Mysterious, esoteric, and ancient in origin, tarot and oracle cards are steadily increasing in popularity.
And there’s a good reason for that … they work!
No, I don’t believe tarot and oracle cards can predict the future as the future isn’t set in stone. Neither do I believe that the reason oracle and tarot cards are rising in popularity is due to such an antiquated use as fortune telling.
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Instead, from what I’ve observed and experienced, tarot and oracle cards are rising in prevalence because they are powerful gateways to the inner self and unconscious mind. And in this day and age, the need to connect with our inner selves is increasing in intensity and desperate necessity.
Ultimately, oracle and tarot cards are spiritual tools that anyone can use. If I am to list one tool that I consult and use each and every day, it would be my tarot and oracle cards. Why? These deceptively simple cards are like fractals: the deeper you meditate and reflect on a card, the more you discover about yourself. This makes oracle and tarot cards powerful meditation tools that are ideal for increasing one’s spiritual and psychological growth.
Are you curious about dipping your toes into the world of oracle and tarot cards? Read on. If you’ve already tasted the sweet nectar of this amazingly illuminating tool, I’m sure you’ll find something interesting to feast on below as well.
Table of contents
What is the Difference Between Oracle and Tarot Cards?
Let’s start off with the basics. Oracle and tarot cards are similar in nature but not the same.
The main difference is that tarot is a system that spans back millennia and is divided into the major and minor arcana, and four suits: the swords, pentacles, cups, and wands. Each suit consists of ten cards and four ‘court’ cards (page, knight, queen, and king). Oracle cards, on the other hand, are newer inventions and they generally don’t have a set structure making them more fluid. Generally, it is up to the creator of the oracle deck to create some kind of framework or system (if any).
Tarot takes a bit of time and dedication to learn as each card has various layers of meaning. Tarot also has upright and reversed meanings (which, translated, means that if you pull a card upside down its meaning will change). Although tarot sounds complex, it is a deeply intriguing system that overlaps with numerous ancient systems such as numerology, astrology, the Kabbalah, and alchemy. I find that it provides more intricate and multi-layered answers and insights than oracle cards.
With that being said, oracle cards do have their own charm. If you’re a beginner and don’t know where to start, getting an oracle deck is a non-intimidating way of entering the world of ‘card slinging.’ Unlike tarot cards which are named according to a clear-cut system (e.g. “ace of pentacles,” “three of swords,” “King of Cups”), oracle cards tend to be named in more simple and straight-forward ways. Common examples include “beginning,” “ending,” “courage,” “transformation,” “healing,” “wisdom,” “balance,” etc.
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Oracle decks are generally easier (in my experience) to use as meditative tools than tarot decks and tend to give an overview of the problem or situation at hand that you’re seeking guidance for.
Can Tarot and Oracle Cards Predict the Future?
Short answer: nothing can “predict” the future with 100% accuracy as the future isn’t set in stone and we have free will to change it. Tarot and oracle cards do however show the most likely outcome based on what is happening in our lives within the present moment.
How Do They Work?
There are many explanations for how and why tarot and oracle cards provide such unnervingly accurate or illuminating answers.
Some believe that they are communing with ancestors, spirits, or personal etheric guides when doing readings for themselves. Others believe that the cards themselves have power. I, however, don’t subscribe to these theories. Instead, I prefer to adopt a psychospiritual (spiritual psychology) approach. When using a tarot or oracle deck, I believe we are connecting to our unconscious minds which are a bridge to the collective unconscious, or Universal Mind. Within our unconscious and shared unconscious (what psychologist Carl Jung called the ‘Collective Unconscious’) resides our essence, our wisest self, or our true nature (Soul). I believe that when we are communing with the images on these cards, we are triggering deep instinctive and timeless knowledge within us and inciting it to rise to the surface.
In other words, our minds are like deep lakes. We tend to live on the surface of this lake in everyday life, but tarot and oracle cards are like fishing lines that we throw into the deep to draw up the wisdom we need.
While the language of the conscious rational brain is words and verbal descriptions, the language of the unconscious is more ancient and pre-verbal. Images, archetypes, and symbols all form the language of the unconscious – and they also simultaneously form the way in which we can get in touch with the unconscious. Because tarot and oracle cards are primarily image-based, they are one of the most powerful ways of connecting with the wisdom buried deep within us.
