- Author and Artist: Cheryl Yambrach Rose
- Publisher: Blue Angel Publishing
- Publication Date: 2026
- RRP: (AUD) $36.95
- ISBN: 978-1-922574-55-8
- Country of publication: Australia
- Reviewed by: Kim Goldsmith Cosmic Snail Tarot
I must be honest, I didn’t know too much about the Legends of King Arthur and the Holy Grail (apart from what I learnt from Indiana Jones!) and so I had to do a little background research. There are of course many existing tarot decks that explore the themes of Camelot, King Arthur and the Knights of the round table – notably John and Caitlin Matthews Arthurian Tarot which has been in print since 1990, and although I haven’t used this deck, it may make a good pairing for Avalon Visions Oracle in a reading. This oracle is slightly different, focusing more on the imprint and energy the characters and events from these legends have left on the present day landscape. Glastonbury Tor (the highest hill in the region) is a site of pilgrimage for many spiritually inclined people and features prominently in the backgrounds of most of the Avalon Visions Oracle paintings. Apparently, two thousand years ago the Tor was surrounded by water (the Island of Glass), and Avalon was said to be an enchanted place populated by souls of the dead. There seems to be quite a number of conflicting stories layered over the concept of Avalon, so it is worth doing your own reading if it piques your interest. It is suggested that King Arthur and his wife Lady Guinevere were also buried at Glastonbury Abbey. The Avalon Visions Oracle takes inspiration from the geographical location, and all the artwork was painted either in-situ at Glastonbury, Somerset England or in Cheryl Yambrach Rose’s castle studio on the coast of Northern Ireland. Cheryl is very familiar with the local legends of the area as she was a tour guide at Glastonbury for over 20 years, and all of that intimate knowledge pervades the text and imagery captured in the deck and guidebook.
Cheryl Yambrach Rose is an accomplished artist, trained in classical oil painting, and has her artwork featured in collections around the world, including the Nelson Rockefeller Collection, the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum and San Francisco Palace of Fine Arts. Cheryl has copyrighted her own style of art – “I founded the art style ‘Neo-Mythic Art’ to express ‘The New Myth’ – the bringing of ancient myth into the present field of time and space” (p.13 Guidebook). The life-like way she paints each character brings each legend into our present day reality. I watched an interview with Cheryl Yambrach Rose by Susie Cherub, in preparation for this review. The artist spoke of her focus on the eyes as an access point for creating her oil paintings on linen – if she doesn’t connect with the model through eye contact, she already knows it won’t be possible to capture their likeness in an authentic way in her work. The oracle is eerie because it truly feels the people are looking back at you from the cards.
The deck’s 44 cards are slightly larger than a RWS tarot card with a satin finish and flexible cardstock that makes shuffling easy. The images are borderless with a title and key phrase. The Tor and other familiar markers on the landscape of Glastonbury are painted on the cards, blurring a sense of what is real and what is fiction.
Chalice Well at the foot of Glastonbury Tor is said to be the hiding place of the Holy Grail, and this is represented in the stories of cards 4, 42 and 44 of the deck.
The Tor is visible in the background of several of the cards, for instance in Card 11 – The Tor Gate, 27 – Brigantia, and 36 – Elen of the Ways. Card 28 represents the three grails and the artist has painted the ruins of the Glastonbury Abbey that still stand today.
A few of the cards tell King Arthur’s story: 23 – The Initiation of Arthur, 2 – Arthur under the Tor and 14 – Arthur’s Footprint. The guidebook outlines the story of each card under the section ‘Neo-mythic bridge’ and I find that this inspires me to learn more about the Legends of Avalon.
I am impressed with the way the legends of Avalon are represented in the guidebook text, choice of characters and use of local landmarks in the paintings. The five bespoke spreads in the guidebook are a good example – The Three Realms, The Tor, Morgan’s Portal, The Sacred Well, and Through the Veils of the Year are directly relevant to sacred sites or stories from this place. The artist explains the creation of the deck and the influence of Celtic philosophy in which the Earth has separate realms of sky, land and sea that are interwoven. The Avalon Visions Oracle applies this idea by dividing the cards into groups: Otherworld, Terrestrial and Stellar worlds, including a discrete symbol for each on the right hand corner of every card.
