Refraction Oracle
In 2021 I set out to create an Oracle Deck from scratch. After hand-painting 33 cards and designing the other components of the packaging, I was able to start producing and selling the deck online and in person at flea markets, craft fairs, and markets.
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The Leader
ambitious, confident, stubborn, brave
They do not wait for permission, care nothing for trends, and follow no one. The Leader is ambitious, confident, and stubborn. They whisper to you about taking risks and watch enviously as others take on life’s adventures.
If you have silenced your inner Leader you will be feeling restless, unfulfilled, and insecure.
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The Dreamer
creative, abundant, patient, fearless
The Dreamer’s eyes are perpetually fixed on the sky as if the ground were completely irrelevant. They are undaunted by their smallness and the vastness all around them. They sink into reverie uncontrollably, without provocation. The Dreamer knows that solitude must never be lonely.
When you have neglected your inner Dreamer you will feel restricted, close-minded, and uninspired.
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The Bystander
cautious, deliberate, diligent, fearful
Patience, caution, and deliberation keep the Bystander safe. They are creatures of habit, afraid of change, and hiss at the unfamiliar. They thrive with rigid expectations to count on. The Bystander loves nothing more than being able to find their location on a map.
When you have silenced your inner Bystander you will feel disjointed, ungrounded, and lost.
Ambition, caution, and creativity have a lot to teach us. What if you could personify those inner voices, and invite them to a conversation?
Within us lives a Leader, a Bystander, and a Dreamer. Each of these advocates of our inner worlds has unique wisdom to offer us. Just like the primary colors, these actors do not move in isolation— they blend, blur, and contrast one another beautifully.
Refraction Oracle is designed to gaze inward at their collaboration.
I wanted to make a deck that was different than anything I had seen. Something with themes that were more universal than magicians, cups, swords, etc. in traditional Tarot. A deck with an intuitive structure that was simple and accessible. A deck that anyone could build a relationship with and rely on for insight and clarity.
I conceptualized this deck by personalizing ambition, fear, and faith, three components of my intuition that all-too-often compete with each other. I created these cards so I could have a conversation with these characters.
The stirring imagery, simple concepts, and minimal instruction let the voices of the inner actors speak for themselves. The Refraction Oracle is the perfect tool for an introspective soul that hasn’t connected to a deck before. The accompanying accessories are all designed in collaboration with local artists. Each item can be used to create rituals of connection with the main characters of the deck.