4 Dangers of Using Oracle and Tarot
Please don’t be alarmed. Stories of demonic possession as a result of using tarot are the result of narrow-minded and superstitious misunderstandings spread by religions such as orthodox Christianity. Tarot is a tool of self-exploration – it’s like having a coach or teacher by your side – that’s it.
Can it be used to lift the veil between this world and the next? Maybe. But you only get out of tarot what you put into it. In other words, use it as a self-discovery and it will be just that. Many things in life can be used to dabble in the psychic arts – just look at cups and tea bags (or the divinatory practice of tea reading). Are you going to stop drinking tea just because someone out there uses tea drinking to communicate with spirits of the dead? I don’t think so.
Tarot and oracle decks are quite literally pieces of card with images on them. There’s nothing spooky or satanic about them. As with anything in life, they are ultimately what you make of them – nothing more, nothing less. So if you already have a mind biased toward them, it might be better to seek out another inner work tool (such as mirror work).
No, the dangers I am about to mention are more emotional and psychological oriented. Be mindful of the following:
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- Overly relying on oracle and tarot cards to make decisions for you. The cards are meant to supplement your decision-making, not replace it. Don’t be lazy. Don’t try to bypass your responsibility by dumping that onto the cards.
- Using the cards as a justification or excuse for bad behavior, e.g. “the cards told me I could!”
- Using the cards to hear and understand what you want to hear/understand. In other words, using the cards to try and tiptoe around the truth or receive feel-good advice only.
- Using the cards to try and “read” other people’s minds or spy into their lives. The accuracy of such a practice is not only dubious but is also a waste of time. The best use of the cards is to explore the depth of your own inner self, not peek into the world of another.
Being mindful of these pitfalls will help you to get the most out of your oracle and tarot cards.
What to Look For in an Oracle and Tarot Deck (+ Some Suggestions)
You don’t need to be a crazy deck collector like me to benefit from this self-exploration tool. Simply investing in one or two decks will help get you acquainted with this fascinating method of self-growth.
When it comes to getting your own deck, forget the old myth that someone needs to gift you a deck first. This old tradition is very limiting. In the old days there was no convenient way to obtain a deck unless someone gave one to you, but these days we have the privilege of having access to an amplitude of decks. So go out there and find one you resonate with.
Here’s what to pay attention to when trying to find a deck:
- What is the card stock like? Is it flimsy, thick, glossy or matte?
- How big are the cards and are they easy to shuffle?
- How deeply do you resonate with the images, theme or topic of the deck?
- Is the deck independently published or mass produced?
- Does the deck have borders or is it borderless (some people hate borders)?
- Does the deck have a guidebook?
- Does the deck have a good quality storage box?
Ultimately what you are attracted to in a deck is very personal. Some people don’t need or read the guidebooks, while others absolutely must have an in-depth quality guidebook to get to know their cards. Some people like big cards while others like small cards. Some like indie decks while others prefer to stick to big-named decks. Some need a sturdy box while others don’t mind what the heck the deck comes in. You get the picture!
Listen to youtube videos (search for walkthroughs) and read reviews online before you purchase your deck. This little stack of cards may be staying with you for many years, so make sure you put in your research.
I currently have a collection of around 50 tarot and oracle decks combined and they were either bought, traded online with others, or given to me. My personal preferences are matte medium cardstock tarot/oracle cards that have good thick guidebooks. Anything pagan or nature-based I love (it must be my Celtic roots).
There’s a multitude of deck themes out there – angels, vampires, animals, fairies, mermaids, mythological tales, goddesses, voodoo, shamans, unicorns … you name it and you’ll probably find a deck related to it.
I know this all may sound overwhelming (it most certainly was for me!). But my advice is to start small. There are numerous well-known decks out there that tend to tick most boxes. I recommend starting out by researching those. You can look within your local bookstore or new age store. Alternatively, look online on places such as Amazon or Book Depository for some good deals.
