I really enjoyed getting to know Rachael as we prepared for this interview. She truly is living the dream of BEING an artist, an intuitive healer, a teacher, and a writer in touch with the land and the trees for she lives off grid in various locations around the United States such as New Mexico and Utah or wherever her heart leads her.
Rachael’s sweet, gentle spirit comes through in all she does, but like her deck, don’t let that fool you, she is a very strong and determined woman with a lot to share and teach us all. Her deck is my emotional touchstone right now as I go through a tough time and so it sits quietly on my deck in all its subtle rainbow beauty awaiting my questions; ready to quietly step up to the plate and deliver sweetness, support and great advice, just like a true friend does. Thank you Rachael for this gift and I’m so glad to hear here are more decks in the making!
About the Untamed Truth Oracle
The Untamed Truth Oracle consists of 40 oracle cards originally hand painted using watercolor, colored pencil and pen, depicting the major energies and archetypes commonly found in cartomancy. Bright colors paired with symbology unlock your intuition and spark your instincts.
The 90 page guidebook included in the set offers an explanation of each card, as well as how to apply it. The guidebook also features foil printing on the cover! The deck and book fit together nicely in a beautiful colorful box that will also feature foil printing! (not yet pictured).
Buy the Untamed Truth Oracle here.
Interview with Rachael Caringella: Creator of the Untamed Truth Oracle
What inspired you to create your own oracle deck?
I was inspired to create my own deck after working with Marissa Rankin to create Spirit de la Lune. I loved the collaboration process with Marissa, but working on that project gave me so many ideas of my own as well! In an online course I was guest teaching in, another teacher had created a “Create Your Oracle Deck” challenge with a list of 30 prompts. I decided to take on the challenge and create my own deck! I ended up straying from the original prompts a bit, and adding in 10 more cards to make it feel more complete to me.
How did you choose the images for the deck?
Intuitively! After I chose which archetypes and keywords I wanted to use, I meditated on what each card would look and feel like. Alot of the images feel a bit random, but that’s how the imagery came out. I chose symbols and images that came into my third eye and felt like they held the energy and message I wanted to portray.
I love your writing for the Guidebook! Have you always been a writer and an artist?
Thank you!! And I think so! I’m kind of coming to the realization that I am a writer. I never meant to become one, but it’s such a huge part of my job that I can’t avoid making time and space for writing. I have been keeping a blog of my own for nearly ten years now, and also writing for Spirit de la Lune and LotusTarot.com. I have also always dabbled in poetry. A lot of my paintings are inspired by poetry I’ve written. I’m still trying to feel comfortable with the title of writer, because I feel I have so much more to learn and perfect! But then again that’s the biggest (and best) part of being an artist.
How did you create the paintings for your oracle deck?
The Untamed Truth was done mostly in watercolor and watercolor pencil. I used white gel pen for the small white details. I didn’t sketch out any ideas but instead painted them directly onto the card I had cut out, so you will probably find some pencil lines, or mistakes if you look closely. I also tried to keep the digital editing to a minimum. I just love the message that rawness can bring!
What’s your background in the intuitive, metaphysical, spiritual world and how did this lead you to your current style of work?
I’ve always been interested in tarot and oracle cards. Even as a young child I had a huge interest in all things metaphysical and magical. I always knew I would pursue being an artist, but I also had a feeling that I would be doing some kind of spiritual or intuitive work as well. Though I never dreamed I would be able to combine the two into what I do today.
I have been working from home with my tarot readings and art supporting me for about 6 years now. I had been laid off from my art teaching position and didn’t want to go back to working a 9-5 job again. I was constantly trying to find time to create for myself and I wanted to put all my effort and time into the creative life I wanted to live. I had been saying affirmations to myself as I walked to and from my car and school building for years, about how I was an artist etc. and I think the Universe was giving me the kick in the butt that I was asking for!
I had always given my art and blog attention, but art sales are sometimes sporadic and not always reliable. I needed to find a new way to bring in income that wouldn’t take away from my art. So, I decided to begin offering Tarot readings.
I had been giving Tarot readings for myself and friends since I was about 16 years old, and figured this could be a way to make money. I began offering paid readings, and soon reached out to professional reading websites.
Wild Women Symposium
Within a day I had an interview and test reading with a tarot website I admire and have been reading for them ever since. Shortly after I began reading Tarot professionally, we began creating the Spirit de la Lune deck.
Getting to do Tarot readings daily deepened my knowledge of tarot immensely. It’s also strengthened my intuition and has given me the ability to work from home and create my own oracle cards and tarot themed artwork.
What do you wish you had known when you were just starting out?
It’s really important to keep a clean space in order to create. At least for me, I need my house to be clean in order for my ideas to flow. When I get into my creative zone, I have a very hard time remembering to clean. Then it takes a full day to clean the house and I’m left bummed that I didn’t have time in the studio. I have to put cleaning the house first every day. Which bugs my inner-child to no end, but if I can at least pick 3-4 chores to do before breakfast, I can stay on top of the house work and still get my art work done. This might be a silly thing, but I do wish I would have had this understanding years ago!
Tell us a bit about what’s it like to be so intuitive?
I actually rely on my third eye chakra just as much as my regular eyes. I actually have fairly poor vision and hate glasses and contacts, so I go without most days. Because my eyes are constantly blurred, I pick up on energy and auras first. I often hear or feel a phone ring or text come in before it does. I also have pretty prophetic dreams and have accurately predicted a few baby’s genders. It’s a fun way to live and anyone can develop intuitive abilities. I think this is the way we are originally meant to live!
How do your life, art and intuitive work intertwine?
