©2022 Michael Raven
Oh teh noes! Michael has discovered Etsy!
Actually, I am quite familiar with Etsy, I’ve just largely avoided it because my wallet weeps whenever the page loads up in my browser. So, I’ve generally avoided it (except to look at the wool cloak I wish I could justify purchasing).
Over the weekend, however, I was looking into other matters and ended up stumbling on a picture I couldn’t resist looking closer at, so I clicked through to check out some nifty-looking altar candles decorated with three of The Morrigan’s aspects: Badb, Macha, and Morrigan. I loved the art, but wasn’t prepared at that moment to pay for those candles (I’m current considering e-candles to keep any of the seven kitties from going foom) and I about went back to my business at hand when I saw another picture that grabbed my attention from the same seller for a deck of cards titled The Morrigan Oracle by the seller, FeralMagic.
I was instantly hooked. Three of the cards represent the goddess the same as represented on the candles, but it was the other cards that snagged my attention as much or more. They spoke to me. And while I wasn’t in the market for another “divination” tool, I needed to look closer (again, for those unfamiliar with my stance, I do not see most of these tools as something for divination, but for inner reflection). I tried to forget about the deck after oohing and aahing over what I could see, but I kept clicking back to it throughout the day and finally decided it was speaking to me.
And, on Monday, I made my first Etsy purchase as a result.
Well, they arrived in a very timely fashion today. And wow. Straight out of the box, I was greeted with a package in brown Kraft paper. I opened it and inside was…
You know what they say about first impressions. Shipped right away, arrives looking like this… Yeah, already impressed. I already felt my money was well spent and I hadn’t even seen the cards. I can’t say off the top of my head what the plant material is, but I have suspicions. I just need to check it out online. If you know what it is, pipe in down in the comments. Lots of attention to detail went into the presentation:
For all I know, the tag was written months ago, well before I purchased the deck, but the fact that it was handwritten says the artist pays attention to the little feel-good details. I have all kinds of warm fuzzies several hours later. Unpacking the box and I have this:
Okay. After fumbling to get tarot cards out of a tight box, the ribbon is definitely a winner. The booklet still requires some reading, and it is no massive tome, but that’s okay… I think the cards speak for themselves, provided you are familiar with the context (I am).
While I have a very minor quibble about the design (which I will keep to myself), the artwork is as amazing as I had hoped. Here is a small sample:
I especially like these (the three goddess cards and key themes), although all of them are “my” kind of art. The cards are of quality stock, with unfinished corners and lightly coated. We’ll see how they hold up to use, but I don’t get the feeling right off the bat that I’ll have issues (i.e. peeling) unless I abuse them.
I can’t wait to delve further into the deck and book. I’m pretty excited and impressed.
sceadugenga 
Ooooohhhhhh….very nice
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I agree.
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Intriguing, that deck! Hmm–
The art also reminds me somewhat of my latest acquired deck, Dirt Gems, a plant oracle. (Maybe more a certain vibe than literal resemblance?) https://www.thedirtgems.com
In spite of my ancestry, I’m not that knowledgeable about Celtic traditions, though I ought to be? The Oracle of the Morrigan beckons . . . as though I should understand more.
But for this year I’m studying herbal medicine from the vitalist tradition, tracing back through Paracelsus, The Lumen Natura, and into ancient and indigenous medicine traditions, also. Right now I’m learning more about astrological herbal diagnosis, and the energetics that link all life, those fleshly fundamentals like heat, cold, dry, moist, Fire, Earth, Air, Water. Next year maybe I’ll tackle an alchemical herbalism course. The Dirt Gems deck looked very provocative, so I got it and indeed some curious synchronistic pathways have already approached with certain plants and their cards.
Well met with your Oracle. I hope to hear more of it.
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There is a vibe that is similar, definitely. I like it quite a bit.
Popular Celtic traditions are currently… unreliable (?). I don’t want to say much more than that, I guess. Maybe I’ll just add that it is an area these days that unscrupulous publishers and authors are leveraging interest in all thing Irish and Celtic to make a quick buck and the quality of content (never all that reliable) has plummeted since the 80s.
I’ve always meant to delve deeper into herbalism, but something always gets in the way. If I were to jump into it right now, I’d probably lean into something hyperlocal and wildcrafted in my approach, rather than a broader discipline. But I applaud you — I know you absorb this stuff like a sponge.
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Heh, heh, thanks, there’s a certain porousness to my head, it seems to have a few too many holes along with a non-stick interior. Things fall in pretty readily, and slide right out, too.
I will keep an eye out for some credible Celtic info–if I ever have some time for tackling more of this. 😛
And if local/hyperlocal herbalists seem inviting, you could try Matthew Wood, think he’s pretty close: Sunnyfield Herb Farm, Minneapolis–he’s one of my teachers and I highly recommend his work and his institute. Unfortunately all his own classes are now online, at least for now. His books are amazing, and he keeps writing more. I just got his book on Pulse Evaluation. I didn’t know that it was also a part of Western herbalism historically. You can watch for free some of the institute’s course intros or parts of series: https://www.matthewwoodinstituteofherbalism.com/
One of the teachers there, Lise Wolff, does plant walks in the Minneapolis area; the course is online, and maybe she does some in person, too, I’m not sure. I looked at the free preview of her day lily plant walk and learned something I didn’t know–you can also eat day lily leaves and stems as well as the tubers and flowers and the greens are very tasty! That’s pretty cool, though it’s not a wild plant, it might come in handy to know that these days.
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I’ve a copy of Wood’s “Earthwise Herbal”, I wasn’t aware he had a site. I wonder if it is newer, as Rachel didn’t mention it to me when I was talking to her about joining her on walks and learning from her. I’ll have to consider checking it out once I get my head wrapped around some of the stuff I’m currently pondering. I’m in a first ring suburb of Minneapolis, so I expect some of the walks are nearby — and the farm looks to be about 90 minutes drive away (if I have the right one).
All interesting things to consider — thanks for the links!
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Sure, Minneapolis seems like an interesting place for all sorts of possible learning!
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Oh, this is gorgeous! As someone who has made her own deck, or attempted to, it looks like it has wonderful attention to detail and will provide you with lots of inspiration. Great find!
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It found me, I’m pretty certain now.
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