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Written By: Angi Sullins
Art by: Silas Toball
Publisher: U.S. Games Systems
Number of cards: 44
Card size: 5 in x 3 in
Box size: 6.5 x 4.5 x 1.75 in
Guidebook pages: 216
Purchased or gifted?: Review copy gifted from U.S. Games Systems

Absolute favorite card: The Labyrinth Walker
Other favorites: She of the Invisible Ally, The Songstress, The Oracle, Lady of Perpetual Rebirth, Thief of Peace, Disciple of Ritual, Failure’s Muse, Goddess of Grace, The Exile
Notable detail: W.I.T.C.H. = Woman in Total Control of Herself
Season: Fall
Sabbat: Lammas
Sign: Leo
Tarot Deck compliment: Smith-Waite Centennial Edition

A *look at my favorite cards from the deck*

First Impressions: First and foremost, the name of this deck is badass!! This is only the second deck of mine from Angi Sullins, and now I want ALL of her decks. Wisdom of the Wild Things is one of my new favorite obsessions and the deck I’ve chosen to work with this February. And I enjoy this one just as much but for different reasons.

Per usual, let’s start with packaging. The box is lovely and US Games Systems seems to be invested in creating much better packaging overall. I’ve been quite impressed with the most recent decks I’ve received from US Games and this is equally gorgeous. The guidebook is full color, there’s foil on the box and back of the cards and it’s a big heavy box with full print inside. It seems the little paper boxes and white booklets are gone and I fully support this!

I‘m on the fence about this next thing. I’m just a little bummed by some of the images. It’s not that I don’t like them; they’re all gorgeous (see photos at the bottom of this post) so please don’t misunderstand but many of the elements are from images we’ve all seen dancing around Pinterest for years. Some of these images like the cover (featuring the Priestess of Delphi by John Collier, oil on canvas 1891) and Alchemist of Pain (featuring Circe Invidiosa by John William Waterhouse, oil on canvas 1892) I pinned on boards some ten years ago and continue to see them swirling around ‘til this day. Obviously they are so popular for a reason because they are beautiful and effective but I wonder if it might be time to let them go? But that would be my singular flaw of this entire deck if you can even call it a flaw.

I think the introduction might be my favorite thing about the whole deck. Angi’s various descriptions of what it means to be a W.I.T.C.H. (and yes, W.I.T.C.H is spelled like this throughout the entire deck) is so beautiful. The concept of what a witch is is evolving in modern times as it should. And there’s no right or wrong way to claim that word. But I especially loved this definition: “To be a W.I.T.C.H, you don’t have to be a Wiccan, a pagan or know your way around herbs and moon cycles. If you seek sovereignty over the sanctuary of your own sacred being, this is enough.” I couldn’t agree more. I believe it so deeply. Being a witch isn’t about spells or potions, wearing black or denouncing religion. It’s about finding the courage to be yourself in a sea of conformity.

“If you seek sovereignty over the santuary of your own sacred being, this is enough.”

It’s doing the work. I can’t say this enough. It’s showing up. Actually doing the things you say you’ll do and changing the things you’ll say you’ll change and owning it when you do. And when you don’t you give yourself some grace then you face it and take steps to overcome it. That’s magic. Being true to yourself in every moment, however that looks like is powerful. And everything I have read in the guidebook supports this perspective.

I only saw two cards with males so I’m getting them out of the way before I dive too deep into the artwork. One of the cards is called the Predator and yet, Angi still brings it back to you. She describes this card as you living with a monster. That monster being internal, feeding your doubt, fear and anxieties established by a patriarchal system that so often belittles women to the point that the patriarchy has wormed its way inside your soul as a permanent resident. I loved the perspective of this card. Yes, social conditioning makes things F’ing hard but you also have it within in your power to reclaim your own sovereignty. Ever single card that I have pulled has been about empowerment.

My favorite card out of the deck is the Labyrinth Walker. It’s visually striking for one and really stands out from the rest of the deck but what I loved most is the meaning. I have a theory that the cards you’re most attracted to in a deck are the ones you need most and I have found that to be true with this card. Angi describes walking the Labyrinth as working inward towards accomplish but finding yourself trapped in the center if you stay too long. She also describes how walking outward, away from accomplishment doesn’t have to be a failure. I’m paraphrasing of course but that’s the heart of the card and I really appreciated it. Last year, I took the final step to release my spiritual wholesale business after nearly 7 years. At the time, it felt like a failure and now, I’m thrilled by how much more creative space I have now. I’m able to entertain completely different directions that I hadn’t even considered before. Sometimes you have to walk away from accomplishment to figure out you’re trying to accomplish the wrong things.

“Who profits from you believing a lie?”

Another favorite of mine is called Thief of Peace. That kind of punched me in the gut because I realized that’s exactly what stress is. It’s a robber of your peace. It breaks you down and leaves you feeling completely destroyed. I can say this with certainty because I’ve spent so much of my life dealing with anxiety and deep depression. It’s what lead me to be such an advocate of mental health. Continued below…

Purchase W.I.T.C.H. Oracle

Season, Sign and Sabbat

I chose fall because of the colors. I actually danced around this a bit. I wanted to say late summer and even into early winter and I still might agree with that. But the vast majority of what I felt supported autumn so there you have it.

I went with Leo for this deck. Leo’s are always labeled fame seekers but when you pull back the curtain on this sign, you’ll find Leo’s main job is to teach you how to shine your light and how to follow what’s in your heart. Fame and often fortune follows you, not the other way around, when you are standing in your authenticity. If you’re looking to borrow some of that energy from Leo, then this is the perfect deck for you.

If I went by aesthetics alone, I would choose Mabon for the sabbat but if I went by energy, I choose Lammas and personally, I think energy is more important. I chose Lammas because that’s the sabbat, in my opinion, that feels most like being true to yourself and shining your light as it corresponds with Leo. Angi has a really clever way of showing you how to confront the ways you aren’t shining your light. Every time I pick up this deck and Wisdom of the Wild Things, I find myself have a strong reaction in the best possible way. I’m confronted with how much more work I still need to do around self-love and self-worth but I’m also encouraged and inspired.

Who is this deck for?

I say buy this deck if you’re looking for some badass feminine empowerment. If you want to be more in touch with your feminine power or if you’re working on being more true to yourself, your wants and your needs. Don’t worry about the word witch if that isn’t your thing. It’s called W.I.T.C.H. but really it’s about finding your voice and as the name suggests, taking control of your life.

Tarot Deck Companion

I’ve been using W.I.T.C.H. with the Smith-Waite Centennial Edition. I did a photoshoot with them together and have been obsessed with the combination ever since. It seems like an unnatural match but so far, they are working quite well. Maybe it’s because Pamela Coleman Smith was a badass of her time. A woman occultist who stood in her power and authenticity. And now, her legacy continues to live on through tarot all around the world. Not only that but she was deeply involved speaking out against woman’s suffrage in England.

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