The Sibyls Oraculum: Oracle of the Black Doves of Africa

[EmpyreanKnight]

Coming this May 2018 under the Destiny Books imprint of celebrated publishing house Simon and Schuster - The Sibyls Oraculum: Oracle of the Black Doves of Africa. It is written by Tayannah Lee McQuillar and features evocative mosaic art from Katelan V. Foisy.

 

From the official description:

 

The Oracle of the Black Doves is a system of divination inspired by the Libyan Sibyls, the African prophetesses of the classical world. According to the Greek Historian Herodotus, two black doves flew away from the city of Waset (Thebes) and established the Siwa Oasis oracle in Libya and the first oracle in Greece at Dodona. These powerful Sibyls were consulted by all levels of Greek and, later, Roman society.

 

Created by tarot reader Tayannah Lee McQuillar, this contemporary oracle pays homage to the oft forgotten African founding mothers of the sibylline traditions. Drawing on both the African and the Classical traditions, it features full-color paintings by artist Katelan V. Foisy, who created the card art in a style reminiscent of the Libyan mosaics popular in the 1st century B.C.E. In the accompanying guidebook, McQuillar details how to consult the oracle, providing in-depth write-ups about the meaning of each of the 44 cards and the symbolic language represented by each card’s imagery. She demonstrates how there is only one correct way to phrase a question to the oracle, making it nearly impossible to receive a vague or biased response.

 

Designed to directly address the spiritual lessons underlying the seeker’s query, the oracle facilitates self-examination and decision-making, helping the seeker improve the likelihood of success in all undertakings and choose their best possible future by broadening their perspective of the situation. The author also includes a history of the Sibyls of the ancient world and explores the continuing Sibyl tradition in North Africa today.

[EmpyreanKnight]

I've always been curious about the different divinatory systems that are used by diverse world cultures. I'm only familiar with the Oracles of Delphi and Dodona, so the Libyan Oracle holds a particular fascination for me.

 

The cards feature full-color paintings in the style of the Libyan mosaics popular with the Roman elite in the 1st century B.C.E. Once I find some good images of the cards, I shall post them here.

 

Btw, the deck is already available for preorder in Amazon.

[katrinka]

Mixed feelings.

 

LOVE the art. It's stunning.

 

I'm generally not a fan of contemporary things that "pay homage" to old traditions. They tend to be watered down, often with a lot of misinformation. Glancing at the text, I noticed that the "Divinatory Meanings" are non-predictive advice rather than anything I would consult cards to find out. So I probably wouldn't use the book/let for much, if anything.

 

But it looks like it could be used predictively, with a little thought. And it's lovely and it doesn't cost much.

 

So yes.  :D

[Padma]

Like Katrinka, I love the art. But I am not a huge fan of oracle decks :p might take a chance on this one, just because art :)

[RavenOfSummer]

Wow, I am loving this! Thanks for the heads up, EmpyreanKnight!

 

Mixed feelings.

 

LOVE the art. It's stunning.

 

I'm generally not a fan of contemporary things that "pay homage" to old traditions. They tend to be watered down, often with a lot of misinformation. Glancing at the text, I noticed that the "Divinatory Meanings" are non-predictive advice rather than anything I would consult cards to find out. So I probably wouldn't use the book/let for much, if anything.

 

But it looks like it could be used predictively, with a little thought. And it's lovely and it doesn't cost much.

 

So yes.  :D

 

I agree that contemporary homages to old traditions are often watered down. But, I think they can be important gateways to learn about traditions that otherwise we modern people might never even be aware of. It can open us up to the existence of something that might speak to us that we might never otherwise have learned of, and from there we have the option of seeking out the real depth of the tradition as part of our own journey. And even if that doesn't happen for most users, I am, to a certain extent (with caveats), fine with working with ancient traditions in a form that is more accessible to us modern descendants, as long as the essence of the tradition remains in tact.

 

I also read primarily as a spiritual seeker rather than predictively, so the kind of divination suggested by the guide speaks to me.

 

Agreed that the art is wonderful!!

 

I've always been curious about the different divinatory systems that are used by diverse world cultures. I'm only familiar with the Oracles of Delphi and Dodona, so the Libyan Oracle holds a particular fascination for me.

