Every month, Amazon, Etsy, crowd-funding platforms, and bookstores release numerous tarot and oracle decks. There are now thousands of decks available, ranging from new releases to out-of-print ones. Reviewing a deck helps readers decide whether to purchase it, focusing on factors like card quality, artwork, and guidebook usefulness. This month, I’ve chosen to critique the Trash Animals Oracle, a playful yet profound oracle deck featuring urban wildlife and their symbolic environments.
The Cards in the Trash Animals Oracle
Next after this publicity
From the Booklet
“Finding meaning in the stars is nice and all, but have you ever gazed in the glorious melange of a city dumpster? The depths of meaning and the confluence of survival and resilience will bring a tear to your eye. No, no, that’s not the smell.
The Trash Animals Oracle will help you understand how to embrace the trash that you sometimes need to deal with in life through the beautiful, chaotic lives and natures of animals that have learned to live – and sometimes thrive – on trash: a trash animal. In this deck are thirty animal and twenty environment cars to inspire your journey of introspection and self-discovery. From the adorable face of a raccoon to a shiny aluminum garbage can, this guidebook contains information and questions for each card for you to reflect on.
The journey ahead is long and full of wondrous garbage bags waiting to be opened. Let’s explore it together!” (6)
The Trash Animals Oracle cards are printed on thick, high-quality stock, with a matte finish and rounded corners. They are easy to shuffle because they are a manageable size for oracle cards. If you have small hands, you will be able to riffle shuffle them without any problem. The cards do not stick together when first removed from the box, so shuffling is easy right from the start.
Artwork and the Visual Accessibility of the Deck
The artwork for this deck is fun and well-done. Alexander Schneider and Yeji Yun produced beautiful stylized representations of each animal and scene. As a result, you see the playfulness and thoughtfulness in each image. Helping the visual design are keywords on each card. Therefore, this is definitely one of the more creative oracle decks available.
The Pack
Meaning:
Whether it’s break-dance fighting or letting you eat the last mozzarella stick, y’all do everything for each other. Your pack gives you the confidence to tackle what the world launches at you, even when it’s the occasional, rude rodent roommate. Gain strength from the shared knowledge and cooperative actions of the group, but don’t forget what part you play in the collective. You bring a lot to the table and have the power to influence emotional and physical movement.
Next after this publicity
How does your pack influence the space around you?
How would you describe your pack? (53)
Raccoon – Mischief Maker
Meaning:
Akin to human hands, raccoons have five dexterous toes on their front paws that can successfully navigate twisty ties, open trash cans, and maybe slide into those DMs. Idle hands can get into a lot of trouble and whatnot. How do you channel your mischievous side? Generally, those around you tend to find your charming and maybe a bit naughty, but be mindful of how you might come across with folks who aren’t used to your antics or those who maybe get pulled into your chaotic nonsense a little too often. (79)
Mouse – Perception
Meaning:
To make up for their poor eyesight, mice rely on their fantastic hearing and their whiskers to sense surface textures, breezes, and even temperature differences. Take a moment to think about how you perceive the word in both traditional and less traditional means. What are some advantages and disadvantages with being perceptive of your surroundings? Don’t let yourself get distracted from your goals by the alluring aroma of that half-eaten pizza you just walked by. (70)
This deck comes with a very good color booklet that provides straightforward explanations for each card. The booklet includes sections: Introduction, The Spreads, The Environment Cards, and the Animal Cards. There are no reversed meanings to the cards, so you would need to determine a reversed meaning on your own. The Environment cards have a brief explanation and two questions. Meanwhile, each Animal card has two designs and interpretations. Thus, one version of the Mouse is Perception and the other is Athleticism.
Why the Trash Animals Oracle is Useful
This oracle deck is unique, both due to the amazing artwork and the choice of theme. The trash animals and environments are quite different from the many angel, majestic animals/creatures, and popular culture oracles. There is rich symbolism in the images and helpful intuitive guidance in the booklet. Each card is a fun design of clever art, capturing the messages in the world of trash. The deck’s strength lies in its unusual subject matter, drawing from a common circumstance that we mostly try to overlook. It’s a useful deck for both beginners and experienced seekers alike.
Overall, the Trash Animals Oracle earns a strong 4 out of 5 stars thanks to its original concept, beautiful packaging, and practical usability. The creators certainly went down a different path imagining and producing this deck. The accompanying booklet enhances the experience with thoughtful insights and guidance for each card. As a definite plus, the cards themselves are high-quality, printed on durable material that feels luxurious to the touch. The deck comes in a sturdy hard case, offering protection and making it ideal for storage and travel. It’s an excellent investment and a great deck to work with.
Where to Buy the Trash Animals Oracle
If you like this deck and wish to purchase a copy, you can do so online.
I am a spiritual adviser located in Cary, North Carolina. I earned my PhD in English from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1996 and had a career in academics until 2007, when I retired to become a stay-at-home father. In 2013 I “hung out my shingle” starting my business Black Unykorn Enterprises, LLC. I provide spiritual guidance using different tools: astrology, tarot/oracle cards, numerology, and past life regression (using muscle testing). With a home office, Zoom, WeChat, and WhatsApp, I work with local clients in person and distance clients from around the world. You can read about my practice and contact me through my website: https://www.blackunykorn.com.
