THE RÊVERIE ORACLE DECK IS MY WHIMSICAL CAJUN BELLE VERSION OF LE PETIT JEU.
THIS MYSTICAL GAME OF HOPE IS AS OLD AS THE TRADITIONAL DECK
OF NUMBERED PLAYING CARDS FROM THE 14TH CENTURY.
THESE ILLUSTRIOUS ORACLE CARDS WERE ORIGINALLY NAMED AFTER
THE FAMOUS 18TH CENTURY PARISIAN SALON CARTOMANCER,
MARIE-ANNE ADELAIDE LENORMAND
OR MADAME LENORMAND.
THEY CAN BE USED FOR LIGHT-HEARTED GUIDANCE
WHEN YOU ENCOUNTER ANY LITTLE MYSTERY IN LIFE.
IN THIS POST, DISCOVER MY INSPIRATION BEHIND CARDS 7-12.
CARD 7
SNAKE/SERPENT
THE SNAKE SIGNIFIES INTENSE AMBITIONS OR DESIRES.
IT IS ONE OF THE MOST ANCIENT, SACRED SYMBOLS.
SNAKES REQUIRE RESPECT.
THEY CAN BE FRIEND OR FOE.
THEY REQUIRE OUR CONSTANT ATTENTION SO AS TO REMAIN IN A SAFE SPACE.
I WAS TAUGHT TO FEAR THE SERPENT BY ORGANIZED RELIGION
AND MY MATERNAL GRANDMOTHER, STELLA.
SNAKES AND BAD WEATHER WERE HER MORTAL ENEMIES.
SHE WAS RAISED ON A HOUSE BOAT AS A YOUNG GIRL,
SO I IMAGINE SHE HAD MANY ENCOUNTERS WITH BOTH.
FOR SOME REASON, I CANNOT STOP PAINTING SNAKES.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE I'M TRYING TO MAKE PEACE WITH THEM.
I AM NOT PARTICULARLY A FAN OF REPTILES,
AND THE FACT THAT I KEEP PAINTING AN INHERITED FEAR
CALLS FOR INVESTIGATION.
THE SNAKE IS AN ANCIENT SYMBOL REVERED BY MANY CIVILIZATIONS
REPRESENTING LUCK AND HEALING.
IT BECAME THE EMBODIMENT OF THE DEVIL IN
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC REALM AND HAS SINCE WIDELY REMAINED A NEGATIVE OMEN.
THE WAY SNAKES ARE ABLE TO COMPLETELY LEAVE
THEIR OLD SKIN BEHIND IS MIRACULOUS TO ME.
SOMETHING I HAVE ALWAYS SIMILARLY ADMIRED ABOUT THE CATERPILLAR/BUTTERFLY.
SOMETHING I HAVE ALWAYS STRIVED TO DO IN MY LIFE.
THE MORE I PAINT THEM, THE MORE I LEARN ABOUT MYSELF.
LUCKILY, I WAS BORN IN THE YEAR OF THE SNAKE
ACCORDING TO THE CHINESE ZODIAC.
CARD 8
COFFIN/CERCUEIL
THE COFFIN SIGNIFIES LOSS, GRIEF, AN ENDING.
THIS SYMBOL CAN ALSO INDICATE SUPREPRESSING
OF EMOTIONS, DESIRES, FEARS.
IT IS AN INDICATION OF THE NEED TO LET SOMETHING GO.
ALL COFFINS SHOULD BE LINED IN VELVET
IN MY OPINION,
LIKE GROOVY GUITAR CASES.
I INCLUDED A GLITTERY STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN,
TO CONTINUE THE ROCK AND ROLL VIBE.
THE CLUE TO WHY I USED
THE GARDENIA IN THIS CARD LIES BELOW.
CARD 9
BOUQUET/BOUQUET
THE BOUQUET SIGNIFIES GRATITUDE AND SATISFACTION
IN LIFE'S PLEASURES.
GIFTS, APPRECIATION, SUPPORT IS THE MAIN THEME.