 

The cards feature full-color paintings in the style of the Libyan mosaics popular with the Roman elite in the 1st century B.C.E. Once I find some good images of the cards, I shall post them here.

 

Btw, the deck is already available for preorder in Amazon.

 

I am with you on that EmpyreanKnight! I am very interested to learn more about divination systems from all over the world. Being African-American, learning more about African divination in particular very much speaks to me...although this is North African, where customs are more linked to those of the Middle East, and in this case the classical world, than to sub-Saharan Africa where my own ancestors are from, it nevertheless piques my interest.

 

I plan to limit myself to a small number of new decks for next year, including the ones I've already pre-ordered, but this might have to be among them.

[katrinka]

But, I think they can be important gateways to learn about traditions that otherwise we modern people might never even be aware of. It can open us up to the existence of something that might speak to us that we might never otherwise have learned of, and from there we have the option of seeking out the real depth of the tradition as part of our own journey.

 

Good point.

 

If you're really interested in a subject, I think you'd find those traditions eventually, but if mentions of "new" ones just pop up, by all means take advantage of that.

 

I also read primarily as a spiritual seeker rather than predictively, so the kind of divination suggested by the guide speaks to me.

 

I'm not sure what you mean - the guidebook has, for instance, "Seek answers and don't stop until you are satisfied. If you feel uncomfortable or afraid to ask questions, remember that your comfort zome is not necessarily the right zone regarding this issue."

 

That strikes me as mundane advice. Advising someone to ask questions and get out of their comfort zone is not much different than advising them to get plenty of fresh air and exercise, or to not say something they may regret later. It's just commonsense advice, not religious texts like the Sutras or the Torah, or a talk given on those by someone qualified to teach about them. It doesn't make me ponder how deities exist, or how we exist, or how we can live in accord with that.

 

I don't see spirituality in mundane advice, except in the sense that "wear clean underwear" could be tangentially related to "cleanliness is next to godliness". There's a bit of spirituality to be found reflected in everything, but often it's a bit of a stretch.  ;)

 

I'm not picking a fight, just trying to understand why so many people seem to consider this kind of stuff spiritual.

[RavenOfSummer]

But, I think they can be important gateways to learn about traditions that otherwise we modern people might never even be aware of. It can open us up to the existence of something that might speak to us that we might never otherwise have learned of, and from there we have the option of seeking out the real depth of the tradition as part of our own journey.

 

Good point.

 

If you're really interested in a subject, I think you'd find those traditions eventually, but if mentions of "new" ones just pop up, by all means take advantage of that.

 

I also read primarily as a spiritual seeker rather than predictively, so the kind of divination suggested by the guide speaks to me.

 

I'm not sure what you mean - the guidebook has, for instance, "Seek answers and don't stop until you are satisfied. If you feel uncomfortable or afraid to ask questions, remember that your comfort zome is not necessarily the right zone regarding this issue."

 

That strikes me as mundane advice. Advising someone to ask questions and get out of their comfort zone is not much different than advising them to get plenty of fresh air and exercise, or to not say something they may regret later. It's just commonsense advice, not religious texts like the Sutras or the Torah, or a talk given on those by someone qualified to teach about them. It doesn't make me ponder how deities exist, or how we exist, or how we can live in accord with that.

 

I don't see spirituality in mundane advice, except in the sense that "wear clean underwear" could be tangentially related to "cleanliness is next to godliness". There's a bit of spirituality to be found reflected in everything, but often it's a bit of a stretch.  ;)

 

I'm not picking a fight, just trying to understand why so many people seem to consider this kind of stuff spiritual.

 

Oh, I was being unclear...I didn't mean the advice in this particular guidebook, which I actually hadn't looked at. I had only looked at the pictures and at the general description of the deck. The description talks about how the deck is geared towards spiritual lessons, and I like that idea. So I meant more that the idea behind the deck, at least as presented based on what I read, resonated with me, and that since I generally don't read predictively, decks that aren't geared towards predictive readings often work well for my particular reading style. However, it is very possible that the guidebook wouldn't speak to me at all. (Again, I haven't looked at the available info from it yet!) It wouldn't be the first time...I have one oracle deck in particular, the Shamanic Healing Oracle, that I absolutely love and use very often- it's one of my favorites and I get great readings with it- but I generally find the guidebook to be pretty unhelpful, at least for me. So I've learned at this point to not pay attention to it.

