The Mother's Wisdom Deck: A 52-Card Oracle Deck with Guidebook [Hardcover]

While I have used a variety of divination decks over many years--Tarot, animal wisdom, various medicine decks, angel cards, I Ching, runes, etc.--this beautifully written and illustrated deck and book are refreshingly unique. Using a single card or one of the illustrated spreads, I am provided with remarkable insight and encouragement. It is user friendly, offering rubber-hits-the-road practical assistance for being in choice and strength with the issues of the day. It is titled, The Mother's Wisdom Deck, but I am a middle aged, single man with no children. Yet it has quickly become my counsel of choice for guidance in my daily journey.

Today, I pulled the Lakshmi-Abundance card. Weary of the Abundance magical thinking chatter of the past decade, I was curious to see how the authors would present on this topic. I learned more about the essence of abundance than I have read anywhere else on the topic. The reading honors the struggle a mother can sometimes engage with feeling inadequate, a sense of scarcity, guilt and self-reproach. Then it invites me into becoming aware of counting my inner assets and the ability to love. While a mother may not be able to provide "fancy clothes, violin lessons, or private schools," the children can be rich with the gift of my presence, which I can only offer when I recognize my "personal plentitude." It is not about me wanting and trying to increase my abundance, because I am already rich with much to give. I can freely give my "attention, support, goodwill, love." Even without a child tugging on my pant leg, I read and apply these insights of encouragement to be mindful of my mental chatter of fear and lack. From this reading, I set myself to practice throughout the day at every opportunity to offer my "attention, support, goodwill, love." I realize that we are all mothers in this respect. I am giving birth to, rearing, and nurturing myself and my communities of friends, coworkers, and encounters of every description in the moments of today. This book and deck provide me with guidance for daily practice with awakening my heart and the hearts of others.

The book and cards are written and illustrated by three women who have young children, and it is presented in reference to that context. In this respect, I will gift it to every mother of young children I know. At the same time, I will give it to fathers, parents of teenagers and young adults, grandparents, and people who may one day become parents. And yes, people like me, who will never be parents, will find rich counsel and encouragement in this universal tool for living consciously. I am in deep gratitude to these three mothers for authoring and drawing these amazing windows into how I can live fully in the moments of relating to myself and others.

A friend recently gave me this beautiful deck and book. My only regret is that I didn't have it when my children were young! I am especially fascinated by the section called 'Ancestral Mother' where female icons from many divergent cultures are represented and their unique stories and wisdom illuminated. I know I will use this wonderful resource often, even though my children are adults now. We never stop mothering, do we?

I had the great privilege to learn about The Mother's Wisdom Deck at a Sacred Pregnancy retreat and training from the author, Niki, who was also in the training with me. I was grateful to learn how to use the deck first hand when Niki sat with me and walked me through the Harmonizing Spread. This experience was a quiet time when I could sit and reflect on my life and what was already in me, but maybe needed to be woken up or pondered on. As a Sacred Pregnancy instructor, I will have the honor of sharing this deck with many expectant mamas, and spreading the powerful wisdom held in the beautiful cards and book. I have used the deck every day since the retreat, and plan to use it every day as a mindfulness practice for my day- even if it is to pull one card from the deck, it only takes a few minutes, but it calls me to sit and be still and quiet, and find those moments, even with an energetic toddler daughter at my feet. I am grateful to have this deck and this practice to share with my daughter at her young age, and I know she will know to honor and listen to the great mothers... Nature Mother, Ancestral Mother, Animal Mother, and Divine Mother. Thank you, Niki, Jenny and Elizabeth for creating this beautiful deck and I hope it spreads to mamas everywhere! I know I have already ordered 3 decks for my pregnant friends and will be ordering more to give as gifts!