Spring is officially here! Keep an eye on my deck tops for the upcoming selection of spring decks. O

Spring is officially here! Keep an eye on my deck tops for the upcoming selection of spring decks. One of the common characteristics of my seasonal deck picks is that at least one of the oracle decks published by Blue Angel gets featured in each season. Which one will appear for spring? In the meantime, enjoy today’s review, also for one of the gorgeous decks at Blue Angel: the Shamanic Medicine Oracle, by Barbara Meiklejohn-Free and Flavia Kate Peters. with artwork by Yuri Leitch.Shamanism is a practice found in many different cultures around the world, with some common elements, and other that make each tradition radically different. At the core, shamanism is being in touch with the spirit. Though this deck draws from different traditions, I feel there’s a strong Native American presence. In the 50 cards, we can find the elements, the directions, animals, tools and rites among others. It is wonderfully varied, and though these are wonderful as single pulls, I feel that these thematic groups are perfect to create wider spreads with this single deck, which may not be as easy with others. The authors “share a remarkable dedication and connection to earth-centred traditions”, and the result of this is “a powerful deck that will awaken your vision to the magic and meaning in your world”. I agree: this deck opens the eyes to the incredible force of the things (mostly in nature, but also in our lives) that we take for granted. The artwork is glorious. It is what attracted me to this deck initially and what keeps me stuck to it. The images are wonderfully expressive. It is detailed and leans on warm hues to attain a very earthy energy. You can see from the example pictures just how beautiful the illustrations are. They are clear and rich, so what they represent is immediately recognized, even with very little knowledge of shamanism. However, you can find the names of the cards on the bottom, and below them there’s a keyword that encapsulates the message of the card. For example, the Rattle conveys dispersion, while Ancestors offer wisdom. The cards are printed on matte cardstock and feature warm backs.The 119 companion guidebook offers an introduction, a section on how to use the cards, spreads, and card messages. The latter is divided into the card message itself, the shamanic background of the chosen concept or element, other divinatory meanings, and finally a “[name of the card] speaks”, a few verses that sum up what has been read.The Shamanic Medicine Oracle is extremely beautiful, eye-opening and full of life. It is fantastic for those who want to tune into nature, and for those interested in shamanism (no background knowledge needed). With its warm palette, detailed artwork and rich earthy energy, it has quickly become one of my favourite Blue Angel decks, and seasonally speaking it will be a big player during both summer and autumn. Head over Blue Angel’s site for more information, and for yummy deck launches! -- source link

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