WYLDECHILDE CREATIONS

I found out about this service through a client that was posting on the AT.NET forums. They were glowing about a custom made bag for their Shadowscapes Tarot, so I got curious and I clicked on the link. I found the shop delightful and rather versatile, so I got in touch with Ona.

The story of the shop is on the profile of the account. It is meant to make customized bags that resonate with you and that are tailored to the specific dimensions of your deck. The colors match the personality of the deck, and the materials are very high quality. I love the colors of the products, and from what I can see they will last very long if used with care. I think that more than protecting your cards or sacred reading space, these products bring your tarot reading experience to life. They’re so beautiful!



Ona is very easy to work with and gives you many color and print options. I already had an idea of what I wanted, so I explained the concepts to her in my very first e-mail and I made sure to send her the dimensions of my deck. We engaged in conversation, and three days later my product was finished and being shipped out to me. Three days after that, I had my bags and spread cloth. The whole process took less than a week! Granted, schedules can fluctuate, but I think that it was very fast for a custom product.




All of the Wyldechilde bags feature:
♡ 2 layers of fabric
♡ The fabric that touches the cards is always a natural fabric
♡ (cotton, silk, wool, hemp, or rayon from bamboo)
♡ No unfinished edges
♡ Belted for secure closure
♡ Most are hand-wash cool water, line dry
♡ Snug bag so your card corners don’t get bent
♡ Colors and patterns to express your individual taste
♡ Custom sizes available

I had a bag made in the same print as the spread cloth. One is backed with copper dupioni silk, the other with indigo dupioni silk. Simply gorgeous! They make for a set. While the bag was intended for the Golden Tarot especially, I realized it would fit just about any standard deck. If I am ever on the go for readings in public events, it would be great to dress up any other standard deck I need. Practical!




I also got one made with a concept based around the Moon card from Vertigo Tarot. It is purple, has swirls and stars and is lined with the same color of magenta as is present in the pyschic rays beneath the moon. So right! Magic!

I am very happy with the end result, and can’t recommend this shop enough if you feel like you have a deck of cards that needs shelter. Often times, cards come in boxes that are flimsy or too big to keep them. Sometimes they come with a thin organza bag, but those break easily and offer very little protection. I also think they’re cheap, and too cheap to house a sacred working tool.

Every time I sit down to work with my cards, I feel like there is magic happening on my work table. The cards really come alive, and I really love the print that I got. This celestials print sets a mood for me, and helps me get into the mindset of reading. I love it!




The shop has a lot of variety. You can get a good idea of what is available to you through browsing. It is also updated with some regularity, so you can stay tuned for pre-made bags.
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CHRYSALIS TAROT REVIEW

I have just stepped into a multicultural universe of color and feelings. The main language is love, or rather, coexisting in harmony with nature and learning how to love again. It doesn’t necessarily need to be lovers’ love, it can just be that compassionate love that we are born with and forget. I get such a compassionate, healer’s perspective from this deck. It really resonates with an area of my brain — or is it my heart? — that taps into my subconscious to bring forth messages of an oracular nature. Damn! I’m inspired.

Growing up can really disconnect us from our heart. I have trouble with this notion all the time because I can see it manifesting in others, and reflecting back at me. I struggle with the hardships of life and having to find it in myself to build invisible walls to keep others out. It sucks! I like to see the best in people, the qualities that make them shine. Adulthood is trying to toughen me up and to dry out my compassion, and if I let it, one day I may come to be just as bad. But luckily, I’ve got this deck now. The Chrysalis Tarot by Holly Sierra and Toney Brooks is a sacred amulet of luck and protection that will not allow any of that negativity to come through. It dispels the evil of the world and creates a safe haven for all of us that struggle with those hardships, so we can feel protected. It sounds so hocus pocus, I know, but I honestly feel like this deck is a working tool to open your eyes to the real world, to connect with nature and to find compassionate love again. The kind of love I am talking about is mutual respect between living beings, no matter their accepted level of intelligence. If it has life, it is sacred and meant to be without question. That’s how I feel about it.



