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marilanoire's review
informative
relaxing
medium-paced
4.5
It’s exactly what I expected and I liked it very much. If this is your first oracle deck, then you‘ll get everything you need to work with it, if you have other oracles or the other decks in the series, you still get enough new content to be satisfying. It’s just as good as the other ones.
opheliafeyre's review
5.0
Oracle Review: Seasons of the Witch - Yule Oracle
Creators: Lorriane Anderson and Juliet Diaz
Illustrator: Giada Rose Goodman
Publisher: Rockpool Publishing
Release Date: Out Now.
[Gifted by Simon and Schuster on behalf of Rockpool Publishing.]
About the Authors and Illustrator
Lorriane Anderson is a tarot reader, astrologer, spiritual teacher, writer and soul-based
entrepreneur living in LA. Her work focuses heavily on sacred and intentional living, as well as using spiritual practices as a pathway for profound healing, growth and transformation. She is heavily influenced by her diverse lineage, bringing together healing practices from her ancestors in a practical, updated way.
She owns and operates Spirit Element, a soul-based apothecary, which has some really beautiful products for all aspects of your witchy practice. From things for your altar, candles, to soaps, oils and other apothecary goodies.
Lorriane is also launching the School of Sacred to help people develop their spiritual practice.
Lorriane’s other works include: Seasons of the Witch: Samhain Oracle and Affirmations: Words of Inner Wisdom.
Juliet Diaz is a Bruja, Seer, and Spiritual activist. She’s an Indigenous Taino Cubana from a long line of curanderos (healers) and brujas on both sides of her parents’ lineages.
Juliet has a Master’s of Science in Herbal Medicine, as well as certificates in a range of other healing practices. She has been featured in publications such as; Oprah Magazine, National Geographic, The Atlantic, Wired and Refinery.
Juliet has also created an online community called the Spiritual Baddie Coven which is described as, ‘an inclusive and diverse Magical and Spiritual, sacred space/community…All staff and teachers are black, brown, indigenous and people of colour. (BBIPOC) bringing you authentic classes, workshops, content rooted in their true cultures and practices.’
Her other works include the books: Witchery: Embrace the Witch Within, Plant Witchery and a new release coming next year called The Altar Within which, from what she has been saying on social media, sounds really intriguing and she says it’s her most important book yet.
I know we’re still talking about the creators of the deck and not my review thoughts. But one of my favourite things about the deck is the illustrations. So obviously I have to mention Giada Rose who created the beautiful images. She was born in Italy, moved around west America, and is now based in Kentucky. She is interested in nature, femininity, divinity and art. Her work is primarily in watercolour and full of: mythology, folklore and fairytales focusing on nostalgic vibes. You can get prints or originals of her work through her Etsy shop.
About the Deck
The Seasons of the Witch Oracle is part of a series. It started with the Samhain Oracle, which came out last year. And the Yule Oracle is next.
The blurb says,
“And the Wheel turns! Yule reminds us of warmth, happiness, and in a time to be thankful for all that we have.
For centuries ancient healers have celebrated the restorative energy of the Yuletide festival, the traditional harsh winters reminding us of our impressive ability to weather tough storms and find support and comfort with loved ones.
In Seasons of the Witch: Yule Oracle you’ll discover 44 healing messages to align you with the divine wisdom of the year’s darkest night and the joyful celebration associated with the winter holidays. This oracle is your path to deep reflection and tranquility and is a promise of the brighter days to come.”
Unboxing
[see video 5:10]
The box is beautiful with Yule vibes; snow in the background and the snow queen-esque character.
In the box there is the guidebook which features information about the creators, an introduction, how to use the cards and some Yule themed spreads. Then of course there is the information about each of the cards.
The cards themselves are stunning. They are a deep green colour on the back with the moon symbol in the middle. The have gilded edges which are a beautiful shiny green colour. As I already mentioned the images are stunning! I really love the fairytale, vintage style that Giada uses. It’s dark but still warm and comforting.
