Colette is "the" Oracle master so I imagined that, if she had to create a Tarot deck, was never going to be a replica of the RW Tarot. The structure of this deck is, however, that of the classic tarot, but the imagery has been freely interpreted and simplified. Also a very feminine vibe has been added, as well as characters of different ages and ethnic backgrounds made part of the deck. Colette says in the booklet that she has added some LOA and positive psychology principles, but I am not sure is this is just blah blah blah. For sure, the deck has a positive vibe as reversals are gone as well as any 'distressing' imagery. The LOA and PPsy is more clearly found in the meanings in the booklet.
THINGS I LOVE
> The concept is perfect for beginners as there aren't reversals.
> The "frightening" images in the RWT are not there, so all the imagery has a positive feeling.
> The artwork by DellaGrotaglia is stunning once again. Her layering, textures and colouring are superb. Despite the sophisticated symbolism of her imagery and the richness of symbolic elements, the images feel clean and sophisticated at the same time. The imagery has a wonderful oneiric fairy-tale feeling that I love.
> The interpretation given to each card is short and sweet and captures the essence of what the original card meant upright.
> The fancy lettering describing the suit card and number is fanciful wonderful.
> Beautifully simple card back.
> The
Good Tarot has a mythological ethereal whimsical archetypal feel that
roots in the Tarot and in traditional fairy tales and angelic realms.
> The cards Strength and Love are wonderfully related with the women first controlling the beast and then falling in love with it. Like Beauty and the Beast.
> Sturdy beautiful keepsake box.
THINGS THAT BOTHER ME
>
This deck is massive and extremely difficult to shuffle even if you
have average-size hands, so it's really a pain for people with small hands.
> The cards gloss coating makes them stick together so they are difficult to shuffle. Shuffling well and easy is at the core of any reading, so if the cards don't shuffle well, what's the point?
> The booklet printing quality and paper stock are average.
> Some of the cards are slightly blurry.
> The major arcana card numbers aren't placed on a fix position, something that really annoys me.
> The blue tones from air and water suits are so similar that is difficult to identify which suit is which one by the color. The same re the earth and fire suits. Why not having completely distinct suit color palette for each suit?
> Too many winged beings in this deck. The air suit with angelic winged beings and the earth suit with butterfly-ish fairy beings and there are wings everywhere, really.
MIND
> The overall feminine tone of the deck might not speak to male readers or tarot aficionados. The only male figures are the Kings plus the hanged man and the page of earth. Figures that are usually depicted as male in the RW Tarot like the knights (messengers) and the Hierophant are here feminine as well.
> This is a simplification of the Tarot most common meanings, so it is not as rich and deep as the original.
SUGGESTION TO THE PUBLISHER
US Games Systerms has the best card stock in the market. It not only make shuffling a pleasure, it is good enough to have any artwork really pop up and display the right way. I think Hay House should just copycat the card stock, because most of HH Tarot decks, like this one, are too bulky, too heavy and to mass-produced.
I've find Baron-Reid's oracles magnificent. Some of the best oracles in the market to me, due to the accuracy and depth of the answers given to my queries.
What is the Wisdom of the House of Night? It is a world between worlds, the fantasy world created by novelist P. C. Cast. The story is loosely based on the Greek myth of the Godless Nyx, the Goddess of the Night. Mother of Hypnos (Sleep), Tanathos (Death), The Oneroi (Dreams) and Erebus (Darkness) among other mythological characters. Nyx's realms are liminal, those interstitial spaces between he day and the night, waking life and dreams, the conscious and the unconscious. In short, those in which the occult dwells. It is still nothing really dark or Lovecraft-ish. The cards, on the other hand, draw on Norse runes, Tarot, Greek mythology and I-Ching elements.
GOOD
> Very original concept.
> Good quality cards. Flexible, light and glossy, the cards glide beautifully in your hands.
> Excellent quality printing.
> Wonderful atmospheric artwork. The deck has artistic harmony and
integrity, an the images seem to connect to each other well.
> I
also love that the oracle has 50 cards and not just 40.
> Silver edges.
> Good size card, not too big, not too small. Perfect for everyone's hands.
> Decent quality guidebook with a nice description of the Nyx's story on which this oracle card is based.
> Durable deck. I have had this for several years now and is still in a good condition.
> Good quality packing box.
> This is overall, one of the best decks, re quality, I own.
> Pointy square edges.
>
Some of the images and the meaning attributed to them do not match. In
my case, those are: Loyalty, Denial, Invisible, Rigid, Honesty.
Complicated, Hope, Individuality, Understanding, Confidence,
Fulfillment, and Listening.
