• A book titled Way of the Panda Tarot by Kimberly M. Tsan, illustrated by Celia Libelle, features a panda with flowers and a blue sky on the cover. Above, “Way of the Panda Tarot Deck Review” appears on a white background.
    Tarot decks

    Way of the Panda Tarot

    I felt like it was time for a total change of pace and the Way of the Panda Tarot felt like the perfect choice. It is so easy to get caught up in things, believe me I know. I started writing about The Hoodoo Tarot and next thing I know I’m researching my family tree and preparing to spit into test tubes to discover my ancestral DNA. But, sometimes you just have sit back and relax. So now I’m spending time with the inhabitants of Panda Kingdom as I slowly work my way through the add-on book. Reading about Pandalf the Magician and Panda Hercules brought a smile to my…

  • A purple Tarot of Pagan Cats card box features an illustration of a black cat sitting in front of star-patterned curtains. At the top, text reads Deck Review.
    Tarot decks

    Tarot of Pagan Cats

    I came to be writing about the Tarot of Pagan Cats quite by accident. Initially I was going to use it as an exemplar in a different post. But I quickly discovered that it deserved more than a secondary role in an article. I found I wanted to explore it more deeply in its own right. It has a lot to say and I like that it does it in a non-threatening yet straight to the point manner. It has been a pleasure getting to know this deck. The Tarot of Pagan Cats Cards I wrote in my first impression notes that the Tarot of Pagan Cats ‘isn’t my prettiest…

  • A card from the Unbridled Spirit Tarot featuring a couple of people riding horses.
    Tarot decks

    The Unbridled Spirit Tarot

    I had been eagerly awaiting the Unbridled Spirit Tarot since the first time I saw it mentioned on the Llewellyn website. Even though it wasn’t released until 2025 this deck made it on to my “Decks I’m excited for in 2024” list. I was just so thrilled to see a horse-themed deck in the works. I pre-ordered it as soon as I could and even up against all my internal hype, I can say it has not disappointed. Horses were a huge part of my life when I was younger, so much so that my first full-time job was working with them. I have so many memories wrapped up in…

  • A tarot card from the Tarot of the Owls deck, The Magician shows an owl in a red cape among vibrant forest flowers, with a chalice, pentacle, wand, and sword on a tree stump. Deck Review appears in the background.
    Tarot decks

    Tarot of the Owls

    At first glance the Tarot of the Owls may seem like a cutesy deck that focuses on being beautiful to look at rather than offering anything new. However, that assumption couldn’t be further from the truth. It may look light but it offers so much. Beneath its beauty is a solid tarot deck that I have come to discover is wonderful for shadow work. That definitely wasn’t what I expected when I first flicked through the cards. The deck might take you into a magical Owl Realm, but what you find in this mystical place is solid, practical and helpful. The Tarot of the Owls deck To discover that this…

  • A tarot card from The Witch's Familiar Runic Oracle features a black cat perched on a deer skull, surrounded by pink flowers, rays of light, a crescent moon, and rune above. Eihwaz is at the bottom. Top text: Deck Review.
    Oracle Decks

    The Witch’s Familiar Runic Oracle

    Introduction Three things drew me to The Witch’s Familiar Runic Oracle: I wanted to learn more about runes, I liked the concept of combining animal familiars with runes, and I liked working with The Unfolding Path Tarot which is also by Athene Noctua. These three things combined led to me pre-ordering the mass market edition as soon as I saw it listed. Unfortunately it arrived a week before my daughter’s wedding. So with all the last minute rushing around associated with that, I put The Witch’s Familiar Runic Oracle on the shelf and largely forgot about it until recently. Don’t get me wrong, I had flicked through it and on…

  • A tarot or Oracle of the Birds card with a vibrant green and yellow hummingbird flying against a bright, intricate background. The card reads: Hummingbird. Light from the highest levels—life is joy, harmony, beauty, and diversity. Let your light shine.
    Oracle Decks

