Customer Reviews

The Fairy Ring: An Oracle of the Fairy Folk

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This set containing a quality 248 page soft-cover book and a colorful deck of 60 oracle cards plus 4 spread cards is very unusual and that says a lot in a market as swamped as the current Tarot card market is. From the creators of the Sacred Circle Tarot, The Fairy Ring uses the same type of computer enhanced photographic images of human beings. They occur in collage-like surroundings featuring fairy mounds and standing stones, forests glades and moonlit moors wearing fairy garb, altered sometimes to give them the oddly shaped bodies and features of the fairies they represent. The set is unusual, in my opinion, because it provides a much better than usual atmosphere and even some written suggestions for using these beautiful cards for deep meditation. It unfolds like guided meditation does, the images on the cards being wonderful catalysts. One's imagination melds so readily with the details on the cards that it is very easy to step into the land of the fey and to discover the teachings waiting there. The settings and the fairies are so evocative in this deck that you get a quantum leap into your meditation if you are only willing. You can meditate with any Tarot deck but with this deck it seems almost effortless.
The cards are divided into four seasonal suits depending on the time of year when a particular fairy is most likely to appear. There are thirteen cards in each suit that are numbered one to nine plus four court cards. Each card has a different fairy for a total of 52 fairies. There are also eight festival cards that mark the cheif fairy feasts. These closely correspond with Wiccan sabbats except Herfest is substituted for Mabon. The cards have both upright and reversed meanings. The fairies depicted are of all different sorts, fair and ugly. The quality cards are glossy with green backs featuring Celtic knotwork in the shape of the vesica pisces. The book contains delineations for each card that first describes the imagery of the card, then gives the detailed lore of the fairy, the divinatory meanings, reversed meanings, and finally, information and tips on working with the particular fairy including tree and herbal lore or other pertinent habitat lore.
These cards are very beautiful. The fairy lore is so excellent that I would recommend this set just for the book alone. It is packed with scholarly information and shows a deep understanding of fey beings. It has a select bibliography and has been well-researched.
This deck is not for everyone. You are either a fairy friend or you are not. If you are willing to enter into this realm with an open mind and heart in can be very illuminating. The deck is accessible and the visual images are definite portals. It is an excellent value in that the book is a wonderful resource alone and the cards are a miniature art gallery if nothing else. If used as the creators intend it is a remarkably useful tool for self-awareness. I highly recommend it.

Anna Franklin and Paul Mason's first oracle deck, the Sacred Circle Tarot, was quite good. This one, the Fairy Ring, is stunning. Working again with computer-manipulated photographs, these creative British Wiccans have designed a deck that captures the wildness, beauty, and sometimes horror of the faery folk of Britain.

The deck is divided into four suits: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter, with the faeries assigned to whichever season is the closest match for their energies. There are also eight additional cards representing the major holidays of Wicca. Every last one of the cards is a visual spectacle, and none of them have that telltale blah-ness that indicates that the artist is out of ideas. I suspect that the deck will be a little difficult to learn, since it's not based on tarot, but I've never minded reading up on faeries.

Each of the cards represents one of the traditional faeries of folklore. Other faery decks concentrate on the authors' personal vision of faeries (Brian Froud), or on pop psychology (Doreen Virtue), but with this deck we're in "Katherine Briggs Land". The book gives a sort of capsule bio of each faery, so that we know what its nature is and what it means in a reading. The faeries range from ethereally beautiful to earthy to creepy to "I sure hope I don't meet THAT in a dark alley". It is a credit to Franklin and Mason that they absolutely do not "sugarcoat" any of the darker faeries. They are SCARY as portrayed in the art, and the book advises not trying to contact them in meditation.

My personal favorite is the "Lhiannan Shee" card. Mason portrays the traditional vampire-muse as a green sprite hovering above a bottle on the writer's desk. I love the double meaning. For the faery depicted might be the Lhiannan Shee--or she might be the "green faery" absinthe, which led 19th century artists into a more mundane sort of danger.

The only gripe I can think of about this deck is that Franklin and Mason have only a handful of models for their cards. This can get a little distracting when I start recognizing the models from one card to the next, or even between the two decks. "Hey wait a second, Morgan le Fay, didn't I just see you on the BeFind card?" It is sometimes necessary to suspend disbelief a little.

