in the lobby at school last summer. Instead of angels, tarot or archetypes, we have approximately 52 sacred sites from around the world, ranging from Machu Picchu in Peru, to Petra in Jordan and Mont Saint-Michel in France. Each of these sites has an energy that we can channel for self-healing and empowerment. We can also view the cards as an oracle, asking our guides what issues we need to work on, though it may be more exciting to use them as a prompt for astral travel and meditation. Imagine what it would be like to travel there and connect with its energy. Each of these sacred sites has a lesson to teach us.
I found this deck to be intriguing because the images have three layers to them as well, for extra depth. Barbara Meikeljohn-Free refers to the bottom third of the card as the Lower World, or the Past. The Middle World represents current opportunities, while the Upper World is where we are headed. I sometimes interpret it as the Subconscious, the Conscious and Divine Guidance. Today I am sharing three messages that came through when I tuned into the cards. Coincidentally, these are cultures I am quite drawn to.
Varanasi, India (Lord Ganesh):
The message today is about cleanliness from a spiritual and emotional point of view - I'm not even sure why I'm using that word, but there is something about the image of the Ganges River washing away our fears, regrets, and mistakes that makes me think of cleanliness. It's about having a pure heart, and not letting the very human experience of fear and anger hold you down. The Ascended Master or guide that comes through is Lord Ganesh, the remover of obstacles. If you are drawn to Ganesh ask for his help removing any internal blocks to progress, as those are usually the most powerful. There is also the message to trust the process of life and to trust God to remove any external blocks when the time is right. See here for my post, Let Go & Let God (or Ganesh).
The Pyramids, Egypt (Osiris):
The British Museum was one of my favorite haunts when I still lived in London. You can visit any civilization just by hopping on the London Underground - and sometimes, the sightseeing begins before you even leave the station. That is where I found this turquoise ankh, the Ancient Egyptian symbol for eternal life. When I began studying ancient religions (for fun!) I was struck by the similarities between this one and Christianity. Both believe in eternal life, a day of judgment where our actions are weighed up and to a certain extent, in miraculous pregnancies even though it's likely Ancient Egyptians saw the myths of Isis, Osiris and Horus as allegories for the human ego's death and the soul's ability to rise above and see clearly - represented by the Eye of Horus. The card in Barbara Meikeljohn-Free's Sacred Sites deck speaks of the Ankh, this symbol of eternal life, and of the Divine Feminine and Masculine. I will let you figure out the meaning for yourself, but balance may be the key. Coincidentally, a friend recommended a book called Initiation by Elisabeth Haich, on the past life memories of an ancient priestess - it's on my to read list! =)
Chichen Itza, Mexico (Kukulkan):
Today I'm drawn to the Lower and Upper Worlds on the Chichen Itza card. The first theme is about self-sacrifice, asking us to reinforce our boundaries and our sense of self-worth. Do you go out of your way to help others, putting yourself on the backburner burner until everyone else's needs are met? If so, it's time to start recognizing your own light, and how it needs attention to shine. This brings me onto the Upper World interprentation - a reference to the Mayan "messiah" known as Kukulkan, a figure who came down to earth to teach us how to heal the sick and even how to resurrect the dead, though Meikeljohn-Free tells us that his mythology was largely wiped out by the Spanish conquistadors. Personally, I find it really interesting when the mythology of several religions starts to overlap, as it can point out a mystical truth that we are all grasping.
Chichen Itza's Equinox