I love the Seasons of the Witch Oracle Decks. The art, the poems, but mostly how I use them. Each decks correlates with a specific season of time, so my plan was to use them as focus cards. Daily energies to focus on, be aware of, and so forth that was aligned with the season of time I was in.
It hasn’t quite gone as planned though…
The Samhain Deck
The Samhain deck was the first one they put out, and the first deck I got. I was excited – The cards were excellent quality, good size, fantastic art! So I started working with them, getting to know their energy and personality. It was also about the same time I was diving deep with my Ozark Women (Ancestors). Almost from the get-go They claimed the deck as Theirs.
I’ll admit I wasn’t too against the idea. It makes a perfect deck for working with Ancestors, almost like it was made for that work. So deck one got claimed, but I still had hope for the others as they came out.
Yule and Beltane Decks
Next I got the Yule, and then the Beltane deck – These worked exactly how in envisioned! They were perfect for focus cards, as well as other things such as creating spells with my Ancestors. It wasn’t covering all four seasons of time nature wise – fall, winter, spring, and summer, which is my ideal, but it would do for now. After all, it seems that they are going to do a set for every point of the Wheel (I’d say holiday, which is their structure but not everyone celebrates those times as those holidays). So at least this gave me a deck for the colder months and one for the warmer.
Mabon Deck Released!
I was super excited when the Mabon deck got released. Fall is my favorite time of year and I really did want one specific deck for that time of year. Since Ancestors took over the Samhain deck, this was my next chance for a fall deck.
I waited impatiently for it to arrive, and when it did I immediately went to work. I skimmed through each card with giddy glee. Their primary color was this beautiful orange almost copper which I adore, and the various aspects of the cards really drew me in… I suppose that should have been my first clue.
As my usual process with the deck I started doing some “get to know you” readings to get a feel for their personality, strengths, weaknesses, etc. The very first reading sounded a lot like the Goddess Hel…
Since I am in a heavy 9 day devotional with Her, the presence and Her voice was not surprising. So I quickly shrugged away the thought and kept going. The next reading though was undeniable…
Did my Deity just hijack my deck?
I will interject here, that this isn’t uncommon with me. For some reason my Guides seem to latch onto certain decks and just claim them as Their own. The Morrigan claimed my Dreams of Gaia deck, Ancestors the Samhain one, Kari the Runic deck. I am not really sure why this happens, as it is not really the cards but the channeling aspects that shape the messages I receive. But I digressed and it is time to return to the story…
The One Card
I sat there for a bit, cards in hand, knowing the answer but trying to find a way around it.
I know better. I know that Their plans are not always mine and They want what They want. I took a breath and just asked the question “Hel, are you claiming this deck?”
There was only one card in the whole deck I would have accepted as a yes. Only one that breathed Her name… and it was the one card that came forward… The Queen of the Dead.
My chance at a fall deck was gone in an instant. My first reaction was a bit of sadness. I had been really looking forward to a fall deck, my wonderful season that was the highlight of my year. I picked up the deck though and started really going through the cards. Looking at each one, taking in their messages and all the tiny details, and it occurred to me – this was never ever going to be anything but Hers. I may have bought this for one reason, but She had Her own plan all along.
All this time She has shared decks with the others – first with The Morrigan and then with Kari. It takes a lot for me to buy a deck. I am extremely picky, it has to call to me, resonate with me, and the art is extremely important. When picking out a deck for a specific purpose, specific Guide, it gets even worse.
Her Deck
Like the Samhain deck seemed just made for Ancestor work, this deck seems made for the Goddess Hel. There are small elements all over in the deck, such as snakes hidden everywhere, that just fit. The messages, the poems, the specific cards themselves, just fit my journey with this beloved Goddess. I wouldn’t have guessed it, it never even crossed my mind, but it’s true none the less.
I can have the best laid plans, the biggest ideas – but my Deities can have very different ones for me. Yes, I was a tad sad at first that another fall deck was lost – but I am extremely happy with the outcome. Hel is happy, the conversation is amazing, and it was just meant to be.
So here I am, back to just the Yule deck (cooler weather) and Beltane deck (warmer weather) – Ice and Fire. Perhaps it will always be that way. After all, my work, my elements, are Water/ Ice and Fire. As I sit here writing this though, a new idea is emerging… something that I had not thought of before and something to experiment with when it comes to those two decks. Perhaps I will share that at a later time.
If you haven’t checked out these decks, and you are into tarot, I highly recommend them.
If you are looking for a deck for Ancestor communication – the Samhain deck is amazing.
If you want a deck for the Goddess Hel – give the Mabon one a shot – She obviously seems to like it!
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