When I first became interested in Paganism, I had visions of entering a beautiful and enchanted world of magic and mystery. The realities of social interaction quickly soured that vision, but just as quickly, the Fairy Ring re-awakened much of the "fun" I had forgotten. This new divination deck from Anna Franklin and Paul Mason, perhaps best known for their Sacred Circle Tarot, uses many of the same techniques of combining photographic and computer imagery to produce a beautiful look at the Little People of ancient folklore. Focusing on the myth and culture of the Celtic lands, the Fairy Ring brings to life the mysterious, whimsical and occasionally fearsome creatures of ancient beliefs, fairy tales and nursery rhymes. Other fairy decks I have seen are too serious -- they miss the feeling of enchantment and familiarity that the Fairy Ring so cleverly captures.

The Fairy Ring comes as a deck and book kit, like the Sacred Circle Tarot. The book has a brief introduction to the Oracle, several suggested layouts, and a detailed discussion of each of the cards, including the history and folklore of the fairy depicted on the card, suggested divinatory meanings, and a guide to working with the fairy -- and occasionally a recommendation that you do not work with a specific fairy! The deck itself consists of 60 cards, organized into four suits corresponding to the seasons. Each suit has nine cards, each belonging to a specific fairy, plus four court cards -- Lady, Knave, Queen and King. Rounding out the deck are eight "festival" cards, representing the solstices, equinoxes, and fire festivals. Four additional cards illustrate suggested layouts that are further described in the book. The cards themselves are a little smaller than the Sacred Circle, measuring 8 x 11.7mm (about 3-1/4 x 4-3/4 inches), and thus should be easier for those with smaller hands (and diminished dexterity, such as myself) to use. The cards don't seem to have the slick finish that scratches easily as do the Sacred Circle, and those who long lamented the "irreversibility" of the Sacred Circle card backs will delight in the complete upsy-downsy anonymity of the Fairy Ring.

I have long thought that the Tarot, while an excellent representation of superconscious energies and their relationship to consciousness, all but ignores the unconscious forces of nature that play a critical role in the formation of human consciousness, and in the events and thoughts of ancient and modern life. Our ancestors lived and died by the events of nature, and the forces that shaped those events determined their survival. The ancient rituals of the seasons, the practices of magic, and eventually the evolution of nature gods and goddesses all spring from this intimate connection between consciousness and nature, and the participation mystique that linked the human mind to the world around it. The Tarot all but ignores this relationship; but this is the very substance of the Fairy Ring. Whether you think that fairies originate through observation or psychological projection, the Fairy Ring brings to life the connection between mind and nature, and is thus the perfect companion and compliment to the more abstract Tarot.

It is perhaps because of the loss of connection between mind and nature that the Tarot often succumbs to endless psychobabble and chatter, completely missing its mark as a metaphysical oracle. The Fairy Ring, on the other hand, seems more closely connected to the Runes and Oghams, as a mediator between consciousness and the unseen, sometimes amusing and often perplexing forces of nature. Much could be said about the consequences of isolating human consciousness from nature, and one of the benefits of studying and using a nature-oriented oracle like the Fairy Ring might be to encourage the re-formation of the link between mind and world that enlivened and enchanted the consciousness of the ancients.

Whatever you might think of the theory, the Fairy Ring should be a welcome addition to the repertoire of the diviner and students of ancient religious beliefs and practices.

I can't tell you how much I disagree with the last reviewer, I found the deck spookily and alsmost frighteningly accurate when I used it for readings. I see from the other reviews posted here that others have had the same experience. It makes you wonder! I think you have to be willing to be open to fairy energies to use this deck. If you read the excellent book that accompanies it, you find all the information you need on fairy powers, it even tells you which fairies you should not even try to work with.This could be a stand alone book on fairies and fairy powers. I found the pathworkings excellent in furthering my own magical work with fairy energies. I loved most of the artwork. It is very atmospheric and feels as though you have stepped into fairy land. Some, I felt, worked better in this respect than others, but this is being really picky in a deck with sixty cards- an almost impossible task to make them all brilliant, I would have thought. But most of them are very good indeed.

"The fairy hills are calling, and the gateway to the Otherworld stands open. Its denizens are ready to take you by the hand and lead you into the Fairy Ring..."

Pixies, brownies, mermaids, leprechauns, and unicorns...not so long ago, belief in the fairy world crossed every strata of society. People believed that fairies could see into the future and were capable of bestowing the gift of prophecy on favored mortals. At present, more and more people are re-discovering the enchanted world of the fairies, seeking to connect and consult with the Wee Folk.

