Which Oracle deck should you buy?

5 steps to selecting the right oracle deck for you.

With hundreds, if not thousands of oracle decks available to buy, how can you be sure that you will select the right one for you?

It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the many options out there, so here are 5 steps that you can take to find the best oracle deck for you. 

These tips should help ease the process of selecting that first deck (or indeed any subsequent decks!)

But first of all, what is an oracle deck?

An oracle deck is a set of cards containing images and words that are designed to offer insight into your day to day life. They can be used for divination, self-development and can offer clarity into personal situations for which you seek answers. There is always the opportunity to visit a professional reader for guidance and support, but many prefer the option of owning a deck (or 10!) of their own and learning to conduct readings for themselves and others.

Selecting the right Oracle deck for you.

1. Trust your intuition. 

A big part of reading oracle cards involves connecting to and working with your intuition, and so it makes perfect sense for you to involve your intuition in the decision making process when purchasing a new oracle deck.

A good way to do this is to visit a shop that sells oracle cards. Head on over to your local bookstore, crystal shop, holistic fair or shop online and visit an online shop.

Look over the selection of oracle cards and simply find a deck that you feel drawn to! You might find that you walk into the shop and immediately spot a deck that calls to you, or it might take a little more effort. To connect with your intuition, take a few moments to ground and centre yourself. You can do this by closing your eyes (alternatively just soften your gaze while looking downward), take three deep slow breaths and then run your attention along the shelf (or images) until you feel a ‘pull’ to a specific deck. This process trusts that your subconscious will lead you to the deck that you are most in need of at that time.

If you don’t feel very connected to your intuition at this time and would rather put a bit more thought and consideration into selecting your deck, or perhaps you tried the process above and didn't find yourself drawn to any particular deck - then the following steps will assist you in making the right decision in which deck to buy.

2. Select a deck that suits your personality. What are you interested in? Where do your passions lie? Are you interested in crystals or astrology? Do you love animals or Art Deco? Chances are that someone somewhere has created a deck along the theme of your interests. Grab yourself a pen and some paper and take a few minutes to list the things that peak your interest and then head over to a search engine and type in (for example) 'Nature inspired oracle cards' and see what you find!

3. Get to know the creators.

Most of the people who design and create oracle decks will have some form of online presence. That may be via Youtube, Instagram, Facebook, or any of the other platforms that people use. By looking into the people who design and create oracle decks, you might find that you feel a connection to a particular person's energy or belief system, and once you feel a connection to them as a person you will most likely feel a connection to the oracle decks that they design.

Here are five popular creators who also happen to be the creators of some of my favourite decks:

Kyle Gray:

Kyle describes himself as '...a spiritual teacher with a difference. With his down to Earth approach and hip style, this modern spiritual guide brings an authentic and accessible approach to spirituality and living a high vibrational life.'Kyle has created a number of decks which are often high vibrational and feature pictures of well known angels and ascended masters. You can learn more about Kyle on his website www.kylegray.co.uk Collette Baron Reid:

Collette's friends describe her as 'a nerdy, mystical pirate... she's really into quantum physics, creating and innovating ancient divination systems for the modern mystic and and helping business leaders thrive by discovering how to work with the spirit of their business.' With her warm inviting personality it is difficult not to like Collette, and she has a variety of decks that are about a variety of subjects that are well worth taking a look into. You can learn more about Collette on her website  www.collettebaronreid.com

Sandra Anne Taylor:

Sandra is an 'international speaker, counselor, and consultant who lectures throughout the world on the power of eternal consciousness, personal energy, and the Akashic Records. For more than 25 years, Sandra was a counselor in a private psychology practice, working with individuals and couples in the treatment of anxiety, depression, addiction, and relationship issues.'Sandra's decks often feature around the theme of energy, she has also created a deck designed to assist you in accessing the akashic records.You can learn more about Sandra on her website www.sandrataylor.net

Yasmin Boland:

Yasmin is an award winning astrologer and author of well known books 'Moonology' and 'Astrology made easy'. She works with women, helping them to learn how to live with the cycles of the moon. Yasmin has two decks available at the present moment. The first is designed to help you to work with the power of the moon, and the second is created to help you to manifest with the moon.You can learn more about Yasmin on her website www.yasminboland.com

Rebecca Campbell:

Rebecca is an international bestselling writer, poet, healer, ritualist, spiritual teacher, visionary and mystic. She has a number of oracle decks available. Rebecca's decks have a gentle, mystical, feminine energy that often use light, pastel shades in their designs.You can learn more about Rebecca on her website www.rebeccacampbell.me

4. Presentation.

Another consideration is the presentation of the cards such as the size, shape and thickness. Getting to know your own preference will come with time and will most likely only develop as you use and handle your decks. Some ways that decks might differ is the size - most decks come in a standard size of approximately 9cm by 13cm but some such as the 'Druid Plant Oracle'  by Stephanie Carr-Gomm are quite a bit larger, and the 'Crystal Ball Pocket Oracle Cards' by Athene Noctua are somewhat smaller. I even own an oracle deck where the cards are round, which is called 'The Crystal Medicine Oracle.

Some cards have gilded edges in silver or gold, some decks are laminated while others aren't. Getting to know your preferences for these will come with time, as you work with different decks. It is not something you need to be sure of in the early days of choosing your deck, although it is something that you might want to take into consideration.

5. Visit Youtube.

Youtube is your friend when it comes to making your final decision about which deck to purchase. If you have narrowed your options down by following the first four sections of this module, then I suggest that you head over to Youtube or Pinterest and search the names of the decks that you are considering. On Youtube you will find a number of videos that unwrap the cards and give you a run through of what the cards look like, they will often discuss the quality of the cards as well as the imagery. On Pinterest you might find pictures of the cards or a blog post which also discusses the cards.

I hope that this blog post has offered you some helpful guidance in selecting your first oracle deck. We would love to know which deck you ended up selecting, and how you are getting along with your journey into oracle reading.

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