Under the Sheltering Arm of Our Ancestors

Yesterday, as I waited for the coffee pot to finish percolating, I pulled two cards for my daily draw: one from the Oracle of Pharaohs (by Norman Plaskett) and one from the Stone Tarot.

The first was titled "Closeness." This card represents the ties of family, the celebration experienced when a special event occurs (such as a wedding, birth, or graduation). In an overarching sense it signifies the love and warmth of home and community.

Oracle of the Pharaohs/N. Plaskett

From the Stone Tarot I drew Strength (and I just love the gorgeous colors that seem to reach out from the card!). This card is my constant companion, often popping up in regards to questions that relate to spirituality and purpose. Strength is so many things, but in the simplest of terms Strength is about the spark of the divine within us, our ability to be compassionate, wise, loving, powerful and confident in who we are as individuals walking this earth.

Stone Tarot/A. Stone

On a mundane level these cards speak of the fact that my oldest daughter is coming back home tomorrow after having spent quite a bit of the summer in the north visiting with her grandparents. Every day my son says, "When is Isa coming home? She's been away TOO LONG!" His excitement and impatience is touching and adorable. Friday will be a very special day, and in a literal sense it will feel like the strengthening of our family unit now that we'll be complete again.

In another sense these cards bring to mind the deep importance of our ancestors, or egun. In my faith practice, ancestor reverence is fundamental - our ancestors are teachers and guides that are always accessible to us as we walk through life. Remembering them, inviting them to be present in our lives, honoring their memories, helps to give stability to the path beneath our feet. In the book Finding Soul on the Path of Orisa (2012), Tobe Correal writes:

When we learn to share our existence with a palpable and wise spiritual presence, our relationship with the egun becomes a sheltering arm that protects us when we are vulnerable, embraces us when we are lonely, and carries us when we are too weak to walk alone (pg. 53-54)

A couple of days ago I had the urge to make the typical cook-out food that my father's mother used to make when I was a small child. I experienced a brief whiff of Spicy Cheez-Its, her favorite snack food - she once said that years of chain-smoking had shot her taste-buds, but the heat in those crackers was just enough to come through. Perhaps it's time to make my grandmother's cook-out dinner for my own kids, and place some Spicy Cheez-Its out in her honor. 

Review: The Oracle of the Pharaohs - Cards of Ra-Maat

I was recently in Michigan attending the wedding of a close family member, and while there took the opportunity to stop at the local Bargain Books to scope out any and all Tarot and oracle decks they might have in stock. Many years ago it was at Bargain Books that I came across the Runic Tarot, which was the first Tarot deck I purchased after having spent many years working primarily with oracles. So I knew they'd probably have some good stuff, for a discounted price. I was not disappointed!

Of the three decks I purchased I want to talk about the Oracle of the Pharaohs, by Norman Plaskett. I'd never heard of this deck previously, but it looked intriguing. The author claims this to be a system used by the ancient Egyptians, and I can't confirm or refute that, but the value of the cards themselves are so high that the veracity of the claim becomes irrelevant. Either way, Plaskett includes some very interesting information and photographs about Egyptian history and deities in the introduction of the accompanying manual which I enjoyed since I don't have a strong background in the topic. Of course it's a very abbreviated account, but provides enough information that you would have a starting place if you desired to do independent study.

Oracle of the Pharaohs - N. Plaskett
6 - Twin Soul

This is indeed an oracle, but I was struck by how Tarot-like the structure actually is. The deck is divided into four sections, and contains 72 cards. The first section is called Pylons and these closely match the Major Arcana in a Tarot deck, however instead of 22 cards, there are just 21 - no equivalent to the Fool card. However anyone familiar with Tarot would immediately see the close correspondence between Pylons and the Majors. For instance, card 6 is called Twin Soul, very similar to the VI Lovers card, and carries similar energy of critical decision making, and profound relation-ship. Card 11 is called Scales, and is very close to the energy of XI Justice, referring to balance, fairness, decisions, and legal concerns.

Oracle of the Pharaohs - N. Plaskett
Arit 7 - Ego

The remaining three sections are very much like suits - the Minor Arcana in a Tarot deck. The first suit is called Arit, and is composed of seven cards that represent major life energies that relate somewhat to the major chakras. They symbolize the intersection of the environment with a person's inner being. Arit 7 is titled "Ego," and represents a time when goals or accomplishments are being pursued, whether big or small. Another aspect of this card is that the querent has work that must be done which, regardless of perceived value, has importance to the global and universal matrix.

Oracle of the Pharaohs - N. Plaskett
Cubits 7 and 13

The second section is called Cubits (units of measurement) and there are 28. These represent thoughts, feelings, and behavioral patterns one experiences in daily life. Cubit 7 is titled "Concerns," and highlights a time when worries and fears cause feelings of isolation, and may even be blown out of proportion due to over-thinking. This card encourages the illumination of problems so that they can be dealt with realistically, and also underscores the benefits of seeking help from one's community.

Cubit 13 is titled "Energy," and reflects drive and focus toward achieving goals. Overall this is good, but the card also warns about taking care of inner resources in order to avoid burn-out, and in addition cautions financial balance so that spending doesn't end up outweighing what's being earned. If sickness is a problem this card suggests that improvement is likely.

Oracle of the Pharaohs - N. Plaskett
Isis

The third and final section is called Deities, and is like the Court Cards in Tarot. Each of the 16 cards features an Egyptian deity that reflects personality traits that can be associated with people in a querent's life, including oneself, naturally! Deity 2 - Isis would be a rather fierce mother-type - she is a wonderful and dedicated nurturer, but is also very logical and doesn't abide fools (think Queen of Pentacles melded with the Queen of Swords!). One additional aspect of this section is that it includes four element cards. These are associated with elemental deities, and represent water, fire, earth, and air. From my experience thus far these function very similarly to Aces, though they're included in the "people" section of the deck.

A reading with Oracle of the Pharaohs
N. Plaskett

I have come to deeply enjoy this deck, and find my readings with it to be precise, clear, interesting, and accurate. I enjoy the Tarot-like structure, yet how fresh and different it is at the same time. It's not a particularly intuitive deck due to the very simple and rather repetitive images, but that doesn't mean that some intuitive "hits" won't be possible - the colors and symbols allow for that to some degree. The backs are reversible, and feature a scarab beetle design. The card stock is very sturdy, and the sheen is slightly sticky - very similar to the feel of the Mary-El Tarot cards. The 128-page companion book gives succinct and helpful descriptions that will provide readers a great starting place from which to embrace the wisdom and insights offered in this lovely Tarot-like oracle deck. I very happily recommend it!