1) What is the difference between an oracle and a tarot deck?

A tarot deck consists of 78 cards with specific illustrations symbolizing meanings, used since the fifteenth century. It has two sections, the Major Arcana made up of 22 cards and the Minor Arcana with 56 cards containing four suites, including face cards, the Ace, King, Queen and Jack, similar to traditional playing cards:

Cups (element of water) representing emotional aspects of the heart Pentacles (element of earth) representing physical matter Swords (element of air) representing mind over matter Wands (element of fire) representing application and trajectory of energy

The Major Arcana is the tale of the journey from a new beginning 0-00 Fool card to 21,The World card representing the end of a cycle.

The Minor Arcana represents steps taken in the past leading to the the present situation NOW and the likely outcome if the trajectory continues.

The definition of an oracle is something that is regarded as a sure guide, nudging us towards intuitive insight and guidance. The illustrations represent a theme and consist of any number of cards.

Tails From The Vector is an oracle but the first 22 vertical cards (0-00 are twins and consider themselves as one painting), the dragons and dragonflies, plus The Sun (an ink drawing of a solar flare from an ayahuasca vision) are the Maestros (shamans) representing the energy of the Major Arcana. Energetically, vertical alignment in the physical environment and physical body is strong and horizontal alignment is weak.

The Seven Stellar Sisters of the Pleiades are also Maestros highlighting energy from the chakras.

The first 12 horizontal cards, Aspects of Life represent the zodiac and astrological influences. The Usual Suspects, Tactics (identified by Edward Snowden), 11 karmic spaces (identified by Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati) and Major Accomplices in the oracle, identify energetic weaknesses and the advice or “medicine” to strengthen the energy. These horizontal ink drawings are inspired by visions from my ayahuasca ceremonies. Energetically, vertical alignment in the physical environment and physical body is strong and horizontal alignment is weak.

In my readings I often use a deck of playing cards as the Minor Arcana and sometimes clarify with another tarot deck.