> The cards not always respond to my queries, that's why I don't use them as often as other oracle decks.Sometimes the guidance is spot on, but others the cards have nothing to say or to advice on or, said differently, do not resonate with me. As other reviewers have commented, I might need to warm up to the deck. Sometimes decks have spoken to me at the beginning and stopped speaking to me later on, and vice versa. This might be the case with this deck.
> As the card back is glossy dark, your fingerprints will be visible right there as long as you have two eyes.
I
didn't know anything about this deck when I first picked it up, a decade ago. I just
liked the deck cover image. Talk about intuition! However, it has become of one of my
favourite and most reliable decks. This is one of my top 3 oracle decks, and that's basically based on the connection that I have with these cards, the way my energy connects with them, and the fact that the deck seems to respond to my queries quite accurately and quite on point.
I find amazing the way that the cards seem to reflect my mood, what is
happening in my life, what is coming next, and are able to give me
advice on pressing matters. This is what any oracle deck should be
doing, right?, but not many do.
This is a deck perfect for intuitive readings as the deck is not overtly focused on any specific energy (for ex. matters of the heart or career matters) just general life energies.
I've been using
this deck for about a decade, and I've recently bought a new hard copy
of the deck. I alternate use between the app version and the hard copy.
THE CONCEPT
The oracle is inspired, as others by Colette, on both the tarot, I-chin, and Norse culture. The deck was created as a companion to the book The Map, but it can be used without having to check the book out. That's my case and it has always worked for me. The texts are great, very much in tune with the magic realms or whatever you want to call that something that is nothing but compasses everything.
THE ARTWORK
The production design and artwork are excellent and, despite the decade it has elapsed since first came out to the market, the artwork feels modern and fresh. Colouring is excellent but the original edition of the deck was more chic.
The digital collages and illustrations by Jean Dellagrottaglia are colourful, whimsical and full of magic. They don't have that cheap-photoshop-pastiche feeling that puts me off with so many other decks. This deck is truly stylish and gorgeous.
CHANGES IN THE ORACLE
The edition I'm now reviewing is different from the one I first bought and the app that replicates it. The cards meaning marquee and the number have different style and lettering and the cards have no marquee. The old ones had an elegant golden marquee, and the meaning was inside a golden scroll marquee. So, the current edition is less polished and enchanted than the original.
Besides, three cards imagery has changed: 33, 36 and 52. Card 33 has a very similar scene but the jumping character is a black girl, and card 52 has also a totally different image with a black woman. Both changes are very much of my liking and reflect racial diversity. Besides, card 36 Commitment, which had a more romantic image in the original, has now a more neutral imagery in this deck edition.
THE DECK QUALITY
This is one of the old Hay House productions and you can see the difference in care and quality with HH current decks. This deck is just fabulous:
> Glossy flexible good quality cardboard that is light, so the deck is not heavy or bulky.
> Easy pleasurable deck to shuffle.
> Good quality box packing.
> The guidebook is printed on decent paper and has decent content re the concept behind the deck, how to use the cards, and upright and reverse card meanings.
DOWNSIDE
> Cards are on the large side and you might struggle shuffling them if you have small hands.
> This deck is less enchanted in design production than the original edition.
I
was really excited about this deck, as I read Grout's first book years
ago and enjoyed her philosophy of life. Colette, on the other hand, has
produced some of my fav oracle decks ever, so my expectations were high.
My excitement was short lived, though.
To be fair, I had read
the reviews before ordering the deck. However, I thought that it might
be a matter of some customers getting a deck from a bad printing batch
because, after all, this is a Hay House's. Right? Unfortunately, my
cards edges were damaged even before I removed the paper ring seal-off.
If the cards are peeling off before opening, can you imagine what's
going to happen when you shuffle them?
Booklet is thin and cheaply printed, with barely any relevant content.
The concept behind the cards is nothing new. It is not particularly Law of Attraction. It's rather a channeled messages deck more than anything else. The artwork is a very simple but catchy, a mix of abstract images in dark rich purples, blues, greens, browns and black with sparks of yellow and bright colors in the lettering and/or background. They convey well the concept of universal fluid energy.
You can make this sort of deck yourself using blank cards. If you're an artist you'll have something as good or better. If not, and you just write a sentence, you'll still have the core of what this deck is.
Packing box is beautiful and decent quality, pity the rest. I am looking forward the app edition of this.
Returned.
I have several Colette's decks and they are among my favourite as they are on point most times and are delightful to look at. In that regard, this deck fits the Colette's deck philosophy, but providing us with new intuitive insights and approaches to oracle readings.
