- Author/Artist: Sirian Shadow (Instagram-SirianShadow)
- Publisher: Llewellyn
- Publication Date: May 2026
- RRP: (US) $24.99 / (GB) £27.00
- Reviewer: Cadence (IG: @temperanceandtruth)
This is my first experience with a deck by creator, Sirian Shadow, who has produced several other popular decks, including the Earth & Bone Oracle, the Shadow of Darkness Oracle, and the Gothic Literature Tarot. The creator shared a bit of the progress for the Haunted Cottage Oracle on his Instagram page prior to publication, and I was very drawn to the moody, eerie imagery. Full disclosure: I can spook pretty easily thanks to some scary otherworldly situations in my younger years (I can’t so much as glance at a Ouija board, even in two-dimensional drawings!). So, while I was drawn to the imagery, there was a slight hesitation in whether or not I’d be able to use this deck due to the subject matter. The very premise of the deck is to address fears and blockages: “it is only by embracing our deepest fears that we unlock the true power of our destiny.”
The deck looks at the Haunted Cottage as an archetype, in which the reader is meant to draw on Hermit energy for quiet contemplation and spiritual growth. The creator notes that the color of the ghosts in the images reflects their particular energy: pale ghosts represent purity, clarity, and gentle spiritual guidance, while dark ghosts represent our shadow side and unresolved past experiences. Each card has a banner at the bottom with a simple, identifying word. In the guidebook, there is an overall phrase, keywords, and the message.
Let’s start with the dark (deep breaths…). Some of my favorite images in the deck are those that freak me out the most: Bridge (9), Chasm (13), Locked Chest (24), and Well (44). Let’s look at the Well, one of the spookier images in the deck with an image of a dark figure emerging from a well and fog rolling through the trees in the background. The overall key phrase is Venture to the depths, and the keywords are introspection, inner work, unveiling. The description paragraph notes that the well represents the hidden parts of ourselves, where buried truths and unspoken emotions lie waiting for our attention. The dark figure represents, “the manifestation of our fears, unresolved emotions, and past traumas that are ready to be seen and healed”. I can’t think of a better visual representation of these concepts. In the message section, we are asked to notice environments that deplete us versus those that bring peace. We are encouraged to lean into the draining spaces in order to finally process those situations that we’ve been avoiding. The Well is the next to last card in the deck of 45, and the message leans fully into the Hermit energy, calling for introspection, reconnection, and grounding as necessary elements for transformation.
Some of my favorite “light ghost” images are Axe (3), Basket (4), Stepping Stones (38), and Swing (40). While on the light ghost side, the Swing is solidly an image of my nightmares, featuring a ghost on a swing, their head only a black void inside the hood, holding on as if waiting to be pushed. The key phrase is Fun and games and the keywords are creativity, inspired action, freedom. The imagery is meant to represent play, carefree joy, and childlike wonder. In the message section, we are reminded that we create our own reality, and if we have been allowing others to dictate our path, we have the ability to change this moving forward. We are encouraged to create the life we desire rather than slogging through the expectations the modern world demands of us. I am absolutely on board with this sentiment; however, the image doesn’t necessarily translate to the meaning for me, though this is probably personal. Nonetheless, it is a beautiful and haunting (if you will) image.
In addition to the ghostly images, there are other entities and objects that fit well within the haunted cottage aesthetic, such as Acorns (1), Hare (21), Magnifying Glass (25), Snail (34), and Thunderstorm (42). While you may immediately think this deck would scream Autumn season, I feel that it is also a good fit for dark, quiet summer evenings. Along with the foggy forests, there are a lot of images that feature bright green mosses, leafy trees, and berries. The limited color palette ensures that it will pair well with many tarot decks. The 150-page guidebook includes three spreads. The cards are glossy, and the edges are gilded in a beautiful matte bronze. The cards are typical oracle deck-sized and are nicely flexible; I can just riffle-shuffle them. The box is lovely and high-quality, with foil accents and a magnetic closure.
While the moody imagery clearly indicates shadow work, the overall tone of the messages is encouraging and hopeful, gently guiding us towards introspection and growth. In the end, the majority of the ghostly images are soft-feeling, and the soothing tone of the guidebook dampens any spooky edge. If you are drawn to earthy, darker art, this deck is absolutely worth checking out. I am very happy to add this deck to my collection, and I’ll look forward to exploring Sirian’s other work.
Author bio:
Sirian Shadow is an author, deck creator, and explorer of the dark, who uses his work to assist others with healing and mediumship work. His work centers on a devotion to, “helping people open their eyes to the truth about themselves and the world around them.” You can learn more about Sirian and his work on his Instagram page, sirianshadow.
Haunted Cottage Oracle can be purchased direct from the Llewellyn online store in the US, and will be available from all good online bookstores in the UK from June 8th.
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