Here are some decks I recommend that I either possess or have heard good things about:
Oracle Decks
- Vintage wisdom oracle
- Chakra wisdom oracle
- The Goddess Oracle
- Journey of Love Oracle
- Messenger Oracle
- Gaia Oracle cards
Tarot Decks
- Fountain tarot
- Druidcraft tarot
- The Wild Unknown tarot
- Centennial Smith-Waite tarot
- Morgan Greer tarot
Each of these decks you can find on Amazon (all are linked) for you to explore at your leisure. Don’t be afraid to look outside of these recommendations either – I’m just providing a starting place so that you don’t get too overwhelmed!
How to Use Oracle and Tarot Cards For Deep Inner Work
Let’s get to the meat of this article: how can we use these bits of card for deep inner exploration?
Here are some ideas:
1. Inner Child Work
Inner child work is the practice of connecting with, exploring, understanding, learning from, and healing your inner child. We all have a vulnerable place inside of us that sees the world with childlike wonder and an open heart. Many of us have lost touch with this soft part of ourselves or have suppressed the inner child due to trauma or early life abuse. Reconnecting with your inner child is one of the most profound forms of inner work you could ever commit to. It truly creates deep transformation if you stick with it.
What I love about using tarot and oracle cards for inner child work is that it can be so eye-opening, yet nurturing and supportive. Depending on the deck you use, inner child work can be no-nonsense and in your face, or it can be subtle and gentle. Your inner child will be very responsive and sensitive towards the pictures of the cards, so consider working with a soft deck (perhaps with an angelic, storybook or animal theme). Consider working with decks such as the Inner Child Cards, Shadowscapes Tarot, Wisdom of the Oracle or Alice: the Wonderland Oracle.
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To begin using your tarot or oracle cards for inner child work, think of three questions you would like to ask your inner child. Examples may include:
- What would you like to tell me?
- How can I nurture and support you more?
- What hidden gift do you carry?
Once you pull your cards, pause and reflect on them. I recommend journaling briefly (or in depth if you have the time) about the cards you pull and what feelings, thoughts, and memories they trigger within you.
Learn more about how to journal.
2. Shadow Work
I adore using the tarot and oracle for shadow work – they go hand-in-hand like peanut butter and jelly. The whole point of these wondrous cards is to draw up unconscious knowledge, and as you may or may not know, the unconscious is also conveniently the realm of the shadow self.
Is it possible to directly communicate with your shadow self through tarot and oracle cards? Yes, I believe it is so long as you have a clear intention and focus.
Decks I recommend looking into for doing shadow work include Deviant Moon tarot, Ceccoli tarot (if you are merging shadow work with inner child work), Dark Mirror oracle, and the Halloween oracle. (If you’re a crafty person and want an affordable alternative, you can also choose our printable Luminous Shadow Oracle.)
To begin, consider creating a section in your journal that is dedicated specifically to your tarot shadow work. (You may even like to consider setting aside an entire journal by itself as tarot shadow work can draw up a lot of intriguing content, believe me.) There are many shadow work tarot spreads on the internet that you can draw inspiration from, but it’s best to start simple. Think of some questions or topics you would like to explore. Examples may include:
- What is my major blind spot right now?
- What hidden motives are behind [insert habit, goal or desire here]?
- What is my relationship like with sexuality?
- What is my relationship like with power?
- What is my relationship like with other people?
- What truth am I currently avoiding?
- What am I currently clinging to?
- What is my greatest fear?
- What is holding me back that I don’t want to face?
- What am I projecting onto others?
I could go on and on, but these questions will give you a good place to start. Once you have pulled a card or two, write down the cards you got and your reflections. Notice whether any anger, disgust, shame or fear is triggered within you. If so, this is a clear sign you’ve touched on shadow material. Hooray! Now it’s time to do some digging and introspection.
3. Meditation
Tarot and oracle cards are also wonderful ways to develop single-pointed concentration. Simply draw a card for the day, put it in front of you, set a timer (e.g. for 10-20 minutes) and gaze at it. While you are observing the card, focus simultaneously on your breath going in and out. Don’t try to interpret the card, simply notice the colors, faces, forms, emotion, shapes, etc. Let everything you see go in and out of your mind like clouds passing through the sky.