They are almost always constantly intertwined. Like I mentioned earlier, I’ve always known I would be an artist, it’s always felt like who I am. A trip into town includes both groceries and art supplies. Every thrift shop experience is typically about finding things for my art. My art is my life! I am constantly involved in creative projects and it feels like I’m wearing a lot of hats all the time. It’s sometimes a bit of a problem when I need to relax. My hands like to stay busy and my mind likes to always create. I haven’t been to a movie theater in about 8 years because of this! I can’t just sit and watch a movie without also making something.
Do you have plans for creating any other oracle card decks?
I am in the process of creating a new one now! This new one has about 10 cards done so far. It has a slightly darker and more serious feel to it than both Spirit de la Lune and Untamed Truth. This new deck and I are slowly getting to know each other; it’s taking quite some time to come to fruition. I’m creating this one with pastels and colored pencil this time to get a bit more realistic/surrealistic look.
Do you have any tips for those who are thinking about creating and publishing their own decks?
Don’t forget to design around bleed lines! It’s fun to make cards to size, but I think it may be better to make them slightly larger and keep them in a sketchbook if you plan on scanning them in and selling them. I made the mistake of creating the Untamed Truth cards to the exact size I wanted them, and it created some problems for me when it came to getting them mass printed. It’s also helpful to take notes in your sketchbook while you design and work on your cards. You can go back to this later when you write the guidebook. It’s a lot easier to remember the card’s energy while you work on it, rather than going back to it and writing about it.
What do you hope your oracle deck brings to people’s lives?
I hope my deck can help unlock everyone’s innate intuitive abilities and gifts. I also hope that it can bring a direct and blunt voice to readings that some people tend to avoid. There are a few cards in there that were made in order to shake things up and make you feel uncomfortable. Of course when you go to the guidebook, you’ll see that it’s not all that bad, and that there are positive things about the uncomfortable situation as well. I also hope this can help spark people’s interest in tarot and oracle cards, and maybe even make their own!
What advice do you have for someone who wants to pursue becoming a professional artist, writer, oracle deck creator?
Get together with other creatives! Join Facebook groups or classes that involve your interests and collaborate when you can. Make friends with other artists. Learn from them and help them when you can. Support your friends’ work when you are able. Ask for help if you need it. Artists need to support other artists!
Also, keep creating even if you feel like stopping. It’s so important to create every day; even if it’s just a sketch or a journal entry
What new projects are in the works for you?
Aside from the deck that I’m creating, I have a series of paintings that I’m doing. I’ve also been getting back into abstract painting to help with my depression and anxiety. I’m also hoping to get my work onto things like pillows, tapestries, phone cases etc. through society6 or threadless, but I’m still trying to find time!
What’s your favorite animal, and why?
My favorite animal is the fox! I think that may be obvious with the repeated fox imagery I use in the deck and my art. I love foxes because they are so smart and adaptive. They are small and often underestimated because of their size and delicate appearance. They have a dualistic nature about them that I love. They are tricky cunning creatures with eyes full of oldness and wisdom. They are adaptable and some even change colors depending on the season. I often see fox energy pop up in my life when a positive transition is about to take place.
One last thing you’d like to share?
Hmm let me think. If you are on the fence about creating an oracle deck, know that it is such a rewarding experience! I would highly recommend it! Even if you choose not to sell it, it’s still a journey every creative individual should take. You can learn a lot about yourself while opening and strengthening your intuition.
Links for Rachael Caringella
Untamed Truth Oracle: http://treetalkerart.com/untamed-truth-oracle/
More about Rachael: http://treetalkerart.com/about/
Rachael’s Blog: http://treetalkerart.com/blog/
Getting Personal with the Untamed Truth Oracle:
A Review by Kathy Crabbe
Last night I dreamed with a card from Rachael Caringella’s new indie published deck, The Untamed Truth Oracle. My question for the card was about Patreon. The card showed someone ‘flipping the bird’ with the words 'Fuck it' as the message. I read through the Guidebook and got the message that it’s okay not to care what other folks think and so I applied this to my Patreon because it’s new and I want to have fun with it rather than worrying about how many sign ups I’m getting.
Then I pulled two more cards and I asked, “What are the benefits of keeping Patreon and of letting it go?” I got the cards 'Fulfillment' and 'Faith'. As I pondered both cards, 'Faith' called to me. I needed to trust and let go and so I did and immediately felt better!
The Untamed Truth Oracle is a deck of deep emotion. It may appear deceptively simple at first in its wording and messages but, like the roots of a tree that extend deeply underground, we don’t see the roots, but we take on faith that they are there.
As I dally with the 'Fuck it' card I can feel my emotions growing and deepening. I want to keep sharing on Patreon, no matter what! The next day I ask the question again, “Why pursue Patreon?” and receive the card 'Balance'. The message is, “It is not serving you to split your interests right now.” This helped me realize that I feel good about sharing certain secrets on Patreon and getting paid, and then (why, oh why?) I pull another card and it’s the 'Oh, Fuck' card!
So, after pulling the only two Fuck cards in the deck, that cemented things for me. I was going to keep Patreon but have it open to everyone on my blog AND on Patreon. ‘Fuck it’! I need to share my work AND put it out there through all the avenues I can.
To summarize, the Untamed Truth Oracle deck led me to my own truth and to a better understanding of the feelings behind it which strengthened those feelings so that I could move forward in an empowered way. I’ve got Aries Rising in my astrological chart and that means I just love to charge forward, and, with the help of the Untamed Truth Oracle I can do just that.
More Links for Rachael & Tree Talker Art
Untamed Truth Oracle: http://treetalkerart.com/untamed-truth-oracle/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/treetalkerart/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/treetalker/