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Title: Kate Forsyth’s Hedgewitch Oracle
Created by: Kate Forsyth
Art by: Vasilisa Romanenko
Publisher: Rockpool Publishing
Price: $28.95
Number of cards: 44
Card size: 5 x 3.5 in
Box size: 6.25 x 5 x 2 in approx
Guidebook pages: 11
Purchased or gifted?: review copy gifted by Rockpool Publishing
Absolute favorite card: Parsley
Other favorites: (in order from most beloved): Rowan, Elder, Lemon Balm, Hazel, Willow, Mint, Angelica, Basil, Mugwort
Notable detail: green gilded edges
Season: Summer and into Fall
Sabbat: Lammas
Sign: Virgo
Element: Earth
Deck compliment: La Flora Tarot
Collective Pull: Foxglove

Add to Your Altar

First Impressions

My very first thought is that this deck is lush. I noticed that with Kate’s other deck too: Kate Forsyth’s Fairytale Oracle. There are a lot of really significant details here that you don’t often see on an oracle deck. I also love how earthy it is. Kate’s last deck was earthy too but this is very grounded. I really liked the Fairytale Oracle and so, the experience seems to be about the same. So let’s take a close look and see if you’re ready to add this one to your altar.

The Packaging

This is a luxe deck and the packaging does not disappoint. You can tell Rockpool considers Kate to be a high profile creator because they really go all out for her decks. The box is heavy and treated in a linen/canvas finish, the same used on the cards. It features a full color book fold top with detailed printing on the sides, inside of the lid and on the bottom.

There’s a nice platform to hold the cards and a bright green ribbon to lift them out. One thing Rockpool has been doing for the past year or so is printing on the little bands that hold the cards. I’ve kept every single one since they started doing it. Usually, I’d just toss those white papers into the trash but I keep them because details matter. That piece of paper is just that, a piece of paper but someone took the time to think about my full experience. That’s what really separates a brand. It’s just like getting that little special tote bag in your clothing order or opening up a box to find it smells amazing. No one does packaging like Rockpool and this is really setting them apart.

The cards have a beautiful texture, canvas, as you might recall. Though I will say, the cards feel just a bit thin. It’s not enough to complain about but I definitely feel like they could be a bit heavier, especially considering the luxe treatment on the feel. The card backs have a nice green, herbal motif that you will see throughout the packaging.

The standout detail are the green edges. This is another thing Rockpool does so well and they were ahead of everyone else about it too. They ALWAYS have gilded edges and they’re usually a really unique color like the green you see here. If you have the Seasons of the Witch: Yule Oracle, then the green will be familiar. It appears to be the same shade and its just as striking here as it is for Yule Oracle.

The Guidebook

The guidebook is full color and quite pretty. It honestly looks like a regular book and if there were ever a book to match, I would buy it in a heartbeat. Inside the guidebook, you’ll find:

An introduction
How to use the cards
Two spreads (one includes instructions for both the north and south hemispheres)
The card meanings

The card meanings are arranged into sections for example, herbs for love, tenderness, strength and tranquility. For each card entry, you get the card name which is an herb and includes the latin name, a keyword, the meaning, a wisdom section and a spell of the day section. You also get a full color, full page image of the card.

My favorite part about the guidebook is the section titled choosing specific cards. It’s quite common to look through a deck to choose specific cards but I’m not sure that I’ve ever seen someone write about it in this way. I love the part about having just planted lemon balm and seeking that specific herb out in the deck. It’s a simple suggestion but I often find that some people need that little bit of instruction. Perhaps that’s not something someone thought of or didn’t realize it’s ok to use an oracle in that way. It may seem silly to someone who’s read for years but if you’re new, little notes like that can really help.

Theme

This deck is all about working with plants and herbs, being connected with nature, and learning to listen to plant wisdom. Plants, like any natural thing, have healing and spiritual correspondences that can help you overcome and manage a variety of conditions. Kate has channeled some of this healing wisdom into these cards, offering a way to practice mindfulness and to seek guidance using plants as your teacher.

