Getting to know you
An interview with a new deck
Tarot decks have their own quirks and personalities - just like people.
And as with people, it pays to have a little ‘getting to know you’ session before you try to settle down to any meaningful conversation or communication.
Sometimes you know immediately that you are going to love a deck, sometimes one takes a little longer to grow on you and some, let’s face it you just never seem to form a connection with.
As soon as I saw the Oak, Ash and Thorn deck I felt drawn to it, and the more I read about it the more I was sure that it was a deck I could really work well with. And so far it hasn’t disappointed.
The card quality is beautiful and I love the eco-friendly ethos of the creators. But the illustrations and the warmth depicted in each card has really blown me away.
I haven’t found a single card I dislike in this deck - and I don’t think I can say that about any other that I’ve used. It is charming, quirky and so very calming in a way I can’t really describe.
I’m a big fan of doing a little interview with a new deck and for inspiration I turned to
who writes the beautifulShe suggests a simple 3-card spread asking the following questions (I have paraphrased)
✨ What is the energy of this deck?
✨ What does this deck have to teach me?
✨ How can this deck change me?
Nine of Pentacles
This deck gives such a wonderful sense of abundance, confirming what I already knew and felt. It’s a really comforting and homely feeling. It’s a deck that has my best interests at heart and wants me to do well and succeed.
Five of Wands
A great reminder that good things don’t just happen because you want them to. Action is needed and even - dare I say it - a little conflict. This deck might not always tell me what I want to hear. But it will tell me what I need to hear.
Strength
I don’t think I have ever seen a more beautiful Strength card in a deck. There is such a warm, knowing wisdom about this illustration. It’s calm and serene, yes but that badger has very sharp claws too and is letting that snake know, in no uncertain terms, who is in charge here. This is deck that will remind me of my own inner strength. That I am enough. That I am stronger than I think.
Do you have a favourite ritual with a new deck? Any particular questions you like to ask of it? Do let me know in the comments.
Or if you have this deck I’d love to hear your experiences of using it.
Louise I have a question for you. Have you done a comparison review between the Oak, Ash & Thorn and Heartwood tarot decks? If so, could you link to it? And if you haven’t, would you like to write a post comparing them? I am so in love with the Three Trees drawings and am thinking of buying one of their decks, but have a hard time deciding which.
The bit about this deck telling you what you need to hear and not always what you necessarily want to hear - so good! So glad this spread helped you welcome a new deck into your practice, Louise!