Deck Review: Viking Oracle

Stacey Demarco and Jimmy Manton, Viking Oracle. Victoria, Australia: Blue Angel Publishing, 2017. ISBN: 978-0-9872041-4-1.

Genre: cartomancy, divination

Subgenre: Vikings and Norse

Format: card deck and small companion book

Source: I own this one  

 

Promo photo of deck box 

This kit includes a 45-card deck and a companion book. Part of the reason I picked this up is the creative team of Stacey Demarco (author) and Jimmy Manton (artist). They made decks such as the Earth Power Oracle and the Halloween Oracle (links to my reviews). This deck features Nordic runes and other Viking images. 

The book is simply organized. You get an introduction and the card entries. In the introduction, the author discusses her experience reading and learning about myths and eventually making it to Norse stories. We also get a very short overview of Norse mythology. If you are not familiar, consider supplementing the companion book with a good Norse myths and stories book. The introduction then describes the deck's structure, instruction on how to use the deck, and six card spreads. If you want to cast runes, you can do so by using the rune cards only. 

The card entries feature a small black and white image of a card, the card name and number, and interpretation text. For runes there is an explanation of the rune, message, reversed meaning, and element. For the remaining cards you get story and explanation. 

The book is a relatively easy read. A detail I liked was it includes a simple dedication ritual for the cards. The text overall provides the basics of Norse runes and other characters and places of Norse beliefs and stories. You get enough information to learn some basics and do divination with the deck. 

The card art is colorful. People are drawn in a bit of a muscular heroic style with a bit of stern expression on the faces. The faces show emotion, but they are mostly pretty serious. If you already got their decks like Gods and Titans Oracle Cards or Goddesses and Sirens Oracle Cards, it is the same style. For the record, I do not at this time have those two decks. 

I am not sure an intuitive reader can use this deck effectively. I tried reading it that way, but I did need to keep the book nearby. If you are not familiar with Norse myths or have a basic knowledge, like I do,  you'll need to study the book. 

I do like the art overall, but for me this was not an easy deck to use. I used it mostly for single card draws. I probably need to study the book further so I can use the deck for spreads down the road. I may need also to bring my Norse myths and stories book off the shelf to reread. 

The cards measure about 5 1/2 inches by 3 3/4 inches. The cards have a glossy coating that tends to stick, so the cards are not easy to shuffle. The card art in the back is nice, but it is not reversible thanks to a small art design on the warrior's shield. Had they left the shield plain the cards would have been reversible. 

I like the deck, but this is not a deck I see myself using regularly. It may be that I need to read and study more about Norse myths, runes, and stories, but for now not one I feel a need to reach for it. I am thinking I could try using it in combination with the Runic Tarot (link to my review). That Tarot deck does work well for me. While I am happy to have the Viking Oracle, I'd consider it a very optional deck. 

3 out of 5 stars. 

 

This kit qualifies for the following 2026 Reading Challenge: 

 

 

Deck Review: Crystal Mandala Oracle

Alana Fairchild (author) and Jane Marin (artist), Crystal Mandala Oracle: Channel the Power of Heaven and Earth. Victoria, Australia: Blue Angel, 2016.  ISBN: 9781922161895.

Genre: oracle cards, cartomancy, divination

Subgenre: crystals

Format: 54-card deck with companion book

Source: I own this one 

Card 29: Ascended Master Kuan Yin and Pearl

This deck kit includes a companion book and a 54-card deck. Alana Fairchild writes and Jane Marin does the art. The deck "is encoded with crystal frequencies, and the high vibrational energy of angels, ascended masters, and goddesses to help you integrate the frequencies of the crystals and higher beings that are featured in each of the cards" (from publisher description in back of the box). That sounds great in theory, but it does not quite deliver on that promise in practice. 

The book is arranged as follows: 

• Introduction. Goes over the basic concepts of the deck, the numbers, and the deck's three suits based on an angel, an ascended master, and a goddess. You also get some brief instructions on using the deck, a couple of three-card spreads, and a deck blessing. 
• Crystal Angels 444 suit. 
• Crystal Masters 333 suit. 
• Crystal Goddesses 888 suit. 

