The Wild Whispers Oracle: Messages from the Desert by Nat Girsberger is a captivating deck that seamlessly blends art and intuition, inviting users to embark on a journey of self-discovery and introspection. With its vivid desert imagery and insightful messages, this oracle deck utilizes a mixed media technique that is striking and bold.
Born in Switzerland, Nat Girsberger is an accomplished artist with a background in both visual arts and yoga. She “creates art that interprets the unseen and translates the omens of the earth.”1 This is Girsberger’s second card deck. Her love of the southwestern desert led her back to Joshua Tree in California and an adventure that yielded downloads of wisdom and imagery. To learn more about Girsberger, visit her website.
How Girsberger explains her creative process for this deck:
“I heard poems in the wind, and images emerged like the moonrise. They were more archetypal – minimal – than my previous work, which I attributed to the complex simplicity and directness of the natural world.”2
The first thing that strikes you about the Wild Whispers Oracle is its stunning visual appeal. Each card is a masterpiece, featuring bold colors, fluid lines, and evocative symbols. Girsberger uses both collage and digital art to create a dynamic and layered card that draws the viewer in. Her artistry is both modern and timeless, making the deck a visual delight.
The symbolism within the cards is rich and multifaceted. Girsberger has carefully chosen each element to convey specific meanings and to resonate with the reader’s subconscious. The imagery ranges from abstract shapes to recognizable motifs, such as animals, celestial bodies, and natural landscapes. This diversity of symbols ensures that each reading is unique and open to personal interpretation.
The deck consists of 44 cards that all have a distinct message and artwork. The deck is then divided into four sections representing one of the different cycles of the Sun: Sunset, Sun Nadir, Sunrise, and Sun Zenith. This structure provides a framework for users to explore various themes and to gain even more insights. The cards are named with a key word and also numbered, which makes it easy to find the card’s message in the guidebook.
Accompanying the deck is a comprehensive guidebook written by Girsberger herself. The guidebook offers detailed interpretations for each card, based on the seven steps of spiritual alchemy. At first, I found this a little too esoteric for my taste, but as I began to work with the cards, the meanings behind each of the steps became clearer and I began to resonate with the guidance even more. As the author states:
“Centered around a core theme, individual cards are broken down into seven steps that follow a path to transformation loosely based on spiritual alchemy. That is, the process of manifesting change on a soul level. … In this context, it simply denotes a transcendence of the material dimension to permeate much deeper layers.”3
The seven steps provide varying degrees of wisdom. After using the deck for a single card draw for five days, I found that on some days, the information in the Introspection section really spoke to me. On other days, the Practice section spoke loudly. I always enjoyed the Integration/Coagulation part of the message, which was a short, freeform poem that ended the guidance for each card.
I decided to further test drive the deck by taking it to my Friday Coffee & Cards group and shared it with my friends. Each woman drew one of the desert-inspired cards and shared feedback as follows:
Friend K: I drew the Forgiveness card. Wow It punched me in the gut! Truly. I didn’t realize how much I was holding on to resentment toward my sister. I’ll do some journaling around this. Thanks!
Friend T: I drew number 22 Renewal. I notice that it is in the Sun phase of Sun Nadir. It says it is really dark and to rely on my intuition. I like that. Also, the spiral on the card speaks to me. Life is really a spiral, isn’t it? I also like the Practice section. She asks me to go through my clothes and other stuff and declutter. I’ve been needing to do this!
Friend S: I drew Wholeness, which is number 44 and the last one in the section and the last one in the deck. (I seem to do this a lot!) I feel it has extra meaning for me, being the last one. It’s in the Sun Zenith section, which is the highest point of the sun. I love the Sun! I love the energy it brings to my garden and my life. Anyway, this is what spoke to me most:
“It is your nature to strive beyond your current circumstances, to keep learning and changing like the time of day. The drive is not a problem, unless you forget that you are always moving into a new expression of being whole. Right here and right now, wherever you stand, you are already complete.”4
(She had tears in her eyes as she read that last part.)
The cards are printed on high-quality cardstock with a matte finish, giving them a luxurious feel and ensuring durability. The size of the cards is a standard oracle deck size, perfect for shuffling and handling, making the deck easy to use. The deck and guidebook are housed in a sturdy two-part box that is also bathed in the desert hues of gold, orange, red, and brown. A single crow graces the sunscape design on both the box and the guidebook.
As you can see from the examples of my friends, users of the Wild Whispers Oracle report a strong intuitive connection with the deck. The artwork and messages resonate on a deep level, facilitating meaningful insights and “aha” moments. Girsberger encourages users to trust their intuition and to allow the cards to speak to them on a personal level. This approach fosters a sense of empowerment and encourages users to develop their own interpretive skills.
Wild Whispers Oracle stands out as a divination tool that offers both novices and seasoned practitioners an enriching experience. This would be a great deck for anyone who wants a deeper connection to their own intuition. I’ll be using it with my clients who come to me for mentoring and grief work.
PJ Spur is an author, intuitive, spiritual mentor, astrologer, and hypnotist. She does tarot & oracle card readings, natal chart readings, grief coaching, and relationship healing. She also has hosted a weekly “Coffee & Cards” event with her Soul Compass Community for the past four years. Her book Navigating Grief with Grace is available on Amazon. Learn more at www.dearpj.com