I feel like this deck is a working tool to empower yourself and to bring out potential meditation so that you can achieve a higher form of consciousness. While it does not seem purely Celtic, Shamanic, Pagan or Wiccan — which I THOROUGHLY appreciate, as I don’t identify or resonate with any of the a fore mentioned, — there are influences present in this deck. It is multicultural. You can find an archetype of each person in the deck, with different forms of beauty… and not one is ugly, because they are all pure on the inside. It makes the deck accessible and easily relatable to people from diverse cultural backgrounds, which I appreciate. I’ve always had a problem with people being of the same skin tone in tarot decks. Lack of diversity renders a deck useless to certain cultures out there, and I think that truly successful tarot decks can be related to universally. As in, will include a bit of everything, thus making it more versatile and understandable.

I have never written a review like this before. All of my other reviews are of course of decks I enjoy, but the writing I have channeled after looking through the entire deck is very different and I hope you can see that too. If you want your own copy, Holly Sierra is actually sending some decks out with custom butterflies painted on the inside flap. Each creation is original! No duplicates! A must! Get your copy now.




INTERVIEW WITH THE CHRYSALIS TAROT:

♡ Most important characteristic:
King of Stones. Hello, Toney Brooks! It seems you were a key component in the development of the deck. It seems you clung to the harmonious song of the world of Chrysalis, and you went like a bard painting the town with the colors of Chrysalis. I feel like music and lightheartedness in an approach to a serious venture such as this will greatly improve the experience with the deck. With the dog we see a loyal companion and friend following wherever we go. How uplifting.

♡ What are your strengths as a tarot deck?
Knight of Spirals. Here we have an adventurer who isn’t bound by rules. Oh, no… we have the need for adventure seeking and even for trouble, so long as the rewards are great. I feel like the parrot can be all talk as well as messages. Action and quick thinking come to mind here, also being bold and daring… and not knowing how to be any other way.

♡ What are your limits?
Two of Stones. This bear doesn’t look like he is meant to be there. in fact, he looks as if he’s lost or looking for something in the wrong place. One wrong step or slip, and he could fall and end up really hurting himself. I guess this serves as a warning and a reminder that words only go so far, after that our own actions are what define our outcome. This stands true for tarot, and is explicit in the card.



♡ What are you here to teach me?
Four of Scrolls. If you’re not sure, sleep on it and give it time. Don’t try to act or force things to happen the way that you want them to, because then it won’t be natural. Sometimes stepping back from the situation will bring an answer. The image makes me think about dreams, and finding answers in dreams. Perhaps it is through meditation that the meanings of the cards will really come to life for us.

♡ How can I best learn to collaborate with you?
Strength. Go it alone if you want, it’s a jungle out there. Embrace the journey for what it is and be ready to face challenges as well as getting your hards dirty. It is through experience that you will learn to conquer your demons and face your fear, and it’ll take a lot of courage. I also feel this is an implication to read over the booklet once, absorb what you can and then put it away. Let the cards really speak to you as you relate them to your life, then they will really start to sing.

♡ What is the potential outcome of our working relationship?
Ace of Stones. Grounding. This is a — rather personal — gift of grounding. I feel like it is offering to be the rock in times of need, a beacon of hope and positivity with the way the sun is shining behind it. It is a source of energy and possibly a seed of renewal if you approach it with the right attitude.



♡ Which card do you want to show off?
The Devil. Funny! This card jumped out earlier when I was shuffling this deck for the first time to conduct this interview. That mask really speaks to me as the mystery that it represents. We have a rose, a mirror and an infinity sign. Will we go by our intuition as suggested by the mirror, or by the passion and the pain as suggested by the thorny rose? We’re only going to be kept on the surface until we start digging deeper and unmasking the secrets.

♡ How do you see me?
Death. One of my birth cards, and a concept that I have a lot of trouble with. Going from the booklet, this suggests that you are coming out of a dark time in your life. Intuitively, she seems wise to me and with that coin I feel she has conquered a destructive force. Reading off the card itself, I feel like life is a maze and once you get out, that means your life is spent. Here she is just outside it, with what seems to be a ball of yarn. I have seen strings in death cards before and believe it is an allusion to fate as well as a continuous line that can illustrate our progress in life. It makes me think about my life and how I am shaping it.