Obviously all of the cards link to the Yule theme. But it’s also worth mentioning that some of the ideas also link to the Christian festival Christmas. The creators mention this in the guidebook. They state;
“Familiar symbols such as Christmas trees, stars, lights, giving gifts, and even Santa Claus are threaded through pagan cultures and predate the Christian celebration.”
They explore the idea that a lot of the themes of this deck are in some way related to a lot of different traditions and that they have been 'Christianized.' They address this, and choose to focus on the beauty of the symbols. The cards that stand out to me as having Christian connotations are ‘Mother Mary’ and ‘Wise Men.’
I grew up surrounded by the Christian idea of Christmas and I think, in the UK especially, the focus at that time of year is on the Christian celebration. I’m able to look past those connotations because Christmas has always held happy memories for me. However, I know this may not be the case for everyone. In the end, it’s up to you if you can see all the cards as being rooted in pagan traditions, or if you choose to exclude some cards from your readings.
Comparison
There are a few differences between the two decks, (Samhain and Yule) so I wanted to do a comparison to show you how they differ. It might also help you decide which deck you want to get - if you have to make the very difficult decision of picking just one!
Firstly there are obviously the aesthetic differences like the colours of the backing, the gilded edges and the different images / card themes to match the season.
A difference in the guidebooks, when looking at the information for each card, is that the Samhain Oracle offers reversed readings whereas the Yule version doesn’t. That’s probably why the Samhain guidebook is a little thicker than the Yule one. If reversed readings are a big part of your oracle or tarot practice then this might be something to consider. However, personally I tend not to read reversed cards. I read them as I would in their upright position. Having used the Samhain Oracle for over a year i’ve found that the regular interpretation of the cards is more than detailed enough for me, and offers a reflection that always resonates with me. The few times I’ve used the Yule Oracle, since receiving it, I’ve noticed the same.
The information in the guidebooks by Lorriane and Juliet is beautiful and detailed. It’s one of the reasons they have become my favourite oracle decks to use.
Another important distinction between the two decks is the representation and diversity within them. The first deck Samhain was not diverse in its representation of people of colour. However, this has been addressed in the Yule version. They say;
“We want to send you our deepest and most sincere apology for not showing up for people of color in our previous deck of this series. We are people of color authors, and we have long recognised the call for diversity in magic.”
You will see a clear difference in the diverse representation of people between the two decks. This may affect your decision when choosing an oracle deck.
My Thoughts
I’ve used this deck a few times since receiving it and I used it for my Harvest full moon reading.
I chose to do the 'Evergreen Wreath' spread from the guidebook. It might seem a bit strange using a Yule deck and this particular spread during the Harvest full moon. However that’s one of the good things about both of the decks; you can use them at any time during the year. Don’t feel like you have to just use it during the season it relates to. It still works really well all year round. I mean it would suck if you could only use it one month out of the year!
The cards themselves are really easy and nice to shuffle. The card stock is really thick and durable. If you look after them they will last you a really long time.
When it comes to understanding my readings, and using the guidebook to help interpret the cards, I find that the guidebook is really helpful when exploring your thoughts. Not only does it explore the card and the symbolism behind it, but it asks questions and leads you to explore your own situation in more depth. For me the guidebook works like guided journaling prompts and I would definitely recommend journaling your readings with this deck. It really helps you explore what’s going on in relation to what is happening in your life at the moment, the question you may have asked, and also brings to light other aspects that you may not have previously considered. It allows for a really deep introspection.
I usually find that this sort of deep introspection only comes with my tarot readings. However, this is one of the few oracle decks, that I own, that offers the same level of detail and depth that I would get from a tarot reading.
Final Thoughts
I really do love both of these decks. But I think the Samhain Oracle is my favourite, purely because Samhain is my favourite Sabbat and I feel like I connect with themes of the cards a lot more. Saying that, I’m still really excited to use the Yule Oracle when it gets closer to the Winter season. Which is your favourite?
Last thing I want to mention is that in the back of the guidebook there is also a sneak peak of the next deck which will be Beltane. It will feature themes perfect for the Beltane season; beginnings, passion, fertility and creativity.
