LOOK INSIDE: Wisdom of Place Oracle Box by ORO Editions

WISDOM OF PLACE

introduction

Every day of our lives we are in the presence of genius—what our ancestors called the genius loci, or spirit of place. But do we recognize it? Can we still hear the mountain, see the wind, feel the forest—without an app? At this moment of profound environmental disruption, we must reawaken our sense of the earth’s abiding intelligence and relearn the sacred language of nature.

Our book Wisdom of Place: A Guide to Recovering the Sacred Origins of Landscape (ORO Editions, 2023) examined various expressions of the power of place through the narrative structure of the tarot. We now present its content in the form of an interactive card deck—a tangible and tactile tool to expand one’s environmental consciousness in an original and captivating way. Wisdom of Place: Elements of Sacred Landscapes tarot deck associates traditional tarot figures with ideas, concepts, and manifestations of the genius loci. Our Major Arcana represent broad concepts and fundamental principles of ecological awareness and their common expressions in global folklore. Our Minor Arcana represent specific elements and features of “sacred” landscapes, and are subdivided into four suits of fourteen cards each, representing the elemental properties of Earth, Air, Water and Wood. We list the correspondences to conventional tarot cards at the beginning of each section in this guidebook.

We consider the seventy-eight cards in this deck as pathways to enchantment, artful representations of metaphors that help realign spiritualism with environmentalism. We took turns illustrating each card in our own artistic style to create a visual dialogue—Chip’s watercolor renderings alternate with Elizabeth’s hand-cut paper collages. We hope our work will lead you to rediscover a multitude of long overlooked landscape spirits and be inspired to find and create new meaning in your own sacred landscape.

You can interact with the cards in a variety of ways, as outlined at the end of this guidebook. Each figure’s significance is explained as a component of nature and of human imagination. We offer “words of wisdom” to help readers gain new knowledge about natural systems, to find personal inspiration, to stimulate creative thinking, and to encourage positive action. We hope that Wisdom of Place: Elements of Sacred Landscapes not only enriches your environmental literacy but also restores your sense of wonder at the world.

major arcana

Wisdom of Place traditional tarot

The Green Man

The Doors of Perception Pachamama Organic Proportion

The Fool

The Magician

The High Priestess

The Empress

The Emperor

The Hierophant

The Green Woman

The Geometer Alignments

The

Deep Ecology

Axis Mundi The Tree of Life Green Mandala Geomancy

Ecotones

The Moon

Closed Loop Genius Loci Metamorphosis

The Chariot

The Lovers Justice

The Hermit

The Wheel of Fortune Strength

The Hanged Man Temperance

The Star The Devil

The Tower

The Moon

The Sun

Judgement

The World Death

0 - the green m an

O the green man

Our search for wisdom of place begins with The Green Man. With faith in the future, he is poised to step off the precipice and into the magical realm of the genius loci. He exemplifies the ideal starting point, a harbinger of new growth and experiences, and a personification of the mysteries of the spring season.

Words of Wisdom

PERSONAL

Go forward with hope, confidence, and a sense of adventure.

ENVIRONMENTAL

Cherish how the warmer temperatures of spring quicken plant growth, awaken animals, and bring rain.

CREATIVE

Explore the border regions, where wild nature and human nature co-exist.

i - the biosPhere

i biOsphere

“As above, so below.” The literal and figurative link between the inner world and the outer world, between the microcosm and the macrocosm, is illustrated by the Biosphere. The Biosphere embodies a holistic, systems-thinking framework. Its complexity is a reminder that our actions and interventions have consequences, intended and unintended.

Words of Wisdom

PERSONAL

Act with intention; be mindful of the bond between thought and deed.

ENVIRONMENTAL

Small changes in a landscape can produce larger responses in an ecosystem.

CREATIVE

Consider design as a process, not a product.

i - aquea

i aquea

Aquea is the singular, feminine form of the Latin word “aqueous,” meaning watery. Globally, the sacred qualities of water are often associated with female energy, representative of the womb environment, the birthing process, and motherhood.

Words of Wisdom

PERSONAL

Be buoyant and float.

ENVIRONMENTAL

According to the United Nations, a quarter of the world’s population, or two billion people, lack access to safe drinking water.

CREATIVITY

Examine an idea in the metaphorical states of solid, liquid, and vapor.

ii - merfolk

merfOlk

Merfolk, being half fish and half human, inhabit the seas and symbolize the heightened consciousness of being from both worlds. Legends of merfolk appear worldwide. In mythology the mermaid is said to represent the sacred feminine.

Words of Wisdom

PERSONAL

Acknowledge the multitudes that exist within you.

ENVIRONMENTAL

Humans are thought to have evolved from aquatic tetrapods over 350 million years ago when we incrementally moved onto land.

CREATIVITY

Don’t be afraid to dive in and swim.

Xiii - grottoes

xiii grOttOes

A grotto is a niche in an earthen wall customarily marking the site of a natural spring. As a place where a subterranean force surfaces, a grotto is symbolic of both earth and water elements— the shelter and refuge of the dark and mysterious cave, combined with the inspiring and life-giving spirit of a spring.

