Deck Review: Divine Circus Oracle

Alana Fairchild, Divine Circus Oracle: Guidance for a Life of Sacred Subversion and Creative Confidence. Glen Waverley, Victoria (Australia): Blue Angel Publishing, 2016. ISBN: 9781922161970.  Note: in U.S., Blue Angel is distributed by Llewellyn.

 

Genre: Oracle deck

Subgenre: circus theme

Format: 44 card deck set with small guidebook

Source: I bought and own this one  

 

 

This is a 44-card deck with a small companion book. It has an artistic circus theme. Think less Barnum and Bailey and more like harlequins and other European art circus. 

Let's start with the guide book. The book includes an introduction and the card messages. The introduction talks about life as a divine circus, and it includes brief instructions on how to use the deck, a small ritual to dedicate the deck, a sassiness statement for readings (like a blessing; I am sure the Cosmic Joker would approve) , three circus themed spreads, and a note on healing tricks you get with each card. The first part of the book is short and easy to read. It explains the concept of the deck and gives you some ideas of how to work with the deck. I have not tried the suggested spreads yet, but I hope to do so down the road. On a side note, i am sure the spreads would work with a Tarot deck, especially decks with similar art style such as Ciro Marchetti decks. 

Card: The Juggler-30

The card entries in the book are arranged numerically. Each card has a number. However, the card
sequence is not alphabetical, so you do need the number to find a card in the book. Each card entry has the card number and title, a quote for the card, text with the card description and explanation, the healing trick, and an affirmation. The cards are done by different artists, so at the end of each entry you get the artist credit for the card. Eight different artists made cards for the deck. Unlike other decks with multiple artists, the artists on this deck manage to maintain an aesthetic and thematic coherence. To be honest, I could not always tell there were different artists, and I think that is a good thing. 

The art in the cards can go from light to dark. The art is very colorful and lively. Faces are expressive, some more than others. Cards include number and a banner at bottom with the card name. This is the older edition with the borders (the publisher has reissued the deck in a borderless edition that I am thinking about getting but it is not urgent). For me, readability can vary. Some cards are more intuitive than others, but overall the deck works well for me. The deck does have a certain playful element, and it can feel a bit subversive at times. Given its darker elements, I think this could be an interesting deck for folks who do shadow work. 

 

Card: Maven of Masks 44

Cards measure about 5 inches by 3 3/4 inches. Cards do have a glossy coating, so they may stick a bit now and then as you shuffle. 

Overall, this is a deck I really like for the colorful art and its playfulness. You can use it year round, but it may be a good fall season selection. It could be a nice option for Halloween. I am glad to have it in my collection. 

4 out of 5 stars. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note: Photos of cards are my own from my copy of the deck. 

 

This deck kit qualifies for the following 2021 Reading Challenges: