Deck Review: Witch’s Homestead Oracle

• Author: Hadas Knox
• Artist: Giada Rose
• Publisher: Rockpool Publishing
• Publication Date: Oct/26 (AU/NZ/UK/US)
• RRP: (AUD) $34.99 / (UK) £19.99 / (US) $26.95
• ISBN: 9781922468451
• Country of publication: Australia
• Reviewed by: Kim Goldsmith  Cosmic Snail Tarot

The Witch’s Homestead Oracle follows the ‘cottagecore’ aesthetic and sentiment, something I knew very little about until this review. Idealising life on the farm and in the cottage, this style of art emphasizes a return to the simple life. Baking bread, making preserves, darning socks, gardening and foraging are intrinsic to the imagery of slow living represented in The Witch’s Homestead Oracle. Devoid of any references to technology and the fast pace of modern life, this oracle deck invites you into a world where you can pause to appreciate your connection to nature, and the fundamental needs of life: sleep, sustenance, routine and shelter.

Giada Rose’s watercolour paintings are evocative of fairy tale illustrations and enhance the nostalgic aspect of the deck. This makes sense as Giada has illustrated a few children’s books including “Giant’s in the clouds” written by Maria Muscarella and “Penelope”, a book following the adventures of a hedgehog by Melinda M. Cropsey. Each card is full of tiny details reflecting the artist’s keen observational drawing skills. Tarot and Oracle deck readers will be most familiar with her whimsical artwork which adorn the Folklore Oracle, Samhain, Yule and Beltane Oracles from the Seasons of the Witch Series.

Each card in the Witch’s Homestead Oracle reads like a scene from a storybook following a single female protagonist who has her back to us as she undertakes different tasks. Being faceless de-identifies her so that we can imagine standing in her shoes as she sits in her rocking chair, stokes the wood fire, or shears her sheep. Giada has a keen interest in femininity, folklore and divinity, so there are no male figures in the cards, but I still feel the deck is inviting to use for any gender. Based in Kentucky, Giada aims to create a “portal of stillness and tinge of nostalgia for a bygone era” in her arts practice.

Hadas Knox is the author of the guidebook and text on the cards in this deck and has collaborated with Giada Rose on the Seasons of the Witch Oracles and Folklore Oracle. Based in New York, she recently released her first novel titled  “Dove in an Iron Cauldron”. Set in Hudson, New York in 1850, the novel follows a young Spiritualist who can talk to the dead, and is described as a somewhat historic romance. Glancing through Hadas’ Instagram you can see where she comes up with the inspiration for her writing. Renovating an old farmhouse, raising chickens and homeschooling her children, she seems to be a real life embodiment of the witch inside the oracle deck, and this authentic life experience permeates the writing and imagery throughout.

The packaging for The Witch’s Homestead Oracle deck is compact and beautifully designed, with matte finish to really draw out the details in the painting on the box. I was disappointed, however, to open the box and see the cards themselves are glossy. They feel less luxurious than anticipated, and the reflective surface sometimes makes the dark images in the cards hard to see. I would have preferred a satin or linen finish to the cards to give them an old school feeling and for legibility. The edging is also an intense shiny purple which is a bit jarring against the soft images on the cards – I would have used black or brown. The cards are round edged and 90 × 37 × 128 mm in size, so large but not cumbersome, and the guidebook is full colour and 160 pages in length. Card fronts have a number, title and a phrase written in white font. For instance, 27. Summer Rainstorm – ‘When lightning splits the old story to pieces, the new one begins’. The guidebook includes five bespoke spreads.

You are not going to get a quick answer to a pressing question with this deck. Every message on the cards, or passage in the guidebook is designed to make you stop, reflect, journal and meditate. In using the cards for a while I found I was left with more questions to ponder than direct answers when writing in my tarot journal. I think that is the point of the deck: it helps you unwind, slow down your brain, and learn to be mindful and present. Storytelling and following a journey of the witch featured in the cards is emphasised. For every card there is a section on its meaning, and the story behind it. There are no keywords, journal prompts, or one line responses to a question. I find the writing encourages me to daydream and imagine. The card artwork is excellent for visualisations where you enter into the world of the homestead and imagine hanging out washing, baking bread and other simple tasks. It is through the experience and writing about the card that the meaning and connection to your own life comes through. Even when I tried all of the spreads in the book I was left with a feeling of expanded possibilities rather than specific actions or pathways I could take in relation to my questions.

I tried the four card Seasonal Spread and here is the wisdom I received:

1. Winter: What is calling you inward? Where are you being asked to rest or reflect?

Answer: 22. Quill and Ink: “Write your story. Don’t let it write you”.

• Spring: What is stirring fertile soil? What is beginning to grow?

Answer: 33. Night gown. “Do you feel safe enough to soften?”

• Summer: Where am I being invited to see more joy, connection and pleasure?

Answer: 15. Orchard: “Each cut invites resilience.”

• Autumn: What am I ready to shed, surrender or release?

Answer: 17. Beehives: “Structure becomes sacred when its boundaries are honoured”.

In summary, the reading asked me to take more agency over my creativity and direction in life. To do so, I need to “soften” and be ok with vulnerability for a time. Cutting away and clearing space to allow new things to grow and emerge is a key action. Maintaining a consistent routine and boundaries between me and the people around me is important so I don’t get lost in the ‘hive’ mentality. It is my time to lead my own life, “write my story”.

See how the messages are not literal and pointed, but more metaphoric and open ended. This lends well to an intuitive reading and creative types will love the evocative use of language. If you did want further clarity, then pulling a tarot card for each oracle helps you bring the guidance back to practical actions and advice. Those of you who prefer literal and pointed messages, say for your card of the day, won’t find that in this deck.

The Witch’s Homestead Oracle Deck is not one I would use for client readings, but is certainly for self-exploration, meditation and creative journaling. The vibe is gentle and indirect, and not for shadow work. Spending time with the cards will ignite your imagination and lead you to creating your own stories and art through journeying into the world of the Witch’s Homestead. If you are in need of time to ruminate and reflect then this oracle deck will be a perfect companion. Those of you who follow a witchcraft practice based in nature and homely rituals will also want to adopt this deck.

Creator Bios:

Hadas Knox is a writer inspired by history, mythology, motherhood, magic, folklore, and romance. In addition to authoring “Witch’s Homestead Oracle”, she has also created “Folklore Oracle” and has written her first novel, “Dove in an Iron Cauldron“. She is based in New York.  To find out more about Hadas, please visit: https://hadasknox.com/, https://www.instagram.com/hadas.knox/, and https://hadasknox.substack.com/.

Giada Rose is an illustrator who works primarily in watercolor, infusing her art with a longing for the old ways and a love of mythology and historical costume. Her most recent work includes the “Folklore Oracle”, with Hadas Knox, published by Rockpool Publishing, and the forthcoming “Witch’s Homestead Oracle”. She is based in Kentucky, USA. To find out more about Giada, please visit: https://giada-rose.com/.