*The FAERIES' ORACLE*

Arval Parrot

Bodacious Bodach

The Bright Mother

Epona's Wild Daughter

The Fairy Godmother

The Faerie who was Kissed by Pixies

Gawthcha

Gloominous Doom

The Sage

He of the Fiery Sword

Ilbe The Retriever

The Journeyman

Penelope Dreamweaver

The Oak Men

Ffaff the Ffooter

The Topsie Turvets

Card Excerpts

The Laume

Unconditional giving. Unconditional receiving.

Starter Reading: If you are stuck or blocked in a situation and the Laume turns up in a reading, you probably need to stop focusing on what you are trying to accomplish, and simply give to others--freely and generously and unconditionally. Try a few random acts of kindness, unconditionally given, of course. Go do some volunteer work somewhere. Mow your elderly neighbour's lawn or take homemade soup or some flowers from your garden to someone you know who is ill. Give some help to a co-worker just because they need it. Give to a needy stranger, whether or not you think he deserves it. Take flowers into a hospital and give them to a stranger at random. Or give them to a nurse, with compliments from the universe. Give a bit more than you think you can afford; go a little further than you think you reasonably can. Empty your wallet or purse of all your cash for a beggar on the street. Don't worry, it will fill up again, faster than you might expect.

Copyright © Brian Froud  

Nelys the Alchemyst

Inner transformation. Irrevocable change.

Starter Reading: When Nelys turns up in your reading, get ready for things to happen, inwardly and outwardly. The stuck becomes unstuck; the blocked begins to move. You may have to run to keep up with the speed at which the situation around you is moving. You may also be surprised by the direction things (and you) are taking. You may find your plans, even your desires and dreams, changing as the transformative process takes place. It might not have been in your plans, but later on you will look back and say, 'Wow! It wasn't what I expected, but it was just what I needed.' When we have been through such an alchemical process, we can never go back to what we were before, which is probably just as well.

Copyright © Brian Froud  

Faeries of the Future

Be here NOW. Guidance. Moving forward.

Starter Reading: Brian writes, 'These are the faeries of a bright future and are essential companions on any journey. When these faeries appear, it is time to consider where we have been and where we wish to go.' There are many opportunities, many potentials, but we must choose a path and then take realistic, practical steps to bring the desired future into being. This is not a time to wait for things to come to us, but to step forward boldly to meet them. We may do this alone, if we wish, or in the company of those who share our goals and dreams. 

Copyright © Brian Froud  

Faery Guide

Guidance. Direct Communication with Faery.

Starter Reading: Both this and the reverse reading are something you will need to work out with your faery guide. Please note that this, like all the starter readings on the other faery's cards, are subject to change without notice. That's how faeries are, and I think when you get used to working that way with them, you will find it a very rewarding experience--and fun. 

Copyright © Brian Froud  

Review :

The deck consists of 65 faerie cards and one blank one for the reader to draw in her or his interpretation of a personal faerie guide. The cards are slightly over-sized at 3" x 5" and are printed on a fairly sturdy card stock. The card backs feature the lovable Topsie Turvets faeries, and are designed to be read either upright or reversed.

While this deck is not a Tarot deck, some of the faeries that are found in it have a strong resemblance to characters found in the Major Arcana. The Journeyman is reminiscent of The Fool in most Rider-Waite decks. The Faeries Oracle also features a Death card and, while the symbolism is not the same as on a traditional Tarot card, the intuitive feeling is much the same. The Sage is a strong personality in a similar vein to The Emperor, and the Lady of the Harvest has similar characteristics of The Empress.

The hardback book that completes this set (approx. 6" x 8") has 208 pages. Jessica Macbeth is delightful in her approach to guiding readers through the Faeries’ Oracle deck. The book is written in an easy-to-understand style, filled with quips and anecdotes. The paper stock is a good weight, and is the colour of honey-sweetened tea. Throughout the book, in unexpected places, are sketches of faeries blending into the paper. This gives the book a whimsical touch that adds to the overall tone of faeries as hidden guides.

Excerpts from the Introduction and Part One read: "This book, of course, is different…This book is about the living oracle of the faeries… This book is also about a different, intuitive way of reading the cards…"

"Don’t read someone else’s definitions of the cards until you already have some idea of what they mean to you."

"First, take a good look at your attitude. Are you really serious about this? Do you believe that you will need to work hard with the cards? If so, please don’t be like that. As much as you can, let yourself approach the cards and the faeries with a light and playful heart."

Froud and Macbeth have made an excellent team in this collaborative effort. It is as though Macbeth knew what to write even before Froud had finished his faerie-inspired paintings. Perhaps the faeries brought them together for just such a project. Whatever the reason, the completed Faeries’ Oracle is a tribute to the "wee folk" of the faerie realm.

This deck is recommended for people who love faeries, adore Brian Froud’s work, or who need a fresh perspective on their lives. It is exquisite!!