Magic Spells Oracle by Judika Illes Review

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. I received a free copy of this deck in exchange for an honest review.

If you do not know Judika Illes's name, I am going to assume you have been living under a rock. She is one of the largest names in the esoteric community, having written multiple encyclopedias, including her most famous, The Encyclopedia of 5,000 Spells. Her work has shaped our community for the better part of three decades. Most recently, her impact has been her Magic Spells Oracle deck, which features 36 oracle cards designed to help you connect internally and externally to your practice.

The deck is divided into suits using the four elements. Each element features nine cards, including animals, crystals, and symbols traditionally associated with Air, Earth, Fire, and Water. There are also two bonus cards called "Balancing Cards" that act as "wild cards" and provide additional insight when pulled alongside others. According to the guidebook, these cards bring "the spread into alignment" and "boost, amplify, or connect the other cards selected in a layout."

Upon all 38 cards in the deck is a title, image, and description of the card's meaning, making this a true oracle deck that is easy to read and understand. The guidebook offers further insight into each card, which I suggest reading through after you have attempted to make sense of a spread's meaning. Since this deck is called Magic Spells Oracle, it is best used to help guide your spellwork, but can be used for basic divinatory practices as well.

Apart from their simplistic yet beautiful design, the cards are large and sturdy. They will hold up well over time, but their size will make it more difficult to bend the cards to shuffle if you prefer such shuffling methods.

Overall, this is a great deck if you are new to reading cards, looking to incorporate cards into your spell work, or wishing to combine oracle and tarot together in your practice!

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