The Spirit Of The Animals Oracle is a 52-card deck created by the acclaimed artist and author Jody Bergsma, published by U.S. Games Systems, Inc. These visually engaging cards measure a substantial 6 inches tall by 4 inches wide, offering a generous canvas for the artwork. This review delves into the quality, artwork, and content of this popular animal-themed oracle deck.
Quality and Presentation
This oracle deck arrives packaged in a robust box equipped with a lift-off lid, similar in style to those used by Blue Angel Publishing but featuring a more matte finish. The sturdy construction ensures durability, allowing you to stack other items on top without risk of damage. The accompanying guidebook is well-bound and professionally edited. The cards themselves boast a quality lamination that avoids excessive glossiness and seems resistant to peeling. While the larger size might make vigorous riffle shuffling feel risky to avoid creasing, the cardstock feels durable enough that the likelihood of significant damage from normal shuffling is low.
Guidebook and Extra Materials
Included with the Spirit Of The Animals Oracle is a 116-page guidebook. It provides a concise introduction to animal totems, practical advice for working with the deck, suggested card spreads, and detailed explanations for each of the 52 cards. Every card description features keywords, interesting facts about the animal depicted, broader card themes, and guidance or reflective questions for interpreting cards in reversed or “contrary” positions. A black and white illustration of the card accompanies each entry. Some thematic overlap exists between cards; for instance, the importance of rest, introversion, boundary setting, and the concept of being an “old soul” appear multiple times. While the contrary meanings and introspective prompts aim for cleverness, some readers might find the occasional puns a bit overly cute.
Spirit of the Animals Oracle deck box guidebook and spread sheet by Jody Bergsma
Consistent with many U.S. Games offerings, the deck includes a glossy paper spread sheet illustrating a 9-card layout. Once the folding creases are smoothed out, this sheet can be a useful surface for laying out cards during a reading, as the positional meanings are printed directly on it. While not essential for everyone, it’s a thoughtful addition.
Artwork and Visual Appeal
Jody Bergsma’s distinct art style is a major draw for this deck. Her illustrations beautifully merge realism with swirling, vibrant colors, creating animal depictions that feel both enchanting and full of life. This deck is no exception, showcasing her signature charm. A unique feature is the inclusion of a card depicting a serene mountain landscape, intended as a “personal choice” card. This allows the reader to represent an animal currently on their mind or one not explicitly included among the 52 cards. It’s also noteworthy how prominently featured the chickadees are on the squirrel and deer cards, almost sharing the spotlight, which might leave bird enthusiasts wishing for a dedicated chickadee card.
Sample cards from the Spirit of the Animals Oracle deck featuring Jody Bergsma’s artwork
Content and Usability
The titles and key themes printed directly on each card are concise and generally helpful for interpretation. They offer enough concrete meaning to make consulting the guidebook a supplementary step for deeper exploration, rather than a necessity for basic understanding. As the Spirit of the Animals Oracle doesn’t adhere to a rigid system like Tarot, this straightforwardness makes it accessible right out of the box. However, readers who prefer unadorned cards and rely solely on their own intuition regarding animal symbolism should be aware that there is a fair amount of text presented on each card face.
Conclusion
The Spirit of the Animals Oracle is a beautifully produced deck, primarily celebrated for Jody Bergsma’s captivating animal artwork. Collectors of animal-themed oracle decks will likely find this a worthy addition. While the card interpretations occasionally lean towards repetitive self-care messages and perhaps overly sweet puns – common traits in many mass-market oracle decks – the overall experience is positive. It offers affirming and gentle messages, making it appealing even if not strictly designed as an affirmation deck. The quality and artistic merit are undeniable highlights.
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