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.
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.
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.
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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Im curious as to your thoughts on the deck i have,The Thoth Deck by Crowley. It was gifted to me by an ex and green witch years ago when we were together. It has lain dormant between my matress and box spring for years. Recently i have begun using it,i felt it calling me. I start my day with a hello and draw a single card,analyse it and look for reference to it through out my day,something almost always will represent it,person..place..situation etc. Wondering if you are familiar with it and any thoughts you might have.
Sincerely
Tony O
I have a deck of Oracle cards. They’re called wisdom in the house of night. I absolutely love my cards! The readings have always been accurate but ever since that second eclipse,I become more awakened than I was before. Now when I do readings they are even more accurate and so are my interpretations. Because I read the books interpretation, but then I give my interpretation of what the cards are saying also. So yeah, since that eclipse things have just been, more…than before.simetimes I get overwhelmed with it all but that’s normal right? I feel soo happy and like things are going good and like God’s got me, then one minute it’s like I’m stuck in a dark locked hallway and I can’t find my way out. I’ve been having anxiety and panic attacks over a dry biscuit! And the thought of how my so called friend betrayed me. But yeah that’s bad. Can you give me some advice please? I’m sorry for such a long post thank you for your help if you will.
As another one of my anonymous tips on this website, there’s this app Labyrinthos, that often gets mentioned in Tarot groups online. It essentially is basically a quiz game that helps you memorize a lot of the meanings of the different Tarot cards, and also allows you some computerized readings. That is, randomly generated cards by a computer. Oddly enough, I and a lot of people in different Tarot groups, oddly find randomly generated Tarot card draws to be as accurate as real life ones. Though on an app, you will have to interpret it yourself. Unless you pay a reader, you will have to figure it out independently. Other notable websites that offer computer generated Tarot/Oracle readings include TrustedTarot (my personal favorite), iFate (another favorite), EvaTarot, 7Tarot, Spirit Navigator, TarotGoddess, Goddess Flight, Alana Fairchild, Colette Baron-Raid, and Sentient Metaphysics, if anyone wants to experiment with this. Of course, all you’re given is the basic description of the card, and you have to figure out the general meaning independently, but hey, it helps with practice if you’re still starting out.
Going through shadow works, inner child work and deep healing; I am ‘re-discovering’ my natural passion for crystal healing, aromatherapy and nature meditation. I have always known about tarot cards (got 2-3 readings from a friend of mine). But, still, my essence has not been really attracted to (even though, I have great respect for those using tarot cards- I believe each one of us is unique). Having had several spiritual ‘awakenings/encounters’; my essence was drawn to look for cards in my healing process. Through my readings, I encountered several times the Divine Feminine and even draft a project connected to Divine Light. This is where I read and found Wisdom of the Divine Feminine Oracle Cards. It talked to my essence and I understood that I wish to have those cards. Unfortunately, I couldn’t buy them, due to distance and shipping. But, some days later, on my Facebook feed, a local online shop (Vintage Boutique) popped up and oracle decks were on sale. And this is where The Priestess of Light Oracle appeared and I immediately felt my essence jolt with magic, intense joy and inner knowing. This is exactly what it needs. That’s what was called and manifested.… Read more »
It is interesting my email had an article about oracle cards today and led me to this article today. I one had an experience where I connected with someone who was in the New Thought movement at the time. She offered daily affirmations. At one point she offered a tarot reading which I knew nothing about. The reading leaned into telling the future which frightened me a lot. I was quite vulnerable at the time so this experience did not leave me easily. 25 years later, if I read something even close to this experience I shut down. I was able to read you article but I find myself not being able to open up this this type of work. I know I felt lured int something and so I shut down. I am working on my own inner child healing and have been able to do deeper into myself. I would like to know why I feel so defensive about this type of work. I may be relating to a religious teaching, I don’t know or a control issue or simply a fear of being lured. Thank you pointing out the use of the cardsas it helped me a… Read more »
My favorite I use to consult with the Self/Inner Knowing is the ancient Oracle, the Runes. I usually draw one stone and if I want to add to that I draw another. Thirteen of the twenty-five Runes focus on the process of self-change, a Cycle of Initiation, I like to work with just these at times of change and uncertainty. The book is by Ralph H. Blum. Also I love the Aleister Crowleys Thoth Tarot Deck, I had a fun class with those. The Animal Spirit Guide book is really fun too as I live in the mountains where there are many animal friends! No one has mentioned the Runes? It is great to read the articles and others thoughts on this subject as there are few in my world who are open to this yet. Thanks! :)
I think of myself as a modern-day alchemist at work, so I naturally gravitated towards Robert M Place’s Alchemical Tarot, but I’m still learning the symbolism involved (it comes with a thick book). I like to flip through the deck at home on work meetings and see what comes up in the cards, I can kind of see the conversation that takes place unfold in the cards since it’s so heavy in symbolism, helps me pay attention. I just bought Robert’s Sevenfold Mystery deck. I think I’ll use the Alchemical deck for work innovation and coming up with new ideas, and the Sevenfold deck for inner work and introspection.
I also just bought the Shaman’s Dream Oracle to do Dreamwork per your advice in another article, arriving tomorrow.
I’ll probably stick with just these for the next few years as I don’t think my girlfriend will appreciate a growing Tarot collection.
I also cast I Ching sometimes. I’d like to memorize the hexagram meanings so I can sort of be guided by memory, but that’s a hefty project with all the changing lines.