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It's been (oops) a little under 11 months since I've posted one of these. To celebrate hopefully getting back into the habit, let's go with something a bit unusual: For Strange Women's Botanical Oracle.
I say this is a bit unusual because this deck isn't something I'd necessarily be inclined to like. For me, Tarot > Lenormand > oracle decks, and this is obviously the latter. One of the reasons I like things in that order is because I'm big on defined systems, which Tarot has accrued over the centuries. In other words, there's no reason why a standard deck has 78 cards that in turn are assigned to the various astrological signs, sephiroth, or neoplatonic elements they are, beyond the fact that said assignments have become traditional since the 18th century. But they have become traditional and that provides a defined grammar and lexicon for reading. Oracle decks, by contrast, are largely the creation of a single, identifiable individual and for whatever reason, that doesn't work as well for me.
Which you think would be the case with this deck, which is not only the creation of a single individual, but a product tie-in to boot: the illustrations were all originally created as labels for an indie perfumer's* limited edition scents. In other words, the artist didn't even set out to make an oracle deck, and the only reason there are 53 cards, with these 53 specific illustrations on them, is because that's what the indie house had to hand when they decided to repurpose them...and it follows that the meanings assigned to them are just as arbitrary.
But the deck still works for me, largely because I love the illustrations, the colors, and the overall aesthetic.
The guidebook tells me this represents "messages from ancestors and spiritual guides." Why? Who knows! But I love the green and rhubarb pink gradation on the moth's wings, and the subtle asymmetry of the illustration.
This represents "society, media, information, knowledge, research," an interpretation pretty obviously inspired by the Lenormand's book card. But also, this illustration pretty much encapsulates my platonic ideal of a home library.
This one means "caution." Why? Again, who knows. But I love this delicately pretty illustration.
I like the blues, greens, and browns on this one, which is assigned a meaning similar to the Lenormand's house card.
I love cicadas, so I love this card too. The meaning is pretty predictably "death, rebirth, starting over."
I'm curious about what scent originally inspired this card. I love the way the ferns look like wings.
I'm a huge fan of honeybees, so this is another favorite card. Again, the gradation is quite nice. The meaning here is similar to the Lenormand's bird card.
And yet another card with beautiful gradation, here in shades of rust, green, and yellow.
The cardstock is very thin and flexible, which, while not the prevailing preference for indie decks certainly is my preference because it makes it that much easier to shuffle and bridge. The printing is very carefully done, and they gilt edges are nice as well.
I think it's precisely because the cards are both beautifully drawn and arbitrary in terms of their illustrations, and because the meanings are so bare bones, that this deck works for me, at least for quick draws for simple, tactical questions. I don't think that I would ever want another oracle deck, but I like having this one.
*As for the indie house itself? I love For Strange Women's scents, but they last for approximately five minutes after application...unless I use them with the bespoke fixative base, in which case they last for two minutes. So I can't recommend FSW as far as its primary product is concerned.
これで以上です。
I say this is a bit unusual because this deck isn't something I'd necessarily be inclined to like. For me, Tarot > Lenormand > oracle decks, and this is obviously the latter. One of the reasons I like things in that order is because I'm big on defined systems, which Tarot has accrued over the centuries. In other words, there's no reason why a standard deck has 78 cards that in turn are assigned to the various astrological signs, sephiroth, or neoplatonic elements they are, beyond the fact that said assignments have become traditional since the 18th century. But they have become traditional and that provides a defined grammar and lexicon for reading. Oracle decks, by contrast, are largely the creation of a single, identifiable individual and for whatever reason, that doesn't work as well for me.
Which you think would be the case with this deck, which is not only the creation of a single individual, but a product tie-in to boot: the illustrations were all originally created as labels for an indie perfumer's* limited edition scents. In other words, the artist didn't even set out to make an oracle deck, and the only reason there are 53 cards, with these 53 specific illustrations on them, is because that's what the indie house had to hand when they decided to repurpose them...and it follows that the meanings assigned to them are just as arbitrary.
But the deck still works for me, largely because I love the illustrations, the colors, and the overall aesthetic.
The guidebook tells me this represents "messages from ancestors and spiritual guides." Why? Who knows! But I love the green and rhubarb pink gradation on the moth's wings, and the subtle asymmetry of the illustration.
This represents "society, media, information, knowledge, research," an interpretation pretty obviously inspired by the Lenormand's book card. But also, this illustration pretty much encapsulates my platonic ideal of a home library.
This one means "caution." Why? Again, who knows. But I love this delicately pretty illustration.
I like the blues, greens, and browns on this one, which is assigned a meaning similar to the Lenormand's house card.
I love cicadas, so I love this card too. The meaning is pretty predictably "death, rebirth, starting over."
I'm curious about what scent originally inspired this card. I love the way the ferns look like wings.
I'm a huge fan of honeybees, so this is another favorite card. Again, the gradation is quite nice. The meaning here is similar to the Lenormand's bird card.
And yet another card with beautiful gradation, here in shades of rust, green, and yellow.
The cardstock is very thin and flexible, which, while not the prevailing preference for indie decks certainly is my preference because it makes it that much easier to shuffle and bridge. The printing is very carefully done, and they gilt edges are nice as well.
I think it's precisely because the cards are both beautifully drawn and arbitrary in terms of their illustrations, and because the meanings are so bare bones, that this deck works for me, at least for quick draws for simple, tactical questions. I don't think that I would ever want another oracle deck, but I like having this one.
*As for the indie house itself? I love For Strange Women's scents, but they last for approximately five minutes after application...unless I use them with the bespoke fixative base, in which case they last for two minutes. So I can't recommend FSW as far as its primary product is concerned.
これで以上です。