Call of The Morrigan
- Julie Embleton
- Feb 26
- 6 min read
Deck Review of Call of The Morrigan Oracle by Stephanie Woodfield & Karen Storminger.
Every once in a while, a deck comes along that sings to my tarot and oracle-loving soul. The Call of the Morrigan is one that ticks all the boxes for me; gorgeous illustrations, a guidebook packed with detail, a spell/offering to accompany each card, and of course, the fact that this deck is infused with the spirits of my land, spearheaded by the Great Warrior Queen herself.
The Call of the Morrigan is a potent deck that weaves Celtic myth and legend into the now. The Morrigan calls to each of us in her unique way, and this is reflected in the individuality of each card’s dynamic artwork. This is not a soft, feminine deck. It’s a powerful portal drawing the reader into the depths of the Celtic world where its gods, demigods, and magical treasures offer lessons, guidance, inspiration, and courage.
Deepen your Connection to the Morrigan on Every Level
‘Do you hear her voice calling to you, challenging you to rise up and prevail against life’s toughest tests? The Great Queen leads you across time to ancient battlefields where you become the hero, witch, and victor of your own story.
This deck and horizontal guidebook set, infused with the Morrigan’s energy, is the culmination of three priestesses’ devotional work. All forty-five vertical cards not only give you inspiring messages, but also serve as tools for spell work, rituals, and worship. Divided into five suits, each with their own powerful insights, this deck will empower you to unlock your inner warrior and ignite the flames of transformation.’
Product Specs:
Artwork: Naomi Cornock
Card Size: 9.4cm x 13.8cm approx
Card Stock: Good quality, durable
Finish: Smooth matt. Easy to shuffle, no sticking, not slippery.
Border: Black border with card number and title.
Box: Large, sturdy lidded box which doubles as a card altar. Ribbon to assist removal of deck and guidebook.
Publisher: Llewellyn. December 2024
Price: €45 / $30 approximately, widely available
Video Flip-Through
Here's a silent flip-through of the Call of the Morrigan oracle.
Guidebook
I’ll begin with the guidebook—which is extensive. Beautifully illustrated in black and white, Cornock’s style (within the deck and the guidebook) reminds me of the Irish illustrator and stained-glass artist Harry Clarke. There are also echoes of Jim Fitzpatrick, another Irish artist renowned for his Irish/Celtic artistry.
The guidebook contains the following sections:
Using the Cards: Includes an explanation of the Suits, preparing for the reading, breath & mental preparation, and a detailed Three Raven Ogham Attunement. There’s also a Card Attunement.
The Cards: Details of each card including the keywords, divinatory meaning, and a detailed spell.
Oracle Spreads: Three in total with lots of detail.
Oracle Spells & Rituals: Two in total, again, with precise guidance.
Conclusion
Pronunciation Guide
Suggested Reading
Bibliography
The Cards
For anyone stepping into the world of Celtic legend and its wondrous tales for the first time, Woodfield & Storminger have you covered. Even if you know nothing of the myths, they explain enough of the Morrigan, Spirits, Guides, and Inner/Outer Worlds to lay a foundation I feel many readers will be inspired to build upon—which is probably why the wise priestesses included a suggested reading section!
The deck comprises five suits: Guises of the Morrigan, Otherworldly Guides, Spirits of the Land, Outer Worlds, and Inner Worlds. Briefly, the themes within these suits are as follows;
Guises of the Morrigan: As a shapeshifter, the Morrigan appears as numerous archetypes in Irish mythology. This first suit explores these many faces, including the Morrigan as an individual goddess, along with the archetypes of Sovereignty, Sorceress, and Shapeshifter. Working with this suit alone offers a way to connect deeply with the Morrigan and can be used to journey within with the warrior queen.
Otherworldly Guides: A vast place, the Otherworld is home to faery folk, Irish gods, and the spirits of our dead. Heroes and gods roam this land cradling mystical and magical treasures. Within this suit, we’re guided with cautionary tales, wondrous treasures, and inspiring actions.
Spirits of the Land: This suit depicts many of the holy places found throughout Ireland, and as the author’s explain, ‘Irish mythology in general is very rooted in the land itself. Mythical battles do not happen somewhere else in a distant past; they happen in the landscape, a landscape we can still visit and see today that resonates with those ancient stories.’
Outer Worlds: The cards within this suit reflect external influences; the things in our lives beyond our control. Often, these aspects present challenges that effect our well-being.
Inner Worlds: Much like the Cups in tarot, the Inner World suit embodies our inner experiences of emotions, thoughts, and even our inner demons. Reflected through the myths capturing those feelings, the cards guide us to resolution or understanding.
This is my first experience with Cornock’s work, and I love her style. Cards with lots of detail stoke my intuition, and with so much woven into the images within this deck, I can already feel the pull to dive deep. I think other readers will find this, too. With a wealth of Celtic symbols, this deck will appeal to anyone drawn to Ireland and its rich legends, but also, to decks ripe with feminine power.
Three Raven Ogham Attunement
A final offering from the guidebook that I wanted to share is the Three Raven Ogham Attunement. The authors recommend using this attunement ‘To align the energies of your body as well as drawn on and attune to the Morrigan’s energies.’
They go on to explain how a sixteenth-century Irish text referred to as The Cauldron of Posey describes the three cauldrons that exist within each person. Taking an alterantive viewpoint to the Western tradition of Chakras, the three cauldrons consist of the Cauldron of Wisdom which is centred at the head and connected to divine inspiraiton, knowledge, and prophecy; the Cauldron of Motion, located in the centre of the chest, which corresponds to emotional well-being and the turmoil we sometimes experience which can spin us around, and; the Cauldron of Warming, located in the pelvic region and governing our physical well-being and overall health.
It’s rare to find mention of these Spiritual Cauldrons, so discovering them within the guidebook as part of the attunement process was an extra thrill. The ogham (pronounced oh-um) mentioned is an ancient Irish alphabet of twenty letters, dating roughly from around the 4th Century BCE. Similar to the Norse runes, ogham inscrptions have been found carved into stones, but were also employed as a magic system. The authors have selected ogham for the attunement that represent the three goddesses that form the Morrigan’s triple nature; Anu, Macha, and Badb, blending a potent mix of spiritual wisdom, fire, and inspiration.
I own more tarot than oracle decks, and tend to lean more into the wisdom of tarot when reading for both myself and clients, but this oracle deck will be sitting side-by-side with my favourite tarot decks going forward. I’ve only had this deck a couple of weeks at the time of writing this review, but am already aware of the connection we’re forging. An easy five stars for this stunning and inspiring deck that will root many readers deep into Irish myth and legend. And to Jan Tetteroo who gifted me this for my birthday—thank you, my friend. You’ve bestowed me with so much more than a beautiful oracle deck!
Have you this inspiring deck in your collection? Reach out and let me know how you're connecting with it, or if you've got in on your wish list. You can reach me at julie@creativesoultarot.com