Madame Endora's Fortune Cards is quite a deck to behold. The artwork is unbelievably beautiful, intricate and detailed. Creators Joseph Vargo and Christine Filipak have created quite a masterpiece here. I've never encountered artwork on any oracle or tarot deck that has given me the chills, but this particular deck manages to do so.
It is how I imagine an old-world oracle deck would look like. It's full of arcane images from ancient cultures long gone, dream-like imagery from fantasy novels and fairy tales, and others from old occult texts.
All of these images are beautifully displayed in front of a solid black back drop which already adds to the mystery and allure of the images contained on the cards.
It's the kind of deck that I imagine would be in the hands of an old gypsy fortune-teller...
The cards themselves are fairly large (5.1 x 3.3 x 0.8 inches to be exact), and the background is solid black in order to show off the amazing detail. The borders are simple, and do not take away from the artwork, but they draw your focus towards the image itself without being distracting. The card stock is sturdy, with a matte finish, and despite their size they shuffle beautifully.
The cards themselves are divided into five categories:
1. The Royal Court - These cards represent extremely powerful influences in one's life. They can represent the person asking the question. The group consists of the King, The Queen, The Wizard, The Seer, The Knight, The Maiden, The Minstrel and The Harlequin.
2. The Realm of Fable - They represent the outside forces that guide one's life. The cards contained in this group are the Golem, the Greenman, Hindrance, Medusa, The Satyr, Seduction, Serendipity, The Siren, The Sphinx, and The Spirit.
3. The Bestiary - Both fantastical and real creatures. They are a reflection of human emotions, of our animal/primal nature. This group contains images of the Black Cat, the Chimera, the Dragon, the Gryphon, the Raven, the Serpent, the Spider, the Unicorn, the Wolf, and the Wyvern.
4. The Treasury - Shows the tools the questioner can use in order to attain their goals. The cards contained here are the Caduceus, the Chalice, the Dagger, the Gate, the Hand of Fate, the Hourglass, the Key, Love, the Mystic Circle, the Oracle, the Shield, and the Talisman.
5. The Elements - These are planetary, and other natural energies that are also exerting an influence on the questioner. This group contains cards representing the Sun, the Moon, the Stars, Air, Earth, Fire, Water, and The Winds of Change.
As mentioned above, the images were inspired by different cultures, and the legends and lore contained within those cultures, with equal inspiration taken from fantasy and fairy tales - but it's not just pretty, inspired artwork. What makes it work so well is that these images are still readily recognizable by anyone, and they are easy to interpret.
The use of various themes within the deck break up any monotony.
It's because of this variety, and easily recognizable symbols that make this deck not only a pleasure to read, but easily read - it allows for more intuitive inspiration.
Of all the tarot and oracle decks that I own, reading with this one has been quite an experience! I finally realize what it means when a deck truly "speaks" to someone, and these cards were ready to go right out of the box - the LWB was an afterthought.
The clarity and accuracy of these cards were astonishing, and they got straight to the heart of the matter - there was no beating around the bush. Beneath the clarity and bluntness of the cards comes a very twisted and equally blunt sense of humor.
In summary, this deck has everything you could want in an oracle. Not only is it pleasing to look at, but it's sure to astonish you with it's straightforward-ness, and uncanny accuracy. Definitely a must-have in any tarot or oracle collection!
