Oracle Cards vs Tarot Cards: Key Differences Explained

Tarot and oracle cards are two forms of divination used to glean insight into various spiritual and personal questions. While both cards have been used with similar objectives, they vary significantly in structure, purpose, and utilization. Whether one prefers the intricate, symbolic world of Tarot or the intuitive, free-flowing one of Oracle, being mindful of these differences will help select a deck that serves one’s purpose. In this blog, we will outline what we consider to be the principal distinctions between the Oracle and Tarot cards, give information on starting with each, and provide suggestions for working with both together.

What Exactly Are Oracle Cards, and Why Use Them?

Oracle cards stand as versatile and intuitive divining-aid tools. Unlike tarot cards, oracle cards do not have any predetermined or specific structure or even the number of cards required for creating the deck. Every oracle deck is peculiar and different from its counterpart, suggesting so much in the diverse themes, aesthetics, and messages. The cards tend to open into broadness to gain intuitive insight rather than following a strict, traditional symbolism.

Oracle cards often refer to picking a quick pick-me-up or throwing some light on things during difficult times. Mostly, oracle readings can be shorter or more diffuse, allowing readers to delve into particular areas of life, such as love, career, or self-development. The openness of oracle cards makes these cards perfect for novices since there isn’t the need to memorize exhaustive systems or meanings. Instead, these cards require readers to rely on their subjective notions and intuition to interpret results.

 

What Exactly Are Tarot Cards and Why Use Them?

Contrary to that, the tarot cards are full of history and tradition. A Tarot Deck generally contains 78 cards, of which the Major Arcana consists of 22 cards and the Minor Arcana comprises 56. The latter comprises significant life events, such as separation and spiritual lessons: The Major Arcana itself is about ordinary concerns. Each card, however, is encompassed by many deep symbols, which only help in knowing what lies behind attempting to study these meanings and connections. 

Tarot Reading is inherently very complicated and macroscopic. It examines phenomenal aspects of life, perceived direct influences in relationships, and what might come to pass as potential futures. Learning to read tarot cards is a more prolonged exercise than working with Oracle cards since tarot cards are based on a fixed system. This is why Tarot would allow for very deep, complex readings that can answer questions about a person’s life journey.

For those seeking a deeper connection with their spirituality or more detailed guidance, Tarot offers a profoundly insightful system rich in tradition.

Are Oracle Cards and Tarot Cards the Same?

Oracle cards and Tarot cards do not represent the same thing. The main divergence lies in the mechanics, symbols, and types of advice these two forms of divination can offer. 

The Tarot has a strict system of 78 cards, each with its meaning. The tarot decks are divided into the major and minor arcana, which provide a more set and clinical angle on divination. Tarot reads more into issues of existence or complexity and gives a relatively broad or generalized view of a person’s life. 

Oracle cards are attuned to more freedom and intuition. The number of cards could range from a handful to innumerable, whereas themes can change according to the artist’s intention, and messages are more subjective. Oracle cards are faster and to the point, working well with questions addressing specific situations. 

Should Beginners Start with Oracle or Tarot Cards?

When people ask which cards should be used by beginners, Oracle cards get the most votes since they can be used more freely and take much less study than Tarot. Most Oracle decks contain a guidebook explaining the meanings of each card so they can be genuinely enjoyed even by first-time readers. Tarot requires a lot of memorization about complex interlocking systems, whereas right away, you can use Oracle cards based on your intuitive insights and guidance.  In contrast, Tarot cards require serious study. The Tarot operates within a system of 78 cards, each extending a particular meaning and symbolism. To be competent at interpreting Tarot reading, one must know those meanings and how they interact with one another in various spread types. Tarot may yield more in-depth, complex insights; however, it could be shaky at the beginning of the divination journey for an inexperienced card reader. 

 

Key Differences Between Oracle and Tarot Cards

1. System and Structure

Tarot cards deal with a fixed system of 78 bifurcated into Major and Minor Arcana. While Major Arcana focuses on karmic lessons and spiritual growth, Minor Arcana looks into day-to-day life. On the other hand, Oracle cards have no specified system or number of cards. Each Oracle deck can differ in size, number of cards, and themes. 

