Published 17/10/2024 by Olivia Woods

Discover the Key Differences Between Oracle Cards and Tarot Cards

In terms of divination, Tarot cards and Oracle cards are equally popular but different. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned card reader, understanding these differences can allow you to find the right deck for your spiritual life.

The most significant contrast between Tarot and Oracle cards is their design. Tarot cards do not conform to a certain pattern.

A Tarot deck contains 78 cards in standard order with traditional meanings. The most popular of them is the Rider-Waite Deck, originally released in 1909 and still the Tarot bible.

The cards of a Tarot deck, Major and Minor Arcana, offer valuable life lessons and spiritual messages with well-proven symbols and meanings.

Oracle cards have no set limits to how many cards can be in an Oracle deck or for what purposes. They range from the theme of angels to animals or affirmations to nature. Oracle cards are more imaginative and colourful, and a guidebook accompanies decks.

This makes Oracle cards appealing to beginners as they are a less formal and more intimate style of reading.

Tarot cards are a skill that should be learned over time with an understanding of each card's meaning. Readers of Tarot must also understand how to integrate these messages into spreads, making the reading richer and more nuanced.

Tarot is a powerful tool for people curious about deeper, multi-layered symbolism and looking for accurate insights and meaningful guidance.

Oracle cards, by contrast, are straightforward. Oracle readings are less complicated than they sound because they contain clear, simple messages. Most people start with Oracle cards since they are easy and direct to follow.

What Are Oracle Cards? A Simple Guide

Oracle cards can be a potent and energising type of divination tool.

Oracle cards have no rigid format or system like Tarot cards and are easy to learn and interpret if you're a beginner.

Oracle cards are a form of religious card that offers prophecies or visions according to the deck's theme. Decks vary in number of cards, art, and meanings. Some decks have a specific angel, goddess, affirmation, or animal theme, while others can be about a specific spiritual idea such as self-love, healing, or manifestation.

What Are Tarot Cards? A Simple Guide

Tarot cards are a centuries-old divination tool that allows you to be informed, lucid and guided. They have been a go-to resource for anyone looking to look deep inside themselves, discover hidden truths and figure out life's difficulties.

Whether you're just starting with Tarot, this easy-to-follow guide will walk through the basics of what tarot cards mean and how they can provide detailed insights to help you become more aware of yourself.

Major Arcana: 22 cards representing significant life events, spiritual lessons, and transformation. Tarot cards like The Fool, The Lovers and The Tower bring insight into life changes and themes.

Minor Arcana: 56 cards with general situations, feelings, and problems. These are divided into four cards: Cups, Pentacles, Swords, and Wands, each representing four aspects of life (feelings, physical possessions, ideas, and imagination).

The beauty of Tarot is its ability to draw on universal symbolism and archetypes, allowing an expert tarot reader to provide intuitive interpretations of all aspects of life.

Read our guide on What Do Tarot Cards Mean.

Choosing Oracle or Tarot: Which Deck Is Right for You?

You may have encountered Oracle and Tarot cards if you are interested in reading cards. Each has subtle differences to offer perspective and instruction, but they are designed for different purposes and different types of readers.

Tarot can be an excellent spiritual practice if you like structure, depth, and classic symbolism. It's a pathway for those who want personal interpretation and deep self-exploration.

Oracle cards for inspiration are excellent for daily motivation and bring instant insight without any study necessary.

History and Origins of Tarot and Oracle Cards

The intricate histories of the Tarot and Oracle cards demonstrate the profound spirituality and divination in which they were born, moving from lowly joust boards to tools for greater meaning and guidance.

Tarot cards made their way to Europe in the early 1500s, in Italy. These decks were initially employed in an arcade card game called Trionfi (later Tarocchi). Early Tarot decks had nothing to do with mysticism or divination and were used solely for entertainment among aristocrats and elites.

In the late 18th century, tarot decks became associated with divination and occult wisdom.

The system, used in contemporary Tarot decks to this day, lent itself to readers as a means of unlocking the mysteries of life and gaining spiritual clarity. The Rider-Waite Tarot deck, first published in 1909 by Arthur Edward Waite and illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith, remains the most popular deck today and popularised Tarot for spiritual purposes.

Oracle cards originate from the ancient world. Egypt, the Greeks, and the Celts rely on primitive divination techniques involving symbolic objects—bones, runes, and other artefacts to connect with God's will and find direction for the future. Such rituals were the religious precursors of today's Oracle cards, which also purport to unlock hidden wisdom and channel divinity.

Oracle cards, as we know them, became significantly more sophisticated in the Renaissance. This was a philosophical and artistic age that adopted mysticism and spirituality. They weren't quite like the Oracle cards we have today, but they set the foundations for them as personalised means of channelling intuition and divinity.

The Structure of Tarot Cards vs Oracle Cards

Tarot decks are organised in an exact, predictable way. Every conventional deck contains 78 cards, separated into two categories:

Standard Tarot Deck

The Major Arcana are about major life experiences, spiritual lessons, and pivotal moments. These 22 cards are the most powerful in a Tarot deck, as they involve themes of deep spiritual growth and structured guidance.

