I got a copy of the Marshmallow Marseille deck by Jorge Cuaik of the Wandering Oracle, and Jorge was sweet enough to stick around long enough for an interview! Read on to find out more about Jorge, and click here to read my thoughts on the very shiny and pretty Marshmallow Marseille.
Tell us about yourself!
I’m a Mexican filmmaker, costume designer, screenwriter, sometimes singer, full-time sorcerer, astrologer in training and broomstick-traveler. I left Mexico City at sixteen to study high school in a picturesque boarding school in middle-of-nowhere Scotland. There I met the devil at the crossroads and decided crossroads were totally my thing so I haven’t stopped wandering since. After more than ten years of country hopping I now live in the small magical town of San Miguel de Allende in Mexico which has a pink church as its centerpiece and a giant building shaped like a duck. I continue to travel whenever I can.
Three years ago I set out to put all the pieces of my scattered life together and created the Wandering Oracle website, at first a small blog, later a divination shop, it will reopen soon in an updated format. Just last year I teamed up with my brother to create our first original Tarot deck and like cotton candy in a French carnival stall the Marshmallow Marseille, puffed up into existence. A new and sweeter than ever edition is available now.
What’s your idea of happiness?
A room full of books, a tea making station and a reading marathon. Also, road trips.
What’s your idea of misery?
Defending of any sort of singular ‘reality’.
What do you appreciate most in your friends?
My friends are a true collection. I like it when we share sidekick roles in each other’s stories the most and I appreciate every killer Karaoke duet.
Where would you like to live?
Japan Japan Japan, there’s my haiku spell. I like to move so another fantasy of mine is owning small nest-like spaces in many places around the world and being able to jump between them. Shame about the property market but hey, Airbnb
Your favorite colors and flowers?
Green and Jasmine. I only like living, potted flowers and plants. I dislike the smell of flower vase water because it reminds me of graveyards. Nothing against graveyards but I have a very sensitive sense of smell.
Your favorite poets or authors?
Angela Carter and Charles Dickens. Ursula K LeGuin is also a favorite. Living authors, my favorite is David Mitchell. Of the classic poets, I’m team Shelley.
Your heroes/heroines in fiction?
Buffy and Angel forever. I also adore Miles from the Vorkosigan book series by Lois McMaster Bujold.
Your heroes/heroines in real life?
Anyone who actively practices empathy and real kindness. Historical hero Tousant L’Ouverture. Previously mentioned favorite authors. All the great witches, Giordano Bruno, L. Frank Baum, Jack Parsons, Robert Anton Wilson, David Lynch, Hayao Miyazaki, Kate Bush, Selena.
What is your present state of mind?
Trying to avoid an online shopping spree. Want to read Vettius Valens Anthology (astrology classic) all night.
What role does divination play in your life?
Divination is like my pocket-sized, always ready synchronicity device and also my favorite travel companion.
What is your favorite divination tool?
My favorite Tarot is the Lasenikuv (sometimes called Lasenic) a Czech Wirth-like deck that has the coolest court cards ever. Divination tool, I like playing cards the most, because they’re everywhere, and are easy to travel with. I own an antique Bulgarian set which I used to sell on my website as the Drak Cartomacy deck and it’s like a small treasure to me.
Your favorite songs?
Tenderness by General Public, Golden Calf by Prefab Sprout, Belle of St. Mark by Sheila E, anything by Kate Bush I’m an 80’s new wave cult member. Favorite Spice Girls song? Now that’s a tough one, I’d go for Say You’ll Be There.
Your favorite word?
I do love the word Fortune.
Your least favorite word?
Organic. Although I like that it comes from organs, like organized. Actually most food marketing words are terrible.
What about your favorite curse word?
All the ones used by Little Pete in The Adventures of Pete and Pete e.g. Blowhole!
What sound or noise do you love?
Crickets. Mandolins. My friend plays the Saw and it’s incredibly moving. Any great middle-eight from a pop song.
What sound or noise do you hate?
Chewing. Fridge goats. Honking. Leafblowers.
What turns you on?
Cleanliness.
What turns you off?
When people say ‘excuse me’ because they want you to move.
If heaven exists, what would you like to hear god say when you arrive?
Nothing at all, I’d just want a hug.
See more of Jorge here:
Instagram: @wanderingoracle
#wanderingoracle
Twitter: @OracleWandering
Facebook: Wandering Oracle