by Anita Inverarity
Publisher: U.S. Games Systems, Inc. ISBN: 978-1-64671-024-9 RRP £16.50 ($22.95)
The imagery in this deck is lush, imaginative, and at times surreal (card number 12, ‘Uniqueness,’ depicts a woman with lobster claws for hands!). According to the guidebook, the deck intends for its characters to be culturally non-specific and, therefore, universally relatable. There are certain elements in the cards that can be traced to particular corners of the world (such as the ruined castle overlooking what is most probably a Scottish loch in card number 22, ‘Mystery’), but for the most part the deck does succeed at presenting a geographically neutral (albeit fantastical) space. As for the women themselves, they are mostly light-complexioned but there is an obvious diversity in their garments so you would struggle to pin down exactly where any of them are supposed to be ‘from’.
My favourite card would have to be number 14, ‘Threshold’, which shows a hooded woman and a rabbit in a field near a church tower and two flying saucers above them. I like the questions this card raises, such as which threshold are we meant to see? The door to the church, the edge of the field, the beams of light from the flying saucers – or all three? The rabbit, like many other creatures and maidens in this deck, is holding what seems to be a pendulum on a chain. The abundance of amulets, charms, pendulums, crescent moons, and even a deck of cards (see card number 28, ‘Knowing’) lends the deck a satisfyingly magical and divinatory feeling. I imagine these cards would be very much at home on someone’s altar and would work especially well as a daily one-card draw for inspiration, guidance, and affirmation.
The deck is definitely on the soft and nurturing side, and would probably appeal most to those who are drawn to the magical, occult, or ‘witchy’ (which most likely includes a lot of card readers anyway!). I like its emphasis on nature and female independence; the guidebook also notes that ‘The intention of this deck is to immerse the viewer in a sense of internal empowerment’ and I would have to agree that it succeeds.
I am not sure this deck would be suited to in-depth readings on its own, but I can see it working well as a supplemental deck to a tarot reading or, as mentioned above, in a one-card draw. The artwork is also an immense pleasure to look at, and I look forward to displaying cards from this deck on my own tarot reading table.
Written by Maria Hummer
2 Comments
Stella aka "fennario" · March 14, 2022 at 1:40 pm
It’s pretty. But I’m not sure why they’re calling it a “folk oracle.” It’s not based in any real folklore or folk cartomancy tradition. This is purely a contemporary oracle deck.
Lynn Alice · March 17, 2022 at 8:01 pm
I love this deck! I was keeping my eyes open for a new Oracle deck. This deck embraces that empowered feeling I get with Spring on the horizon. The artwork imagery is beautiful and a bit mesmerizing; I can already sense from the pictures that it will serve me well. I am excited to use this personally and for querent’s in my Tarot practice, to provide a more layered/in-depth Tarot reading. It was nice that you included the artist’s link. Thank you for writing this review.
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