♡ How do you see yourself?
The Magician. Tricky trickster! These birds look so mischievous as they toil with what I take to be a sacred source of divine energy, wisdom and strength in the form of a swirling tree. I can almost hear their nagging “cawww cawww cawww” as it seems to drag on. They’re shape shifters, teachers, and creatures of the hunt. This card has strong divine influence to it, and brings us to the concept of “as above, so below” from the point of view of nature.



I have not yet written a review this charged with words, but the deck really speaks to me. I’m going to be honest, while I feel that many would benefit from my use to it, I plan to use it alone. I want to really learn what I can benefit from with this deck before I start using it to empower others. It has a lot to say to me, and I intend to listen carefully. I can see many nights of candlelight and music while I go over the teachings of this deck as they pertain to my personal life. I feel strong vibes of ayahuasca, DMT present in the cards even though they don't look as if they are meant to be that way directly. Some artwork such as Spectral Eyes comes to mind when I look through the cards, reminding me of my brief experiences in a trance. There have only been two in my life, but they have lasted me with their rich knowledge and experience.

I really like the Chrysalis Tarot, and wish I had not been hesitant to get it at an earlier time. I want a beautiful bag to house it in as well as a reading cloth. Looks like I have a job for Wyldechilde at Etsy.

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HANSON-ROBERTS TAROT REVIEW

I’ve gone over many sample readings using this tarot deck and never really noticed it. I’ve seen it in numerous books teaching tarot and not resonated with its illustrations. It wasn’t until I saw it in action in a video that I told myself, “okay. Time to get it.” What influenced that decision?

Size. This tarot deck is not standard size. Rather, it is almost in bridge size if not thus. I am tempted to trim the obtrusive white edges to set these cards free and make them more comfortable for my hands, but I don’t have a corner rounder. I suspect it would not go as I want it to, so I will leave them this way. For now. I recognize this as the same card stock of the Joie de Vivre, which gave me many paper cuts as I broke into it. The edges don’t quite feather, they just get ruddy. The card stock really could stand to be better. These cards would look much nicer on a matte card stock. One that doesn’t feel like a credit card… which is what these cards feel like to me. Flimsy credit cards.




I also have a problem with the titles of the cards. The scrolls really don’t need to be there, much less with five languages on the cards. It would be wise of the publisher to revise it and place the titles in white or black font. They’re distracting! The only card I don’t terribly mind it in is in the Ace of Coins. The white flowers make the train wreck blend in a little.

Getting past that, the illustrations are quite beautiful. I really enjoy the fact they are drawn in color pencil. Since I started out my illustration work with Prismacolor pencils, there is something here that I can appreciate. Apparently the originals are just double the size of these cards. I really like the illustration style and the gentility of the people in the illustrations. They look sweet… unless of course we are talking about the Seven of Swords, in which case the person looks like a sly fox.

The colors and the textures are very soft, the style is evocative of children’s books. There is a sweetness in the deck that you won’t be able to shake. These are gentile characters you interact with. I quite like that about the deck, given the nature of the readings that I do. It speaks with sensibility.

I still haven’t done a full reading for myself, only drawn cards at random. The first reading I will conduct with it will be this interview.




♡ What is your most important characteristic?
King of Wands. I master all passion, charisma and creativity. I am an advocate for things that you enjoy, and will help you breathe life into your craft.

Note that this tarot deck was illustrated with color pencil. This was the first medium I ever used to learn to draw, and stands today as my favorite. It is the one that I always return to because I love it so much.

♡ What are your strengths as a tarot deck?
Strength. Funny. This deck is courageous and will only 'hold back' when the situation calls for it. Notice the gentility of the lion when handled by the lady. Reality can be a bit strong, but when handled with care will actually pose great wonders.

♡ What are your limits?
Two of Coins. The deck won't compensate for the connection between Querent and reader. The chemistry established on the table is up to them both.



