• Author: Yasmin Boland
• Artist: Lindsay Kokoska
• Publisher: Hay House UK Ltd
• Publication Date: 17 February 2026
• RRP: GBP £18.99; USD $24.99; CAN $33.99
• ISBN: 978-1-83782-258-4
• Reviewed by: Ellie Element

Being a big fan of Yasmin Boland’s Moonology oracle deck, I was very excited to get this copy of The Dark Moon Oracle to review, and I wasn’t disappointed.

Yasmin is an award winning astrologer and Sunday Times bestselling author known for her influential book Moonology, along with Astrology Made Easy and The Mercury Retrograde book. Creator of the Moonology Oracle Cards, and an annual Moonology diary and calendar series, she also hosts the Mainly Moonology podcast. Yasmin is celebrated as one of the UK’s best-loved astrologers and a leading authority on the Moon’s spiritual and astrological power.

The deck arrived in a dinky (but sturdy) 11cm x 11cm x 4cm (4½ x 4½ x 1¾ inch) black box, which opened out to reveal a set of round cards and a guidebook. Inside the lid of the box is the inviting phrase “When you’re ready for the truth, ask the Dark Moon,” and upon lifting the cards out of the box another message: “Honor the beauty of letting go; the seeds of new beginnings are waiting.”

Going straight to the cards, I was impressed by the striking and beautiful artwork created by Lindsay Kokoska, who primarily uses blue and golden hues set against black backgrounds as the colour theme for this deck.

Kokoska describes herself as a self-taught multi-media artist blending traditional and digital techniques in her abstract and surreal art. Her Instagram account says she uses traditional and digital art, AI, and animation to explore perception and consciousness. I don’t know whether or not AI was used in the design of this deck, but the outcome is very effective.

The deck has 48 cards arranged into four suits: The Essence Cards, The Shadow Cards, The Dark Goddess Cards, and The Rebirth Cards. The guidebook, although small at 10cm x 10cm, has 140 pages, provides a good overview of the system behind the Dark Moon Oracle and also gives some suggested card spreads. Each individual card has two pages (about 200 words) and a bullet-point list describing its meaning.

So, having set out the tangible credentials, what about the intuitive and spiritual aspects of this deck?

Boland describes the Dark Moon as the most mysterious phase of the lunar cycle, a time for honouring endings and letting go of what we no longer need. It comes just before the New Moon and invites introspection, spiritual release, healing and renewal. It’s about the concept of ‘kenosis’ and the practice of ‘emptying out’ and, in Boland’s words, “stepping back from the noise of our lives and immersing ourselves in the sacred space of reflection.” We’re invited to connect with the powers of the Dark Goddess and the Divine Feminine.

In the section about How to Work with the Cards, Boland gives the stark warning that these cards are “not for the faint of heart!” and advises that you only use them when you’re ready to face the raw and revealing truth.

“But what about the cards?” I hear you say, “Tell us about the cards!”

Suit 1 The Essence Suit (Cards 1-12)

The first suit is comprised of The Essence Cards, providing a journey through the 12 astrological cards, and a mirror for self-reflection and self-acceptance. Card 1 is called Begin Again, with the energy of Aries, and a message about release work, accepting the end of one chapter and the start of another, and surrendering to change. Card 2 is Ground Yourself, Taurus, and the unification of mind, body and spirit, with the advice to take practical steps towards your goal, do some exercise, or make love. The Essence Suit continues through the 12 Zodiac signs, for example Card 8 is called Introspection, linked to Scorpio, (dig deeper for answers), Card 10 is Responsibility, a Capricorn, with the message “take ownership of your life.” Card 11 is Past Trauma (Aquarius), and the final card in the Suit, Card 12 Illusion, is, in typical Piscean fashion, about dreams, hidden truths and compassion.

Suit 2 The Shadow Suit (Cards 13-24)

The next Suit is the Shadow Suit and represent the energy of the Dark Moon when it is in the same sign as the New Moon. This Suit represents transformation, facing fears and limiting beliefs, and going deeper into the hidden parts of yourself.

Following on from the first suit, it starts at Card 13, Recklessness, and represents the Dark Moon in Aries ahead of the New Moon in Aries. It points to impatience, selfishness, and also a beginning phase, with the advice to slow down, take a breath and re-evaluate.

Cards 14, Stubbornness (Taurus), 15, Scattered (Gemini), and 16, Limerence (Cancer), follow, through to Card 24, Self-Sacrifice (Pisces) and the warning against a propensity for martyrdom and advice to prioritise your own well-being.   

