Tarot vs. Oracle // What’s the Difference and How to Choose

Aside from being beautiful works of art in and of themselves, Oracle and Tarot cards can be powerful divination tools. But, if you’re not familiar with these tools, deciding which deck to choose may have you stumped before you even start.

I want to give you the confidence to choose what works best for you. So many big questions present themselves in life and, you need to know how to prepare yourself! Today I’ve got the skinny on the difference between Tarot and Oracle cards, and info on how to choose a deck that will work best for you.

The Basics

Let’s talk about the basics of Tarot and Oracle cards to help you find the best way to connect with the greater knowledge of the universe when life’s big moments pop up!

Tarot Cards

  • 78 cards

  • Prim & proper

  • Organized into different suits

  • Each tarot deck has a unique energy depending on where they came from, such as their design and printing process

  • Measure outcomes and influence

  • Can be lengthy and detailed

  • Offers insight on situations

  • Only images on the card, takes some studying


Oracle Cards

  • Any number of card per deck

  • Rebel deck

  • Designed around a theme or deity

  • Use your intuition to guide you rather than the structure of the deck

  • Meant to give advice

  • Quick and more open to individual interpretation

  • Easy for beginners. Includes thoughtful phrases

How to Choose

  • Trust your intuition. You might lean towards either method on a given day, or you might use one method over another for a certain question you have.

  • Try them out. Which deck feels right? Is Tarot too grave, or are Oracle cards not enough for you? If you are seriously in the sticks with some relationship drama, the Tarot deck might offer the ins and outs you are searching for. If you’re less phased by this relationship woe, then a simple “You’re free to do what you choose,” might be all you need from an Oracle deck.

  • Structure. Do you need it or do you run from it? When I’m in a place where my internal compass is all out of whack, I know I need to use my Tarot deck as my guide. If my gut has been pretty spot on, I’ll use my Oracle cards as my quick spot-checking guide.

Don’t rule out one deck over the other just yet. Check out The Tarot and Oracle blog posts where I dig into the details on these divination tools! We’ll go over how to use each deck so that you can fine-tune your fortune-telling skills.

Cassie Uhl

Cassie Uhl is an energy and death worker, magic practitioner, rites of passage facilitator, and the author of seven books and two card decks on various spiritual topics. Her work is trauma-informed and rooted in earth-based spiritual practices from her Northern European ancestry and local environment. She is passionate about helping folks feel spiritually grounded and supported in all seasons of life. She resides on land tended by the Myaamiaki people in so-called Indiana, in the US, with her husband and twin children. Learn more about Cassie, her work, and offerings at cassieuhl.com.

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Getting Started with Tarot

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The Power of Altars // 5 Steps to Create Your Sacred Space