generous Black Angels
This is a wonderfully generous set of cards. I don't know if I would describe it as an oracle so much as a work-deck for the inner journey back to self. Manuel's aim is soul-revival. As so often when someone goes on an inner quest, Manuel realised that the method she was using - drawing her soul images, writing her journey, rediscovering a crushed creativity - would help other people. Although she created Black Angels primarily for black women in the United States, I - as a white European woman - have found it inclusive & very relevant to my own inner feelings & quest. Another benefit (for me) is to make me feel closer to black women, as well as learning about how Manuel, as the granddaughter of people born in slavery, viewed the world - this, of course, is an experience I have no claim to.
The book is well-written, thoughtful & full of good ideas that can be carried over to other decks. It reads more as a self-help book than a pure oracle guide - as indeed is its aim. Manuel suggests several levels of commitment to soul-revival, which allows for different approaches to the cards.
Black Angels are different from classic angel cards - they are more about female archetypes, particularly as these archetypes play themselves out in Africa & the African diaspora: but as I said, I find them universal. I would be surprised if North & South American, Chinese, European or Maori women do not find much of themselves in those touching & thoughtful deck & book.
I have had it for 3 months, and consult it more and more. I have used it in meditation, in inner path exercises & in oracle readings, alone or as a back-up to other oracles & tarot. Here is more about it:
http://www.cpcug.org/user/janem/black_angel.html
