Table of Contents
Introduction 5
Considering an Oracle 8
The First Oracles 10
The History of Cartomancy 12
Why Do People Create Oracles? 16
Is an Oracle Only Built with Cards? 29
Planning Your Oracle 32
Getting Started 35
How Do You Want Your Oracle to be Used? 38
Do You Need a Theme? 43
What are the Basic Components of an Oracle Card? 45
How Many Oracle Cards Do You Need? 52
Structures and Systems 53
Character Cards 59
Sections and Suits 66
How to Create Sections in an Oracle Deck 69
How Will Your Cards Affect One Another? 70
Creating a Narrative 74
Card Meanings 76
An Oracle Sample 76
Choosing a Title 84
Do Your Cards Work? 85
Designing Tour Oracle 86
Conveying Meaning 89
Color Meanings 92
The Symbolic Approach 98
Methods of Oracle Creation 114
Using Pre-existing Artwork 115
License-free Photography 125
The Postcard Oracle 132
Using Original Artwork 134
Drawing and Painting 135
Photography 142
Collage 151
Digital Illustration 164
Individual Techniques 169
Collaborations and Community Decks 176
Companion Books 177
How to Structure Your Guide 182
A Digital Book 185
Publishing Your Oracle 186
Mass-Market Publishers 190
How Do You Contact a Large Publishing House? 191
Will a Publisher Handle Publicity and Marketing? 196
Will Having Your Deck Published by a Big 197
Publishing House Make You Rich?
Independent Publishing 202
Self-publishing 210
Crowdfunding 217
Using Printing Companies 229
Print-on-demand 230
Home Printing 236
Publicising Your Oracle 238
Social Media 239
Conclusion 246
