#{ oracles }

[louwhose]

HAPPY 40th ANNIVERSARY, LEGEND OF ZELDA!

[starberry-cupcake]

every time I have the misfortune of encountering fatphobia (especially with a sprinkle of ableism) in the wild, I try to put out the opposite energy instead, so I'm taking this opportunity to trade my rage for a recommendation:

this is amanda lovelace's latest deck 'chubby witch's night in' which was illustrated by the incomparable @vylirium and published by Andrews McMeel, here are some samples I fell in love with:

I have amanda's other decks, all of them have fat people in them, but this one is specifically depicting fat bodies only and are illustrated by an artist who has been a staple of fat art for a long time

I've had my fair share of decks that turn 'wellness' into fatphobia and ableism and, after last year's deck representation argument fiasco, this deck is such a breath of fresh air

it includes journal prompts, activity suggestions, poetry excerpts by amanda herself, here's a sample:

a no nonsense approach to the subject right out of the gate:

and it's written in a way in which it's made me realize, after pulling one card a couple days ago, how much I am expected to be told off for my body in decks that claim to be 'wellness-related' or 'soft', because this took me out:

I don't tend to share my decks a lot online (maybe I should more, I think tumblr would appreciate the mushroom tarot) but, when I saw hatred disguised as health advocacy in a community I'm in, it inspired me to spread something completely different that I enjoy and find comfort in

thank you amanda and thank you @vylirium ♥

transcriptions of the text under the cut

[I hope the transcriptions of these quotes is permitted, given they are only a small sample of the entire guidebook but, if it's not allowed, let me know and I'll remove them]

poem by amanda lovelace:

i. the steam from my tea. ii. the clouds in the night sky. iii. the pillow where I rest my head. iv. the sheep I count. v. my heart. —my thighs are soft like.

quote from the introduction of the guidebook:

"do I have to be chubby to use this deck?" rest assured, the chubby witch's night in oracle deck is for anyone & everyone to use, should they feel drawn to it! if for some reason you're worried that you won't be able to relate to the characters in these cards because of their body size, then ask yourself why that is. (the society in which we live is fatphobic in ways that might not always be that obvious, so even the most open-minded people can subconsciously carry around fatphobic ideas & messaging. no one is above going within & doing the work to deconstruct these things!)

quote from the card 'you deserve softness':

starting today, be gentler with your body. it is not its fault that the world is at war with it. it's just trying to exist, & it deserves to exist where you & other people can see it, so don't hide. unapologetically give your body the softness & compassion it deserves, no matter what anyone else has to say about it, or what you fear they might say about it. their judgments & their shitty little comments don't hold any importance.

[brujaluas]

what will your glow up be like?

“Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?"

pile 1

something shiny, your glow up will be filled with sparkle and it can be literal or metaphorical, you may start to be interested in vibrant colors and use them, you may like to wear shiny accessories, you may adopt a new sparkle in your eyes, something will make you shine, regardless of what it is. you will become a more homely person, you may enjoy your own company more or get along better with people you live with, some here have bad relationships at home and may always want to run away but I see things have improved and you, for example, you will want to spend a weekend at home, not want to run from the house anymore. Something like that, I also see that some here will end a war with themselves, it reminds me of the song "war is over" which makes a lot of sense now at this time that you are seeing this (December, last days until the end of the year). I also heard "my body is my temple". maybe become famous in something for some people.

pile 2

WOW! Your glow up is not necessarily connected to you but to another person, which is very interesting, because this is not a reading about love, but I see you in a deep connection with someone and this relationship brings a rebirth, it is even connected to motherhood (or fatherhood), it is as if you were twin flames or soul mates, which would make sense because if it is a case of a soul mate or twin flame it would be the representation of you merging and generating something very beautiful for both of you. I see you going through all these phases and committing to each other in the end in a very poetically beautiful way like in romance movies… your innocence is also part of your glow up (it calls me to say that)

pile 3

look how beautiful! I see you getting rid of something too, it's like you've put down everything that was bad for you, imagine you living in a ruin, and that's bad for you, you know there won't be any growth there but you continue for your own reasons and emotions but suddenly you wake up one day and put it all down without looking back? It's BEAUTIFUL, it's a new birth, don't worry because after that, everything will be flowers.

[astroyongie]

´ཀ` What Does Your Shadow Self Wants To Tell You? ´ཀ`

-> Hey everyone! This is a timeless Oracle Reading about what your shadow self wishes for you to know at this moment. I dive into the depth of it so some energy can be negative but necessary for reflection. I hope you enjoy it and remember to take it with a grain of salt.

