“A Gothic Witch’s Oracle” - Oracle Deck Review
Try before you buy: today’s review is of “A Gothic Witch’s Oracle”, a deck of 40 cards created by Raven Digitalis, artwork by John Santerineross. All opinions are my own.
You can purchase your own copy from the lovely team at Crossed Crow Books
My Star Ratings
1 star = disappointing / 2 stars = meh! / 3 stars = pretty good / 4 stars = terrific / 5 stars = sensational
The Artwork 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
The Card Meanings 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
The Guidebook 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Card Quality and Packaging 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Why you may be drawn to this deck
If you like an Oracle Deck with great packaging and plenty of depth, you’ll love this one. The deck’s title may be interpreted as something for only Witches - and Goth ones at that - but this Oracle is a great tool for anyone seeking personal growth and empowerment. A user-friendly deck for beginners to long-term Oracle collectors.
The artwork
Be prepared to be drawn into a self-exploration of our beautiful, darker nature. These Oracle cards contain thought-provoking imagery created by award winning Gothic and neo-symbolist photographic artist John Santerineross. You’ll find pictures of live models and interesting objects, with added digital adaptations, offering even deeper meanings the cards.
There is plenty of readability in these images - some pictures clearly encourage us to rest up to regain our power, while others invite us to make time for self-reflection, or take up a grounding practise with ritualistic tools.
Some may find ambiguity in the pictures, which invites us to expand beyond our horizons and discover the deeper meanings. Props and dolls have been used purposefully, sometimes in the foreground, while others appear to lurk from the back, with their own tales to tell. Sometimes you’ll find body parts of subjects morphed with interesting objects - at other times, there’s body modification that goes beyond standard piercings and tattoos.
I think it’s important in an Oracle deck for the artwork to tie in with the guidebook. The team behind this deck have entwined the card descriptions and photographs well, but they also allow both artwork and guidebook to have individual voices.
The Card Meanings
Overall, the cards speak of the modern trials people go through and empathises with the disappointments we all feel. It bravely considers the shadowy realm that we can be drawn to - but not in a way that encourages us to sink into “darkness”, sadness and despair. If anything, the deck invites us to become comfortable with the range of emotions we feel and become friends with the shadow realms within ourselves.
Individual cards address different topics, in fact no two cards hold the same theme (though spiritual themes often overlap). Here are some examples of the the variety of learning offered in this deck:
Card 21, “Shattering the Mental Prison” integrates spirituality with human psychology and asks us to query our cognitive patterns and decide whether they ultimately hinder or help us.
Card 29, “Assembling an Esoteric Symbol” addresses human creativity and the benefits of more hands-on spiritual practises with the tangible - showing us that not all magickal work is about going within and confronting shadows.
The Guidebook
The written content immediately commands respect - there is zero fluffy language and more getting to the heart of matters, in language that’s friendly, clear and hits home.
The author shows us that the situations we face usually involve multiple facets. Often, the reader is invited to make self-honouring choices while still taking others into consideration (see the “Loving Your Uniqueness” guidebook image below). Especially, the text offers hope and plenty of tools for people to take responsibility for their spiritual wellbeing.
And…holding the guidebook itself is beautiful! The weight is substantial and I appreciated the strong binding, glossy pages and inkblot-themed page borders. The creators clearly haven’t skimped on costs, it feels like a quality item in your palm.
Card quality and packaging
Your first unboxing experience will be very satisfying (watch the unboxing here): the packaging is beautiful, sturdy - and again, it feels like no expenses have been spared. The cover opens by a magnetised flap that stays shut nicely without cards spilling out. The cards sit inside a little cut-out home on top of a satin ribbon, to lever the cards out easily. So many little thoughtful touches to ensure the deck is protected and lasts.
The card slip is nice and makes an enjoyable “swip” sound when you shuffle. The cards feel a little on the thin side, however long, rectangular card shapes are far easier to handle than boxy rectangles, so there’s less concern about damaging them during the shuffle.
Some final observations
Honestly? The quality and care put into this deck, plus the fact that it has the capacity to touch the hearts of Goth Witch fans and beyond, has earned it 5 stars across the board. And best of all, you might feel like you’ve acquired 2 items in one - a set of 40 unique photographic artworks, plus a separate book in its own right!
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