What are Oracle cards?

Key Differences Between Tarot and Oracle Cards:

1. Structure:

   • Tarot has a traditional structure (78 cards divided into Major and Minor Arcana), each with specific meanings.

   • Oracle cards, on the other hand, can have any number of cards (commonly around 40 to 60) and don’t follow a set system. The cards in an oracle deck can feature a mix of images, symbols, words, or themes, and each deck may have a completely different focus or purpose.

2. Theme and Purpose:

   • Oracle cards often have a more open-ended and broad approach, focusing on various aspects of life, such as healing, inspiration, spirit guidance, self-love, or even angels and mystical creatures.

   • Tarot cards are typically used for more structured readings, often related to major life decisions, relationships, or deeper reflections.

3. Flexibility in Interpretation:

   • Oracle cards are often more intuitive and personal in their interpretation. They may offer messages that are more abstract or general, while tarot cards tend to have a specific set of meanings tied to their symbolism and the spread used in a reading.

4. Guidance Style:

   • Tarot readings usually involve a more complex process of connecting cards and interpreting the sequence or position of the cards.

   • Oracle cards tend to give more direct, shorter messages, often providing simple guidance, inspiration, or affirmations.

Common Themes of Oracle Cards:

1. Angel Cards: These decks focus on messages from angels or divine beings, offering spiritual support and protection.

2. Animal Spirit Cards: These decks may include animals as symbols, offering insights about the traits or energy of different animals and how they relate to your life.

3. Affirmation Cards: These decks often feature positive affirmations to boost your confidence, help you focus on gratitude, or encourage personal growth.

4. Goddess Cards: These decks focus on feminine energy and often include mythological figures or deities from various cultures as sources of wisdom.

5. Healing Cards: These decks focus on emotional or physical healing, providing messages to support well-being or personal transformation.

How to Use Oracle Cards:

Like tarot, oracle cards can be used for personal reflection, spiritual guidance, or to answer specific questions. Here’s a simple process:

1. Set an Intention: Focus on your question or area of life where you want guidance.

2. Shuffle the Cards: As you shuffle, think about your intention and stay open to whatever messages come through.

3. Draw a Card (or Cards): Depending on the deck, you may draw one card, a few, or a larger spread.

4. Interpret the Message: Oracle cards often have brief messages or words on the cards, which can be intuitively interpreted based on how you feel about the card and its image. Some decks come with guidebooks to help with interpretation, but often the messages are meant to resonate personally with you.

Purpose of Oracle Cards:

While oracle cards can be used for prediction or divination, they are more often used as tools for reflection, self-care, emotional clarity, and spiritual growth. They can help with daily guidance, self-discovery, or giving insight into what might be influencing a situation or relationship.

Many people use them for personal growth, meditation, or simply as a way to connect to their intuition and receive insight from a higher source. Unlike tarot, which often addresses deeper life themes, oracle cards can offer more specific or even lighthearted messages.

Do you think you’d enjoy working with oracle cards? Their flexibility and variety can make them a fun tool for getting in touch with your intuition!