Meditating with your tarot and oracle cards also doubles as a wonderful way of ‘getting to know’ your new deck (or deepening your relationship with an old one).
4. Pathworking (or inner journeying)
Pathworking is essentially a technique that involves mentally projecting yourself into the picture of the card. This is done to gain wisdom, self-knowledge or solutions to problems.
Pathworking can be used in conjunction with meditation (see above) or as a technique by itself. To begin pathworking, sit in a dark room, light a candle, and place it at the base of your card (but not too close as you don’t want it to become all crispy like a piece of bacon!). Breathe deeply, ground yourself, and focus on the card. Let your focus become gentle and soft.
When you are ready, imagine yourself stepping into the card. Spend some time walking around in the landscape, noticing what the atmosphere feels like, and touching objects within the card. If a person, animal or other being is within the card, approach them and start a conversation. What information do they have to share with you? If they wish to take you to another place, listen to your gut and let yourself follow if you feel comfortable. Remember that you are in complete control and you can cease your pathworking whenever you feel the need to.
Pathworking is a fascinating and effective way of gaining deep self-insight. While for some people this technique is difficult, for others (more ‘imaginative’ or dreamy types) it comes naturally. So experiment and discover the power of this practice yourself!
5. Self-Love
Some of the most loving messages I’ve ever received have come through tarot and oracle cards – and many people have had the same experience.
What I love about using tarot and oracle cards for deepening my self-love is how often they align with synchronicity. For example, I tend to pull the precise cards I need to learn from at the exact right time. It is these cards that give me goosebumps, make my heart burst open, and my eyes swell with tears. Again, this is not an experience unique to me, almost everyone who uses tarot/oracle cards will have at least one magical moment of heartfelt epiphany about themselves.
To use tarot/oracle cards for self-love, choose a nurturing deck like Crystal Visions Tarot, Whispers of Love Oracle, or Universal Love Oracle.
Do a daily draw in which you pull a card each morning and reflect on it. You can even create a formal daily self-love practice in which you pull a card for the week and reflect each day on the various layers of the card and what messages it has to offer you.
Here are some questions you may like to ask when pulling a card:
- What do I need to appreciate more about myself?
- How can I be more gentle with myself?
- What do I need to nurture in myself right now?
- How can I protect myself more?
- How can I be more self-compassionate today?
- What do I need to forgive within myself?
- How can I feed my soul today?
- What do I need to release?
As with all inner work practices, keep a journal and record your reflections. Also, ensure that you practically apply the advice you receive. There’s no point pulling cards if you aren’t willing to make conscious changes in your life. Be practical and seek to ground the discoveries you make in your daily existence.
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I hope I’ve inspired you to explore this wondrous inner work tool – or apply it in a different way. There are a multitude of ways to use tarot/oracle cards so don’t see my suggestions above as the be-all-and-end-all. But I do hope the above practices help.
Share with me: do you work with oracle and tarot cards? If so, what’s your favorite deck and favorite way of using it? Share below and let’s get all geeky together. :)
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I bought my first deck of cards at a festival this past summer. I felt a very intense pull to the Black Moon Astrology Cards and am very satisfied with them! I particularly like these cards because they are based on astrology. I use them as regular tarot cards to do readings or sometimes I will do readings based on the 12 houses and am about to start providing a guidance for a particular zodiac sign each week. :] They are also physically very appealing, they are all space themed cards so they look really cool imo.
Oh, and what is also neat about the deck is each card can be directly translated to each of the classic tarot cards (3 of swords, 7 of cups, etc) even to include the major and minor arcana. So you can use the deck as a classic tarot deck as well if you prefer. ^^
This was beautiful. I am glad I read this article and received this information. Thank you!
Hi. Thanks for this great article on different ways to use my cards!
I’ve had the Robin Wood classic tarot deck for years but found it complicated and it went by the wayside. These days I’m in love with Collette Baron-Reid’s new Spirit Animal Oracle deck. The quality is outstanding and artwork is stunning. Prior to these coming out I used her free Wisdom Of The Oracle deck ios app that is equally gorgeous. I also watch her weekly universal readings on YouTube. Very gifted woman. I may pick up new decks for purposes outlined in your post though as I never knew about doing this type of work with decks before. Love you guys!
