To whom or to what are we talking when we engage with oracular tools like Tarot, I-Ching, Runes, or other types of self-contained and

ritualized engagement? Does an answer come from somewhere outside of our own individual scope, which C.G. Jung called the objective psyche? Or does it come from a more knowing aspect of ourselves, which Jung calls Self? These are questions that cannot necessarily be answered, but they are essential to a psychologically balanced engagement with the occult. Using an oracular tool implies a continuum of some sort between the individual framing the encounter (ego) and the space/s from which the answer comes. In addition, the use of a conduit - cards, stones, stalks - have a capacity to facilitate this type of communication. In this lecture led by Hallie Durchslag, PhD, LISW-S, we’ll explore the nature of engagement with oracular tools like Tarot, I-Ching, and Runes. We'll examine whether answers come from outside ourselves or from a deeper part of our own awareness. The discussion will focus on the connection between the individual and the sources of these answers, and the role of oracular tools in facilitating communication. We’ll also address personal responsibility and the risk of over-identifying with concepts of magic.