Anatomy of a Witch Oracle - 48 cards on the body as a magical tool
Most oracle cards look outward: animals, landscapes, archetypes from beyond. This deck turns the gaze inward. Anatomy of a Witch Oracle by Laura Tempest Zakroff treats the body itself as the primary instrument of witchcraft and self-inquiry.
The deck connects directly to Zakroff's book Anatomy of a Witch, where she describes how bodily systems and magical practice intersect. The 48 cards are grouped into seven suits: witch anatomy, elements, senses, body being, lunar and solar events, witch work, and magical artefacts.
What the cards look like
The illustrations are deliberately minimal, noticeably so compared to her earlier Liminal Spirits Oracle. Each card shares a warm parchment-tone background, which holds the deck together visually. The images feel less like decoration and more like focal points, something to look into rather than at.
The finish is glossy, the card stock solid enough for regular use, and the cards come in a magnetic closure box. The full-colour 136-page guidebook contains Zakroff's own interpretations per card, spreads, and guidance on how to attune to and use the deck beyond straightforward divination.
Seven suits, one system
The division into seven suits is what sets this deck apart structurally. Rather than drawing a card into open space, you draw from a specific domain. That makes targeted work more natural: what does this card say about my senses, my energy, my relationship to lunar cycles?
The guidebook gives enough direction to read intuitively without locking in fixed meanings. Zakroff describes her approach as suggestive rather than prescriptive. That is a deliberate choice built into the system.
Llewellyn has published a bonus spread specifically for this deck at. The guidebook already contains spreads, but this extra one adds a layer not found in the printed pages.
About Laura Tempest Zakroff
Laura Tempest Zakroff (she/they) is a professional artist, author, and Modern Traditional Witch based in New England. She holds a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design, and her artwork has received recognition internationally. Her practice spans drawing, painting, talisman design, and symbolic work.
She has written multiple bestselling titles for Llewellyn, including Weave the Liminal, Sigil Witchery, Visual Alchemy, and Anatomy of a Witch. This oracle is her second deck; her first was The Liminal Spirits Oracle. Both are grounded in her own published writing, which explains the depth of the card-to-text relationship.
Specifications
- Number of cards: 48
- Guidebook: 136 pages, full colour
- Language: English
- ISBN: 9780738769820
- Publisher: Llewellyn Publications
- Year: 2022
- Author and illustrator: Laura Tempest Zakroff
- Finish: Glossy card stock
- Packaging: Magnetic closure box
Questions we often get
Do I need to have read Anatomy of a Witch to use this deck?
No. The guidebook stands on its own and contains everything you need to work with the cards. The book deepens the background, but it is not a requirement.
How does this compare to The Liminal Spirits Oracle by the same creator?
Production quality is very similar. The imagery here is considerably more minimal: less visually dense, more room for personal interpretation. The Liminal Spirits Oracle centres on spirits and liminal figures; this deck focuses on the witch's own bodily and energetic systems.