Beautiful decks – thanks for sharing Kelly!
Thank you for sharing, I had no idea she had a ios deck ! I love her art
The Oracle card ,the card it self made of fiber made from a tree,the tree the root s grow with in heart of Gaig.
hay what about following a ( resonating) on line tarot reader ..what your thoughts about it . and yes I take all in consideration but most of the time its what feels in my souls yes that’s what’s going on as it does reflect the facts…even my own deep soul feelings …….from day one I met my TF …….( runner and separated) me the chaser at first and now I let it go as it hurts too much us both) these readings give me peace and follows what i go thru even before the reading goes on ( free choice reading) .
I’ve been following your website for a while now (I also subscribed a while back) and well… I actually needed this article! I feel like… I should have grabbed my decks by now and asked a few questions I’ve been trying to run away from… So yeah, your article was really on time for me and you added so much information that I didn’t know! I’m still quite a newbie. I really really appreciate it! If possible, could you write up more articles about tarot? I would love to know more (and my beliefs are so coincident with yours!).
I hope you don’t mind me geeking out a bit about my decks :P
I really love them. I have four decks, but I only use three. My favourite is probably Linestrider. I couldn’t help but to fall in love with it at first sight. It was a gift from a friend (he’s a soulmate! He’s like my older brother and with a soul of a druid) and he also thought it was so me. The deck is really cheeky. Soooo cheeky. It’s even funny sometimes because it doesn’t seem afraid to show me what I need to know. Quite a daring deck!
My first was the Mystic Faerie tarot. It’s so sweet and it really resonated with me. It’s one of those that I recommend for newbies and it was a great choice for me! I’m a taurus (and pretty much all of my other signs are taurus, which makes me quite “earthy”) and it’s a great deck for those that love nature.
I also have Mystical Manga tarot. It’s my most recent acquisition. I love the artist, so I had to buy it. Rann showed it a few years ago on DeviantArt and I loved it. She had it for sale on her store, but then it disappeared. When I thought I would never have the chance to buy it, I found out that Lllewellyn had reached out to her and it was going to be officially sold by them! I didn’t use it much, though… I still love it, but I’ve been “running away” from tarot pretty much ever since I got this deck. It’s not its fault. I think it’s my anxiety… Oh well.
My other one (that I don’t use anymore) is Angel Tarot cards by Doreen Virtue. I still love the painting (oh gosh, they are soooo beautiful), but I can’t use that deck anymore. I bought it like… One year after getting in touch with my soul and getting my first deck? Something like that. I read a ton of spiritual books (I can’t help it. I’m a curious person) and I thought it was the “truth”. I only realised I was trying not to see the “shadows” and not accepting the “bad things” when I tried to tackle my self-esteem issues. We aren’t just “light”. We are light and shadow. I completely agree with your vision on this. That’s why I can’t bring myself to use a deck that only sees the “positive things”…
Sorry about the long post! I don’t have anyone to talk about tarot and my beautiful decks, so I got carried away :P
Don’t worry Ana – I love geeking out about all things oracle and tarot related! I find it so amusing what you say about your Linesrider having a personality – I find the same with my decks too! The Brian Froud Faerie deck, for example, is so cheeky and has the most outrageous sense of humor, haha – I love using it but can only expose myself a little bit to it as it’s a bit of a trickster deck. And I know what you mean about the Doreen Virtue cards. Did you hear about her converting to a stricter form of Christianity? She now denounces all the decks she has created. :-/
Maybe all the decks have some sort of personality and we have to “find” it to connect to it! That could possibly answer why some decks are harder to connect with than others…
My Mystic Faerie deck is also a bit mischievous. One day I tried to use it a forest (a friend of mine brought the Druid Animal oracle) and sometimes it was like I was hearing the faeries laugh while I was trying to decode what the cards said (“ohohoh, nooo! Try again!” and stuff like that). The Linestrider tarot feels like a best friend. That person that loves you, but isn’t afraid of telling you the things as they are. Cheeky, funny, straightforward. But isn’t hurtful at all!
