Wild Unknown Animal Spirit Mass Market Edition

[EmpyreanKnight]

I'm so excited for this! The Wild Unknown Animal Spirit Deck and Guidebook, published by Harper Collins, is already available for preorder, and is due to be released two months hence, in March 2018.

 

I have the 3rd Ed of The Wild Unknown Tarot published by the same company, and it does not have the common, "mass market" feel that its edition name suggests. As has also been attested by so many users, its production value is topnotch - the cards have a premium, creamy feel and they didn't skimp at all on the two boxes and guide book. This is exactly how Tarot should be, and honestly I won't hesitate to pay more for this kind of quality. If HarperElixir maintains the same lofty standard for the Animal Spirit, then by all means this oracle is going to be a must-buy.

[EmpyreanKnight]

From the official page:

 

 

The artist behind the groundbreaking New York Times bestseller The Wild Unknown Tarot Deck and Guidebook helps seekers of all levels expand their practice of self-discovery with this breathtaking keepsake boxed set featuring an oracle deck and guidebook inspired by real and mythical animals.

 

Beloved artist Kim Krans is helping to redefine the tarot movement for the twenty-first century. Hand drawn in her detailed and emotionally evocative style, The Wild Unknown Animal Spirit Deck and Guidebook is a work of art that explores the mysteries of the natural world and the animal kingdom. Each of the 63 gorgeous oracle cards captures a stunning portrait of creatures both real and mythical.

 

Divided into five suits structured by the five yogic elements that make up all living things—Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether—The Wild Unknown Animal Spirit Deck and Guidebook includes creatures that roam the field and forest, swim in the oceans and rivers, inhabit deserts and grasslands, and soar through the sky. The Ether suit holds the seven spirit cards, and represents the seven chakras of the subtle body.

 

From the Peacock who symbolizes inner beauty and reminds us to practice self-acceptance to the playful Dolphin who indicates a profound blessing is headed our way, each animal has been carefully selected for its symbolic potency and the lesson at the core of its nature. Kim’s powerful animal archetypes offer insight into relationships, personalities, behaviors and tendencies and can be used alone or alongside The Wild Unknown Tarot to add an additional layer of depth to readings.

 

The 200-page hand-lettered, fully illustrated guidebook offers grounded, easy to understand explanations of the cards, a detailed look at the many spreads, practices, and concepts that power the Animal Spirit deck, and deep insight into how each animal helps illuminate our contradictions, our complex natures, and the endless mystery of who we are.

 

Packaged in a highly designed keepsake box with a beautiful lifting ribbon, The Wild Unknown Animal Spirit Deck and Guidebook celebrates the hidden wisdom of the creatures that inhabit our world and beyond, and reveals how we are all connected in the complex and wondrous web of life.

[EmpyreanKnight]

Additional images:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Page of Ghosts]

It looks like the lighter coloured twin of the WU Tarot so my guess is that it's gonna be a solid production ;D

[EmpyreanKnight]

I think so too, Page of Ghosts!

 

I just hope its advertising won't be as relentless as the Wild Unknown lol.

[Page of Ghosts]

I think so too, Page of Ghosts!

 

I just hope its advertising won't be as relentless as the Wild Unknown lol.

 

I haven't really seen much of it on social media, nowhere near the level of the Wild Unknown so maybe we're good.

[EmpyreanKnight]

This is coming out in a month (barring any delays), and on Holy Tuesday, of all days. I'm so excited for this. :D

[DanielJUK]

I preordered this about a month ago but in the UK on Amazon they are saying it will arrive in early May! Maybe it takes longer to get to Europe but it's around my birthday then and I need a treat  :)

 

I know there are some criticisms of the associations with animals that I have seen friends write about it (there was a thread on AT about it before the end) but I do love the WU Tarot and I am willing to give it a chance in my collection!

[EmpyreanKnight]

I do hope it gets released on time, Daniel. I'm looking to expand my animal decks and this would be a great addition. I adore the Wild Unknown, and it would seem like an incomplete half of a diptych if I don't get this. :)

[DanielJUK]

Has anyone received their mass market version of this deck yet? I am still waiting till May for the Amazon UK release but it will be in the next week or two  :'( No one has really posted about it and so I wondered if anyone has got it yet?