Each card entry includes: card name and number, card keyword, a paragraph of meaning/interpretation, a small black and white image of the card, and a short essay expanding on card meaning and message. Each card entry concludes with a "healing process," a small ritual to help you integrate the lessons of the card. 

The main issue with the book and deck is that it feels incomplete. Though the publisher claims this is a standalone deck, it clearly assumes you have read Fairchild's previous books on angels, ascended masters, and goddesses. The deck's suits are based on the symbolic number themes of her books. To make matters worse, entries do not even include a minimal paragraph on any of the angels, ascended masters, nor goddesses. So you either need to have the books, and you need to consult the books, or you have to do your own research on whatever angel or figure that goes with a card. If you do not know the material beforehand or have the books, you will be missing a part of the overall experience with this kit. I will note there are a few figures I know from other reading or previous research, but a lot I do not know, and in the book Fairchild does not even give you a hint. Thus the kit feels incomplete. To be honest, saying this deck is a standalone deck is a bit misleading. 

Card 46: Goddess Kali and Black Obsidian

The cards themselves are very nice in terms of art. The artist does good work with the crystals' art. The art is colorful and bright. I was able to somewhat read the cards intuitively, but it is not easy. You do need the companion book to get the basics, and the other books if you want the full picture. Still these are beautiful cards overall, so it is a pity the companion book seems to lack essential material to aid the card reader. 

The cards measure about 5 1/2 inches b 3 3/4 inches. The cards have a glossy finish, so they can stick a little when shuffling. The cards are larger, so the deck can feel a bit heavy on the hands. The card back design is not reversible, though this deck is not really designed for reversals.

 

 

 

I really wanted to like this deck, but the text material is lacking. Using the deck assumes you have the author's other works, which I do not at this time, and I found that frustrating. In fact, had I known that, I would have avoided buying the deck. This is a deck I do not recommend. I've liked other works by Fairchild, but this one does not feel like her best work. The deck overall is optional at best.

2 out of 5 stars. 

 

This kit qualifies for the following 2025 Reading Challenge: 

 

 

Deck Review: Kuan Yin Oracle

Alana Fairchild (author) and Zeng Hao (illustrator), Kuan Yin Oracle. Victoria, Australia: Blue Angel Publishing, 2013. ISBN: 9780987204189. (Link to Llewellyn, US distributor.)

Genre: oracle card deck

Subgenre: Kuan Yin, goddess

Format: 44-card deck with small paperback companion book in solid box

Source: I own this one. 

I first used this deck in August 2023 for my weekly oracle card draws. The kit includes a 44-card deck and a small companion book. The companion book is arranged as follows: 

• Introduction. A page providing some basic information on Kuan Yin and how to connect with this Goddess of Compassion. 
• How to use the oracle. Brief guidance on how to use the deck and how it may work for you.
• Suggested card spreads. We get two card spreads plus doing a single card draw. 
• Kuan Yin's mantra. Explanation of the mantras you'll find throughout the book. Defines mantras and how you can work with them. 
• Card messages. Each card entry includes a small black and white image of a card, an introductory message, interpretation and guidance, a healing, and a prayer. 

The Dance Unveiling-36

The card entries are the book's strength. Entries are informative. We get a description of the card, its art, and symbols. Given Kuan Yin is a goddess of compassion, the card messages tend to be positive, nurturing, and kind. The healing part provides small simple rituals you can do to connect with the goddess further and nurture yourself a bit more. The prayer helps you set tone and focus on the messages. 

The rest of the book is fairly basic; it provides just enough to get you started. The Lotus Blossom Spread is one to try out as you can use it for any question. It's a four card spread for spiritual guidance. Overall, the book is good, but not great. As I said, the strength is in the card entries which are very good. 

The art on the cards is nice and soft. These are cards that you can spend time looking at them; they are good cards for meditation. The art is soothing and calming. If you want a feeling of peace when using a deck, this is a good choice. If you are just learning about Kuan Yin, as I am now, some cards may be more intuitive than others. I suggest keeping the book at hand as you learn the deck. I used the deck at this time for a weekly draw, and it works very well for guidance and meditation. I enjoy the peaceful quality of the deck. 

The Tao-38

The cards measure about 5 1/2 inches by 3 3/4 inches. The cards include card title and number with the image. They have a thin ornate border. I noticed the color of the borders varies. There is no indication in the book the border colors have any significance; they do look nice overall. The cards have a glossy finish. It is not too sticky, so you can shuffle the cards well enough. The card back image is very nice, but it is not reversible. 

