Oracle Overwhelm by Leela J. Williams

From the thousands of tarot and oracle decks out there, how do you choose the one for you?

In the 1980s, buying a tarot deck in Brisbane was a bit of a mission. The few shops that sold them didn’t keep a huge range on hand. When friends and I opened a little shop around 1989, we stocked about twenty different decks, and people felt spoilt for choice! Nowadays, choosing a deck — especially a first deck — can feel overwhelming. There are literally thousands of tarot and oracle decks available.

Rebecca at Tarotopia has curated an incredible collection in her gorgeous little store. As a long-time collector, I love it! But whenever I am there, someone is sure to ask, “How do I choose? How do I know which deck is right for me?”

These are great questions precisely because there is no simple, one-size-fits-all answer. Instead, they open a conversation that may reveal the deck that speaks to you … today.

I have many decks, but my first still holds a special place in my journey because it is the one I sat with and studied for the longest. I took the Tarot seriously. I pored over books and study notes, believing I had to memorise every meaning and connection. That approach served me well, especially as my career shifted from card reading to editing and writing tarot and oracle decks. However, I am quick to take that pressure off others. There is no need to approach a deck as if you are preparing for an exam. No one is coming to test you!

There are many ways to enter the world of cartomancy. One of the best ways to reduce choice paralysis and the overwhelm of how much there is to learn is to start with what you already know.

You don’t have to know all the symbols, but if you are already familiar with the theme of the deck, you will naturally bring your knowledge and associations into your interpretations. If you have an interest in dragons, have a look at decks like Dracones Loqui by Ravynne Phelan or Oracle of the Dragonfae by Lucy Cavendish. If you like the idea of working with deities, Goddess Within Oracle and Divine Masculine Healing Oracle by Christabel Jessica will not only help you tap into your existing knowledge but deepen your relationship with a pantheon of gods and goddesses. Likewise, if you already know about astrology, crystals, magic or angels, there are decks for you.

I have a collection of Alice-in-Wonderland-themed decks — I love them, not only as oracles, but as a way to connect with a story I treasure. If you follow my social media accounts, you may have seen a photo or two (or dozens!) featuring mushrooms. So, I was quick to add Sharon McLeod’s Mushroom Folk Oracle to my shelves. If you have ever wondered why there are so many decks and more coming out every year, it is because oracle authors and artists like Sharon are tapping into their loves when they are creating.

Sharon has been painting since she was a little girl. “I have always been obsessed,” she says, with a proud sense of mischief. “The mushroom realm represents other worlds of faerie, of magic, of knowings. They pop up in nearly every painting I ever do. I can’t get past them!”

As a follower of her work, it is no surprise that Sharon would create a mushroom-centric oracle. Nor is it surprising that her use of colour, posture, magical motifs and more enrich the world of the Mushroom Folk. A lot of those choices occur intuitively, as can happen when you have been working with a system for a long time. However, unpacking the meaning for others, in text, can be a different process.

I wondered whether the meanings of the mushrooms came from research, experience, intuition — or the alchemy of obsession. “All of the above!” Sharon declared. “At first, I intuited the meanings by their look or the folk name. Then, I researched to see if my meaning aligned, to learn more and go deeper.”

In many ways, that is how we can approach the cards ourselves: begin with what we see and what we already know, then allow the deck to take us deeper.

Oracle decks can also grant us access to experiences that may otherwise be unattainable. I can’t afford or have the space for an extensive crystal collection. But I can work with the energies of rare and unobtainable stones in decks like Precious Gems Oracle by Maxine Gadd. In the introduction of Mushroom Folk Oracle, Sharon says that the knowledge of mushroom magic is in our DNA. But how do we open ourselves to this type of knowledge?

“Well, you could, like our ancestors, take a dose of a psychedelic mushroom,” says Sharon. “I believe there were Vikings in my ancestry who partook in doses of psilocybin mushrooms. But you don’t need to micro- or macrodose on shrooms! You can tune into their gorgeous frequencies through meditation, daydreaming or a walk in nature with intent to find them and sit with them.” Another way, of course, is through the oracle deck.

So, when you find yourself browsing a mountain of oracular options and pondering where to begin, release the pressure of making the “right” choice. Look for worlds you already inhabit — mythology, horses, herbs, fairy tales, astrology, novels … there are even decks themed on television shows. When you consult a deck that connects with your interests, you will discover that you know more about oracle reading than you realise. And the deck won’t just tell you what you already know. It will open new doorways of insight, wisdom and wonder.

Connect with Leela at https://linktr.ee/leelajwilliams and find her oracles and journals, including Maxine Gadd’s Zoologica: The Steampunk Oracle at Tarotopia.