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Title: The Outlander Oracle
Author: Valerie Estelle Frankel
Art by: Karina Giada
Publisher: Random House worlds
Number of cards: 54
Card size: 5.5 x 3.75 in
Box size: 6.5 x 5 x 2 in approx
Guidebook pages: 46
Purchased or gifted?: Purchased
Absolute favorite card: Judgment
Other favorites: (in order from most beloved): Caregiver, Seer, Artificer, Creation, Sage, Friend, Home, Twins, Decision, Helplessness, Abyss
Notable detail: Cardstock texture
Season: Winter
Sabbat: Samhain
Sign: Sagittarius
Element: Water
Deck compliment: TBD
Collective Pull: Mentor

Indulge Yourself

First Impressions

First let me say I am a HUGE Outlander fan. I came to the series pretty late. The third season had just started when I decided to watch it. It feels like a million years ago now but I can remember being in a really bad place, flipping through channels and seeing the advertising for it. So I decided to bring it up on Netflix and watch from the beginning. I was sold. I spent that entire Sunday binge watching it and I don’t why but it really uplifted me and I’ve been hooked ever since. I never read the books despite loving to read but I find it challenging to watch a show or movie first and then go back to the book. I have to do it the other way around. But I love the show and when I saw the oracle deck coming out, I didn’t hesitate and pre-ordered it.

My first impressions are that it is just like the show and also not. It is beautiful but also I do find myself a little disappointed by some things. Overall, it's nostalgic and I loved that something so mainstream is made into an oracle deck. There are lots of very religious people who love this show and probably don’t love the idea of an oracle for it. And it may be wrong but I love that it's kind of a middle finger to those people. To the people who judge rather than try to understand. And to the people who are happy to watch mysticism on tv for entertainment but baulk at it in real life. So let’s dive into it.

The Packaging

I like the packaging a lot. I can’t bring to mind another Random House deck that I have. I’m sure I have at least one but they so rarely make oracle decks that I just can’t remember one and have nothing to compare this one to. But the box is solid and sturdy. It’s printed with a canvas finish and features gold gilded details. The box opens with a book fold top and a bit of printing inside of the top of the box. It features a platform to hold the deck with a ribbon to lift out the cards.

The cardstock is the same canvas like texture and feels quite luxe. However, the cards are thin. A little too thin to be honest especially for their larger size. They do feel a bit flimsy but the good thing about the canvas texture is that it will stand up to wear and tear better than gloss wrapped cards. The back features a nice herbaceous motif that is elegant and minimal and totally fits the Outlander aesthetic.

The Guidebook

The guidebook is very small, coming in at only 46 pages. This is what I’m most disappointed about. The meanings for the cards are so minimal that two cards are on each page. I would have been more forgiving if this were a tarot but being an oracle means this system is entirely the brainchild of the creators. So I would’ve liked to see much more detail. Much more guidance. Just something else really. And because the cards are so specific to Outlander, I can’t say you could pick up this deck and understand it unless you’ve watched the show or read the books.

Obviously this was made for fans of Outlander in mind but you never know if someone who loves oracle decks bought this because they love oracles and never watched Outlander. But they could’ve become a fan of the books/show through the deck. You can’t assume someone knows enough about the story to be able to pick up this deck and make the most out of it. So this is firmly what I call and art deck—style over substance. Inside the guidebook, you’ll find:

An introduction
Reading the cards
Doing a daily reading and some examples
Doing a past/present/future reading an example
Before you begin reading
And the card meanings

That seems like a lot but when you consider this book is only 46 pages, know that each section is quite short. Note that there are two sections of the book. I was driving myself crazy for a while, trying to find the card Helplessness only to discover it’s in an entirely different part of the guidebook. It seems the characters are in one section and everything else is in another.

Theme

The theme is quite obviously Outlander but I think there is a heavy focus on the themes from the story that are more universal. In fact, I found a line in the guidebook which basically says the same thing. It highlights the familiar aspects of life like hardship, home, falling in love, fear, and seeking new versions of yourself. Outlander in general really showcases how hard life is in different scenarios and across different times. And even though the show exists in a wide arena, most of the themes apply regardless of where the characters are.

The Artwork

I really like the artwork of the deck. It’s my favorite part to be honest. It’s so elegant and what I call minimal maximalist. It has a lot of things going on but you can still see obvious restraint. I love the border on the cards which makes each image feel like a dreamy glimpse into a time gone past.

Judgment is my favorite card. It looks like it belongs in Outlander while still being mystical and mysterious. I mean let’s be real, Outlander is a mystical show. Time travel, Claire being accused of witchcraft, the odd occurrences that can’t be explained? If anyone thinks this story is anything but mystical then they are delusional. So I’m glad to see at least a node to mystical elements here

“This deck draws on Outlander’s universal themes of love, loss, fate, adventure, conflict and time to invite fans to access and nourish their true selves and destines.”

I also really love the card Friend. It features a chess board that is dark blue on the top and white on the bottom. I love images like this which show two sides of things. It feels complex but also simple at the same time. It shows how two things can be viewed in two completely different ways. And it shows the complexity that is the human spirit. I wish the title had been printed on both the top and bottom though so that you could turn it around. You still can of course but it won’t have the same impact.

In terms of aesthetics, the deck is very wintery with shades of blues throughout. Even the brighter cards feel quite moody but also peaceful. It does seem to capture the essence of Outlander. I loved watching the show, you know that but I tried to watch it a second time and just found I couldn’t. So many scenes are really hard to watch and while the show is beautiful overall, there is a deep sadness about it. I think the artist captured that feeling in this deck. There is a lot of beauty but also a lot of darkness and most of everything lives somewhere between the two. But that’s life right? That’s honest and I can appreciate that.