The Fairy Ring oracle is a 60 card divination deck that allows you to tap into the wisdom of the fairies for insight and direction. Featuring the surreal art of Paul Mason, the card images combine photography, computer imaging and illustration, serving as a visual portal to the mystical Otherworld. At 248 pages, the companion Guide to the Fairy Ring-written by Anna Franklin-weaves a rich tapestry of history and folklore. While fairy legends exist all over the world, The Fairy Ring features fairies from Britain and Ireland.

Franklin has collected fairy legends for years, recording over 3,000 Little People. While acknowledging that she's uncovered the mere tip of the iceberg, she reveals the magical profile of 52 different fairies. Since fairies are often seasonal creatures, the Fairy Ring deck is divided into four suits corresponding to the four elements-with related flora and fauna featured in the card borders:

Spring Suit (Air) - bright green ferns
Summer Suit (Fire) - colorful wildflowers
Autumn Suit (Water) - autumn leaves
Winter Suit (Earth) - glossy holly leaves, red berries, pine branches and cones

The thirteen cards in each suit are numbered ace to nine, with four court cards: Lady, Knave, Queen, and King. In addition to the four suits, there are eight festival cards marking the chief fairy feasts of Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Midsummer, Lughnasa, Herfest, Samhain, and Yule. The card backing is fully reversible, with two interlocking golden rings of Celtic design centered on a green marbled background.

Franklin recounts the lively history and myth of each fairy depicted, as well as the divinatory and reversed meaning of each card. Instructions on working with the Wee Folk-if advisable-are also provided in the Fairy Ring Guide. While many fairy oracles portray only helpful sprites and beautiful winged creatures, the Fairy Ring includes misshapen ogres and mischievous tricksters such as the Blue Hag, Changeling, Boggart, Jenny Greenteeth, Banshee, and Will o' the Wisp. Those looking for a "feel good" deck may find some of the creepy images off-putting.

The Fairy Ring Guide also includes nine spreads, four of which are printed on cards: The Fairy Ring, The Fairy Mound, The Fairy Oak, and the Fairy Market. The layouts are for anywhere from five to twelve cards, providing a comprehensive snapshot of both temporary and pervasive energies. I performed a personal reading with this deck, using the eight-card Fairy Ring spread. While a consistent (repetitive?) theme arose from the cards, I didn't feel like they spoke clearly or directly. This could be due to my lack of familiarity with the deck, but more likely because I lack resonance with the fairy world.

Those interested in elementals and the Wee Folk-and aren't disconcerted by some of the darker expressions of the fae-will be delighted with the Fairy Ring. It's an imaginative deck with pagan overtones, and the companion Guide offers great information on Irish and British fairy folklore.

(To see 6 card images from this deck, visit the Reviews section at JanetBoyer.com)

I must admit that I was first drawn to this deck by the artwork, the fairy pictures are lovely. I didn't really think it would work very well, not being a traditional tarot pack. Then I started to read the book, and it is very deep indeed and Anna Franklin has obviously done a lot of research into fairies and the book made a lot of sense to me. When I started using the cards they just blew me away! The readings cut right to the chase. I love the whole thing.After this I bought their fairy encyclopedia to learn even more.

I am so impressed with this set. Anna Franklin's scholarship is in depth and accurate (I've been a fan of Katharine Briggs for nearly thirty years so my standards are high) and Paul Mason's skill with the illustrations are very unique. I find more within this set the more time I spend with it. However, I am not comfortable "using" the fae folk to answer my human questions for some reason, so I am more or less using the deck as a part of my pathway to faery, and draw a card each day to notice how that energy manifests (or not) in my world that day. I also do love her guided meditations into contact with the various fae. I knew about this set long before I finally purchased it this past summer. Now I wish I hadn't waited so long, but in any case, I am very glad I got this. Since I find their work so well done, I am now getting their Sacred Circle Tarot for actual divination work. In conclusion, though there are many books on faery out there, and more appearing every day, I would say this one stands alone in the way you can learn from the book and meditate on the cards. Highly recommended!
Dawn Killen-Courtney, author of The Trollton Chronicles fantasy series.

This is a set of Tarot like cards and a book on how to use them. The deck is divided into four 'seasons' and there is a grouping of eight (8) cards listed as 'Fairy Festival' representing the eight (8) Sabats of the Wheel of the Year.

The deck is lovely. The artwork of Paul Mason is almost photographic in nature and the graphics are super. Each card is loaded with symbolism and the fairies, either truly beautiful or really ugly are a joy to behold either way. The artwork here is what captures the attention, which is what the cards are supposed to do.

