Foxfire: The Kitsune Oracle Review
Foxfire: The Kitsune Oracle is written by Lucy Cavendish and illustrated by Meredith Dillman. The deck is published by Blue Angel. The cards measure 5.5 x 3.75 inches.
Quality:
The Foxfire deck is packaged in a sturdy box with a lift off lid, and the guidebook is a miniature bound book. If you have any other decks from Blue Angel, this one conforms to the same packaging and presentation as their other oracle decks. I appreciate this consistency – I always know what I’m going to get – and the boxes are similar enough in size to stack neatly on my shelf. The cardstock has a glossy finish, and it’s flexible without being too thin or delicate. The cards are borderless.
Extra Materials (guidebook):
The guidebook for the Foxfire deck is 143 pages long including the information about the creators and ads for other decks from Blue Angel. There are 135 pages of content about the deck itself. Cavendish provides information about the Kitsune, tips for working with the cards, spreads, and a description of each card in the deck. Card illustrations accompany each entry, and the way the artwork is integrated into the pages is very attractive. Cavendish’s writing style is a bit flowery for my taste, but she is articulate and the text is well-edited. I don’t care for being called “beloved” or dear one” and assured that I am somehow exceptionally unique or special at the turn of every page, but that’s just me.
Artwork:
Dillman’s artwork is cheerful and varied. The colors are vibrant, and an assortment of palettes are utilized. Several art styles are employed as well as a variety of subjects. Dragons and mermaids are a few of the less expected figures you will happen upon in this deck. Primarily, the deck’s imagery features a lively and charming portrayal of the Kitsune – shapeshifting foxes that originate in Eastern spiritual traditions. This is not an anime style deck, but some of the characters in the cards have features that are reminiscent. The technical skill of the artist and the beauty and sweetness of the imagery makes every card a delight to turn over in a reading. The one issue I have is that there is only one male figure in the entire deck, and sadly this underrepresentation is never unexpected.
Content:
The Kitsune theme is loosely carried in the card meanings for the deck, and I will admit that I was expecting to see this unique theme tapped into a bit more deeply. Cavendish supplies some very interesting background information, and then she talks about how she researched and traveled to discover more. I was excited to see the fruits of her research come through in the individual card descriptions, but that didn’t happen to the degree I was hoping for. Perhaps this was an unrealistically academic expectation on my part. Ideas about gaining wisdom and ability with age, for example, are well tied to the folklore of the Kitsune, but many of the other card themes adhere to common concepts of self-care and improvement that are found in numerous mass market oracle decks. Mindfulness, seeking rest, and being proud and true to yourself are a few of the more mainstream ideas that are presented. While these concepts are useful and don’t necessarily contradict messages within Japanese folklore, I felt like they could have been tied to the theme and artwork of the deck in a more specific and meaningful way. I was hoping for a greater focus on why certain details appeared in a card and how those details related to the Kitsune and Japanese folklore in general, and while certain card descriptions gave a nod to these things, others felt a bit general and disconnected.
Conclusion:
The Foxfire Oracle is a quality publication with thoughtful, evocative illustrations. I always enjoy the attractive presentation of Blue Angel oracles. The artwork is a real treat, and I think its quality makes this deck readable with or without the guidebook. If you are looking for an attractive oracle to work with as a standalone reading deck or accompaniment to Tarot, this one is a beautiful choice.
More like this… Shadowscapes Tarot, Bohemian Animal Tarot
Quality: *****
Extra Materials: ***
Artwork: ****
Content: ***
Overall Score: 3.75 out of 5
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