The Air Mail Oracle
For 30 years, they wrote letters between the U.S. and my grandfather’s merchant marine ships at sea.
The Air Mail Oracle Card Deck is a labor of love that came out of sifting through hundreds of letters, postcards, and other ephemera I inherited from my grandparents.
The Air Mail Oracle brings you postage from the past. The deck is an intuitive oracle for divination that is especially well suited for asking questions of past generations.
If you’ve ever asked your guides, “What would my ancestors do?” this deck is for you.
Scroll down to learn more about my grandparents and the story behind the deck, as well as as keyword associations for each card.
download the companion booklet
download a one-page condensed keyword guidebook
Keyword Associations
expect more - Keep your standards high. Don’t lower your expectations for fear of disappointment. There is more available to you than you realize.
start over - It’s time to scrap your plans and begin again. Don’t feel like you have to carry on if things are working or if you’ve simply tired of the project. Let some things go and clear space for new ideas to arrive.
dive deep - Take a closer look. The information you seek is below the surface. Ask questions, explore new avenues, and take notes on what you find. You may find the answer between the lines.
set sail - Time for an adventure! Launch your vessel into the great beyond. New horizons are in your future, and excitement lies ahead. Let the wind fill your sails and expect the unexpected.
wonder why - There’s a question on your mind that needs to be explored. Taking steps to uncover the root cause may help you uncover a solution or way forward.
be direct - Honesty is the best policy at this time. Don’t be vague ro evasive — direct communication is necessary to avoid unnecessary conflict and future disagreements.
get inspired - Take a walk, visit a museum, or watch a new movie. Let the ideas and images you encounter inspire you. How can you view things in a new and different way?
dream big - Let your imagination run wild. This is not a time for thinking small. Let your dreams expand beyond your usual rational boundaries. Everything is possible!
take notes - Pay close attention, listen, and learn from your surroundings. The details matter right now, and you’ll want to make sure you’ve got things written down for future reference.
have hope - you may be feeling discouraged right now, however there is a bright spot on the horizon. Don’t lose hope that things will get better in time.
speak up - Let your voice be heard! Don’t play small to fit into someone else’s box. Your voice matters and now is the time to speak up.
honor routine - There is magic in the mundane, and this is a good time to invest in habits and structure your time in a way that serves you both now and in the future.
ask questions - The situation requires investigation. Don’t let things stay on a surface level. Invite a deeper conversation through inquiry. A series of questions will unlock key information about the issue at hand.
look twice - There is something you are not seeing about the issue. Look again, and give everything a once-over for quality control. Taking time to get it right now will save you having to make corrections in the future.
keep going - Don’t give up! Success is right around the corner. It’s often darkest just before the dawn, and you are on the cusp of a breakthrough. Persevere!
show off - Shout your success to the rooftops! You deserve to be celebrated for all your hard work and excellence, so let yourself receive the praise and recognition that you have worked so hard to achieve.
shine bright - Be your authentic self, and lew your light of joy and happiness shine bright. Although you may not realize it, you are an inspiration to those around you. Don’t be afraid to let your light shine!
look within - The answers lie within you. Trust yourself and the wisdom you have gained through life experience. Your intuition holds the answers.
aim high - Don’t settle for second best. Aim your arrow toward the stars. You are capable of achieving greatness, so don’t sell yourself short.
chill out - You may be holding too tightly to the reins — time to loosen up. Things may improve you ease up and go with the flow. Now is not the time to push harder or stress about outcomes you cannot control.
take flight - Spread your wings and fly! Now is the time to launch that new idea, share you grand plans, or take steps to realize your vision. The wind is at your back and ready to lift you to ever greater heights.
make it up - You’re feeling like you don’t know enough to move forward, but in this case action is more important than perfection. Take some steps toward your goal, do your best, but don’t worry about getting it right. Whatever you do will be appropriate for the situation.
send love - Let the special people in your life know that you are thinking of them. Show your appreciation for those you love. Even small tokens of appreciation can brighten someone’s day.
be present - Practice being in the moment. Avoid the temptation to multitask and shut down outside distractions. Breathe. Pay attention to the work that is in front of you right now — that is your highest priority.
give your all - The situation requires all of your effort and you must try your best. Don’t let perfectionism or fear hold you back from showing up complete for the task. Give it your all and strive for the best possible outcome.
love yourself - Time for some self-care! Don’t forget that caring for yourself is just as important as caring for others. Give yourself the same consideration that you would for a friend or loved one.
pinch pennies - Your budget may be tight right now. It’s in your best interest to watch where your money goes and make sure your spending choices align with your priorities. It’s never a bad idea to save for a rainy day.
rise again - Even if you feel knocked down or discouraged, it is important that you get up, dust yourself off, and get back to business. Continue to move forward despite setbacks and disappointments.
fire up - Get those engines running! Get your rest and grab an extra cup of coffee because you need energy for what lies ahead. Give your excitement and enthusiasm full reign. This is not a time to hold back — let it go and let it flow!
blend in - You might want to stay on the sidelines right now, blending in to the background. Be an observer more than a participant, and see what insight you can gain from watching and listening to what goes on around you.
give thanks - A gratitude practice will serve you well right now. How can you cultivate an attitude of abundance for the pleasures of life? Take some some time to give thanks for the blessings you have received — this will open the door for future good fortune.
be sweet - They say you catch more flies with honey than vinegar, and this saying holds true for your current situation. You need to soften the edges and take a gentle approach. Kindness and compassion will benefit you more than a harsh word or forceful hand.
check reserves - Before you move forward, take stock of the resources you have on hand. You need to be careful not to overspend or overexert yourself in pursuit of your goals. Take a conservative approach that is in line with your available time, energy, and funds.
explore more - Step outside of your comfort zone and consider something new. Taking a different approach and breaking with tradition may provide you with the fresh perspective needed to move through a roadblock or solve a stubborn problem.
get funky - Embrace the weird, wacky, and unusual in life. Embrace what you enjoy even if it seems strange to other people. Feel free and enjoy it! We all find pleasure in different things, and your uniqueness is what makes you special.
seek truth - Ethics and values are important here. You need to stay true to your beliefs and act accordingly. Don’t allow yourself to be swayed by convincing arguments if you feel strongly in a different way. Hold tight to your convictions.
catch up - You may need to take a break in order to get caught up on important tasks, or just to take a breather. Don’t hesitate to step out of the flow for a moment in order to regain your footing. If you keep going at the current pace, you risk falling even further behind.
free flow - Abandon structures, constraints and previous expectations. The situation calls for innovation and spontaneous action. Allow yourself to respond in the moment and let the winds of change blow you where they will. You may end up someplace spectacular!
slow down - You need to move at a slower pace in order to avoid mistakes and future delays. Take time to enjoy the process and in doing so you will also gain a better result in the long run.
be patient - Your current situation requires patience. Trust that the process will develop just as it is meant to, and allow some breathing room for things to unfold.