What disciplines do you see as most affecting oracular work, besides the practice itself (e.g. psychic hygiene, devotional, meditation, etc)?
I think establishing and maintaining a devotional relationship with the gods and spirits involved is the most important thing. I can open myself all I want, but if They refuse to speak, it won’t matter. Also, the more of my consciousness I devote to Them, the more I involve myself with things related to Them so that They are a constant presence in my mind, the easier it is to attain the proper state when it comes time for the oracles. Memory is also a big issue for me. Not just something as simple as exercising one’s mnemonic skills, though that is useful. But having a relationship with memory, an understanding. This comes into play in particular when doing the oracles alone, without a scribe. For then I must be able to remember several questions and who asked them, as well as remember the answers that were given when I write them down afterwards, all while in a deep trance that usually shuts off my normal mind entirely (for it would be impossible to come out of trance between each que
