Tarot/oracle deck recs?

[aelinlovelace]

Hi! I'm constantly on the lookout for new decks to try out, and I was wondering if folks might have some recommendations. The decks I use the most are Tarot of Vampyres and the Dreams of Gaia. I also like the Sacred Rebels Oracle. A friend recently linked me to the Weaver Tarot and Threads of Fate Oracle preorders (and my awesome mom saw me squee on FB and ordered me the Threads ssf Fate, eeee) which is part of what led me to think to seek out someplace to ask for recs. 🙂

 

I am doing a lot of spiritual work, including shadow work, that involves themes of the crossroads (like Hecate) or weaving dreams or reality (like Arachne or Arianrhod). I'm pretty open as far as traditions go, I work best with non traditional decks or oracles, and I know this is controversial, but I also like decks that include detailed guidebooks. I have had the experience when reading for a friend of quoting a relevant line from the guidebook for Tarot of Vampyres for the Sun card. She had not told me what her question was about, but the line I quoted, when you changed "sun" to "son", gave her the exact answer she needed. There was more to it, but since then I don't dismiss them out of hand and wish I could find more decks that included guidebooks with more than bare bones descriptions.

 

Any recs are super appreciated! Thanks so much in advance! 

 

[Flaxen]

That’s a nice selection of decks you have there. 

 

I’ve found the following decks very useful for spiritual work:

The Gorgon’s Tarot 

Tarot of the Crone

The Spirit Keeper’s Tarot (OOP and seems to be very expensive second hand but the creator did have some files available to print a mini version at one point and has created lots of supplementary material)

Tabula Mundi - amazing book!

Tarot of the Sidhe

[TheFeeLion]

I love me a good guidebook. I'll quite often pull bits from the book that are relevant to readings I'm doing. So I totally hear you about needing a decent book @aelinlovelace! 

 

Ooo you might like either the Black Mirror Oracle or Pythonic Tarot both by Jessica Shaw. I have the Black Mirror and I love it and the book, I'm not sure what the book is like for the Pythonic but if it's anything like her Oracle it'll be great. Let me know if you want to see any particular cards. 

 

Brian Froud's Faeries Oracle is another one I find amazing for all kinds of things. The book is awesome and hardcover. The only caveat would be the card stock isn't the thickest. Good for riddling though. 

 

True Black Tarot is hands down my favourite deck. I love working with this deck. The images are all quite pared back but there is a surprising amount meaning you can pull for them without even looking at the book. The book, while it's not the biggest (it's the same size as the cards), has two pages dedicated to each major and a full page for each of the minors. 

 

Actually I recently got the Witches Tarot which I've found to be pretty good. Again, good guidebook. Has a definite witchy twist to the whole thing. I guess the only problem might be that in most aspects it's quite a traditional style deck, except for the renaming of a few cards; Karma = Justice, The Shadow Side = Devil, etc.

[Raggydoll]

I second the recommendation for tarot of the crone, plus I also think you should check out her other deck - dark goddess tarot

[aelinlovelace]

Thank you all! I appreciate your suggestions a ton! 🙂

 

I checked them out online, and I really like what I saw of the Tarot of the Sidhe, Black Mirror, Pythonic, and True Black decks. @Flaxen, would you be willing to take some pics of the guidebook for Tarot of the Sidhe? No preference which cards, but I'd like to see something from both major and minor arcana. 🙂 @TheFeeLion, I love the art for Black Mirror, I'd love to take you up on offer; I'll leave card choice to your best judgement for what cards best represent the deck, Would you be willing to do the same for True Black? And if you could also take pics of the guidebook reference for the cards that would be amazing. ❤️

 

Re: Faerie Oracle. A former housemate had the Brian Froud Faerie's Oracle and the now OOP Heart of Faerie, Of course, it's the Heart of Faerie that clicked for me. The Google says there used to be iOS apps for both decks. I only have Android devices, Would someone with an iPhone or iPad be kind enough to check whether they're still available on the app store? I've been considering getting a used older iPad for the various apps I want that aren't available for Android, and if they are, that might bump up the priority, Ty kindly!

 

@Raggydoll I have the Dark Goddess Tarot in app form, actually! It's my go-to deck for Goddess work. 🙂

[katrinka]

This is an excellent little oracle deck taken from old alchemical illustrations.
https://rinascimentoitalianartenglish.wordpress.com/sibyl-of-the-heart-2015/

 

I was just using my copy over a the Mystery Person game, and even though I'm quite rusty with it, it spoke plainly.

 

Edited May 17, 2020 by katrinka

[TheFeeLion]

@aelinlovelace I've had the Faces of Faerie app and wasn't a big fan. It's less of an oracle and more of an art app that uses you face for reference. It's a little weird TBH.

 

I took some photos for you. For size reference I took them both on my ottoman 😊 I didn't search for any specific cards to show you. Instead I let the deck decide (mostly). 

 

The Black Mirror Oracle is a pretty large sized deck. It's based on the major arcarna but associates a god or goddess for each card ie Ereshkigal is Death, Morgan le Fey is the High Priestess, the Sphinx is Judgement etc. There are also 4 cards for each of the elements (aces) plus 10 planet cards (including the Sun) and 4 moon phase cards. 

 

The guidebook has 1-2 pages dedicated to each card which covers a whole host of things. I haven't photographed the whole book entry, only the first part but it gives you an idea. 

 

True Black Tarot is a thick deck. It can take a little while to get used to shuffling it because of the the finish on the cards (petal soft) and the weight to the cardstock but once you get past that I find it reads amazingly well. The photos don't really do the artwork any justice, you loose a lot of detail. 

 

The major arcarna all have additional artwork (done in gloss like the card titles) which draws from everything from science to folk tales. The book dedicates 2 pages to each of the majors and 1 pages to each of the minors. It looks like a thickened LWB but there's plenty of info packed into those little pages.