[Raggydoll]

I received mine a little over two weeks ago and I have been working with it ever since. I really like it (even more so than the tarot deck, if I may say). I live in Scandinavia so I didn’t think I would receive it so fast but lately a lot of decks have been available quite quickly after release (like the Moon Oracle for instance)

[Starlight]

What's the guidebook like, Raggydoll[/member] ? Does it touch on each animal in a deep, insightful way? Is there substance to it, is probably what I mean to say. The cards look gorgeous, but the guidebook is probably what would set it apart for me from other animal oracle decks. I have Scott Alexander King's Animal Oracle deck, and it's pretty good.

[Raggydoll]

I feel that the guidebook provides a good idea of her vision. She has a clear idea and structure to the deck and it is heavily influenced by yoga and eastern philosophies. For instance, all the animals are divided into five sections - the five elements. There are the four basic elements and they equal the suits (much like in tarot), then she has the fifth element (Spirit) which contains all the ‘supernatural’ creatures. They are more like the major arcana and also corresponds to the different chakras in the body. For every card there is a basic description of the creatures personality, and she talks about what the creature is like when it is in balance vs out of balance (this could be used as upright/reversed). She also gives advice on how to restore balance, and that advice is heavily influenced by yoga and yogic lifestyles.

 

I like the guidebook. It shows how many layers there is to the deck (for instance, the animals are organized based on level of consciousness, on the food chain, and so on). But you can surely also use your own intuition/knowledge when interpreting the cards (she actually encourages this), especially if there are some animals where you don’t resonate with her take on it. I feel that there is only a minority of the cards where I disagree slightly with her view on it. But since there are no keywords on the actual cards it is entirely possible to work with them in whatever way one wants to. And I have found it quite interesting to learn more about chakras and eastern philosophies. But sometimes it gets a little too much for me and I choose a more ‘down to earth’ approach.

[Raggydoll]

Here’s an example from the guidebook, so you can get a feel for it!

[Starlight]

Thank you, Raggydoll[/member] ! That sounds like a great guidebook. I like that there's an in balance/out of balance aspect as well. This really might be worth getting. :)

[nicalo427]

This deck looks amazing I just gave in and got it off amazon tonight!  I can’t wait to get it.  I love my wild unknown tarot. And to use them together will be awesome

 

 

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[Raggydoll]

I think you’ll love it!

[DanielJUK]

mine did arrive in the beginning of May!  :)

 

I really love it, it's a very nice boxed set. The artwork really matches the Wild Unknown Tarot. I have seen some people online pick issues with the descriptions of animals (they are all wild animals) or how they feature (order, suits etc) but it says in the book to work out your own feeling or take on each card. It's useful to research online the dream / symbolic / spirit guide animal meaning of animals if you are stuck with a card I find. Like the Tarot, it's also lovely thick cardstock :)

 

I have an animal oracle from the past and I find it difficult to read because when you have an animal oracle you are basically always reading their qualities and attributes. This does happen in this deck as well but has persuaded me that I can work with animal oracles. I think this deck goes a bit beyond "this animal and this quality is how you are". Although in the book, some of the spiritual qualities seem a bit invented and random, like Scorpions are full of festering and unresolved issues. How does that apply in nature, what is the citation here? But I guess you have to give every card a value or it's not divination!

 

I really love this deck, more than I thought I would. There is a great page in the book about spirit animals / guides and it's suggested to not use the cards for this purpose as it's a simplistic and means you can be stuck in an archetype. At any time, we can be any of the animals in the cards. That really made me think about categorising ourselves.

[Raggydoll]

I agree with you that some of her descriptions are a bit.. colorful and, well, like you said - I struggle to see where she could have gotten it from. But she might just be far more in touch with animal souls than I am! Also, some of her card meanings don’t totally resonate with me (like the Peacock for instance), but I guess everyone has different experiences and views things differently. So I will, as always let my own intuition guide me as to which interpretation is the right one in each situation

[DanielJUK]

totally Raggydoll and like I say, I really like it! That is my only issue  :)  <3

 

Ultimately learning to use this deck, I think you go off on your own thoughts and meanings and intuition, the book is just a guide. It says that on the last page before the meanings of the cards, you have to work out the "essence" of the card. I think from using it, the key is the animal relationships, are they predators, are they enemies? do they live happily together in the same space?

[EmpyreanKnight]

This oracle deck is so popular, it's now available in a local bookstore whereas I have to import most of my decks. I guess the publisher's marketing clout also has something to do with this.