The Wink
I’ve talked to so many people who are curious about Tarot but have a lot of mixed feelings about it. The imagery can be dark and confronting, and Tarot doesn’t exactly sugarcoat messages. The cards are direct and can sometimes activate things we don’t quite want to face. This is exactly why I love to incorporate an oracle card in my readings. If you follow me on Instagram, you may have noticed that I typically pull two tarot cards and an oracle card. I call it The Wink, and today I’m going to share how and why it’s become my favorite way to work with the cards!
What is The Wink?
One of the “standard” tarot card readings is to pull 3 cards. They can represent any number of things:
Past, Present, Future
Mind, Body, Spirit
You, Another Person, Your Relationship
A challenge and two options for the path forward
Heart, Mind, What I need to know
The Wink is my take on the standard 3 card reading. Two tarot cards are drawn, again representing whatever you need wisdom on for that day/situation. Then an Oracle card completes the reading. The Oracle card represents a message from the Universe.
Why add an Oracle card?
The Tarot can be intimidating for some. It accesses the deepest parts of us, the ones we usually want to remain hidden, to ignore, to pretend don’t exist. It represents the full Hero’s Journey, including the challenges we face. It is also very direct, it doesn’t skirt around the truth but lays everything out on the table.
Oracle cards have a more supportive, gentle style of presenting truths. They often feel like a reminder that we are loved and guided by forces we can’t see. There is a gentle reassurance to them that makes it a little easier to access the darker messages of the tarot.
The Oracle card is like a wink from the universe, reminding us that we are exactly where we are supposed to be and that we are loved, supported, and guided by unseen forces. We have everything we need. It feels like a hug from a trusted friend.
How to do The Wink
You’ll need both a tarot deck and an oracle deck for this reading. Starting with the tarot deck, shuffle the cards as you would for any reading. As you shuffle, focus on your question or what you need from the reading. You can simply ask “What do I need to know?” or you can go deeper into specific questions about a situation in your life. When you’re ready, pull two cards from the deck and place them face up.
Next, repeat the process with your oracle deck. Shuffle, and focus on receiving a message of support and guidance from the universe. When you’re ready, pull one card from the deck and place it face up to the right of your tarot cards.
When you’re ready to interpret, you can use your guidebooks or your intuition, keeping in mind that there is no right or wrong way to interpret the cards. Trust yourself and your instincts about what comes up. Have fun, enjoy the process, and be willing to be surprised about what you receive!
If you try The Wink, please share and tag me on Instagram @mallorywisong !
Next time we’re going to look at how to use tarot and oracle cards to plan your year.
