Oracle Cards vs Tarot Cards What’s the Big Deal

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Over the last few weeks, we have talked about Tarot cards quite a bit and we discussed the history and structure of them.

So are Oracle Cards that different?

The answer is yes and no.

Tarot cards are a form of oracle cards, but not all oracle cards are Tarot. Clear as mud?

An oracle is a tool used to help you connect with your intuition and high self to aid in divination.

The Tarot is much older. As Melissa discussed in her blog post “It’s All in the Cards: The History of Tarot”; Tarot dates back to the 15th century Italy. Oracle Cards on the other hand began to become popular in Europe during the early 1900s. The first one’s being the Lenormand deck that

Melissa will be talking about later this week. (Watch for her blog post).

While there may be many different styles of Tarot decks everything from the traditional Rider-Waite to Golden Girls they all have the same basic tradition structure of 78 cards. The Major Arcana of 22 cards and the 56 cards of the Minor Arcana made up of the 4 suits of wands, cups, swords, and pentacles.

Oracle Cards are much more free style and fluid. There are no set number of cards in an oracle deck. They can also be more diverse and unique in terms of theme and content.

Oracle cards tend to be big picture or very personal depending on the deck. They give a sense in the bigger picture of what is going on and your motivations. They offer guidance and provide clarity to a situation. Where Tarot seem to get more into the weeds of the detail. One is not better than the other. They give you different things. I love them both and if I want the most detail in a situation I will use both.

There are a wide range of types, styles, and subjects for

Oracle cards. I find that each of my Oracles give me a little bit different of a type of reading. I would say start with one that appeals to you in either art of subject matter or both and go from there.

My Fairy Oracle tends to dive deep into what your internal motivations in situation. What is going on in your mind and heart. They call you out. They also call out the motivations of others involved in a situation as well. It is why I love them.

My Celtic Oracle are round cards (it is out of print. I have had it a long time) gives very practical advice. The areas to look at and how you might work to fix or change things.

My Greek Mythic Oracle deck tends to look at where you are spirtually with a situation. Which can really help you learn your lessons from a particular situation,

These are the three main ones I use.

But I do have some others that are interesting:

Celtic Oracles: Uses pennies to give you interesting reading.

Angel Cards: These are great for pulling a card for the energy of the day.

The Celtic Tree Oracle: This deck is great if you have interest in the Ogham, but is easier than learning the Ogham itself (we will talk more about the Ogham in an upcoming blog)

Animal Spirits & Medicine Cards both are great for working with the animal energies that are in your life at a particular time and what they have to teach you.

There are so many oracle cards, choose one that appeals to you!

OK now I have a deck. What do I do with it?

Each oracle deck will be different and use different symbolism,` language, and system.

Some decks (like the Angel Cards I listed above) work best as a card a day for the focus and guidance for the day. Some are great for self-refection and help you to learn more about yourself and your motivations. I find the Animal Totem and Medicine cards work well like that. Then others can work as full divination systems,.

Ground and center. Focus on the area that you need guidance on as you shuffle (or the question of the person you are reading for. I usually allow them to shuffle, but some people do not like others to touch their cards) Shuffle till it feels right. then pull your cards.

My favorite layout when using oracle card is one of these spreads:

A 3 card past, present, future

A 3 card the problem, the stumbling block, and the way over it

My most favorite is a 5 card. One for each of the Elements. Air (what is your Mental state about this or how did it or will it begin), Fire (what passion or energy is firing it or energizing it), Water (What emotions are involved), Earth (how will it manifest in your life), Spirit or Divine influence.

Look at the relationships of the cards. How do they relate to one another? Can you see how the message you get from each comes together to create a complete picture? Try to sum up the message into a couple of sentences you can write in your journal or tell to the person you are reading for as a synopsis.

It is perfectly fine to read the meaning from the book when you start, but pay attention to which of the phrases sticks out to you or feels right. Learn to lean into your own intuition. What does the imagery on the card say to you? What sticks out to you? If the cards refer to mythology how does the myth is referencing relate to the situation you are doing your reading about. Learn to trust your intuition. What is the first thing this card makes pop into your mind? What feelings does it invoke?

Using oracle cards helps you connect to your higher self, your guides, and perhaps the guides of those you are reading for. Learn to silence that little voice of self doubt. Note and trust of any feelings you have that just simply feel like you know that you know that you know.

Make notes in your journal and look back to see how accurate you were. This will help you learn to trust yourself and your intuition.