If you’ve explored the world of woo woo,  you have probably heard of tarot or oracle cards. They are wonderful tools to connect with the Universe and your intuition. 

I’ve found it to be extremely helpful in tapping into my intuition and exploring specific topics I have questions about. Think: What should I do about XYZ? What do I need to know about this opportunity? What do I need to know this person? What messages do I need to hear? 

When asking a question, it’s always good to have an open-ended question. 

Both types of decks are cards with images to be interpreted and applied to a personal journey, but there are also many differences! The Tarot and Oracle decks are a form of the oracle; a tool used to aid divination. The cards work via synchronicity or meaningful coincidence when read correctly by a practitioner. All oracles work using a system of symbology to communicate with the subject on personal information. 

Tarot 

The first recorded use of Tarot cards dates back to the 14th century when the cards were used primarily for games and gambling. The Duke of Milan’s family around the 1440s commissioned the Visconti-Sforza deck. The cards were used to play tarocchi, later adopting the name Tarot by Southern France. Cards were handpainted for families until the printing press could later mass-produce cards. Tarot eventually evolved from a card game to a divinity tool by assigning meanings to certain cards. 

Modern adaptations in the last decades now use tarot cards for meditation, reflection, and opening your intuitive abilities. Tarot can help you better understand your life through universal archetypal symbols and how they relate to your personal journey. Consulting the tarot cards allows you to gain new perspectives on situations in our lives, as well as connect you to your intuition. 

Each deck contains 78 cards; 22 Major Arcana which are considered most significant in meaning and 56 Minor Arcana cards in four different suits: wands, cups, swords, and pentacles. Major Arcana cards outrank Minor Arcana cards, also known as “trump” cards. 

The Major Arcana cards usually indicate a major event or change in a person’s life. The cards should be a sign of something larger taking place in your life. The Major Arcana cards are numbered from 0, the Fool, to 21, the World, and every card has a different meaning. For example, the 6th card, the Lovers, symbolized relationships, emotions, and temptations. The 21 cards are meant to reveal energies that are affecting our lives on a larger scale. 

The Minor Arcana cards are used to reveal small changes and happenings in a person’s life. Everyday matters. Each suit of Wands, Pentacles, Cups, and Swords has 14 cards. Each of the 56 Minor Arcana cards are also numbered from one through ten. During a Tarot reading, a wand usually symbolizes matters that we are most interested in or passionate about. Wands represent the element of fire or our embodiment of fierceness. Pentacles are connected to the element of Earth and symbolize Eathly or material concerns like money. The element of water is associated with Cups and symbolizes emotions, such as love. Finally, the Swords are connected to the element of air, embodying your rationality and intellect. 

Oracle 

Oracle cards emerged in much more recent history, becoming popular in Europe during the early 1900s. Oracle cards are much more fluid compared to Tarot cards previously discussed! Oracle cards are whatever the creator of the deck wants it to serve. Sometimes the cards are commonly used in association with Tarot as a second opinion, but also as affirmations, invitations to self-reflection, and tools to provide clarity. 

Some popular ones are angel, animal, chakra, crystal, and yoga-inspired decks. 

Tarot or Oracle?

Both Tarot and Oracle cards can provide insight into your personal journey and intuition. Use the cards in conjunction with another, or find which one resonates most with you! One method would be to draw an oracle card to understand the bigger picture and then to use a Tarot reading to examine the situation in finer detail. Tarot cards have a fixed system that must be learned and oracle cards are more fluid in interpretation. 

How to Use Your Tarot or Oracle Deck

If this all seems way too intense, drawing a daily card is a wonderful option. In the morning, draw a card, allowing it to be your guidance for the day. It can also be a great opportunity to journal to better understand the situation and insights gleaned from the card. 

Almost always there will be a guidebook for the deck that helps you interpret the cards. It will also provide “spreads” or ways to lay out the cards to find clarity. A popular one is the three-card spread representing past, present, and future. 

How to Select Your Deck

It is important to choose a deck that feels personal and you resonate with. If you are a beginner, there are many decks that include guidebooks to help you on your journey. There are also tons of variety of sizes, images, and topics. Here are some questions to ask when you are searching:

• How deeply do you connect with the images? The theme? 

• How big are the cards? 

• Does the deck have a guidebook? 

• Does the deck have quality storage? 

• Do I like the card stock of the deck?

Searching for your deck should be fun and part of your personal journey! If you know anyone practicing Tarot, ask about their cards, or even ask online. Allow your intuition to guide you. 

My favorite ones right now are the Healing Mantra by Matthew Khan and Crystal Spirits deck by Colette Baron Reid. 

My first deck was a tarot deck. There were some months where I drew a card each morning.  Really just depends on your mood. I used this tarot deck for about a year before buying new ones. For the last year, I’ve been drawn to oracle decks. Each oracle deck represents the creator and the imagery, an art. You’ll know when you’ve found the right one. If you begin to get into it, you’ll find yourself with many decks. I have a friend with over 20 decks! I myself have about 5. 

If you still have more questions on how to select a deck!, check out this article! 

Where to Buy

• If you want to support small businesses and artists, Etsy is a great option. 

• Local bookstores, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Hay House are good places to look online.

• D.C. locals, check out Politics and Prose, Femme Fatale, and Cherry Blossom Creative in store for options.
  Currently loving Mystic Mondays, Healing Mantra, and Crystal Spirits!