NEW Oracle Deck: Seasons of the Heart – The Japanese Way of Balance

This video introduces my first printable oracle deck, Seasons of the Heart: The Japanese Way of Balance.

I’m half Japanese, and this project has become one of the ways I’m reconnecting with my Japanese heritage. Alongside studying the language, this deck allows me to explore values that have shaped Japanese culture for generations — and to bring that wisdom into modern emotional life.

The Deck

There are 30 cards in total. Each card measures 4½ inches by 2½ inches, a comfortable oracle size that shuffles easily. The deck is designed for reflection, emotional insight, and spiritual growth rather than fortune-telling.

The Guidebook

The guidebook is 30 pages long, printed on letter-size paper. I bound mine on the long edge, but if you prefer the text to read upright when flipped, you can print it with short-edge binding instead.

Each card includes ten key aspects:

  • Aspect
  • Description / Example
  • Lesson / Insight
  • Archetypal Energy
  • Emotional Tone
  • Virtue Expression
  • Shadow Aspect
  • Psychological Function
  • Cultural Shadow / Misuse
  • Modern Reflection
  • Oracle Message Summary
  • Affirmation / Mantra

Let’s look at Card #10 – Yūki (勇気), which means Courage.

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Sample Card: Courage (Yūki / 勇気)

On the card, you’ll find the romaji, kanji, and English description:
Courage — facing challenges with honor.

From the guidebook:

  • Lesson / Insight: True courage is measured not by conquest but by dignity. Conflict reveals values and awakens integrity.
  • Archetypal Energy: The Stag, the Warrior, the Protector. Strength balanced by dignity and compassion.
  • Emotional Tone: Grounded, resolute, steady. Calm power tempered by empathy.
  • Virtue Expression: Honor, resilience, integrity, steadiness, inner strength.
  • Shadow Aspect: Aggression, recklessness, moral superiority, denial of vulnerability.
  • Psychological Function: Transforms fear into integrity-driven action. Teaches resilience through confrontation, truth-telling, and calm presence in adversity.
  • Cultural Shadow / Misuse: When courage is confused with domination or used to justify harm.
  • Modern Reflection: What challenge is asking me to act with integrity? How can I face conflict without losing compassion?
  • Oracle Message Summary: Strength and respect can coexist. Stand firm with honor and heart.
  • Affirmation / Mantra: I meet challenges with dignity. My courage is calm, not cruel.

About Using the Cards

You can use Seasons of the Heart as a reflective oracle — similar to the I Ching — focusing on spiritual, emotional, and psychological growth rather than predicting outcomes.

Each card invites the question:

“No matter what happens, how can I continue to grow?”

Instead of seeking “yes or no” answers, this deck encourages you to explore how to become more resilient, patient, and compassionate.

If you prefer, you can even use reversed cards for deeper exploration — focusing on the shadow aspect and cultural misuse sections. Personally, I view both light and shadow as coexisting energies rather than opposites, but the choice is yours.

Philosophy Behind the Deck

I believe oracles are tools for self-understanding, not prediction.
They remind us that growth is continuous — like a tree that’s never done growing.

There is always something new to be developed within you.
There is always more to learn, more to refine, more to understand.

Through reflection, the deck becomes a mirror for your own evolution — emotionally, spiritually, and psychologically.

One of My Favorite Cards: Kokorozashi (志)

One of my favorite cards is Kokorozashi (志) — Aspiration: Aligning work with the heart’s intention.

It reminds us that true purpose flows from within. When our ambitions are connected to the heart, our work becomes both sacred and sustainable.

Future Plans

I plan to create a physical version of Seasons of the Heart through The Game Crafter. This will take time, as I’ll need to resize each card layout in Photoshop and add back designs.

The digital version, however, is available now. You can purchase both the deck and guidebook PDFs for $9.95 on Etsy, allowing you to print and use them at home.

Soon, I’ll also be adding an online reader on my website. You’ll be able to click a button to draw a random card, read its meaning, and reflect on how it applies to your life in the moment.

Closing Reflection

Seasons of the Heart isn’t just a deck — it’s a journey into balance, empathy, and quiet strength.

Each card helps you uncover your inner seasons: perseverance in winter, compassion in spring, integrity in summer, and reflection in autumn.

May it guide you to live with patience, courage, and peace — the Japanese way of balance.