THE INTRO
The Plutonian Oracle is a concept oracle currently containing 48 cards (bigger than Lenormand, smaller than tarot!). Simple in its artistic design, each concept is represented by a symbol rather than a picture or central figure. I've put my own spin on most representations, and others have not been altered, such as the traditional retrograde symbol. Some representations in this deck include the sun, the moon; astrological glyphs, hearts, circles, crosses, and arrows (arrows are a big deal in this deck).
The deck was originally designed to answer love questions but has been revised to effectively address questions in other life areas.
THE BACKSTORY
I came across the idea for the Plutonian Oracle shortly after returning to read with runes (it had been over 10 years). I'd never really connected with runes, but I decided to give it one more try.
I
created a mini rune deck out of a few index cards in no time. The
connection I had with this self-made deck went beyond my expectations.
During one of these days reading with the runes, something occurred to
me. If I could connect with something as simple as the symbols of the runes, why not make something more specific and "up to date"? No offense! It would
be a deck that could fill in "the blanks" of a reading. Some querents
I'd read for were asking more questions than I could answer, and I just
didn't know how to solve this problem. I'd never given it much thought
or practice. I was more used to saying something like: "I'm not sure if
it's you or X that has the problem..." or "It may be career-related..."
The readings ended up having two or three different interpretations.
Original c. February 2016
This deck would be able to eliminate this problem in a more straightforward way.
I broke from the traditional viking art -- and l saw arrows, triangles, hearts, loops, and semi circles. I grabbed my notebook and started making a list of what people wanted to know and created a symbol for each concept. Some of these concepts weren't new, others I revised. Before I knew it, I was on the internet researching symbols, ranging from alchemical, wiccan, astrological, and even tattoos I'd never seen before.
I created the original deck the same way I'd created the runic one, out of index cards and a fine ink marker. I started using the deck to read for myself. Then I started reading for others with it. After some initially good results on both sides, I refined the deck.
I resized it and added more
features: There were more indicators, some cards became one, such as the
attraction and one-sided attraction cards. Other cards were completely
eliminated (the psychic reader card). I took a lot of the eyes out
because they frightened me. Fear was not what this deck was about, I
told myself. It was a tool that allowed one to re-connect with my higher self (as is the purpose of all divinatory systems).
Original c. February 2016
A WAY OF READING
This deck has lots of arrows. And the reason for this is simple. Once I'd gotten back into tarot, my focus started to shift from its abstract (traditional meanings) to pictorial arrangement. I understood that accuracy also depended on the way the card's central figure was facing rather than on it's traditional or reversed meanings. Most of the time, the pictorial meaning was correct. So I started listening to this side of the reading.
The Lenormand concept of reading was also influential in this deck's design because it makes use of space and its information depends on where cards fall in proximity to one another. I discovered this was a very effective approach to reading, and I incorporated it into my oracle. Instead of having a figure facing a certain way, I drew arrows at the ends of most symbols to help "connect the dots" and transform the reading into a complete picture.
Shortly after using the new deck, I began experimenting with syntax to describe readings. This approach made a difference in "connecting the dots" in written form.
The same concepts used to read with this deck can be used with any tarot deck. The creation of the deck and its use has taught me that readers need a more comprehensive and effective system when reading and, in particular, specifying information. I realize that specificity can be a tricky, elusive business, but not impossible. Looking back now on my journey, I realize being specific has its drawbacks as well, hence why most traditional divination systems use symbols (to represent many things).
So why did I name it The Plutonian Oracle? When I first read with it, the experience was quite unique and powerful. It was eye opening and transformational. I'm not sure if this has anything to do with the deck being something personally connected to me. However, I've understood that in the creative world, we have a much stronger connection to things we ourselves create. It goes back to our tribal ancestry. For readers, using a deck they create makes a significant impact on their readings and the Plutonian Oracle represents that to me.
Thank you for staying updated on my journey with these cards.
Monique K.
April 2016
This deck has lots of arrows. And the reason for this is simple. Once I'd gotten back into tarot, my focus started to shift from its abstract (traditional meanings) to pictorial arrangement. I understood that accuracy also depended on the way the card's central figure was facing rather than on it's traditional or reversed meanings. Most of the time, the pictorial meaning was correct. So I started listening to this side of the reading.
The Lenormand concept of reading was also influential in this deck's design because it makes use of space and its information depends on where cards fall in proximity to one another. I discovered this was a very effective approach to reading, and I incorporated it into my oracle. Instead of having a figure facing a certain way, I drew arrows at the ends of most symbols to help "connect the dots" and transform the reading into a complete picture.
Shortly after using the new deck, I began experimenting with syntax to describe readings. This approach made a difference in "connecting the dots" in written form.
The same concepts used to read with this deck can be used with any tarot deck. The creation of the deck and its use has taught me that readers need a more comprehensive and effective system when reading and, in particular, specifying information. I realize that specificity can be a tricky, elusive business, but not impossible. Looking back now on my journey, I realize being specific has its drawbacks as well, hence why most traditional divination systems use symbols (to represent many things).
So why did I name it The Plutonian Oracle? When I first read with it, the experience was quite unique and powerful. It was eye opening and transformational. I'm not sure if this has anything to do with the deck being something personally connected to me. However, I've understood that in the creative world, we have a much stronger connection to things we ourselves create. It goes back to our tribal ancestry. For readers, using a deck they create makes a significant impact on their readings and the Plutonian Oracle represents that to me.
Thank you for staying updated on my journey with these cards.
Monique K.
April 2016
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