♡ What are you here to teach me?
Justice. Patience must come with experience. Let time pass, because often times it will be the definitive factor in a situation neither side is particularly sure about.

♡ How can I best learn to collaborate with you?
Three of Wands. Time will strengthen the bonds you think might be there. Until you get to that point, just be patient.

♡ What is the potential outcome of our working relationship?
Page of Coins. It is a gift and should be seen as such. It is a tool for work that you love to do.



♡ Which card do you want to show off?
Page of Swords. See, he is on his guard and his eyes are keenly focused on what happens next before acting.

♡ How do you see me?
Seven of Coins. The one with way too many options. This is a reference to my tarot collection, most likely. I am considering selling about 20-40 decks in August. Stay tuned for that.

♡ How do you see yourself?
Ten of Rods. A deck tried by time and experience. It has been around for a while, and has amassed much popularity amongst readers. Many people have a copy of this deck even if they do not read with it.

These cards are succinct. There is no flourishing, just the reality. I like that it translates to such few words.
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DELOS TAROT

Wondrous delight! I was scouting through Tumblr and I found the Delos Tarot. I learned about it at a time when I should not be splurging in luxuries, certainly not in cards, but I got them anyway. The cards felt like a fresh look into the RWS system, which is the one I use and love so dearly. The system makes sense to me, and by now all the cards I own are fresh for me anymore. I’ve been reading with most of these for years now. Even the Vertigo Tarot is falling stale. I need something new!

The cards shuffle like butter; the card stock is soft and matte. The colors come out very bright. Once they are broken into, they will fan out smoothly. They feel very sturdy. Card size is just under standard, which makes them comfortable for my hands. I am very used to standard size cards.



The world of Delos Tarot reads a lot like a fairytale or an animated storybook. The characters are sweet, the dark cards are cute and the whole deck has a feeling of positivity that I enjoy. It feels good when the message that you give clients comes sprinkled with some joyous energy, because then it is easy to deliver hope. It is much easier to find solutions or lighthearted qualities to comfort individuals. Granted, this is a deck to use for people who resonate with optimistic qualities and outlooks of life. In the end, it doesn’t matter if you read with a Hello Kitty Tarot or a Bohemian Gothic Tarot as long as the cards speak to you, and you can answer the question in a way that makes sense to your client. A cute deck is sure to make you smile like it did to me. I really like that about it.

I’m glad I purchased it because it is high quality and it speaks to me.




INTERVIEW WITH THE DELOS TAROT:
♡ What is your most important characteristic:
Page of Wands. My spirit is young, childlike and pull of energy. There is lots of passion expressed in these illustrations, and you will find they breathe life into your readings. You can personally connect with what the cards are showing.

♡ What are your strengths as a tarot deck?
Ten of Wands. This finely dressed person comes home at the end of the day, arms full of bounty collected throughout the day. An honest day’s wages won, and possibly the exhaustion to go with it. Know when it is time to pull back and rest; don’t burn yourself out.

♡ What are your limits?
The Lovers. Some visions stretch as far as your relations with people go. If there is nothing there, you will not find it. Don’t expect to go and find connections where there really are none. If you are clear about this, the rest will come pretty easily.



♡ What are you here to teach me?
Three of Wands. Be patient. Results take time to come in and we can’t always jump to conclusions. Know what you’ve got; don’t let yourself be carried away by your own day dreams if the time has not yet come to take care of the situation.

♡ How can I best learn to collaborate with you?
Nine of Cups. Accept the gift you are given with gratitude. Each treasure you add to your collection has layers of wealth to share. You have enough wealth, so honor it and enjoy it. You have, after all, worked for it.

♡ What is the potential outcome of our working relationship?
King of Wands. Reassurance comes from passion and from motivation. Proceed with confidence that where your intuition falls, you are receiving the right answer. Enjoy the process, you’ve worked very hard to get where you want to go.


♡ Which card do you want to show off?
Eight of Wands. Messages come and go fast, like shooting stars. Be aware and in the moment so that you do not miss any of the messages I will be telling you. I will tell you everything at once, and in the dynamic of the moment, you should be able to pick up on it as you go. Be perceptive.

