Folklore Oracle (Mike Bass)

Folklore Oracle - myths from the UK and the US in linocut

Folklore has always been a matter of transmission. Stories passed from mouth to mouth, symbols that gained meaning through repetition. This deck holds to that literally.

Mike Bass carved the cards in linocut and filled them with creatures, trees and deities from the British and American storytelling tradition. Herne the Hunter, the Banshee, Sasquatch, the yew tree, the raven. Not global folklore, but a defined selection from two major narrative lines.

What you see on the cards

The style is strong and maintains distance. Black lines, ink and pencil, sparing use of colour. The texture of the linocut remains visible, giving the cards a craft-driven appearance.

Each card carries one symbol. That can be a figure (Green Man, Sheela-na-gig), a tree (oak, willow, hazel), an animal (fox, badger, raven) or a landscape. The composition is direct, without distracting details.

The format is compact, roughly 100 x 139 mm, and the cards feel sturdy. They are printed on heavier cardstock than many contemporary oracle decks, which suits the robust design.

What the guidebook contains

The guidebook runs to 192 pages and gives generous attention to each card. For each symbol you get four things: a core quality, historical background, meaning during a reading and a suggestion for working with that energy.

That historical context is where this deck sets itself apart. Bass explains where a figure comes from, in which regions the story lived, and how the meaning shifted over time. This makes the deck useful for those who want not only to read, but also to understand.

Draw one card in the morning and read the historical background. Then watch during the day whether the core quality appears somewhere in your own surroundings. The pace of this deck is slower than many other oracles.

Who this works for

This deck requires no prior knowledge, but it works most strongly for those with an interest in stories and symbols. The imagery is quiet and introspective, not dramatic or noticeably cheerful.

If you care for folklore, for stories rooted in nature and in old oral cultures, this deck offers enough depth to work with for a long time. The focus on two geographical traditions keeps it coherent.

About Mike Bass

Mike Bass works as an artist, printmaker and folklorist. He runs the Zip-Dang shop in Madison and combines his interest in folk culture with visual work.

His style is marked by minimalist colour layers and a preference for handmade printing techniques. For this deck he chose linocut, a technique that combines clarity and strength.

Specifications

• Number of cards: 60
• Guidebook: 192 pages
• Language: English
• Card size: approx. 100 x 139 mm
• Edition: first edition
• Publisher: Watkins Publishing
• Illustrator: Mike Bass
• Theme: British and American folklore
• Technique: linocut

Questions we often get

Does this deck focus exclusively on folklore from the UK and the US?
Yes. The choice for two geographical traditions creates coherence in symbolism and story. You will not find Celtic or Scandinavian myths here unless they belong to the British or American storytelling tradition.

What kind of information is included for each card in the guidebook?
For each card you read the core quality, the historical background of the symbol, the meaning during a reading and a practical suggestion for working with that energy. The emphasis is on context and understanding.