How To Work With Oracle Cards
I like to use oracle or angel cards when I do readings, because they provide the client with a visual element. This makes the process of reading seem more tangible, and less intimidating. In fact, these user-friendly cards are so accessible that they can be used by anyone in their daily spiritual practice.
My regular clients know that I use the terms ‘angel cards’ and ‘oracle cards’ interchangeably. They are basically decks of cartomancy cards similar to traditional Tarot, but they tend to have more positive messages, images and symbolism than the Tarot.
The many ways one can use oracle cards in your personal practice are only limited by your imagination. For example, you could pull a card and use it as a journal prompt, and then use freewriting or brainstorming to explore how you’re feeling about a certain topic or issue.
You can also ask a question, hold the cards to your heart, and then select the cards you feel most drawn to for the answer. Once you have selected the cards, I advise clients to truly ‘listen’ to the story the cards are telling you. What thoughts, feelings and intuitions do the images and words evoke? How do they correspond with the other cards you selected? What are the common themes?
If it’s helpful you can place cards in a divination spread, or you could pull just one at a time. A simple oracle spread you can try uses only three cards. The first card indicates the past, the second the present (the anchor card), and the third reveals the future.
Sometimes, when a particular card doesn’t seem to provide an instant, clear answer, take a closer look at the different visual elements of the card. For example, what is the person in the picture wearing? Are there any images in the background that provide additional insight or inspiration?
Small Steps To Big Changes
Making positive changes in your life can often feel like an insurmountable task. At times it can be so daunting that it might even seem easier to just have things stay the same, no matter how uncomfortable it has become.
This is especially true when we have been working on the same aspect of our life for years and still not seeing the results we were hoping for, whether the issue is weight loss, finances, health and wellness, family, career, or relationship.
For me the challenge was a particularly frustrating relationship situation. I felt that no matter what I did, no matter how hard I tried to grow and move forward, I always got sucked back into the drama and negativity.
I continually called on my angels and spirit guides to help me improve the relationship, to heal our issues, release our karma, and so forth. I tried anything and everything I could think of to achieve some of the harmony and peace I so much desired in my life.
This went on for years, and I was ready to throw in the towel and just accept that this one area of my life would always be out of balance. But as soon as I let go, I received the most amazing piece of information from my guides!
They showed me how I was focusing too much on the big picture, or the end result. I also realized that because everything wasn’t miraculously healed over night, I was becoming frustrated and disregarding all the tiny steps and improvements I had been making in repairing the relationship.
My guides further told me to break the steps in the healing and reconciliation process down into smaller parts. Instead of seeking instant and complete resolution, I should be working towards small daily improvements. If I do this consistently, I will soon reach the end goal.
True Love Requires Action
My spirit guides have been pointing out as imperative for me to both address and bring to awareness a common theme that I have been noticing in my readings lately. It concerns love, romance and the Law of Attraction, and the importance of taking action when we are on a path towards manifesting a desired relationship.
For example, X wants a relationship with Y. They’ve been talking frequently over several months and have also been on several dates. They really seem to be hitting it off! However, rather than talking directly to Y about how she feels, X calls me for guidance.
But typically the angelic guides will return the responsibility to X in such a reading. Archangel Gabrielle, the Archangel of Communication, will come forward and gently nudge her towards taking personal responsibility by taking action. She will most likely be encouraged to communicate directly with Y herself, and to tell him how she feels about him.
Meanwhile, here I am, caught in the middle. I totally understand the logic of calling a psychic to ‘get a feel’ for what’s energetically going on with the other person, because it is usually scary to be vulnerable, put yourself out there, and have the courage to take that first step in moving a relationship forward.
But I also know that spiritual guidance can only take us so far in life. We also have to take action ourselves and accept personal responsibility for manifesting our desires.
So, my advice from both a spiritual realm and physical world perspective is to never underestimate the power of the mundane! Having a simple and honest conversation to voice your feelings, opinions or concerns can sometimes be the most powerful way to create and attract what you desire in your life.
Improve Your Communication With Archangel Michael
Just like any muscle or skill, our intuition requires regular exercise and practice to improve its strength and clarity. The following is one of my favorite ways to enhance angelic communication.
I like to work with Archangel Michael for this exercise because he has such a large and powerful energy. It is easy to ascertain and distinguish.
To get the best results from this exercise, begin by setting time aside throughout the week to practice tuning in to angelic guidance. It can be as easy or as elaborate as you prefer.