-> Now, take a moment to breath and choose the pile that calls for you

Pile one Pile Two Pile Three Pile Four

☥🦇 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪ Pile One

"I covet"

-> It looks to me that for most of you, your shadow self Is linked with your intellect and with your inner wisdom, as if it has built itself throughout the years due to survival skills. Your shadow self is currently really relentless for a quest of knowledge and truth can also lead too far into conflict. They want to tell you that sometimes, curiosity hurts more than being dumb to certain things. Be careful with forms of competition, as you are not competing with no one but with your own head. Avoid any forms of violence, even if they are often of a moral nature. Let go of things that are staining you. Jealousy, greed, desire of being better than others isn't a truth path. You are your own self. Own to that.

☥🦇 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪ Pile Two

"I know my limits and benefit from them"

-> I hope that you understand that sometimes, our shadow self isn't here to bring you pain, but to let you know that something is wrong. Your shadow self is tired of having to show you that you are in a moment of total exhaustion and you aren't taking hints no matter what your mind and body try to show you. Currently you are in a period of total uncertainty and because of that you are making irrational decisions leading you down the wrong path. Your shadow self has been screaming at you that you are in an intense fatigue and there's an urgent need for calm and rest. Beware of depression and burn out. Stop taking it lightly and seek help for it.

☥🦇 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪ Pile Three

"I see clearly and deceive you"

-> This energy made my head turn a little, but it's definitely linked with inner toxicity, manipulation but also persistence. Your shadow self doesn't yield much in the way of good deeds to be entirely honest, but it does have some obvious qualities to it that have formed you and made you who you are today: patience and persistence. Currently your shadow self wants to tells you that with perseverance you will get where you want to be. You will succeed in convincing those who are around you and in even in leading them the path that you wish. Just be careful when you use your manipulation skills for your own gains. Ask yourself if that is truly necessary or worth it for the other.

☥🦇 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪ Pile Four

"I create or I succumb"

-> You have such a strong shadow self that is mostly liked with your inner energy but also with destruction and violence, and often you fail to see it in front of you. Currently, your shadow self is trying to tell that you that your impulses can sometimes drive you to commit dangerous and compromising acts. Have you noticed how sometimes your behaviors are totally the opposite of who you are truly? There's so much energy around you, but it's only energy of temptation, drift and depravity. It's important to denote that your shadow self can often bring out of you a character that is totally thoughtless, uncontrollable, bordering on tyranny and can lead to serious tension. Please do not allow yourself to succumb to that.

[facesofevilzine]

Faces of Evil is taking on a different type of zine! For A Link to the Past's 35th Anniversary in 2026, I will be running a zine featuring the iconic Pink Link!

But first! An interest check!

[polkiewhats]

[thetelesterion]

YOU ARE NOT AN ORACLE.

I feel like this shouldn't be a thing that needs to be addressed, but I've seen it enough in online spaces (not just on tumblr) to where I'm gonna say something about it anyways. Reviving ancient priesthoods is a completely valid and achievable task, one which is already being done by various communities as we speak.

Reviving oracles on the other hand is near impossible.

Why?

Oracles in the Ancient Greek world were not just random figures who popped up out of nowhere and claimed the Gods were speaking through them. They were participants in traditions that stretched back centuries, and gained respect among the Greek city-states as a result. They were not just diviners, they literally spoke with the voice of the Theoi. Their words were those of the Gods. And because their roles were so heavily dependant on the civic and social structures of Ancient Greek culture, it's no wonder that, as the culture began to shift into the Roman era and then even more as Christianity began to spread and become the dominant religion in that part of the world, the ancient institutions that supported these oracles began to crumble under pressure. That is why, by the time it was finally shut down, the Sanctuary of Apollon at Delphi was a shell of its former self. Gone were its days of receiving donations from kings, politicians and nobles. Gone were its throngs of pilgrims who sought out the Pythia to hear the words of radiant Apollon, in his prophetic house.

The ancient oracles died out, but that does not mean the Gods are silent. They still speak, and can be heard in many ways. Another thing to remember is that, while many oracles were human beings, many were also not. There were oracular springs, and there was the Sanctuary of Dodona, where mighty Zeus was heard in the creaking and rustling of a sacred oak tree.

So, for anyone who believes the Gods speak through them and calls themselves an oracle-- I'm truly sorry, but you are not an oracle. You cannot claim to be one. You are not a participant in the ancient oracular traditions. Educate yourself on what the roles of oracles actually were in the Ancient Greek world.