Written by Arwen Lynch
Artwork by Mary Alayne Thomas
U.S. Games Systems, Inc. 2017
Secrets of the Mystic Grove is a 44 card oracle deck. Honestly, I'm usually a tarot reader above all else, and I like a bit of edge to a card. These are more of a simple, comfort deck, think hot chocolate on a rainy day.
The cards are definitely a standard oracle, and have stuck to the classic, fluffy, formula of "here's some nice artwork, and a soothing, catch all message". The meanings are things like "togetherness", "trust", "listen" and "adventure", similar to other oracle decks.
It really comes into its own with the illustrations. The artist has created a mystical folkloric world where art nouveau has been stripped back, and beautiful creatures and botanical illustrations frame white women living a strangely resonant oddness. For example, the card "unravel" features a woman with a poppies in her ears and a cat in her hair, playing cats cradle. Most of the images do tie in well with the card meanings! "Confidence" features a woman with a hecking peacock in her hair! She who dares wins!
I like that the artwork is from this world. Often, oracle decks draw upon other realities, but this deck is a reminder of how magical our own (supposedly mundane) world is.
Practically, everything is decent. The box fits flush to the deck, and is sturdy and slim. Handbag ideal. The cards are a nice shuffleable size, with a vibrant, slightly shiny finish which allows the artwork to pop. There are no borders on the deck, allowing the artwork to take up space and be fully appreciated.
The book has a colour cover and black and white pages, and it seems large but is quite limited. The idea is to use the cards for journalling with. This is mentioned on the back of the box, but only upon opening the book does it become clear that this is the key purpose of this deck.
At the back has a single page with 3 short paragraphs of how to use the cards, (mainly how to start journalling). There is one 3 card spread too.
The card meanings are each a page with 2 paragraphs; one talking about the imagery and one talking about the querent. This is actually a well organised formula.
Next to them, are some journal prompts. These are actually pretty good and I may use them as tarot questions rather than for journalling with. There is space to do the journalling, but this is only a few lines on a small page so I would personally not write in the book, and set aside a separate journal for writing in, because you would be really limited as to how much you could write.
When I saw this deck, it transported me back to being a teenager. Back then, I struggled with behavioural issues and mental health, and turned to oracle decks for comfort and understanding in a world where I felt nobody else understood me. I could have got lost in artwork like this for hours back then, and immerse myself in the universe that the illustrator has created. Nowadays, I find it a bit more tepid, but I can appreciate the vibrant and soothing imagery. I wouldn't pull this deck off the shelf for myself, and think it's unintentionally for a younger or simpler audience. Maybe that's because at this point in life, I've exhausted the limited range of meanings in this deck, in (the many) other decks which use similar meanings. That said, it's a lovely, comforting deck, with lovely art work.