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Title: Sun-Steeped: A Golden Hour - Infused Affirmation Deck
Art by: Shannon Christie
Author: Shannon Christie
Publisher: Red Wheel Publishing
Number of cards: 54
Card size: 5 x 3.5 in
Box size: 5.5 x 4 x 1.25 in approx.
Guidebook pages: 64
Purchased or gifted?: Review copy provided by Red Wheel Publishing
Absolute favorite card: I Am Enough
Other favorites: (in order from most beloved) I clear away the noise to ask myself what I really need, I settle for nothing less than people who help me shine, I am gentle with my ever growing self, I am a beacon of light in my community, I welcome this next season of my life, I am brave enough to ask for what I want
Notable detail: matte cards
Season: Summer
Sabbat: Litha
Sign: Leo
Element: Fire
Tarot Deck compliment: Antique Anatomy Tarot
Collective Pull: I plant seeds that bloom with patience and sunlight

First Impressions

Right away, this deck feels sunny and bright so I feel like the theme is spot on. The people featured kind of remind me of the movie Robots. Not a dig, just what came to mind. It’s very pretty and I really appreciate a lighter deck like this. I think sometimes the spiritual community can get so caught up in wanting to do shadow work and dig into intuition and all of the darker stuff but at some point, you have to reach for the light. And I find myself wanting brighter energy in the past two years. Decks like Bee Tarot and my own deck Seasons of the Witch: Litha Oracle have really been resonating with me because of how bright and sunny they feel. So while there are some things about this deck that do not resonate with me, as a whole, I’m really happy to be reviewing it. Let’s dig in.

The Packaging

The box is a two piece rigid box. It's a little on the small side for a 54 card deck and I think that’s because the cards themselves are a little on the thinner side. I’ve only shuffled the deck a handful of times and I can already see little knicks on the sides of the cards. So I would be careful with these when you use them. The guidebook is also pretty slim but keep in mind, this is an affirmations deck and not a true oracle so I’m not all that surprised its on the thinner side.

The cards shuffle really well though and that’s the benefit of thinner cards. They’re much easier to shuffle than thick cards, especially when you have more than 40. What’s nicest of all is the matte finish. I’ve said it a dozen times and I’ll say it a dozen more, matte over gloss any day. It's more luxe, more pleasing to eyes and to the hands, and it lasts longer. Having said that, these cards do pick up oil and it doesn’t really come off so keep that in mind. I like to work with altar oils a lot when pulling cards and I got some on these and it looks like the spot is there to stay. So be mindful of any lotions, creams, oils, and general liquids when you use these.

The Guidebook

The guidebook is pretty thin but has color illustrations. There’s a preface or an introduction if you like which explains how this project came to be. And then it goes straight into the card meanings although in truth, the affirmations on the front of the card are more than enough to determine what the card is about. But again, it's an affirmations deck and not truly an oracle so I think you get enough for the kind of deck that it is.

What I appreciate about the guidebook is the creator’s note about positive thinking and that not everything can be solved with a sunny attitude. She’s a psychologist by trade and makes a point of acknowledging those who maybe do not resonate with affirmations. Personally, I don’t believe a positive attitude can solve everything…overnight but I do believe the language you use in your everyday conversations with yourself has a huge impact on how you’re able to tackle challenges.

I’m not saying this as someone who has never suffered from trauma. Believe me, I have my fair share of trauma from various forms of assault, to depression to emotional abuse without going too far into detail. And you know what? Changing how I spoke to myself and using affirmations really did help me change, slowly over time.

All this to say, I understand and appreciate the creator making the note. I think it's important to acknowledge everyone’s journey isn’t the same but I also cannot say that I honestly believe affirmations have no place. They may not be the only things that will help but they can make a difference.

The Artwork

My absolute favorite card is called I Am Enough. Just that statement is enough for me to love this card. Recently, I have felt like being enough is all I want to be. That I can be enough, exactly as I am without feeling the need to change or become something or heal something or alter myself in any way. So this statement just resonated with me. But more than that, I love how the figure is portrayed. She’s holding herself and crying, not in sadness but in joy. The card is full of life and growth and gentleness. Beautiful.