For example, you may decide to practice tuning in for only a few breaths in the shower, or you could set aside 30 minutes in the evening and create your own ritual with candles and meditation music. Let your creativity and schedule dictate the level of your commitment.
The most important element is your commitment and intention. As a teacher once told me that small action steps imbued with big intention makes miracles.”
When you are ready to begin, close your eyes and take several deep breaths in, breathing all the way down to your lower belly. With each exhale allow yourself to release any worries, doubts, concerns, grief or fear.
When you have obtained a peaceful feeling, call to Archangel Michael silently, or aloud. Ask that he move into your energy field so that you can be aware of his presence.
Opening To Divine Guidance
Beginning to work with your angels and spirit guides is just like learning any other new skill. It requires patience, commitment, openness, and a willingness to ask for help.
In fact, I compare opening to divine guidance to learning a new language, because in essence you are discovering the ways you and your ‘spirit team’ communicate with one another.
Everyone has this ability and if you are willing to put forward the effort, the dividends will be life-changing in positive and joyful ways.
The first step, as with everything related to spirit, is to set the intention to work more closely with your spirit team. Ask your spirit team to work more closely with you. Empower them to turn up the volume of their communication with you.
It is important to remember that you are an important member of your team. You are not a subordinate or lesser, because you are in physical form.
In fact, our spirit team reveres us for our courage to come forward into this lifetime, and they assembled strictly for the purpose of supporting us in this endeavor. They are here to make your life easier and to support you, so let them!
The first way spirit communicates with us is through signs. This can be something as profound as a book we need to read falling off the shelf in front of us at a bookstore; or overhearing a conversation that answers a question in your heart; or something as simple as finding feathers and pennies on the sidewalk.
The key to determining if something is divine guidance or not, is how it makes us feel. If we feel love and inspiration, rightness in our heart, mind and body, then it is a Divine message. If it makes us feel scared, frightened, or disempowered then it is not divine guidance, it is human ego.
How Spirit Communicates With Us
Spirit communicates with us in many powerful ways. All we need to do to improve this beneficial and life-affirming spiritual relationship is to set an intention to expand our communication. We simply need to ask to work more closely with our ‘spirit team’ of Ancestors, Guides, and Angels.
Due to the Universal Law of Free Will, our spirit team can only communicate and intervene in our lives to the extent we request their guidance and assistance. They need our consent or mandate, because our free will affords us the right and responsibility to choose the direction and terms of our lives.
Therefore, we must ask for Spirit’s guidance and help before they can act on our behalf and increase their communication with us. Once we ask, our team can go to work on our behalf in any situation in our lives, whether it is a simple as finding a parking spot at the mall or as serious as pinpointing our life purpose, and everything in between.
The key to communicating with Spirit is to be aware of the language it uses. Spirit communicates with us both externally and internally.
External Communication
External communication comes in the forms of signs and synchronicities. Working with and looking for signs and synchronicities enables us to flow with the grace and daily magic of Spirit.
Reclaim Your Energy For Financial Prosperity
You may be surprised to learn that I find doing readings about money and finances to be no different from doing a love or relationship reading. In my experience, how we handle money is usually exactly the same as how we operate in relationships and how we ultimately treat ourselves and others. How we earn and spend money is also how we love ourselves and others. In the end it is all about how we manage our personal energy.
For example, if you constantly find yourself in overwhelming debt, consider how you operate in your relationships. Do you feel as if you give, and give, and give, and rarely get anything back? Do you feel as if you are always pursuing relationships and they are unwilling to commit? Is it typically an ‘on again, off again’ scenario?
Now consider how this also reflects in your money matters and financial management. Do you find that as soon as you have money it is already spent? Is it continuously flowing out? Do you struggle to hold on to, or build any savings? The deeper truth is that this constant ‘scarcity’ or ‘lack’ is the result of a fear of owning our power.
Do a simple exercise by becoming quiet and centered. Calm your mind and body and then call on your angels and guides. Ask them to show you what it would feel like to hold on to just ten percent more of your energy. Increase this every day for ten days and you will now know what it is like to hold on to hundred percent of your energy!
Once you have reclaimed all your energy, ask your spirit helpers to teach you how to carry this newfound sense of personal power into your daily life. If you are like many of my clients, you will soon find that both your financial priorities have shifted. You will be making less impulse purchases and find yourself saving for the things that are more in alignment with your higher self.