I have always had great respect for the work of Beth Owl’s Daughter. Beth has a really jazzy video on her blog in connection with a class that she is teaching – well worth visiting! Beth Owl’s Daughter
From the magick box of Tarot and Oracle decks and books that I am working my way through (sent to me by a friend over a year ago!) I found “Titania’s Star Tarot” (Quadrille, Quadrille Publishing Limited, 2003). The deck and book come in a book style presentation box, which opens up with the deck on one side (divided into two packets), and the book on the other side. It is a little awkward, as the book is glued to the box!
This deck and book are focused on using the Tarot as a means to progress on a personal level, as opposed to reading for divinatory purposes. Emphasis is also placed on astrological connections with the Tarot.
Several spreads are offered, including a nine card spread, a twenty-one card Pyramid spread, a forty-nine card Rainbow spread and the Astrological Clock spread.
Color scans are included for each of the cards, along with their astrolgocial association and short (rather simplistic) text.
The card backs are reversible, and the imagery on the card faces is very basic. The Pips (numbered cards) are Marseilles style (icons only, no pictures), while the Major Arcana and Court cards are primarily simple “figure” drawings. There is not a consistency of color throughout the suits – instead, each card carries a background color commisserate with the quality of the card.
In my magick box there was also a book entitled “Titania’s Oraqule – A Unique Way To Predict Your Future” (Quadrille Publishing, 1998, text by Titania Hardie, photographs by Sara Morris). The book cover is in dark blue, as was the presentation box for “Titania’s Star Tarot”.
The book starts out with the quote “Be careful what you wish for.” – something that the author’s mother told her throughout her childhood. In the introduction, the author advises the reader to take the oracle lightheartedly, as pure exercises in concentration. Her position is that we draw to us, like a magnet, the things that we need. The inspiration for this book was two-fold: the “White-Magic Book” by Mrs. John Le Breton, and the work of the author’s grandmother, Mae Forrest, a white witch and mystic.
The oraqule is based on a series of one hundred questions. The Seeker picks the question most relevant to them, and turns to the page indicated to get their answer. The questions are varied, as in the sampling below:
* Does my present lover have genuine feelinge for me?
* Can I trust my friend completely?
* What does my long term future hold?
* Am I right to be cautious of …?
* Would my energies, spent on the pursuits that I have in mind, be well justified?
The oraqule can be read in two ways: as a party game, or as a gateway to the psyche of the Seeker (IOW, as a tool for personal growth). The oraqule is set up in a circular manner, with twelve divisions around the edge and a center division. It is based on the thirteen moons of the calendar year.
The manner in which this oraqule is used is to select the question that most clearly reflects the Seeker’s question, turn to the indicated page, hold your finger over the page, and choose one of the indicated symbols within the circle. Short responses are included within each of the thirteen positions.
I found this to be a unique oracle – at the least, a bit of fun, at best, wisdom that can be used in the Seeker’s life to further their personal growth and understanding.
It is impressive not just by size (over 500 pages), but by content. Mosse (author of “Labyrinth”) gifts us with a “Da Vinci Code” style story that we don’t want to put down.
