This is another enchanting flower oracle deck, which is a newer release from US Games this fall.  Designed by Isha Lerner, who was a co-creator of the Inner Child Cards, the deck contains 32 flower archetype cards.  They are some of the most beautiful cards I've seen in a long time.  Even the box is attractive.  As soon as I saw them in the US Games catalog, I wanted them.  This is not a tarot deck, but a divination oracle meant for both meditation and readings.
 
There are no Major or Minor Arcana, and none of the cards in the deck are numbered.  They are all simply and elegantly done, with the images in the center in an arch-shaped area, surrounded by a green-blue textured border area with a white edge border.  The titles appear in a white graphic area at the bottom and are basically just the name of the flower featured in the image on each card.  The images contain full scenes incorporating the flower, rather than just being a graphic depiction of the flower itself.
 
Many of the flowers in this deck also appear in the Flower Speaks Deck, but not all of them.  In these cards, each card has several categories of meaning and relevance, described in the booklet as "Plant Signature," "Flower Essence," "Archetype," Healing," and "Blessing."  These categories describe the various different ways in which we relate and attune to flowers and absorb their sacred gifts.  Since this is not a tarot deck, there are no suits or court cards, no Major or Minor Arcana.
 
The cards themselves are larger than standard but since there's only 32 of them, handling and shuffling are a breeze.  They are printed on a card stock which is thin and flexible and is coated lightly with a semi-gloss protective coating.  The edges are polished smooth and there are rounded corners.  The back design is really pretty with two leaves back-to-back on a blue background.  It is reversible, though this system does not use reversals.  The little white booklet is actually very thick and has a lot of information, almost all of it on the flowers themselves.  Two layouts are described, one is a one-card spread and the other uses the entire deck.

I recommend this deck for anyone who likes working with the flowers and natural essences in their search for personal growth, development and enlightenment.  It doesn't seem to be quite as simple as some other decks I've seen, but it isn't too hard and a beginner could pick it up as well as an experienced diviner.  Collectors will love it for the art as well for the system included, and it would make a lovely gift for someone who enjoys gardening and working with flowers in general.

Click here for pictures

or here to return

Please use your browser's back button to return from pictures

Review Copyright 1999 by Gina M. Pace

Power of Flowers Deck by Isha Lerner, 1999
published by US Games Systems, Inc.
ISBN 1-57281-196-X