The seasons - spring, summer, fall and winter - are each very close to the four suits of a regular deck of cards, ace through nine, and then there is a 'Lady' card (in place of the page), a 'knave' card (in place of a knight), a 'queen' and a 'king' card. While just a tad different from the other 'Rider-Waite' style of decks, the familiarity with a standard style of deck will allow you to pick up and use these cards with only a small amount of modification to the way you read. Being familiar with the 'Wheel of the Year' will also allow you to easily substitute this for the usual Major Arcane.

The book is also very well done. Ms. Franklin has put in much research and time to making this an excellent reference book to go along with the cards. Discussions about the seasonal nature of the fairy folk, the meaning of the names of the fairy folk, which are taken directly out of folklore and myth from the British Islands. To read this book is to take a trip through fairy tales (not Mother Goose here but the old fairy tales).

Anyone with any interest in fairies would want to own this book just because of all the reference material collected in one place about the various fairy names. Here we find King Finvarra, The Blue Hag, Jack Frost, and explanations for the various types of fairies such as garconer, phooka, kelpie and will o' the wisp. Some of these you may recognize, some of these will wet your appetite for more information.

The meaning of drawing these cards is very well explained by Ms. Franklin and working a bit with the deck will allow you to very easily identify the cards with the meanings. Ms. Franklin gives the upright/reverse meanings so they are there if you draw your cards this way.

Ms. Franklin has also included several suggested ways to draw the cards and with a little practice this too can become easy for one who is familiar with card reading. The meanings will come as the cards are rich in imagery that does associate very clearly to the explanations given in the book.

Each section has a reference list for notations in the chapter, giving sources for the information provided and there is a very thorough bibliography for those who want to go off and do some research on their own. But the information that Ms. Franklin has provided here is rich in lore and myth and appears to be very accurate for her research.

A lovely deck and a well written and researched book make for an overall excellent presentation here. I find this to be a perfect gift idea for someone you know would be interested in decks or fairy lore or just a special treat for yourself.
Boudica

THE FAIRY RING consists of a gorgeous book and deck of divination cards that are similar to Tarot cards, and are divided into four seasonal suits of Spring, Summer, Autumn, & Winter. The beautifully designed cards give one an immediate sense of the wonder of entering the fairy realm, and are truly stunning to behold. THE FAIRY RING book provides enchanting stories of each character that explain the divinatory message imparted in every card reading. I particularly enjoyed reading the story about Queen Oonaugh, where she cleverly helps Fin MacCool avoid a fight with a giant called Cucullin by recommending that Fin pretend to be his own baby when the giant shows up at his home.

In addition to a court of thirteen fairies representing each season (with a Lady, Knave, King, Queen, and Ace), there are eight fairy festival cards (Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Midsummer, Lughnasa, Herfest, Samhain, and Yule). It's easy to sense at a glance which fairies are good to work with and which are not, since each card conveys through use of color, expression, and lighting the feelings being described. THE FAIRY RING book further clarifies which fairies are helpful and provides advice regarding how best to obtain help from them (such as Habetrot, Asrai, the Sea Mither, Brownies and Leprechauns), and which fairies are best avoided because they are known for being treacherous, illusory, or inaccessible (such as the Changeling, Will o' the Wisp, or Jenny Greenteeth). For those who need a little help asking the fairies for guidance, nine different divinatory spreads are provided, along with a sample reading for the Fairy Market spread.

If you already feel an affinity for fairies and are willing to read through the stories and divinatory meanings for each card, this deck will quickly become an invaluable aid. I received meaningful guidance and advice from THE FAIRY RING deck after using it twice!

the Faery Ring Tarot is a graphically rich, very thorough, and fully enjoyable deck. I'm not a personal big fan of digitally created tarot decks, but i'm a true fan of the imagery of this one. each new card tells of different faery lore, and gives in-depth insight to both the faeries themselves and the seekers lives. I'm a big faery enthusiast, but i have to warn those who are starting out working with our dear fae friends. the fae are very real creatures, and they are known to dabble in your world once you dabble in theirs. (i say this, of course, with greatest respect and admiration for them, if not a little precaution). they hide things, and sometimes cause a level of havoc, especially if they are angered or if they are ignored. They also have taken a fancy to popping up in dreams as i can attest(Will O' The Wisp and Phooka, to name a few of the fae who you'll meet in this deck)and if you shower them with attention and then neglect them, or ask for help, receive, and give nothing in return, this will understandably make them angry. But working with them aside, this is a great deck to own, use, and connect to them with as well as connect with your Higher Self; even to connect with the Otherworld.