2. History and Traditions

Tarot cards are the oldest, dating back to the 15th century. Divination, spiritual guidance, or even fortune-telling have always been the utilities of tarot. Oracle cards are a recent invention created in the 19th and 20th centuries. Though helpful, they do not bear Tarot cards’ heavy historical and mystical weight.

3. Learning Curve

Learning Tarot is challenging because there is much to learn about each symbol, and these systems are organized differently. The tarot reader has to understand the cards’ meanings and the relationships between the cards in spreads. Conversely, the designs of Oracle cards are more intuitive and adaptable. Oracle cards can even be used immediately with little memorization, making the Oracle system many times more approachable for beginners.

How to Get Started with Tarot Decks?

It is the first step in Tarot to select a deck attuned to one. There exist innumerable Tarot decks, all possessing different art and interpretation. After procuring your deck, learning about the cards’ meanings and beginning practice with simple spreads like a three-card spread is essential. Become acquainted first with the Major cards, as their implications speak the most incredible topics of life; over time, when one has become familiar with the deck, the expansion will be into the Minor Arcana and more complex spreads.

How to Get Started With Oracle Decks?

Oracle cards are easy to get into. Find the deck that excites you most and start pulling a card daily to reflect on its message and juxtaposition to your latest life situations. Many Oracle decks have guidebooks, but you can trust your intuition to decipher what these cards mean. When you feel more comfortable with your deck, you could try more involved spreads or ask more specific questions to get deeper insights.

 

What About Angel Cards?

The most popular type of Oracle deck is the Angel card, meant to convey messages pertinent to angels or other divine beings. Angel cards work with themes of healing, protection, and love, imparting feelings of comfort and motivation. If you want angels or higher beings to guide you spiritually, Angel cards may be the right tool. Whereas Oracle cards function independently or in tandem with many other decks, Angel cards are mainly geared to help you access angelic energy for divination guidance. You can even use these cards alongside other Oracle or Tarot decks to deepen your connection to the higher realms.

Phenix Creation: Enhance Your Tarot and Oracle Experience

We are a spiritual tool and craftmaking company that designs fantastic Tarot and Oracle card decks to complement one’s spiritual practice. Whether a novice or an advanced reader, we provide well-crafted decks charged with energy, which give nothing short of lucid insight. Explore the carefully curated decks, each aglow with powerful symbols that can facilitate your readings and spiritual journey. 

We are dedicated to offering beautifully crafted Tarot and Oracle decks that align with your spiritual journey, ensuring each card is infused with meaningful symbolism. These decks are designed to enhance your readings and provide you with a deeper connection to the universe and your inner wisdom.

 

FAQs

1. What is the difference between Oracle and Tarot cards?

Though oracle cards and tarot cards can both be deemed divination tools, their peculiar constructs, methodologies, and levels of interpretation bring significant differences. The cards in tarot come under the rigid compiled system using a card pack numbering 78 cards into two divisions: the 22 Major Arcana and the 56 Minor Arcana. Furthermore, every card would generally have a traditional meaning regarding its symbolism and position concerning a specific spread. It is also noted that tarot usually follows already established spreads, so it would need to be concrete in understanding the meaning of the cards about each other and how they interact with the spread. Conversationally, oracle cards are not prescriptive: they usually contain a package between 30 and 100 cards containing unique meanings, themes, and symbolism. Oracle cards are less about a defined system and more about subjective interpretation according to the premise of their ideas. Because of this, oracle cards are easier to access since there’s nothing complicated to do, like tarot cards, which more often provide in-depth readings that demand so much study.

In contrast, oracle cards are relatively easy since the readings can be more personal and flowing. Depending on what you need, Oracle cards can feel lighter and are more easily connected with your intuition. In contrast, Tarot cards are much more detailed and intricate for thorough, deeper reading when needed.

