Tarot vs Oracle Cards

The first time saw a deck of Tarot cards I was a child. I don’t recall where I was, but I have a vivid recollection of a woman doing a reading on the sidewalk.

I was mesmerized, and as I stared at the woman pulling cards, she shooed me away. That short encounter was impactful enough to create a lifelong interest in Tarot and Oracle card decks.

Tarot Cards vs Oracle Cards

Tarot card decks specifically depict seventy-eight images. The first twenty-two cards are of the Major Arcana, which are the named and numbered cards and follow the journey from the Fool to The World. These are perhaps the best-known and most easily identifiable cards of all the decks available.

The next fifty-six cards are the Minor Arcana, which are the suit cards divided into pentacles, wands, swords, and cups. The names for these vary. Pentacles are also known as coins or disks. Wands are also called rods, staffs, or staves. Swords are also referred to as blades. Cups are also called goblets or vessels. Regardless of the name, each suit has fourteen cards from Ace to King.

Oracle decks don’t follow a specific number or pattern and are conceived based on the intention and imagination of the creator. There is a vast difference from one deck to another.

I bought my first deck when I was a teenager and have collected numerous others since then. I have studied different decks. I am a Certified Angel Card reader, an intuitive, and have taken several courses on card reading.

It’s been my dream to create a deck of my own, and I am excited to announce that I will be releasing an Oracle deck soon. I will give more details on that below and in the coming weeks.

The Benefit of Using Decks

People generally perceive Tarot and Oracle decks for use in divination, but they can be a tool for spiritual development, a way to connect within, reflect, listen to intuition, find purpose, seek wisdom and clarity, and so much more.

How to Use Decks in Daily Life

There are many ways to use Tarot and Oracle decks in daily life.

I pull one to five cards daily, depending on what’s happening and the insight I am seeking. If I want a quick message for the day, I pull one card, but if I seek deeper insight I pull three to five.

Many decks come with a guidebook so it’s not necessary to know what they mean since you can easily look it up. I reflect on the meaning of the card, its significance on where it falls on the spread, and how it applies to my life.

I also do readings when something significant is happening and I need more than a quick reading. I pull nine to thirty-six cards depending on how deep I want to go. Specific spreads provide specific insight.

Recently I wanted insight into a project I intend to start, and a nine-card spread advised me to let go of negative self-belief; overcome the challenges about my limitations; release doubt; instead, trust my dreams will manifest; embrace this opportunity because I accomplish more when I work with others; and allow my creativity to spark because this project is about an inner desire finding its way into the world. It was quite a powerful and encouraging message. Doesn’t it seem like sound advice?

I often journal after doing a reading. Writing helps me process my thoughts and emotions. I sit still, looking at the cards, and write what comes to me.

I reflect on the meaning and interpretation of each card and/or the combined meaning of all the cards. I gain clarity, understanding, and practical application of the messages they convey.

I also reflect on what lessons they want to teach me, and what they might be telling me to open up to or release. Sometimes they point out something I may have been ignoring or resisting, and writing about it helps me recognize and eventually break the pattern. For instance, they may point out a self-limiting belief I need to release. They also point out something I have been doing well, giving me a reason to express gratitude and celebrate.

I’ve only scratched the surface here, as there are other uses for Tarot and Oracle decks. They are accessible tools that can have practical applications.

My Upcoming Deck: Daily Divine, Reflections to Connect Within

The Oracle deck I will be releasing has seventy-seven cards. I started creating it together two years ago after a reunion with my graduate school classmates. Something about reminiscing sparked my inspiration. It took a few months to pull them together.

In August 2023, I collaborated with Jess Fowler, a beautiful Australian artist who meticulously drew the images for each card, and also drew the cover image. The drawings are of animals and nature, and the descriptions and messages are of the deeper meaning they provide.

The purpose of the deck is to awaken and strengthen the connection with intuition and develop an everyday practice of reflection. Each card has a theme, a message, and questions for reflection, which can be used to clarify, journal as I described above, meditate, and/or contemplate, depending on what the reader is called to do.

I am excited for these cards and cannot wait to share them soon.

I invite you to follow me on Facebook or Instagram to get updates on the release.