Create Your Own Divination

By Helena Domenic When I was about 13 years old, I stumbled upon Tarot cards in, of all things, a Scholastic Book I had ordered about astrology and other divination systems. I was immediately intrigued by the beautiful imagery on the cards and wondered where I could purchase them.

I’m about to reveal my age here, but this was in the 1970s when information about any kind of alternative spirituality was scarce. I found a deck at the local Walden Books in my local mall, along with a book by Eden Gray about mastering the Tarot.

I began reading cards for myself and for friends at slumber parties! I have been hooked on divination ever since. I now own over 100 Tarot, oracle, and other divination style decks.

In addition to reading Tarot and other forms of divination, I am an artist. Over many years, lots of people were telling me I should create my own Tarot deck. I made many attempts but never really completed an entire deck.

Finally, when I was working towards my Masters degree in fine arts in interdisciplinary arts, I made creating a deck part of my graduate work. After I graduated, I self-published the Fellowship of the Fool in 2009 as both a deck and an accompanying book. I asked my friends, family, co-workers, and art students to pose for me. It was a wonderful experience, and one I am working towards again on a second deck.

I have learned that there are many ways one can use divination as a spiritual tool to help discern one’s path ahead. I prefer to come at it from that angle, rather than just fortune telling. I believe anyone can learn, and that everyone is psychic on some level, whether or not they are open to it.

It is from this belief that I am presenting my coming workshop, Create Your Own Oracle, Saturday, July 11, from 12pm to 4pm. Whether you want to create cards with images on them or use everyday found objects, creating an oracle for yourself is easy and fun! In this class, we will learn how to use objects collected in our everyday lives to make a system that is unique to you. You may wish to bring small items, like buttons, shells, or other things that would fit in your pocket easily that you already have—so start thinking about what will go into your oracle system.

Class size is limited to 8 and is part of a larger series, "Summer Art Camp for Grownups at Solace Farms." The next, Creating A Personal Shrine, is Saturday, July 26, 12pm to 4pm, and limited to 8 participants. (You may attend just one or both.) Sign up now.

Helena Domenic is a painter, writer, and mystic who has displayed her work in Philadelphia, New York, across the United States, and in Egypt and South Africa. Helena was born in Vicenza, Italy where she was exposed to great works of art from a very early age. After viewing the Sistine Chapel ceiling at the age of 18 months, her mother predicted she would become an artist.

Helena's most recent publication is An Illuminated Guide to Wicca, published by Schiffer/Red Feather Mind Body Spirit, and is a visual manual for those wondering how to get started in Wicca. She has also authored The Fellowship of the Fool Tarot, a Lenormand oracle, and a rune oracle deck.

Helena teaches African Art and Art History at Cheyney University, and Drawing and Painting at Kutztown University. She lectures regularly at conferences about art and the sacred, painting, and installation at both academic and healing arts venues.