Published 06/11/2024 by Sarah Lutterloch

How to Use Oracle Cards: A Beginners Guide

Oracle cards are a personal spiritual tool to reach into your intuitive voice and explore many aspects of life.

Tarot cards operate on the principles of symbolic order and archetypes, whereas oracle cards are produced in several different themes and styles, with different decks addressing different energies or intents.

The expert psychics at Trusted Psychics, who are recognised internationally as the best psychics in their field, have compiled this informative tutorial on how to use Oracle Cards.

With their extensive knowledge, you can learn how to use Oracle cards, interpret them, and use them to complement your everyday spiritual practices, making them an excellent divination tool to add to any self-improvement routine, aiding the journey of personal growth.

What Are Oracle Cards?

Oracle decks are divination cards that are like tarot cards but are easier to use with less structure and more variety.

Each deck is distinctive and often contains colourful images and messages of angels, spirit animals, plants, or inspirational quotes.

In contrast to tarot, with its rigid deck of 78 cards (rearranged in the major arcana and minor arcana), oracle decks can range from 10 to more than 80 cards, each with a specific meaning often explained in a companion card guidebook.

This versatility and easy-to-use card deck means that beginners can use them as an all-purpose tool for those seeking direction or advice; they are the number one deck when just starting your card reading journey.

Read our article on Oracle Cards vs Tarot Cards.

What Are Oracle Cards Used for?

Oracle packs are primarily used for self-study and personal and spiritual development. People use them for daily inspiration, a tool for clarity, meditation, or to seek answers to certain questions.

The cards can help us think clearer, inspire us to do positive things, and gently remind us to stay centred on the self. Even if used as a tool for meditation, self-reflection, or simply to bring some light in times of turbulence, oracle packs are an enlightening and beneficial tool to use as part of your daily ritual.

They promote contemplation and positivity, allowing users to engage their wisdom and develop an appreciation of themselves and their environment.

How to Use Oracle Cards Step-by-Step

Learning how to use oracle cards is a personal and spiritual process by which people access their inner knowledge and intuitive side to provide accurate readings.

Oracle decks can be consulted for advice on a broad scale or for specific questions and scenarios. If you can follow these simple steps, you can discover a practice that can help your life.

Each step guides you to engage with these beautiful cards and have a thoughtful, immersive experience. If you open your mind and are willing to learn a little, you will be able to see how oracle decks can give guidance and spiritual insight.

Step 1: Choose Your Oracle Deck

Everyone has their favourite Oracle deck, which you find easiest to interpret, and you feel a positive connection with the card artwork. Choosing an oracle deck that fits you well is an important step.

Oracle decks are available in many themes, ranging from angels and animal spirits to everyday affirmations. You might want to determine which images, concepts or messages relate to you best; when you find the right deck, it is almost like you can feel reassured or inspired.

Step 2: Create a Peaceful Environment

The next step in using Oracle cards is to create the perfect, relaxed environment for your readings. You'll need somewhere to allow your intuition to flow easily; preparing an inviting space could be a setting with relaxing music, candles, crystals, or incense.

A quiet environment will enable you to fully participate in the experience and open yourself up to the messages inside the cards. Even some deep breathing or a brief meditation will help calm you and open your subconscious mind so you can prepare for the reading with an open mind.

Step 3: Shuffle the Deck

Shuffling the cards is a way to combine your energy with the power of your deck and prepare the cards for the reading. While you shuffle, reflect on the advice you need or the problem you're trying to solve.

You can shuffle until you feel it's time to stop or until a particular card jumps out of the deck (stands out to you) — some readers take these "jumping" cards as warnings.

Step 4: Ask Your Question

Take a moment to frame the question you want an answer to. Questions are best when open-ended, which can lead to a large amount of information rather than simple yes or no answers, which will often only lead to more questions you need answered.

For instance, instead of "Is this job for me?" try to say: "What advice do I need on what to do next for this job?" or "How can I get ready for this opportunity?" If you are facing challenging life decisions and need additional insight, asking open-ended questions opens the cards so you can learn something valuable and receive more intuitive messages.

Step 5: Draw a Card or Cards

Whenever you are ready, pull a card (or multiple cards if your question or spread requires it). You can draw one card for easy advice and yes/no answers, popular spreads like a three-card spread for past, present and future, or a four-card spread for issues, direction, assets, and possibilities.

Step 6: Interpret the Cards

Step six on how to use Oracle cards. Developing your intuition takes practice. Start by reading the card's imagery, symbols, and text, and ask yourself how it connects to your question.

Most Oracle card decks include a guidebook with explanations for each card, which can be helpful, but you also need to give yourself a good guess at what you first feel.

Consider the significance of the card artwork, message, or symbolism in connection with your questions. With time, you'll also be able to connect with each card in a way that increases the deeper meaning they convey.

How to Read Oracle Card Spreads

Oracle spreads help frame the direction of the reading and put what comes out of the cards into an order. (for example, past, present, and future) Whereas in tarot, you can stick to standard spread formats, oracle sets have the flexibility to customise the spread to meet your desires and questions.

Spreads are appropriate for various questions, from a quick answer with one card to a deeper exploration with several. These are some of the best, popular spreads that beginners can try, all of which have helpful tips:

1 Card Spread

The 1-card spread is a powerful tool for focused, immediate judgment. Whether you're looking for daily direction or just trying to find an answer, this spread will help you focus on a single clear message.

If you want a 1-card spread, consider your goal when you draw the deck and flip one card for its message. This spread is perfect for Oracle card beginners because it invites you to trust your intuition whether you're looking for an intuitive reading or a card for inspiration; the 1-card spread offers an easy yet highly effective approach that can inspire you with new possibilities.

