Divination: Tarot & Oracle Cards

Tarot cards and oracle cards are one of the most popular methods of divination, especially when reading for others. This is likely because the cards are a little less free-form than many of the other divination methods and a little more structured. This can give the readings some more definitive answers and therefore make it a bit easier read for others - especially if you don't know them personally.

There can (and should) still be a lot of intuition guidance that comes into play with this method, but the cards also hold their own specific meanings that can be read as default.

Tarot Cards

Tarot has been traced back to around mid-15th century Italy. In a tarot deck there are generally 78 cards, which are broken into two tiers, Major Arcana and Minor Arcana. The Minor Arcana is also separated into four suits. Generally tarot decks stick to the same meanings structure, even if the art and symbolism changes from deck to deck.

Major Arcana cards are like looking at longer-term lessons and the overall big picture. The Minor Arcana Cards are generally more zoomed in about daily situations and how to handle things now rather than consider about later on. The minor arcana splits into four suits that represent different associations:

• Wands: Will, Inspiration

• Cups: Emotions, Intuition

• Swords: Ambition, Communication

• Pentacles: Prosperity, Stability

Oracle Cards

Oracle cards are simply the wide variety of card decks for divination that aren't tarot. These decks can greatly vary in art, style, card amounts and meanings. Each oracle deck will differ, so you'll have to rely on your intuition to decide which one will work the best for you!

Just starting divination? Check out Divination: An Introduction for tips on all forms of divination.

Want to learn tarot or oracle cards? See this post for tips on Getting Started with Tarot When You Have NO Idea What You're Doing.