Just like how athletes use different brands of equipment within their sport, there are different types of tarot decks that are used based on the reader’s preference.

What kind of deck you choose is important but selecting a deck can be overwhelming for newcomers.

The first pitfall that usually trips new readers up is the difference between oracle cards and tarot cards.

Oracle cards, unlike tarot cards, don’t follow the structure previously discussed in my last post; all the cards in an oracle deck could be considered Major Arcana cards because they are all considered equal (unless deck indicates otherwise).

Another distinction between the two is that oracle cards often have a theme they are tied to.

For example, I have a set of oracle cards that are tied to Yule, so I use them closer to the Winter Solstice.

I have a friend that uses oracle cards that are representative of the forest.

All of the illustrations/cards have woodland creatures on them; the representations are related to said creatures.

The reason I am going over this is because the techniques taught for the Tarot can also be applied to oracle cards if those call more to you.

Don’t get me wrong, it won’t be copy-paste, but there are still things here for you if you would choose the path of the Oracle.

When choosing whatever type of cards, either tarot or oracle, intuition and connection are key.

Don’t just pick out the first ones you see.

Look for something that catches your eye.

It could be the illustration on the cards themselves (personally that was how I chose mine), it could be the size, the lettering, anything at all.

Once you have decided, you’ll want to “bond” with the cards.

Think of your deck as an actual entity.

Keep them close while you work throughout your day and also when you sleep; it will tune them to your conscious and unconscious energies.

Bonding with your deck is like getting to know a new person: a bit awkward and silly at first, but really helpful in the end.

A little cynical, or don’t believe in the spiritual aspect of the Tarot?

They’re just cards!

Still keep them with you, get comfortable with them in your hands. The more comfortable you are, the better the reading.

Maybe once you’ve gotten to know each other, pull a card and try to figure out what it might mean.

Then, of course, read what it actually means. You might surprise yourself.

That is the other part of tarot and oracle decks.

Most of the decks sold have a little booklet that gives the description of each card (definitions might vary slightly from deck to deck but not greatly) as well as general information about the deck.

That being said, I’m trying to figure out how best to share my knowledge with you, the readers.

Would you prefer it if I go through each card or groupings of cards in each post,

or should I touch more on the general dos and don’ts of reading the cards that might not be in the common pamphlets?

Let me know in the comments which one you’d prefer; I’ll tailor my posts accordingly, so you all get the most out of this experience.

Also, if you need a clarification or have a question about one of our topics, feel free to comment those as well.

I’m super excited to read what you guys think!