2 Card Spread

The 2-card spread provides more balance, allowing you to consider opposing or overlapping sides of your question or circumstance. This spread is ideal for "choice" questions or when you want some idea of a problem and how it could be fixed.

For instance, you could use one card for "current energy" and the other for "guidance forward." You can use the first card for "problems" and the second for "strengths" or "weaknesses." The 2-card spread allows you to see two perspectives on an issue.

3 Card Spread

The 3-card spread is one of the most adaptable Oracle card spreads, as it offers multiple interpretations over multiple timescales or levels of an event.

Typically applied as a past, present, and future spread, this card layout works well to visualise how a situation develops or how past influences affect the present energies and possible futures.

Or the three cards could stand for mind, body, and spirit for all-encompassing information, or "situation, action, and outcome" for guidance regarding an individual's reaction to a situation. Because of its depth, this spread is a favourite for beginners learning how to use Oracle cards.

Questions to Ask Oracle Cards

The Oracle cards can be asked almost any question, from daily life issues to deeper reflections. The card questions are most valuable when asked open-ended, where you seek guidance rather than definitive answers.

Top 10 Open-Ended Questions You Should Ask an Oracle Deck:

• "What should I do to help myself progress at this point?"
• "What can I do to solve these issues I'm dealing with?"
• 'What should I concentrate on to improve my well-being and happiness?"
• "What energy or forces are around me and affecting me right now?"
• "What should I learn from my present experience?"
• "How do I build positive relationships and bonds with other people?"
• "What prevents me from achieving what I want, and how can I overcome it?"
• "What actions should I take to align myself with the true purpose of my life?"
• "How can I become more positive and balanced in my life?"
• "What do I need to let go of to create space for new things and opportunities?"

How to Cleanse Your Oracle Cards

Cleansing your deck of cards is very important. It removes residual energy from previous readings and allows them to be energetically clear and open to new readings and spiritual information.

Cards can hold the energy of other readings, rooms, or people who touched them over time. Here are Trusted Psychics top tips on how to cleanse your Oracle cards, which will result in more accurate intuitive interpretations:

• You can cleanse your cards by starting with something as simple as tapping the deck to loosen stagnant energy.
• Place crystal on the deck, like clear quartz or selenite, to cleanse its energy throughout the night.
• Smudging with sage, Palo Santo or incense, simply run the cards through the smoke.
• Use the natural moon ritual. Place your deck outside under the moonlight, especially at a full moon, so the moon's pure light will replenish them.

Read our guide on How to Cleanse Tarot Cards.

Oracle Card Readings

Oracle card readings with Trusted Psychics is the number one place to go when you want to learn how to use Oracle cards.

You can read our simple step-by-step guides on how to use oracle cards, cleanse tarot cards and oracle decks, and choose your favourite deck. We can even teach you how best to interpret the cards.

If you need more specific advice from professionals, you can call a live psychic reader to talk you through the process with easy steps or chat with a well-versed Oracle reader on Live Messenger to guide you on each part of your Oracle reading journey.

Learning how to use Oracle cards is a significant step on your path to personal growth and helping others, but even the best card readers prefer to have another (non-biased) person perform their readings for them.

If you want an Oracle reading with a live psychic reader, you can call the Trusted Psychics readers, who can answer your questions and provide spiritual guidance and insights on where your life is heading.

FAQs

How Many Oracle Cards Should I Pull?

The cards you should draw depend on the level of understanding you want and the question you are asking.

When you need immediate direction or daily motivation, a single card tends to be all you need to get you through the day. To discover more about a specific problem, you may want to pull two or three cards to reveal challenges, directions, and possible solutions.

Others resort to larger spreads for more advanced, complex interpretations, like a four or five-card spread. Remember that there is no "right" number to draw; listen to your own intuition until you learn how many cards fit your different situations.

How Do I Cleanse My Oracle Cards for the First Time?

Cleansing the deck before readings releases any remaining energies while combining your energetic bond with the deck.

One easy cleansing tool for a novice is to run each card through the scent of sage, Palo Santo or incense while paying attention to your intent.

If you have the deck overnight, you can cleanse its energy by placing a crystal such as selenite or clear quartz on top of it.

Is an Oracle Deck a Tarot Deck?

The oracle and the tarot decks are instruments of divination and psychic insights, but they are different. They are different decks with various designs and functions.

A tarot deck is 78 cards divided into major and minor arcana, each with symbolism and meaning. Oracle decks are less specific and vary in the number of cards, subject themes and style of messages received.

This versatility means that oracle decks are typically accessible to the amateur reader, and tarot decks offer the formality that some readers prefer for reading in greater detail and into more areas of life.

How Many Times Should You Shuffle Oracle Cards?

There is no hard and fast rule. The number of times you shuffle your oracle deck will depend on what you are comfortable with and when you feel the time is right to stop shuffling.

Some readers will shuffle three times as a rule, while others shuffle until they have an instinctive warning to pause. Shuffling is a way to mix your energy with the cards and shift your focus towards the question or guidance you want to find out.

Can You Ask Oracle Cards Yes or No Questions?

Yes. You can undoubtedly ask Oracle cards yes or no questions and get a straightforward answer, but open-ended questions are often more helpful and lead to more detailed answers.

Oracle cards are designed to offer subtle guidance and are perfect for simple yes or no questions and answers. If you would like to get a more detailed answer, you would frame the question as an open-ended question and ask the cards for advice or guidance on your issue so that they can help bring more depth and clarity.

Contact Trusted Psychics today for a professional Oracle card reading.

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