Introducing my 44 Wisdom Card Project

For the last 10 years, I have been an avid card reader, seeking inspiration from tarot and oracle.  For me, they are energy messengers – messengers to my soul, helping me to gain insight about life, situations and also helping me to gain clarity and depth. 

They don’t ‘tell’ me what to do and they certainly don’t ‘scare me’ - energy cards and tarot for that matter, are not here to do so.  Maybe, many years gone by, we would have sought out guidance from a soothsayer, a healer, a wise one, but they would use them as tools for conversation, for depth and for healing.


I have often felt guided by my spiritual guides, human and animal.  They are always beside me.  It’s not magic – it is energy.  When we spend time with our cards, we imbue and transfer our energetic message and we become akin to the cards and to the stories they hold.  

Their origin may have religious symbolism, if you so desire, you can find those types of energy cards.  More often you will find energy/oracle cards that feature connection to Angels, Fairies, Animals, Goddess, Celtic Mythology, Kabbalah, Buddhism, Zen, including the iChing. I have quite a wide selection of them all – about 10 sets but my favourites that stay by my side are my Osho Zen, Fairies, Angels, Goddess, Glastonbury Tarot and Native American Animal Medicine Cards. 

I have been building to this.  It started back in 2000 when I created my own set of Inspiration Cards – a set of small cards that contained favourite words, affirmations, lyrics, symbols, pictures.  These Inspiration Cards were kept in my handbag for quite a few years and I would often ask questions and see what the response would be.  They always gave me something to think about and ponder.  Something to get me to seek deeper answers.  

So now I am creating a 44 wisdom card set with a book that I will write to provide the messages.  

How is this project different?
In all the cards you can buy, the artwork is generally painted by a variety of artists who have submitted their work (or been commissioned).  The messages and words are written by the healer/writer/channel

I’m going to be doing both.

For this original card set I will be the artist creating the imagery, channeling the symbolism and the 'Writer of the Messages' for each card.

Where will you get the Inspiration for each Card?

Every card will be inspired by someone who has meant something to me, someone who has inspired me or taught me something.  They could be people I know, or people I don't know, living or passed over. They may be people I have seen from afar.   They may also be from dreamtime and with symbolism that I can’t recognise.  It will all unfold.


As I delightfully skip along with this project I will post pictures of the finished canvases and make prints available.  The ultimate end will be to create a full set of cards and have them published and made available for purchase.  

When I have completed all 44, I will hold an exhibition to show all of my wisdom canvases - not quite sure where this will be at the moment.   The next step is to gift the finished pieces to the people or their family who have been an inspiration for me. 



I have been greatly inspired by Lori Portka and her Hundred Thank Yous Project go visit her here to find out all about it.

How and Why did you decide on the number 44?

44 is a magical number.  To me, but also in other Oracle/Wisdom Card Sets.  It also happens to be my 44th year this year. 

At the age of 11

This was a memorable year for me.  My primary school teacher in top Juniors told my mum “Julia has art in her soul”.  Have you ever heard anything so delovely from a teacher? He was my favourite teacher.  So incredibly creative, musical, artistic and funny with it, with the most fabulous handwriting.  

He encouraged my musicality, my creativity and my art. I used to sketch, paint, sing, play the piano and the recorder.  He gave me confidence to perform and be up front in the choir.   I would sit for hours writing little stories and used to make up my own Mr Men book - I remember one, called "Mr Posh Nosh".

11 was the start of something.

At the age of 22

I was very ill and debilitated with M.E/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome).  I had a diagnosis, which took 18 months, it was looking very grim.  Now living back with my parents and having to resign from my job, my independence and my life.  It was doom and gloom time.  

However, something in my soul stirred.  I had a certainty that I was going to heal myself and it was at this point, aged 22 that I really began my journey of Healing ME.  Art, craft, creativity and writing played a huge part in that healing process.  I rekindled my love of creating, designing jewellery, tapestries, making clothes and combined with learning all about therapies that would heal me, I made different choices.  

Although it wasn’t until I was about 29 until I felt fully well, 22 was a turning point.  

Big Turning Point.

