Introducing The Creative Compass
Your Oracle Deck to Navigating Wellbeing
Have you ever been so excited to share something that you don’t know what to do with your physical body? I’ve been feeling that way for months. But today is the day I get to finally share.
I have created an oracle card deck called The Creative Compass to help people use creativity to explore their wellbeing. It’s unique in how it leads you through a process that unlocks your imagination, and sense of joy. Because of that, I wanted to find a way for people to experience it while I work on getting the physical deck printed.
(drum-roll please)
I’d like to announce that I’ve created a Sample Web App of my Creative Compass oracle deck where you can do a digital “pull.” It is at the proof-of-concept phase, but I intend to extend and expand the web version to make the cards more available and the digital experience deeper and more meaningful. My hope is that you enjoy playing with these cards as much as me.
My Challenge to You: Go to the app, draw a card, and use it as a prompt for a 10-minute creative check-in. It could be a quick sketch, a few lines in a journal, or even a photo. Don’t feel limited to your first pull—find the card that “sings” the loudest to you.
I would love to see what you come up with! Share your card and your creation in the comments or tag me on social media. I’m so curious to see how the Creative Compass guides you today. Enjoy!
*Scroll to read more about what’s in the deck, the foundation of methodology, 9 key ways creativity can improve your wellbeing, and look at samples pages from the guidebook.
In My World This Week
What I’m listening to: Some very lovely jazz by Samara Joy. Its been a great soundtrack to my work lately. It makes me feel sophisticated while putting a smile on my face. Listen here
What I’m reading: As I continue my effort to learn more about art history I have found a wonderful resource here on Substack (see below). There’s a lot to enjoy in each post. The commentary, references and clear academic knowledge of art history is a pleasure to sift through. Their most recent post on Neo-Impressionism has stuck with me for several days now.
Another good read I’ve discovered this week was an article in See All This Art Magazine - Why Doctors Are Prescribing Art. In this article you’ll see 10 impactful insights from the research into the effects of art on the brain, by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross.
Finally, just today I came across Amazing World of MC Escher by Piller, Elliott, and Peterse and it is a fascinating book. Escher’s work is so well-known yet there are so many pieces I have never seen or heard of before.
What I’m watching: I’m currently obsessed with Portrait Artist of the Year. If you’ve ever been curious about what its like to paint a portrait this is for you.
(You can watch it on YouTube here).What I’m drawing: I recently bought myself a little set of graphite and charcoal pencils. Having never worked with charcoal I had very low expectations of the quality of work I would produce. I set out to draw a self-portrait as I’ve been inspired from watching Portrait Artist of the Year. I also wanted to see if I could capture what it feels like to experiencing chronic pain. I have a lot more to say about what I got out of making this, but I’ll save that for another post. Stay tuned!
More About The Creative Compass
This project has been a ten-year labor of love. It began as a grad school thesis focused on joyful tools for chronic illness and evolved through years of my own design research in healthcare settings. After becoming a health coach, I found the final missing piece: a way to blend professional coaching methodology with the creative design process. What emerged is more than an average oracle deck—it is meant to be a functional system for self-discovery.
A Foundation of Methodology
“Oracle Deck” can mean many things to different people. With the Creative Compass, the focus isn’t on replacing the intuitive nature of traditional decks, but rather layering a clear, practical methodology over that experience.
While a standard deck might tell you what to think about, or offer a glimpse into how your day might go, the Creative Compass invites you into a process. It provides tangible activities to explore, making it a versatile companion for both the seeker and the maker. Here is why this deck is a different beast entirely:
1. A Bridge to “Doing” (Action-Oriented)
Most decks are designed for contemplation. You pull a card, read a message, and sit with the thought. The Creative Compass is designed for both contemplation and activation. It serves as the “spark” for a creative act. It doesn’t just offer a vague theme like “Abundance”; it provides a specific lens through which you can create something tangible, like a sketch, a movement, or a journal entry.
2. A Tool for Self-Regulation (Health-Focused)
Many people enjoy oracle decks for spiritual guidance, and the Creative Compass absolutely supports that intuitive practice. However, I’ve layered in a much more practical, health-focused foundation. It is designed to be a functional tool for self-regulation and checking in with your internal state. While you can pull a card to seek a higher perspective, you can also use it to navigate the immediate needs of your body and mind—turning your creative practice into a powerful form of self-coaching and biofeedback.
3. The Cure for “Blank Page” Anxiety (Problem-Solving)
One of the biggest hurdles to using creativity as a health tool is the overwhelm of the “start.” When we feel unwell or fatigued, the blank page can feel like a mountain. This deck acts as a “creative invitation”. A shortcut past the “I don’t know what to do” phase. It meets you exactly where you are and gives you a clear point of entry.
4. Exploration, Not Prediction
Traditional decks often focus on predicting a future outcome. The Creative Compass is about exploring the present and visualizing the future. It’s a mirror. It asks you to look at your current challenges—whether that’s burnout, chronic illness, or emotional fatigue—and apply a specific creative framework to it. It’s not about telling your fortune; it’s about giving you the tools to shape your own narrative.
What’s Inside the Deck?
I wanted this to be a robust system for exploration. Here is a breakdown of the tools you’ll find inside:
6 Modes of Play: These frameworks dictate how you interact with the cards, ensuring every session feels fresh. They provide the structural variety needed to keep your creative practice evolving.
30 Inspiration Cards: These wordless visuals force the brain outside its usual tracks to summon unexpected ideas. They provide the motivating “urge to do” that turns a simple spark into a meaningful creative act.
Creative Energies: These represent the core forces we use to navigate our world at any given moment. They serve as the foundational building blocks for the deck’s deeper archetypes.
16 Archetypes: These detailed personas provide the primary structure for your self-coaching journey. They offer specific lenses to help you reframe your challenges and narrate your experiences through art.
The Comprehensive Guidebook: This is the manual for the entire system, containing the “how-to” for every mode and archetype. It bridges the gap between pulling a card and starting a practice with clear prompts and coaching frameworks.
Sample of Creative Compass Guidebook Pages ©KaileyFry 
Sample of Creative Compass Guidebook Pages ©KaileyFry
Creativity: More Than Just a Hobby
We often talk about creativity as a luxury, or only for people with a certain type of talent. But everybody uses creativity everyday, it is a necessity for survival—especially when navigating health challenges. In my practice, I’ve found there are 9 key ways creativity transforms our wellbeing:
Reframing Your Story: Shifting from “patient” to “protagonist.”
Processing Emotions: Giving a face to feelings that don’t have words yet.
Communicating Your Experience: Building a bridge so others can truly see you.
Tracking Health Uniquely: Moving beyond charts to capture the texture of your days.
Discovering Unexpected Insights: Letting your subconscious speak through color and shape.
Making the Intangible Tangible: Giving form to energy, pain, or peace.
Cultivating Play & Joy: Reclaiming your right to have fun.
Clarifying & Defining: Mapping out the complex systems of our lives.
Setting Intentions: Using creation to manifest the healing we desire.
Looking Ahead
This deck is just the beginning. I’m currently finalizing the details for a series of Creative Wellbeing Workshops where we’ll dive deeper into these tools together. More details are coming very soon!
Made with Love - Kailey