Deck Review: Wisdom of Charms Oracle Deck
- Author & Colourist: Emma Howard
- Author & Illustrator: Claire Ruby
- Publisher: Sacred Scribe Publishing
- Publication Date: September 8, 2026 (US) / 8 October 2026 (UK)
- RRP: US$ 27.99 / GB£ 25.99
- ISBN: 978-1-970367-00-3
- Reviewed by: Amy Bowker
Casting charms is a unique form of divination that traces back many centuries. The Wisdom of Charms Oracle Deck transfers that concept into a 66-card deck that is both easy to learn and fascinating to engage with. Much praise goes to authors and artists Emma Howard and Claire Ruby for this beautifully designed and (you know I have to say it) charming oracle deck.
Unlocking the Wisdom of Charms
The deck arrives in a nice two-piece box with illustrations on the inside cover. The cards themselves are round and bigger than I expected (a nice surprise), around 4-inches in diameter. They’re accompanied by a detailed 164-page guidebook, most of which is given over to a comprehensive explanation of each of the 66 charms and their meanings. The book also includes a small section on how to use actual charms for divination, which I found to be a nice primer. Four suggested spreads are featured in the guidebook, as well as a section on how to journal with your charms deck, and how to connect with your deck. A Charm’s Chime poem is offered as part of a visualization process to ground yourself when using the deck, and I found this particularly helpful.
The cards themselves have a nice purple border on both the front and back. The hand-drawn illustrations are simple and appealing representations that look like actual charms with a round loop at the top of each object. The color scheme chosen for this deck adds a light whimsical touch.
The Four Categories of the Wisdom of Charms
The cards are arranged in four main groups: Mind and Intellect; Body and Presence; Spirit and Intuition; and Heart and Emotion. The cards aren’t ordered alphabetically or numerically – although they are numbered – and that took a little bit of getting used to. For instance, the cards are numbered from 0 – 52, but with an additional 13 cards valued between 54 – 96. The guidebook does mention the significance of the number value but I’m not that familiar with numerology so I could have used more guidance.
Crossover With Lenormand Cards
I noticed a number of cards in this deck with the same keywords as those typically found in Lenormand decks. For me, it was a welcome addition since the meanings for those cards are pretty well established, so they helped me become familiar with this deck more quickly.
Bonus Points for a Cat Card
You’ll find the Cat card under the Heart & Emotion category. It pictures an orange cat stretching lengthwise with a ball of what looks like yarn in one paw. The keywords are Independence, Mystery, and Curiosity. All appropriate!
Wisdom of Charms Will Appeal to:
Anyone who is interested in learning more about casting charms will find this a natural first step in that process. The guidebook does such a nice job explaining the significance of the charms used in this deck, you’ll feel ready to move onto something three dimensional. Likewise, if you just want to stick with reading cards, this is a great way to learn a new divination process that transfers well to cartomancy.
Wisdom of Charms Might not Appeal to:
If you don’t connect with the idea of charms holding special significance, the card keywords and illustrations might not be enough to prompt intuitive readings. Also, the numerology aspect of this deck was lost on me. And while it didn’t in any way detract from my ability to read with the deck, it probably helps to have a more advanced grasp of numerology.
The Wisdom of Charms in Practice:
The thick card stock makes the cards easy to handle and surprisingly easy to shuffle, despite being round. I chose the three-card past-present-future spread from the guidebook. At first, I wasn’t sure how in depth a deck based on charms could really go, or how substantial the advice would be. And then I pulled three cards that accurately summed up what’s going on in my life right now in terms of building community (Bee) and spending a whole lot of time reflecting, reflecting and reflecting (Tarot Card). The future advice to make time for a little bit of playfulness and harmony (Dolphin) was right on target. This deck can definitely handle whatever life throws in your path, so don’t mistake the Wisdom of Charms for just a cute idea.
More About the Authors and Artists:
Emma Howard is an author and colourist. She has also created the Wisdom of Charms Oracle Spread Journal, a nice companion to this deck that includes 66 spreads as well as journaling prompts. Her other spread journals include Seasons of Tarot, Shadows of Tarot, and Tarot of Oz. Emma also collaborated with Claire Ruby on The Tarocle of Oz deck, which is a 78-card deck that blends tarot symbolism with oracle messages.
Claire Ruby is an author and illustrator who has been reading tarot cards for over 20 years. The Wisdom of Charms Oracle Deck is her second collaboration with Emma Howard. Together they also created the Tarocle of Oz deck, a 78-card deck that combines tarot symbolism with oracle messages.
Wisdom of Charms Oracle Deck is available for pre-order direct from https://sacredscribepublishing.com/product/wisdom-of-charms-oracle-deck/, and from all good online bookstores.