Suit 3 The Dark Goddess Suit (Cards 25-36)

Cards 25 – 36 take us through The Dark Goddess Suit. Again, these cards follow the 12 Zodiac signs with the focus of stepping into your own power and recognising your ability to shape your own reality. They reflect both the positive and darker sides of the Zodiac signs, recognising that the darkness is just as important as the light, and they invite us to balance and transform those energies.

The Suit starts with Card 25, The Morrigan – Fight (all the cards in this Suit have both a name and an attribute), and as the first card is aligned with Aries. The Morrigan is a fierce Irish Goddess associated with war, prophesy, and fate, and this card is about taking bold action and fighting for what you want. Other cards in this Suit include: Card 29, Medusa, who could turn people into stone, with the attribute ‘Fierce’ and aligned to the energy of Leo. It suggests emotional wounds, misunderstandings and betrayal, with the advice to reclaim your voice and your space. Card 32 Bhadrakali – Destroy, is one of the forms of the Hindu Goddess Kali. The card, aligned to Scorpio, is about challenges, and also protection and compassion. The advice is to face your fears, let go of negative energy and embrace transformation. The final card in this Suit is Nyx – Embrace the Mystery. The Piscean energy of this card is about intuition, insight and transformation. While the path ahead may be unclear and shrouded in darkness, your intuition and subconscious mind will reveal what you need to know when the time is right.

Suit 4: The Rebirth Suit (Cards 37-48)

And finally, we get to the Suit of Rebirth. This Suit works with the energy of the Dark Moon when it is one sign ahead of the New Moon, carries the energy of potential and new beginnings and the concepts of possibility and growth. They remind us that from the void comes new life.

The first card in this Suit is Card 37, Blessings, representing the energy of the Dark Moon leaving Aries, ahead of the New Moon arriving in Taurus. Card 38, Communication takes the energy as the Dark Moon moves from Taurus ahead of the New Moon in Gemini, and the other cards follow the same pattern. The meanings of the cards in this Suit are more difficult to grasp, and focus more towards the energies of the arriving New Moon, and has a forward looking feel to it. For example, we can see in Card 44, Adventure, which represents the energy of the Dark Moon moving out of Scorpio ahead of the New Moon in Sagittarius, the meaning is aligned to the adventurous spirit of Sagittarius who is ready for the next adventure, while the Scorpio energy sheds its old skin and encourages the shedding of old fears.

The final card in the deck, Card 48, Dream Weaving, follows the transition of the Dark Moon from Pisces, ahead of the New Moon in Aries, and is about balancing dreams and action, making an effort, and turning a corner. It’s a card of re-birth, and with it the deck has come full circle.  

“So, what’s it like to read with?” you ask.

A Reading – The Beginnings Spread (Cards 25-27-39)

I chose The Beginnings Spread given in the guidebook. Its purpose is to illuminate the opportunities for growth and new starts, which is timely for me as I have just taken on a new work commission.

The round cards were exactly the right size to fit nicely into the palm of my hand, and the firm card stock made them easy to shuffle using the overhand method, and easy to lay onto the table. 

Card 25, The Morrigan – Fight, aligned to Aries, came up in The Potential for Growth position, letting me know I’ll need to fight for what I want and take bold action. My fears are more likely to be in my head than in actual reality, with a need to clear limiting beliefs.

Card 27, Matangi – Expression, aligned to Gemini, is in the Obstacles to Overcome position, reminding me that my thoughts shape my reality, and what I think I will eventually become. Clarity with my communications, an adjustment of my mindset and a focus on a more positive approach will help cut through confusion and negativity.

Both these cards are from The Dark Goddess Suit and are about empowerment and the ability to shape your own reality.

The third position is a Message of Support from the Goddess, and the card here is Card 39, Revelations. Here we capture the energy of the Dark Moon moving from Gemini ahead of the New Moon in Cancer. The card is from The Rebirth Suit of dreams, hope, new possibilities, and the growth of new life from the void. Revelations wants me to move from being in my head to trusting my gut feelings, to transcend surface-level conventional wisdom, and dig into my intuition and empathy to find and understand the answers I need.

As a Gemini who spends most of her time living in her head, worrying about perfectionism and imposter syndrome, there’s a lot in this reading I can identify with and take away with me. The artwork and the concept of the cards definitely resonates with me, and I feel they will become a regular part of my oracle reading lexicon.

I’ve enjoyed learning about this system and using these cards in readings. I suspect this will soon become another best-selling deck from Yasmin and Hay House, and highly recommend The Dark Moon Oracle to you.

To purchase the deck, please follow the link here: https://www.hayhouse.co.uk/the-dark-moon-oracle-card-deck

For more on the author, Yasmin Boland can be found on: yasminbond.com