The association of colours to each element, which is shown in the card number marquee matches the colours associated to the 7 chakras. Thus, green goes with the heart chakra, love and relationships. Blue goes with the throat chakra and communication. Purple goes with the third eye chakra and intuition. And so forth.
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS DECK
> The cards and guidebook are beautifully packed in a good-quality cardboard box, with a pull-up ribbon to help get the cards out.
> The cards are quite large but not bulky or heavy and they are very flexible and easy to shuffle.
> Original conception. It mixes the four elements, the four tarot suits and the seven chakras.
> The cards can be used together with the guidebook or on their own. That is, it's a great deck for intuitive readings using your own system as the images are very evocative and symbolically rich.
> I love having some tarot cards reinvented, like the ace of cups, the ace of hearts, the world, the wheel of fortune, the high priestess, the trickster, and strength.
> No reverse readings.
> Amazing inspiring digital artwork that will get your intuition flowing.
> Good quality print.
> Good value for money.
ODD TO ME
> It took me a while to get used to the deck and to customize the meanings for me personally.
> Answers not always relate to my queries. So, this is, so far, not as mind blowing as other Colette's decks.
> The element air, which goes with swords and thought is nowhere to be found in the correspondence table in pages 7 and 8 of the guidebook. We guess it goes with the 7th suit, devoted to thought and light.
> I found at bit unsettling having images that go together in style and conception as part of different 'suits' as the show a lack of energetic and artistic congruence. For example, card 43 from the light suit is very similar in conception and style to card number 7 from the earth suit; the same can be said of cards no, 5 and 48.
> Many of the water lilies images fit together as a glove, but they are spread all over the deck with meanings that aren't always there, at least for me. Like the cards 5 body and soul, 45 Spirit of gratitude, and 48 a burst of magic for example.
> Some cards imagery and the intuitive value given to them do not match at all for me. Said differently, there is some sort of mismatch between the message and the image. Examples, 5 Body and soul; 6 It is what it is; 12 bearing fruit;16 royal you; 24 let it go; 35 a tall tale; 37 the oracle gift; 45 a spirit of gratitude, and 48 a burst of magic.
> I wish the cards had been text-less.
MY REINTERPRETATION
After going through the text, herewith my reinterpretation:
1- Grounded.
2- Roots. Rut.
3- Magic portal. Entering. You have to come in. The Unknown.
4- Ace of cups.
5- Lilly pond. Lotus flower.
6- Magic door. Door to magic. Enchanted portal.
7- Meditate. Calm your mind. Spa time.
8- Enlightened sensuality. Inner light.
9- Summer. Open rose. Fragrance of love.
10- Barriers are in your mind. Fly away. False trap. Trapped beauty.
11- Key to a magic new world. Starry night. The world is opening for you.
12- Ecosystem. Magic tree. Tree of life. Autumn.
13- The world is in your hands. A world of possibilities. Small world.
14- Opening of the heart. Heart shining through,
15- Chess king/queen. Ball in your court. Unlock your potential.
16- Crowned . Open heart.
17- I can hear you. Music is everywhere.
18- The wheel of fortune.
19- Wilderness. Strength.
20 - Magic night. Enchanted.
21- Divine eye. You see everything. Crown chakra. Connection with spirit.
22- Caress. Thick skin.
23. In my heart. Healing of the heart.
24- Thriving heart. Unbreakable heart connection.
25- Birds of a feather flock together.
26- My heart sings. Sparks in my heart. Mystical heart.
27 - Symphony of love. My heart sings.
28- Mind-heart-body connection. Enlightenment.
29- Dream power. Inner Shaman.
30- Inner burst. Orgasm.
31- Enticing. Dancer. Sensuality.
32- Meditate.
33- The trickster.
34- Portal to a new world/life. Night dream travels.
35- Looking for the maker. Vital journey. Find you identity.
36- Heightened intuition. Third eye. Seeing through and beyond.
37- Use your oracles. Witchy. Potion. Have a tea.
38 - We are the Universe. Magic is everywhere. Magical thinking. Feel the magic.
39- Dream magic. Introspection. Making a heartfelt wish. Inner child.
40- Convergence. Heading to the same destination.
41- Eagle point of view. Look at things from a different point of view. Wise woman.
42- Distorted mirror. Confusion. Unclear image.
43- Beautiful mind. Mindful gift.
44- Heaven. The Universe. Magic realms. Connection to the divine.
45- Beyond the ordinary. Soulful person. Special person.
46- Navigate your emotions. Feelings and emotions as a your guide.
47- Universal love. Love made in heaven.
48- Night opening. Sweet smell.
49- Let the wind will carry you. Fragile beauty. Lightness.
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