GIVING AND RECEIVING PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL
TOKENS OF LOVE.
LOUISIANA IS A SUBTROPICAL REGION ON THE GULF OF MEXICO
AND LIES AT THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY.
IT IS HOME TO SO MANY GORGEOUS FLOWERS
PERFECT FOR WILD BOUQUETS.
CAMELLIA, IRIS, MAGNOLIA, HIBISCUS, ANGEL TRUMPET,
BIRD-OF-PARADISE, BOUGAINVILLEA, NUMEROUS GINGERS, AND
MY PERSONAL FAVORITE GARDENIAS.
THEY ARE TRADITIONALLY CALLED
"LA FLEUR DE MORT" IN SOUTH LOUISIANA
BECAUSE THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PLANTED IN CEMETERIES.
I ASSUME BECAUSE THE SMELL IS HEAVENLY.
SACRED TO MORPHEUS, THE GREEK GOD OF DREAMS,
THEY WERE THOUGHT OF AS MOON TEARS.
HEAVENLY MOON TEARS.
OUAIS.
CARD 10
SCYTHE/SABRE
THE SCYTHE SIGNIFIES AN UNEXPECTED ENDING OF SOME SORT.
WHETHER IT IS CUTTING OFF A HUMAN, AN ACTION, OR EMOTIONS,
THIS SYMBOL REPRESENTS A SWIFT CONCLUSION.
IT CAN ALSO SUGGEST A TIME OF HARVEST,
WHERE WE REAP WHATEVER WE HAVE SOWN.
THE SCYTHE GOES BACK TO THE ANCIENT ROMANS.
IT IS SHAPED LIKE THE CRESCENT MOON,
AND LIKE ITS PHASES,
EXEMPLIFIES THE NATURAL CYCLE OF BIRTH, GROWTH, AND DEATH.
I CHOSE A PAINTING THAT RESEMBLED
BRIGHT GRASS OR ROWS OF CROPS
FOR THIS RUSTIC TOOL.
CARD 11
WHIP/FOUET
THE WHIP SIGNIFIES CONFLICT.
DISAGREEMENT IS PRESENT.
IT INDICATES SUFFERING
POSSIBLY IN THE FORM OF SHAME OR GUILT.
AGGRESSION IS THE UNDERTONE HERE.
THIS CARD FEATURES MY SON GAVEN
IN COSTUME AS A VILLAIN FOR COURIR DE MARDI GRAS
IN EUNICE, LOUISIANA.
IT IS AN HONOR TO BE CHOSEN TO FACILITATE
THIS ANNUAL ANCIENT TRADITION.
READ MORE DETAILS HERE:
FOR THIS CARD
I FOUND A PAINTING THAT RESEMBLED INFLAMED SCARRING
BUT BALANCED THEM OUT WITH HEART SHAPED ARROWS
FROM MY TATTOO HONORING MOTHERHOOD,
AIMED AT THE WHIP.
CARD 12
BIRDS/OISEAUX
THE BIRDS SIGNIFY INTENSE ENERGY.
FLUTTERING AROUND, NERVOUSNESS,
AN INABILITY TO REMAIN IN ONE PLACE.
A CONSTANT STREAM OF SONG, OR GOSSIP, IS HAPPENING.
COMMUNICATION IS THE FOCUS.
OF COURSE I CHOSE A PINK BIRD.
I FEEL LUCKY WHEN I SPOT A SPOONBILL
FLYING OVERHEAD...FANTASTICAL !
THEY ARE SAID TO GET THEIR COLOR FROM THEIR DIET
OF SHRIMP, CRABS, AND CRAWFISH.
TRUE CAJUNS.
PELICANS ARE LOUISIANA'S STATE BIRD.
I CAUGHT SOME HERE ON LAKE PEIGNEUR
ONE MISTY WINTER MORNING.
THERE WAS NO DISTINCTION BETWEEN
WATER AND SKY.
TRULY SUBLIME.
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