Articles — deck reviews

The Shaman Box (Deck Review)

Posted by Guest Author on

The Shaman Box (Deck Review)

Thanks to Andhe Standiford for providing this guest review of The Shaman Box! This exciting new title is now available in the shop. The Shaman Box measures 8 inches tall by 6 inches wide, by 1 inch deep. It has a weight and the feel of a small hardcover book. Inside you will find a deck of 36 animal oracle cards on the left side, and a softcover 96-page book titled "The Shaman Box" on the right side. The Shaman Box Animal Oracle Cards contain 36 beautiful black and white illustrations of totem animals done in a style reminiscent of...

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Deck review: Otherkin Tarot

Posted by Michelle Gruben on

Deck review: Otherkin Tarot

In the follow-up to 2016's excellent Linestrider Tarot, deck creator Siolo Thompson is still striding lines. This time, the barrier being teetered upon is the dividing line between traditional Tarot and avant-garde art deck.  Flipping through the Otherkin Tarot is like taking a trip through the looking glass. Every familiar element is countered by something completely unexpected. A wolf wields a hammer, a miniature knight rides a turtle, an octopus cuddles a snake. Welcome to the world of the Otherkin, where Tarot is still Tarot but everything else is just a little…different. First Impressions Visually, Otherkin Tarot is similar to...

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Deck review: Rackham Tarot

Posted by Michelle Gruben on

Deck review: Rackham Tarot

One of the most anticipated new Tarot decks of 2019, the Rackham Tarot is based on the artwork of the beloved illustrator Arthur Rackham. Rackham’s fantasy worlds are populated with elves and goblins, golden-haired princesses and sly old crones. His artwork appeals to occultists because of his skill in evoking the enchantment (and danger) of the Faery realms. Arthur Rackham (1867-1939) was a major figure in the Golden Age of illustration, which lasted roughly from the 1890s to the start of the first World War. At this time, the major publishing houses in Britain would commission illustrators to embellish classic...

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The best new Tarot and oracle decks of 2017

Posted by Michelle Gruben on

The best new Tarot and oracle decks of 2017

As 2017 winds down, Tarot enthusiasts are making a list and checking it twice. Which decks do you hope to find under the Yule tree? Here at Grove and Grotto, we buy and sell Tarot decks, of course—but we’re also readers and collectors ourselves. Just for fun, we’ve put together a list of our most-recommended decks of 2017. This was a hard list to compile, as 2017 was a strong year for Tarot and oracle deck publishing. Here, we will laud the best of the best with our brand new Grove and Grotto Excellence in Divination Award, (or “Groveys,” as...

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Deck review: Secrets of the Mystic Grove

Posted by Michelle Gruben on

Deck review: Secrets of the Mystic Grove

Is there anything as satisfying as digging into the shrink wrap of a brand new deck of cards? Heck no! So today we’re pulling off the plastic and taking a look at the newest oracle deck from US Games, Secrets of the Mystic Grove. Secrets of the Mystic Grove came out in June 2017. It contains 44 cards with images by Portland-based artist Mary Alayne Thomas. The accompanying book is by Arwen Lynch. (Lynch has previously co-authored the Fairy Tale Lenormand­­­ with Lisa Hunt. Mystic Grove is Thomas’ first oracular offering.) I’m pretty much a dedicated Tarot reader, and I...

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