Around 12 years ago, I acquired my very first Psycards oracle deck, a treasure now seemingly vanished from the market. It was a recommendation that came highly endorsed by fellow psychics, and I’ve cherished this beautifully illustrated deck ever since. Comprising 40 cards, each card is centered around a range of personal and societal archetypes, including themes such as Birth, Death, Health, Libido, Home, Work, Skills, Money, Friendship, Fortune, Beauty, and Peace, among others. Among these cards, four stand out as simple yet crucial indicators for gauging the likelihood and immediacy of success in any endeavor: Yes, No, Now, and Never. I keep these cards separate from the main deck but occasionally incorporate them as a supplementary element to my readings.
Additionally, the deck features a card that can serve as a Significator, often referred to as “The Inquirer,” or alternatively, one can choose a topic card from the deck for this purpose. For instance, I have utilised the Work card and the Home card as Significators when dealing with questions pertaining to those specific areas of life.
The Psycards oracle deck also encompasses several quintessential human archetypes, including the Father, the Mother, the Fool, the Sage, and the Warrior. In addition to these, there are some more specialized characters like the Liar, the Stranger, the Beast, and the Beauty. Furthermore, the deck includes celestial archetypes such as the Stars, Sun, and Moon, each carrying the customary symbolism commonly found in other decks. I’ve employed the five traditional archetype cards as a subset, drawing from them to pinpoint the stance or attitude the querent should adopt in a given situation. After selecting one at random, I return the remaining archetype cards to the deck, allowing them to represent other individuals or influences.
As the name “Psycards” suggests, these cards are primarily designed for psychological assessment, aimed at enhancing personal awareness and nurturing psychological growth. While I don’t frequently use these cards for psychological profiling, I prefer to focus on situational and developmental aspects of forthcoming actions and events. To my delight, the Psycards have proven to be remarkably effective in these areas.
Upon closer examination, it becomes evident that the Psycards share numerous similarities with both Lenormand and tarot cards. Many cards bear identical titles or at least closely related themes. To aid in interpretation, I took the initiative to create a cross-reference table comparing all three systems, highlighting equivalent card titles, common keywords, and shared concepts. This table, included at the end of this review, can be a valuable resource for those seeking to understand these cards more comprehensively.
In conclusion, I hold a deep appreciation for the professionalism evident in the artwork, the thoughtfulness of the symbolic framework, and the overall high production quality of the Psycards oracle deck. It’s a deck that one can grow with over time, a promising sign of its enduring value. Experienced users of other oracle decks will discover familiar ideas here, seamlessly integrating those that are unique to the Psycards. While there isn’t a Little White Book (LWB) as such, there is an accordion fold-out with six double-sided pages, some of which contain promotional content. The remaining pages offer key words, phrases, and a sample spread. Fortunately, many of the concepts are standard and intuitive, making them accessible with a bit of contemplation. Additionally, there exists a 216-page companion book penned by Nick Hobson titled “The Psycards Book: A Journey into the Psyche,” which I’ve heard is a valuable resource well worth owning.