- Unity Oracle: A Worldwide Collaboration of Wisdom
- Author and Artists: 95 Authors and Artists, including: Lucy Cavendish, Rassouli, Autumn Skye, Toni Carmine Salerno and Lindy Longhurst.
- Publisher: Blue Gaia / Blue Angel
- RRP: AUS$ 36.95
- ISBN: 978-1-922574-31-2
- Reviewed by Kim Goldsmith, Cosmic Snail Tarot
Packaging and guidebook: 50 cards, 168-page colour guidebook, hardcover box (12.5 cm x 17 cm x 3.7 cm, exterior: silver foil details, interior: plum matte purple with flecks of pale yellow).
Cardstock: 14 cm long and 8.2 cm wide (slightly larger than a standard RWS tarot card), rectangular with rounded corners, no gilding on edges, borderless images, waxy satin-matte finish, medium thickness with flexibility, shuffles straight out of the box.
Deck theme
The artwork and writing produced by the 95 creators of this oracle follows the theme of Unity as something which represents “the beauty and power of harmony – within and without” (Blue Gaia Team). From painting to digital art, the deck encompasses a wide range of artistic styles. The majority of subjects are figurative, but there are many cards that are abstract and symbolic, including landscapes, animals, runes, chakras and sacred geometry.
How each artist-writer pair responds to the theme of unity is unique. One approach is to encourage self-work to create personal harmony. Card 33. The Burgeoning Blossom by Avalon Cameron and Ana Cristina Tourian uses nature metaphors to express the idea of creativity as a connective force, emphasised by the phrase ‘Ground your ideas and nurture your seeds’ under the card keyword. Above these words, a face emerges from a large red flower, ensconced in big tendrils, leaves and dynamic paintwork. Artwork by Daniel B. Holeman on Card 18. Ascension references heart chakras and notions of oneness with the universe, supported by text by Denise Jarvie that encourages you to ‘Embody your higher self’ through self-awareness practices, and being curious about the world.
Other creative duos focus on how we can create harmony outside of ourselves through community building. Card 46. Building conscious community by Monica Finazzo and Wendy Taylor uses watery, graphic imagery of dolphins and the text invites us to meditate together on ways to improve society. Whereas Card 15. Collaborative dreaming by Suki Eleuterio draws reference to the First Nations people of Australia and the idea of collective dreaming, thinking beyond our own lives and looking back to our Ancestors for guidance. The painting by Nicole Fisher is expressive yet soft in its rendering of a sea turtle, and the guidebook entry suggests dream journaling for an action step.
The theme of unity is explored in a tenuous way in the sense that a wide variety of artists and authors from different cultural and intellectual perspectives have been involved in the making of this deck. In different ways each card asks: what is unity? Is it about coexisting with others despite diversity? How can we cultivate unity on an individual and global level? The responses from the contributors are multifaceted rather than direct and singular.
Card style and design
One of my favourite design elements is the back of the cards which features spliced sections of multiple artworks that are merged into one striking image. This is the only visually cohesive aspect of the deck design and helps draw together so many dissimilar artworks. A comparable image is featured on the box and guidebook cover. The front of each card is borderless, and has the number, keyword, and a short phrase at the bottom, which has a colour behind it that matches the individual artwork colour palette.
When the cards are laid next to each other they don’t look like part of the same deck. To some people, this may feel refreshing, while others may find the visual dissonance of so many different forms of art distracting or chaotic, particularly since there are varying levels of sophistication and detail in each card. If, however, you are eclectic in your taste, and like contrasting imagery, then this deck is designed for you.
Guidebook and card descriptions
Card keywords are listed at the front of the guidebook and contributor information is in alphabetical order at the back of the book. Card descriptions fill nearly two pages each. The lack of an index makes it time consuming to find which cards are made by specific artists or authors.
Each writer approached the card descriptions in their own unique way: poetry, storytelling, as well as messages of social, environmental and political activism. For instance, Card 41 “Connectedness” by Rebecca Joy Stark and Sharon McLeod offers a guided meditation, whilst Card 48 “Possibilities” by Jahje Ives and Anita Invarity is a series of philosophical or rhetorical musings. The guidebook sometimes feels more like an anthology or exhibition catalogue, than a tool for excavating meaning in the cards. If you have a ritualised journaling practice that relies on prompts from the deck book, you may feel unsure how to respond to some of the messages.
