I have a fraught relationship with John Matthews decks. It’s like we’re not on the same wavelength. I like them and dig into their systems, but then feel like I have to improve the system somehow. I did that with the Sherlock Holmes Tarot and the Lost Tarot of Nostradamus, and this deck. (And the Grail Tarot is so complex, I haven’t figured out how to fix it yet!) When I first got the Shaman’s Oracle, I was compelled to reorganize the backstory and order of the five finger spread. But I think this week, I’ll concentrate on the cards and the art itself and see if it has something to tell me, instead of trying to get deep into the system of the deck.
So let’s try an interview and see if that’s going work!
Most important characteristic: Dancer of Life
The deck is full of life and energy. I encourages us to be bright and celebrate all forms of life, plants, animals, and humans, and all life. This sounds kind of dumb, but it makes me think of black lives matter. And that all lives don’t matter until everyone is included and valued.
Strength: Spirit of Healing
Before looking in the book, I see a very powerful spirit healing the world, animals and plants. The deck not only teaches that all life matters, but its strength is helping us to see that we can help heal the world, and when we do, we heal ourselves too.
Weakness: Shaman of Birth
A bit meta, but I’m not so sure this is a picture of a baby inside or of giving birth, so maybe the deck’s weakness is not connecting with the original intent of the art. Although how can we know what the prehistoric artist meant?
What deck can teach me: Spirit of Empowerment
A giant spirit holds up a human figure. Is he empowering the human, or is he exerting power over it? The deck can teach me about both, personal power and power over.
How can I learn that: Ancestor of Protection
Ah, if I have power, so do others, so perhaps protection is in order. This is the most realistic of the pictures here. Looks like swift and ferocious wildcats running together. Lions work together for hunting, childcare, and yes, protection.
Outcome of our work together: Shaman of Tradition
This is probably the most well-known of cave paintings. It’s thought that it depicts an actual shaman, a human wearing animal horns and acting as an animal in a ritual. I can see how that can symbolize tradition. Ritual is probably the oldest human tradition. The outcome of my working with this deck is that I’m being prompted to think back further than middle ages to think about the deeper history and prehistory of our current traditions.
This reading is missing only one suit, Hunter/air (which is fine by me because I’m a vegetarian!) But I’m sure it will show up later in the week.
I only used the book for the first card, and the rest of the interps came pretty easily from the titles and pictures.
I hope you enjoy the deck this week! See you tomorrow!