[katrinka]

Ah, OK. That makes sense.

Thank you!  :D

[EmpyreanKnight]

I love how the Byzantine(?) mosaic art in the cards looks so authentic. And all those vivid colors!

 

There seems to be four card categories, with 2 of them having voluminous sections while the other 2 are a bit more sparse. I think I can find some sample texts for both. Once I do, I'll post them here.

[EmpyreanKnight]

 

 

UNUM/UNITY

 

The universe is single but still hopelessly in love.

 

Key Symbols

 

The fountain represents communal reflection, refreshment, healing, divine insight, and interdimensional travel. Throughout the Mediterranean world, sacred fountains attracted devoted pilgrims from near and far seeking spiritual purification and divine inspiration. The white doves symbolize the unifying power of love.

 

Religio-Mythological Association

 

Aset/Iset/Isis

 

Aset was the mother Goddess of the Kemetians and Libyans whose worship spread throughout the ancient world. Her worshippers were so widespread that the cult of Aset is considered by some scholars to be the world’s first universal religion. In Rome, she was particularly adored by women of all classes and the poor.

 

Commentary

 

Everything that exists is but an expression of a greater reality. There is nothing outside of the universe; therefore, everything is by its very nature unified. Taking this basic precept further, we know by deduction that all is absolutely necessary to make this “thing” work. Everyone and everything is a soul mate. We need to understand the essence of what a soul mate is in the most basic sense rather than compartmentalizing it in the realm of romance.

 

The heart of unity is also not a superficially “Kumbaya” feeling toward others so much as it is an observation and an acceptance of a responsibility to others. To put it simply, if we have accepted our interconnection and interdependence with everything else in existence then we must examine our negative beliefs about other people and beings—the people and beings whom we obviously need or they would not exist in the same space and time with us.

 

For example, there are people who hate certain animal species so much that they wish they did not exist. They don’t realize the important function of that particular species in the grand scheme of things and that if they got their wish it might cause them discomfort at best or total annihilation at worst. Now that doesn’t mean they should suddenly run out and buy a T-shirt with the image of the creature on it or adopt one as a pet, but it might be wise to find out how the animal contributes to the function of the whole. It is very difficult to continue to despise, wish away, or harm what we know to be ultimately beneficial. It is when we don’t see the value in others that inharmonious thoughts occur and suffering ensues for the despiser and the despised.

 

Until the individual can see and feel the bigger picture they will continue to have a laundry list of things, people, and groups they “can’t stand,” not realizing that their extremely negative reaction is a complete metaphor for an aspect of their own nature that the despised merely represents.

 

When the essential idea of unity is integrated into the consciousness, vain thoughts to annihilate perceived aliens and inferiors in thought, word, or deed are removed simply because we would not want to be similarly classified based on another being’s limited perception of who, what, or why they think we are. On the other hand, when we feel a strong positive connection to someone or something we are elated because they somehow remind us of characteristics we either like in ourselves or want for ourselves. No matter what we perceive to be external to ourselves everything is filtered according to only one point of view—the one you have chosen. It is based on this fact that wisdom teachers from many cultures asked people not to negatively judge others. If you make it a daily practice to search for commonalities when you see something or someone who is disagreeable to your personality, you will be rewarded with a greater capacity to feel compassion toward all aspects of yourself.

 

Questions to Consider

 

If you get Unum/Unity in a reading, The Sybils Oraculum may be asking you to stop and consider the following questions related to your query/situation.

• Are you about to make a choice that would positively influence your entire life or are you blindly following what feels good right now? Have you considered the big picture?
  
• Are you denying an opportunity to unify with others for superficial or negatively discriminatory reasons?
  
• Are you truly comfortable with the different aspects of yourself?
  
• Are you looking for someone or something else to “complete you”?
  
• Are you merely pretending to be unified with others? What are the long-term consequences of your masquerade?
  

[EmpyreanKnight]

 

 

CUPIDITAS/DESIRE

 

Passion is the nectar of the flower of life.

