Tarot Vs. Oracle
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What’s The Difference And How To Choose
Aside from being beautiful works of art in and of themselves, Oracle and Tarot cards can be powerful divination tools. But, if you’re not familiar with these tools, deciding which deck to choose may have you stumped before you even start.
The Basics
Let’s talk about the basics of Tarot and Oracle cards to help you find the best way to connect with the greater knowledge of the universe when life’s big moments pop up!
Tarot Cards
-78 cards
-Organized into different suits
-Measure outcomes and influence
-Can be lengthy and detailed
-Offers insight into situations
-Only images on the card, takes some studying
A tarot deck is a classic set of 78 cards that fall under the category of major or minor arcana. From there, the cards are divided into four suits (Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles). Tarot cards are studied and interpreted by expert readers, primarily to speak to a person's life story.
Oracle Cards
-Any number of card per deck
-Designed around a theme or deity
-Use your intuition to guide you rather than the structure of the deck
-Meant to give advice
-Quick and more open to individual interpretation
-Easy for beginners. Includes thoughtful phrases
Oracle cards, on the other hand, are more free-wheeling from the set structure of tarot. An oracle deck can essentially be whatever the creator of the deck wants it to be — they pick how many cards are in it, what sorts of imagery it'll use, and what purpose it's supposed to serve. There are many different types of oracle decks that come in all shapes, sizes, and functions. The basic set up is that they have images and words, along with a book that explains ways in which a reader should interpret them.
How to Choose
Trust your intuition. You might lean towards either method on a given day, or you might use one method over another for a certain question you have.
Try them out. Which deck feels right? Is Tarot too grave, or are Oracle cards not enough for you? If you are seriously in the sticks with some relationship drama, the Tarot deck might offer the ins and outs you are searching for. If you’re less phased by this relationship woe, then a simple “You’re free to do what you choose,” might be all you need from an Oracle deck.
Structure. Do you need it or do you run from it? When I’m in a place where my internal compass is all out of whack, I know I need to use my Tarot deck as my guide. If my gut has been pretty spot on, I’ll use my Oracle cards as my quick spot checking guide.
Aside from being beautiful works of art in and of themselves, Oracle and Tarot cards can be powerful divination tools. But, if you’re not familiar with these tools, deciding which deck to choose may have you stumped before you even start.
The Basics
Let’s talk about the basics of Tarot and Oracle cards to help you find the best way to connect with the greater knowledge of the universe when life’s big moments pop up!
Tarot Cards
-78 cards
-Organized into different suits
-Measure outcomes and influence
-Can be lengthy and detailed
-Offers insight into situations
-Only images on the card, takes some studying
A tarot deck is a classic set of 78 cards that fall under the category of major or minor arcana. From there, the cards are divided into four suits (Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles). Tarot cards are studied and interpreted by expert readers, primarily to speak to a person's life story.
Oracle Cards
-Any number of card per deck
-Designed around a theme or deity
-Use your intuition to guide you rather than the structure of the deck
-Meant to give advice
-Quick and more open to individual interpretation
-Easy for beginners. Includes thoughtful phrases
Oracle cards, on the other hand, are more free-wheeling from the set structure of tarot. An oracle deck can essentially be whatever the creator of the deck wants it to be — they pick how many cards are in it, what sorts of imagery it'll use, and what purpose it's supposed to serve. There are many different types of oracle decks that come in all shapes, sizes, and functions. The basic set up is that they have images and words, along with a book that explains ways in which a reader should interpret them.
How to Choose
Trust your intuition. You might lean towards either method on a given day, or you might use one method over another for a certain question you have.
Try them out. Which deck feels right? Is Tarot too grave, or are Oracle cards not enough for you? If you are seriously in the sticks with some relationship drama, the Tarot deck might offer the ins and outs you are searching for. If you’re less phased by this relationship woe, then a simple “You’re free to do what you choose,” might be all you need from an Oracle deck.
Structure. Do you need it or do you run from it? When I’m in a place where my internal compass is all out of whack, I know I need to use my Tarot deck as my guide. If my gut has been pretty spot on, I’ll use my Oracle cards as my quick spot checking guide.