I did hear about Doreen! The cards that she released with someone else were re-release containing only the partner’s name (Radleigh Valentine is the sole author now for a few decks)… The others were taken out of the market by her request. The whole story was sooooo weird…
Can you tell me what the deck is called that is shown in the picture? It has a skull on the face of the card. Also, is the first picture a picture of a Lone Wolf Deck?
Hi David, the deck with the skull on it is called the Oracle of Oddities (it’s an indie deck). The first picture in the article with the wolf on it isn’t our deck, but one day we do plan to release some kind of deck. :)
This is an amazing article. I love using my oracle cards to help me address either an issue in my life and to help me with inner work. I chose the “Wisdom of the Hidden Realms” deck. It is really comforting to know that there are like minded people on this journey. Thanks again for all the tips in this article and keep up the great work Luna and Sol. And a huge shout out to all you beautiful people here. Much Love and Respect <3 Namaste !
Signed Malcolm
Thank you Malcolm <3 and what a beautiful deck you have there!
Hi Aletheia,
Thank you so much for this article–I love it!
I started using tarot about a year ago, after I had a very painful experience with my intuition. Long story-short–I began–after the experience–to doubt the message I had received, & to doubt the very core of myself: my soul, because the message had unearthed a deep childhood wound & caused a lot of hurt & discord in my family. This has caused tremendous suffering for me–& so, in order to come back to center, & wholeness, I started the practice of tarot. I want to learn how to trust myself, & my deepest messages again. Tarot is helping me so much with this, because it’s connecting me again with my intuition, telling me that it’s okay to listen–I am a good person: I am worth investing in, & trusting. It is so healing; & it’s so much fun, too!
Thank you for all of your deck suggestions, I’m super excited to look into some of them. Right now I have 4 decks: The Fairy Tarot–which is a deck I’d highly recommend for those who are highly sensitive (it was made for people like us in mind!), Shadowscapes Tarot, Mermaid Tarot, & Klimt Tarot–which has the most gorgeous artwork!
I’m excited to be on a life-long journey to learn about tarot, & grow in my ability to trust my intuition. Thank you–Aletheia–for encouraging all of us! & Thank you for your wonderful suggestions of questions to ask the cards–I’m looking forward to using many of them myself!
Thank you for this website! It gives me so much hope!
So much love to you!
-Elle
Hi Elle, thank you so much for your message – I love the excitement and positivity coming through. :) The tarot is indeed a powerful tool and it seems that the deeper you go, the more there is to find in the tarot – in my opinion, everyone should at least attempt to learn it. I’m so glad through the tarot your deepest Self is helping you to trust the voice of your intuition again.
With much love,
Luna
x
Also, thanks for the deck suggestion!
I’m relatively new to tarot and oracle reading, but I am completely hooked! I’m becoming a bit of a collector of decks, and it’s fascinating to me which decks I resonate strongly with, and which ones I struggle to connect with. Currently, my favorites are The Art of Love tarot and the Wisdom of the Oracle decks. I recently added the Moonology oracle deck, the Divine Feminine oracle deck, and the Dragon Oracle deck – all of which I love and have been using a lot lately.
I definitely have to agree that as a beginner, oracle decks are much easier, but the more that I practice, the more that I am learning to interpret the cards as my intuition guides me, even if it differs from what the guidebook says. If I really can’t understand why I pulled a certain card, or how it relates to the others I’ve pulled, I look it up in the guidebook.
I read almost every evening – I find that it relaxes me and helps me to focus in on things. Sometimes I have specific situations in mind, other times, I just ask what I need to know, or what I need to work on, or how I can continue growing.
I definitely need to start journaling, but for now, I take pictures of the cards I pull, especially when I have a particularly meaningful or insightful session.
Thanks for this article – it was so helpful!
The Moonology deck looks interesting – how are you finding it Jen?
Yes, one idea for those who don’t have enough time to journal (or who don’t want to make time!) is to record yourself on your phone giving a reading to yourself. You can also record your insights and create a folder on your computer or in the cloud (e.g. dropbox) to store them in – kind of like a digital/video diary of sorts.
And I’m glad this article helped. ;)