The following is the elaborate instruction on how to use Mystic Islands Oracle. These are merely suggestions and a glimpse to my spiritual practice.
CLEANSING
Clear the space from clutter and light up incense and gently fan out the smoke around the area. Envision all the bad energy escaping out the window.
START WITH VISUALISATION
The guidebook includes a section where I describe an example of what you can visualise. Read the passage once or twice to get the feel of the island and how much detail you can add to this exercise. You may recreate these imageries when you start the practice. If it's easier for you, you can also record your own voice as you read the passage. Otherwise, you can always create your own "place". Visualisation, helps me tune out the outside world so that I can focus on my spiritual needs, it helps me connect more with the cards.
To make things easier for you, I've recorded a guided visualisation audio which you can access here.
WHAT IS YOUR QUESTION
Some practitioners of the craft knock their deck of cards 3 times to "wake" the cards up. You may do this, if you choose to. Think about what question you would like to ask and choose between the three suggested card spread. Tunggal - one card spread, Tri - three card spread or Panca - five card spread? When you've decided, shuffle the card as you ask your question, whether out loud or in your thoughts.
SPREAD
After shuffling, you can either fan out the deck in front of you or pick the cards from the top of the pile. There is no right or wrong on how to do this.
Tunggal spread: best for daily mantras, seeking inspirations, choosing between two options, focused approach, quick answers
Tri spread: best for deeper insights, past/present/future, cause/effect/advice
Panca spread: best for life changing situations.
MAKING SENSE OF THE MEANING
When you read the card meaning, you may reflect on whether the message is telling you about an external force or internal force. If the message is telling you about "someone" don't forget that this may also be yourself or a different side of you. Don't skip the origin stories and other keywords too, as you may find some truth within these parts.
MANTRA
Each card has a mantra and these mantras correlate to the sigil that is drawn on the right bottom side of each cards. If you relate to the card meaning, copy the sigil of the last card on the spread (or the one with mantra you relate to the most) and re-draw it on something where you can see it daily. Remember the meaning of this sigil and repeat the mantra every day for the next few days.
OFFERINGS
Each elements has its own offering suggestions. To see which element the cards belong to, refer to the top left side of each cards. If you relate to what the cards are telling you, you may prepare these offerings. You may ask yourself who is this offering for? It can be a god/goddess that relates to your situation or who can help with your situation/question. It can be also be to the elements itself or the universe in general. Make clear of your intention when you provide/do either of these suggestions.
Bantala - Earth:
- Pick up the first stone/pebble you see after your reading, draw the sigil from the last card you've picked for your spread and place this stone on your altar, OR
- Plant seeds if your question is related to abundance, fertililty, success, or money.
Bayu - Wind/Air:
- Recite a known poem or write it down and place it on your altar, OR
- Draw on a piece of paper something that conveys how you felt or the vision that you see after your reading. It doesn't have to be perfect. Fold this and put under an crystal on your altar
Agni - Fire:
- Light up a candle or candles, pick a color that conveys how you felt after your reading, You may carve the sigil that appeared on the last card you picked for your spread, OR
- If you're allowed to, light up a bonfire and recite the mantra from the last card you picked for your spread
Tirta - Water:
- Pick up a fallen flower from outside and place it on your altar , OR
- Put intention into a vessel of water and water your plant with this
Akasa - Aether:
- Arrange a bowl of food offerings, sit with it as you think about your intention, OR
- If you do not like the idea of food offerings, give donation for those in need. Thank a god/goddess or the universe for your abundance and give the best intention as you donate
If these instructions are too much, remember that these are all optional steps. You can use this as simple or as intricate as you choose to
