This is Claire Mack’s second oracle deck and it is just beautiful. Each card is hand-made and is inspired by a different facet of life in this imagined garden. Although Claire gives meanings to each card, she is hoping that by using her imagery and your intuition, the cards will mean something individual to you.
Kickstarter - The Faceted Garden Oracle
Where in the world do you call home?
Seattle, Washington has been my home for the last few decades. The Pacific Northwest area in the U.S. is really beautiful, mountainous, and green from all the rain. I’m hoping to move out of the city into a more rural area soon so I can be even more steeped in nature.
What was your first experience with oracles and / or tarot and when did you fall in love with it?
I was given a tarot deck as a teenager and was hooked by the rich, symbolic imagery, and the way it really seemed to speak to me every time I used it. Being an artist, it felt like a language I could understand on an intuitive level, without the need for words. Later, I became aware of other decks, each different from one another, and I fell in love with them as a kind of art form as well as being a divination tool.
What made you want to create this deck? What was your inspiration?
When I created my first deck, The Illuminated Earth Oracle, I was inspired by all the incredible indie decks that were appearing like a new Renaissance of this ancient form. I was really excited to see The Wild Unknown for the first time, which got me thinking about non-traditional imagery and how I could focus on my love of nature to create my own deck. Making both of these oracle decks was a very free-flowing and intuitive experience, which is exactly the way I needed to approach it.
Aside from your own deck, do you have a favourite deck? If so, which one?
There are so many amazing decks out there now it’s hard to choose, but that first deck I was given was the Aquarian Tarot and I’ve always loved it as a familiar friend.
Do you have a favourite card (either from your deck or just the card in general). If so, why is it your favourite?
It depends on the deck, but I’ve always related to the Queen of Wands in general. I’m also fond of The Tower, in that it reflects that catastrophic darkness, which admittedly, is part of my personality. In the Faceted Garden Oracle, one of my favorite cards is the Fountain, in which I love the colors and the definition I give it as being a cooling elixir to ease the traveler on their journey.
This is your second oracle deck, what have been your challenges in creating this deck this time around?
I’m happy to say the artwork for both decks was so much fun and came with very little effort or consternation. However, the big challenge for me is digitally preparing the work for print. I’m not very tech-savvy - I’m definitely learning a little more each time, but still tearing my hair out getting through some of the technical details! Thankfully, I have a teenage daughter who was a big help with Photoshop tips.
What is one thing you really want people to know about this deck?
I’d like for people to know that their intuition plays a big role in interpreting the cards. Some of the cards do have a very personal meaning to me, but I prefer not to explain too much. I’d rather let the images speak to each individual and have them notice what feelings come up from their own experience. The garden theme has created some amazing imagery.
Can you explain a bit more about why you chose a garden and how the faceted part of the title fits in to the deck?
Because nature plays such an important role in my life it seemed like a natural theme to carry on after my first deck, which has sort of a broader theme of the natural world. I have a backyard garden and also live in an area that has some pretty amazing species of plants, both cultivated and wild. Watching how the landscape changes with the seasons and thinking about the way we engage with and relate to these variations helped inspire the theme. I was also thinking in terms of the whole planet representing the garden from a macro perspective, and the facets - or different faces like on a cut gemstone - that we interpret depending on our perspective.
How will you celebrate when your deck is finally published?
That’s a good question! I tend to dig in and begin the work of fulfilling orders, but it’s a nice idea to mark the occasion with something celebratory...maybe setting up a new altar where I can get to know the deck in its completed form. It’s funny, but I know my first deck like an old friend now and this one will be like bringing home a new baby who’s personality will be revealed the more I nurture it.
What is on offer for people who pledge?
I tend to keep it pretty simple. The most popular tiers are for the Faceted Garden Oracle deck or the combo of both the Faceted Garden and Illuminated Earth Oracles. I’m also offering a set of stickers, an 8x10 art print w/stickers, and a Deluxe Doubles package where you get 2 decks, 2 greeting cards, 2 prints, and stickers. Oh, and there’s a wholesale tier for a dozen decks for people with online or brick-and-mortar shops.
You can also purchase Claire's existing work on etsy:
To show your support for Claire and her beautiful oracle deck, pledge here:
Kickstarter - The Faceted Garden Oracle
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