Contact - Reaching Out - Spiritual Bonds - Connections

Each contact with a human being is so rare, so precious, one should preserve it.
~Anais Nin

In this life, we are spirit and we are flesh. When we forget that we are both, we can suffer unnecessarily. This card can indicate a need to take time for meditation and to connect with one’s Higher Self. This will in turn allow us to see the spiritual aspect of others more clearly and be able to reach out to them more easily.

A young man stands in a contemplative mood. The mask before him indicates that he has stepped apart from his usual role in life. A flame beside the mask signifies the eternity of our nature and reminds us that all that we see in this world is no more than a mask in this earthly realm.

In his right hand he holds a bell jar that contains the face of a woman. Maybe she is his spirit guide, or a love from a past life. She is reaching out to him with much love and tenderness. In his left hand he holds two batons indicating the duality or our nature. They might also indicate that he has more than enough will to move forward in his life.

Oracle of Visions © 2010 by Ciro Marchetti. All rights reserved.

Direction - Purpose - Objectives Taking a First Step

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you've imagined
~ David Henry Thoreau

Purpose and direction, goals and plans for the future. Without such concepts our life would be stagnant and have little meaning. Having something to aim for, to achieve, to look forward to, no matter how small is the difference between a day to day existence and living a fuller life. Reading, learning, seeing, experiencing something new, setting goals; is a journey to tomorrow. Even the longest journey starts with one first step.

Consider the reasons why, the options, the chosen direction and let your journey begin.

Oracle of Visions © 2010 by Ciro Marchetti. All rights reserved.

Perspective - Points of View

I was once like you are now, and I know that its not easy,
To be calm when you’ve found something going on.
But take your time, think a lot,
Why, think of everything you’ve got.
For you will still be here tomorrow, but your dreams may not.
~Lyrics from Father and Son. Cat Stevens

There may be no right or wrong-: the view is the same but its perception is different. Fresh ideas and experience sharing the same eyes, but a different vision.

Two manifestations of the same person sharing a commonality-: one from the freshness, eagerness and innocence of youth, the other from the calmer, sobering maturity of experience. Both grasp the same mask in unison, their destinies entwined and ultimately inseparable. At some point both will have seen and will see the same vision

Oracle of Visions © 2010 by Ciro Marchetti. All rights reserved.

Connections - Putting the Pieces Together Coming to Conclusions

To the question of your life you are the answer, and to the problems of your life you are the solution.
~ Joe Cordare

A young woman sits on a bridge, a physical and metaphysical connecting point between here and there. Her identity is initially concealed not only to us but also to herself. She is in essence, finding her true self. She reaches out to gather pieces of a puzzle, and with each piece, finds answers, clues and discovers more about herself.

Each of us attempts to make sense of our place and we search for a connection and relationship with others.

Gradually despite failures and experimentation along the way, an image starts to take form. Increasing clarity manifests itself from the initial confusion. The process is self reinforcing and often becomes easier and accelerates, as ever more pieces are added, each finding their corresponding place. Eventually a point is reached where everything comes into focus and starts to make sense.

Oracle of Visions © 2010 by Ciro Marchetti. All rights reserved.

Relationships - Interaction with Others

When something is missing in your life, it usually turns out to be someone.
~ Robert Brault

Our life is defined by relationships: family, partners, friends and foes. Each enters and passes through like a comet crossing through our sky, shining briefly but never to return and gradually fading from our memories. Others to settle and remain in our orbit.

A mechanical photographic device displays those who have played a part in our lives. The intricate rotations create infinite combinations to represent the presence and parting. Mimicking the steps of an imaginary cosmic dance, some will remain as permanent participants, although their closeness will oscillate and be relative to each other. Additional frames will constantly be added waiting to portray others that will enter our lives in the future.

Oracle of Visions © 2010 by Ciro Marchetti. All rights reserved.

Reflections - Looking Back - Hindsight

A moral being is one who is capable of reflecting on his past actions and their motives - of approving of some and disapproving of others
~Charles Darwin

Successes, failures, mistakes, regrets, all belong in the past and cannot be changed. Some should not be dwelt upon, and we should move on. But both the good and bad have value and have contributed to some degree to what we are now and offer lessons to be learned as well as references for future decisions. From a safer distance of time any nostalgic review can rekindle past events but later viewed in context and a calmer perspective.

In this scene a man views a selection of images from his past. A retro styled projector is loaded with images of other cards from this deck. His expression is neutral, its unclear whether those projected images are evoking fond memories or painful regrets. Probably like any album or catalogue from our past it will be a mixture of both.

Do not dwell in the past, there may also be a tendency to overlook details and remember with emotional preference rather than accuracy.

Oracle of Visions © 2010 by Ciro Marchetti. All rights reserved.

Goals - Dedication - Process

When we are motivated by goals that have deep meaning, by dreams that need completion, by pure love that needs expressing, then we truly live.
~Greg Anderson

In a larger, metaphysical sense our journey through life is said to be full of transformation from an imperfect, corruptible state towards a perfect, healthy, and everlasting state. What does not kill us makes us stronger; thus painful or difficult changes that we endure can in theory burnish us in a spiritual sense to a high, golden shine. We can also seek out knowledge, opportunity and challenge; it is not necessary to merely allow life to “happen to us.”

In this scene an Alchemist serves as an analogy for striving to achieve an end goal through study, experimentation, dedication and perseverance. His facial markings trace the beginning and end points of his quest from base lead through its various stages of purification of the soul to gold. The symbol for gold appears in the center of his forehead, where the third eye chakra is perceived to be.

This card is a reminder to stay focused on the goal and to continually apply the required self-discipline; it will all be worth it in the end.

Oracle of Visions © 2010 by Ciro Marchetti. All rights reserved.