Oracle Cards: Meanings & How Readings Differ From Tarot

Skip navigation!ADVERTISEMENTHow To Add Oracle Cards To Your Tarot PracticeErika W. SmithLast Updated January 23, 2020, 6:18 PM ADVERTISEMENTSee All SlidesBegin SlideshowPhotographed by Megan Madden.If you’ve ever gotten a tarot reading, watched one on Twitch, or "liked" a complicated spread on Instagram, you might have seen an oracle card or two. Oracle cards are like tarot cards' younger, chiller cousin. They can show any imagery, and there's more room for the person working with them to interpret their meaning. Amanda Michelle Jones, who also goes by AMJ, is the creator of Brown Girl Tarot, an online community for spiritual practitioners of color. They talked to Refinery29 about oracle cards.

What are oracle cards?

They're a tool that can be used for introspection or, depending on your approach, divination. But unlike traditional tarot decks, which come in packs of 78, oracle decks can include any number of cards. What's more, while tarot cards include a Major Arcana and a Minor Arcana arranged into suits, oracle decks don't follow this structure. There are no rules, andthe possibilities are endless.

What's the difference between oracle cards and tarot cards?

Although there are different schools of tarot and variations from deck to deck, “any tarot deck you pick up will have the Major Arcana covering what we call ‘The Fool's Journey,’ — in other words, major archetypes or lessons we encounter in life — and the Minor Arcana, which covers the more day-to-day experiences,” AMJ says. “Oracle decks typically don't follow that setup. You may find a deck with 30-something cards or 80-something cards," they add. "One oracle deck might sort of mirror the tarot, while another could have absolutely nothing to do with tarot. But overall, the big difference is in the number of cards and whether it's split between majors and minors.”The variety is evident in two of the oracle decks that AMJ recommends. The Adinkra Ancestral Guidance Cards is a 44-card deck featuring Adinkra symbols and philosophies (used by the Ashantis in West Africa). The OKANA oracle deck, on the other hand, contains 25 cards, with five in each element (Earth, Water, Wind, Fire, and Spirit). It also features proverbs from the  Diloggún Divination system.

How do you use oracle cards?

When using oracle cards, AMJ recommends that you “go with your intuition." They explain, “When you get a new oracle deck, you're kind of learning a new language each time. So take time to just observe and get to know the deck.” Doing a one-card pull every day is “a great way to get to know your deck while also honing your intuition and divination skills,” AMJ says. You can use traditional tarot spreads, such as a three-card draw, with oracle cards. You can also draw an oracle card before a tarot card reading to set an intention, or after a reading to reinforce the interpretation.“As you explore the cards, let Spirit speak to you in whatever ways you need in the moment," AMJ suggests. "And definitely make sure to journal, whether that be by hand or digitally, then compare that to the guidebook that came with the deck.”Since oracle cards are relatively unstructured, they can sometimes be a more appealing option for beginners. But experienced tarot readers also often incorporate them into spreads too. “Sometimes a person wants to step outside the 'boundaries of the tarot' (or at least their perception of such boundaries),” AMJ explains. “Also, some folx find oracle cards to be less intimidating than tarot, while others see oracle as an introductory way to start divining with cards. Lots of people combine oracle with tarot to provide additional perspective to their readings. The possibilities are almost endless, especially if you try to get math-y and think about permutations and combinations.”Here, shop a few of AMJ’s recommendations for oracle decks, as well as some picks from Refinery29. Begin Slideshow ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENT HoroscopesYour Valentine’s Day Horoscope Is HereHappy Valentine’s Day! This year, we are reflecting on the importance of connection and acceptance — not from others, but from the relationship we haveby Lisa StardustHoroscopesSaturn In Aries Is Here — & It’s Time For You To Take ControlTime stands still for no one, or so the planet Saturn teaches us. Saturn is leading us into Aries on February 13th. As we move onward in life, the austere by Lisa StardustHoroscopesVenus In Pisces Is Here — & Now Let Your Own Fairytale UnfoldIn the midst of all the chaos going on in the world, it’s nice to know that Venus in Pisces is bringing us a fairytale vibe. Venus in Pisces, which lby Lisa StardustHoroscopesYour Horoscope This Week: February 8 To 14Cosmic beings, this week opens with the Last Quarter Moon in Scorpio, a liminal checkpoint between what has already climaxed and what is about to be rebornby Dossé-Via TrenouSin VergüenzaYour 2026 Valentine’s Day Tarot Reading Is Hereby Tatianna TarotHoroscopesYour Horoscope This Week: February 1 To 7Cosmic beings, this week opens loud. The Leo Full Moon on February 1st is not subtle, not chill, and definitely not interested in you playing it cool. Thisby Dossé-Via TrenouHoroscopesThe Full Snow Moon In Leo Is Here — & It Marks A Time Of Renewal ...Get ready to roar! The Full Snow Moon in Leo on February 1st demands that we take charge. How? By fighting for fairness and equality, while simultaneously by Lisa StardustHoroscopesYour February Horoscope Is Here — & It’ll Open A Rare Chapt...Cosmic beings, February is not playing around. This is an eclipse month, the official start of the Year of the Fire House, and one of those rare chapters wby Dossé-Via TrenouHoroscopesYour Horoscope This Week: January 25 To 31R29 babes, the week opens under the influence of a first quarter moon in Taurus on January 25th, a moment that often brings the first real tests of the intby Dossé-Via TrenouHoroscopesNeptune In Aries Begins Its 14-Year Transit — & You’ll Experience...Elusive and empathetic Neptune is re-entering Aries on January 26th, offering us a second chance to understand the journey ahead. This time around, weby Lisa StardustHoroscopesMars In Aquarius Is Here — It’s Time To Express YourselfYou say you want change? Well, the time has come! Action planet Mars is entering the sign of Aquarius, encouraging us to push back popular nby Lisa StardustHoroscopesYour Horoscope This Week: January 18 To 24We begin this week under the energy of the first New Moon of 2026, which arrives on January 18th at 2:52 p.m. EST at 28 degrees Capricorn. New Moons mark bby Dossé-Via TrenouADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENT