The Earthbound Oracle, by AL Swartz
In the past, I’ve mentioned that I’m ‘not that into oracle decks’, mainly because I’m in love with the whole system of tarot, and also kind of because I’ve never really found a way to use them that really resonates for me.
Well, today is a day for eating words. I ate words for breakfast and words for lunch. Time to eat some more!
The Earthbound Oracle arrived on my desk mid yesterday afternoon. I couldn’t have asked for it at a better moment – I had a big dilemma going round and round in my mind. Without stopping to admire the cards, the box or anything much at all, I took the cards’ arrival as a sign and leaped straight into a three-card reading. It was incredibly helpful.
Today, despite having been up since 4am (hey there insomniac brain), I’m ready to dive in and explore these cards…
In terms of what you get physically, this is a very simple deck comprising 50 playing-card sized cards and a neat little tuck box. There’s no book, no guidance, no nothing. (Which I like very much.) The cards have a nice smooth laminate so they shuffle beautifully and feel sturdy. The backs of the cards have a neat crescent moon design.
I came across this deck whilst checking out the Wooden Tarot, also created by AL Swartz. My friend Marianne had been blogging with this gorgeous tarot deck lately and, as is so often the case with Marianne’s writing, I’d been wondering if the Wooden Tarot was one for me. (I don’t mind admitting that seeing Temperance as a sea otter was a big part of the tug.)
In the end, though I admired the tarot deck greatly, I opted for the oracle – something about it told me that I needed it far more. Andy’s artwork seems to lend itself especially well to oracle cards, where concepts are more singular and (perhaps) less theoretical than in the tarot.
So – the cards themselves! What can I say about an oracle deck without literally listing the cards? First of all – I love them. I love the simple yet detailed illustrations. I love the way they feel a little spooky, but friendly, too. I love the choice of concepts included, such as ceremony, growth, guide, gift.
There’s a weight to these cards – perhaps that’s why it’s called the ‘earthbound’ oracle. On the back of the box Andy describes this deck as ‘practical and down to earth’, but it’s more than that. These cards are full of bones and rocks, flesh, branches, growth and decay. Wildlife, water, nature. There are very few man-made objects (a ribbon, a compass, a candle, a book) which gives it all such a grounded, real kind of solidity.
The four elements are all here, too – something else I find pleasing. They form a neat series and could be used on their own:
I plan to use these cards the way I use my other oracles – for a word of wisdom to wind up a tarot reading, for advice or food for thought in the morning or before making a decision. But I may also use these in the same way I do tarot cards – in simple spreads, perhaps. They seem to me to carry that kind of gravity. (Does anyone else use oracle cards this way?)
This ain’t much of a review, as I’ve not spent much time with my lovely new deck. But I’ll be keeping it nearby in coming weeks, and turning to it often. Expect many more pictures!
If you’re in the US, you can get the Earthbound Oracle (and the Wooden Tarot!) directly from skullgarden.net. If you want to peruse his artwork in more detail, you can also view galleries and find out all about Andrew and his work.
Not in the US? You can buy the Earthbound Oracle in the Little Red Tarot shop! (And the Wooden Tarot, too.)
I’m a 30-something writer, artist, tarot reader, and perpetual explorer of the space between thought, feeling, and action.
I believe that spirituality and ritual are for everybody. I’m about the journey, in all of its messy, non-linear, chaotic iterations. I am excited by anticapitalist business and living with my whole entire self present. I use tarot cards to bring forth hidden truth, and ritual to affirm my commitment, over and over, to my ever-shifting path.
oooooh, i REALLY like these! & i’ve never felt particularly drawn to oracle decks either, but dang!
Yup…
Wow! This deck looks amazing! I haven’t been huge into oracle decks myself. I’ve only ever had one, but I may spring for this one!
I actually thought to myself ‘I bet Elisabeth would like this one’… 🙂
SAME! I have the Wooden Tarot and keep eyeballing these cards. (get it? eyeball?) And I don’t dig oracles, either, but this deck is hypnotic. Is it the Non-Oracle Oracle deck?
Cool! How are you finding the Wooden Tarot, Lis?
OMG I love love love these cards! I have the deck and I find the readings to be pretty awesome!
I’d love to hear how you find the Wooden Tarot Ashley!
Yum! These are absolute loveliness!
Well exactly!
Hi Beth, I wondered if you had to pay import duty on the Oracle deck to get it sent to the UK? ????
I didn’t on this one, but sometimes when I buy decks from the US I do pay it. It seems kinda random!
When I import decks for my shop I always pay duty, sometimes quite a lot.
Also, if you’re worried about duty, I’ll have the Earthbound Oracle in my shop in a couple of weeks (you can preorder it now 🙂
Thanks for the info Beth. I think it depends on the value of the goods but I’m not sure what the threshold is? If I decide to order them I’ll get back to you and order them from you! 🙂
This seems pretty great…
Curses. I need to stop buying decks.
Thank you for the kind words and great post about the deck!
My pleasure, thank you for creating such a beautiful, special thing 🙂
Can’t wait to get it in stock in the shop…. 😀
Beth! I’m a recent subscriber and am really enjoying your newsletters. (You’ve set me a good example, and my own most recent newsletter was the best I’ve sent in a while.)
Like you, I’m much more tarot- then oracle-deck-centric. But when I saw this today, I RAN (well, clicked really fast) and ordered the deck.
Thanks for everything.
Aw, I’m so glad – on all counts! xxxx
I love my Shadowscapes tarot deck, but the past 2 weeks I’ve been pretty much exclusively using my Wild Wisdom of the Faery Oracle deck by Lucy Cavendish. I do readings with them alone, particularly a 5 card Faery cross spread that has turned out beautifully, or a 3 card spread. Just my two cents to say that I LOVE my oracle deck, and I’m glad you’ve found one that resonates with you.
I have a friend who is really into Faeries Oracle from Brian Froud, so I have that deck too and I know once I have a good feel for it it’ll get me to use the oracle cards just like the Tarot, yes! It’s so fascinating how many things you can get from oracle cards, which don’t have a set structure and meanings. Also: thanks for mentioning how the deck feels in your hands!
April G wrote a great guest post about the Faeries Oracle which you should totally read! it’s here!
I absolutely adore the artwork in both of these decks, I felt exactly the same as you after seeing The Wooden Tarot’s Temperance card. I just can’t look past an Otter :P. I can’t wait to see a little more about this deck from you in time 🙂
Ah, otters.
Oh yay, I’m glad you took the plunge! My copy of the oracle got lost in the post, so I haven’t beheld it with my own eyes yet. Andy very kindly offered to send me another copy, so fingers crossed I’ll have it in my hot little hands soon! This post has got me all excited about it all over again!
Oh no! Hope it arrives soon… mainly so I can see you do cool things with it on your blog 😀
These cards just arrived in the mail and I absolutely love them. My first reading was spot on. I like the simplicity of them – the artwork is stunning. Thanks so much!
Glad you like them! It’s a deck I continue to keep in my pocket and regularly pull out.