The Samhain and Yule decks are available now. Thank you again to Simon and Schuster and Rockpool Publishing for sending me a copy of this deck.
Creators: Lorriane Anderson and Juliet Diaz
Illustrator: Giada Rose Goodman
Publisher: Rockpool Publishing
Release Date: Out Now.
[Gifted by Simon and Schuster on behalf of Rockpool Publishing.]
About the Authors and Illustrator
Lorriane Anderson is a tarot reader, astrologer, spiritual teacher, writer and soul-based
entrepreneur living in LA. Her work focuses heavily on sacred and intentional living, as well as using spiritual practices as a pathway for profound healing, growth and transformation. She is heavily influenced by her diverse lineage, bringing together healing practices from her ancestors in a practical, updated way.
She owns and operates Spirit Element, a soul-based apothecary, which has some really beautiful products for all aspects of your witchy practice. From things for your altar, candles, to soaps, oils and other apothecary goodies.
Lorriane is also launching the School of Sacred to help people develop their spiritual practice.
Lorriane’s other works include: Seasons of the Witch: Samhain Oracle and Affirmations: Words of Inner Wisdom.
Juliet Diaz is a Bruja, Seer, and Spiritual activist. She’s an Indigenous Taino Cubana from a long line of curanderos (healers) and brujas on both sides of her parents’ lineages.
Juliet has a Master’s of Science in Herbal Medicine, as well as certificates in a range of other healing practices. She has been featured in publications such as; Oprah Magazine, National Geographic, The Atlantic, Wired and Refinery.
Juliet has also created an online community called the Spiritual Baddie Coven which is described as, ‘an inclusive and diverse Magical and Spiritual, sacred space/community…All staff and teachers are black, brown, indigenous and people of colour. (BBIPOC) bringing you authentic classes, workshops, content rooted in their true cultures and practices.’
Her other works include the books: Witchery: Embrace the Witch Within, Plant Witchery and a new release coming next year called The Altar Within which, from what she has been saying on social media, sounds really intriguing and she says it’s her most important book yet.
I know we’re still talking about the creators of the deck and not my review thoughts. But one of my favourite things about the deck is the illustrations. So obviously I have to mention Giada Rose who created the beautiful images. She was born in Italy, moved around west America, and is now based in Kentucky. She is interested in nature, femininity, divinity and art. Her work is primarily in watercolour and full of: mythology, folklore and fairytales focusing on nostalgic vibes. You can get prints or originals of her work through her Etsy shop.
About the Deck
The Seasons of the Witch Oracle is part of a series. It started with the Samhain Oracle, which came out last year. And the Yule Oracle is next.
The blurb says,
“And the Wheel turns! Yule reminds us of warmth, happiness, and in a time to be thankful for all that we have.
For centuries ancient healers have celebrated the restorative energy of the Yuletide festival, the traditional harsh winters reminding us of our impressive ability to weather tough storms and find support and comfort with loved ones.
In Seasons of the Witch: Yule Oracle you’ll discover 44 healing messages to align you with the divine wisdom of the year’s darkest night and the joyful celebration associated with the winter holidays. This oracle is your path to deep reflection and tranquility and is a promise of the brighter days to come.”
Unboxing
[see video 5:10]
The box is beautiful with Yule vibes; snow in the background and the snow queen-esque character.
In the box there is the guidebook which features information about the creators, an introduction, how to use the cards and some Yule themed spreads. Then of course there is the information about each of the cards.
The cards themselves are stunning. They are a deep green colour on the back with the moon symbol in the middle. The have gilded edges which are a beautiful shiny green colour. As I already mentioned the images are stunning! I really love the fairytale, vintage style that Giada uses. It’s dark but still warm and comforting.
Obviously all of the cards link to the Yule theme. But it’s also worth mentioning that some of the ideas also link to the Christian festival Christmas. The creators mention this in the guidebook. They state;
“Familiar symbols such as Christmas trees, stars, lights, giving gifts, and even Santa Claus are threaded through pagan cultures and predate the Christian celebration.”