Overall, I really like this deck. I like its peaceful and nurturing quality. In these Hard Times, this can be a comforting deck. For me, it is a deck I want to revisit and work with it more. I do recommend it. A good value. 

5 out of 5 stars.

 

 

 

 

This deck kit qualifies for the following 2023 Reading Challenge: 

 

Deck Review: The Kali Oracle

Alana Fairchild (author) and Jimmy Manton (artist), Kali Oracle. Victoria (Australia): Blue Angel Publishing, 2021. ISBN: 9780738768427. (Information link to Llewellyn, US distributor for Blue Angel.)

 

This deck kit includes a 44-card deck and a nice small companion book. The companion book is arranged as follows: 

• Introduction. This section includes the author's statement about her experience with Kali as well as some background information about Kali. It also includes "A Note About Tantra" explaining the concept of tantra in basic terms.In addition, it includes a note on pronouncing Sanskrit words, a blessing for the deck, and a couple of card layouts and healing processes for readings. 
• Card meanings. Each card entry has card name and number, a small quote/message, the text with information on the card plus interpretation, and an invocation ritual. Each card entry also has a small black and white image of the card. 

The companion book is well written and informative. The introduction gives readers enough to start learning about Kali and start using the deck. The card layouts provide a couple of basic ideas to get readers started on working with the deck. I do wish the author provided a small list of additional readings to add to our learning, especially for those of us just discovering Kali. Still the book overall is informative. Card entries provide a good amount of information to learn and work with the cards. I like the inclusion of invocation rituals; they add a practical element to working with the cards and the goddess. There is enough material in the book to do some in-depth work. 

 

The cards feature art by Jimmy Manton, who also did the art for Fairchild's Isis Oracle (link to my review and link to my deck interview spread), so if you are familiar with that deck the art style on this one is very similar. The art is colorful, very detailed, and can be a bit dark at times. The art is beautiful, but it can also be a bit fear inspiring at times. This is not a "cuddly" deck, something some folks may need to consider. I do find Kali's nature of destruction appealing, including destruction as part of healing. The art is expressive, and it has a strong intensity. 

Someone knowledgeable can probably read the deck intuitively. I was able to get some impressions intuitively, but I then reached for the companion book to help me along. I only spent a month using the deck initially, so I barely scratched the surface. This is a deck you can and should do a deep study with it. For me, it is one I hope to get back to it soon. The art has depth, and it invites us to meditate and reflect. The cards are very good for study. 

The only drawback is the matte finish. It is seriously sticky, making the cards a bit difficult to shuffle and handle. As much as I like this deck, that finish makes it hard to want to use the deck. The cards measure about 5 1/2 inches by 3 3/4 inches. The cards are borderless. Each card has a number and name of the image. The card back is not reversible. 

Despite the issue with the finish, this is a great deck overall. It's got great art that is very detailed and an informative companion book. I first used this deck during June 2022 along with the Tarot Z, and the combination felt good. You can use this deck anytime, but it may work well in darker times. This is a deck I want to get back to down the road. Not sure I would recommend it for beginners, but beginners may find enough to make a go. Overall, I really like this deck, and I am glad to own it and have it in my collection. 

4 out of 5 stars. 

This deck kit qualifies for the following 2022 Reading Challenge: 

Deck Review: Nature's Whispers Oracle

Angela Hartfield and Josephine Wall, Nature's Whispers Oracle. Victoria, Australia: Blue Angel Publishing. ISBN: 9780738746579. (Link to Llewellyn, the U.S. distributor.)

 

Genre: oracle deck

Subgenre: nature, magic

Format: 50 card deck with small companion book

Source: I own this one, bought second hand at Half Price Books

 

Promo photo from Llewellyn

I used this deck for the first time for my weekly oracle card draw during September 2021. I wanted a deck with a nature feel to it, and this one worked out nicely. The deck kit includes 50 cards and a small companion book. 

 

The guidebook is 72 pages long. The book opens with an introduction. Here the author briefly describes her vision for the deck. The introduction also goes over briefly how to use the cards. It can get a little restrictive, or rather prescriptive. She writes about the cards: 

"Always know these are your cards. They are not meant for anyone else to handle other than you" (9). 

