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Title: The Wisdom of the Birds
Author: Sasha Morton
Art: Raxenne Maniquiz
Publisher: Rizzoli Universe
Number of cards: 40
Card size: in
Box size: 2 in approx
Guidebook pages: 96
Purchased or gifted?: review copy gifted by Rizzoli Universe
Absolute favorite card: Osprey
Other favorites: (in order from most beloved): Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Heron, Wild Turkey, Scarlet Ibis, Ring-necked Pheasant, Curlew, Peacock, Mute Swan, Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Notable detail: leaf detail on box
Season: spring
Sabbat: Beltane
Sign: Virgo
Element: Air/ Earth
Deck compliment:
Collective Pull: House Sparrow

Add to Your Altar

First Impressions

First of all, I didn’t know Rizzoli made or had plans to make oracle decks so that in itself was a surprise. I eagerly agreed to review this deck when they reached out because for one, I am a huge fan of Rizzoli Books, especially the interior design books. I don’t talk about it too often but I have an entirely other half of my life that is focused on design and Rizzoli is a large part of that. So finding out they’re making oracle decks kind of felt like a bridge of two super important parts of my life.

I also love birds. I’ve always had a thing for birds because there are just so many around southern California. It might not seem like it but Los Angeles has so much bird life, especially around spring. Right now as I write this in early March for example, there are probably a dozen different species of birds in my backyard. There’s always a family of hawks in the tree behind my house every summer and my favorite—the mourning dove—always hangs out in my front yard. I’m also a beginner bird watcher. I started about four years ago after taking a trip to Alaska and have only fallen more in love with birds since.

All that to say, I’m intrigued if nothing else so let’s dive in and see if you’ll add The Wisdom of Birds to your altar.

The Packaging

The box is small but wow is it strong. This is a thick box, solid two piece box. The front has a few gold foil leaves that are subtle but definitely noticeable. It isn’t a flashy box by any means but I think it fits the Rizzoli brand. It’s a nice muted greenish-blue that compliments the reddish-amber of the leaves quite well. Nothing’s printed inside sadly but other than that, the box is well done.

One thing I’m disappointed about is the thickness of the cards. They’re pretty then unfortunately and while I prefer a thinner card, I think this one is pushing it too far. Just like a card that’s too thick, one that’s too thin is challenging to shuffle. These are pretty delicate and they don’t really have enough structure to shuffle well. They also aren’t gilded and if you’ve been reading these reviews for a while then you know gilded edges for me is something I truly expect to see now.

I want to point out the back of the cards though because they are beautiful. They remind me of a William Morris pattern which is having a huge moment right now. I love that the pattern is intricate so it doesn’t feel flat or boring but the colors are tonal so it still feels elegant and peaceful.

The Guidebook

You definitely don’t get much with the guidebook. In my last review, I said that pretty much all guidebooks come in full color these days so I didn’t need to point that out anymore. And then sadly, this one came in black and white. So I was wrong and apparently, there are still some that haven’t made that push just yet. But, this isn’t an author driven oracle deck. By that I mean, I had to search for the author and artist’s names so it's very clear that this is a Rizzoli oracle deck and that’s ok. Rizzoli is an aesthetic publication so I get it and these are aesthetically pleasing and will look great in photos and videos. But more on that later. Inside the guidebook you will find:

An introduction
Using the cards
A list of terminology
Three spreads
The card meanings

I’m surprised you get as much as you do in the guidebook to be honest with you. Looking at it for the first time, I truly expected it to have the meaning and nothing else but you do get a decent amount of information. The book is pretty focused on beginners which I think makes sense for Rizzoli as this will likely introduce oracle decks to an audience that isn’t familiar with them. I’m also impressed to see the section on colors and elements although there's a note about choosing air cards versus earth or land cards. I don’t see any designation for element when you look at the cards themselves or the meanings. I suppose you can figure it out for yourself but I think it would’ve been nice to either have a specific section in the guidebook or make a note for the meanings.