Otherworld cards represent creativity, inspiration and personal transformation.
Terrestrial cards represent the interconnections between nature, animal and human lives on the surface of the Earth.
Stellar cards represent communication with celestial beings, the universe and astrology. Magic also prevails in this deck, and cards related to the witch’s wheel of the year (13 – Winter Solstice, 24 – Beltane, and 22 – Imbolc) are included.
Morgan Le Fay – a witch, enchantress or fairy depending on which story you follow – is represented in Card 39 as Morgan, High Priestess of Avalon. Followers of the history of British magic may find this oracle deck particularly attractive.
Let’s now try a spread from the guidebook to see how the cards address an everyday question.
The Three Realms Spread involves separating the deck into three piles containing the Otherworld, Stellar and Terrestrial world cards and then picking one from each.
- Otherworld card: is a ‘message from the sea’ or something surfacing from your unconscious.
- Terrestrial card: is a ‘message from the land’ or the way you can bring this knowledge into your everyday life.
- Stellar card: is a ‘message from the sky’ or what your higher self is guiding or advising you to do.
I asked the deck: What do I need to know about my work reviewing spiritual decks and books for the TABI blog?
Card One: 3 – The Swan Maiden – Transformation.
- “Say no to any agendas that feel off – if it doesn’t feel right to you, it isn’t”.
- “You know your own mind”.
- “Beware those who would try to limit you with their own expectations and desires”.
I thought that was an interesting response to my question. The message I gleaned was that to be an honest reviewer I need to trust my instinct, be honest and fair in my response to the product being reviewed, and don’t cave into any internal needs to ‘people-please’ because a good review comes from a place of authenticity.
Card Two: 28 – The Three Grails – Clear the Mist.
- “Sometimes you must revisit past judgements and reassess why you came to that decision or conclusion in the first place.”
- “When you find out new information about something you formerly believed to be true, assimilate that knowledge to enhance your life experience and allow a new vision to come through”.
This message aligns with my review process. Sometimes at first glance I don’t think I like the look of a deck or book, and make assumptions. But after working with it and researching it, my perspective can change, and so this is part of the learning curve. And also it is ok that my opinion changes a few months after submitting a review because I have had more time and experience working with a particular deck.
Card Three: 43 – Silbury Stargate – Think Outside the flock.
- “Don’t be afraid of ridicule if you relate your own experiences. They will be like seeds opening the minds of others to new thoughts and possibilities”.
Wow. This resonated. When I started writing reviews I was applying my academic, detached voice to my writing. Partly because I want to try to be balanced and impartial. But also because showing myself publicly in the tarot community makes me feel vulnerable, and I may have been worried that I don’t know enough to make judgement on the decks I review. Now I appreciate that often the best reviews of spiritual products reveal the personal and intimate experience of using these items in everyday life. This is still an area I need to work on and I love that the cards I chose for the reading were so specific in relation to my question.
I have found this oracle deck enchanting to work with, and very different to other decks in that it focuses deeply on one place and brings it to life in the artwork and card messages. Both the concept and execution of the artwork in this deck make it a worthwhile inclusion in any tarot and oracle deck collection, I highly recommend it!
About the Author/Creator:
Cheryl Yambrach Rose is a visionary artist, portrait painter, author, and contactee. She paints in oils on linen in a synthesis of the Old Master style and her unique technique of tuning in through the eyes. Cheryl excels in spiritual portraiture, and her works are collected by discerning luminaries including Gary Zukav and Neale Donald Walsch. Her artwork has been published and shown worldwide, appearing in the Nelson Rockefeller Collection, the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum, and the San Francisco Palace of Fine Arts, featured in film, books, on the Wisdom and Travel Channels, and more. Cheryl’s previous oracle works include Art Through the Eyes of the Soul, and Art Through the Starstream Oracle. To find out more about Cheryl, please visit: https://www.cherylrose.com/
The deck can be purchased here direct from Blue Angel: https://blueangelonline.com/shop/card-decks/oracle-cards/avalon-visions-oracle/ and from all good bookshops.
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