The cards in general are very warm but not really bright. The background of the vast majority of cards are a warm tan so you aren’t being hit over the head with a sea of yellow by any means. I would say the second most prominent color is a soft green, similar to the color of the box. Additionally, burgundy, a deeper blue and a soft, lavender color feature quite heavily as well.

“My hope for you is to find that inner sunny blaze of fire that is definitively with you, and that you can draw upon it when you wish to fuel all the things that you are more than capable of too.”

Some cards only have the affirmations like Welcome this next season of life or I am brave enough to ask for what I want (both featured in images down below). Again, this is an affirmations deck and not really an oracle so the affirmations take up a good deal of space on the card faces if not the whole face itself. The backs of the card feature a teacup with a sun in the center and surrounded by a vine motif. I didn’t understand the tea angle at first but then I noticed the little tea paper says sun-stepped and then I had an ah ha moment. Sun-stepped instead of tea-stepped… got it!

Own a copy of Sun:-Steeped

*With Tarot Companion - Unbridled Spirit Tarot*

Reading With this Deck

Since this is an oracle deck, I have to say that “reading” with it is perhaps not the right word. You can of course use it as an oracle but I think it's a much better experience to use it as a daily affirmations draw deck. Especially because the meanings aren’t really practical things. They’re much more like the standard spiritual language like write down three things to be grateful for and receive the guidance coming to you. You’re getting a pretty typical spiritual playbook here so don’t expect anything radical.

Collective Pull

I drew “I plant seeds that bloom with patience and sunlight” for you. This card invites you to ponder what you’re aiming to do next. To think about what seeds you can intentionally plant and nourish moving forward. But it also reminds you patience must be had when seeking new goals. As the saying goes, no seed sprouts overnight which means you must learn to accept that things take time. It doesn’t mean something isn’t meant for you or that you’ve got it wrong. It just means this is the journey you’re on and this is how long it takes for you. That might not be the case for someone else. Someone else’s journey might take more time or less. Don’t compare yourself to others. Trust that the time the universe has given you is the time that was needed for your specific experience.

Season, Sign, Element and Sabbat

A deck about the sun has to be a summer deck and by extension, a Litha deck. Likewise, fire seemed the most appropriate option although I do feel a strong connection to earth as well. But I’ll tell you a secret, so many decks feel “earthy” and am I the only one who’s tired of the same old thing? Spiritual people are always talking about the elements but I find the ones that get the most airtime are water and earth. Fire and air needs some love too! Ok, rant over.

I went with Leo for the zodiac sign, also because of its association with the sun which reminds me, you could easily associate Lammas here too. Litha is supposed to be the celebration of the sun at its highest but I have always felt like Lammas has more solar energy. The days might be at their longest point on Litha but I feel like the sun is strongest around Lammas. It's certainly hotter and more intense.

Who is this deck for?

I recommend this deck to anyone who’s feeling exhausted with shadow work or the heavier spiritual work. Or anyone who just prefers lighter energy spiritual work to begin with. This is a happy and positive deck so if you’re looking for deep, challenging, soul wrenching work then I don’t believe this is the deck for you. But if you want something sunny to keep on your desk or by your bed or in your bag, then this is a great choice.

Tarot Deck Companion

I wasn’t going to include a companion since I consider this to be more of an affirmations deck than an oracle one but I kept thinking about the Antique Anatomy Tarot and how its sunniness would match well so I went ahead with that one. It seems counterintuitive because the Antique Anatomy Tarot is full of skull and bones but I have always found it to be a bright and sunny deck. There’s a fair amount of yellow, orange and green with pops of purple and blue just like Sun-steeped so color wise, it seemed like an easy match.

I like to say affirmations sometimes at the beginning of a reading so I find it quite nice to pull an affirmations card to establish the tone of a reading.

Buy Antique Anatomy Tarot

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. In the meantime, please enjoy a variety of photos from this deck.

And of course, if there is something you’d like me to consider reviewing, please comment below or email me at hello@spiritelement.co