At the age of 33

I was living a life that was false.  I was married, wanting closeness, intimacy, babies and a complete family life.  This wasn’t reciprocated.  I was feeling very low in confidence and my relationship was making me feel like was I doing something wrong.  My creative self was hidden in a closet.  I was coasting – wanting sexual closeness, family and a sign that things would, could, be more joyful.  

At 33, I turned within again and realised I had to heal myself.  

Heal ME.  

Again.  

Only this time it was me, and not M.E.  

I turned to DIY, painting and renovation, anything for a creative outlet.  It was through this process of creativity and reconnecting with spirit, visiting my 2nd home of Glastonbury that I realised, there was more and I had to have the courage to let go.

I tried to heal my marriage but it was not to be.  I left with a sad, sad heart and it took me many years to heal from this heart pain and to allow someone in again.  Through Creativity, Art, Healing and Words, I found Me over the next decade.

Now at nearly 44

My life feels like it has come “back to centre”.  I am in tune and connected to spirit, to earth, to love, to art, to words and to health and healing.  I am, thank goddess, in a loving new marriage with a beautiful soulful warrior who protects me, encourages and inspires.  My life work is exciting with pure potential.

When I look back through the 33 years since being told I had ‘Art in my Soul’ I know that I have.  I have honoured it.  There were a few bumps along the way but I have honoured it.

I have more to do and more to create and I will continue on this soul art path.

Although the grey hairs are more prevalent and I never did have babies, which does make me sad, I know I have a purpose and that’s to help, support, introduce, guide and show others how to do the same. To Heal Themselves.

This is the long version of my 44 Wisdom Card Project and why I chose 44 cards. 

I intend to complete this project by July when I’m celebrating. 

Thank you for reading thus far and please share any memory below that you may have of me at 11, 22, 33 and nearly 44.  

What fun, let’s get started. 

Much Love

Jules xxx

"A Year of Wishes: by Lori Portka and Lisa Sarick and My Wish

A Year of Wishes by Lori Portka and Lisa Sarick

I stumbled across Lori Portka's Etsy shop about a year ago now, her work is just so inspiring and is the foundation to her Hundred Thank You's project.  It's where she "dives deeply into gratitude".  A hundred paintings, a hundred people, a hundred days.  You can read more about it here.

So when I saw that she had joined with Lisa Sarick to create the 2012 Year of Wishes Calendar, I was pretty taken in.

I visited Lori's site just the other day and they are giving away 5 calendars.  To be considered we just had to leave a comment with A Wish We Wished for Ourself.  I got very carried away and didn't read it properly.  I launched in to my wish for 2012.  The deepest wish that really resonates with me.

I didn't post this wish for the competition because I thought it was not 'for myself'.  I decided to post the wish here - my place for all things.

I wrote this 2 days ago and then there's a whole debate today in the news 'should animals be stunned before slaughter' and the moment for this Wish is even more pertinent.  It was difficult, really difficult for me to read this article as I totally feel the pain of these animals.

Anyway, here's my Wish.

If I really had to choose a wish right now, it would be that human beings started treating all sentient soul animals, of the earth, sea and air,  with love, care and respect.  This is not an airy fairy wish because I think someone will like it. This is a deeply held passionate wish.

My wish is that we don't differentiate between the love of a dog and the dis-love of a cow.
That the husbandry and treatment of a pig is different to that of a cat.  That we look after our guinea pigs but cut down the habitat for our wild birds and animals.

I wish that all human beings realise that the way we treat our animals is a pure reflection on how we treat each other.  If we just took the time to see that even though we don't speak their language, they are consequently inferior and therefore we can dominate them.

I wish that human beings make a shift and act in a way so that they treat all our lovely animals, farm animals, pets animals, wild animals, as if they were a member of their own big family.

I wish this wish so much because I feel it is the foundation for love and respect for our own human evolution.

This wish is coming from my heart, I get so very upset when I see and hear about the sheer disrespect for our sentient planetsharers.

It was good for me to write down my wish for myself, now hopefully, my wish is out there. 


Blessed travels, little wish.


Much Love
Jules xx