Hello, soul friends!
Today's review is covering a deck that caught my attention for it's beautiful futuristic style artwork. I loved the details, color, and overall theme of the cards. I couldn't wait to get my paws on it and work with this beauty. I thought it was such a different deck, and was not disappointed!
I hope you enjoy my review and generous pictures!
ANgelarium Oracle of Emanations
I purchased this deck once I saw it, as I found it to be so fascinating and interesting. There are a lot of amazing interpretations of Angels, so I was very drawn to the images and how they were done by Peter Mohrbacher.
Amazon's description of the Astrological Oracle:
A fantastic oracle deck based on angels of the Kabbalah, the Tree of Life, Watchers, Seraphins, and more. The sense of being at the presence of something distinctly human, but ultimately mysterious is at the core of Angelarium.
The companion booklets for most Lo Scarabeo decks are in five languages: English, Spanish, French, Italian, and German.
About the Author
Peter Mohrbacher is an independent illustrator and concept artist and the creator of the large-scale art project known as Angelarium. He's also known for work on Magic: The Gathering, where his art and designs were used prominently in several card sets.
Lo Scarabeo's Tarot decks have been acclaimed all over the world for originality and quality. With the best Italian and international artists, each Lo Scarabeo deck is an exceptional artistic value.
Commited to developing innovative new decks while preserving the rich tradition of Tarot, Lo Scarabeo continues to be a favorite among collectors and readers.
Llewellyn is the exclusive distributor of Lo Scarabeo products in North America.
My Personal Review
This 33-card deck is meant to be used as an Oracle deck, which is just meant to be a little less restrictive than tarot, while allowing you to devise your own meanings of the cards, as well. The dimensions of the deck are 3.9 x 1.3 x 5.4 inches and published by Lewellyn Publications and Lo Scarabeo Decks.
The lift top box is beautiful. I love the silver and gold etchings and the thickness of the box. The images are so enchanting, and I love the tones used throughout the deck. They are balanced between dark and light, look so futuristic and unique without being overpowering. There is a delicate richness, that includes so many details. Subtle, and yet so particular. The interpretation of the Angels are so interesting. Peter Mohrbacher, the artist, did a fantastic with his perception of these angels. I am not too familiar with the Kabbalah, or the symbolism associated with it, but I found the artwork to be so rare and uncommon from typical angel decks.
The card backs are a compelling design, as the images on the front of each card. Reversals are up to the reader but are really not needed with this deck, or can be up to the reader to use. The cards are a medium quality, but with a silky feel that makes shuffling easier. The Angel name and keyword is printed on the front of each card which corresponds to descriptions in the guidebook. The images can be a bit intense, as they are a very stimulating interpretation for an Angel deck. It can be used to read for particular clients, but I don't typically reach for it when I want Angel guidance. A knowledge of the Kabbalah might assist with connecting with the messages would be very helpful in figuring out how to translate the cards. The card stock is not overly thick, semi-gloss finish, slick to shuffle, and allows you get a nice bend without cracking the card stock. The finish really helps make the cards shuffle easily without sticking or scratching. I love the smooth and easy way this deck shuffles. I wish the deck was gilded or had some extra luxurious accents, but it does not.
The size of the cards was an average oracle deck size. Not too large, and not too small. The guidebook is simple, but gives enough to encourage you to develop your own special meanings of the cards. It comes in a variety of languages. It really does lead one to using their intuition and also diving into all of the details in the cards. This may not be the easiest to just pick up for those who are not used to having to rely too heavily on intuition, but with practice and an open mind, it can quickly become a fascinating favorite. That being said, it is a beautiful deck.
I found this interpretation of Angel cards to be very compelling and alluring. I was drawn to the unique illustrations and translation of these common Angels. I love the futuristic element that lends a more modern and innovative touch to something that we are all familiar with. The card meanings included in the guidebook are not my favorite, but I like to include my own meanings for the cards. The information is not something I am familiar with, so I take it all with a grain of salt.
I didn't find myself reaching for it often, although it is quite beautiful. They are a piece of art.
Overall, I think this was a well-executed deck. Simple, but straight to the point. I highly recommend it!
My overall opinion is that this deck is a 3 star choice.
Artwork - 5 stars
Card stock - 3 stars
Ease - 2 stars
Guidebook - 2 stars
I hope that you enjoyed my deck review, and also enjoy other deck reviews that I add to this site. I have a passion for exploring new decks and also finding various ways of connecting to my intuition. I appreciate you checking out my site and taking the time to read my review.
Happy Reading!
