Your FAQs about A Compendium of Witches book and Oracle answered
• What’s the difference between A Compendium of Witches and A Compendium of Witches Oracle?
A Compendium of Witches is the first and core creation, the book that inspired the Oracle. The former is a large hardcover fully illustrated book featuring stories, sketches, notes and paintings – and the latter is an oracle deck with a shorter paperback guidebook featuring succinct practical descriptions.
A Compendium of Witches book features, for each witch, a story written in 1st person from the point of view of the witch (these vary from 360 to 830 words approximately). Each story is accompanied by 2 additional pages for each witch that feature a variety of sketches and notes pertaining to her life and knowledge.
The paperback guidebook of the Oracle features a succinct bio of each witch (written in 3rd person, approximately 60 words) to provide some basic context in addition to the overall card interpretation.
• Can I get one without the other?
Yes! They are two separate publications and can be used independently. The Oracle guidebook gives you enough information to use the deck and make it fully accessible without the hardback book, but it does not have the depth of information that the hardback book has.
• How do I know which one is the right choice for me, if I can’t get both?
It really depends on what you’re looking for! If you’re more interested in the divinatory and reflective aspect the deck is probably all you need.
If you’re interested in the anthropological, archaeological, and folkloric aspects I would suggest the book, as this research is not featured in the deck.
•What are the main differences between the first edition of A Compendium of Witches Oracle (that you self-published) and the second edition (published by Lo Scarabeo)?
The second edition cards are borderless, and the guidebook is slightly expanded to include lengthier descriptions of the Whisper cards in addition to the Voice cards. The second edition guidebook features 3 translations in addition to English (Italian, Spanish, Portuguese), but does not feature images.
The second edition is mass marketed and more widely available. It can be purchased from most bookstores and tarot shops.
