The Making of My Own Deck: The Oracle of Himm

Always a question: When I was going to make my own deck of cards has been asked throughout my card reading career.

I’ve been asked numerous times throughout my 21 years reading cards if and when I was making a deck of my own.

My answers to those inquiries have changed and evolved over the years: First, it was that I wasn’t inspired to make a deck; then, it was that I didn’t have a concept/theme for a deck; and finally, that making my own deck would take a very long time.

That last reason/answer has been the one I’ve decided to hold on for the longest time now.

Well, all that changed recently.

This particular day (March 11, 2020) started like every other. I posted my “Daily Divination” card of the day across social media, and went about my business.

When I checked on Instagram some time later, there was a comment that caught my eye: “When are you making your Oracle cards ??? @jameshimm”

Sitting with the question for a moment, I replied, “I’ve considered making my own deck on and off over the years, but I haven’t had a specific theme to give a deck some cohesion. Seeing your comment may lead to an inspired idea… I appreciate that you think I should make a deck of my own!”

And I left it at that.

And then something happened, which had never happened before. Ideas suddenly started coming to me. Quickly grabbing a legal pad and pen, I began writing down ideas, concepts, and experiences that have shaped my personal and spiritual journey: Angels. Reiki. Spiritual tools. New age and metaphysical concepts.

By the time I was finished, I had listed 47 topics that could be translated into cards. And, at that moment, my personal deck – The Oracle of Himm – was borne.

I was excited – very excited. I hadn’t been this excited about something in my life like this for quite some time. I wanted to quickly get to work on the deck in some way to keep the momentum.

That night, I started sketching some drawings of Archangels Metatron and Sandalphon, who feature prominently throughout the deck.

Metatron is an archangel I have a personal affinity for, as I believe he “opened me up” during an Akashic Records class, and has been an active presence in my journey of the metaphysical ever since. I even had a dream in which Metatron and I were talking (although I had no recollection of the conversation when I woke up – just a knowing that we were together).

Recently, Metatron “shared” with me that Sandalphon – his twin – has also been working with me, and I was being encouraged to “tune in” to his frequency more.

Back to the sketching part of this story… So, as I was sketching, I had a thought – the thought – that making a deck in this way was going to take a long time. And I could start to feel the inspiration and momentum starting to slip away.

And then – my Inner Coach stepped in. My Inner Coach said, “Are you going to run this story again?”

My Inner Coach continued, “If the idea of doing the artwork for the cards seems daunting, what would you be willing to do in its place?”

Immediately, I said to myself (and my Inner Coach), “I could find photos that fit the concept of each card.”

And having my Inner Coach step in kept this deck alive. I immediately went to various stock image resources online (Pixabay, Pexels, Unsplash, and Shutterstock) and began the hunt for images that spoke to me.

Within a five-day period, I had all the imagery for the deck. It was then a matter of customizing the photos (cropping, resizing, and filtering mostly) to make them work in the ways I was envisioning.

Cards from The Oracle of Himm: Archangel Jeremiel, Clairvoyance, and Anaiel.

I then went to Make Playing Cards, a website that prints decks on-demand, and uploaded the images and then found a font to apply to the cards. I then ordered a test copy of the deck to see how it would look in my hands and see if any of the cards would need to be tweaked. That test copy is scheduled to arrive at the end of the month. I can’t wait!

I want to spend dedicated time with the deck, because now I have to see how it will read – how it will speak to me. I’m also hoping I’ll be inspired to create spreads and layouts specific to the deck.

In the meantime, ideas and thoughts are coming to me about the meanings of the cards, as well as card combinations and interactions, directional cues (from my experience with Lenormand and Kipper cards), and other angelic associations not obvious to certain cards. All these ideas are being documented in what will likely become a companion book to the deck.

Dolphin, the first card from The Oracle of Himm I shared on social media.

I’ve been sharing some of the images on social media, and I had this insight come to mind: The deck is very personal, as it reflects aspects of my spiritual journey – and because of this, I’m feeling a lot of vulnerability that isn’t present when I’m reading/working with a deck I’ve purchased. The Oracle of Himm feels like an autobiography or spiritual memoir – only in the form of cards, rather than in the pages of a book.

And while I consider this a personal deck, people have already been expressing interest in it: One person immediately suggested crowdfunding; another offered to invest in the printing/production of a large run; someone suggested trainings offering others how to read with the deck; and then some even said they’d like to have their own copies!

I don’t know if any of that is “in the cards” for the future of The Oracle of Himm just yet – right now, I’m enjoying the present moment of its creation to think that far ahead.