Weiser Books
The Ofrenda Oracle: Celebrating the Day of the Dead/Celebrando El Día de Muertos (60 Full-Color Cards and 136-Page Guidebook)
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Welcome to The Ofrenda Oracle, a bilingual deck and guidebook inspired by el Día de los Muertos--the celebration honoring the Beloved Dead
During the annual (traditionally Mexican) Día de los Muertos celebration, the family members of a person who has died will place items with special significance on a home altar in order to welcome the deceased. This ofrenda, or offering, may be quite large and elaborate. The initial inspiration for this deck came from San Diego's close association with Mexico and this yearly celebration of the Dead that typically runs from October 31 through November 2. From those vivid images and joyful celebrations came the idea for this kit of colorful cards.
The Ofrenda Oracle includes a sixty-card deck and a 136-page guidebook. The cards and booklet are printed in both English and Spanish. The first thirty-six cards mirror those found in a Lenormand deck and can be used on their own as a stand-alone deck. The additional cards depict the vibrant symbolism seen during the Day of the Dead celebration. All of the cards can be used for divining answers and finding insight into our relationships past and present, and the guidebook offers beginners first steps and sample layouts.
The Ofrenda Oracle uses illustrations, colors, and stories to create a sacred space that is perfect for this reunion, preserving traditional elements of the religious and cultural syncretism that is lived and breathed in Mexico.
This deck was birthed by three artists: authors Nancy Hendrickson (Ancestral Tarot and Ancestral Grimoire) and Carrie Paris (The Relative Tarot, The Beloved Dead, and The Sirens' Song), and graphic artist Angelica Castro.
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The images and intent of the deck is cute and thoughtful for what it is. The colors are too dark and even the what should be vibrant colors don't seem vibrant. If it was a bit lighter. Día de los muertos is not a dark themed celebration. It's hard to see what's on the card due to the darkness of it.
Would I have liked better cardstock, yes! I was hoping for slightly better cardstock more along the lines of a US Games playing card. The size of the cards are as expected, and I like actually like the size of the cards, easy to handle so I can shuffle overhanded. However, if you riffle shuffle, the cardstock will not hold up for long. Would I have like a less glossy and slippery finish, yes as I can see dropping a few here and there as I shuffle. Am I delighted to get this deck for around $16, yes I am. I wanted this deck back when it was first created through Kickstarter but just did not have the funds at that time so happy it is in my hands and the publisher picked up the deck. However for the publisher, better card stock.I was making a DIY Skeleton themed Lenormand, but this deck is better as it is colorful and I do not have to print, laminate, and cut all those cards by hand which is impossible to get them all the same size. Win! I like the artwork of this deck. I like working with Mexican Loteria cards and have a different Day of the Dead Loteria deck so familiar with symbology. I might work with those decks together as I can already see a vision for how that might work out floating around in my head. While I have familiarity with Lenormand, I am not a Lenormand reader by any means, but this deck gives me a chance to expand that. And you can use it like a Lenormand deck even take out the extra cards if you choose. I can also work with in the ways suggested in the guidebook and try some of the spreads. What might the story teller have to tell me? Might a loved one come through with a message? Can't wait to see.I have long admired the work of Carrie Paris and am thrilled this deck has become mass produced and more affordable even though the card stock could have been better and would have been willing to even spend $5 extra dollars on this deck with better cardstock. The publisher did a disservice to this deck in their choice of cardstock, but the book is lovely. I really wish publishers would stop being so cheap the cardstock and upgrade and charge a few extra bucks. Seriously am I the only one who gets rid of decks just because I can stand the cardstock.Glancing through the guidebook quickly just so I can include include some information for others. It starts off with some introductory information about the deck. Each card has information both on one page in English and one page in Spanish about its meaning So it is bilingual. And finally there are 5 spread specific to the theme of the deck.In summary I really like the artwork and theme of the deck. I say yes to exploring this deck as I have long respected the work of Carrie Paris. I already am seeing different options to use this deck. But I do wish for slightly better cardstock and finish.