The Artwork

The artwork is very earthy. I always go through the deck and pull out my photos and for the most part, that is what I photograph. I had to chuckle a bit when I looked over my favorites of these because for the most part, I pulled out only green and black cards. There are some colorful ones too but there’s a whole lot of green throughout this deck.

“For me the word ‘hedgwitch’ means someone who reveres nature, who believes in working with the rhythm of the seasons and giving back to the earth in thanks for what is taken from her.”

I was going to talk about my favorite card here but decided to move it to the reading section just because that card is so spot on. So instead, I’ll talk about some of my other favorites like Rowan. I love the white stag and the pops of color. In fact, each card features an herb but also an animal. Rowan has the white stag, Elder has a rabbit, Willow has a swan and so on. From what I can tell, there isn’t anything in the guidebook about why each animal is present and I wish there had been. It almost feels like an afterthought rather than something intentional but the truth is that I just don’t know.

Nevertheless, I find the overall art style to be really soothing. It’s gentle on the nervous system which, if you’ve read my reviews for a while, you’ll know how important that is to me. The colors are just a bit desaturated and it gives this really soft, easy look about it.

Buy Hedgewitch Oracle

Reading With this Deck

My favorite card is Parsley which is also the card this deck said represents me most. I find this to be so funny because I love parsley. It’s honestly my favorite herb ever and I use it almost every day. I often make and drink parsley water, especially when I feel like I need to reorient myself. This card features a moth which I also really love. And funny, I haven’t wanted to talk about it but it seems grief is just something that keeps coming up for me. For the past three years, it seems like the subject of grief seeks me out. I remember doing a podcast a while ago where the interviewer randomly chose grief as the topic because she said she felt called to do so even though she knew my public work didn’t reflect it. Last year I was asked to speak on grief again, even though my work didn’t reflect it. It’s kind of just wild how much this card sums me up as I am right now.

I pulled another card for myself, Nettle, which is about the need for protection against psychic attack. That gives me pause because lately, I’ve been pulling similar cards from a variety of decks. I don’t know who might be attacking me spiritually or why but I’m definitely going to take steps to stop it.

Season, Sign, Element and Sabbat

I went with summer and into early fall for the season. For some reason, this deck really reminds me of Lammas. I have this thing about lush decks with dark backgrounds like black. It reminds me of night during the summer which strangely reminds me of Lammas. There’s something about a midnight garden that feels magical and abundant. So no surprise, I went with Lammas for the sabbat as well which I 100% associate with abundance.

I chose Earth for the element which is a no-brainer being a hedgewitch deck and I chose Virgo for the zodiac sign, mostly because of Demeter. Demeter is often associated with Virgo and of course, she’s the goddess of harvest and agriculture so anytime I see something that’s really rich and in shades of green and brown, that’s instantly where my mind goes.

Collective Pull

I pulled Foxglove for you. Receiving this card is a sign that there’s something you don’t know and need to investigate. Yes, I know that’s vague but this is a card of mystery. It specifically encourages you to look into your past. Perhaps there is something there that is unresolved or remained obscured and can now be put to rest. Take a moment to think about any situation or question you’ve had that you never received closure or an answer for. This message is especially powerful if you’re reading it during Mercury Retrograde.

Who is this deck for?

This deck is ideal for anyone who loves working with herbal and green energy. I would also say anyone who has an affinity for earth magic in general since there are animals featured throughout the deck. Obviously if you’re a fan of the author then this is probably an easy choice too. I would also say if you like the Herbarium Oracle or Deadly Apothecary Oracle then you’ll probably like this one too.

Herbarium Oracle Review

Deadly Apothecary Review

Deck Companion

I ended up going with La Flora Tarot which sadly is no longer in print. It’s such an amazing deck and the guidebook is absolutely amazing. I tried many other decks here but La Flora Tarot really just felt right. Each card has a plant on it and when I put it together with Hedgewitch Oracle, it felt like it clicked into place. I truly hope La Flora Tarot comes back at some point but sadly I think the author is done. We’ve chatted here and there over the years and the last time we spoke, she’d moved to South America.