{ New Location Guide }

We’ve been in our new shop for about a month now and we love the new space. We celebrated our Grand Reopening on April First Friday with our friends and community. We participated in the W 18th Street Block Party and it was a hit! We look forward to more events like that in the future.

If you haven’t been to the new shop yet or if you are an out of town guest we are super easy to find! When you arrive on W 18th street you will see the front of the Bauer Machine Works Building. From the front you can access our friends at For Strange Women, Foxtrot Supply Co., Dear Society, the second-floor studios, and the Hair Parlour. You cannot access our shop from the front entrance. To find us, you are going to want to look for the Alley Shops located to your right if you are facing the building. As you go down the alley you will see our neighbors Coki Bijoux and Kanso and then you’ll find us right around the corner! Our door is located on the back side of the building. We are also accessible from 19th street and the Papa Keno’s Patio. 

Make sure to visit our alley way friends & neighbors - especially Papa Keno’s patio that we share
across the way for some great late night snacks

{ Oracle News & Oracle's of the Month }

Dear Oracle Family,


Big Announcement!!!

We are moving - After 5 beautiful years at our current location, we will be moving on finding a new home  (back) in the Alley Shops of the Bauer Building. As many of you who have stuck with us since the beginning know; Oracle started as a small little boutique in the Bauer back in August of 2013. We have grown so much since those days, expanding as a business and focus into the natural sciences, introducing our workshops, classes, and community based gatherings... it feels like so much has changed yet we are just coming back home to our roots. We will be continuing our March classes as scheduled with upcoming classes with Mickey Alice Kwapis, Witch of the Midwest, and Bug Clubs with Alessandra; but come April 1st we will be moving everything over with a grand reopening April First Friday. It is bittersweet leaving our home of 5 years... but looking forward to seeing you in the new space. We have to say a super thank you to everyone who has supported us and stood up for what Oracle stands for the past 6 months, we couldn't have done it without you. But also can't wait to see how our community will grow with such amazing talented family at the Bauer.

{ March Oracle’s of the Month }

Curioscape Designs

Curioscape Designs uses ethically sourced insects and bones and blends them with natural ephemera to create environments that honor the cycles of life, death and rebirth. Created by Denver based artist Jess Ellis the assemblages reflect her desire to honor the imperfect and give new life to specimen that may have otherwise been overlooked because of a broken wing, faded colors or being already in decay. Ellis creates jewelry and small sculptures that are inspired by 16th-century cabinets of curiosity, magic, science and the natural world. We have a wide variety of styles in the shop from tiny vial to large glass domes. 

Piebald Peacock

The Piebald Peacock is one of natures wonders with patches of white feathers that are the result of a genetic anomaly. The term Peacock refers specifically to the brightly colored male birds while the females are grey or brown in color. The beautiful plumage of the male bird draws many associations to spirituality and the occult. The “eyes” of the tail feathers are a symbol of divine vision. In terms of appearance, the peacock is closely tied to the phoenix which rises from its own ashes to encapsulate the life, death and rebirth. 

Aragonite

Aragonite is a form of Calcium Carbonate that grows in an orthorhombic form. Aragonite in its star form is mined in Morocco and radiates its energy into the energetic fields and spaces it occupies. The energy it projects is serene yet energizing. It can be used for balancing emotions and healing energetic blocks. It is excellent for cleansing and opening the chakras in energy healing. This stone is a wonderful tool for releasing pain and fear because it enhances emotional strength. It is an ally for personal transformation and guidance over life’s thresholds. We all experience the life, death and rebirth cycle as we change and grow as humans and this stone supports deep emotional work and personal rebirth.

Hope to see you soon,

-xo Alessandra

{ Oracle's of the Month - Feb }

Starting the year back up with some of our favorites in the shop - the people and things that make Oracle who she is…

February Oracle’s of the Month

:: Moving Eternity ::

Moving Eternity specializes in creating handcrafted natural goods for your body and magical workings. Their natural wands are made with oak branches found in Kansas City, quartz crystals and is set in beeswax and leather. Each wand comes with a tiny zine. Their pins feature beautiful metallic elements and real snake skin. The beeswax candles are hand dipped and sprinkled with dried flowers and herbs. Each candle is dedicated to a planet or intention. Moving Eternity also creates custom candles with your own intention or deity.