♡ How do you see me?
Chariot. I am a force that is pulled by two others, positive and negative. It is in keeping a balance of both that I can benefit from the situation and keep moving forward. It takes great power to keep both forces working together to move forward.

♡ How do you see yourself?
Sun. Pride of a job well done, happiness to serve those that need more light in their lives. This tarot deck is a positive influence on people, and will strive to bring out the positive qualities even in situations that may seem as if they have no light promised. There is always a possible solution to be found, and this deck aims to find it for you.



Comes with an additional art card that can be used as a bookmark for your tarot diary or as a carte blanche. It portrays a boy and a girl standing side by side.

If you would like to purchase your own copy, go to the Lamb-Lamb shop.
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MYSTIFYING ORACLE PLAYING CARDS BY CHRIS OVDIYENKO

MYSTIFYING PLAYING CARDS BY CHRIS OVDIYENKO:
I haven’t been compelled to write card reviews lately because I am bored with reviewing. I feel like the decks coming out resonate with other people. I haven’t been inspired to make a purchase in a while. This deck of cards definitely deserved a space in my collection, and I've been resonating with it like crazy. So much in fact that I purchased two copies. You never know when you need a backup!

I first heard about it during the Kickstarter campaign. He was offering a little Ouija board in the limited edition and yes/no coins that looked amazing! I remember that it was late in 2013, I found out about it during work and decided to make my contribution for two decks. I figured I'd find use for them both, or use one for both playing cards and for divination. I could collect the spare or keep it as backup, as mentioned before. This is a common trait in collectors such as myself; we find a deck that we consider to be a jewel. We think ahead into the future, telling ourselves that it could be scarce in the moment that we need it. Something like that. I feel so safe being in possession of two copies.



When I first held the box in my hands, I was very impressed. No matter where you look at it from, the tiny details on it are delightful. Let’s get started with the feel of the paper… it feels grainy and sturdy. It’s a matte finish with a copper colored foil overlay. The colors are black, ash gray and copper. The top says GOODBYE. The front has all of the suits, a winged skeleton between the sun and the moon. On the bottom, two hands come out of the clouds with an eye on each. The whole composition is framed elegantly, and textured as well. On the sides, you have the name of the deck. On the back of the box, the tuck die shows the skeleton. There is a Ouija board composite that is also on the back of the cards. On the bottom of the box, it lists the distributor as Dead on Paper and gives you the address. With pride it tells you this is an American product.




When you pop open the box, you get a breathtaking surprise. Contained on the inside is a foil damask pattern. It feels like a vampire’s boudoir in there! So beautiful. I gasped when I first noticed it. No details went without being thought about. The designer ensured the quality of this product, and I am truly glad to have two sets. Mine came with a free print that has been made, signed and numbered by Chris himself. I got 1158 / 1172. Whew! I can’t believe he went through the arduous task of making so many of these. When I think about the time it must have taken and the effort, it makes me even prouder to own the product. One of the last in the batch, too. I consider myself way lucky.

You take out the cards and are presented with excellent quality. You get two extra jokers, a gaff card and a yes or no card. Convenient! He considered that this would in fact be used for divination or entertainment… and he was right. I intended to purchase this deck to read along with the Playing Card Oracles method. [Since it requires memorization of the suit placement on each of the cards, I will use it as a more advanced level of cartomancy. I am still getting comfortable with it. I digress, though, that is a post for another day!]

The cards are stunning. I noticed the damask that is on the tuck part of the box as a texture on the fact of the cards. This really brought the project together for me!

The court cards are amazing! I recognize some of the people from the séance picture on the cards, which really resonates with me. That picture used to resonate a lot with me. I also like the others, they are quite imaginative. I’ve never seen cards this beautiful. The card stock is sturdy, luxurious and shuffles like butter. They’re so slippery!

My favorite suit is the suit of hearts. It looks amazing! Well, in truth, all the cards do.




