Review: Oracle Alma Bose by Grimaud

Grimaud is a French company, responsible for a few well-known decks such as the Tarot de Marseille, the Grand Eteilla and the Astro-Mythological Lenormand (also called "Grand Jeu Lenormand"). But mostly, it's responsible for a huge amount of rather unknown decks. The oracle Alma Bose belongs to the latter group.

The Oracle Alma Bose has 67 illustrated cards that come in a sturdy silver box. It also comes with a bilingual booklet, in French and in English, to help you to read the card. Who created the deck? Who illustrated it? We will never know, because there's no credit in the booklet - just instructions. Instructions that, I dare say, are better than we see in most of little white books that usually accompany the decks.

The deck's most interesting feature is the fact it comes with three querent cards: a man, a woman and a man/woman cards, that can be used for couples or for people who refuse to be limited to any gender. And there is more to it! You get four cards that are all about sexual orientation, the different genders symbolized by little penises and little coffee-beans (a rather cute way of representing a vulva) . You can see them below:

The first cards in the picture shows a "Bacchant", a woman who likes men. The second cards shows an "Artemis", a woman who likes women. The third card shows a "Faun", a man who likes women. And the fourth cards shows an "Antinoüs", a man who likes men. Trust me, this is the most thoughtful deck you'll ever come across when it comes to sexuality. 

The Answer Spread

Ever since I joined the AOC Forum, I saw a lot of people using a spread called "The Answer Spread", specially with playing cards. It's quite fascinating, because it helps you to answer specific questions, while remaining simple!

I'm sharing it here, so other people may learn about it. I did not create it. I got it from a post by Kepherus at the AOC Forum.

Choose 6 cards from the deck and lay them on the table as shown below. Read the columns from left to right, one at a time. You are working with combinations of two cards.




First column: indicates the past, or the premise of the question (ie. the reason why it's being asked, or the circumstances that led to the situation in hand).

Second column: indicates the present, or the answer to the question (taking into account the past and present influences).

Third column: indicated the future influences, or the factors that contribute to the situation (these are usually factors unknown to the querent).


It can be used to answer yes/no questions, when using playing cards. If most of the cards are red, it means 'yes'. If most of them are black, it means 'no'. If the amount of red and black cards is even, that means the answer is not set yet.

It's said that the time span covered by this spread is usually from 2 to 6 months, but in my opinion the spread is too small and short-term to cover such a huge amount of time. Personally, I'd say it covers from 1 to 3 months, depending on how unstable and prone to change the situation is according to the cards.

The Sacred Path Cards say... smile. You already won.

Tomorrow I'll do for the fourth time my driving test. I failed the last three ones, more because of my anxiety than the lack of driving skills. So, here I go, to the slaughterhouse again.

I decided I needed a gentle advice from a card. No fortune telling, no daily reading, no concrete results, just an advice on how to deal with my nerves before the test. How to not get an ulcer before Monday came. For that task I found the perfect deck: The Sacred Path Cards, by Jamie Sams.

This deck not only gives you guidance in a positive way, but it also teaches you about other cultures, transporting you to a different place for a few minutes. Sometimes all you need to start solving your problems is to take your head off the pit you created and take a breath. I found that the whole cultural background she gives, and the tales she shares, helped me to feel more relaxed and prepared to receive the cards' messages.

The Playing Cards say... watch your tarts!

Red, red, red... in traditional cartomancy, this could be considered one bright daily draw. But hey - do I see the two most untrustworthy cards of the deck surrounding that poor Ace of ♦? Uh-oh.

The 4♦ is the South Wind, the naughty and mischievous wind. And the Jack of Hearts, as we know, stole his own mom's tarts! So for me these cards imply that someone's creative endeavors, or even their own ego and self-confidence, are beset by unpredictable forces and unreliable company.

I think this will be a Stop! Look! Listen! kind of day.


Added: All right, that was one annoying day. I was expecting chaos, but in the end it was just a bunch of small annoying and unexpected things that happen and totally kill one's good mood. And I also found out (by unintentional overhearing) that they will start new things at my work that might make my job ten times more complicated... oh well... I knew these new things are coming, I just had no idea what a big mess they will be.