I love that Carrie Paris and Nancy Hendrickson collaborated on this but the guidebook is a mess. Clearly was not edited well (many repeated words and random capitalizations in the keywords for example) - not deal breakers but come on this is a professional printing! I love the illustrations. Deck is super small - playing card size.
I love everything about this Oracle deck! Cards are easy to shuffle, colors and artwork are fun, the guidebook is in English and Spanish and is informative. I bought this deck to pair with a tarot deck I have but I find it can stand on its own quite well. I'm really looking forward to working with this deck.
I've been looking for a Mexican-themed deck for so long, and this exceeded all my expectations. While some people see the Day of the Dead as scary, it is really a celebration of those who have passed on. It is joyful and festive and FUN, and this deck embodies it perfectly. I'm very grateful to have this in my collection as a way to celebrate my ancestors.
The images and intent of the deck is cute and thoughtful for what it is. The colors are too dark and even the what should be vibrant colors don't seem vibrant. If it was a bit lighter. Día de los muertos is not a dark themed celebration. It's hard to see what's on the card due to the darkness of it.
Would I have liked better cardstock, yes! I was hoping for slightly better cardstock more along the lines of a US Games playing card. The size of the cards are as expected, and I like actually like the size of the cards, easy to handle so I can shuffle overhanded. However, if you riffle shuffle, the cardstock will not hold up for long. Would I have like a less glossy and slippery finish, yes as I can see dropping a few here and there as I shuffle. Am I delighted to get this deck for around $16, yes I am. I wanted this deck back when it was first created through Kickstarter but just did not have the funds at that time so happy it is in my hands and the publisher picked up the deck. However for the publisher, better card stock.I was making a DIY Skeleton themed Lenormand, but this deck is better as it is colorful and I do not have to print, laminate, and cut all those cards by hand which is impossible to get them all the same size. Win! I like the artwork of this deck. I like working with Mexican Loteria cards and have a different Day of the Dead Loteria deck so familiar with symbology. I might work with those decks together as I can already see a vision for how that might work out floating around in my head. While I have familiarity with Lenormand, I am not a Lenormand reader by any means, but this deck gives me a chance to expand that. And you can use it like a Lenormand deck even take out the extra cards if you choose. I can also work with in the ways suggested in the guidebook and try some of the spreads. What might the story teller have to tell me? Might a loved one come through with a message? Can't wait to see.I have long admired the work of Carrie Paris and am thrilled this deck has become mass produced and more affordable even though the card stock could have been better and would have been willing to even spend $5 extra dollars on this deck with better cardstock. The publisher did a disservice to this deck in their choice of cardstock, but the book is lovely. I really wish publishers would stop being so cheap the cardstock and upgrade and charge a few extra bucks. Seriously am I the only one who gets rid of decks just because I can stand the cardstock.Glancing through the guidebook quickly just so I can include include some information for others. It starts off with some introductory information about the deck. Each card has information both on one page in English and one page in Spanish about its meaning So it is bilingual. And finally there are 5 spread specific to the theme of the deck.In summary I really like the artwork and theme of the deck. I say yes to exploring this deck as I have long respected the work of Carrie Paris. I already am seeing different options to use this deck. But I do wish for slightly better cardstock and finish.
I love that Carrie Paris and Nancy Hendrickson collaborated on this but the guidebook is a mess. Clearly was not edited well (many repeated words and random capitalizations in the keywords for example) - not deal breakers but come on this is a professional printing! I love the illustrations. Deck is super small - playing card size.
I love everything about this Oracle deck! Cards are easy to shuffle, colors and artwork are fun, the guidebook is in English and Spanish and is informative. I bought this deck to pair with a tarot deck I have but I find it can stand on its own quite well. I'm really looking forward to working with this deck.
I've been looking for a Mexican-themed deck for so long, and this exceeded all my expectations. While some people see the Day of the Dead as scary, it is really a celebration of those who have passed on. It is joyful and festive and FUN, and this deck embodies it perfectly. I'm very grateful to have this in my collection as a way to celebrate my ancestors.