Own Outlander Oracle

Reading With this Deck

I have found my readings to be unnervingly accurate but remember, I have been reading for a very long time and do this professionally so I don’t need a lot to get a substantial reading. I’m also a fan of the show so I have the context of the story and the characters to draw from. This deck is really good with archetypes. There are a lot of cards like Seductress and Trickster that make it really easy to understand patterns of behaviors or to identify other people involved in your reading. So I asked the cards, what am I and what am I not? The first card didn’t feel so good—what am I—but it did feel honest. And while it's hard to admit to the card I pulled, I can totally see why the cards would view me that way. But the card I pulled for what I’m not, really felt like a sense of relief. So much so I almost started crying.

Sometimes I get really hateful messages online from people who read a single line of text in one of my newsletters or posts and assume they know everything about me. Someone once said sent me an incredibly rude and hurtful email saying I supported gang rape and mass murders because I mentioned a specific celebrity in an email I had sent out. What a terrible fucking thing to say to someone you know nothing about? Especially because I AM a survivor of assault so to read that message really hit me hard. All this to say, there are so many times when I question myself. When I let someone’s asinine comments cut so much deeper than they should. I know I always talk about not seeking validation but the truth is that validation is really helpful at times. And I felt I got a lot of confirmation in this deck and a huge reminder that I don’t have to believe what anyone says about me.

The guidebook entries are super short and you definitely have to come up with your own guidance for the most part, but if you’re a seasoned reader, it is enough to feel seen and understood. I really needed some of the cards that I pulled. I really needed to have that little bit of “you’re a good person” energy come through. And that by itself makes this deck a winner. It just feels honest. That’s the only word I can think of. Honest to the human experience. Honest to life. Honest to me.

Collective Pull

I pulled Mentor for you. At some point on every path, the light of another becomes a guide for you to follow. A trustworthy mentor doesn’t look to be a leader and yet, always offers wisdom without control and compassion without condition. This person is rarely the one who raised you, but rather the one who sees you — your potential, your pain, and your power — and chooses to walk beside you anyway.

True mentorship is a sacred exchange. It teaches you how to hold both reverence and autonomy, how to listen deeply and discern wisely. Look for the figures in your life who embody quiet strength and who challenge you to grow while keeping your spirit intact. And when your own lantern burns bright, remember: you, too, will be called to guide another through the dark someday.

Season, Sign, Element and Sabbat

I chose winter for the season because of the aesthetics of course. It’s hard to discount the blues and whites of this deck. But also because of the honest reflection of human hardship. Outlander in general doesn’t shy away from very tough themes like murder, manipulation, sexual assault, lunacy. And while this deck doesn’t necessarily feature all of that, I do find it’s honest about general themes we all experience and that it’s not always love and light. It’s not always as easy as having a positive attitude. Winter mirrors this energy well as it's one of the hardest but also most beautiful of the seasons. It has darkness and light. It has obstacles and victory. Of all the seasons, I think winter represents the human experience the most.

I chose Sagittarius for the zodiac sign. There is an obvious connection in the form of adventure, one of Sagittarius’ main themes. But also, I think of Claire and how she was the first woman to study medicine at her university. And when she went back in time, she brought that knowledge with her and used it to help others even when people labeled her a witch. She always invests in the logical answer and the pursuit of higher intelligence which are specific Sagittarius qualities. The higher mind is a Sagittarius theme as is higher education. Claire's daughter is also incredibly strong, smart and independent. Not to mention, Sagittarius also rules dogma and religion does play a strong role in the story. So of all the signs, Sagittarius seemed most suited.

I chose water for the element. Water is a big part of Outlander, especially in the later seasons. But it’s the characters constant need to be fluid which drew me to water. They are always adapting to impossible and ever changing circumstances. Their ability to shift is what’s kept them alive throughout the series. I could’ve gone with earth too, especially as the landscapes are so integral to the story but that seemed like too easy a grab. Water reflects the character's circumstances and challenges the most.

Finally for the sabbat, I chose Samhain. I really had a hard time with this one but went with Samhain because it’s most associated with shadows. I’m not saying this is a shadow work deck because it isn’t. But Samhain makes the most space for the darker more taboo parts of life. The parts we don’t often wish to explore. Samhain never feels good or bad, it's just what it is and I believe that’s Outlander's best quality.

Who is this deck for?

This deck is for the ones who crave truth more than comfort — for those who understand that life, like love, is rarely tidy or predictable. It’s for Outlander fans, of course, who want to hold a piece of that world in their hands — the sweeping landscapes, the impossible choices, the ache of devotion across time. But it’s also for anyone who’s ever felt caught between two worlds: logic and mysticism, past and present, or duty and desire.

You don’t need to be fluent in the Outlander universe to connect with these cards of course, but it certainly deepens the experience and I really recommend having some knowledge of Outlander before using it. Familiar faces and scenes carry the emotional weight of the story and make the themes much more potent.

If you’re drawn to decks that reflect the beauty and brutality of being human, this one will speak to you. IIt meets you where you are — in the tension between light and dark, faith and doubt, heartbreak and hope — and reminds you that honesty is its own form of healing.

Deck Companion

Usually when I do these reviews, I can almost immediately bring to mind a companion deck or at least a few ideas. But nothing has really felt appropriate so I’ve chosen not to offer a recommendation. I write these reviews because I genuinely want to help you build the most nourishing card practice possible so I never want to offer a suggestion that I don’t believe in. If I find a match, I’ll be sure to return here to update this post.

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