The Lenormand says... money, money... money!?

I decided to use the Lenormand again for my daily reading, just to take a mental break from my playing cards. This time however I used my most-used deck, that is the Titania's Fortune Cards. I know many people find it simplistic and non-intuitive, but it was the deck that taught me how to read Lenormand so it'll always have a special place in my heart.

I shuffled the cards distractedly, and drew three. I got the following.

For some reason, this spread screamed unexpected money! to me. I know the combination Anchor + Fish can mean your salary, and the Scythe can stand for unexpected thing. Also, it could also mean a cut in my salary, but I'd get this impression more strongly if the Rat was in the reading.

The problem is... I'm not expecting my salary, or any money, for tomorrow. I don't get any monthly allowance from my parents, and my wage is due next week, so this reading didn't make much sense. I thought that perhaps the cards were telling me that my money situation would become stable because I'd quit spending money. That's a reasonable possibility.

The Pixie Lenormand says... good rest makes the mind stronger.

Yesterday, after a very crappy day, I was lucky enough to receive through the mail my own copy of the famous Pixie Lenormand, created by Edmund Zebrowski using Pamela Colman Smith's art. I was going to post a normal 3-card playing card reading, but the Pixie Lenormand asked me to use it. So I did.

The combination Coffin + Clouds according to some traditions means "negative thoughts", but since the clouds seem to me as if they were being blown away from the rest of the reading (they are far on the right), I'd say that the negative thoughts that have been plaguing me lately will start to lose their strength.

The Moon may represent both an honor that befalls the querent, or a moment/place of rest. Together with the coffin it makes me think of someone resting or sleeping... saving their energies.

I think the cards are telling me that after a good night of sleep, I'll have a more quiet and introspective day which will help me to feel a bit stronger. Thus, the bad thoughts and negative feelings will slowly lose their power over me. Overall, I believe it will be a calm and quiet day, with no big emotional changes or conflicts.

Added: Had a wonderful night of sleep and a calm day. Exactly as the cards says, I found that my state of mind was much better after that.

Pixie's Astounding Lenormand @ Edmund Zebrowski

The Playing Cards say... conflict for whom?

Terrene + The Enemies + Sol =

For those who do not know, the 10s in the Playing Card Oracles method represent the ladies, the young women of the deck that are paired with the jacks. The 10♠ is Terrene, a very down-to-earth and nurturing figure, the sweet and fertile side of earth (specially when compared to the cold Queen of ♠, Morgana)!

But here, she's not having a very good day. This reading apparently points to conflict between this young lady and an older man, the rational King of ♣, Sol. You cannot see on the simplified cards above, but in the cards I used, Terrene was the one facing the 2♠, whereas Sol was facing away from it. I think that the girl (which I don't know yet if it's me or some young lady I know) is the one who is going to be more offended or hurt by whatever problems arise, while Sol won't even give it much attention.

The Grail Tarot says... when home is not home.

I did my daily reading with playing cards, but I actually felt the need to do another kind of reading. Yesterday, I went to bed very sad, feeling the oppression of my own choices, wondering what to do when you simply don't know what to do. If you have a goal, hat's a star. But if you can't tell anymore what your dream of goal is? Gets a bit more complicated.

Ask me why I don't do a reading about this? Elementary, my dear Watson. I do not believe I can read for myself about such a complicated problem. But I do believe I can still seek for some advice when it comes to my reaction to these problems.

So that's what I did. I grabbed my faithful Grail Tarot and asked the cards: What can I do to overcome this feeling to despair that takes hold of me sometimes? I got the Preceptor of Lances, known in more traditional decks as Knight of Wands.

This card shows the preceptor giving the Lance of Longinus to a younger knight, who is about to go on pilgrimage. The preceptor known the mission is difficult, and looks even a bit grim about it. In the words of John Matthews:

"A great deal has been learned so far; now this knowledge should be applied at every level of experience to bring fresh insights to the journey and help separation from worn-out ways." (p. 124)

This card is telling me that I'll only stop feeling this despair and constant frustration when I use my knowledge and creative energies to pursue a different path - even one far away from home. I am stuck in so many levels!

