Día de los Muertos Oracle - painted in Teotihuacán, rooted in Mexican tradition
Not every oracle dares to address death this directly. This one does, and not with gloom but with colour, celebration and tribute. The Mexican Day of the Dead knows no black mourning veils, only brightly coloured skulls, marigolds and altars full of light.
The 44 cards are painted by Emily K. Grieves de Reyes Contla, an artist and healer who lives and works in Mexico. She made the illustrations in Teotihuacán, the ancient sacred city. The images are rich in symbols from Mexican folklore: angels, saints, calaveras, flowers and flames. Kelly Sullivan Walden, dream specialist and author from California, wrote the texts.
What you see on the cards
The style is decorative and full. Bright colours dominate: magenta, turquoise, gold, orange. Skulls are not frightening but graceful, adorned with flowers and patterns. Saints and angels appear with human faces and warm expressions.
Each card carries a title and a short text. The imagery is personal and emotional, not abstract. You see faces, hands, flowers, candles. The deck does not ask for symbolic knowledge, but for emotional recognition.
What this deck works for
This is a deck for those who grieve, or for those who wish to strengthen the bond with deceased loved ones. The tone is comforting and loving. No confrontational messages, but gentle encouragement and acknowledgement.
The 216-page guidebook contains extensive card descriptions, affirmations and rituals. You can draw a card on the anniversary of someone's death, or during a moment of remembrance. The deck also works for general life questions, but its strength lies in the theme of ancestral wisdom and loss.
Draw a card on the birthday of someone who has passed and read the message aloud. The images and texts often give exactly the words you need in that moment.
About Kelly Sullivan Walden and Emily K. Grieves de Reyes Contla
Kelly Sullivan Walden is a dream specialist and bestselling author. She lives in California and focuses her work on inner transformation and spiritual guidance.
Emily K. Grieves de Reyes Contla is an artist and healer. She lives in Mexico and paints from within the tradition in which she lives. Her work for this deck was created in Teotihuacán, the place where according to Mexican mythology the gods gathered to create the sun.
Specifications
- Number of cards: 44
- Guidebook: 216 pages
- Language: English
- Card size: 89 x 127 mm
- Weight: 520 g
- Finish: silky
- Card quality: sturdy cardstock
- Publisher: U.S. Games Systems, Inc.
- Author: Kelly Sullivan Walden
- Illustrator: Emily K. Grieves de Reyes Contla
Questions we often get
Do I need to be familiar with the Mexican Day of the Dead to use this deck?
No. The guidebook explains the background and the images speak for themselves. You do not need knowledge of the tradition to understand the cards.
Is this only a deck about grief and loss?
No, but that is the core theme. The cards are about the cycle of life and death, about ancestral wisdom and honouring what has passed. You can also use it for general questions, but the strength lies in the theme of transition and remembrance.
