When it comes to oracle decks, I’m super picky about them—and you should be as well. This week, Crossed Crow Books sent me a copy of The Avian Oracle and I’m happy to report that I’m absolutely delighted with it. The Avian Oracle is a 45-card deck accompanied by a 138-page guidebook.

The guidebook was written by Sandra Kynes, whose work I was already familiar with. She is the editor of Llewellyn’s Complete Book of Correspondences, a volume I’ve turned to many times in my spiritual practice. Because of this, I had high expectations for the quality of the writing, and she definitely did not disappoint. For each bird in the deck, she includes magical correspondences, folklore associated with it, and possible ways to interpret it in readings. Her introductory material—including suggested spreads and an historical perspective on birds in magic and ritual—is also well written. It provides a solid introduction for those who may not have used an oracle deck before, which is always helpful to include.

The cards themselves were illustrated by Gianna Rini in a simple, clean collage style which suits the deck well. The basic design of each card is consistent, which helps give the deck a unified feel. The color choices are lovely as well, making the cards especially pleasing to the eye.

From the moment I held the deck in my hands, I loved the size and weight of the cards. They were easy to shuffle, and after a quick cleansing, I set to work using them. I did a one-card pull for both myself and my husband and, not surprisingly, the readings were very accurate.

I’m sure The Avian Oracle will be a deck I return to again and again. There is a great deal of wisdom to be gleaned from these cards, no matter what spiritual path you practice.

Blessings, David T, http://www.sabbatsandsabbaths.com