paracelsus oracle

Does anyone here have the Paracelsus Oracle Cards, or know much about them?
(Here is a link to them on Llewellyn's site)

There are larger images on Lo Scarabeo's site, but scant information. And I've googled and googled to find very little on these cards.

Any info gratefully accepted.

http://www.alidastore.com/sc003.html

I see that the cards use the sixteen fundamental figures from geomancy, e.g., Caput Draconis, Tristizia, etc. As there as sixteen geomantic figures, yet 32 cards, there would probably be two cards for each of the geomantic figures.

There appear to be symbols, perhaps corresponding to names of angels or genii, hopefully not mean-spirited ones.

I wonder whether the drawings in the top half of the cards are reproductions of antique alchemical illustrations.

There are astrological symbols as well.

The font for the astrological glyphs looks modern to me. I suspect these are new cards which use old alchemical illustrations.

-- Lee

I've done a bit more digging and found this page: http://www.freeforumzone.com/viewmessaggi.aspx?f=8640&idd=3113

Altavista's Babel Fish is doing a crappy job of translating the Italian, but it does appear to be new, not a repro of an old deck and definitely not a deck created by Paracelsus. Apparently it's based on a book of prophecy he wrote. I can't tell if any of the images originated with him, though.

I don't think it would be useful to me as an oracle deck (though it may well be to someone else). I'm not familiar with the geomantic figures or angelic symbols, but they interest me.

Oh, I don't think Paracelsus would have created an oracle deck!

But if this deck can help people get to know Paracelsus, then it will serve a good purpose. His genius and his gifts to the world are not acknowledged enough.

No, I didn't think he created it! But I thought the images might have come from his writings, and/or that he made the associations that are used on the cards.

Also I was just intrigued with the funny squiggly diagrams.

I had to double check and make sure I had read correctly....a Paracelsus Oracle Deck! Wonders will never cease....XTAX

I had a coupon, so picked up these cards

and a book of selected writings. He has an interesting take, sounded as if he was an alchemist and herbalist of sort. Part of his education was in Ferarra when the university was still active. His work reminded me a little of alchemy and Poor Richard's almanac. I was entranced with the period woodcuts in this Selected Writings book. The book itself has an ugly cover which I made a paper bookcover for immediately.

Here's a short, standard bio:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paracelsus

The book:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0691018766/ref=nosim/aeclectic/

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Cerulean

Hi
Yep as Rusty Neon pointed out the cards definately have the astrological geomantic figures on them, which suggests the oracle could be based on astrological geomancy, they also seem to have the planetry correspondances on the cards as well. Astrological geomancy can be quite complex depending on how deep you are prepared to delve into it,but also a very interesting form of divination. Having the geomantic figures on the cards makes things alot easier to start with anyway, this oracle could be an easier and quicker version of geomancy, it has been done with the I ching , note - i ching of the goddess cards by barbara walker to name but one of many examples. The cards certainley look mysterious and exciting, i for one am interested in purchasing them.

blessings

crystal dawn

For anyone interested in Paracelsus' history and contributions, here's a site from the US National Library of Medicine's exhibit brochure for this show in the early '90s celebrating his 500th birthday:
PARACELSUS, Five Hundred Years