For me, that seemed a bit limiting as at times I let people touch my cards, maybe even draw a card now and then. Having said that, so far I mostly use oracle cards for personal use. This deck seems designed for personal use rather than public readings. Naturally you can do as you wish, but at least from the book it appears personal exclusive use is the deck author's intended design. In addition, the introduction offers brief basics for using the cards and a couple of small card spreads to try out. 

 

After the introduction,, you get the entries for the cards. Each entry has a small image of the card, the card number and name, and a long paragraph (seven to ten sentences give or take) for the message. The message mainly provides an interpretation that is mostly positive. The message encourage some reflection and are mostly optimistic. 

 

Overall, the book is fairly basic and minimal in terms of content. Messages are good, a bit short, but you get enough to ponder and reflect on. These cards can mostly be read intuitively, but I still recommend reading the book to better appreciate the deck. 

 

The cards in this deck are great. They are colorful with some depth. The cards combine nature with some fantasy and ethereal elements. The result is a set of cards that you can really look into. The cards work well for personal reflection and meditation. I'd say the images offer a magical sense of wonder and can be very soothing. For folks who do healing work, this deck can be a nice choice. It is a good deck to seek and find calm and bring a bit of nature into your life. 

 

The cards measure about 5 1/2 inches by 3 3/4 inches. The edges are rounded. The cards are borderless, which allows us to appreciate the art better. Each card has a banner at the bottom with the card number and card name and short message. Cards have a matte finish which makes them easy to shuffle. The card stock feels flexible, durable not too thin. Deck features a beautiful card back with butterflies. It is not reversible but for me that is not an issue. The guidebook by the way does not say anything on reversals, and I do not see this as a deck for doing reversal readings. 

 

Overall, I like this deck. The guidebook is pretty basic and minimal, but the cards are great, and I really like them. It feels like a good summer or early fall deck, but you can use it any time you feel like adding a note of nature and its magic to your readings. This is one I am happy to have in my collection.

 

4 out of 5 stars.  

Deck Review: Earth Power Oracle

Stacey DeMarco (author) and Jimmy Manton (artist), Earth Power Oracle: an Atlas for the Soul. Glen Waverley, Victoria, Australia, 2014. ISBN: 978-1-922161-17-8. (Link to Llewellyn, the U.S. distributor to Blue Angel Publishing)

 

Genre: Oracle deck

Subgenre: earth theme, travel, sacred places

Format: 41 card deck set with small guidebook

Source: I bought and own this one   

 

Promo photo from Llewelly for the deck.

This oracle card deck kit includes 41 cards and a small companion book. The deck's subtitle is "an atlas for the soul." The deck's theme is sacred and powerful places around the world. This may be a good deck for folks who practice earth based crafts. It may also be good for folks who want a good deck for daily meditations with a touch of armchair travel. 

The companion book includes a statement on places of power and our connection to them, how to use the cards, and five spreads you can try out. The book then includes an entry for every card in the deck. Card entries are arranged in alphabetical order; cards are not numbered. Each entry features the following elements: 

• A black and white small image of the card. 
• Card name.
• An affirmation.
• Key energies.
• GPS coordinates.
• Location.
• Primary element(s).
• Description of the place. This combines physical description with the spiritual message and what makes the place sacred. 
• When you visit. Tips on what to expect and do if you visit a place. 

The book is well written, easy to read, and accessible. It can be interesting to read about places around the world. The book feels a bit like a travel guide. 

The deck has 41 cards. Jimmy Manton did the art, and he has done art for other decks by Stacey DeMarco. Each card features the art, the card name, and a phrase or phrases with the message. I like the art which is evocative of the places depicted. These are cards that you can spend time looking at and getting lost in them. These cards may inspire a desire to travel for some folks. 

The cards measure about 5 1/2 inches by 3 1/2 inches. They have a light glossy finish. The card stock feels durable. 

For me, this deck is very good for a daily or weekly card draw. You can do divination with it, but I have not tried it yet, as in doing a spread with it for example. For me, this deck works better as a meditation and reflection tool. Overall, I really like it. The card images and messages give you enough to read the cards and interpret them; the book adds to the experience. I am happy to have this in my collection. 

