Category: Deck Reviews

The Halloween Oracle

This is what I would call a great “starter oracle”, hence 4 stars as opposed to 5. There are 36 cards in the deck, and like many decks produced by Blue Angel, they’re a bit bigger than average, with a glossy finish. This makes shuffling a bit difficult if you have smaller hands. The approach to Halloween images and themes is on the general side, which makes the deck accessible — hence, my description as a “starter oracle”. The cards contain a keyword phrase on them, so you don’t need the guide to perform a reading, and at a page or less per card, the guide doesn’t offer much depth or added context — which is fine in a starter deck.

Myths & Mermaids:

I’ve had 4 different oracle collaborations featuring the art of Jasmine Becket-Griffith, and without exception, they are all wonderful additions to any collection. This was my first of their collaborative decks, so it holds a special place in my heart, as a Florida girl with a special affection for the Weeki Wachee mermaids.

The Vampire Tarot

Beautiful deck, very glossy card stock. The cards are slightly oversized but still easy to shuffle. The glossy finish of the cards makes the shuffle a little slower, but it’s not disruptive to using it for a draw. The back of the cards have a stylized, sort of classic vampire image

The Vertigo Tarot

Anything that brings together Rachel Pollack, Neil Gaiman, and Dave McKean can’t go wrong, and this deck showcases that. The forward by Gaiman is everything you’d expect and want to read, affirming the idea that creativity and the occult are symbiotic entities that bring forth new ideas, new narratives, and new perspectives.

The Asylum Oracle

** spoiler alert ** This is easily my favorite oracle deck, and it’s both friendly and accessible to readers at any stage, whether or not you’re already familiar with Emilie Autumn’s music or Asylum world.

Les Vampires Oracle

If you’re a fan of the artwork of Jasmine Becket-Griffith, then you’re probably already aware that this is one of many Blue Angel decks (often paired with a Lucy Cavendish guidebook, though sometimes with other collaborators) that use Becket-Griffith’s artwork to approach different Oracle deck themes.

The Fantod Pack

This is a very small 20 card Edward Gorey oracle deck — ostensibly created by Madame Groeda Weyrd, a Finnish/Egyptian divinator and author of Floating Tambourines and The Future Speaks Through Entrails.

So, basically, *exactly* what you’d expect of an Edward Gorey oracle deck.

The Buckland Romani Tarot

This is one of my older tarot decks, a deck that was gifted to me by a friend. Since they gave it to me, the original edition (2001) has gone out of print and has become quite rare and expensive, definitely a collector’s edition. It is also one of the most beautiful and interesting decks in my collection, one I enjoy working with for personal readings as well as reading for others.

Grimalkin Tarot

I’ve been eyeing this artist’s decks for a while, finally settling on the Grimalkin Tarot when a cat came into my life to live with me, and the cat enjoys when I read tarot, so this deck seemed appropriate.