:: Lapis Lazuli ::

Lapis Lazuli ha a rich history that includes being one of the favorite stones of ancient Egyptians. Lapis is a stone that strengthens the Divine connection to the high self. In our daily lives it supports honest communication, inner peace and freedom from negative thoughts. This stone is excellent for those wishing to deepen their intuitive knowing and self compassion. It ties to ancient cultures makes it excellent for connecting with ones past lives or ancestors. It’s dark blue color invokes a sense of calm and peace in ones home or aura. It activates the third eye and throat chakra making it a powerful ally in speaking ones truth from their higher self.

:: Bobcat ::

Bobcats invoke a sly and cunning energy. Their coat act as an invisibility cloak in their natural environment. This is a metaphor for us to live in our authenticity and we will find safety there. Bobcats are a solitary animal and they symbolize the strength in being alone. The bobcat is a patient and observant hunter, like we aspire to be in meditation when we develop our connection to ourself and the Divine. Bobcats are fast learners and that makes them a supportive guide to all students and those who wish to expand their knowledge. They use their fluffy ears and whiskers to detect the most subtle messages in their environment, making them a symbol of a deep connection to our intuition.

{ Upcoming Taxidermy Classes x2!!}

We are so excited to announce... We had to add more classes because the classes below sold out within 48hours! So exciting guys! Glad to see so many people are as excited about these classes and for the talented Mickey Alice Kwapis coming to Oracle! So, what did we add??:

Raccoon class with some exciting techniques on how to professionally taxidermy your own shoulder mount... skinning, fleshing, the whole deal... learning how to do mammal taxidermy can be hard, but Mickey will talk us through it (and once you learn how to do raccoon, it is pretty easy to bring that knowledge to other taxidermy projects)! Then her final class is a Cabinet of Curiosities class, where students will learn a little of everything; starting with wet specimens, botany with pressing flowers, and then finish off by identifying and dissecting an owl pellet. This is a great classes for anyone who has been fascinated with a little bit of everything... and you get two great specimens for your curio collection ;)

Raccoon Taxidermy
Saturday, July 7th from 12 pm to 3 pm
Deposit $200 (total $400)

Cabinet of Curiosities
Sunday, July 8th from 12pm to 2pm
Deposit $50 (total $150)

 

{ Upcoming Taxidermy Classes at Oracle! }

We are so excited to announce… Mickey Alice Kwapis coming to Oracle:
 

 

Mickey has taught classes here at Oracle before, a beautifully thought out workshop that she has taught for years all around North America. Last time we saw her here in Kansas City, she taught us how to press and preserve flowers, wet specimens, and an array of taxidermy classes... which was so inspiring to watch all the thoughtfully posed and well preserved wet specimens our students went home with! But for those of you who don't know her just yet, here is a little quick peak from her website about this lovely talented lady; 

"Hey there! I'm Mickey. I'm a Midwestern taxidermist and craftsperson. Born and raised in Michigan, I took an interest in nature and biology from an early age. My obsession with animals, coupled with a desire to hold onto tangible memories, led to an unexpected intersection. My passion for taxidermy was discovered one night with a dead squirrel, a bottle of wine, and an old biology textbook. I have been working in the taxidermy industry since March of 2012 and I'm recognized internationally for my pop-up taxidermy workshops for beginners. Additionally, I have practiced metalsmithing since 2004 and create handmade, one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces inspired by natural history and the occult.

I practice sustainable taxidermy methods, am a member of the National Taxidermists Association, and have worked, volunteered, and taught at museums and universities all over the world. Last year I won a third-place ribbon for my peacock (his name is Kevin) at the NTA National Championships. I have also served as a consultant to novelist Lauren Beukes for the award-winning book Broken Monsters. You can read a bunch of articles and watch a bunch of short documentaries about my work here. My lectures are primarily targeted towards those with an interest in biology, science, and natural history and focus on the role taxidermy plays in understanding the past, present, and future of our ecosystem. I reside in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago with four living pets and a whole lot of dead ones.

Want to know more? Read my FAQ. Interested in seeing photos of the taxidermy process? Follow along on Instagram."

 

*Also stick around for July First Friday - Mickey will be showing off and selling her work and her jewelry during our First Friday Crossroads Artwalk! Join us Friday July 6th, 6-9pm for some beverages, art, and a good time!