4 out of 5 stars. 

This kit qualifies for the following 2021 Reading Challenge: 

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: 

Deck Review: The Halloween Oracle

Stacey DeMarco (author) and Jimmy Manton (illustrator), The Halloween Oracle. Victoria, Australia: Blue Angel Publishing, 2014. ISBN: 978-1-922161-32-1. (Link to information on Aeclectic.net).

Genre: nonfiction and inspirational
Subgenre: oracle cards, divination, Halloween

I've wanted to write a review of this deck and its companion book for a while now. During the month of October 2016, I used it on Fridays and on some extra days for the "31 Days Tarot Challenge." This is me using the deck on the second day of the challenge. I was very happy with the results and readings I got with the deck. It may be called The Halloween Oracle, but this is a deck you can use year round. This is specially true for folks like me who believe every day, except Christmas maybe, should be Halloween. I will probably bring it out throughout the year as needed.

The deck comes in a relatively solid, small box (about 6 1/4 inches by 5 inches). The box contains the 36-cards deck and the 80-pages companion guidebook. The box can be used to store the deck and book, which is important to me since I do not keep a supply of pouch bags around for decks. I wish more publishers did this instead of packaging their deck sets in useless, padded big boxes that take up space and can't really be reused. Rant aside, let's see what we get in the set.

The cards are about 5 1/4 inches by 3 3/4 inches The deck includes 36 cards with a broad variety of themes on the cards. Cards are not too thick, but they still have good card stock; the cards also have a light glossy coating. These are not cards for riffle shuffling, but overall with care they should last a good long time.

Jimmy Manton did the artwork on the cards, and he did excellent work. In the spirit of Halloween, this deck features cards that go from playful to haunting. This is a deck that has darkness, but I would not consider it a "dark" deck. As I said, if you are fan of Halloween, this is a deck for you. The images are in realistic style paintings that are rich in detail and provide a lot of depth. For folks who read cards intuitively, the images are strong and evocative. I do not consider myself to be the most intuitive person, and I could read these cards well enough with minimal use of the book. Still, if you need a little help, each card has a label and a few keywords or phrase to help you along. This is the a deck where the images invite  you to stare a bit and reflect. I mostly read cards for myself as a tool for meditation and reflection, so I found the cards useful for that. I am sure that if you read for others, they will work well. Perhaps you can use them to supplement a dark-themed deck. During October 2016, I used this deck along with the Vampire Tarot of the Eternal Night deck, and it went well. Experts out there can try other deck combinations.

Stacey DeMarco created the concept and writes the companion book. The cards concepts and text on the cards are spot on. The book is small and simple, but it gives you just enough guidance to get you going. The book is arranged as follows:

• A short introduction on Halloween, the scariest night of the year, and its traditions. DeMarco adds a bit of interesting perspective: living in Australia, it is not really Halloween season as it is here in the United States. However, the holiday is gaining popularity down there, so she celebrates it a bit with her children along with Beltaine, a spring celebration given it is spring in the land down under when it is fall here. 
• Next we get a few pages on "How to use this deck." This includes tips for single card draws, and it features two card spreads: a three-card draw and a Jack O'Lantern spread with six cards. In addition, there is a section on dedicating your deck to get it ready for use. This is just a suggestion. Feel free to use any ritual you wish to in order to dedicate or purify your cards or none at all. If you choose to follow her suggested ritual, it does seem pretty easy to do. 
• The card meanings. Each card gets its own entry. Entries vary in length from a single page to two pages. Each entry includes the card's title, its keywords, a small poem, and the entry itself. Entry text gives a bit on the significance of the card's symbols and the last paragraph gives a meaning, i.e. tells you if you get this card in a reading, this is what it can be. 

Overall, the companion book is a pretty light book, but I found some of the details on traditions and history of Halloween interesting. The meanings provided were relevant and on point. However, as I mentioned, if you are one of those readers who just ignores the book, you'll do fine. If on the other hand, you need a little help or just want to read a bit more, the book provides a good head start.

In the end, for me this is now a favorite deck. I highly recommend it for card readers and collectors. You can use it on its own or to supplement a Tarot deck. Overall, this is an excellent work, and I am glad I added it to my collection. I look forward to using it for years to come.

5 out of 5 stars.