I have a tip to know how the cards are upright: Dots at the top right corner are the strongest. Otherwise you won’t be able to tell if they are upright or not. Pay close attention to them when you first look at your cards so that you will know to identify the orientation of the card for your readings and general neatness. If you lose track, refer to the Ace of Spades and look into the dot clutter on the right. It is exactly the same on all the card backs

INTERVIEW WITH THE ORACLE:

♡ What is your most important characteristic?
4 ♥ The West Wind. An atmosphere of compassion and warmth is represented in the card. Gentle persuasion to lift the spirits, inviting us to put worry aside. There is harmony and understanding, opposing sides can find common ground and comfort.

♡ What are your limits?
5 ♥ Fata Morgana. Coming from the Arthurian Tales, meaning the spell of Morgana. Over the course of time, many illusions will be cast upon our hearts. They are only shadow images, reflections lacking depth. It’s easy for you to be led astray. Can you still find your center? This deck will help you do just that. Beautiful!

♡ What are you here to teach me?
Jack ♦ Dango. Constantly walking the line between fantasy and reality, between the possible and the impossible. Perform the balancing act going on faith, or working under intense pressure. Try and catch hold of it, and it will disappear out of sight, such as inspiration often foes.



♡ How can I best learn to collaborate with you?
3 ♦ The Necklace. Objects of value will be strung together, connected. Suggesting alignment of energies that creates something new, vibrant and transformational. This is a spiritual calling.

♡ What is the potential outcome of our working relationship?
7 ♣ Sword of Enchantment. The presence of something special. Unexplainable events come into being. Opportunities magically present themselves. The right person coincidentally happens to be at the right place, right time. Directing spiritual traffic even without conscious intention.

♡ Which card of you want to show off?
King ♠ Mardoc. The conqueror without mercy or compassion. This is a king whose castle has no walls, whose kingdom is limited only by the length and breadth of the Earth itself. His home is where he makes it, where his conquest demands.


♡ Advice?
9 ♠ The Throne of Spiders. Have situations gone out of hand? Earthly values, concerns, addictions have become all consuming. Matter is winning the battle over spirit. We are not victims. We are creatures of choice, though sometimes the choices are very difficult. When carrying our burdens involves the ultimate price, it is often better to cut the load than be buried by it. Don't let anybody drain you and don't overwork yourself. Let go if you have to.

♡ How do you see me?
Ace ♦ Ignita. WOW! This is a card I ran into in the wild last March. A strong sense of self and a person’s own individuality. Spiritual values and transformation. A new project manifesting itself. It is the most pure form of the element of fire, which can be inspiration or motivation to do something. It can also be passion.

♡ How do you see yourself?
2 ♠ The Enemies. Like rock against rock, sword against sword, this card represents the ultimate clash: two energies equally pitted in strength and determination. Resolution is a final concept for this card. Often there is a perception that one side or the other must win, must conquer the other. Cooperation and understanding is the lesson of this card.



Since I am not yet a buff in playing card divination, I have paraphrased these meanings off of Ana Cortez’s Playing Card Oracles: Source Book for Divination. I started to learn to use it last year, and this deck serves as motivation to keep the study going. This is the start of a beautiful friendship, the mystifying playing cards and I! You'll love this system to compliment the Mystifying Oracle Playing Cards.

GETTING CREATIVE WITH THE DECK:
It inspires me to host a cartomancy party for my own birthday, and to treat guests to a show tied in with actual readings. It would be really cool to play out a fantasy for them. If a party fails, it would be so cool to do a similar style of photoshoot with the deck for my personal portfolio as a cartomantic fortune teller.

I think about this in a steampunk saloon or parlor somewhere. Including myself in the fantasy, I see myself in a corset and bustle skirt matching the colors of the cards. The warm grays, reds and black. I see shiny embroidery of the damask on the corset. My hands have lace glovelets, my pale hands are contrasted by the metallic dark red on my nails. I will sit back with my deck and shuffle quietly the fates of my sitters. The querent asks me something, only to be dealt a hand of cards that will whisper to them of their fate.



Oh yeah! Are your cards making you day dream lately? I hope you enjoyed this review. Please support Chris Ovdiyenko’s future endeavors. His talent deserves reward and praise! Would you like to purchase your own copy?
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