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 review the Resonance Oracle by Dara Caplan, a unique and visually intriguing oracle deck.
The Cards
From the Back of the Box
“Find answers for all your deepest questions including the emotional, mental, and spiritual guidance allowing you to find your own path of joy, peace, balance, and wisdom. Messages also embrace nuances of physical reality, such as technology and lines of communication. Author/artist Dara Caplan channeled the messages and art, and includes the power of intent in order to give you the best experience possible. The images and meanings do not discriminate between gender or type; the animals, magical beings, people, and plants of this world are all honored as special beings in the artwork. The 40 beautiful images reflect life’s truths – there are some cards that are surreal and dream-like, and some that are romantic or dramatic. While each is different, they all are on black backgrounds, and have warmth and light to balance the shadows – the warmth of memories, or soft light of new beginnings. Through this magical oracle, find your own path that resonates deep inside you.”
Card Stock and Shuffling
The card stock is thick and high quality, with a semi-gloss finish and rounded corners. They are manageable for riffle shuffling because they are close the same size as standard tarot cards. If you have small hands, you may have to side shuffle them. The cards do stick together when first removed from the box. So, shuffling is a bit challenging until the cards lose their stickiness.
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Artwork and the Visual Accessibility of the Deck
The artwork in the Resonance Oracle features a dark color palette that creates a moody, mysterious tone. Each card is visually simple, yet the imagery feels intriguing enough to spark curiosity. Additionally, the designs avoid clutter, focusing on essential elements. While not exceptional, the artwork feels thoughtful, offering an average to above-average aesthetic that supports intuitive readings without overwhelming you.
Additionally, the artwork is visually accessible on certain cards, allowing quick, intuitive interpretations. However, some designs are abstract or vague, making their meanings harder to grasp without guidance. As a result, the accompanying booklet becomes an essential reference for accurate readings. Therefore, the deck functions best as a meditative or guided oracle rather than a spontaneous, image-based tool.
Sun and Moon
Meaning:
The Sun and Moon card represents the harmony of opposites, reminding us of the balance needed within. The Sun embodies masculine energy, action, clarity, and conscious thought. Meanwhile, the Moon reflects feminine energy, intuition, mystery, and emotional depth. Together, they show the dance of light and dark, reason and feeling, outer drive and inner reflection. This card calls you to honor both forces within yourself. When you embrace these dual aspects, you create wholeness, self-acceptance, and a life rooted in true harmony.
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Mind Pieces
Meaning:
The Mind Pieces card appears when your thoughts feel fragmented and overwhelming. It signals a mind caught in overthinking, endlessly cycling through worries or possibilities. This card encourages you to pause, breathe, and step away from mental noise. Overanalyzing drains your energy and clouds intuition. Instead, reconnect with the present moment through grounding activities or mindful movement. By calming your thoughts, you allow clarity and insight to flow naturally, freeing you from unnecessary mental burdens.
Climbing Mountains
Meaning:
The Climbing Mountains card reminds you that progress does not need to happen quickly. It speaks to steady persistence, trusting that every step forward matters. This card encourages you to honor your own pace, knowing the journey itself holds value. At times, you may need to pause, rest, and gather strength. Even slow progress builds momentum toward your goal. Trust that patience, resilience, and faith in your path will eventually lead you to the summit you seek.
Explanation of the Cards
This deck comes with a simply written booklet that provides good descriptions and mulitple meanings for each card. The booklet includes sections: A Word From the Creator, How to Use this Deck, The Cards, and About the Author/Artist.
The Cards section is where you find an explanation for each card. There are two pages devoted to each card, beginning with a direct message. Then on the second page there is an image of the card and alternate meanings.
Usefulness
The Resonance Oracle is a good tool for spiritual healing and deep inner work. While the art is strong, it does require the booklet for proper interpretation, as much of the imagery is symbolic. This is a beginner’s deck, one to grow with—good for developing ritual use, personal transformation, and guided insight. With time and practice, it becomes a trusted companion for your own journey. Then with practice, if you seek it, it is a good deck for working with others.
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Rating
The Resonance Oracle is a solid deck with high-quality cards and intriguing, dark-toned artwork. The guidebook offers thoughtful explanations, adding depth and meaning to readings. However, the artwork lacks consistent visual clarity, making intuitive interpretation difficult without referencing the booklet. This limits its spontaneity, especially for beginners. While it provides value for meditation and guided readings, it falls short of full accessibility. Overall, it earns three out of five stars for being insightful yet somewhat challenging to use independently of the booklet.
Where to Buy this Deck
If you like this deck and wish to purchase a copy, you can do so online.
The post Deck Review – The Resonance Oracle by Dara Caplan appeared first on askAstrology.
