Many see oracle cards as more accessible to the common person, since there isn’t a standard template to them. A deck can contain any number of cards, any number of designs, and often comes with a booklet to offer insight into the cards and what they might mean. Oracle cards, on the other hand, are more fluid in their structure. Tarot cards have a structure and pattern to their language, though interpretation is at the hands of the user, based on what they’re seeing in the individual cards, as well as the spread of cards. There are 78 cards total, consisting of two parts: the 22-card major arcana, alongside the 56-card minor arcana. Tarot cards today have the same setup as did those early decks. Somewhere in the late 1700s, the first tarot deck was produced for the purposes of divination (AKA using the cards intuitively to find meaning). Many were hand painted, and it was through the development of the printing press that they were able to be mass produced. Tarot cards began their lives akin to playing cards, and few historical decks still remain. Despite not necessarily being-or including-books with them, tarot and oracle card decks are absolutely bookish creations: they ask users to read the cards, through the words on the cards, the images on the cards, and the combination of both. Maggie Stiefvater developed The Raven’s Prophecy Tarot deck in 2015, and later in 2020, her second deck, Scorpio Sea Tarot, will be available for purchase. Bestselling poet amanda lovelace just released Believe In Your Own Magic, a 45-card oracle deck illustrated by fairytale artist Janaina Medeiros. The readings I get from this deck can be so helpful in helping women reconnect with the Goddess inside them, and remember the ancient stories of being a goddess.More and more authors have been creating and publishing tarot and oracle card decks. This is a gorgeous deck of goddess wisdom – and my favourite of the Goddess-centred oracle cards I’ve found so far. When I notice an animal keeps popping up in my life, I check out the big, solid hardcover book that is included in this set to hear why the animal is appearing for me, and what medicine it has to teach me.Īgain – I’ve got quite a few animal card decks, but I find these to be the most potent and helpful. I use these cards less as a divination deck, and more of a reference. I used these cards exclusively for six months – they hold such powerful, potent energy… and can give some deep and amazingly accurate readings. She gave me this oracle deck while I was there, and the next day, on the bus back home from Sydney, they became my favourite deck. She was the most precious Cancerian spirit, and it was exquisite photographing her tree nymph self dancing in her favourite grove of sacred trees. Last year I photographed the gorgeous Goddess Lucy Cavendish – author and oracle card creator. These cards can be especially handy when you need practical answers about your path forward, especially around projects or career paths. I work with these cards when I need really shining truth and clarity – they hold a very luminous, loving, truthful energy. Ascended masters are like the higher archangels – the spiritual teachers and healers. These cards feature beautiful, luminous artworks of ascended masters.
These are a beautiful deck to start using oracle cards with – they are joyful and like most oracle cards, have no “bad” cards – just positivity. They have become old and dear friends, with the edges now softly thumbed. These cards are my old favourites – they were the first oracle cards I bought when I was 18.
That’s utterly perfect – whatever resonates with your soul is just gorgeous! I do have loads of friends though that prefer using tarot. There are usually no negative cards in oracle card decks that may cause unnecessary worry. they usually all have joyful, shining energy.they are easier to interpret – a little book comes with them, and you can often understand the card’s meaning just from the picture and word on it.They usually come in packs of about 40, and each card has a different and original message. Oracle decks in comparison can have as many or as few cards as it likes, and doesn’t follow a set format. There are many different versions of the tarot, but they are mostly interpretations of the same 78 cards.
Tarot card decks are created in a very specific format – it has 78 cards within it – 4 with 14 cards in each suite and 22 major arcana cards.
I often get asked: What is an oracle card deck? Is that like a tarot deck? I wanted to share with you my favourite five oracle decks, incase you are looking for guidance or recommendations.Ī little word about oracle cards first though: Anyone who visits me at the cottage knows how big my collection of oracle & tarot card decks is.