The unique selling point of the Unity Oracle is that it has so many contributors. I wished for some ‘behind the scenes’ insights about the deck creation process in the guidebook. What was the selection criteria? How were the artists and authors paired? Was the making process independent or a dialogue? Were they assigned a keyword, or was it a response to the art produced? This added information would have enriched and enforced the ‘unity’ theme of the deck.
How to use this deck
With the absence of specific spreads in the guidebook I decided to create two of my own which you can try with this deck.
The Unity Oracle Three-card Spread by Cosmic Snail Tarot is inspired by the Nigerian proverb in the guidebook foreword: “In the moment of crisis, the wise build bridges, and the foolish build dams”. It is intended for conflict resolution.
- The Dam: What external or internal elements are blocking the individual from feeling connected and whole in the situation?
- The Bridge: What tools does the querent have at hand to build connection and unity?
- The Unifier: What actions does the querent need to resolve the situation?
The Unity/Disunity Two- Card Spread by Cosmic Snail Tarot helps consider the pros and cons of any situation. The fact that the cards have such contrasting imagery and ideas makes it very easy to do a comparative reading with this deck.
In working with the deck, I used the Unity Oracle in three contexts: personal readings, client readings in a metaphysical shop, and public readings at a two-day psychic fair. For personal use, I enjoyed using a card of the day rather than a multi-card spread, because I like a consistent style of artwork and symbolic voice throughout a reading. For clients in the shop and fair, I started a general tarot reading with a ‘theme’ card to open up the conversation, and then pulled another card at the end of the reading for reflection, which worked very well. The keyword, artwork and phrase on the card was enough to impart meaning without the guidebook.
Deck interview
This is not a typical oracle deck, and I initially struggled to connect with it, and work out where it fits in my personal and professional tarot practice. I hoped a deck interview would help.
What is your personality? 36, First lessons in Astronomy: You are the light.
Carisse Enderwick Claire Koentopp
A guide for self-development and self-awareness. The short story in the card description likens all people to stars that are singular yet at one with each other and the cosmos.
What situations or questions do you tackle best? 40, Daring Difference: Embrace your unique qualities.
Encourages change management, and exploring the unique aspects of self and identity.
What are your strengths? 21, Your Inner Teacher: Listen to your Intuition.
A tool for personal growth and to tune into your inner conscience.
What are your weaknesses? 8, Prayer Circle: All life is inherently sacred.
More suitable for meditation and reflection, rather than practical day-to-day advice.
What is unique about you? 49, The Infinite Heart: You have the heart of an angel.
The Unity Oracle affirms to all of us that our uniqueness is a gift that should be celebrated and embraced.
What are you here to teach? 38, Cosmic Inspiration: Venture forward with curiosity.
Be more curious and open to difference, rather than resistant. Explore bigger issues like the environment, and feel empowered to make positive changes.
The deck interview confirmed to me that the Unity Oracle is something I would reserve for personal journaling and reflection rather than problem solving or practical advice. It is a deck to ponder your place in society, culture and the world, and to consider small ways to change behaviour in order to lean into harmony and push back from fear of difference.
Overall impressions
If you are looking for an oracle deck with a consistent theme and aesthetic, with journal prompts and activities inside the guidebook, then this deck may not suit your needs. However, if you are open to a deck that expands your way of thinking through the use of rhetoric or poetic descriptions, or if you love the idea of experiencing a totally different artwork each day you pull a card, then this will be your go-to deck. Treated as a compilation of various artists and authors work all-in-one, I would highly recommend it as a sampler to people new to oracles. For seasoned oracle deck users I would suggest trying it if you want to break out of your comfort zone and discover new deck creators. It would also make a great collector’s item for people who follow certain contributors featured in the project.
Regardless of whether you resonate with every card and its message, the Unity Oracle certainly offers a wide range of perspectives on how to cultivate kindness and empathy within our daily lives, towards ourselves and others. The overall deck design is high quality and beautiful for the price. The cards feel nice to shuffle and it could be used for a single or multi-card spreads, alongside tarot cards, and for personal or professional readings. Overall, it will be a nice addition to any oracle deck collection.
1 Comment
sadia · July 10, 2025 at 9:02 am
when will i salvation my ear deafness?
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