The Spiritual Meaning Of Birds Oracle Deck by Arin Murphy-Hiscock

Can’t decide whether it’s better or worse for me to review this deck this week rather than next, which contains the US’ foremost holiday nicknamed for a bird, lol.

Regardless, it was nice to be able to finally get this deck to the top of my queue. While I originally received it in May, my review backlog has been sheer nonsense. That delay did, however, give me time to not only better vibe with the deck but also to compare the readings I did when I first got it with the readings I did last night, paired as well with a Tarot deck (but more on that later.)

I’ll admit that my first impression of this deck was not the greatest. Perhaps it was just the readings I got from it originally, but it seemed hyper-focused on domestic issues, as if this was the perfect deck for the sedate and home-loving. Tho I suppose that that is the kind of person who is the target audience for a deck about the Spiritual Meaning of Birds, particularly when the majority of said birds are the kind most commonly encountered in North America and Europe.

And there’s nothing wrong with that, especially since the illustrations are primarily Audobon-based. This is a very tastefully illustrated deck, from the green and white card backs to the beautiful renditions of birds and plant life throughout the deck and its accompanying guidebook. The deck itself is sturdy and oversized: while I generally prefer my oracle cards closer to Tarot-sized, I didn’t find this deck so large as to be unwieldy. The cards shuffle nicely and aren’t too slippery, tho have a tendency to bend when left on their own. That doesn’t bother me, but I’ve heard enough grousing about decks not lying flat from others to feel that it warrants mentioning in this review.

The presentation box is lovely, with the illustrations wrapping around the surfaces nicely. And I really appreciated the guidebook, which not only talks about each bird but also delves into the overall usage of oracle decks, making this a perfect gift for people who are new to but curious about either subject.

From the ornithological aspect, it’s a treat to see how each of the fifty birds gets two facing pages in the guidebook. On the left-hand side, you have the illustration that also appears on the card, and on the right you get a brief summary that includes the bird’s scientific family as well as the most likely places to spot it in the wild. The accompanying interpretation of the card draws on both the bird’s observed behavior as well as its role in culture, language and lore. The description of the turkey, for example, brings up its connection to Thanksgiving and how it’s commonly viewed as a symbol of nourishment and abundance. Arin Murphy-Hiscock also speaks of how the turkey was seen by Native American tribes as a symbol of wisdom, and how we can use that to interpret its appearance in a card spread.

Personally, I don’t feel confident in any guidebook that doesn’t come with suggested spreads, and this one delivered in spades. In addition to discussing the multiple uses of oracle cards and how to prepare your deck for reading, Ms Murphy-Hiscock offers six different kinds of spread to use. There are, ofc, the standard one card and three card draws, but after that it gets really interesting. There’s a four card spread called The Nest, that is specifically for improving one’s domestic space. There’s also a seven card spread called Migration, from when you need guidance in coping with unavoidable change.

But my favorite multipurpose spreads here are the introspective five card The Elements spread and the advice-giving six card spread of The Tree. That last especially helped me gain better perspective on issues that have been troubling me lately (tho the picture I included here is the more ho-hum if photogenic advice from my reading earlier this year.)

One thing that I did find helpful was the use of reversed cards and meanings. Ms Murphy-Hiscock says that it’s entirely up to the reader whether to incorporate those or not, and I feel that they really bring depth to the reading when you do (ymmv, ofc.) This deck also worked really well in tandem with my new Lady Pirates tarot cards in my favorite combined deck reading spread, where the Oracle cards in the top line represent the workings of the universe. The birds as heralds of the divine make for an exceptionally fitting symbolism as the cards helped me make sense of my inner turmoil and figure out what to do next.

Overall, this is a beautiful bird-themed deck to add to the collection of any oracle card connoisseur, as well as a wonderful way to introduce oracle decks to bird lovers.

The Spiritual Meaning Of Birds Oracle Deck by Arin Murphy-Hiscock was published May 6 2025 by Adams Media and is available from all good booksellers, including