Words of Wisdom

PERSONAL

Explore where thoughts originate in the dark recesses of the mind.

ENVIRONMENTAL

Grottoes moderate a microclimate by adding moisture to the air, reducing temperatures, and providing psychological cooling.

CREATIVE

Decorate with stones, river rocks, and shells.

XiV - nymPhaeums

xiv nymphaeums

Water theaters were used by the ancient Romans to placate and worship the nymphs, to ensure that springs would continue to flow. Nymphs were water spirits and protectors of nature, who could gift humans with the power of prophecy.

Words of Wisdom

PERSONAL

Listen for meaning in the rhythmic flow of water.

ENVIRONMENTAL

The water we drink is over 4 billion years old.

CREATIVE

Imagine what oracles can be delivered in theatrical displays.

iX - Will-o-WisP

ix will O wisp

Luminous phenomena occur where decaying organic matter and stagnant water meet. The sudden ignition of “swamp gas” has been a source of myth and fascination for people across the globe for ages. In many folkloric traditions these lights are believed to be the spirits of the dead, fairies, or a variety of other supernatural beings.

Words of Wisdom

PERSONAL

Be wary of the “foolish fire” that can lead you off your path.

ENVIRONMENTAL

Methane is the second-most abundant greenhouse gas on Earth.

CREATIVE

Never abandon your belief in magic.

X - heliotroPism

x heliOtrOpism

Heliotropism (how plants respond to the position of the sun) is an example of a circadian rhythm. Plants, animals and people all respond to their environments with an internal timekeeping process based on the 24-hour cycle of day and night caused by the earth’s rotation on its axis.

Words of Wisdom

PERSONAL

Be mindful of your internal clock.

ENVIRONMENTAL

Like the sunflower, spend and conserve energy wisely.

CREATIVE

Carve out a space that provides optimal conditions for your endeavors.

V - seed banks

v seed banks

A seed bank is a storage facility that preserves genetic diversity. Deposits and withdrawals are made for conservation and restoration purposes. As the world’s climates are changing and species become extinct, a seed bank will ensure a biodiverse future.

Words of Wisdom

PERSONAL

A seed is a promise for the future, a storehouse of potential.

ENVIRONMENTAL

The Millennium Seed Bank in England contains more than 2 billion seeds, and aims to preserve 25% of the world’s plants or about 75,000 different species.

CREATIVE

Seeds are containers of history and memory.

Vi - agaVe sPirit

vi agave spirit

Mayahuel is the Aztec goddess associated with the Agave plant. According to Oaxacan myth, she fell in love with a human and gave birth to 400 rabbits. A rabbit set off to find fire and became a fire spirit who jumped into the heart of the Agave creating mezcal, the holy elixir and gift to the gods.

Words of Wisdom

PERSONAL

Be brave; out of disorder comes order.

ENVIRONMENTAL

160 species of agave thrive in Oaxaca, one of the most biodiverse regions in Mexico, and where 90% of mezcal is produced.

CREATIVE

Distill the spirit of your ideas.

i - caVes

i caves

Caves were our first shelters, our first sanctuaries and our first sacred art galleries. Images of animals and stencils of human hands, some dating from 60,000 years ago, have been found in caves worldwide.

Philosophically, the allegory of the cave illustrates the relationship between perception and reality.

Words of Wisdom

PERSONAL

Like Persephone, descend into the darkness and emerge into the light.

ENVIRONMENTAL

Caves often form in Karst terrain where rain erodes limestone and aquifers develop.

CREATIVE

Beautiful forms develop from the ground up as well as from the top down.

ii - echoes

ii echOes

An echo is a phenomenon of sound reflecting off a distant surface. The farther away the object, the more time it takes for the sound to return. Many nocturnal and marine animals are sensitive to sound; they navigate, hunt and forage by echolocation.

Words of Wisdom

PERSONAL

Call out to the land and listen for its wise response.

ENVIRONMENTAL

Sound travels faster through water than air, which makes “biological” sonar an efficient process.

CREATIVE

Incorporate feedback processes in your work.

the sPreads:

gateWay to enlightenment

Following are methods that readers can employ for activating and reading the Wisdom of Place Card Deck. These spreads can be engaged for a variety of purposes as aids in the processes of personal growth, environmental consciousness, and creative development. To read the cards create a quiet, contemplative atmosphere. Set the deck in front of you, clear your mind, and focus your attention on it. Hold the deck in your hands for a few moments to transfer your energy to it. Shuffle and cut the deck. What is your first impression of the card revealed? Write it down and cross-reference your reflection with the description in the guidebook.

Single Card Spread

Turn over the top card. This is your guide for daily meditation. This method can also be used outdoors to align yourself with your location and bring forth the spirits of the place.

Three Card Spread

The linear spread of three cards represents a narrative of past, present, and future circumstances. The first card presents an opportunity to reflect on historical events and precedents. The middle card provides direction and objectives to accomplish now. The final card indicates opportunities for positive change.