2. Can Tarot and Oracle cards be used together?

Working with both kinds of cards is possible, and many practitioners combine the two to give more satisfactory results. Tarot emphasizes structure, detail, and profound reflection on complex questions and problems. Thus, it will shine additional light on themes of life in general, give us an acquired past, present, and vision of the future, and even shed light on the obscure influences that might act upon a person but probably aren’t noticeably so. Oracle cards are much more free-form and intuitive, sometimes less about profound interpretation and more about simply being direct. Therefore, They can serve as a guiding voice about a specific question or as affirmations within the context of more profound Tarot readings. For example, the Tarot can be used as a mechanism to scrutinize and analyze the complexity of a situation, after which an Oracle card is drawn to give an instant insight that is personal and direct in nature and that clarifies or intensifies the message from the Tarot. This combination gives Tarot users some depth and structure, but they have fun and freedom with the Oracle. One style complements the other, providing a well-rounded and more finely-tuned reading.

3. Are Oracle cards more manageable for beginners?

Oracle cards are more beginner-friendly than tarot cards. This is primarily because Oracle cards do not have a rigid and set structure to follow. In contrast, the Tarot consists of decks with 78 cards divided into concrete groups such as Major and Minor Arcana. In contrast, Oracle deck cards can be finite and can represent any gamut of themes. The absence of any set system to be memorized makes Oracle cards all the more inviting for a beginner in the field of divination.   A beginner usually has an instruction manual to go with the Oracle decks. The instructions contained in these manuals explicitly go for the intuitive interpretations of the various cards in terms of feeling or messages rather than in terms of the much more profound, symbolic meanings. These cards can be interpreted with a minimum of study by their users, who can rely on their intuitions for a reply interpretation of the messages imparted by the cards. 

On the other hand, Tarot cards usually involve a more structured learning system. The beginning student has to understand the symbolism for all 78 cards, the meanings for spreads, and the interrelations of cards in sometimes varying contexts. This alone is for a beginner to grasp. At the same time, Oracle cards offer a more straightforward and immediate approach to card reading, which is excellent for the novice practitioner.

4. How do I choose between Oracle and Tarot cards?

The choice between Oracle and Tarot cards ultimately comes down to your tastes, needs, and the kind of reading you wish to conduct. Tarot may be the better choice if you enjoy structure and tradition in a more elaborate reading. The Tarot deck contains 78 cards with a prescribed system, meaning that readings done with Tarot tend to be layered and somewhat complex. Should you explore individual issues in-depth, such as love, career, or personal development, Tarot implements a much more systematic approach. 

Oracle cards, however, would be a better option should you be flexible, intuitive, and want to be guided simply. On a general note, Oracle cards are decks that often have fewer cards covering an array of various themes and messages. They are not usually studied in-depth, which makes them useful for students and readers who want a more intuitive approach. 

Oracle cards would be a very gentle introduction to card reading for beginners. Tarot, however, will take you deeper into another world of divination and spiritual insight. Many readers start with Oracle cards and move on to Tarot as their practice develops. Ultimately, the deck you choose should resonate with you, so trust your intuition and find one that feels right for you.

5. Can Angel cards be part of an Oracle card reading?

Angel cards are an Oracle deck and can be used during an Oracle reading. The cards invoke angels and the divine to deliver healing, protection, love, and guidance messages. They are primarily readings for those searching for spiritual guidance or support from above. 

Like any other Oracle, Angel cards can be intuitive and easy to use; they also provide pretty straight-up, feel-good messages that work well alongside a deeper Tarot or Oracle reading. Many readers use Angel cards with their usual tarot or Oracle deck for confirmation and soft advice. Angel cards are one kind of Oracle that can specifically call upon the angelic realm on behalf of anybody looking for divine consolation and assistance. For anyone who feels that the angels are an essential presence in their lives and who wishes to seek messages of healing and hope, using angel cards is a positive enhancement to their spiritual work. These cards blend very well with any other Oracle or Tarot deck, helping infuse readings with that extra boost of positive, divine energy.

Conclusion

So, whether you use the tarot for its ordered understanding of life or Oracle cards for its intuitive wisdom, both activities serve a common purpose: exploring your spiritual path. Tarot is so profound and nuanced in depicting life’s challenges, while Oracle cards are usually simplistic but deeply meaningful messages along the route. Choosing between Oracle cards or Tarot cards is a matter primarily of personal choice and personal goals. Many have found it enriching and fulfilling to mix both forms of card practices, such as Tarot’s organized, structured approach with Oracle’s more spontaneous, free-flowing nature.