From Seeking to Knowing: How Oracle Cards Helped Me Trust My Inner Wisdom
My current favorite oracle deck, The Wild Unknown Animal Spirit by Kim Krans
Finding My First Oracle Card Deck
Dear Beautiful Soul,
When I was in my late teens, I started to question the religion I grew up in—fundamentalist evangelical Christianity. In this religion, I was constantly told to pray and ask God for help with decisions, but I never seemed to hear God’s voice, and because of that, I never knew what to do. It was incredibly stressful because I desperately wanted to do the right thing.
My Christian upbringing left me in a whirlwind of anxiety. At church, I would hear story after story about people who claimed to have heard God’s voice, both in the Biblical past and in the present. So, I kept trying, over and over again, but it never worked. So, to put it mildly, I was STRESSED.
By my late teens, I started to question everything and gradually stopped attending church. In my early twenties, I went through a period where I sometimes went to church and sometimes didn’t. It was difficult to break away because the beliefs and rules were so deeply ingrained in me. Breaking them felt overwhelming, so I started small, doing little experiments here and there.
I would skip church and see how that felt. I found more freedom and relief each time I did. I began doing things my church had told me would ruin my life, only to discover I was perfectly fine afterward. For example, my church was adamantly against meditation. Then one time, I meditated for one minute—just sixty seconds—and it terrified me. I was certain it would have dire consequences. When nothing happened, I realized the teachings I had grown up with didn’t match reality.
By my mid-twenties, I had a little more freedom and openness in my life, but I was still stressed and overwhelmed. Without looking to God for daily answers, I didn’t know how to make decisions. I hadn’t grown up with the inner security that would help me feel okay navigating life on my own.
Then one day, a friend took me to a witchy shop nestled in the woods near our workplace in New Hampshire. The store itself freaked me out because it was everything I’d been taught to fear. But it was also peaceful and enchanting—dried herbs hung from the ceiling, colorful tea lined the shelves, and essential oils filled the air. The deeper I went into the store, the more captivated I became.
I was especially drawn to the oracle cards. Despite my fear, I was mesmerized by a deck called The Goddess Oracle by Amy Sophia Marashinsky. Taking a deep breath, I bought it—my first real step into something new.
At home, I read the guidebook carefully and began pulling cards. I don’t remember the first card I ever pulled, but I do remember how healing it felt. This deck wasn’t just about divination; it was full of messages about reclaiming my authenticity, being gentle with myself, and having the courage to face life. I had never experienced any teachings like that before.
Each card came with a poem, a wisdom message, and a meditation—all guiding me to turn inward toward my own sovereignty, and it felt so good. Over time, working with this deck taught me that when I was stressed or uncertain, I could find clarity within myself. This shift—from seeking answers outside of myself to trusting my inner wisdom—was revolutionary.
Why I Love Rituals and an Invitation
For me, this journey with oracle cards was unconventional, especially compared to the culture I grew up in. But I think many of us can relate. We all come from some kind of convention, whether it’s religious, societal, or familial.
What I’ve come to understand is living an unconventional life often means turning away from outside voices and trusting your own intuition, so you can create a life that, even when it’s challenging, is still nourishing for your soul.
Working with oracle cards is one of my core practices to help me with this. Oracle card rituals give my anxious mind the space to pause, reflect, and listen to my inner wisdom.
My love for these rituals is one reason I created the Soul-Nourishment Coven. Yes, I love guiding others through these practices, but I also need this container for myself. It’s a place where I can be with other unconventional souls who support and cheer me on—not because we always agree, but because we honor each other’s courage to follow our own hearts.
And this is why I’m hosting a free Autumn Oracle Card Ritual for you tomorrow. Yes, it’s a chance for you to experience my work if you’re curious about the Coven, but it’s also an opportunity to carve out time for yourself and listen to your own voice.
If this sounds inspiring or fun to you, I invite you to join us tomorrow at 10 AM Pacific for a special gathering. We'll reflect on the magic of autumn and work with a collective oracle card through a reflective practice I’ve honed over the years. This practice will help you use your oracle card as a tool for turning inward and connecting to your inner wisdom.
Warmly,
Emma
P.S. A few things to know about tomorrow’s ritual: 1) The call will be recorded, so even if you can’t make it live, you can sign up and receive the recording afterward. 2) Since it’s a webinar, you can get as cozy as you like—pajamas and blankets are encouraged because you won’t be on video! 3) You won’t need your own oracle cards, because I’m pulling a collective card for all of us.
Sign up for the autumn ritual here.
If you’re curious about the Soul-Nourishment Coven, you can learn more here.
A little wisdom on choosing oracle card decks
I was so lucky for my first deck to reflect my values of authenticity and for the messages to be truly healing for me. But note, not all decks are the same. Some decks have more rigid or predictive messages, and when I come across one like that, I know it's not for me. There are thousands of oracle card decks out there, so when I choose them, I look for those that help me feel more connected to myself and better able to hear my own inner wisdom. It's all about experimenting, playing, and finding the decks that empower you, not the ones that leave you feeling disempowered.
Disclaimer: This blog is a resource guide for educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring a life coach, a therapist, or of seeking medical attention. No information on this blog creates a coach-client relationship between us. You are fully responsible for the decisions and actions you take in regard to your life and affairs.