Then I decided to pull another card - no, not a clarifier - and ask a different question: How do I begin this journey? How to bring this change to myself? I got the Ten of Vessels.

The Playing Cards say... Pick yer sword!

  

Sword of Enchantment + La Hire + Sword of Healing =

Two swords for one La Hire! And no King of Spades to keep this mischievous boy in line. I'm not sure if I like the idea...

The sevens are powerful cards, represented by swords, that require not only skill but inner strength to be handled. But two in a reading does look like some stuck energy - and with the Jack of ♥ standing in the middle, unable to move. He looks like he's choosing which approach to take.

PCO: Building card castles (or homes, or bridges, or....)

One of these days I was sitting at my usual spot in my favorite coffee shop, doing an exercise from a cartomancy book, when a sudden question filled my mind: if I wanted to represent my workplace in reading, which card would I choose?

Traditionally, the Ace of Hearts stands for the home, and the Ace of Spades may stand for imposing buildings and institutions. But of course, since there is not only true method of reading playing cards, you do not have to adopt these meanings.

In the Playing Card Oracles method created by Ana Cortez, all cards number 6 have buildings on them. They usually have very metaphorical meanings, but I suppose that they could mean physical places too. Representing these places could be very useful to determine "where" the facts shown in the reading are happening (specially if it's a general reading, with no specific question). If a conflict shows up - is it at home, or at work? If one of these cards show up, they may provide a hint.

So, I came up with some ideas for each of the 6s. It's by no means a complete list, but maybe it may help others to come up with their own ideas!


Six of Diamonds - The Tower

This is one imposing building, and since the diamonds suit is related to money and creativity, I'd chose this cards to represent my your workplace, or the place in which you usually earn their money (even if it's not a formal company). As Ana Cortex says in her book, this also could represent a bank.

I suppose that it could also symbolize any actual towers or skyscrapers.Combined with the 6♥, I would also think of a hospital. With the 8♣ (The Scales), I could easily see a church (the building, not the community).

The Playing Cards say... who is that lady?

West Wind + Ethra + Déja =

The West Wind again! Wow! And again, two Heart cards and one Club. Should I see that as "even more rain"? LOL! The good wind stays, and since the other cards are of a "peaceful" kind, I don't see why to interpret it differently. Déja, Queen of ♥, is staring at the Ace of ♣, which is a card that means potential for communication and is between the other two cards. I think this spread means there's potential for good exchange of words and ideas with a woman - Déja. I do not know who she is yet, I'll be careful to see if I can figure it out as the day goes on.

The Playing Cards say... just a pleasant day.

Continuing my latest project...



The Lovers + The Friends + West Wind =

The same peaceful atmosphere of yesterday. All sorts of relations and exchanges, both deep and superficial, will benefit from these harmonics "winds". Sounds like a lazy day -- a bit on the boring side, maybe? The clubs remind me of clouds, and two water cards... I wonder if it will rain.

 

...oh my, that was one uninspired interpretation.

Lets see how the day will go!


Added: The day was peaceful, but a little on the boring side. Co-workers were happily scheduling our next happy hour together, which probably explains the friendly environment shown by the cards. Everyone was in a good mood. And... it did rain. But of course, I was unprepared and got all wet. Oh well, nothing is perfect!

Daily readings -- a mini-experiment.

In an attempt to deepen my comprehension of the playing cards, I have decided that I'll try to do daily readings. I have never been good at them (I could never keep the routine), but I wish to try and see if they may help me to understand the cards in a more mundane level. Hopefully, they will also help me to better notice the different influences that surround me. So, this will be my little experiment.

I do not promise to post everyday, but I'll try to keep this project for a while. I'll post a short interpretation, and I'll try to come back later and see how this manifested in my day.

So, today's reading!



East Wind + West Wind + Ace of Spades =