They explore the idea that a lot of the themes of this deck are in some way related to a lot of different traditions and that they have been 'Christianized.' They address this, and choose to focus on the beauty of the symbols. The cards that stand out to me as having Christian connotations are ‘Mother Mary’ and ‘Wise Men.’
I grew up surrounded by the Christian idea of Christmas and I think, in the UK especially, the focus at that time of year is on the Christian celebration. I’m able to look past those connotations because Christmas has always held happy memories for me. However, I know this may not be the case for everyone. In the end, it’s up to you if you can see all the cards as being rooted in pagan traditions, or if you choose to exclude some cards from your readings.
Comparison
There are a few differences between the two decks, (Samhain and Yule) so I wanted to do a comparison to show you how they differ. It might also help you decide which deck you want to get - if you have to make the very difficult decision of picking just one!
Firstly there are obviously the aesthetic differences like the colours of the backing, the gilded edges and the different images / card themes to match the season.
A difference in the guidebooks, when looking at the information for each card, is that the Samhain Oracle offers reversed readings whereas the Yule version doesn’t. That’s probably why the Samhain guidebook is a little thicker than the Yule one. If reversed readings are a big part of your oracle or tarot practice then this might be something to consider. However, personally I tend not to read reversed cards. I read them as I would in their upright position. Having used the Samhain Oracle for over a year i’ve found that the regular interpretation of the cards is more than detailed enough for me, and offers a reflection that always resonates with me. The few times I’ve used the Yule Oracle, since receiving it, I’ve noticed the same.
The information in the guidebooks by Lorriane and Juliet is beautiful and detailed. It’s one of the reasons they have become my favourite oracle decks to use.
Another important distinction between the two decks is the representation and diversity within them. The first deck Samhain was not diverse in its representation of people of colour. However, this has been addressed in the Yule version. They say;
“We want to send you our deepest and most sincere apology for not showing up for people of color in our previous deck of this series. We are people of color authors, and we have long recognised the call for diversity in magic.”
You will see a clear difference in the diverse representation of people between the two decks. This may affect your decision when choosing an oracle deck.
My Thoughts
I’ve used this deck a few times since receiving it and I used it for my Harvest full moon reading.
I chose to do the 'Evergreen Wreath' spread from the guidebook. It might seem a bit strange using a Yule deck and this particular spread during the Harvest full moon. However that’s one of the good things about both of the decks; you can use them at any time during the year. Don’t feel like you have to just use it during the season it relates to. It still works really well all year round. I mean it would suck if you could only use it one month out of the year!
The cards themselves are really easy and nice to shuffle. The card stock is really thick and durable. If you look after them they will last you a really long time.
When it comes to understanding my readings, and using the guidebook to help interpret the cards, I find that the guidebook is really helpful when exploring your thoughts. Not only does it explore the card and the symbolism behind it, but it asks questions and leads you to explore your own situation in more depth. For me the guidebook works like guided journaling prompts and I would definitely recommend journaling your readings with this deck. It really helps you explore what’s going on in relation to what is happening in your life at the moment, the question you may have asked, and also brings to light other aspects that you may not have previously considered. It allows for a really deep introspection.
I usually find that this sort of deep introspection only comes with my tarot readings. However, this is one of the few oracle decks, that I own, that offers the same level of detail and depth that I would get from a tarot reading.
Final Thoughts
I really do love both of these decks. But I think the Samhain Oracle is my favourite, purely because Samhain is my favourite Sabbat and I feel like I connect with themes of the cards a lot more. Saying that, I’m still really excited to use the Yule Oracle when it gets closer to the Winter season. Which is your favourite?
Last thing I want to mention is that in the back of the guidebook there is also a sneak peak of the next deck which will be Beltane. It will feature themes perfect for the Beltane season; beginnings, passion, fertility and creativity.
The Samhain and Yule decks are available now. Thank you again to Simon and Schuster and Rockpool Publishing for sending me a copy of this deck.
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