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This is a beautifully designed book and card deck set. Each of the 44 cards in this oracle deck is a seed of spiritual guidance – inspired by ancient Beltane themes – to find answers to your most profound questions. The accompanying guidebook features original poetry from Juliet Diaz that doubles as invocations for magick and ritual.
From the product description
Beltane is a Celtic festival celebrated on May 1st. It marks the beginning of summer and is a time of fertility, growth, and renewal. The festival has roots in ancient pagan traditions, but it is still celebrated by many modern-day Wiccans and other neo-pagan groups. It is traditionally associated with bonfires, dancing, and feasting. Today, we’ll be looking at a deck that fits perfectly into this time of year.
Seasons of the Witch: Beltane Oracle is part of a series inspired by the Wheel of the Year, which marks the changing of seasons and celebrates various pagan festivals throughout the year. The series offers a stunning collection of decks celebrating the Earth’s ever-changing cycles. As you collect these decks, you’ll acquire not only a divination tool but also a spiritual companion that helps you connect with your inner self and allows you to tap into the Earth’s natural energy. While most decks in this series are already available, some have yet to be published. Regardless, each deck in this series is a work of art that captures the beauty and essence of nature.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| + Cosy art style + Excellent guidebook + Perfect for Wheel of the Year -related oracle readings + Quality is good | – You will get addicted and end up buying all the decks in this series |
About the Creators
Lorraine Anderson is a spiritual entrepreneur who loves to live intentionally and uses spiritual practices for healing, growth, and transformation. She is a tarot reader, astrologer, spiritual teacher, and writer. Inspired by her diverse lineage, she combines practical healing practices from her ancestors. Lorraine owns Spirit Element, a soul-based apothecary, and Made with Stardust, a private label development and supplies provider for spiritual-based businesses.
Juliet Diaz is a highly skilled healer, seer, and herbalist. She has a Master’s degree in Herbal Medicine and is from a long line of witch healers from Cuba. She is an indigenous descendant of the Taino tribe. Juliet owns November Sage Apothecary and manages Tierra Sagrada, an online learning community for witchcraft.
Giada Rose is an illustrator and designer based in Kentucky. She was born in Italy and has lived in seven states. Her work is influenced by old ways, seasons, mythology, historical customs, tarot, and folklore. Giada mainly works with watercolours and has illustrated several children’s books, including “Giants in the Clouds” by Maria Muscarella. She is currently working on an illustrated Victorian-style advice manual on fairytale etiquette.
Cards and the Artwork
Seasons of the Witch: Beltane Oracle deck comes with 44 cards. The cards are standard oracle size, around 9 x 12.5 cm (3.5 x 5 inches), just like the other decks in the same series. You can make your custom deck by combining cards from different sets. The edges of these cards are gilt, this time in a gorgeous gold colour that goes perfectly with the Beltane theme. The paper quality of these cards is excellent, with a semi-gloss finish that makes them easy to shuffle.
The beautiful Beltane-themed cards of the deck are decorated with full-sized, captivating images stretching across the card. Each card has a unique name that sits elegantly on top of the picture, making it easier to remember and identify. Furthermore, every card contains a brief but profound passage that imparts valuable Beltane-related knowledge. The guidebook with the cards is conveniently numbered, allowing you to effortlessly locate the card you need.
In keeping with the Beltane theme, the yellow colour appears in many ways in the colour scheme of the cards. For example, the primary colour on the back of the cards is yellow, with yellow bees buzzing around the illustration. In the centre of the illustration is a full moon, which brings to mind the importance of the moon as a symbol of intuition.
The artwork of these cards is full of meaning. Even though the pictures themselves are cosy and quite minimalistic, you just get sucked into their world by simply looking at them. For example, the Bee card takes you to a meadow while the Boundaries surrounds you with a summer storm. I also like the personification of the Bonfire, which brings to mind the Celtic sun god Belenus, sometimes associated with Beltane.
The Guidebook of the Seasons of the Witch: Beltane Oracle
The guidebook offers the same quality as this series’s other guidebooks. It has 138 pages full of information and pictures. Even the backgrounds of the pages have been beautifully decorated to form a pleasant experience. It is a well-thought-out package that gives the reader everything they need.
The guidebook starts with a two-page introduction to the Seasons of the Witch: Beltane Oracle. It tells you, among other things, that the pack focuses on healing yourself this time. It’s a good theme for the beginning of summer because we often forget ourselves when we try to help others. I particularly like the keyword list at the start of the guidebook, with the attributes associated with Beltane.
The main content of the guidebook is the pages reserved for the cards themselves. Each card has two pages dedicated to it. You get a picture of the card, a keyword about what the card is about, a short poem about the card, and finally, a more extended interpretation. What I like about this guidebook is that it doesn’t force an interpretation but instead gives you ideas. Now and again, there are some extra pages containing more information about Beltane, which is a nice touch.
Conclusion
Seasons of the Witch: Beltane Oracle deck is a must-have for anyone interested in paganism, the Wheel of the Year, or simply beautiful oracle cards. The deck is visually stunning and delivers profound spiritual guidance that can help you answer your most profound questions. The accompanying guidebook is full of valuable knowledge, original poetry, and invocations that can add a touch of magick to your daily life. Overall, this deck is a beautiful addition to any collection and an excellent tool for connecting with your inner self and the natural world.