I’m also surprised to see pretty good meanings. Typically with art decks like this, you get the bare minimum when it comes to meanings but these are a good amount. It’s not the most in-depth book by any means but it's certainly enough to have a thought-provoking reading. You also get upright and reversed meanings in addition to some questions to ask yourself.

The Artwork

This deck is beautiful and the style is right up my street. It’s colorful but muted. I’ve talked about this over the years but I truly believe your environment and the things you choose to keep around you affect your nervous system. This might not be an issue for some. But for those of us who suffer with anxiety which is becoming a bigger problem by the day, paying attention to color and tone can really help to reduce overstimulation. Having matte cards, turning down the saturation and using earthy colors makes this deck feel peaceful and makes it easier for your intuition to open up without the stress of being too stimulated.

My favorite card is Osprey, mostly because of how peaceful it looks. It truly feels like someone snapped a photo of an Osprey flying among evergreens. This image feels so earthy and natural. It reminds me of my walks through the Botanical Gardens in Palos Verdes, CA.

“Each card shows a bird in an environment which reflects its typical habitat, along with flowers or plants that broaden their connection with the natural world.”

Even cards like Peacock and Ruby-throated Hummingbird feel earthy and subdued even though you’d expect them to be very bright. If you’re a fan of Woodland Wardens Oracle then you’d really love this style too.

I’m just going to talk about some other cards I love because I love birds and I want to talk about them. I love turkeys and pheasants. In fact, many of my favorite birds are in this deck though I’m sad chickens weren’t included nor hawks. I supposed they had to narrow them down but I definitely feel like those are two birds many people gravitate towards. I also just want to take a moment to appreciate Heron. I love this card so much. It isn’t my favorite but I absolutely want a print of it somewhere. The dark green is such a rich but also soothing color and the pops of purple against the lighter bird is so good. It reminds me of a brand called House of Hackney. In fact, this whole deck feels like something they would use or be inspired by. Also a brand called Flamingo Estates.

Own Wisdom of the Birds

Season, Sign, Element and Sabbat

I went with spring for the season. Spring felt perfect, especially for me. I have a lot of birds in my area which I thoroughly enjoy watching and spring is the time when they’re most active. They can be quite noisy. In fact, chirping birds are one of the first signs of spring for me just as the birds leaving in the summer lets me know fall isn’t far behind.

I chose Virgo for the sign. I have always associated birds and especially eagles with Virgo. I think the connection to Mercury and the air element and just hard work in general feels so Virgo aligned. Birds are swift, intelligent and busy which in my opinion, all sound like a Virgo to me. Which is also why I chose air but I mean really, what else would there be for birds anyway?

Finally, I chose Beltane for the sabbat and yes I know, these aren’t all lined up but I feel this pairing represents this deck best. Beltane is also the time of year when, for me at least, birds are most active. Birds also tend to mate around this time too and isn’t that a very Beltane energy in itself?

Collective Pull

I pulled House Sparrow for you. The house sparrow invites you to make creative expression more of a priority. This isn’t about doing something to sell it. This is about giving yourself the time and space needed to explore what your creativity looks like. Whether you go on to turn it into a hobby, or a hobby into a business is a secondary concern or perhaps not a concern at all. The point is enjoyment: to find something that allows your spirit to breathe and take flight. To ignore your creative expression is like clipping a bird’s wings or shoving it into a cage. Creativity, like birds, are meant to soar, allowing it to go as far and wide as it dares.

Who is this deck for?

If you’re a fellow bird watcher or just enjoy the energy of birds then this is for you. It’s a beautiful deck, both energetically and aesthetically. I love the William Morris-esque style and the muted tones and colors. It feels earthy and natural yet full of life and energy. And if you work with bird energy regularly, then it makes a wonderful way to connect with birds especially for some of the ones that aren’t in your immediate area.

Deck Companion

I chose Tarot of the Woodland Wardens which I haven’t had a chance to review yet but plan on doing soon. I really wanted to take photos of the pair together because I think they are so beautiful but, I was on my way out the door to jump on a plane and frankly just ran out of time. But stay tuned for the review of Tarot of the Woodland Wardens to see this pairing and why I think they are perfect together.

Tarot of the Woodland Wardens