Back in the early 90s I worked at a small New Age book & gift shop in San Diego. Among our most popular items were oracle decks. Which are cards, but not the same thing as tarot. We sold a lot of oracle decks.
Our best-selling oracle decks fell into three categories. First, the "messages from the angels" (pretty young women with big fluffy wings and long floaty dresses). Second, the "messages from the fairies" (pretty young women with butterfly wings and short floaty dresses). Third, animal totem/spirit decks. Which often had a faux Native American vibe (cultural appropriation wasn't an issue for some authors). The advice being offered reminded me of fortune cookies.
I decided that I didn't like oracle decks.
I held to that opinion for over thirty years. Until someone recently shared a picture online, of a bookcase in a Barnes & Noble. It was packed with divination decks of all kinds, and right in the middle was an oracle deck that I couldn't dismiss out of hand.
The title and cover art caught my eye first. Seeing the name of one of my favorite Pagan authors clinched the deal for me. This deck and book are the work of three women- writers Stephanie Woodfield and Karen Storminger, and artist Naomi Cornock. They're all priestesses of the Morrigan.
At 205 pages the guidebook is indeed a book, not a pamphlet. There are entries for each card; these go well beyond a basic explanation of the pictures. There are discussions of the images and symbols contained in each card, of the ancient sources they are drawn from (with citations), their historic meanings and their relevance to modern readers.
Each card entry includes suggestions for meditations and spells; the cards are intended for use as altar images and in spellwork. The suggested spells are fairly simple and most use items we usually have on hand like candles, paper, salt, and water. There's a chapter on oracle spreads, another on spells and rituals, and a pronunciation guide for possibly unfamiliar Irish words. The suggested reading list includes titles by other authors (including Morgan Daimler, another of my favorites) and online resources.
The deck consists of forty-five cards, divided into five suits- Guises of the Morrigan, Otherworldly Guides, Spirits of the Land, Outer Worlds, and Inner Worlds. The cards themselves are beautifully printed in rich colors on nice, heavy cardstock with a smooth low-gloss finish.
The Guises of the Morrigan suit explores the many faces and facets of this complex and surprising goddess; some are individual goddesses, others are archetypes.
Otherworldly Guides presents deities, heroes, and magical treasures drawn from the lore of Irish deities and faery folk.
The Spirits of the Land suit represents sacred places throughout Ireland. While mentioned in Irish mythology as the sites of supernatural events, each is also a place that actually exists.
The Outer Worlds suit represents forces and things existing in the world around us which are outside of our control.
The Inner Worlds suit represents our inner life and experiences. These are explored through the lens of ancient myths.
I'm enjoying exploring this deck; I think it could be a good fit for others who worship and work with Celtic/Irish deities. Persons who are interested in goddess religion and magic, and are looking to expand their practice to include Celtic goddesses might also like it. Also those with an interest in what I can only describe as badass feminine archetypes.
I find the text well-written and insightful, the artwork beautiful and powerful; it is, while not overly graphic, somewhat gruesome at times. Which is honestly to be expected; the Morrigan is, among other things, a goddess of war. The advice and suggested actions are more challenging than comforting. Which makes this oracle deck a good choice for me.
Call of the Morrigan Oracle: A 45-Card Deck & Guidebook. Copyright 2024, by Stephanie Woodfield, Karen Storminger, and Naomi Cornock. Llewellyn Publications. ISBN: 978-0-7387-7768-9. $29.99. Available from Barnes & Noble and Amazon.
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