Deck and Book Reviews
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The Signs of the Times Oracle
Since writing about The Unveiled Tarot I haven’t been able to get some of its cards out of my head. So, I thought I’d explore an oracle deck for something different. I have more oracle decks than I tend to realise but I don’t use them consistently, nor do I have a “usual” way of working with them. Somehow, I keep convincing myself that I can’t layer my knowledge over the cards like I can with tarot. This deck reminded me, yet again I might add, that is simply not true. Why I need reminding baffles me. I think it is simply that I love the overarching system that guides…
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The Unveiled Tarot
I knew The Unveiled Tarot would end up in my collection because I was curious about Jesse Lonergan’s approach. My curiosity was rewarded. I fell for the artwork instantly. This came as a huge surprise because it’s not an art style that generally calls to me. But now I have a whole new appreciation for it. I am fortunate to own many wonderful decks, most I could not imagine parting with, but this one has leapfrogged most of them, straight onto my personal top 10 list. About The Unveiled Tarot Deck Why? Because The Unveiled Tarot is such a clever and thought provoking deck. As a comic book artist, Jesse…
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Dreaming Way Tarot
When I bought this deck midway through last year, I flicked through it, and then largely forgot about it. Fortunately, in response to a comment on another post, we became reacquainted. The timing couldn’t have been better. The Dreaming Way Tarot has its own way of delivering messages. As an added bonus, it’s a very chatty deck. I had forgotten about that. Why I’m not sure. My initial notes were four pages long which is double what I would normally produce on my first flick through. So, with such a talkative deck, this post could get long. I’ll try and keep it reined in. Let’s see how I go. General…
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The Raven’s Prophecy Tarot
For artist and author Maggie Stiefvater, writing a book that mentioned tarot led her to create The Raven’s Prophecy Tarot. Now in its sixth printing you’d have to say that it’s proved to be a pretty successful offshoot project! I’ve been aware of this deck for a while but until recently I chose not to add it to my collection because I wasn’t sure how I would work with it. However when I read the first line of the guidebook, “I love stories,” it became clear. Maggie Stiefvater is a storyteller and she has created this deck from that perspective. Throughout the guidebook she urges you to tap into you…
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Tarot of the Witch’s Garden
Tarot of the Witch’s Garden is the second of Sasha Graham’s tarot decks. But please know they are very different. Her other deck The Dark Wood Tarot encourages you to embrace the shadow, while this one focuses on the light. In the opening pages of the guide book she shares a quote from Frances Hodgson Burnett’s book The Secret Garden which encapsulates the energy of this deck perfectly. It encourages you to both see the magic around you and feel the magic that exists within you. It also inspired me to re-read The Secret Garden which was a joyful and inspiring experience as well. My experience with the Tarot of…
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The Antique Anatomy Tarot
A friend mentioned that she liked The Antique Anatomy Tarot but I didn’t think it was a deck I could get behind. Nevertheless, since I trusted her judgement, I bought it. And, contrary to what I’d expected, I discovered that I do in fact connect with an anatomical pip deck that collages greyscale images with colourful flowers. Plus, in another surprise, I found these cards quickly took on a specific role in my practice. Now I reach for The Antique Anatomy Tarot when I’m seeking to understand what’s at the core of an issue especially in regards to anxieties, fears and doubts. So far it has served me well in…
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Joie de Vivre Tarot
I bought Joie de Vivre Tarot back in October 2022 but, to be honest, I hadn’t really reached for it until recently. In researching for a post I’m currently writing about upcoming decks, Paulina Fae’s new one caught my attention. This in turn renewed my interest in this one. I am so glad it did because I have found this deck to be so clever and a true pleasure to work with. The Joie de Vivre Tarot Deck Joie de Vivre Tarot wants to do as its name suggests and inspire feelings of joy in those that use it. When I read things like that my instinct is to go…
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Heaven and Earth Tarot
I have to admit I put the Heaven and Earth Tarot on my wish list a while ago but it never seemed to make it to my cart. Then I saw on a Facebook page that it was going out of print so, without checking the accuracy of the statement, it became a FOMO purchase. Now, even though I haven’t come across any evidence to support the claim, I am grateful to that post because the Heaven and Earth Tarot instantly became my everyday deck. Initially I bought the card only set but I loved it so much I went and bought the kit as well. The only other deck…
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Bee Tarot
For many reasons I love bees, so the Bee Tarot went straight on to my pre-order list. Unfortunately the extended wait time here in Australia allowed me to internally hype it to such an extent I doubt any deck could have measured up. So, surprise, surprise, it didn’t match my expectations. Nevertheless, having given the deck and myself some time, I have developed a real appreciation for it now. I’ve learned some interesting information about bees and the artwork has expanded my approach to several cards. That alone has reversed any doubt I previously had. Now I enjoy working with it even if some cards make me squirm a little.…
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Earthly Souls and Spirits Moon Oracle
I have a few art crushes and Terri Foss’s artwork is definitely one of them. Her process reels on Instagram captivate me. However, since I go through phases with oracle cards, it took me way longer than it should have to purchase Earthly Souls and Spirits Moon Oracle. Holding these cards in my hands was even better than I expected. So much so that I went straight on to Terri Foss’s Etsy store with the intention of purchasing one of her prints. Unfortunately she doesn’t ship to Australia. If you like this deck though and you live in the USA or Canada then it is worth checking out her store.…