 

Key Symbols

 

The chalice of wine represents the acceptance and satiation of desire. The blue lotus represents the ability to achieve unimaginable states of pleasure.

 

Religio-Mythological Associations

 

Qetesh/Qedesh/Qudshu

 

Qetesh was the Canaanite/Sumerian/Kemetian goddess of nature, sexual pleasure, eroticism, and ecstasy. Her rituals included sex transmutation practices (so-called sex magic). “Qadesh,” now modern-day Syria, was the name of the city where she was worshipped, and it was also a term that meant “consecrated” or “consecrated to the service of Ishtar.” After the advent of patriarchal control, the word came to mean “whore.” Qetesh’s priestesses were called “qadistum.”

 

Nefertum

 

Nefertum was the Kemetian primordial god of healing, perfume, and the blue lotus (Nymphaea caerulea). He was worshipped at Per-Wadjet (Buto) and Men-Nefer (Memphis). Perfume making and aromatherapy were considered extremely important sciences, and the priests of Men-Nefer were skilled parfumiers and aromatherapists. The blue lotus, which the Kemetians called “Sesen,” is actually a lily and was used to induce trance states and expand the consciousness. There are few temples or monuments that are not adorned with the symbol of the blue lotus as the embodiment of perfect wisdom.

 

Divinatory Meaning

 

Dare to want it. If whatever you are currently doing will not help you attain it, then you must do something else. If there are people in your circle that are trying to discourage you from what you desire, then find a new circle. If that is not possible, then refuse to discuss your desire while you work on attaining it. Your dreams are sacred. No one/nothing has a right to negate, defile, or molest them.

[RavenOfSummer]

Thank you so much for finding and sharing these, EmpyreanKnight! Based on these, I am loving the background info and religio-mythological associations, but I do think the "divinitory meanings" write-ups feel a bit weak. But, I feel between the imagery, keyword, and associations given, I would have plenty to read on without needing to use their "divinitory meanings". I am wanting this deck even more now.

[katrinka]

It's stone gorgeous and stunning, but I wonder how it reads?

Lots of pretty faces out there...

But yeah. I'll end up getting it.  ;D

[EmpyreanKnight]

So far, I only have three oracle decks in my definitely-must-buy list for this year: the WU Animal Spirit, the Golden Nostradamus, and of course, the Sibyl's Oraculum. Still keeping an eye on the others tho. :)

[katrinka]

Somebody apparently was given an advance copy of the book to review and leaked it to Scribd.  >:( It seems to be gone now (GOOD) but I was looking at it the other night and TBH, it's not All That. A lot like the samples you posted - old saws like "Everything that exists is but an expression of a greater reality" that sound fine and mystical and may even be true, but are totally irrelevant to reading the cards.

The cards are still stunning though. I'll probably still get it just for the cards.

[EmpyreanKnight]

Wait, somebody posted the WHOLE book? I hope it didn't contain all of the card images in full color and in high resolution or the creator and publisher might get ripped off. This is just foul. >:(

[EmpyreanKnight]

I just checked out some sample pages in Amazon and even the images in the book are in black and white, so I think they're safe. Just to be sure (in case Amazon just displays book images in monochrome even if they're colored) I checked out Keegan's Illuminated Tarot's page there and yup, its book samples are in color. So it seems like the Sibyls folk are still in good hands.

[Saturn Celeste]

I've always been curious about the different divinatory systems that are used by diverse world cultures. I'm only familiar with the Oracles of Delphi and Dodona, so the Libyan Oracle holds a particular fascination for me.

 

The cards feature full-color paintings in the style of the Libyan mosaics popular with the Roman elite in the 1st century B.C.E. Once I find some good images of the cards, I shall post them here.

 

Btw, the deck is already available for preorder in Amazon.

Thank you so much for the link, I just preordered it!  The deck looks fascinating!  When the Before Tarot goes up for sale, please drop me a line or vice versa!  (pun intended) :D

 

[EmpyreanKnight]

It would be my pleasure, SaturnCeleste. :D

[katrinka]

Wait, somebody posted the WHOLE book? I hope it didn't contain all of the card images in full color and in high resolution or the creator and publisher might get ripped off. This is just foul. >:(

 

The whole book. Big full color images. No watermarks.

SCRIBD is foul. Period.