Oracle's Card of the Month: October '23

This month we pulled The Ship card from Lulu’s Lenormand. In traditional Lenormand decks the ship takes the form of a tall ship with sails out on the sea. The Ship card refers to movement, travel, and foreign places. It can be a call to get out and explore or a signal that your “ship is about to come in.”

In a world of daily international travel and global communication, Lulu’s Lenormand takes the Ship’s province even farther outside with a vintage-style UFO (or UAP as they’re now labeled). Take the appearance of this Ship as a sign to not only get moving or explore new places… but also as a call to get “outside of the normal.” Investigate places both outside and within.

This October get outside of your comfort zone, get weird, and look to new horizons!

If you’ve been in our studio this year you’ve seen the ongoing installation art piece “Odyssey of the Oracle” by Dani Hurst Brown. This large hand-woven wreath has become a beautiful document of the turning seasons. Dani has now released a zine that takes you through the practice of “Seasonal Wreathing” in which the creation of your own handmade wreath becomes a work of art, a nature offering, and a diary of the year.

For a cute pick-me-up or to gift as a little token of friendship we have new enamel pins by Kitty with a Cupcake! The Kitty Tarot Death card and the Pocket Familiar bat are adorable and fill that Halloween fun need.

This month we head out to Philadelphia. Alessandra and I will be joined by Tyler Thrasher, Ash Miyagawa, Jane Almirall, and Sweet Destructor for a weekend pop-up event at Bloodmilk’s Sphinx and Snakeskin 45 N 2nd St, Philadelphia. Friday the 13th 6-9pm and Saturday the 14th 12-5pm. If you’re in the Philly area come say hi! And KC folks, Melissa is holding down the fort in our studio so we will be open our normal hours still!

If you’re looking for some ideas for trying something new… Oracle has several classes on the roster for October. On Friday the 20th I (Laura) will be teaching a Candle Divination class. That Sunday the 22nd Alessandra will teach a Scorpion pinning class. And on Thursday the 26th she will give a Bone Lecture.

So this October have some fun trying out new things, stretching your wings, and go for a wild Autumn ride! - Laura Pensar for Oracle Natural Science

Species Spotlight: Coyote

Although I live in the city there is a creek which runs behind my house. It’s a strange bubble of untamed nature within the neighborhood: electric blue dragonflies, owls, hawks, heron, foxes, frogs, bats, ducks, coyotes…

When I first moved in (16 years ago) I would sometimes hear these strange alien noises at night. Some kind of weird chortling yipping, not quite a howl but not a human shout… staring out into the blackness of my yard listening to a hunt. A life and death struggle just beyond the chain link fence and overgrown vines… a coyote doing what it needs to survive.

Moments like that made me think of just how terrifying the night must have been before we started documenting, classifying, and sharing information with each other. Had I not known it was a coyote making those noises… what would I have thought? Even knowing that it was a coyote, there was a deep eeriness to the experience. Was it really a coyote? Was I just rationalizing an unearthly sound?

Although coyotes are very much a part of most urban landscapes in the United States at this point… we still tend to picture them out roaming the prairie grasses like in some nature documentary with a disembodied British “voice of authority” narrating the solitary hunter’s trials and tribulations of navigating a harsh landscape.

But at this point, coyotes are as much a part of my city experience as the squirrels and rabbits. Although less visible, they are a constant presence and a reality to bear in mind as I let my prey-sized dogs into the yard during the lean winter months when they may appear tempting to a hungry coyote lurking in the creek.

Ghosts of the city. Historically, coyotes prefer to live in deserts or prairies. But they are skilled at survival and can live in most any habitat. Although coyotes are predators, they are opportunistic and will eat whatever prey is most available to them as well as scavenge. The Urban Coyote Project (based in Chicago, Illinois) researches the way coyotes live and interact within urban areas.

“People are often unknowingly in close contact with coyotes each day, and in the vast majority of cases, the coyotes are still acting as ghosts of the cities, much as they did on the plains. But coyotes are watching and learning from us; we influence their behavior, and it will be our actions that determine what the future holds for our wildlife neighbors.” - UrbanCoyoteResearch.com

Although coyotes have been present in the peripheral of my life I didn’t really have any idea what coyotes were really like. I had a vague notion of them being something between a German shepherd and a wolf. It wasn’t until I started work here at Oracle in 2019 that I really learned anything about these mysterious yowling neighbors. Because one way we source our specimens is through conservation and abatement programs, we commonly have coyotes in our studio.

Their scientific name, Canis Latrans is Latin for “barking dog”… although I’d be hard pressed to call the noises I hear in my back yard “barking.” Their common name of Coyote (ki-o-tee) comes from the Aztec Indian word “coyoti.”

