Ocean’s Call: An Ocean Inspired Oracle Deck
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An Ocean inspired Oracle Card Deck
Project Description
The Ocean’s Call Oracle Deck was created for the Ocean Bridge Youth Ambassador program of 2023. I sought to create a space of reflection in the face of uncertainty caused by the destruction of our oceans. I drew upon my lifelong passion for creativity, environmental activism, and holistic well-being to design and illustrate this 34-card deck that was inspired by community feedback. To achieve this, I conducted group discussions and a survey to gather a diverse range of people’s ideas and thoughts about ocean-related climate change and environmental destruction. The result: 34 ocean-related themes that span from eco-grief and anxiety, to celebration of the ocean and its profound importance to people’s physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. The Ocean’s Call Oracle Deck aims to inspire readers, foster environmental responsibility, and maybe provide a bit of inspiration along the way!
*This version of the deck is the first prototype for an Ocean-inspired Oracle deck. A Mini PDF version of the deck is available to be printed and cut out, as well as a version of the guidebook to reference the images and their associated meanings.
What was your biggest challenge?
From idea to the first deck in hand, I realized quickly how much work goes into an initial idea, research, design, art development, implementation of art ideas, revisions of a project like this one (34 unique illustrations plus a guidebook to describe each one). The short time frame of the project, and managing the entire project on my own, was a challenge to understand my own capacities, and managing project scope.
What was your most valuable takeaway?
That art is a valuable way to explore the more difficult emotions that come with environmental activism. I’ve become more aware of the importance of creating a space to discuss and explore our feelings of eco-grief and anxiety about climate change, plastic pollution, overfishing, and much more.
