Oracle vs Tarot

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 17 Sep 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Tallarico	17 Sep 2003
Hello All, This is the first thread that I have started so plz be gentle. LOL I have done a search, perhaps it's not specific enough... I am still pretty new here. Anyway, What is the difference between Tarot cards and Oracle cards? Thanks!

zorya	18 Sep 2003
technically tarot cards are oracle cards. just to differentiate between tarot and non-tarot cards, we call the non-tarot cards oracle cards.

Inana	18 Sep 2003
Tarot decks are composed by the 22 Major Arcana and then the Minor Arcana, with the courts and the pips usually divided in four groups: swords, cups, wands and pentacles. Oracle decks doesnt have this groupings. Are sets of cards with different meanings. I guess each oracle deck follows its own order and its not necesary composed by 78 cards. Ah! They use to be themed on something: threes, faerys, etc. Dont now since i dont use them.

Black dragon	18 Sep 2003
I dunno if this is right because i don't use oracle cards but i believe that oracles tell more about "types" i.e type of emotion, type of person etc. again i'm not sure but thats my impression.

Umbrae	18 Sep 2003
In this reading I used both Soul Cards and Tarot. Soul Cards are one type of non-tarot oracle card. They have no grouping and no set meanings. There are the Fairy Oracles, which are not arrainged as Tarot Cards are, (22 Majors - and four suits of minors with 14 cards in each suit). Any deck used for divination is an Oracle Deck. Some decks are Tarot, some are not.

Tallarico	18 Sep 2003
Thank You All. I have Tarots but I see these Oracles. Wasn't sure of the difference. Karen

Shadow Wolf	13 Oct 2003
I'm starting to like oracle cards better than tarot cards, maybe I just need a few new tarot cards and some new spreads !!! I'll be picking up the Tarot Oracle deck today and Baarnes and Noble. I really didn't think I'd be adding this one to my collection, but it's literally calling to me, I can't stop thinking about it !! I guess that's how it works sometimes!!! I always find it kind of strange, though. But strange in a good way !!!

jmd	13 Oct 2003
Wonderful to see you starting a new thread, Tallarico :) A number of differences between Tarot and non-Tarot has already been mentioned, and zorya mentions that Tarot are a sub-class of Oracle decks. Personally, I do not consider Tarot as Oracle cards, though they may also be used in that way. When we do a reading, we may be using the Tarot as an oracle. In the same way that I do not classify Tarot as a card game - though it can also be used in that way - I tend to think of Tarot as multi-purposed, and, importantly, reflecting deep spiritual truths and allegorical themes. This may not be the case with most Oracle decks. Tarot comprises of 22 Major arcana cards, and 56 minors divided into four suits, each suit having four court cards and pips Ace through to ten. This structure, and the specific internal structure of the Majors, is important to Tarot - though not necessarily when used in a specific reading. Other discussions relevant to this question - though difficult to locate in a general search - are What makes a tarot deck a tarot deck?, What makes Tarot work? and a couple of others I cannot locate either :)

The Oracle vs Tarot thread was originally posted on 17 Sep 2003 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.