Beginner’s Guide to Using Tarot and Oracle Cards in One Reading

Tarot and oracle cards are both fascinating, and sometimes it’s hard to decide which to use. Sometimes the answer is to use both! You just need to know how to go about it.

Well, today’s your lucky day! In this blog post, we’re going to dive into the wonderful world of oracle and tarot cards, and explore how you can use these powerful tools together to unlock a whole new level of self-discovery and spiritual growth.

What’s the Difference Between Oracle and Tarot Cards?

First, make sure you understand the key differences between oracle and tarot cards.

Tarot cards are a more structured and traditional system, with a fixed deck of 78 cards that each have their own unique symbolism and meaning. The tarot deck is divided into two main parts:

• The Major Arcana (which represent the big, life-changing events and archetypes)
• The Minor Arcana (which cover the day-to-day ups and downs).

Each card in the tarot has a specific, time-honored interpretation that readers use to gain insights and guidance.

Oracle cards, on the other hand, are a more free-form and flexible divination tool. Oracle decks can come in all shapes, sizes, and themes, and the number of cards in the deck can vary widely.

Unlike tarot, oracle cards don’t follow a fixed structure or set of rules. Instead, each oracle deck has its own unique energy, symbolism, and message to share. This makes oracle cards a great option for beginners who want a more open-ended and intuitive approach to divination.

The Benefits of Using Oracle and Tarot Together

Now that we’ve got the basics covered, let’s talk about why you might want to consider using oracle and tarot cards together in your spiritual practice.

One of the biggest advantages of this approach is that it allows you to tap into the strengths and unique qualities of both divination systems. Tarot provides a more structured framework for understanding the big picture of your life, while oracle cards offer a more intuitive and flexible way to get into specific issues or areas of focus.

When you use them together, they can help you develop a deeper connection to your intuition and inner wisdom. As you work with both tarot and oracle cards, you’ll start to notice patterns, symbols, and messages that resonate with you on a personal level.

This can be a powerful way to tune into your own innate guidance system and gain a better understanding of your true self.

And don’t discount the fact that oracle and tarot cards together can just be a lot of fun! Divination is all about exploration, discovery, and tapping into magic. By combining these two powerful tools, you open yourself up to a whole new realm of possibility and potential.

How to Use Oracle and Tarot Cards Together

Okay, now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of how you can actually use oracle and tarot cards together in your spiritual practice.

Here are a few different ways to approach it:

1. Use Oracle Cards for Intuitive Guidance, Tarot for Deeper Insights

One common way to use these tools in tandem is to start with the oracle cards to get a general sense of what’s going on, and then use the tarot to dive deeper into the specific energies and themes that emerge.

For example, you might pull an oracle card to get a broad, intuitive sense of the overall energy or theme you need to focus on. Then, you could use the tarot to explore that theme in more detail – looking at the underlying causes, potential obstacles, and possible next steps.

This approach is great if you’re feeling stuck or unsure about a particular issue in your life. The oracle cards can help you get unstuck and point you in the right direction, while the tarot can provide more nuanced and comprehensive guidance on how to navigate that situation.

2. Use Tarot as a Foundation, Oracle for Supplemental Insights

Another way to combine these tools is to use the tarot as the foundation for your reading, and then pull oracle cards to supplement and enhance the insights you receive.

This could look like doing a full tarot spread to get a holistic understanding of a particular situation, and then pulling one or more oracle cards to add an extra layer of meaning or clarification.

For example, let’s say you do a 3-card tarot spread to explore a career decision you’re facing. The cards might reveal some of the key themes and energies at play, such as the need for a change, a fear of taking risks, and a desire for stability.

You could then pull an oracle card to shed some additional light on that situation – perhaps a card about embracing your intuition, or one that encourages you to step out of your comfort zone. This can help you gain a more well-rounded and insightful understanding of the situation.

3. Use Oracle and Tarot Cards Interchangeably

Finally, some readers like to use oracle and tarot cards in a more fluid and interchangeable way, pulling from both decks as needed to gain a comprehensive understanding of a particular issue or question.

This approach is great if you’re feeling particularly intuitive and want to let your inner guidance lead the way. You might start with an oracle card to get a general sense of the energy, then pull a tarot card to explore a specific aspect of that energy in more depth. Or you might alternate between the two, using the insights from one deck to inform and guide the other.

The key with this approach is to stay open and receptive to the messages that are coming through, and to trust your intuition to guide you in the right direction.

Getting Started with Oracle and Tarot

If you’re feeling inspired to start exploring the magic of oracle and tarot cards, here are a few tips to help you get started:

1. Choose your decks wisely. Take some time to browse different oracle and tarot decks, and select ones that resonate with you on a personal level. Look for decks that feature imagery, symbolism, and themes that speak to your soul.
2. Learn the basics. Spend some time familiarizing yourself with the basic meanings and interpretations of the cards in your chosen decks. This will help you start to build a solid foundation for your readings.
3. Practice, practice, practice. The more you work with these tools, the more comfortable and confident you’ll become. Try doing daily draws, weekly spreads, or even just pulling a single card to get a sense of the energy of the day.
4. Trust your intuition. As you work with oracle and tarot cards, pay attention to the messages, symbols, and images that resonate most strongly with you. Your intuition is your greatest asset when it comes to divination, so learn to trust and honor it.
5. Keep an open mind. Divination is a journey of self-discovery, and there’s always more to learn. Approach your oracle and tarot practice with a sense of curiosity and wonder, and be open to the unexpected insights and guidance that may come your way.