In Mesoamerican cosmology, Coyote symbolized military strength and warrior would include Coyote imagery in their dress referring to Coyote’s predatory power in fighting. Coyote’s long graceful legs, many vocalizations, and hunter nature are personified in Aztec mythology as Huehuecoyotl “Old Coyote,” the god of dance, music, and carnality.

Coyote’s cunning nature and strong sense of survival show up in many Native American stories where Coyote is frequently a trickster and is often involved in creation myths. Colonists, on the other hand, viewed Coyote characters as cowardly and untrustworthy and coyotes to this day seem to still carry this stigma.

In many ways Coyotes truly are doglike. In fact, visitors to the studio will frequently confuse the mummified coyote paws for domestic dog paws. Coyote paws are surprisingly dainty for what you would expect. A domestic dog’s paw print will typically be wider and the pads more spread out. A coyote’s track is egg-shaped and sized with the top two toes pointing more inwards.

Their skulls are more flat and elongated than typical domestic dogs. Domestic dog skulls also tend to be wider through the forehead and muzzle while the coyote skull is fairly narrow. Coyote teeth are also longer and sharper and the cusp (or points) on their cheek teeth are more complex allowing them to grip and hold prey as they crush bones.

Some coyote facts:

  • Coyotes are monogamous and typically mate for life.

  • Both parents stay with the young until they are ready to be on their own.

  • In captivity, coyotes live 15 years on average, however, wild coyotes are likely to die before they reach the age of three.

  • A coyote’s territory may be between 9 and 30 square miles.

  • Coyotes help keep small mammal populations in control.

As coyotes are a part of life even in most cities across the United States, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with their habits. Here are some resources for more information:

And if you’re interested in Coyote specimens we almost always have a variety of Coyote items here in the shop. And we currently have these on our website:

— Laura

Oracle's Card of the Month: September '23

September leads us into the official start of Autumn! This month we have pulled the Queen of Pentacles card from The Rainbow Heart Tarot. Earthy, grounded, caring energy. After a Summer of harsh environmental tragedies, the message of this card seems spot-on.

In this deck the Queen of Pentacles is shown in front of a snow-capped mountain range. The Queen’s crown and the crystal cluster held near to their chest echo the purple colors and angled points of the mountains in the background. The Queen’s veil is decorated with autumn leaves and the warm tones contrast with the cool colors of the environment; a visual call to bring our own warmth as the outer temperatures cool.

As an archetype, the Queen of Pentacles is a keeper of resources. This card speaks to nurturing and tending to the physical world. The tiny crystal cluster held lovingly in the hands is a lovely symbol of the kind of care we should be taking for the larger world as a whole. The berries growing on the greenery framing this card serve as a reminder that we are dependent upon nature and its gifts.

This month as we transition into the Fall season, look to ways you can care for and remain connected to the Earth. That our relationship with nature requires care and attention.

Loot for small ways to remind yourself that we are of this planet (no matter how alien you may feel at times… Earth is home.) A pocket crystal, a cup of herbal tea, admiring the spectacular beauty of an insect’s wings. There is so much that is magical and awe-inspiring about the Earth.

Our newest zine is out now… “Oracle’s Crystal Guide” - a crystal-clear guide to a FEW of the world’s classic rocks! Written by me (Laura Pensar) and illustrated by Melissa Chepren. This full-color booklet includes information on more than 30 crystals, the mineral composition of each crystal, metaphysical associations, facts and tips. A great guide for the crystal curious and a perfect pocket reference for the seasoned rock hound!

For Strange Women has reformulated our Taxidermy Protector spray! It’s an all-natural-ingredient spray to help deter pests that may damage your precious taxidermy collection. The main ingredient is Hiba Cedar with other pure essential oils distilled from plant defense systems.

Woodchucks (also known as Groundhogs) create their homes in the Earth in extensive burrows. Although Woodchucks have many natural predators, they have many survival strategies including retreating to and hiding in their burrows, climbing trees, and when necessary defending themselves with their sharp claws and long incisor teeth.  Woodchucks are highly attuned to their surroundings and keep on the alert for potential dangers. When a threat has been detected they will signal to others in their colony by making a high-pitched whistling sound (which gives them the nickname of “whistle pig.”)

Ruby Zoisite (also known as Anyolite). Ruby found within Zoisite deposits. Said to aid in the manifestation of your ideas and dreams. Ruby is a “heart stone” associated with courage and strength. Zoisite is a stone of returning to the Earth and rebirth. Together this beautiful crystal embodies aligning with our goals and soothing our emotions through connection.

This month take some extra time to tend to the natural world within your sphere. Whether it’s a garden, a few house plants, a friendly pigeon that frequents your windowsill. Wherever you encounter nature in your life approach it with care and love. And remember, you too, are a part of nature so treat yourself with this same care. You are something precious as well. — Laura Pensar for Oracle Natural Science