54 card oracle and printed guidebook featuring the birds you will find on San Juan Island.
 
With more than 200 species of birds either living on San Juan Island year-round or passing through during migration, choosing just 54 for this deck was not easy.Some birds made their way in because I’ve had personal experiences with them, like the Turkey Vulture. Others, like the Red-breasted Nuthatch, have a quirky behavior or way of moving through the world that fits beautifully with the message of the card.
 
Each entry in the guidebook will include a bit about the bird itself, why I chose its keyword, and how that message connects to everyday life. Some of these birds have fascinating little quirks, and those details helped shape the meaning of the cards.
 
For example, the Red-breasted Nuthatch represents Threshold. This bird nests in tree cavities and gathers sap, smearing it around the entrance to create a sticky barrier that helps keep predators away. There is something so perfect about that image: a doorway protected with intention.
 
For the Bald Eagle, the word Expectations came to mind. When you see one soaring overhead, so big and commanding in the sky, you might expect its call to be deep, booming, maybe even a little intimidating. But no. Instead, it sounds more like a whining dog, specifically my whiny pittie when she wants a treat, which is often.
 
Then there is the Western Meadowlark, who represents Entitlement. If this bird were human, it would absolutely be a philanderer. The male often has two mates at the same time, while the females do all the incubating, brooding, and the feeding of the young. Basically, he sings his pretty song, creates a whole lot of responsibility, and then leaves the actual work to someone else.
 
For other birds, such as the Mourning Dove and the Raven, I leaned more into symbolism and long-held associations. The Mourning Dove, with its low, sorrowful coo, became Loss. The mysterious Raven, with centuries of stories tucked under its wings, became Lore.
 
My hope is that the guidebook feels like a companion to the deck, something that gives you a deeper understanding of each bird while also leaving space for your own intuition to step in.
 
Physical aspects of the deck:
Arrives in a printed bag with deck (housed in a lightweight cotton bag) and printed guidebook.
Card size: 3.5x5 400gsm
 
I estimate shipping to begin in Mid-August.
 
A quick acknowledgement: Although for some of the feathered friends found in this deck I drew on personal experiences, in addition  many valuable insights came from the Cornell Lab All About Birds website. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/ and it's Merlin app, The Audubon  Society, and the book A Guide to the Birds of San Juan Island by Monika Wieland.