The River Oracle Review
This page may contain affiliate links which may allow us to collect a commission when you click and make a purchase through the links on our site. There is no additional cost to you for doing so.
By: Nick Bantock
Publisher: Llewellyn Publishing
Number of cards: 48
Card size: 6 (just under) in x 3.5 in
Box size: 5 x 6.5 x 1.5 in
Guidebook pages: 240
Release Date: November, 2023
Price": $26.99 usd
Purchased or gifted?: Publicity copy gifted from Llewellyn Publishing
First card pulled: the ephemeral
Absolute favorite card: the ephemeral
My favorite cards: the road, the messenger, the anatomist, the battle, the horizon, the sfumato, the magic carpet, the desert feast, the volcano, the lost
First Impressions: I was attracted to this deck when I first saw it. The name “The River” is especially meaningful to me. I have sooooo many brand ideas with river in the title. I am primarily a water and earth sign so water, flowing, and bodies of water really speak to me spiritually. My very first impression is based on the name only and that was intriguing all by itself. But then the subtitle, “Sailing the stream of consciousness,” really grabbed my attention. I’m a scorpio sun, pisces moon so streams of consciousness are kind of like my thing. I was highly invested in this deck before I actually got it in my hands.
But then I got the deck and at first, I was so frustrated, which I would later find out was because of my user error. Let me start from the beginning. The cards do not have names on their faces but they do have numbers. In the guidebook, you have two pages with the card name, number and an image of the card but you have to turn the page for the interpretation. Somehow, I flipped through the book several times and could not find any of the pages with the card names or numbers. I was left wondering how on earth anyone could make sense of the interpretations without any way to find out which card is which.
While I could appreciate the art, at the time, I was getting annoyed by the lack of details. It took me a minute but I finally took a deep breath and decided to read the guidebook cover to cover which I usually do at some point anyway. The concept blew me away. A page or two into the introduction and it didn’t matter what the interpretation said. One paragraph seemed to speak directly to the resistance I was experiencing:
“Our somewhat awkward relationship with images means instead of embracing them intuitively, we first try to convert them into language. We dream in images, yet in our conscious lives we rarely allow ourselves to think with picture—and when we do, we usually slow down that process by verbally qualifying them.”
That’s exactly what my conscious mind was attempting to do. I was so caught up in finding the words to express the images that I completely bypassed my intuition. The cards were already reminding me to get out of my ego’s limiting way of thinking and teaching me to flow into my subconsciousness. I kept reading. Within minutes, I came to the card meanings, realized how the book is organized and viola! I found every card with ease. I flipped through the book several more times and magically, I could see all pages, including the ones with names and numbers.
I’m sharing this experience because I believe that was the deck, showing me its value right out the gate. I need to slow down, sit with the cards, and let my soul guide me without looking for a quick answer. Every reading has been spot on ever since and so many times, I’ve pulled a card and felt like it genuinely looked like the inside of my brain. It’s as if the image took a snapshot mid thought and showed me what I didn’t even know I was thinking. It kind of feels like a much more colorful Rorschach test. I can even see therapists using these cards to help people put words to what they’re feeling. I don’t care if you’re beginner, intermediate or advanced. I believe everyone can learn a great deal from this work.
Ok, no on to the details of this incredible deck. Nick Bantock has a degree in fine art and the images for these cards are very surrealist, which I love. I’m a member of several museums and galleries around LA, and would actually love to join more. So if you’re in the area and have recommendations, please drop them in the comments. I’m always kicking myself for not going to art school but anyway, the point is that I love having a fine art oracle deck and I would be happy to discover more of them.
The images are like collages with some having very clear lines and others that are more fluid— all of them abstract. The two images that struck me immediately are the Ephemeral (hope) and the Volcano (patience), which really sent a chill down my spine because I am actively seeking both. At first, I thought the cards would be too abstract to photograph well but the photos I’ve taken are among my favorite of the year which you can see down below. There are so many different colors and elements but they co-exist beautifully.
I’ve already told you a little bit about the guidebook but my favorite thing about the book is a list of suggested questions. These are not your typical oracle deck questions. They are existential, evocative and even arresting. There are a total of 60 questions but some of my favorites are:
The mind drifts; can it ever be otherwise?
What comes before thought?
Why do we long for the miraculous?
How far must we travel within to find ourselves?
I know, powerful!! There are also several spreads, my favorite of which is called “Midstreaming.” It's a spread but also not really. Essentially, you pull a handful of cards, lay them out in a snake like motion, and then start to tell a story about the events of your day, starting with the first card and winding through the last. I think its an incredible exercise, but I want to apply it to my train of thought in things like an argument, a decision i’ve made, or idea I might have. How wonderful to see where your thoughts are heading and if you like that direction.
The interpretations in the book are vague and Bantock says this is intentional. I think it’s enough to do a reading, especially based on the concept as a whole. But I do believe some people will find them challenging. My worry is that people will overlook this deck because they aren’t your traditional bright and pretty cards. They are the Light Seer’s Tarot or even the Wild Unknown. Yes, people do really, deep work with those decks but a lot of people have them because they’re pretty to look at. These are not that. They are beautiful in their unique way and I really hope millions of people find the value in them.
So that would be my only ding. Maybe they are too deep for most of the world. This deck is like opening a Pandora’s box of your thoughts and I’m not sure everyone is ready to sign up for that. But if you feel called to this deck in anyway then please, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy.
Who’s this deck for?
EVERYONE!
Any decks you’d like a review on? Have any questions about decks at all? Leave me a comment and stay tuned for more reviews.
(left to right) The anatomist, the battle and the road
This page may contain affiliate links which may allow us to collect a commission when you click and make a purchase through the links on our site. There is no additional cost to you for doing so.