Minor Arcana is concerned with everyday situations and future events. These 56 cards are classified into four suits, like the cards of a deck of playing cards, each one representing different facets of life:

• Cups: Feelings, friendships, and intuition.
• Pentacles: Money, material goods, earthly business.
• Swords: Inspiration, words, and problems.
• Wands: Imagination, zeal, and activity.

14 cards per suit: Ace to 10, followed by the Page, Knight, Queen, and King. These cards help to offer advice on specific, everyday issues during a reading.

In contrast to tarot cards, Oracle decks range from 36 to 64 cards (some have more than others). There are no hard and fast rules, so the deck's author determines how many cards are included. This is why Oracle cards are less structured and more ambiguous.

Oracle cards do not have suits or a preset system like the Tarot. Each deck has an entirely different format, depending on the topic. Some focus on angelic messages, while others are nature-focused, affirmation-based, or chakra-based.

Flexibility in Tarot and Oracle Card Readings

The adaptability of Tarot and Oracle cards enables the expert reader to adapt the tool to their psychological or mental requirements.

Oracle cards have uplifting messages or statements that the reader interprets. Some decks include detailed guidebooks, but the main emphasis is usually on the reader's intuition and the direct underlying message that the card conveys.

The flexibility of Tarot and Oracle card readings allows professional readers to tailor the tools to their psychological or cognitive needs. Understanding the flexibility in how you use and interpret these two types of cards can help you choose the right deck for your spiritual or intuitive practice.

Beginner's Guide to Using Tarot Cards

1. Choosing the Right Tarot Deck: Find a traditional tarot deck that suits you. Though Rider-Waite Tarot is a widely used and easy-to-read deck with its many symbols and visual clarity, you may choose other decks that reflect your interests or religious values.

2. Know the Card Meanings: Spend time analysing the pictures, symbols, and general definitions of each card. Understand the basic meanings of each card so you can interpret what you are being shown.

3. Define your purpose: Clearly define your goals and write down the questions you want answered in the reading. The more focused your attention is, the more relevant and accurate your Tarot reading will be.

4. Cleaning and Energising Your Tarot Deck: You can clean your deck every few months to eliminate negative and stagnant energies from a very intense reading. Use sage or a transparent quartz crystal on your deck to clean and neutralise the card's energy.

5. Rely On Your Gut Feelings: You can learn the traditional interpretations of the Tarot cards, but use your instincts to see what they tell you. What the cards show and represent can frequently bring forth certain emotions and show potential outcomes you may not have known.

Learning to use tarot cards is an exercise that involves both intuition and learning. Select the deck and set up your place, clean your cards, and you will be all set to give insightful readings. Listen to your inner guidance, and you will find that the Tarot is a valuable tool for intuitive guidance. Learn How to Prepare for a Tarot Card Reading with our in-depth guide.

Beginner's Guide to Using Oracle Cards

Oracle cards are an ideal spiritual tool for examining oneself, seeking guidance, and gaining spiritual insights, especially for beginners. They are more flexible in structure and interpretation than Tarot cards, making them accessible and ideal for anyone seeking daily guidance.

1. Picking the perfect Oracle Deck: Choosing a deck you resonate with is the first step in playing Oracle cards. Oracle cards are incredibly adaptable, so select a deck that appeals to your interests or faith.

2. Maintain a serene environment: Go to a neutral, peaceful place to concentrate. Burn a candle or incense or listen to soft music, and you'll feel better.

3. Intent: Determine what question or topic you'd like to be helped with. Be clear about what you're looking for: insight into a particular problem, emotional regulation, or spiritual guidance.

4. Reset and ground yourself: Try to focus on your breath or meditate for a moment so you clear your head and become aware of your inner self. This will help you hear the cards and understand their messages better.

5. What Questions to ask the Oracle cards: For Oracle cards, you can ask open-ended questions to gather greater detail.

6. Choose an easy spread for beginners: Oracle cards are flexible because you make your spreads or layouts and pick additional cards.

7. Interpreting the symbols: There's a guidebook that will tell you what the cards mean. Consider the image, words, or symbol whenever you draw a card.

8. Cleaning and loading your Oracle Deck: Your Oracle cards should be cleansed of stagnant energy so each reading is fresh and precise. Cleanse your deck by Smudging it with sage or palo santo smoke.

Oracle cards offer a simple yet profound way to gain spiritual insight, guidance, and clarity. Whether you use them for daily inspiration or to explore a specific issue, they are an accessible tool that anyone can use. By trusting your intuition, preparing thoughtfully, and staying open to the cards' messages, you'll quickly develop a meaningful and personal relationship with your Oracle deck.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do You Use Oracle Cards?

Oracle cards are versatile tools that offer guidance, inspiration, and personal insight. Whether you're seeking clarity on a specific situation or looking to connect with your intuition, they provide a flexible and accessible way to tap into your inner wisdom and guide you on your spiritual journey.

Are Oracle Cards and Tarot Cards the Same Thing?

There are many subtle differences between Oracle and Tarot cards. Oracle decks range in size and subject matter, providing greater room for interpretation than the fixed-system 78-card Tarot deck.‎

A tarot deck of cards is more structured with consistent traditional card meanings. This allows a tarot card expert can interpret to give an accurate tarot reading.

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