I really love most of Colette Baron-Reid’s decks, and this one is no exception. While her card meanings and the booklet are interesting and give a fresh take to the often ubiquitous oracle deck, it’s the art that usually really speaks to me. CBR has a way of finding artists that make her unique visions come to life. It shows a passion for her decks that sets them apart.
I got this deck as a Yule gift from a friend, and she bought it not knowing whether I had it already or not. As my collection grows, that’s a dicey proposition at best, and the possibility of getting me something I already have is a very real thing. However, I didn’t have this one and really wanted it! Thank you to that friend if you happen upon this post!
As always, the card stock is a great matte, though the edges are a little curled up from the printing and cutting process. Still, it shuffles pretty well. The backs are OK, I don’t feel like they really match the fronts of the cards, but it’s not obnoxious like the backs of her Wisdom of the Oracle deck, which I hate. The booklet is pretty standard, with descriptions but no images, and there are no reversed meanings for the cards. You could always ascribe your own reversal meanings, but I usually don’t when it comes to oracles.
Let’s take a look at the deck interview and see what it has to say for itself!
- Tell me about yourself. What is your most important characteristic? Drifter: Experiencing Life as it Comes. This is a deck about being, not about doing. This isn’t a deck that will help you steer your ship against the tide, but will instead show you how to flow with what is.
- What are your strengths as a deck? Beloved: Radical Acceptance. This isn’t a deck full of criticisms and snark, but a deck of unconditional love. It will show love for the good parts and the ugly parts that we usually don’t want to deal with.
- What are your limits as a deck? Falling Angel: Spiritual Narcolepsy. It may discourage action to my detriment, asking me to sit back and wait for the universe to bring me the things that I ask for without having to put the work in to support those goals. That’s never a good plan.
- What are you here to teach me? Wailing Tree: Reconciliations. This is a time to stop spinning my wheels and putting energy into things that aren’t feeding me. But it’s important to mourn those ideas of what would be so that I can get on with my new reality.
- How can I best learn and collaborate with you? Joyful Muse: Inspiration. I can let myself play and embrace joy. Give myself permission to find the humor in the dark places.
- What is the potential outcome of our working relationship? Straddling Worlds: Wandering Between Realms. Rebirth and reinvention of my life. This card signals stepping from the old into the new, birthing a new way of existing in the world.
It’s eerie how much this deck is speaking to me right now. It’s like it’s reading my mind, seeing what I need to know to carry on through a difficult patch I’m going through. Though I do need to watch out for that ‘Fallen Angel’ syndrome- something I tend to fall into at times.
All in all, I would definitely recommend this deck. Have you used it? If so, what did you think?
Blessed be! <3