    Oracle of the Birds

    I pre-ordered the Oracle of the Birds five months before its release date. So, yes, I was pretty keen for this deck. Why? Because I have a strong affinity with birds. I love watching them go about their day and I am fortunate enough to have abundant bird life around my house. As I’ve been sitting here preparing to write this I’ve seen a magpie, a rainbow lorikeet, a wattle bird and a noisy minor all in the area outside my office window. I see birds as messengers and so this deck provided the perfect combination. The Oracle of the Birds Cards Firstly, let me say that these cards are…

  • A tarot card from the Soul Cats Tarot titled XVIII - The Moon shows a black and white cat with yellow eyes, sitting before a glowing full moon, wearing a necklace with fish and leaf charms. The text Deck Review appears above.
    Tarot decks

    Soul Cats Tarot

    Introduction The Soul Cats Tarot is my fourth cat-based tarot deck. It sits alongside Grimalkin’s Curious Cats Tarot, Black Cats Tarot, and Mystical Cats Tarot. Yet it is in no way superfluous. Each have something to offer. Creator Leeza Robertson (Animal Totem Tarot, Mermaid Tarot, Cirque du Tarot), says of the Soul Cats Tarot, One of the main focuses of this deck is for the soul cats to teach you … that beauty, purpose and gifts have nothing to do with how you look, and that all shapes, sizes, colours and breeds are important. and I don’t believe it is possible to over share, or over state, that message. This…

  • A tarot card from Grimalkin's Curious Cats Tarot titled “XIX. The Sun” features a gray and white cat surrounded by large yellow flowers, red gladiolus, a butterfly, and white birds flying with radiant yellow light in the background.
    Tarot decks

    Grimalkin’s Curious Cats Tarot

    Grimalkin’s Curious Cats Tarot is the latest creation by MJ Cullinane and one of the more recent additions to my collection. I am starting to think I have a bit of a cat obsession since I already had Soul Cats Tarot, Mystical Cats Tarot, and the Black Cats Tarot when I bought it. But, oh well. I would not part with any of them. When I was reading the opening to the accompanying book I found it strange to have a cat deck created by a self-declared dog person but I appreciate the honesty. As a writer, I also recognise a powerful hook when I read one. It made me…

  • A tarot card from The Bohemian Animal Tarot titled The High Priest shows an orange cat in a wizard hat and robe holding a staff, with a squirrel, owl, mushrooms, and chalice on a tree stump. The top text reads Deck Review.
    Tarot decks

    The Bohemian Animal Tarot

    The Bohemian Animal Tarot is an 80 card tarot deck, similar in concept to The Tarot of Curious Creatures, as it is illustrated with figures that are part animal, part human. This deck, however, has a totally different feel. In part that is because the artwork is bright and colourful and wouldn’t be out of place illustrating a children’s book, but it is more than that. Scott Alexander King has written several books on animal symbolism and he combines his extensive knowledge in this area with mythology and archetypal energies. This is a fascinating deck to work with. The Bohemian Animal Tarot Cards Depending upon your personal approach to tarot,…

  • A tarot card from The Tarot of Curious Creatures titled The High Priestess shows a figure with a raven’s head and human body, draped in a purple veil. Above, “Deck Review” appears on a white background.
    Tarot decks

    The Tarot of Curious Creatures

    The Tarot of Curious Creatures is creator, Chris-Anne’s, latest offering. In this deck she ‘welcome[s] [you] to the world of curious creatures, peculiar guides and unfamiliar familiars.’ I have to admit it took me a while to decide I wanted to enter this world. But, now that I have, I can’t see why I hesitated. It’s different and I like different. Although the meanings align with traditional RWS expectations, this deck has a unique way of communicating them. For those interested in pathworking this deck is well worth a look. The attached guidebook encourages you to adopt this practice. Although, somewhat unsurprisingly, it’s pathworking with a twist. The Tarot of…