Rachael Kinner—known to readers and collectors as RJ Kinner—is blending the literary and metaphysical worlds in a beautifully illustrated card series called The Synchronous Oracle. This collectible oracle deck evolves alongside her fiction book series, offering a one-of-a-kind experience for fans of tarot, oracle cards, and contemporary fantasy.
A Fusion of Books and Cards: How The Synchronous Oracle Came to Life
The Synchronous Oracle is unlike most traditional oracle decks. Instead of launching all at once, the cards are released in limited-edition 10-card packs, each one corresponding to the release of a new book from Kinner’s Otherworlds and Catchers series. As the stories unfold, so does the deck—ultimately becoming a 60-card collectible oracle set.
This is Kinner’s third card project produced by Shuffled Ink, following the success of The Kinner Tarot and The Echoes Oracle. But this time, her process is even more personal: she’s combining her worlds as both an author and an illustrator to offer readers a deeper connection to the characters, settings, and themes that define her novels.
From Digital Sketches to Tangible Magic
Kinner’s journey with tarot and oracle cards began as a side project—a creative warm-up before diving into other illustrations. But what started as an exercise became a passion. After completing her first full tarot deck, she found herself pulled deeper into the world of card design.
Her process changed dramatically in 2020 when she bought her first graphics tablet, the XP PEN Artist 22. This tool allowed her to draw digitally with the same fluidity she had on paper, streamlining her workflow and breathing new life into her creative approach. “It opened up so many opportunities,” she explains. “It was one of the turning points of my art.”
Now, Kinner brings moments from her books vividly to life—transforming scenes, characters, and even secrets into collectible oracle cards that readers and card enthusiasts alike can treasure.
Creating Through Chaos: Overcoming the Roadblocks
Designing and illustrating a multi-phase oracle deck is no small task, especially when you’re also the sole author, artist, and campaign manager. Kinner balances this creative load while navigating significant personal changes in her health, family, and relationships. Still, she remains committed to completing the project—and finds joy in each pack released.
“Fighting exhaustion is a constant battle,” she shares, “but I’m still committed to seeing this project through!”
One of the most rewarding aspects of The Synchronous Oracle is how it resonates with her readers. When longtime fans recognize a card’s reference—be it a scene, character, or location—it creates a special kind of connection. Sometimes, the cards even tease story elements yet to be revealed in future books, turning every pack into a collectible experience layered with meaning.
Advice for Aspiring Card Creators
When asked what advice she’d give new artists hoping to create their own decks, Kinner keeps it simple: “Start somewhere! Card decks have an unbelievable amount of work that goes into them, but you need to start somewhere. The blank page is the scariest part of the process. As soon as you fix that, then you’re well on your way.”
What’s Next for The Synchronous Oracle?
Following the March 2025 launch of Catchers: Book One, which introduced cards 11–20 of the oracle deck, Kinner is preparing to release Trail Tales: A Supplementary Novella and Catchers: Book Two. With each book comes a new card pack—and by the end of 2025, she hopes to unveil cards 31–40.
These special edition packs are only available through the book’s Kickstarter campaigns, making each one a truly limited release. Fans can also purchase prints, merch, and previous decks at rjkinnerart.com.
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About Shuffled Ink
Shuffled Ink is a multigenerational family business that specializes in printing custom playing cards, tarot & flash cards, custom card games, packaging and more for businesses and individuals worldwide.
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