Angelica Castro – illustratör

Welcome to The Ofrenda Oracle, a bilingual deck and guidebook inspired by el Día de los Muertos—the celebration honoring the Beloved Dead  During the annual (traditionally Mexican) Día de los Muertos celebration, the family members of a person who has died will place items with special significance on a home altar in order to welcome the deceased. This ofrenda, or offering, may be quite large and elaborate. The initial inspiration for this deck came from San Diego’s close association with Mexico and this yearly celebration of the Dead that typically runs from October 31 through November 2. From those vivid images and joyful celebrations came the idea for this kit of colorful cards.  The Ofrenda Oracle includes a sixty-card deck and a 136-page guidebook. The cards and booklet are printed in both English and Spanish. The first thirty-six cards mirror those found in a Lenormand deck and can be used on their own as a stand-alone deck. The additional cards depict the vibrant symbolism seen during the Day of the Dead celebration. All of the cards can be used for divining answers and finding insight into our relationships past and present, and the guidebook offers beginners first steps and sample layouts.  The Ofrenda Oracle uses illustrations, colors, and stories to create a sacred space that is perfect for this reunion, preserving traditional elements of the religious and cultural syncretism that is lived and breathed in Mexico.  This deck was birthed by three artists: authors Nancy Hendrickson (Ancestral Tarot and Ancestral Grimoire) and Carrie Paris (The Relative Tarot, The Beloved Dead, and The Sirens’ Song), and graphic artist Angelica Castro.