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Written By: Arin Murphy-Hiscock
Illustrated by: Sara Richard
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Number of cards: 51 (I individually counted so this might be off)
Card size: 5 in x 3 in
Box size: 5.5 x 4 x 1.5 in
Guidebook pages: 127
Purchased or gifted?: Purchased myself

Absolute favorite card: Watering Can & Chamomile
Other favorites: Pine tree, oak tree, moss agate, altar, cauldron, moth, cup of tea, carnelian, sickle, seeds, autumn, roots, potion
Notable detail: embossing and sides of box
Season: Spring
Sabbat: Beltane
Sign: Taurus
Tarot Deck compliment: Midnight Magic Tarot

First Impressions: This is a gorgeous deck. The box, the colors, the borders, everything. It’s so earthy, moody and consistent. I really love the artwork on this and I have plenty to say but more on that later.

The Packaging

First up, packaging. The box is stunning. It has embossing on the cover which is so elegant and the contrast between the top and dark bottom is striking. It really adds that touch of moodiness that I love so much. And then the sides on the bottom of the box are spectacular (see photos below). I thought it was the same thing on the back of the cards but no, completely different which means they went the extra mile to add this detail and what a detail it is! There’s this entire little whimsical scene of flora and fauna that wraps all the way around. It’s like a snapshot of a meadow at midnight. You can tell a lot of thought went into the aesthetics.

The cardstock is pretty think. In fact, it might be one of the thicker ones I have. It’s such a nice quality and the feel is quite nice on the hands although they are a bit challenging to shuffle. It’s matte which I feel is much more elegant than gloss. And the faces of the cards have a beautiful border detail. The color palette is so deliciously consistent and earthy. It is in my opinion, the absolute epitome of a cottage witch deck. This is one of those rare decks where I don’t mind the lack of gilding. It’s far too humble and sweet a deck for so much fuss.

The Artwork

The artwork is cute by not cutesy. It’s fun and whimsical but still feels mature and earthy. I love the mix of bigger scenes like altar, pine tree, hearth and roots mixed in with smaller scenes like moss agate, cup of tea and moth. My favorite card is a toss up between Watering Can and Chamomile. Watering Can is so sweet. It features rain falling into the can itself and lots of vines, flowers and leaves whisping around it. And then there’s a little bee, making its way to a flower. It feels like a snapshot of a country garden on a rainy spring day.

Then there’s Chamomile which is very clearly a night scene although the card itself retains the same light background as all the rest. But you still get the feeling of a night sky and moonlight. There’s the actual moon in the left corner, the hazy moonlight in the background, and the tones are kept to shades of white which feel crisp like night air. Finally, the candle with its small embers dancing in the wind. The keywords for this card are gentleness, relaxation and peace—exactly what you see. Each image feels so poetic and if you’ve been reading these reviews for a while, you know when I love the art I REALLY love it and this is no exception. So I won’t drag on too much about the cards otherwise it would take you a week to read this whole post. Be sure to check out card images down below.

“It’s important to remember that you are working with your oracle deck; it is not working for you”

The Guidebook

On to the guidebook which is full color however, and this is the one thing that I truly had issue with for this deck, it’s lacking some organization. The cards aren’t numbered nor are they in alphabetical order. The table of contents doesn’t have the card names and their corresponding page so it’s a little frustrating flipping through the book, trying to stumble upon the card’s meaning. Some people read without the guidebook but a lot of people, especially beginners, use the guidebook to the fullest. There’s so much attention to detail in this deck so I find myself wondering what happened with this. I thought it might be intentional but I have read the whole book now and unless I missed it, I don’t see any indication that this was a deliberate decision. Continued below…

Purchase Green Witch's Oracle

I do really like the guidebook despite the lack of numbered cards. The interpretations are just enough; not too much or too little. There are six spreads to choose from so plenty of options and a very nice section on preparing your deck for a reading, blessing and maintaining the deck. Something that really stood out to me is a comment in the beginning of Part 2: Working With the Deck. She says “It’s important to remember that you are working with your deck; it is not working for you.” I found this statement to be a great way to establish the tone of preparing your deck for a reading. I’ll often say a deck has a personality and this statement really speaks to that. I love her thoroughness in this section and while I only have maybe two of her books, that sentence encouraged me to go buy all of the rest.

I’ve done a few readings now and I’ve enjoyed them. My interview of the deck was especially promising and encouraging. It talked about using this deck for growth and for seeking out new opportunities which feels like this deck’s theme in a nutshell.

It’s a solid deck for sure; it feels like an instant classic and very easy to use. 100% beginner friendly and a photographer’s dream. Obviously aesthetics do not make magic but they make magic feel more magical. And we live in the world of social media. Many of use are influencers or would like to be so having a deck that is very easy to photograph doesn’t hurt. But don’t mistake style for lacking in substance.

Season, Sign and Sabbat

I knew this deck would be spring before I even bought it. Summer too but it feels perfectly at home with spring energy. The delicate flowers and buds, wispy leaves and soft sunshine instantly transported me to April and May which is why I chose Beltane for the sabbat. I kept picking up the energy of a new fresh garden that’s not quite blooming but well on its way. Although in truth, it’s so earthy I can easily see this deck being a regular year round sort of deal.

It had to be Taurus for the sign for sure. It’s earthy (how many times have I said that? lol) but also quite sensual. You feel like your senses are engaged even though this is only thick paper. You can almost smell flowers, hear the wind, and the feel the warm sun on your face. Decks are a lot like books; when well done, they can transport you to a completely different world.

“While anyone can consult this magical deck, it is uniquely suited for green witch practitioners.”

Who is this deck for?

Arin says “While anyone can consult this magical deck, it is uniquely suited for green witch practitioners.” And I believe that’s true. While gorgeous and powerful in its own way, the themes and overall look for each card are most suited for the green minded. Having said that, you won’t find much that you are unfamiliar with. So if you are interested in green magic, then this is a great place to start.

Tarot Deck Companion

If the artwork looks familiar, it’s probably because it’s so similar to the Midnight Magic Tarot which is done by the same illustrator. The vibe is really similar with the real difference being Green Witch Oracle’s background is a warm cream whereas Midnight Magic Tarot is black. But I think they have the same energy and play really nicely together. In fact, I think the contrast in color makes this combination even more special.

I also love Wildwood Tarot with this. The artwork is completely different but still, the energies feel aligned. I actually prefer this combination just a bit more than with Midnight Magic Tarot. Maybe just a hair more. The Wildwood Tarot is one of my top three favorite decks of all time. I’ve used it religiously every winter and spring for years and I intuitively felt they would be a match when Green Witch Oracle first arrived.

But perhaps my favorite combination is with Pagan Otherworlds Tarot. I kind of threw them together for a photo and just loved the mix. The tones are so similar, even the backgrounds look nearly identical. I kept finding myself drawn to the combo over and over again. So much so that I decided to use it for Ostara Sabbat readings this year. And doesn’t that speak to the magic of this deck? It’s so beautiful and I imagine it can pair well with sooo many other tarot and oracle decks. It's a winner for sure.

Thanks for reading all the way through. If you found this review to be helpful, informative or entertaining in any way, please be sure to leave a comment down below. It really helps me know what you’re enjoying so that I can provide more content based on what you love.

And of course, if there is something you’d like me to consider reviewing, please comment below or email me at hello@spiritelement.co