In this series, I’m excited to show you the decks from my collection that I’ll be working with, or just think are excellent to have on hand for mysterious, supernatural, and paranormal readings.
I’ve only pulled from one side of my collection for now and even discovered a few new decks I think might be helpful in this pursuit.
Each deck is shared in no particular order. I’ll introduce the deck, show a few cards, and tell you why I chose it.
Alien Lenormand: Cute and Otherworldly
I wanted to start with this little gem. The Alien Lenormand is a mini deck featuring adorable little aliens on each card.
Since aliens have always been representative of otherworldly beings, I thought this deck would be such a fun addition to this project.
Each card has playful imagery, making it a lighthearted way to tap into the unknown.
The Place Oracle: Exploring Energies of Location
Next up is the Place Oracle, a 78-card deck I picked up on Amazon. I haven’t used it yet but I think it will be great for readings that focus on the energy of a place.
Each card has a keyword and detailed imagery to describe different areas or conditions.
There are also specific locations such as laboratory, beach, or countryside. This deck should prove very useful for understanding the energy or story of a location.
Wisdom of the Hidden Realms & Wisdom of Avalon
I grouped these two together as honorable mentions since they offer insight into what’s unseen and hidden. Colette Baron-Reid’s Wisdom of the Hidden Realms explores these topics through cards like the Metal King and Shadow Queen, each potentially giving us insights or wisdom for deeper readings.
Similarly, her Wisdom of Avalon deck merges the seen and unseen with animal guides, sacred journey markers, and soft nature-inspired artwork.
Both decks feel gentle and mystical, perfect for adding nuance to readings about the supernatural.
Deviant Moon Tarot: Abstract and Unusual Energy
It’s been a while since I pulled out the Deviant Moon Tarot by Patrick Valenza, but this one is perfect for abstract readings.
The slightly grotesque yet fascinating artwork provides a different perspective for diving into oddities and mysteries.
This deck used to be a staple for me and I’m rediscovering its usefulness for these types of explorations.
Quantum Oracle & Energy Oracle
Sandra Anne Taylor creates decks that read beautifully.
The Quantum Oracle is all about tapping into the quantum world, the unseen vibrations and frequencies around us. It covers a variety of scenarios through cards about loss, status quo, sacred temples, and intentions.
Sandra’s Energy Oracle is also a favorite. I use it frequently to read the foundational energies in my spreads, especially when there are multiple people or choices involved.
It's balanced, almost otherworldly yet grounded feel makes it easy to interpret both keywords and imagery.
Shadow and Truth: Revealing the Truth Oracle
This oracle is packed with shadow cards, designed to uncover the hidden truth or underlying motivations in a reading. It feels balanced between lighter energies and heavier ones. I’m definitely going to use this deck when looking beneath the surface in any supernatural reading.
Tarot of the Unexplained: My Key Inspiration
If there’s a deck that really ignited my passion for focusing on these topics, it’s Tarot of the Unexplained. It stood out as the first deck I found dedicated to the paranormal, featuring unique suits.
The guidebook even assigns paranormal meanings to each card, making it ideal for my readings. I’m excited to further develop my own language and intuition with this deck.
Honorable Mention: Supernatural Tarot
I picked this one up before ever watching the TV show Supernatural, thinking it would be packed with unique paranormal imagery. It’s more about the show’s characters, so unless you’re familiar with them, it can be challenging to use. Still, it is worth mentioning, especially for fans of the show.
Spirit Messages: Tuning Into Energy and Communication
John Holland’s Spirit Messages deck has been great for readings when I sense someone or something has a message. It’s a gentle deck for clarifying what energies might want to communicate or offer guidance.
Past Life and Galactic Energy: Oracles That Go Deeper
The Uncover Your Past Lives Oracle by Mandy Peterson stands out because of its circular cards, each section providing a possible lesson, timeframe, trauma, or experience. It even lets you customize cards, making it feel very interactive and layered.
Similarly, the Past Life Oracle by Doreen Virtue and Brian Weiss adds themes like health, wisdom, galactic energies, and roles such as “medicine man or woman.” Both are great for exploring who or what may have shaped a paranormal event.
Galactic Star Tarot: Cosmic Realms and New Worlds
A new addition is the Galactic Star Tarot by Alexandra Hanley and Pamela Chen. With vibrant art and galactic themes, this deck seems perfect for channeling star energies, exploring other realms, and expanding our reach beyond the ordinary.
I haven’t worked with this one much yet but I’m excited for what it can bring to future readings.
The Beloved Dead Oracle: Ancestors and Memories
This muted, people-focused deck offers suits and characteristics tied to past eras or energies. It feels nostalgic and could be very useful if an ancestral or spirit-focused reading emerges, despite my original intent to steer away from “people readings” for this series.
Southern Gothic Oracle: Southern Lore and Mystique
This is a favorite for its blend of Southern tradition, lore, and keywords. Including the expansions, this deck really brings in regional spirits, folklore, and cryptids. It's the perfect deck for unique and mysterious messages.
Deck of Celestials Tarot: Otherworldly Clarifiers
Another honorable mention, the Deck of Celestials Tarot. This deck’s artwork is playful and ethereal. Although it’s pip-style, which usually isn’t my favorite, I love using pip decks as clarifiers because their simplicity often makes the reading more direct and clear. It also comes with a zodiac expansion, adding another layer to interpretations.
Book of Shadows Tarot: As Above, So Below
This two-deck set lets me read both the spiritual and earthly aspects of any situation.
The decks provide insight into what’s happening energetically and how it impacts the physical world, or vice versa. The guidebook is in-depth, and the imagery is magical and inclusive of many traditions.
The Dreaming Oracle: For Dreamwork and Abstract Insights
The Dreaming Oracle is the most recent addition to my deck collection and is packed with watercolor, abstract art, and lots of animal symbolism.
As I’ve been doing more dreamwork myself, this deck seems apt for readings that need a creative, fluid touch.
What's Next
That wraps up part one of my deck overview for supernatural and paranormal readings!
I still have many more to go through and will eventually pair them down to my core decks, aiming for no more than ten favorites.
Right now, the Tarot of the Unexplained, Deck of the Celestials Tarot, the Southern Gothic Oracle, and a few others are frontrunners, but I’m sure it will be tough to narrow down.
If you have any ideas or suggestions for the types of mysteries or phenomena I should explore with my cards, please let me know!