The Wild Witch Oracle

The Wild Witch Oracle - Moon phases, sabbats and 40 cards that call you to action

Many oracle decks emphasise reflection. This one does something different: it asks you to act. The Wild Witch Oracle is made by Cherie Gerhardt and Dianne Sylvan, and connects moon phases, plants, animals and sabbats with questions about what you can do right now. The cards are divided into categories that do not exclude one another, but reinforce each other. You do not simply draw a random message, but a card that refers to a cycle, an element or a season. That gives context to a reading.

What you see on the cards

Cherie Gerhardt draws with an earthy palette: brown, green, midnight blue, ochre. The illustrations are full, but not busy. Every element has a function. An owl does not appear because it is decorative, but as a carrier of a message about observation or silence. The cards are compact, 95 x 139 mm, and have a matte finish that feels pleasant when shuffling. The back shows a symmetrical pattern with leaves and moon, executed in the same muted tones as the front.

Structure and use

The deck does not follow a tarot structure. No suits, no arcana. Instead, an organisation that helps you place your question within a larger rhythm. The guidebook explains for each card what it stands for, and what concrete action fits with it. The spreads are practical and clear. You do not need to lay out ten cards to get something useful. One card works, three cards work too.

Draw a card at the start of a new moon phase and let the message run through the next two weeks. Notice what happens when you actually carry out the action the card suggests.

What sets this deck apart

This is not a contemplative deck. The tone is warm, but also direct. Dianne Sylvan writes like someone you know who says: you can try this. No detours, no abstract talk about energy. The emphasis on the sabbats makes the deck usable for people who want to follow the rhythm of the seasons, but it does not have to. You can just use this deck as an oracle without delving into the background information about Samhain or Beltane.

About Cherie Gerhardt and Dianne Sylvan

Cherie Gerhardt runs Mystic Moon Media and illustrates with a preference for forest landscapes and nocturnal scenes. Her work shows that nature is not only light and flowers, but also shadow and silence. Dianne Sylvan writes within the pagan and spiritual community. She has published several books on modern witchcraft and personal growth. Her style is accessible and encouraging without becoming soft.

Specifications

• Number of cards: 40
• Language: English
• Illustrator: Cherie Gerhardt (Mystic Moon Media)
• Author: Dianne Sylvan
• Publisher: Blue Angel Publishing
• ISBN: 9781922574398
• Card dimensions: 95 x 139 mm
• Weight: 410 g
• Includes: guidebook with meanings and spreads

Questions we often get

Do you need prior knowledge to work with this deck? No. The guidebook explains per card what the message is and what action fits with it. The categories are clear and the language is direct. How does this differ from a tarot deck? The Wild Witch Oracle has no tarot structure. No suits, no court cards, no major arcana. The 40 cards are thematically divided by moon phases, plants, animals and sabbats. The purpose is also different: this deck urges you to act, not just to think.